man leaves out the next following words which shews what fear it was that they were out of the following words are these viz. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.7 8. Here the Apostle shews that it was not the fear of God that they were out of but the fear of wicked men their Persecutors under whose wicked Power Paul then was a Prisoner Again this prophane man as a Plea for casting off godly Fear he quotes the Apostle John's words who saith Perfect love casteth out Fear But Treacherously or Ignorantly leaves out the very next Verse to those words he cites which verse hath only these following words in it which words shew what fear it was that perfeâ—â— love cast out viz. Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this world 1 Joh. 4.17 18. Here the Apostle shews that their Establishment in the Truth yea in the God of all Truth gave them dominion over the Devil and over the fear of him and over Fear of torment and punishment with him but yet they retain a godly fear according to the Command of Christ who said I will teach you whom ye shall fear Fear not him who killeth the Body but cannot kill the Soul but fear him who can cast Soul Body into Hell And the Man Christ Jesus himself in the days of his flesh had a fear and reverence towards the Father as the Apostle shews and as I have shewed before And the Apostles and Prophets lived in Godly fear and exhorted others unto it and to continue in it and they that do and teach the contrary which this vain Scribler doth they are ungodly men such as the Apostle speaks of who do despight unto the spirit of Grace who live want only and prophanely upon the Earth such are Sons of Belial who live without God and Christ's Yoke who are like the wild Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke and like the wild Asses Colt in the Wilderness And VVo unto such if they Repent not and if they do not forsake their Vngodly ways they must have their portion with the Devil and his Angels in the Lake of Endless misery where the worm never dyes neither is the fire ever quenched Christ saith Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest come take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for my Yoke is easie and my burthen is light They who are heavy laden with their sins and weary of their sins they are invited by him to come unto him and they that come unto him must believe in that spiritual and divine Light wherewith he hath enlightened them who lights every man that cometh into the VVorld according to Joh. 1.9 Joh. 8.12 12.46 Luke 2. 32. Act. 13. 47. Joh. 3.19 20. and see the â—â—st Epist of Iohn 5.7 where the Apostle saith God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we fellowship one with an other and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin And they who believe in the Light where-with Christ hath enlightened them this will let them see their sins and lead them to Repent of their sins which are past so God will forgive them their sins which are past and will strengthen them to resist sin in time to come such who so do are the real Disciples of Christ who said he that will be my Disciple must deny himself he must take up his Cross daily follow me And such come to be baptized by Christ by his holy spirit and fire which burns up and consumes all filthiness of flesh and spirit and such come to answer the holy Exhortation of the Apostle who exhorted the Saints saying Having therefore these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the FEAR of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Take notice here that the Apostle exhorted these believing Corinthians to Perfect Holiness in the fear of God so then they were not to cast off godly fear when they were come to Holiness even Perfect Holiness God saith by the Prophet David O ye Sons of Men how long will ye turn my Glory into shame How long will ye love Vanity and seek after Leasing Selah But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself stand in awe and sin not c. Psal 4.2 3 4. So all those who desire to be kept out of sin must keep in the Fear or Awe of God continually for as I have shewed before The Fear of the Lord God is as a Fountain of Life which preserves from the Snares of Death c. God hath promised unto his People saying I will give them one Heart and one Way that they may FEAR me FOREVER for the good of them and their Children after them I will put my FEAR in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.39 40. Here God who cannot Lye hath promised that he will put his Fear in his Peoples Hearts and that they shall fear him forever then they must NOT cast off Gods fear or Godly Fear which the prophane and debauched Ranters and Atheists do and as this ungodly Scribler doth in his scoffing lying and malicious Pamphlet as doth largely appear God hath promised by the Mouth of the Prophet Mâ—lachi saying Vnto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing under his Wings and ye shall go forth and grow as Calves in the Stall Mal. 4. This Libeller saith page the 10th That the worst of Men have commonly the greatest share of Fear Rep. That share of Fear which the worst of Men have is not the Holy Fear of God or not Godly fear but their Fear is of the same kind which the Devils fear is of which Fear the Apostle James makes mention of in his Epistle whose Words this Libeller quotes and wickedly wrest to emboâ—den and encourage People to cast off Godly Fear in which all that are Godly do stedfastly abide and in their so abiding do enjoy the pure Power and Wisdom of God by which they aâ—e preserved out of Sin which is the Devils work God saith by the Mouth of the Prophet Isaiah to his People Say ye not a confederacy to them to whom this People shall say a Confederacy neither fear ye their Fear nor be afraid sanctifie the Lord of Host himself and let him be your FEAR and let him be your Dread Isa 8.12 13. Christ Jesus who is First Last which was dead is alive lives foâ—evermore said unto the Church in Smirna Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that
David's rejoycing Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes c. There is a Light sprung up for the Righteous and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted Reply It had become him here to have distinguished the Righteous and True-hearted and have told me the place where and time when any man comes to be such since its the Papist Doctrine That men first must go to Purgatory before they can be such And the profest Presbyter Independent and Baptist say None can be such in this Life then since it s our Faith as well as theirs that there is no such place of Purgatory after this Life my Opponent should have told then positively the place where and time when any is Righteous This was the Belief of those Saints who were no Quakers Libeller p. 5. however disgusted by those Quakers who are no Saints Reply Is not this to contradict himself again who confessed Vntil we have mortified our Lusts we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling It seems as if it were part of his own Belief else he saith he ought to do that which is no pâ—rt of his Belief This doth not make it appear that the Saints he speaks of were no Quakers nor the present Quakers no Saints He quotes again pag. 10. Sorrow endures for a Night Libeller p. 10. but Joy cometh in the Morning Rep. Is not Sin the work of that Night the Prophet speaks of there since that Sorrow must continue during that Night then sure Quaking and Trembling may be comprehended in the word Sorrow then it still maintainâ— my Argument And what can be more clear then that all must pass through a state of Sorrow before they come to know true rejoycing And what 's that Joy which cometh in the Morning Is it not in this Life to witness the Morning Star Christ Jesus to expel all the Deeds of Darkness by his Bright Appearance in the Soul and who thus come to witness this Bright and Morning Star to arise in their Hearts such come to know the Rejoycing that Paul and David were come to and great cause they have when come truly to experience God's taking the Cup of Trembling from them and giving the Cup of Salvation unto them instead thereof And that it was thus with Paul and David that they passed through a great Gulf of Sorrow and Trembling will further appear by these following Testimonies of theirs Acts 9.5 6. And he said Lord what wilt thou have me to do I am Jesus whom thou persecutest its hard for thee to kick against the Pricks And he Trembling Astonished said Lord What wilt thou have me to do Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Death Read the Chapter thoroughout and see what Exercises he had in the Warfare with Sin 2 Cor. 11. Knowing therefore the Terrors of the Lord we perswade men with many more Testimonies cited in my Book to this purpose Now here what the Prophet David saith to this matter Psal 38.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 2. Thine Arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore 3. There is no Soundness in my Flesh because of thine Anger Neither is there any rest in my Bones because of my Sin 4. For mine Iniquities is gone over my Head as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me 5. My VVounds stinck and are Corrupt because of my foolishness 6. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go Mourning all the Day long 7. For my Loyns are filled with a loathsome Disease and there 's no soundness in my Flesh 8. I am feeble and sore broken I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my Heart Now had Paul and David been in our time and our Libeller had seen them in these Exercises and heard their Cryes their Groans Roarings and Terrors because of their Sins thou mayst judge by his Book how he would have treated them Hear David a little further Psal 55. Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me and Horror hath overwhelmed me See more of him in my Antiquity of the Quakers Job 3.28 My Bowels boyled and rested not the Day of Affliction prevented me I went Mourning without the Sun I cryed in the Congregation my Skin is black upon me my Bones are burnt with heat my Harp also is turned to Mourning and my Organ unto the Voice of them that weep I might multiply Testimonies to this but these may evidence to all who are not given up to a Reprobate Spirit that it s yet too timely for my Adversary to come with his Song before the Lord our God Nay nay it s my Testimony to all of what Perswasion soever that there 's none shall enter God's Kingdom until first they have passed through a state of Sorrow and great Mourning yea Quaking and Trembling because of sin and he that gets out of this Furnis and not purified in it of his Dross and purged of his Tin he will not be currant Mettal to pass into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ but whosoever comes to witness a passing through this Dispensation of Sorrow and come to know experimentally the cause of it taken away viz. To be delivered from their Enemies Luke 1 such only may approach the Presence of our God with a Song yea with a Song of Deliverance even the Song of Moses and the Lamb. Then after he hath bespattered us with a great deal of Lyes and Dirt in pag. 5. as indeed little else is to be found in his Book except some Scripture-Quotations and to pursue him in all his Dirt were near to transcribe his Book In page 6. he begins on one of my Scripture Testimonies And this is evidenced by his 4th page where he observes with a World of Wit Libeller p. 6. Isaac trembled for having mistaken Jacob for Esau and then presently infers that Isaac was a Quaker A strong and choice way of arguing by which he makes him pay dearer for his inadvertance than ever Esau was forced to do Rep. This as much shews him a Stranger to the two Seeds Tipified by Jacob and Esau as what he hath said before shews him a stranger to the two States spoken of before he could not see how one Misery ushered in another on Esau First He had sold his Birth right for a mess of Pottage and now by Hunting had lost the blessing also And could Isaac be less then in great Sorrow and Dread to see the sad State that Esau was come unto And was not Esau's Hunting a true Figure of his and other mens wandring abroad from the Gâ—ft of God within them and Isaac having a true sence of this made him Quake and Tremble but how he paid dearer for his Inadvertance than Esau had need to do is yet for my Adversary to prove for Esau could not find a place of Repentance although he sought it with Tears By this any sober man may endued with heavenly Wisdom
to lay his Mouth in the Dust to see if there were hopes this was it the holy Prophets and Apostles could speak experimentally of and this is the narrow Way and strait Gate c. this was it that pricked Paul to the Heart and made him cry out Oh wretched man that I am c. and this was it which did overtake in an acceptable time these poor despised People called Quakers in our Age And whereas the Libeller in his 11. and 12. pages scurrilously tells of their Trances Distortions Quaking and Trembling comparing them to Conjurers and Bell-Founders c. Rep. That the Holy Ancients passed through such a State I have proved before and when in our day and time the Lord appeared unto us he appeared in the way of his Judgment for Sin and the powerful eternal Word of the Lord which is the Sword of the Spirit pricked many to their Hearts and I being one among them can do no less then give in my Testimony concerning the Operation or Working of the Heavenly Power it wounded as a Sword it smote like a Hammer at the whole Body of Sin in my Bowels it burned like Fire yea so dreadfully it burned that it made by Bowels boyl it pierced as a Sword it broke as a Hammer And then the Pangs of Death I felt in my Members which did make me to roar yea and to Quake and Tremble for this Fire when it burned it gave Light as its the Nature of Fire to do and it discovered to me and these poor despised People the great body of Sin and Death which was indeed terrible to behold and not only so but it discovered the narrowness of the Gate and that there was no going in thereat but by first having all that combustable Body of Sin and Death destroyed and burnt up at this time did great Terror and Amazement fall upon many and this my Opposer must come experimentally to know and witness in this Life or else his latter End will be miserable And as for his telling of a great Change within this 12. or 14. Years I say there is a Change Glory to God for the fame for many are passed from Death to Life and do witnesâ— the work of Regeneration in them and can sing the Song of Sion even the Song of Moses and the Lamb to whom by them and all the Host of Heaven be sung Halelujahs for evermore So here 's great alteration indeed Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel them who were dead in Sins and Trespasses are quickened and made alive they who were Alians and Strangers to God made Fellow-Citizens of the New Jerusalem and the Prodigal Son who had been feeding among the Swine on Husks brought home into the Father's House where there 's living Bread enough yea and Wine also well refined and he saith Eaâ— Oh Friends yea drink abundantly Oh Beloved CHAP. II. of TYTHES THe Tythes Liâ—eller pag 24. the chief Cause of all his grumbling are but a Portion which God himself out of his own Word hath given such as minister about holy things Reply We do not read either in the Old or New Testament that God perpetuated the Levitical Priesthood to be in force in Gospel Times and it s my Faith in God That they who take Tythes or give Tythes in Gospel Times deny Christ come in the Flesh and so are of Antichrist my Reasons are as followeth First That the Levitical Priesthood was by it self a distinct Priesthood which Christ Jesus by offering up himself once for all hath ended Secondly That under that Priesthood the Priests were to have but a Part of the Tythes for the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widows were to be maintained out of it Deut. 14.28 And at the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the Tythe of thine Increase the same year and shalt lay it up within thy Gates and the Levite because he hath no Inheritance with thee and the Stranger and the Fatherless and Widows which are within thy Gates shall come and eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the Works of thy Hands which thou dost Mark Reader the Use of Tythes in their first Institution were for the Stranger the Fatherless and Widows they weâ—e to eat and be satiâ—fied of them a very pious Use under that Dâ—spensation and the Priests had only a share with them Deut. 18. vers 1 2 3. The Priests the Levites and all thè Tribe of Levi shall have no Inheritance with Israel they shall eat the Offerings of the Lord made by Fire and his Inheritance 2. Therefore they shall have no Inheritance among their Brethren the Lord is their Inheritance as he hath said unto them 3. And this shall be the Priests due from the People for them that offer a Sacrifice whether it be Ox or Sheep they shall give unto the Priest the Sholder the two Cheeks and the Maw Now if these Priests will have it in these Gospel Dayes as it was ordered by the Levitical Law to the Priests then this Clause of the Law doth tell them what is their Due Share or Portion and what was their Due of the other Encrease is exprest in the afore-going Text the Poor the Fatherless Strangers and Widow were to eat and to be satisfied and then the Priests were to have their Due or Portion as is read in Gen. 47.22 and that Portion was Pharaoh's free Gift there was no Law to enforce treble Damage if not paid Behold the Zeal of the Libeller for Tythes which were only due under the Levitical Priesthood One would think that so zealous a Son of the Church should be prefer'd unto a Benefice if he have none as some say he hath not for he hath stood up for Tythes as stoutly as the Presbyterians did in Oliver's dayes who had then a Law to enforce them with treble Damage but although he and the Priests hold up Levi's Priesthood they have changed the course of it for in Levi's time it was to be stored up for the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow and the Priests were only to have a share of it and their share or due was of an Ox or Sheep they were to have one Sholder the two Cheeks and the Maw but now they have altered their course they have taken all the Tythes they could get to themselves and have turned the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow to beg not so much as giving them any share it had been Charity for them to have allowed them something if it had been but the Sholder or two Cheeks it had been better than nothing and since it s by Levi's Priesthood the Priests now claim their Tythes may not the Poor the Fatherless and Widows by it lay as good a Claim to it if not let the Priests or this Libeller their Agent shew us by the Scriptures of Truth when and where they were excluded if
you may be tryed and ye shall have Tribulation ten days be thou Faithful unto Death I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 As concerning the Wicked the Apostâ—e saith There is NO FEAR of God before their Eyes Rom. 3.18 Psalm 36.1 Again And unâ—o Man he said Behold the FEAR of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil is Vnderstanding Job 28 28. Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Psal 111.10 Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge but Fools despise Wisdom and Instruction Prov. 1.7 Again speaking of the Wicked he saith They hated Knowledge and did NOT chuse the FEAR of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they would none of my Reproof therefore shall they eat of their own Way and be filled with their own Devices for the turning away of the Simple or Ignorant shall slay them and the prosperity of Fools shall destroy them but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil verse the 29th to the end Here God speaking by Solomon saith The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge vers 7. and in vers 29. he complaineth of the wicked saying They hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord. Therefore Misery and Destruction came upon them but saith God Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil. So those who chuse Gods Fear and take his Counsel are kept by his mighty Power in that which is well pleasing to him and such are not terrified with the fear of Evil for they know God to be their Keeper who keeps them out of the Evil that is in the World and from the wrath and punishment which he will bring upon the Wicked who chuse not his sear nor take his counsel who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Here God distinguisheth betwixt Godly Fear which the Godly do stedfastly abide in and the fear of Evil which brings Torment upon the Ungodly Again The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life to depart out of the Snares of Death Prov. 14.27 Again By the Fear of the Lord men depart from Evil Chap. 16.6 Again Better is a little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Chap. 15.16 The Apostle Peter exhorted the Saints saying Fear God 1 Pet. 2.17 Again the Angel that preached the everlasting Gospel saith Fear God and give Glory to him Rev. 14.7 Many more Scripture-Testimonies might be brought to confirm this great Truth viz. that Godly Fear is to be continued in by Godly Men and Women unto the end of their dayes upon Earth but what I have already written doth sufficiently confute the Ranting Doctrines and Notions of this prophane Scribler And though I dearly own the Testimony of the holy Scriptures and therefore bring them for the confirmation of this great Truth yet that in which my greatest assurance lies is the living experience that I have had through many Years exercise of the excellency and preciousness of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God my Heart and Soul is deeply affected therewith because of the preciousness and excellency thereof therefore I commend it unto all People as that which is indispensably needful to be come into and kept in without which no Man or Woman can come to Peace and Rest with God And I tenderly exhort and warn the Sons and Daughters of men to chuse the Fear of the Lord God in whose hand their Life is and to flee from all Ranting Atheistical Books Doctrines Principles and Practices which would keep them out of or lead them out of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God and every one apply your Hearts to the Spirit of Truth which God hath sent which shews you what is good and what is evil believe in that and attend upon it and be careful to keep out of that which you know to be Evil and let your care be to obey God in what you know to be your duty and as you are obedient to him in what he has made known unto you to be your duty that which is further needful for you to know which you yet know not God will freely make it known unto you That which is and hath been the hurt of many is their hunting after the Knowledge of the Secrets and Mysteries of God in their SELF-WILL while they have neglected to obey God in that they already knew and by this means many have hunted themselves into Ranterism and Atheism which is lamentable to behold at this Day Others there are who desire not to know any thing but the following the foolish fleshly Lusts and vile Affections which War against their Souls who giving up themselves thereto and pursuing the same with a greedy Appetite become swallowed up therein and drowned in Perdition or Destruction thereby as the holy Apostles have testified see 1 Tim. 6.9 and 1 Pet. 2.11 The Apostle saith The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the Vnjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished but chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government presumptuous are they SELF-WILLED c. Such speak Evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly Perish in their own Corruption having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin beguling unstable Souls an Heart they have exercised with Covetous Practices cursed Children which have for saken the right Way these are Wells without Water Clouds that are carried with a Tempest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever For when they speak great swelling Words of Vanity they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were CLEAN ESCAPED from them who live in Error while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption c. see 2 Pet. 2. verse 9 10 12 13 14 15. to the end read the Chapter through Again the Apostle saith This second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the COMMANDMENT of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the last dayes Scoffers walking after their own Lust c. Chap. 3. Verse 1 2 3. Again Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth forever 1 John 2.15 16 17. Jude the Servant of
Trembling is no New Thing among God's People but that it was a State that all God's People passed through and that all now must pass through before ever they can enter God's Kingdom according to these Scriptures Sion shall be redeemed with Judgment Isa 1.27 And they shall Mourn for him as for an only Son and be in Bitterness as for a first born Zach. 12. and must know God to be as a Resiners Fire and as Fullers Soap and must know his Word of Power to be sharper than a two-edged Sword to divide between the Joynts and the Marrow Thus Judgment must be set up in the Heart for Sin and then the Cry will be with the Apostle Paul Oh Wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin And this my Adversary must come to have Experience of before he be approved of God to come with a Song as he saith in pag. 4. And this I do assure him as one who hath known the Terrors of the Lord for Sin That this Power will make him Quake and Tremble as easie a matter as he now thinks it to get to Heaven And as for his saying That Balaam 's Ass the Demoniacks Foelix Judas and the Devils might put in for a share is very Absurd For First As to Balaam's Ass God had not accomplished him with an Immortal Soul to subsist after this Life therefore not in a capacity to come in for a share and as to the rest it s also very Absurd especially the last viz. the Devils for although they had a sence of God's Power and were terrified thereby and made to Tremble yet it was not possible for them to have acceptance with God although believing and Trembling also are acts in his Chiâ—dren which are accepted of him And if my Adversary do not in this Life come to witness Fear and Trembling to accompany his believing he may also when it s too late know the Addition of Quaking and Trembling to his Believing and then his believing nor trembling will stand him in no more stead than the Devil 's did unto them And as for Judas Faelix and the rest mentioned by him in this case I say as the Apostle saith God's Will is that all men may know the Truth and be saved God said by the Mouth of the Prophet I have no pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his Evil Way and live So Judas and Faelix and the rest had a Day or Time of Visitation from God in which Time they might have turned to God and have had a share in his Salvation And Judas and all others who have no share in the Salvation of God their Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear and just in giving them their Portion in the Lake of Endless Misery because as he saith in Proverbs Chap. 1. When I called ye would not answer when I stretched out my Hand no Man regarded they set at naught all my Counsel and would have none of my Reproof c. And Christ said unto the Rebellious Jews Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life And he said to Jerusalem I would have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would not And God said unto the Rebellious Jews O Israel thou destroyest thy self but in me is thy Help Christ lighteth every one that cometh into the World and God doth require all men to believe and obey Christ casted Death for every man as saith the Apostle And the Apostle John saith He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for our Sins only but also for the Sins of the whole World Judas partook of the Ministry and by Transgression he Fell. In opposition to Trembling he goes on quoting Luke 1. The Libeller pag. 4. That being delivered from the hands of our Enemies might serve God without fear in Righteousness and Holiness all the dayes of our Lives Reply Is it not to be delivered from our Enemies to be delivered from Sin which is a cause of Fear and Trembling And if my Adversary had been really awakened as in his Scrullious Welch Letter he saith he is he might have seen two States or Conditions couched in these words First A State of Sin and Bondage And Secondly A State of being delivered from Sin and Bondage And I hope he or at least all Moderate men will grant that the Words being delivered are words in the Present Tense So that Deliverance was there witnessed which was the cause of his Confidence of serving the Lord without fear yet I must tell him Not without fear of sinning against God but without fear of Hell Devils Men or Punishment but this is a state the Priests do deny that deliverance from sin is attainable in this Life and then the other state of serving God in Righteousness and Holiness cannot be expected And let my Adversary know that God will not call that Righteous and Holy that is mixed with Sin neither are any delivered from their Enemies until they be delivered from Sin and until then let the Libeller Fear and Dread coming before the Lords Presence with a Song lest the Lord our God turn his Song into Howling and his Gladness unto Sorrow and Trembling which he now puts afar off as his Arguments make manifest yet in one of them he boggles standing to his Argument Hear him And though till we have mortified our Affections and Lusts Libeller p. 4. we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling yet after a most hearty and profound Repentance we humbly hope all our past Vnrighteousness is forgiven and our sins covered we may then doubtless come before his Presence with a Song Reply Behold Reader what Confusion and Contradiction is this for in his last words of the same page in opposition to me and my making Quaking and Trembling to be a state that all must pass through before they come to be in favour with God he tells of serving God without Fear And now in Contradiction to himself granting me my Argument he saith Till we have mortified our Affections and Lusts we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling This looks as if the man then immediately had found himself smitten of God in his own Conscience but how this will agree with the Priests Faith That no mans sin can be wholly mortified in this Life I leave to the Impartial to judge His Confusion is He hath left no room for serving God in Holiness and Righteousness for its Protestant Doctrine that none can be freed from sin in this Life If so they must be mortifying their Lusts during Life and so by his own Argument must Fear and Tremble during Life and so hath no place for his coming before God's Presence with his Song Yet in Cotradiction to Protestant Faith and to his own as he hath stated it Libeller p. 5. he quotes Paul and
succes l. 6. The Plow-man's Complaint Lord thou gavest us a Command of Truth in bidding us say Yea yea and Nay nay but Lord He Pope that calls himself thy Vicar on Earth hath broken the Commandment so makes a Law to compel men to Swear John Wickliff our famous Country-man in the time of Edward the 3d and Richard the 2d Book Mart. vol. 1. p 554. to 558 was accused among other things for maintaining That All Oaths made in any Bargain or Contract between man and man are unlawful William Thorp an eminent man of the Christian Church refused to swear upon a Bible Because said he a Book is nothing else but divers Creatures of which it is made Book Mart v. 1 p. 701. and such Swearing is ever Unlawful Elizabeth Young at her Examination in Queen Mary's days before the Catholick Inquisitors so called who coâ—manded her to Swear as followeth Dr. Martin Thou shalt be rack't inch-meal thou Tâ—aiterly Whore and Heretick but thou shalt Swear before a Judge before thou go Eliz. Young I understand not what an Oath is and therefore will take no such thing Dr. Martin She refused to Swear upon the four Evangelists Book Mart. vol 3. pag. 510.911 for I my self and Mr. Plussey have had her before us four times but we cannot bring her to swear Then said the Bishop Why wilt thou not swear before a Judge Eliz Young My Lord I will not Swear that this Hand is mine No said the Bishop and why Eliz. Young Christ saith that Whatsoever is more than Yea Yea or Nay Nay cometh of Evil. The Christian Protestants in the Valley of Piedmoâ—t who were cruelly tortured to Death by the Papists about the year 1655. one Article alledged against them was Marol Hist p. 217 218. That they believed it was not lawful to Swear any thing be it true or false Erasmus in his Commentaries on Matth. 5. James 5. plainly forbids All Swearing There are several Testimonies of John Husse Jerom of Prague William Swinderley Walter Brute William Sawtry William White who were famous men in their time that refused all Swearing Behold Reader how our Protestant Libeller is apostatized from the first reformed Protestants I might have quoted many others of the famous Fathers and worthy Protestant Reformers who gave their Testâ—mony against all Oaths And here 's a Superstructure built upon the good Foundation Christ Jesus and it s in vain for my present Opposer or any other to bring up Circumcision the Blood of Beasts or Oaths which were allowed in the first Covenant but disannulled and prohibited in the second for no other Foundation can be laid that will stand but that which is laid even Jesus Christ whose heavenly Spirit which doth enlighten everyone that comes into the World hath appeared in Power and great Glory which hath brought a Remnant so far in Obedience to his blessâ—d Command that they dare not Swear at all Had he any Ingenuity or Sense he had never been so silly as to think that Quaking and Trembling were enough to denominate a just or good man by Libeller pag 9 yet is so fond of the Conceit as if there were no other way possible to get to Heaven but this and might as well have affirmed that to be Surly and Churlish Ignorant and Singular Envious and Vnmannerly Dissembling and Hypocritical had been the only way to please God and the certain Character to know the Inspired and Heavenly-minded by Rep. Reader I shewed thee before how he had charged me in p. 4. of his Book with this Falsity of thinking that Quaking and Trembling was enough to prove a man's being beloved of God and now he renews the Charge though it be a Lye and accounts me silly for thinking that which I never did think nor had he ground to think I ever did he farther says I am so fond of the Conceit as if there were no other way possible to get to Heaven By this it seems he thinks to get some other way to Heaven which indeed is a Contradiction to his own Confession pag. 4. for he saith there That till he had mortified his Affections and Lusts he ought to work out his Salvation with Fear and Trembling A gross Contradiction Nay to contradict himself more grosly he adds That I might have as well affirmed that to be Surly and Churlish Ignorant and Singular Envious and Vnmannerly Dissembling and Hypocritical c. were the Way to Heaven What can be expected from such a wicked man as this who one while sayes That till he hath mortified his Affections and Lusts he ought to Fear and Tremble yet soon after in contradiction sayes It were as well for me to affirm Dissembling and Hypocrisie to be the way to Heaven and the certain Character to know the Heavenly-Minded and Inspired by Oh Impious and Wilful Man But before I close up this Chapter concerning Quaking and Trembling with tenders of pure Love I offer for further clearing of the Point these following Testimonies besides what I have hinted already Job 21.6 When I remember I am affraid and Trembling takes hold on my Flesh Psalm 2.11 Serve the Lord with Fear rejoyce with Trembling Psalm 55.5 Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me and Horrour hath overwhelmed me Psalm 99.1 The Lord Reigns let the People Tremble Psalm 119.20 My Flesh Trembles for fear of thee and I am affraid of thy Judgments Jer. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not Tremble at my Presence Ezek. 12.18 Son of Man eat thy Bread with Quaking and drink thy Drink with Trembling These with many more I quoted in my Book called The Antiquity of the Quakers which in particular he meddled not with yet in the general contradicts them and says pag. 6. They are clearly for other Purposes and quite of other Meanings than I intend them for But if all were true that he hath said then I had missed it indeed but it s his only saying so for he hath yet not proved either other Purposes or Meanings they have Now if Quaking and Trembling were not to be known in the way to Heaven as he wickedly insinuates and that I might as well affirm Dissimulation and Hypocrisie to be the way then in vain was all the Quaking and Trembling of these â—oly Ancients and what hath he done less than Blaspheme in this his Assertion And let him and all his Adherents know that since mans unhappy fall Edens Garden is beset with a flaming Sword which guards the Tree of Life that none can come at it but through Death and this was the Sword which pierced the Bowels of all the holy Ancients and divided between the Joynts and the Maâ—row this was it that made Job to cry out His Bowels burned and his Bones were dryed up with Heat this was it that made David cry and roar untill his Skin was parched upon him yea untill he was become like a Kettle in the Smoke this was it that made Jeremiah
of the Gospel yet we have not given our selves that Name Quaker or Quakers but our Persecutors and Enemies gave us that Name in Scorn and Envy But the Names which God and Christ gives unto those who truly believe and continue in obedience are Saints and Servants Children of God and Children of the Light and Disciples of Christ and the Apostle called the Believers in Christ Christians the Apostle saith If ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you but let none of you suffer as a Murtherer or as a Thief or as an Evil-doer or as a busie Body in other mens matters yet if any Man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorisie God on this behalf 1 Pet. 4.15 16. Reader Here note first that those who believe in and suffer for Christ the Apostle calls them Christians and this Name we own as proper to us more proper then the Name Quaker or Trembler yet as we have and do Tremble at the Word of the Lord as the Prophets and Apostles and People of God formerly did if any in reverence honour and love to the Power of God at which we Tremble do call us Quakers or Tremblers this we own but the Name Quakers as given us in envy and scorn by this Libeller and many others we deny and reject Secondly observe that such who suffer for Murther Theft c. do not suffer as Christians for Murtherers and Thieves are no true Christians but are in the Nature of Heathens These four particular Charges this Libeller makes the Foundation of his scoffing Atheistical Pamphlet called Work for a Cooper and herein they are all proved False Lying and Slanderous and therefore the Devil is the Author of his said Pamphlet For he is the Author and Father of all Lyes and Lyars as Christ said The said Libeller quotes Rev. 21. where it is said Aâ—l Lyars shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Here this Libeller may read his Portion and what will be the reward of his Work if he do not unfeignedly Repent but it is his unfeigned Repentance and Salvation that T.W. and the People in scorn by him called Quakers unfeignedly desire Concerning FEAR The aforesaid Libeller who Scoffs at Fear and Trembling saith pag. 10. The worst of men have commonly the greatest share of Fear Rep. If this Libeller had been in that holy Fear of God which is the beginning of Wisdom which is as a Fountain of Life which preserves from the Snares of Death and which keeps the Heart clean as saith the Prophet then he would have distinguished betwixt Fear and Fear as Christ and his Apostles have done Christ said I say unto you my Friends Be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do but I will fore-warn you whom you shall fear Fear him which after he hath killed hath Power to cast into Hell Yea I say unto you fear him Luke 12.4 5. Mat. 10.28 The Author to the Hebrews saith of Christ That in the days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayer and Supplication with strong Crying and Tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 Take notice of this that the Man Christ Jesus who was made of a VVoman under the Law as the Apostle saith in the days of his Flesh when hoâ— prayed unto the Father he was heard in that he feared Thus the Apostle shews that even the man Christ Jesus who sinned not was not without holy Fear and Reverence towards the Father Again the same Author exhorted the Saints saying Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and GODLY FEAR Heb. 12.28 Again But as he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation because it is written Be ye Holy for I am holy and if you call on the Father who without respect of Persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here with FEAR 1 Pet. 1.15 16 17. Again he exhorted saying If ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are je and be not afraid of their Terror neither be Troubled but Sanctifie the Lord God in your Hearts and be ready alwayes to give answer to every man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you with Meekness and FEAR Chap. 3.14 15. Here the Apostle distinguisheth betwixt the Fear of God and the Fear of Wicked Men he exhorts them to the holy Fear of God but forbids them to Fear wicked Men And thus the Apostle agrees concerning Fear with the Command of Christ who saith Fear not them which kill the Body c. but are not able to kill the Soul but Fear him who is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Mat. 10.28 Here the Apostle exhorts those that call on the Name of the Father to pass the time of their sojourning here with Fear so that they who call upon the Name of the Father with acceptance must not cast off the holy Fear of God but must keep and abide in it all the dayes they live upon Earth according to the holy Saying of the Man of God who said Blessed is the Man that Fears at All Times In pag. 4. this Libeller saith Till we have Mortified our sinful Affections and Lusts we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling Rep. It appears by his Envy Scoffing and Lying that he hath not yet mortified his sinful Affections and Lusts and therefore according to his own Principle he ought to Fear and Tremble before the Lord. But as a Plea for casting off the holy Fear of God he quotes the words of Zacharias which he spake concerning the Promise of God that he would grant unto us That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies might serve him without Fear in Holiness and Righteousness c. Luke 1.74.75 Rep. His Lyes and Scoffing doth shew that he is not yet redeemed from under the Power of his Soul's Enemy he doth not serve God in Holiness and Righteousness and he wickedly wrests and perverts Zacharias's words before-cited for those who did receive the Promise of God who were delivered out of the hands of their Enemies they served God in Righteousness and Holiness without the Fear of their Enemies but Not without the Fear of God For any man to say That he serves God in Holiness c. but doth not Fear God this man is No True Christian but a RANTER Again this prophane Scribler as a Plea for casting off the holy Fear of God quotes Paul's words to Timothy thus For God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear but of Power of Love and of a Sound Mind Thus far he quotes the Apostle's words but like a Treacherous