all Ephes. 1. 23. 't is not of the Church as distinctly considered from the Head but as in Union therewith Christ the Head is included in that Fulness tho' his proper Existence be entire compleat and most glorious I think this Answer to F. Bugg may fully Answer his Disciple the Author of the Snake 28. From G. Fox's saying Christ is the Elect our Adversary infers And the Elect are Christ they make them convertible Terms p. 239. They are not so made by us nor by G. F. in the place quoted Gr. Myst. p. 88. but the contrary tho' there he saith Christ is the Elect whom God upholds He also saith Christ knows his and said he had other Sheep and he knew All the Elect and who receive him and are in him are the Elect. There 's no such Words in the place quoted as that the Elect are Christ. Thus the plain Scripture is perverted which G. F. refers to Isa. 42. 1. 29. He again quotes Gr. Myst. p. 207. That God's Christ is not distinct from his Saints Here the Man unfairly leaves out what follows viz. For he is within them their Spirits witness him c. Wherein 't is plain he means Christ is not divided or separate from his Saints He takes distinct from in a kind of common Acceptation for divided or separate from Here he cavils about Words or a Mode of speaking and then draws his hard Consequences As 30. The grossest Absurdities highest Blasphemies and that G. F. could find no difference no distinction at all betwixt Christ and himself Which appears a perverse and presumptuous Calumny As doth the next 31. That All the divine Attributes should be given to G. F. as well as unto Christ and that G. F. does assume the Stile and Names of Christ to himself c. The Man here quoting his own Authority in his Sect. 5. and there F. B.'s both which we deny They have injuriously abused G. F. and others in this Matter who neither calls himself The Door that ever was nor the same Christ yesterday to day and for ever he speaks this of Christ not of himself neither did the Quakers call him the Branch the Star c. as Bugg and the Snake have basely asperst him and others Sect. 5. p. 41 43. c. These Calumnies and perverse Abuses are sufficiently detected in several Answers to F. Bugg and in Just Enquiry into the Libeller's Abuse And tho' we deny that those divine Attributes given to Christ may be given to any mortal Man yet divers Names given to Christ are given to Saints also as the Son of God the Sons of God Luke 3. 28. John 1. 12. Rom. 8. 14 The Light of the World John 8. 12. Mat. 5. 14. The Salt of the Earth Mat. 5. 13. The Righteousness of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 5. 21 Kings Priests Prophets Apostles Ministers The Seed The Good Seed Anointed Elect given both to Christ and his faithful Followers But it may be said These are not all properly divine Attributes However they are such as are given both to Christ and his Brethren and Members the Saints and true Followers of God But The Image and Glory of God I presume will be assented to be no less than divine Attributes or importing the same and yet without Blasphemy or Idolatry Man whose Head Christ is is called The Image and Glory of God 1 Cor. 11. 7 and not in any Dishonour to Christ though the same Epithets or Characters do properly belong to him Heb. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 4 4. Col. 1. 15. yet given also to Man because indued with or participating of God's Image in Christ Jesus but we confess some divine Attributes and Names are given as only proper to Christ and not to Men or Saints as The Wisdom and Power of God The Word of God A Quickning Spirit The only begotten Son of God The Messiah The very Christ The Prince of Life and Peace The Mighty God The Everlasting Father c. these are only intended and proper to Christ. 32. We do not find Blasphemy or Idolatry excused or any fair pretence used for the same by W. P. in the place quoted i. e 11 Ch. Of the Invalidity of John Faldoe 's Vindication as is defamingly alledged against him p. 242. which is about the Soul of Man c. which W. P. there fully Answers To Sect. 18. which the Author stiles Some Remarks upon Geo. Whitehead's Creed relating to some of the Particulars before-going The nameless Author of the Snake in the Grass having vented his and others Venome and great Spite against the People called Quakers in general and divers Particulars by Name now to compleat his Design of great Envy he must put forth his Sting in the Tail of his Work and have a fling and sit of Hissing like an angry Snake or as one that whispers out of the Dust Isa. 29. 4. against the said G. W. I being the Person aim'd at may now briefly answer for Truth and for my self as concerned 1. The word Creed he imposes upon me 'T was no formal Creed or Summary of our Faith tho' real Truths by way of Positions in the affirmative as a Christian Testimony in direct Opposition to F. B.'s great Abuse false Charge and Perversions which with a negative Testimony against him therein are both adapted to answer his own Terms Words and Phrases that our Testimony and Positions might be the more apparent against his Abuse and Perversions for I know no Adversary that I find Fault with but I can freely and in good Conscience assert my own Sense in the Matters in Controversie as well as oppose his though it be not in the manner of a formal Creed yet true in it self for we should have numerous Creeds if all Positions we write in Opposition to Opposers must be esteemed Creeds or Summaries and Confessions of our Faith nevertheless we believe what we assert and vindicate in each particular My Accuser presently shews his Prejudice and Enmity against me without cause As with a new Confession of Faith in such dubious and general Terms as may at first sight deceive the unwary Reader though I gave it in as plain and as much in scriptural Terms as I could and as the Matters concerned would admit of And I know my own Sincerity therein better than my Accuser who insincerely calls me Honest George whilst he is aspersing me and casting Dirt at me as Deceiving keeping off contradicting the Heart of the Heresie still preserving it safe and untouch'd and not only so but often with a slily insinuated Excuse and Defence of it p. 244. So that my confessing Jesus to be the Christ and both his coming in the Flesh and in the Spirit according to holy Scripture-Testimony and also to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament namely the Holy Doctrin and divine Precepts therein as given by divine Inspiration on which much of my said Confession against F. Bugg depends this hath no better
AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST THE VENOME OF The Snake in the Grass Or the Book so stiled AND THE Christian People CALLED QUAKERS Vindicated from its most gross Abuses and Calumnies In certain Reflections detecting the nameless Author's Malice Outrage and Persecution against the said People Unto which is Annex'd A brief Examination of the Author's second Book stil'd Satan Dis-rob'd Also Some Notice taken of his Discourse for the Divine Institution of Water-Baptism Psal. 83. 3. They devise deceitful Matters against them that are quiet in the Land London Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-yard in Lombard-street 1697. THE BOOKSELLER TO THE READER Friendly Reader THE so long delay of this Answer to The Snake in the Grass has been chiefly the Printers occasion and partly to have some Answer to his latter Book still'd Satan Disrob'd So Reader that thou may'st be preserved from the Venom of this Snake in all his twistings and twinings is the desire of him who wisheth the Well-fare of all Men. T. N. ERRATA PAge 37. l. 13. r. Persecutors l. 38. dele as p. 56. l. 6. r. Kingdoms p. 81. l. 1. r. Prosecution p. 166. l. 30. for them in r. in them p. 167. l. 12. for reprobachs r. reproaches p. 200. l. 25. r. universally p. 204. l. 7. r. who rendred p. 232. l. 4. r. of Sin and Death l. 5. r. of Life p. 235. l. 13. d. 60. Some litteral Faults and Points mis-placed may be understood by the sense of the matters Impartial Reader AFter the perusal of the said Snake in the Grass seeing the gross and absurd Aspersions Calumnies Perversions and scornful Stuff therein Contained and the great Malice of the nameless Author's Spirit against the People called Quakers It was slighted by us and laid aside for some Months being stuft with many lying and incredible Stories as scarce deserving any particular Answer except the notice of some few to discredit the Author and invalidate his fruitless attempts of his foul Envy and Falshood But some indifferent Persons being urgent for an Answer and the said Book being rendred as an unanswerable Piece by some too easily imposed upon and others in prejudice gave occasion for the insuing Reflections to be Exhibited in order to obviate the injurious Design of the Author and his Abettors i.e. some wrathful implacable and perfidious Apostates who are of those Cattle he has principally Plowed withal and from whom he has chiefly derived his unjust Authority to Defame and Scandalize the said People with those old false and refuted Aspersions and Slanders as Possessed with the Devil Enthusiastick Madness Blasphemy Heresie denying the true Christ and his holy Humanity or Manhood real Sufferings and Satisfaction and the Resurrection and Contemning the Holy Scriptures Doctrins and Precepts therein contained with abundance more of such like Calumnies and Slanders Abuses and Perversions of our Words and Doctrins frequently answered and refuted by divers of us in our former and latter Books And now because of our present Ease and Liberty which Mercy our Gracious God hath influenced the present Government to afford us from our late grievous and destructive Persecutions for which Liberty we are truly thankful For this Cause the Devil and his Agents appear the more enraged and to have exceeding great Wrath against the remnant of the true Seed and to combine together to persecute us with their most shameful Reproaches Abuses Lyes and Slanders which is the present Persecution we are under When the Devil was suffered to imploy his Agents to Oppress and Persecute us in our Persons and Estates by severe Imprisonments and spoil of Goods tending to Ruin us and our Families then the Pens of his Clerks and Ministers were quiet towards us But seeing his and their wicked ends by that kind of open and cruel Persecution could not be accomplished upon us now they bend their perverse Studies and Pens to persecute us with shameful Reproach and Blasphemy to Destroy and Murther our Reputations both as Men and Christians not sparing either the Living or the Dead The Lord our God will rebuke their Fury and Outrage and confound their mischievous Devices and Confederacies even the just and righteous God who by his power supported us under our deepest Sufferings and Persecutions and gave us Faith and Courage then to Face the severest Storms and Blustering Winds which rose up against us for our Christian Testimony and Assemblies he hath enabled and will enable us to face and outface this Storm of envious and outragious Persecution of our open and secret Enemies And 't is no small shame and disparagement for such Eminent Church of England Men as the Author of the Snake in the Grass would seem one of them to be beholding to pretended Quakers such as George Keith and Thomas Crisp for their Aid or Authority against us and to F. Bugg's Authority also who has been detected of numerous Falshoods against us since he left us and turned to the Priests and to the Publick as he calls it and the said George Keith contrary to his many and frequent Vindications of the People called Quakers and their Principles and above thirty Years Conversation among them now turned an open Adversary to Revile and Reproach them and yet a falsly pretended Quaker as if he would ingratiate himself into favour with the worst of our Enemies the Day will yet further discover him and them I confess where Persons of a contrary Judgment to us appear moderate and civil in their Discourse and Treatment in things wherein they differ from us they deserve to be gently and tenderly Answered and Treated and if such suppose me mistaken in any thing or circumstance of words from which I intend not altogether to excuse my self in all Controversies from my young and early Years and yet be assured by the Spirit of Truth in matters Essential to Salvation I would take kindly their civil and friendly Discovery thereof to me being desirous that the Truth may be exalted above all Self-reputation But when I find Persons like this Author of The Snake in the Grass maliciously set in a persecuting Spirit to defame and reproach Truth and our Christian Society which I am concerned in Conscience for I confess then a holy Zeal the Lord raises and has raised in my very Heart and Soul against such bitter Implacable and Persecuting Spirits And the Lord's Power I have felt and do still feel it to accompany and inable me in Defence of his blessed Truth and People And inasmuch as the said Author of The Snake in the Grass is so very liberal in his most odious Characters upon us and has so frequently Branded us even divers Persons by Name with Blasphemies and Heresies c. who have been and are known to be Persons of good Reputation both as Men and Christians in Life and Conversation 'T is pity but this Defaming Author should be publickly exposed by Name for his Folly and outrage especially if he persists in his Scorn and envious injurious
attempts against us that he may not be suffered to sculk and hide himself like a Snake under Grass And as to the seven Queries which he upbraids us with reproaching us As puting them all off with one general Answer c. as a trick and deceit of ours to hide and cover our monstrous Heresies and a full confession of our Heresies Pref. p. 350. Which being monstrous Calumnies and from which our general Answer to the unprejudiced clears us though we expected it would meet with such ill Treatment and Mis-construction as it hath from G. K. and this Author therefore thought meet to publish the said Answer herewith for the information of others more Charitable and Impartial than this our present Accuser and unjust Judge The said Queries appear to be of so little weight and some of them so indirect and in unscriptural Terms and perversly designed for cavil that I do not think they deserve to be reprinted here The following Answer being positive plain and scriptural as well as comprehensive of what 's necessary to be said to the matters chiefly Questioned And tho' I have long had a more particular Answer to the said Queries ready I do not think my self obliged at present to gratifie such imperious arbitrary Inquisitors as our present Adversaries with the publication thereof but rather for farther information in these matters chiefly Queried refer them and others to these our Books viz. First A Testimony of what we believe of Christ both as he was God and Man c. By G. F. Printed Anno 1677. And Secondly The Christian Doctrin and Society of the People called Quakers c. And Thirdly The Harmony of the Old and New Testament concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. With many more ancient Books whereby it may appear that we were not to seek our Faith concerning Jesus and the Resurrection before the said Queries came to our hands G. W. Lon. 3d day 4th Month call'd June 1695. Friend William Lancaster HAving received a Paper of great Objections against us the People called Quakers with seven Queries therein subscribed William Lancaster directed to our Yearly Meeting in Whitson-week 1695. and delivered to some of us very near the conclusion thereof and therefore only read in the said Meeting with not having any further time to consider the Contents thereof or to give any particular answer thereunto It was by the said Meeting left to a few to consider and answer as in the Fear of God and Meekness of Wisdom we should see Cause Wherein we observe is noted great Objections have been made against us by those who have departed from our Communion as by others To which we reply that 't is true and they have been answer'd to which we refer And we observe in the said Paper it s said We would not take an account of you only from your Adversaries c. And we have chosen this solemn Time And again And we have chosen this most proper and convenient Opportunity c. And then states the several Queries and says the Questions may be proposed and their Answer demanded Now the Objections having been publick and our Answers publick we desire to know who the We are that are intended in this Paper that we may apply our selves to them or give such Scriptural Answers as we hope may tend to satisfaction But to repeat Answers in writing or print to we know not who so often as demanded to the same things already answer'd We think it not needful Therefore have herewith only sent thee a few brief Lines being grosly Wronged and Misrepresented in the said Objections and divers of the Queries contain several Questions in them in different Terms and some Vnscriptural so not plain and direct Queries therefore cannot positively be answer'd by our simple YEA or NAY to each Query as designed We therefore at present send this general Answer to the Queries for thy information as follows viz. We sincerely believe and profess Jesus Christ and the Resurrection according to the Holy Scripture Testimony and to that measure of Vnderstanding which God hath been pleased to give us by his Holy Spirit We sincerely believe in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the living God both as he is true God and perfect Man our Emanuel and Mediator and as in the fulness of Time he was Conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea Suffer'd under Pontius Pilate was Crucified and put to Death was Buried rose again the third Day and visibly Ascended into Heaven and was received into Glory and that this same Jesus Christ that was Crucified shall so in like manner come as he was seen to go into Heaven in Power and great Glory to Judge both the Living and the Dead according to their Works at the last and great Day of Judgment in that great Harvest which is the End of the World And that by Jesus Christ there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Vnjust unto the righteous Judgment of the great Day consequently that the Resurrection is not past as Hymeneus and Philetus said 2 Tim. 2. 18. And that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible Every Man in his own order and that our low Body shall be changed and made like unto Christ's glorious Body The Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints We Believe shall be Spiritual and Glorious and that the Sons of God and of the Resurrection shall be equal with the Angels of God in Heaven and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father and yet there is such a great Mystery in the Resurrection as that Flesh and Blood cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption 1 Cor. 15. The whole Sacrifice of Christ whereof his Blood outwardly that was shed was a part was of great Price with God for Mans Redemption Christ's Blood that was shed without the Gates of Jerusalem together with the whole Sacrifice himself both of Soul and Body was a true Propitiation and Attonement for Mans reconciliation and peace with God for remission of Sins through a living Faith and true Repentance in his Name given and wrought by his Spirit and Word of Power in Mens Hearts whose sincere obedience to Christ and Walking in his Light being required of them in order to experience Christ the Author of their eternal Salvation and to wash them from their Sins in his own Blood For without this true Faith Repentance and Obedience to Christ Jesus Men lose and forfeit the great Benefit of Christs Sufferings and deprive themselves of the Eternal Redemption and Salvation which he hath hereby obtain'd for us Tho' he dyed for all Men tasted death for every Man and gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified of in due time being a true Propitiation for the Sins of the World From thy Friends and Well-wishers John Gratton Samuell Wattson Thomas Lower James Parke John Bowater George Witehead John
it is a necessary Maintenance and Livelihood to them that serve in the Church it may be retained or any other Stipend appointed that may be sufficient for their Maintenance be it more or less than the Tenth part But that there is any sacrificing Priesthood to whom it is due in the New Testament the old Payment of Tithes doth not prove neither did Christ himself our High-Priest ever make claim unto them nor his Apostles the Ministers of the Church but only a sufficient Living by the Gospel to be allowed of their temporal Goods to whom they ministred spiritual Goods 1 Cor. 9. 14. Gal. 6. 6. From all which 't is evident First That the Protestants in those Days did not esteem Tithes of divine Right for Gospel Ministers but abrogated by the Death of Christ but indefinitely allowed a sufficient Maintenance for them without restricting it to the Tenth Secondly Divers eminent Martyrs and others who were both Persons of Piety and good Fame are more full and plain in this Point against Tithes in the Gospel-day and times as John Wickliff VVilliam Swinderby VValter Brute VVilliam Thorp the Bohemians with other Christians mentioned in the Book of Martyrs did bear Testimony against Tithes and compell'd Maintenance by the civil Authority This of their opposing Tithes was made a principal Article against them by the Popish Bishops and Clergy as more largely and particularly appears in the 1st vol. of Martyrs in the Reigns of Richard II. Henry IV. and Henry V. And tho' with those Christian Martyrs and first reformed Protestants we are persuaded That Jesus Christ by his Suffering and Death hath abrogated Tithes and the Law that required them according to Heb. 7. and that his Ministry ought to be free and without any forced Maintenance yet 't is not our Business now strictly to dispute the Merits of that Case of Tithes being fully opened by other Hands as Fra. Howgill in his Great Case of Tithes and Tho. Ellwood in his Foundation of Tithes shaken and R. Richardson's Testimony against Tithing among Christians with divers others to which we refer the Reader And to shew how much this Adversary resembles a Son of the old pretended Mother Church in his Contempt and Scorn against some of the Protestant Reformers particularly against VVilliam Thorp p. 169. for esteeming their Priests or Gospel Ministers not to come of the Lineage of Levi but of Judah which can intend no other but as they come of Christ who came of the Tribe of Judah and not of Levi for this William Thorp is derided as shewing what a doughty Clerk he was And with Fulsom Stuff p. 170. our Adversaries saying Who told Thorp or the Quakers that our Priests came of the Lineage of Judah Are they Jews What fulsom Stuff is this quoth he No doubt William Thorp meant the true Priesthood of Christ descended spiritually of his Line and not naturally And does not Jo. Fox call him A valiant Warrier under the triumphant Banner of Christ and commend him as that the Might Spirit and Grace of God to a marvel appeared in him But this Popish Agent ironically renders him a doughty Clerk a fulsom Writer What fulsom popish Stuff is this Sn. p. 194. Traiterous Principles and Actions charged against the Quakers from 1650 to 1660. as also Blasphemies and Treasons Blasphemers and Traitors p. 196 197 198. Ref. We need but answer these with Negation and Detestation as being most foul Raileries proceeding from a Spirit of Persecution and deadly Malice which the righteous Lord will rebuke but has he not heard of some of the Clergy who have lately absolved Persons condemned of High Treason His quoting Bugg's Authority for these black Charges p. 199. shews his partial Credulity in not taking notice of our Answers to him As also our Answer to John Pennyman on the like Passages Entituled Christ's Lambs defended from Satan's Rage Sn. p. 199. He chargeth G. Fox and E. Burrough with Traiterous abetting of Oliver and the Rump Ref. This is very harsh and deny'd He forgets how the then Clergy abetted Oliver and highly applauded him and his Son Richard as their Moses and Joshua and shews as little regard to the Act of Indemnity in these Recriminations if they were true Sn. Yet in p. 204 205 206 207. 208. he not only gives a Recital of a cruel and bitter Petition and Charge against divers of the People called Quakers directed To the Right Honourable the Council of State as they were called by several of the Priests and others in Lancashire and printed in 1653. but also takes it for granted that the Persons charged were guilty of every part of the Charge p. 209. Observe Thus he has sided with the Persecutors of those Times who abetted and sheltered under that Government which no doubt he now esteems not Loyal and not only so but he appears very partial and credulous of their most bitter and malicious Charges which were then designed to stir up severe Persecution Sn. One of the Charges p. 202 203 205 206. That G. Fox professed and avowed That he was equal with God Another That he professed himself to be the Eternal Judge of the World Ref. Observe here the Man 's partial Credulity and Injustice again in taking for granted what persecuting Adversaries have long since unjustly suggested against a conscientious Sufferer without hearing his Defence where the said G. F. being charged by his Persecutors with professing himself to be equal with God positively denies the Charge as not so spoken as that G. F. was equal with God but confessed That the Father and the Son are one and that Christ and the Holy Spirit are equal with God Saul's Errand p. 5 6. And so to Christ Jesus both as he was of the Seed of Abraham and also as he was equal and one with the Father And do not these confess both the Humanity and Divinity of Jesus Christ Vid. Just Inquiry p. 12. Sn. p. 212. That the Quakere take the Name of God and Christ to themselves because of God's supposed dwelling in them And p. 213. Their pretence to Perfection equal even to the Perfection of God himself and that they all pretend to it Ref. We the Quakers so called positively deny all such presumption and these Charges thereof in their several Parts Pray when and where did ever the People called Quakers call themselves by those Names of God and Christ either because of God's Indwelling or for any other cause We deny the Charge as both blasphemous and confused God's indwelling in his People cannot render them God And though we do sincerely believe and own a perfection of a deliverance from Sin and of Sanctification and Holiness as obtained and wrought by Jesus Christ for and in true Believers in this Life yet we cannot pretend to any such equality of Perfection as that of God himself which in Wisdom and Power c. is infinite seeing we are Men and not God finite Creatures and not the Creator
with Gross Error but Hypocrisie too The first intends those Books of ours quoted by him in all which there 's Matter sufficient to clear us from his Aspersions as Thomas Ellwood and John Pennington also have well observed in divers Answers to him together with G. Keith's own former Vindications of us as a People and our Principles The latter i. e. Hypocrisie we may suppose must intend our Answer given to the said 7 Queries wherein as in divers other things G. K. hath foully belied us contrary to our own Consciences which are clear in the sight â—f God from Hypocrisie in this Matter as well as in other things And seeing G. K.'s Authority seems to be of some value with the obscure Author of The Snake in the Grass he and his Brethren of the Church of England may take G. K. for their Champion and see what they can make of him for he shews himself now no Quaker but more near to them and where he 'll yet center or settle in what Society or Communion is a great Question Or rather whether he does not aim at setting up for himself as Sect-master if he can draw some sort of People to admire him in his Notions and reproaching the Quakers contrary to his former manifold Vindications of them and their Principles after above 30 Years Conversation and kind Treatment among them The Second Part. Here follows a Catalogue of some of the great Mistakes notorious Abuses and Calumnies in the Second Part of the said Book stiled The Snake in the Grass after the Preface which is bigger than the Book it self THE Controversie with the Quaker-Dissenters has not been pursued by the Church of England with the like Zeal and Pains as those against the Presbyterians Independents and other Dissenters because the Quakers were not so considerable either for their Learning or for their Influence upon the publick Revolutions which the others caused both in Church and State But their numbers whether increased by their being so neglected are now really formidable I mean for the many Souls seduced by them they not only swarm over these Nations but they stock our Plantations abroad Re. Tho' the first part of this Complaint carries no small Reflection upon the Presbyterians and Independents c. rendring them greatly obnoxious in the Eye of the Government as not only formidable but dangerous which is most proper for them to answer 't is not truly stated as to the Quakers For the Church of England in the two late King's Reigns has pursued them with more Zeal and Pains than any other Dissenters both to stop their Growth and to root them out also tho' not by rationally controverting Matters in difference but by such extream and severe Persecutions as hard Imprisonments Banishments Spoil of Goods c. as no other People of Dissenters have so generally suffered nor to such a degree because they did not stand in a publick Testimony in the Heat of the Day as the People called Quakers have So that 't is not through the said Churches neglect or want of taking Pains to pursue the Quakers that they are so multiplied and increased but rather as the first and chief cause of their Increase was God's Power and divine Providence A secondary Cause was their great Oppressions and Persecutions of which Israel's Oppression and Increase when in Egypt in some sense and degree was figurative or resembling even of the true Churches Sufferings when the more they were oppressed the more they multiplied and grew Sn. p. 4. I find them scoffingly telling of the Rabbies of the Quakers to inherit the Subtilty as well as Heresie of the Arians and Socinians who were the most subtil and hardest to be detected of any of the Christian Hereticks and the Quakers do defend themselves with the same distinctions and even add to their Arts. Re. This Adversary is very much out and maliciously calumnious in this his charging the Heresie of the Arians as well as Socinians upon the Ministers among the Quakers For what was the Heresie of Arius Was it not that he held That the Son of God had his beginning of nothing That there was a time when he was not That he had a beginning of Essence That he had this Essence of nothing That the Son of God was of free Will inclined to Virtue and Vice That he was a Creature and made neither like unto the Father in Substance neither the true Word of the Father by Nature neither his true Wisdom and that the Word of God was not from Everlasting c. These Heresies were charg'd upon Arius and his Complices in the Syâ—odical Epistle of the Council of Nice and Bishop of Alexandria lib. 1. cap. 3. Socr. Scol p. 215 216. p. 225. ch 6. Now we challenge this obscure Adversary to prove where ever the Quakers or their Ministers held these blasphemous and atheistical Notions Nay 't is manifest they hold the quite contrary both to Arius and Socinus for the Divinity of the Son of God the Eternal Word as many of their Writings testifie and therefore he is a gross Lyar who charges us with them and highly guilty of Folly and Self-contradiction also in rendring such mad Folks as he deems us so very subtil in Distinctions and Arts. Sn. p. 5. Many of them have really gone off from the height of Blasphemy and Madness which was professed among them at their first setting up in the Year 1650. and so continued till after the Year of the Restoration Anno 1660. Re. We utterly deny this Charge again as a foul Scandal That many of us professed the height of Blasphemy and Madness or that any in Society with us have so done The Man shamefully abuseth the Readers by imposing such lying defaming Stories upon them Sn. p. 10 11. Divers Comparisons made between L. Muggleton and the Quakers as denying all Church-Authority making a dead Letter of the Holy Scriptures and resolving all into their own private Spirit c. That these are Twin-Enthusiasts both born in the Year 1650. Re. His Comparisons herein are unjust and Accusations false 1. We never owned nor had Society with Muggleton but always bore our Testimony against his dark blasphemous Conceits 2. The spiritual Authority of the true Church we always own and esteem 3. The Holy Scriptures i. e. the Holy Doctrin of the Gospel we do not make nor call a dead Letter We distinguish between the dead Letter and the living Doctrin and follow not our private Spirits for the understanding thereof but the Spirit of God the Inspiration of the Almighty which giveth the true understanding Sn. p. 12. I desire before I go farther to obviate a Prejudice which some Readers may take as a little Railery I am forced to use now and then which they may think not becoming the Subject in Hand Re. His said Book of Four Shillings Price has more than a little Railery in 't for 't is stuft with abundance of as shameful Railery
for his Account is almost in every part false containing at least twelve plain Mistakes at best A natural Consequence of being over-officious and medling in other Mens Affairs which he is the readier to let him know that if he will please to appear Face to Face and hath two Ears may be yet better informed by him who is willing to join Issue with him in his great many more Instances as he saith Nath. Marks Among his many repeated Falshoods there is something of Truth hinted about one he calls a Prophet although never so esteemed by us who not keeping in Humility true Fear and Watchfulness as the Light of the Lord would have guided him the Enemy prevailed to hurry him by the shrength of Imagination and a secret discomposure of Mind wrongfully to charge a Person with the Fact for which he has been reprehended and testified against and we desire the Lord may truly humble that Person unto true Repentance Is it just to reproach all for this one Man's Offence Would this Accuser be so dealt by from the gross Miscarriages of many of his esteemed reverend Brethren of the Clergy Or because some of them have run Mad would he and the rest be so deemed We trow not Sn. p. 104 105. These Quaker-Prophets resolv'd to try their Hands round since they had begun and see if they could terrifie some or other to confess their Infallibility Re. What Prophets and how many did so resolve This is a foul Aspersion mix'd with the other false and partial Story to defame us and to invalidate our Christian Testimony which is to the Spirit of Truth and its Infallibility Sn. p. 112. Now it is made apparent that that Spirit which possesses them i. e. the Quakers is the very Spirit of Lies which is the Spirit of the Devil and consequently that their Light within is Darkness and then as our Saviour said O how great is that Darkness Re. What a blasphemous scornful and defaming Wretch is this 1. Thus to defame and condemn a sober religious People as possest with the Spirit of the Devil from some personal Mistakes Failings and Weaknesses 2. Thus to condemn the Principle i. e. our Light within as great Darkness because of some personal Miscarriages or Darkness prevailing through their not walking in the true Light which we profess Sn. p. 113. O therefore let those Christians beware who are led away with pretences to the Spirit in any Men not only against but beside that which is written who break the Vnity of the Church which Christ calls the tearing of his own Body to pieces and forsake the Communion of their lawful Bishops whom Christ has left as his own immediate Representatives and Vice gerents and as the Principles of Vnity in their respective Churches Re. This Story affects all Protestant Dissenters how conscientious soever any of them are as if they were all led by an ill Spirit against Scripture to break the Unity of the Church of Christ and tear his Body to pieces and to forsake the Communion of Christ's own immediate Representatives and Vice-gerents Very high Charges indeed but we deny them he must produce some better Proofs than his own ipse dixit or thus imposing upon Dissenting Protestants And suppose some such Dissenters should deny a Church guilty of severe Persecution to be the Church or Body of Christ and such Bishops as have countenanced Persecution to be his Vice-gerents and therefore cannot in Conscience hold Communion with them or with that Church what proof will he bring to satisfie the Denyers thereof See what follows Sn. p. 115. Sect. 10. Tho' God sent many Prophets to reprove the Kings and the Priests yet they neither rebelled against the Kings nor set up opposite Altars against those of those wicked Priests But AS they paid all dutiful Obedience to their persecuting Kings and suffered Martyrdom under them without resistance SO did they always keep in the Communion of those same Priests whom they had provok'd and reprov'd and paid all due Obedience to their sacred Authority Re. 1st That God sent Prophets to reprove the wickedness of Kings and Priests and the Covteousness Idolatry Prophaneness and Persecution of corrupt and polluted Priests is true and that true Prophets patiently suffered by both 2. But that the true Prophets did always keep in the Communion of those same corrupted polluted and wicked Priests whom they had reproved as asserted we deny for the Holy Prophets had a distinct pure Communion from that of the polluted Priests 3. 'T is no better than a piece of Popery thus to plead for keeping Communion with wicked Priests and Obedience to their Authority as sacred when they have no divine or sacred Authority being debased by their own Iniquity This is to make People Vassals to a corrupt Priesthood such as the holy Prophets testified against and as God overthrew for their Covetousness Idolatry and Wickedness the great Corruption of Priests is sufficient cause to dissent and separate from them Sn. p. 124 125. Their Churches have censur'd these Separatists and consequently given Judgment against the Light within particular Persons Re. The Consequence is falsly deduced for where the Separation is a Self-separation for which no just Cause is or can be assigned or Corruption charged upon the Society or Church from whom the Separation is made 't is unwarrantable and not arising from the true Light in any particular Persons and therefore the Judgment against such a Self-separation is not against the Light but against a Fruit of the Flesh and Darkness The Lord requires a Separation from the Unclean but not from the Congregation of his People nor from the Flocks of his Companions Sn. p. 128. The Ground of this Persecution against G. Keith was his preaching Christ without or a personal Christ in Heaven besides the Light within which he said was only the spiritual Presence of Christ by his Light and Life in all his Children P. 130. They do not really believe in any other Saviour than their own Light within which they call Christ and so endeavour to amuse us Re. 1. We never understood that G. K. was prosecuted for preaching Christ without in Heaven and only his spiritual Presence by his Light and Life in all his Children seeing this is all still but one and the same indivisible Christ and not two Christs Christ as in the Heavens and as in our Hearts is not divided There were other Matters charg'd against G. K. of his turbulent Spirit and Behaviour making Divisions Parties Separations c. 2. We do really believe in the intire Christ of God who was sent to be the Saviour and Light of the World that enlightens every Man coming into it and he is our Light Life and Salvation and this can amuse none but them that walk in Darkness Sn. p. 140. That G. K. upon the Text 1 John 1. 7. said It ought to be taken literally that it was the outward shedding of Christ's Blood which
Believers are baptized unto Christ and into Christ's Death and into One Body there being One Faith and One Baptism which is that of the Spirit 's which is the Soul 's saving Baptism typified by that of Water See 1 Cor. 12. 13. Rom. 6. 3 4. Gal. 3. 27. Ephes. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 21. In the next place we may observe this censorious uncharitable Man will not allow Christ's Commission Mat. 28 19. To intend spiritual Baptism or the Baptism of the Holy Ghost because he saith Christ only is he who could baptize with the Holy Ghost To say that Man could bestow God which the Holy Ghost is is the highest Blasphemy p. 203 204. And further to aggravate the Matter against us he saith If the Quakers Interpretation of Mat. 28. 19. do hold it will follow that the Apostles and their Successors have power to baptize with the Holy Ghost which is Blasphemy Reply He is highly mistaken in his superlative Charge of Blasphemy in this Case for if our Interpretation of the Text does hold That Christ's Apostles and Ministers had Power given them by him being present with them even in his own Work to baptize with the Spirit as well as to convert Men to God then our Interpretation isd not Blasphemy because it holds This severe Judge against us is quite out here For tho' Christ be the great and efficient Cause both of giving and baptizing with the Spirit yet his true Ministers who were indued with his divine Power were instrumental in his Work of baptizing with the Spirit yea and of ministring the Spirit and he was with them in his own Work Lo I am with you always to the end of the World saith he What for To enable them to baptize with Water No that many can do without him or the least sense of his Presence but lo Christ was with them to impower them to Go teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost It is not Go teach and then baptize them with Water but Go teach all Nations baptizing them c. There was a divine and spiritual Baptism immediately attending and present with their Ministry and it was to such as were docible too and not to Infants who are not capable of Teaching and this spiritual Presence of Christ and his Baptism accompanying their Ministry is evident according to St. Peter's own Relation Acts 11. 15 16. And AS I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard even as upon us at the beginning Then I remembred the Word of the Lord how he said John baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost What 's more plain than that here was Teaching and Baptizing with the Holy Ghost accompanying his Ministry Query But were Christ's Apostles instrumental in ministring the Spirit Yes they being Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter See Gal. 3. 2. Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith preached And ver 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh Miracles among you doth he it through the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith preached Their Speech and Preaching being not in the enticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in plain Evidence of the Spirit and of Power that the Faith of the Hearers might not stand in the Wisdom of Men but in the Power of God 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. For said he our Gospel was not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance 1 Thes. 1. 5. But contrarywise this imposing Judge has promoted Water-Baptism above the spiritual powerful Ministry of the Gospel He 'll have the spiritual Baptism to go along with that of Water duly administred and received as he saith p. 205. But by no means will he allow the spiritual Baptism to go along with the Gospel Ministry or Teaching as commanded Mat. 28. 19. No by no means that he deems Blasphemy which bewrays his no small Ignorance both of the Scriptures and of the Power of God and true Gospel-Ministry in this case and therefore he 'll not allow Inward Baptism to supersede the Outward Though John Baptist who had a peculiar Commission for the Outward allowed it he preferred and exalted Christ's Baptism above his own saying He must increase but I must decrease John 3. 30 I indeed baptize you with Water unto Repentance or amendment of Life but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 8 Luke 3. 16. John 1. 26 27. That John as to this his outward Ministry of Baptism should decrease implies not an immediate or present end thereof upon the entrance of Christ's Dispensation or Baptism but that John's should gradually decrease and wear out as Christ's Ministry and Baptism do encrease and grow as the Heat of Fire or Sun dries up the Water and causes it to decrease by Degrees and not suddenly all at once For John and his Ministry being of great esteem with many both Jews and Greeks no doubt his Baptism was condescended unto and allowed when the Apostles were gathering divers of the Churches of Christ to a higher Ministry And that this of John's Baptism was an Act of Condescention and not of Commission to the Apostles Paul is very plain in this case 1 Cor. 1. 14 15 16. after he saith I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius lest any should say that I had baptized in my own Name I baptized also the Houshold of Stephanus c. He gives a more general Reason for his thanking God he baptized no more ver 17. For Christ sent me NOT to baptize but to preach the Gospel c. And doubtless Paul's Commission from Christ was as large and extensive as any of the Apostles had therefore their Commission in Mat. 28. 19 was not to baptize with Water but with the Spirit wherein their Gospel Ministry came His supposing that If the inward Baptism must supersede the Outward then must Inward Teaching p. 203. This supposes the outward Baptism of equal Authority with Teaching or Preaching the Gospel and as necessary to continue which we do not believe yet we deny not but the inward and immediate Teaching of the Holy Spirit is more excellent and permanent than the Outward as the Holy Spirit is the Original and Spring from whence the true outward Ministry arises and flows and unto which it leads and the more People come to know an Introversion and joining of their Minds to the Inward the less need they 'll have of the Outward though we bless God for both But how proves this Adversary That the visible Representation of the Lord's death by the Bread broken and the Wine poured forth and also Water-Baptism are the Body or outward part of Religion which he saith the
the Conscience are Spiritual and Mysterious as the New Covenant it self is which they belong to and these things known in And this is the New and Living way which Christ set open through the vail of his Flesh Heb. 10. Let him receive this who can And if our Adversary and his abetters know no more of the Mystery of Christ's Blood or Work of purging and sprinkling the Conscience than their profession and application of the Material Blood without the sanctifying Spirit and Operation of it they may remain long enough with defiled Consciences and full of Envy and Malice That precious outward Offering and Blood of Christ outwardly shed has long been greatly abused by misapplication and the holy design and ends thereof perverted by carnal Professors to indulge themselves in Sin and Disobedience against Christ during Life Now laying aside the Baptist's Argument aforesaid I do grant that the Material Blood whereby all things under the Law were purged as it had the very Image of the Material Blood of Christ that was outwardly shed it was Typical thereof And that Blood of Christ including his whole Sacrifice argued by the Apostle to the Hebrews as the Antitype answering and fulfiling the Types thereof and which were not only Types of that Blood and Sacrifice as outwardly offered but also a shadow of the inward and spiritual sprinkling purging and sanctifying of the Conscience by Christ our High Priest with his Blood and Spirit of Grace The good things to come which the Law had the shadow of but not the very Image of them were Heavenly and Spiritual things Heb. 10. 1. But the Law had the very Image or Resemblance of the Material Blood of Christ that was shed in that it had material Blood of Sacrifices one Blood resembles another therefore that Material or Natural Blood outwardly shed was not those Spiritual and Heavenly things which the Law had the shadow and not the very Image of The Material and Typical Blood whereby all things were purged under the Law was sprinkled on them by Moses and the High-Priest therefore 't is Christ our High Priest who sprinkles and effectually purgeth the Conscience which he doth not Literally but Spiritually in which work his Spirit and Power is livingly concerned as the efficient Cause and his Blood and whole Sacrifice in preparing and making way for and obtaining Redemption and Remission of Sins received upon true repentance on our parts It 's said How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. The value efficacy and fruit of his offering himself without spot to God is greatly or principally placed upon the eternal Spirit and so is the work of Sanctification and effectually purging the Conscience both from dead works and the pollution of Sin That which inwardly and effectually purgeth the Conscience and sprinkles the heart from an evil Conscience is the Spirit the spiritual Vertue Blood and Life of Christ that actually purgeth and cleanseth them from all Sin who truly walk in his light which has the sanctifying life and vertue in it There was a kind of expiation and purging by way of Sacrifice under the Law and old Covenant yet the Consciences thereby not purified nor made perfect But the Expiation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Purgation or Cleansing Heb. 1. 3. That 's made and prepared by Christ himself and his Sacrifice and the Covenant of Grace and Mercy wherein that work of Grace is fulfiled Sealed with his own Blood this reacheth the Conscience to a real purifying and perfecting thereof by the Spirit and Power of Christ. By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified whereof the Holy Ghost also is witness to us Heb. 10. 14 15. Therefore that Expiation made by that most excellent Offering without us is fulfilled by the Spirit in the work of Sanctification within us We are delivered from the outward Law and the Curse of it by the Body of Christ but are made free from the Law and Sin of Death by the Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus Ro. 7. 4. 8. 2. To that of Act 20. 28. The Church of God which he purchased with his own Blood Hereupon the Man has some slight flings at me but makes very little work on 't As to my saying The Blood of God which is God's own Blood and whereby his Church is purchas'd must needs be spiritual and the Covenant of God is inward and spiritual and so is the Blood of it consequently both Mystical I did not hereby hold that God is either Material or has a Material Body or Blood but the contrary that his own Blood whereby his Church is purchased is more than the Material or Natural Blood of Christ that was shed though that was a part of the Sacrifice offered for Man's Redemption neither dare our Adversary say that Blood could be properly called God's own Blood unless he holds that God has a material Body and Blood no more than the Annotation thereupon which saith Of God's own Blood that which appertaineth to Christ's humanity is attributed to his Divinity because of the Communion of properties and union of the two Natures in one Person Which Notation or the Terms of it I shall not now dispute But I 'le take leave to explain my self farther for the spiritual vertue and mystery of God's own Blood and the Blood of his everlasting Covenant the Blood of sprinkling therein c. wherehy God has purchased his Church God's own Blood was no less than his own dear Son Christ himself It was a manner of speaking the Blood put for the whole Offering the innocent Blood that Judas betrayed was Christ himself Mat. 27. 4. And the Ransom or Price given for Man's Redemption was Christ himself who came to give his life for the Ransome of many Matt. 20 28. And he gave himself a Ransome for all Men to be testified of in due time 1 Tim. 2. 6. God spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all There 's a twofold work in the Redemption that is by Jesus Christ 1. By the Sacrifice and Mediation of Christ general for all Men. 2. By his Power Spirit and Life actually freeing and delivering the truly believing Soul from Sin and from the Nature and Being of Sin and Condemnation because thereof in which sense God's Church was purchased with his own Blood and in which last and special sense my Answer was intended as not only by the natural or outward Blood shed but principally by the spiritual Blood or Life of Christ Jesus God's sparing not his own Son but delivering him up for us all includes the whole Sacrifice of Christ in Soul and Body which were offered therefore God's own Blood is such an high and elegant Phrase as bespeaks the great love of God in Christ as the whole Ransom and Price of