These our Accusers appear most invidious against them as if influenced by some treacherous Judases or envious Apostates They begin to quote Mr. Bugg and Mr. Kieth as they stile them their Authority against us And what says their Mr. Bugg They tell us Mr. Bugg's Pilgrims Progress Chapters 7 8 9 10 11. give an account of their several Meetings and of their Fund Exchequer or Common-Bank And what says there Mr. Kieth to it seeing he is join'd with F. Bugg for a witness against us Mr. Keith say they who has been a Quaker above thirty Years more shame for him now to vilifie them in his Second Narrative p. 5. says I am not able to Print Books as they Quakers can they are many and have a Common-Stock I am but one To which we Answer we deny their Terms of Fund Exchequer or Common-Bank we know no Common-Stock we have that can properly be called a Fund or an Exchequer for improvement of a Stock or advancing and increasing Mony upon as a Fund Foundation or setled Bottom c. What Fund for Improvement can a Collection for poor be that is soon distributed and spent Tho' we have free and voluntary Collections in our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Charitable Supply and Relief of the Poor and Indigent among us that they may not be Chargeable or Burdensome to our Neighbours of other Persuasions nor to the Parishes wherein they dwell Thus we relieve our own Poor and also pay our share or Proportions severally to other Poor of the respective Parishes and Places where our Friends inhabit And now as we are a People we must needs have divers Charges upon us as Our Poors Rents and charge of Meeting-Houses Rents and Reparations in many Places As also for the necessary Supply and Relief of our Friends when impoverished or disabled under or by extream Suffering and Distress in this or other Countries as in Ireland when they had greatly suffered by reason of the late War and of late in Scotland where in divers parts they have wanted Bread and Subsistence through the late Years great Failing of their Harvests And also for the Relief of our Friends who have been for many Years Captives in Algiers Macqueness and Sally under sore and miserable Hardships and Extremities whereby many have lost their Lives Upon these and other Occasions and Necessities relating to our suffering Friends and Brethren our Friends in this Nation who are capable have been free and willing without any Compulsion to contribute their Christian Assistance Charitable and Necessary Supplies and accordingly Distributions have been made thereof pursuant to these good and necessary Ends So that we have no Fund of Improvement nor any Tax imposed by any of our Meetings but the necessary Occasions tenderly recommended in the Love of God in these Matters and accordingly left to every ones free Liberty as God shall incline their Hearts to consider the Poor and Needy and Distressed c. And if these our Accusers who seek to Jealous and Criminate us in these matters were charitably disposed as Christians they would not render us Criminal Dangerous or Seditious for such Religious Acts of Charity and Christianity But would better consider the Primitive Christians Practice in such Cases than to misrepresent our Meetings wherein such Christian Care is taken as opposite to the Government This Savours rank of an Uncharitable Persecuting Spirit as their long Marginal-Note on p. 22 23. doth beginning with these words They have a Government within the Government independant from it and opposite to it This is like Judas and the Priests and the False Witnesses against Christ to make him an Enemy to Caesar thus they would make us the People of God called Quakers greatly obnoxious as if we promoted Regnum in Regno not only Independent but Opposite to the Civil Government which none of our Meetings are being all Peaceable and Innocent both for the Worship of Almighty God and Service of one another in true Christian Love in order to promote the real Practice of Piety Christianity and true Religion among us as a People and to prevent the contrary as much as in us lies by Warning and due Admonition against all disorderly loose Conversation Immorality and Profaneness tending to the Scandal of our Holy Profession And for such good Ends there were Helps in Government in the true Church 1 Cor. 12.28 and all in Subjection to Christ's Government who is Head and Law-giver to His Church and upon whose Shoulders the Government is laid And this is not opposite to the Civil Government in the Nation neither hath the King the Government or the Nation ever sustained any Hurt or Prejudice by these our Meetings or by the Christian Care or Service thereof and their being Monthly Quarterly and Yearly is for conveniency of the Times and due Notice and in no wise to Confront the Government no more than our First-Days and Weekly Meetings for our Meetings are Innocently upheld in the Name of the Lord for his Worship and Service and have accordingly been manifest these many Years under the various Revolutions of Government and we hope we shall in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ stand for and innocently Vindicate our Christian and Just Liberty therein against this Persecuting Spirit which unjustly seeks to Influence Authority against us and our Religious Exercise in the Practice of our Christian Religion But blessed be the Lord who by his Power hath better inclin'd the King and Government to Moderation and Gentleness towards all their Peaceable and Serviceable People As we do not assume to our selves a Government or Dominion over our People or their Faith nor place a Supremacy or Headship in Persons or Assemblies but in Jesus Christ our Head and Governour so we know no such Supream Assembly among us as gives Laws and makes Orders for the Government of our People and suppressing Books writ against us as is falsly suggested we know no such Supremacy or Dominion exercised among us though we have Christian Assemblies both general and particular held only in the Name and Power of Christ Jesus Neither have we our Laws and Orders for the Government of our People to make by Assemblies but to see those put in practice which Christ our Head and Law-giver hath taught us and revealed to his Servants and that agreeable to the Holy Scriptures of Truth and no ways injurious to the outward Government But for the promoting of Truth and Righteousness in the Earth and as Fellow-helpers in Christ provoking one another to Love and Good Works And as for Passing Censure upon Offenders so did the Primitive Christians And what have they against Passing Censure upon Offenders Why may we not as a Christian Society Censure Offenders and Disorderly Walkers and such as cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel It is evident the Primitive Christian Churches did both Instruct Exhort Reprove Rebuke and Reject These our Persecutors over and over
contain'd in them To that other Part of their Charge relating to Difference p. 11. As they make nothing of it against us but only give us a Quotation whether altogether true or not is a Question So I see no advantage they can make of it against us suppose it as it is That if any Difference arise in the Church or among them that profess themselves Members thereof the Church with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ hath power to determine the same if any pretend to be of us and in case of Controversie will nor admit to be tried by the Church of Christ Jesus nor submit to the Judgment given by the Spirit of Truth c. such to be rejected And what of all this Is there either Blasphemy or Sedition herein How is this pursuant to the Priests Charge in their Title Page Doth not our blessed Lord say concerning the offending Brother if he should neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen-man and a Publican Mat. 18.17 But first he prescribes a due Order of Procedure towards such an Offender First privately then before Witnesses vers 15 16. And the Apostle severely reprehends one Brother going to Law with another and that before Unbelievers saying Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the World and if then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this Life set them to judge who are least esteemed in the Church See more at large 1 Cor. 6.1 to v. 9. As to the Story against Sam. Jennings about the proceeding against G. K. in Pennsilvania I question the Truth of it however if these Priests do esteem G. K. such an Eminent or Good Christian and not a Quaker why do they not openly receive him into their Society and Arms of their Church and promote him as well as privately Consult with him and Credit and Accept his Accusations against us It seems they are hard put to it for Aid in their Designs that they must be beholden to such as F. Bugg and G. K. for their Help against the People called Quakers who for many Years were own'd by them for God's Chosen and Peculiar People And G. K. will never be able to obliterate all he has written in their behalf with all his pretended Retractations 24th Charge p. 12. Saul's Errand p. 14. The Question was put to G. F. Whether Christ in the Flesh be a Figure or not and if a Figure how and in what To which he Answers Christ is the Substance of all Figures and his Flesh is a Figure And in Truth Defending the Quakers by G. W. c. p. 20. It is said expresly That Christ's coming in the Flesh is but a Figure Ans I deny that it is so said expresly by G. W. That Christ's coming in the Flesh is but a Figure it is an express Falshood as it seems to Charge me with the Words for they are in the Priest's Question Quest 35. Did R. H. well in Writing That Christ's coming in the Flesh was BUT a Figure These were none of my Words but the Priests In my Answer I have neither the Word But nor the Assertion So I ask hast thou not read That he was the express Figure of his Father's Substance And I understood that by the Word Figure R. H. and G. F. meant Example that is that they look'd on Christ as in the Flesh as an Example rendring Example or Figure Synonimous and yet confess Christ to be the substance of all Figures Types and Shadows as in Saul's Errand p. 8 and 14. but do not say that Christ in the Flesh is but a Figure neither did I so say or assert as is falsly cast upon me But in my Antitode against the Snake in the Grass I fully explain this Point according to Scriptures from p. 155 to 178. part whereof follows viz. Type or Figure sometimes points at a thing to come as in Rom. 5.14 who was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Figure of him that was to come And sometimes Type or Figure denotes a present Example or Pattern as in Phil. 3.17 Mark them which walk so as ye have us for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Example And the same word is used in 2 Thes 3.9 and 1 Tim. 4.12 and Tit. 2.7 and 1 Cor. 10.11 only in different Cases or Terminations And also the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Example or Type John 13.15 Heb. 9.23 Thus Example or Type are made Synonimous in T. C's Lexicon and the like in Crit. Sacr. but more fully explained For there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Exemplum Exemplar triplicem habet in Scriptura significatum 1. Significat Typum seu figuram rerum vel praeteritarum Heb. 8.5 vel futurarum Heb. 9.23 2. Exemplum Imitationis John 13.15 1 Tim. 4.12 Tit. 4.7 3. Exemplum Monitionis sive Cautelae ut 2 Pet. 2.6 That is to say Exemplum or Exemplar hath a threefold signification in Scripture 1. It signifies a Type or Figure of things either past or to come 2. An Example of Imitation 3. An Example of Warning or Caution Now see how Synonimously the Terms Type Figure Pattern and Example are rendred in Scripture and of what extent not only in relation to the Types under the Law but in some respect to Christ and his Ministers tho' he be also confessed to be the Antitype Substance and End of all Legal Shadows Types and Figures But I have not called Christ himself a Type of our Light within nor justified the same Thus far Antidote p. 176 177. 25th Charge G. F. Great Mystery p. 206. The Apostles preached Christ that was crucified within and not another him that was raised up from the Dead was risen that Lord Jesus Christ within Obs Not to insist on their following broken and lame Quotations with their nonsensical Dashes here they sillily carp at the manner of these Expressions they wanting due points as The Apostles preached Christ that 's crucified within and not another there wanted this Parenthesis For 't is plainly exprest before viz. If Christ that is crucified be not within and Christ that 's Risen be not within I say that you are all Reprobates Great Mystery Ibid. And he that hath not this Christ that was risen and crucified within is a Reprobate Ibid. here wanted the Parenthesis again tho' explained in the foregoing words viz. If Christ that was crucified be not within c. 'T is certain there is but one Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 8. who came both in the Flesh and in the Spirit What they Charge News coming up c. p. 14. Your Baptism is Carnal here they leave out Sprinkling Infants which God never commanded and their Sacrament as they call it is carnal and here again they leave out and there is not a word in the Scripture that speaks of a Sacrament and their Communion is Carnal a little Bread and Wine whereupon I propose to these our severe Judges that if these Expressions be offensive to them and
Christian Counsel Admonition Instruction and Recommendation of things just and honest in his Name unto our Friends under the same Christian Profession with us this is no Design to root up or destroy any outward Civil Government in Temporal Affairs or for a Terror to Evil-does but tending to the Ease and Praise thereof by due and timely Admonition to prevent Disorders and Scandal as that termed Preventing Justice doth prevent Enormities Mischiefs and the Penalties consequently must needs be an ease to the Civil Government And as for our Admonishing against unruly disorderly Spirits who either lust to be Contentious or to cause Divisions contrary to the Gospel of Peace or reprehending such who slight contemn and scorn wholsome Advice and Christian Counsel This our Christian Care and Practice for good Order Peace and Vnity in the Churches of Christ among us is both necessary and warrantable and according to the Practice and Example of the Primitive Christians and Churches of Christ So that as hath been testified already in the first Part of this Examination all our Meetings both Yearly Monthly Quarterly c. are for Innocent Good and Christian Ends and Religious Exercise and Service And these Adversaries saying These Meetings are not for Worship but only for their Government p. 17. Is a known Falshood we having in them often-times both earnest Prayer and Supplication to God and Edifying one another in true Faith and Love and provoking one another to Love and good Works To their Charging our said Meetings That we keep them with our Doors shut or guarded expresly against the Act of Toleration that extends only they say to Meetings for Religious Worship and excludes all from any Benefit by that Act who keep their Doors shut at their Meetings p. 17. Thus far against the Quakers See how hard these Persecutors are put to it and how strenuously they endeavour to exclude us from any Benefit of the Act of Toleration consequently to raise Persecution against us But they are very narrow and partial as well as mistaken in their Construction of it For I hope in the Exercise of Religion Meetings for promoting the Practice of pure Religion may be included and allowed together with those intirely for Religious Worship And it is a false Construction to say The said Act excludes all from the Benefit thereof who keep their Doors shut at their Meetings This is a wrong Construction upon the Statute the words whereof being With the Doors lock'd barr'd or bolted 't is not with the Doors shut for there may be need for that sometime to keep out the cold Wind. It seems the Malice of these Persecutors is so deadly against us that they do not only harp upon their repeated Rendering the Quakers as setting up a Government within the Government to make them Seditious but also Treasonable for which end they cite the following Passage out of West answering the North p. 80. viz. Any Party of Men under a Government to make Laws not being Lawfully Authoriz'd so to do for the binding of others and thereunto to require Obedience is the setting up of themselves above the Law and treading it under their Feet and rendering of them whom they do so bind their Slaves and Vassals and so is Treason 'T is probable these Persecutors think they have given us a deadly Blow with this Passage and therefore have put Treason in great Letters But they greatly misapply and pervert the same For being printed about the Year 1656 it was directly intended as a Stroke upon the Persecuting Justices and Magistrates in those times in the West of England who contrary to Magna Charta Chap. 29. and the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of this Nation did in their own Arbitrary Wills issue out Orders of Sessions or Warrants to apprehend and Imprison our Friends and so to confine them and bar them from travelling on the High-ways and some have been taken up and whip'd as Vagrants in those times by such as were intrusted with the Execution of the Law and due Administration of Justice 'T was against such and those their Arbitrary and Unwarrantable Proceedings that the said Passage perversly recited against us was directly intended and levelled And therefore what these Men have recited out of News out of the North p. 18. printed 1654. containing matter of Prophecy against those and such corrupt Persecuting Rulers Judges Justices Priests c. in those days charged with such Persecution and Vsurpation importing their Downfall I see no cause for these Prophesies now to be alledged against us seeing they are in a great measure fulfilled After the words And thou Beast these Men add the Civil Government See what Picking and Botching work they make to throw dirt upon us XVI Their Treatment of Kings p. 19. You and your Kings and Lordly Power by which you thought to exercise Lordship over my Heritage shall be Enslaved by the Devil c. against E. B's Trumpet printed Anno 1655. Obs This is not of all Kings but all Persecutors of the Saints of God who would Lord it over His Heritage are Enemies to Christ and under the Dragon's Power consequently such are enslaved by the Devil already how Great and High soever they are in the Earth and will go down with the Uncircumcised into the Pit if they repent not see Ezek. 32 chap. And dare any of these Priests affirm the contrary XVII Their Treatment of the Clergy c. p. 19. The Idle Gormandizing Priests of England run away with One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds a Year under pretence of God's Ministers c. against W. P's Guide mistaken p. 18. Anno 1668. I confess many things were Zealously and Sharply writ against the Covetous Mercenary and Persecuting Priests pretended Watchmen and Shepherds in this and other Nations but in Language according as the Holy Prophets did against the Shepherds of Israel and their Covetous Priests and False Prophets see Isa 56.10 11. His Watch-men are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb Dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber Yea they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough and they are Shepherds that cannot understand They look to their own Way every one for his gain from his quarter And Jerem. 5.30 31. A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the Land the Priests bear rule by their means See also Chap. 23.9 10 11. And Micah 3.11 against the Priests that teach for Hire and the Prophets that divine for Money 'T is very strange these Doctors should expose the aforesaid Complaint against the Priests of England unless they had clear'd themselves thereof for such Recitals against their Corruptions do excite People but the more to inspect their ways and to consider whether they are warrantable according to Holy Scripture I refer the Reader to W. P's own Answer at the end of this Treatise XVIII Their Treatment of the Dissenters An Ill-bred Pedantick Crew the Bane of Religion and Pest of the World the
Truth and Innocency VINDICATED And the PEOPLE called QVAKERS DEFENDED IN Principle and Practice Against Invidious Attempts and Calumnies BEING A Just EXAMINATION of Two Books against the said People ENTITULED I. A Brief Discovery c. By Three Norfolk-Priests II. Some few of the Quakers many horrid Blasphemies c. Being a Scandalous Libel Containing also many of the Repeated Abuses in John Meriton's Antidote and Francis Bugg's Pilgrim's Progress Examined by G. Whitehead a Servant of Christ Psalm 37.12 The Wicked plotteth against the Just Plalm 35.20 They devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the Land LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street and at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-street 1699. TO THE Ingenuous Reader WE knowing the Foundation of God which standeth sure the Tried Stone Elect and Precious and that the goodness of the Lord endures for ever to all who truly love and fear him and that he will prosper his own Work in the Earth that the Kingdom of Christ may be Promoted and Renowned to the Subduing and Overthrow of the Kingdom of Satan and Antichrist which God will accomplish fully by his own Power in his own Day and Time We are not dismayed nor discouraged at Satan's Rage nor at the Fury or Envious Attempts of any of his Agent 's strenuous Endeavours or Designs for renewed Persecution against the Innocent But through the Lord's Power and Goodness his Faithful People and Children are the more strengthned and confirmed in their most holy Faith and Confidence in Christ Jesus and his Divine Power that as thereby the Kingdom of Satan and Anti-Christ is already greatly shaken so therefore Satan's Rage is the more increased and heightned because of the shortness of his Time And because the Lord our God is secretly at work by his Invisible Power in many hearts seriously inclining them towards himself his blessed Truth and People that they may flock to his House and Family as Doves to the Window Therefore Avaricious Self-interested Persons whose Gain is their Godliness and Lucre their Religion and their Ministry Mercenary are the more uneasie and offended at our Religious Freedom and Liberty which through God's Goodness Over-ruling Power and Providence influencing the King and Government we do enjoy as we have of late years done For which we are humbly thankful to Almighty God and Gratefully acknowledge the same to the King and all our Superiors who are made Instrumental therein And to be branded and persecuted with Calumnies Reproaches and virulent Invectives as Blasphemous Hereticks movers of Sedition Treasonable and what not of the like import is no new thing or surprizal to us to have these black Characters put upon us they being included in the All manner of Evil spoken of against the true Followers of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according as he himself hath expresly foretold his Disciples pronouncing thereupon a Blessing unto them for their Incouragement against their Revilers and Persecutors Malicious Men's Plotting against the Righteous and the Wicked's devising Mischief against the Innocent and the Quiet in the Land we doubt not but as their Mischievous Designs have taken Air and come to Light and thereby become weakned so the just and holy God will frustrate and make them void in the end to their perpetual Shame and Confusion who are therein concern'd 'T is a great sign that our present busie Adversaries are at a Low Ebb and they are very feeble and independent upon God and their Cause without Divine Support seeing that they are fain to make use of such perfidious Agents as invidious Apostates and Angry Restless Backsliders as F. Bugg c. whose mercenary and perverse work of implacable Envy and Reproach Forgeries and Contempt against us to defame and scandalize us both as to our Christian Profession Religious and Civil Reputations will no ways redound to their Honour or good Fame who gratifie and encourage him in such his injurious work against the innocent and quiet in the Land but it will turn to their great shame and disgrace who abet him and reward him with higher sums of Mony than ever Judas had of the Chief Priests for betraying Christ into the hands of his Persecutors That the World may know what Famous Learned Men these are who are join'd with F. Bugg in the present Quarrel and high defaming Charge against us they have afforded us their Names and Titles in the Title-page of their Brief Discovery set down in this Order viz. Edward Beckham D. D. and Rector of Gayten-Thorp NORFOLK Henry Meriton Rector of Oxborow NORFOLK Lancaster Topcliff L. B. sometimes Sen. Fell. of Gon. and Cajus Coll. Cambr. NORFOLK And now Reader that thou mayst understand what Eminent Doctors and Victorious Champions these Persons would make themselves in their Reply to our Friends in Norfolk dated Nov. 16. 1698. They insultingly tell them thus viz. Nay did not you reject F. Bugg for this Reason because he had been answered as you pretend over and over again and was unreasonable as if we had nothing to do but Actum Agere And may we not say the same of your Hackney-Disputants they have drudged so long in that Road and have been spurr'd and gaul'd by us enough already and therefore in reason we ought to turn them off a while and give them Rest till another occasion as in their Relation unduly stil'd The Quakers Challenge p. 21. See here the Boasting Scorn and Insulting of these Men and what Language they give us whilst they are very Teachy if but a little Toucht with Plain Dealing But pray how agrees this their Insulting Derision against our Disputants with their Confession in thesâ— words viz. We Ingenuously told them that we never had so right an Vnderstanding of their Principles as of late p. 6. How have they then spurr'd and gaul'd our Hackney-Disputants as they call them enough already How could they spur and gaul us by dispute when they did not rightly understand our Principles if they had not a right understanding thereof till of late We have for many years refused to be Priest-ridden especially to be made Hackneys of by them in the Dark where they do not see their way But their pretended Conference with the Quakers in Norfolk is turn'd into Petitioning and Soliciting the Parliament of late against us for more Knocking Arguments than their Disputes will afford How came they of late to understand our Principles How long hath F. Bugg and G. Keith been their Tutors furnish'd them with Quotations or their Authority been of value with them Who tho' they have strenuously laboured to bring us under Contempt and Reproach 't will be to their own Shame and Trouble being expresly contrary to their former extant Testimonies in behalf of our Christian Principle and of us as the People of God and True Christians under his Spiritual Dispensation of the New Covenant But it seems these Learned Doctors have been greatly beholding to their Tutor F.
that as the Serpent is a Spirit the Seed Christ must be Inwardly and Spiritually known by his Light Life and Power to bruise under and cast out the Serpent See how at large W. P. explains it and confesseth to the true Christ the promised Seed both as in the Flesh and in the Spirit Christian Quaker 1st part Chap. 19. 25. Let us but Soberly consider what Christ is and we shall the better know whether Moral Men tho' Heathen are to be reckoned Christians What is Christ but Meekness Justice Mercy c. Can any then deny a Meek Man to be a Christian This against W. P's Address to Protestants Second Edition Anno 1692. p. 119. Here they have added tho Heathen and after Mercy they leave out Patience Charity and Virtue in Perfection W. P. did not design thereby to lessen the Power or Dignity of Christ who is the Author of these Virtues no more than the Apostle did in saying He Christ is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption spoken in the Abstract And the Prophet saying God is my Light and my Salvation tho' God and Christ also be the Author of Redemption and Salvation III. Concerning the Holy Scriptures 26. Whether the first Pen-men of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these are not one c. This with more Questions quoted against John Whitehead Quakers Refuge p. 17. Thus these adversaries as F. Bugg and the Author of the Snake use to do to Defame us leave out these following words relative to each thing questioned viz. is not the subject of my Argument at this time Hence 't is plain the Person who recited the Questions which was not John Whitehead but R. R. waveth these Questions and cited them not as the Subject of his own Argument about the Scriptures but of some others he would not be concern'd to dispute those Questions or Doubts For he further confesseth in the said Quakers Refuge quoted That such Scriptures and Prophecies as have been Written and Prophesied by the Holy Men of God as they were moved by his Spirit Treating of the Mystery of God in the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind by Jesus Christ and the Duty of Man in his Obedience to and Worship of the same God as his reasonable Service for the Gift of so great Salvation are the great Concerns now under our most serious Consideration From hence it 's clear the Author was no Contemner of Holy Scripture nor intended any Contempt thereof as is more fully cleared in my said Antidote against the Venom of the Snake in the Grass p. 83 84 85. 27. The Scriptures are not the Word of God Yet he says of his own Writings To you all this is the Word of the Lord. Against G. F. Gr. Myst p. 246. Ibid. p. 225. Note first by the Word of God he means Christ the Essential Living Word in the first place Secondly To you all this is the Word of the Lord in that place he speaks of the Light within and the Spirit that was in them that gave forth the Scriptures Gr. Myst p. 225. yet confesseth the Scriptures of Truth are God's Words which Christ the Word fulfills p. 246. And if elsewhere concerning what he gave forth from the Living Word that it was the Word of the Lord he intends only as Words immediately proceeding from the Motion of the Word of the Lord and not of his own Writings Abstractly as he is misunderstood and misrepresented What we are Charged with in their next Passages concerning the Authority of the Scriptures and concerning Beastly Wares the Letter c. p. 6 7. 'tis fully Answer'd and Distinguish'd in the first Part And our Adversaries injuriously dealing with us and misrepresenting us fully detected IV. 29. Concerning the Sacraments so call'd Circumcision Water-Baptism Paschal-Lamb Bread and Wine Sprinkling Infants c. These are spoken to before only this I propose That what any of our Friends have written heretofore against Sprinkling Infants as Unscriptural if they 'll please to bring us plain Scripture-Proof for that Practice as they use it then we are bound to revoke what 's written against it V. Concerning the Resurrection of the Body 30. They quote some Arguments out of W. P's Reason against Railing and his Invalidity of J. Faldo 's Vindication and Tho. Ellwood 's Answer to G. Keith 's First Narrative and Rich. Hubberthorn 's Opposing the Doctrine of the Glorified Saints in Heaven not being Perfect both distinguishing between the Natural Body and the Spiritual Body according to 1 Cor. 15. whose Arguments not being Answer'd by these Opposers I shall need say the less to them only would have them so Charitable as that if they believe that the Resurrection-Bodies of the Saints shall be the same Natural and Carnal Bodies that now they are upon Earth that they would not Condemn us as Blasphemers for Believing our Resurrection-Bodies shall be Spiritual and Glorious far excelling these Natural Carnal and Earthly Bodies For else how should the Saints Bodies be like unto Christ's Glorious Body VI. 31. That the Quakers make themselves Equal to God and a Part of God This repeated Falshood is detected and answered in the First Part and so are their Instances of the Soul against Gr. Myst p. 273. and p. 100. and p. 91. and p. 229. where the Word Soul is distinguish'd in a two-fold Sense First in Relation to God his Divine Spirit or Breath of Life Secondly to Man as thereby made a Living Soul 32. We are of his Flesh and Bones and have his Substance Against Gr. Myst p. 248. This is falsly Quoted 'T is not there said in the Affirmative That we are so but an Inversion upon the Adversary from Ephes 5.30 John 6.56 33. Christ is not distinct from his Saints Against Great Mystery p. 207. He means not divided or separate from his Saints as by his following Words Christ is in his Saints Gr. Myst p. ibid. 34. Christ is the Elect. Gr. Myst p. 88. So saith the Prophet of Him Isai 42.1 G. F. also calls Christ's Sheep the Elect. Gr. Myst p. 88 89. 35. The Light within is Christ Gr. Myst p. 310. True but not truly Quoted but thus viz. The Light which every Man that cometh into the World is Lightned withal is Christ Gr. Myst ibid. And Christ the Light saith I in them and Thou in Me John 17.23 26. 36. The Soul is not a Creature but Infinite in it self without beginning Gr. Myst p. 29 90. This is mis-cited and wrong mixt they turn and confound Questions into Affirmatives That which is Infinite in it self relates to that which came out from the Creator namely that Divine Life or Soul which gave Life and Being to Man's Soul 'T is not said Man's Soul or Spirit is not a Creature as distinguished more fully in the First Part. 37. They that have the Spirit of God are equal with God Er. Howgill 's Works p. 232. These are none of F. Howgill's