of men in this Life as he hath done § XXX Pag. 115. Qr. And are made Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which they are made Christians Pr. The Priest Answers In these few words this Qr. hath given a most Blasphemous account of all Qrs. for he saith that they are made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that they are Christians thus made Answ His telling of a Blasphemous account of All Qrs. is a Falshood to abuse us for the matter here opposed by him as it is in James Parnel's Book p. 176 177. Collect. is not placed in these words as that All Qrs. are made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature but the words are more general relating to the Church of Christ and his Members who live by the Faith of the Son of God who are New Creatures in Christ Jesus set free by the Law of the Spirit of Life and are made Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which they are made Christians and such now witness the effect of the Blood of Christ wrought within them and the End of his Coming and the Benefit of his Death who are dead with him c. Thus far J. Parnel Observe well here that I shall not let this Priest pass as only making Exception against all the Qrs. being made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature but also I must take him as opposing the thing it self that his Quarrel is not only against the Persons Quakers but against the thing i. e. the partaking of Christ's divine Nature wherein his gross Ignorance both of Christianity and Scripture will farther appear in what follows Pr. p. 116. Behold here is our Saviours Godhead shared amongst the Quakers behold here are the Quakers made more than Co-heirs with Jesus Christ no less God than himself is Answ Behold here the Priest hath not only shewn his lamentable Ignorance but his false as well as blasphemous Inference for us to own a being made partakers of Christs Divine Nature He counts this not only a sharing of our Saviours Godhead among us but also a making our selves no less than God himself which is a sad and most Ignorant Inference that new Creatures in Christ and his Members may not partake of his Divine Nature unless they be God and Christ himself What sad and miserable blindness and Irrational Work is this As if the Member of a Body must not partake of the Nature of the Body unless that Member could be the whole Body Heb. 3.14 We are Members of Christ in particular joyn'd to him partakers of Christ having his Spirit and Life manifest in us as all real Saints and true Christians have And can all this be can any be so nearly related and joyn'd to Christ and not Partakers of his Divine Nature Can they be Partakers of Christ of his Power Heb. 3.14 Rom. 11.16 17. Spirit Virtue Life Faith Divine Image Holiness and have him therein form'd in them and yet not be Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature What strange Inconsistency is this Though the Priest will not own this of the Qrs. we impose it not so upon him yet will he own it of any of Christ's Members No See what follows as his Consequence on the Assertion and farther Evidence of his great Blindness and Ignorance both of Scripture and Christian Experience pr. Ibid. Every Real Qr. is truly Godded with God and Christed with Christ according to this Abominable Quaking Assertion they are all Partakers of that same Divine Nature which Christ hath Quaking Blasphemy Intolerable Blasphemy Answ See now how it is the Assertion itself that this Priest opposes viz. The Partaking of the Divine Nature which Christ hath this he puts these black Characters Quaking Blasphemy Intolerable Blasphemy upon We will not contend whether all called Qrs. partake thereof or no for I don't affirm it because its possible for some to be Unfaithful under that Profession and may hold the Truth in Unrighteousness but whether any Saints Members of Christ or New Creatures be Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ I affirm they are as every true Branch that is grafted in the true Root partaketh of the Root and Fatness of the Olive Tree Rom. 11.17 And saith Christ I am the true Vine and ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit for without me or severed from me ye can do nothing John 15. Now doth not every such Branch partake of the Nature Virtue of the Vine Did you ever hear of a Branch in any Vine that beareth Fruit without partaking of the Nature Virtue or Sap of the Vine But it seems here is a Priest a Teacher that would be counted a Member of Christ a Christian a Believer a True Fruitful Branch no doubt and yet altogether Void and Destitute of the Nature Virtue and Life of the true Vine which can be neither true in Spirituals nor in Temporals And for a Final Confutation of his folly in this Great Point take one Scripture more 2 Pet. 1.3 4. According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that portain unto Life and Godliness through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE having escaped the Corruption of the World which is through Lust Mark here how plain it is that the Apostle did confess how they were Partakers of the Divine Nature which our Adversary has counted such an Abominable Assertion and Intolerable Blasphemy Thus he hath Reproached and Blasphemed the Primitive Christian Doctrine and Attainment in and by Christ his Divine Power and Nature which the Saints were made Partakers of Qr. pag. 117. Here is the true Church where there is but One Teacher One Lord One Faith One Baptism One Light One Life One Way One Shepherd and One Sheepfold One Priest over the Houshold of God One Hope One Language One Family One God and Father of all Pr. To this the Priest Answers viz. In these Quaking Lines we have such an account given of the true Church of God as was never heard nor read of till within these Thirty Years by past such an account as no Age of the Primitive Church can render the like except in a Qrs. Conventicle this true Church is not to be found on Earth Answ What a stranger to the true Church and the Unity thereof hath our Adversary shewn himself to be He has here such an Account of the true Church of God as it seems he never heard nor read of before he knew the People called Quakers But he falsly presumes in saying that no Age of the Primitive Church can tender the like and that this true Church is not to be found on Earth by which he has rendred his own Church no such true Church But why is it such a strange Account of the true Church Is it strange that
Answ Here the Priest makes an Objection against all the King's Subjects which he himself cannot Answer but only askes If it be not rare Quaking stuff He argues neither as a Christian nor like a rational or sober Man as if he would bear us down from a Practice or Custom among many of the King's Subjects and thereupon Argue That because many of the Kings Subjects Swear by a Law of Man therefore Christ's prohibition is thereby abolisht and Whatsoever is more than Yea Yea Nay Nay comes not of the Evil one it s but Quaking stuff to say as Christ says that it so cometh of Evil or of the Evil one as the Priest himself has given the Interpretation of Christ's words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And yet opposeth and derides the thing where conscientiously obeyed by us not with Disrespect to King or Government but with respect to Christs Command not to Swear Pr. Ibid. St. Paul might have known this new Light Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths where Strife was if this be not Abominable Doctrine delivered by this Quaker let the wise Readers â—udge Answ What knows he but Paul knew this Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths among his Followers the true Christians He does not say that an Oath for Confirmation is an End of Strife among Christians but among MEN and such Men were the Jews under the Law that were in the Strife which was the occasion of Oaths and Swearing And however where Strife and the Nature of it is removed and ended by Christ Jesus there need no Swearing to end it among such Men aâ—d Christians But that Solemn Oaths as he calls them are as bad now as Vain Oaths are none of our words but the Priests unnatural Inferrence for there is a difference between an Oath taken solemnly though under a misguided Conscience or Judgement Oaths used vainly and frequently by Prophane Persons who therein often sin against manifest Conviction of Conscience Yet that Swearing was lawful under the old Dispensation but unlawful now as is inferr'd upon us I grant and this the Priest has not removed he has made more Objections for us in this case than he either doth or is able to Answer And seeing he has handled the point so very shallowly against us I refer him and the Reader to a Book Entituled The Case of the Quakers concerning Oaths Defended as Evangolical and another Book more large and full Entituled A Treatise of Oaths wherein both by Scripture Reason Authorities of many Authors our Case is defended in our not Swearing § XX. Qr. p. 46 57. If thou observest a Day observe it to the Lord The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun and called it Sunday Pr. p. 57. When the King and Parliament made the late Act for the better Observation of the Lord's Day then they did nothing but make a Law to establish Will-Worship according to this Quaker Answ We do not Reflect upon King or Parliament for making such an Act nor judge their Intention or Design to be to establish Will-Worship therein Here the Priest still persists in his old Course of Hectoring to incense the Powers against us which is no Rational Argument nor Christian Confutation but still shews that his Religion and Worship have their Dependence upon men He is for that Way Method and Religion that is the uppermost imposed by the Magistrate and that 's his chief Argument But what 's this to Confute our Friend's saying The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun And dare he deny this or say that the Name Sunday Munday Tuesday Wednesday c. did not spring from the Heathen in Relation to their Gods whom they Worshipped And did not the Primitive Christians call that the first day of the Week which you professed Christians call Sunday after the Heathens Example And in our Meeting on the First Day of the Week as the Primitive Christians did we do not superstitiously observe the Day or place an Esteem or Sanctity upon that day simply consider'd more than others but observe it to the Lord. The Apostle did not impose the Observation of Days upon the Primitive Christians nor were they to judge one another in that matter One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord c. see Rom. 14.4 5 6. Pr. p. 58. Doth not this Quaker's Ignorance in effect count all holy Dayes Apostatical Are not these the Festival Days c P. 59. Real Quakers do not observe holy dayes as this Church appoints Answ The Real Quaker owns the Apostle's Doctrine Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an holy Day or of the New Moon or Sabboth Days which are a Shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Certainly Christ is the Substance and End of the Shadow But this Priest is now for Festival Days and Holy Days as the Church appoints Observe how like a Church-man of Rome he here talks as if he were directly steering his Course to Rome The Church is his Rule here and not Christ nor the Scriptures he is for Festivals and Holy Days as the Church commands that is He is for the Observation of Saints and Angels Days and doubtless for Mass-Days too which if he would have us observe he should plainly tell us whence the Observation of such dayes sprung and whether they are not enjoyned in the Mass-Book and from Rome Pr. Ibid. Whither do the Quakers come when they are gotten over the Observation of Days for my part I cannot tell Answ Seeing he cannot tell whither we are or do come he should have let us alone and not revil'd nor abus'd us as men in such deep Ignorance because we can neither keep up the Names of Heathen Gods in Dayes nor Popishly observe Festival Days Holy Days Mass Days c. So here I must leave him in this point with his Face towards Rome not towards Zion nor New Jerusalem § XXI The Priest's next Quarrel is against James Parnel on the Collection of his Writings He is offended to hear That they are given forth from the Spirit of the Lord or that James Parnel should be counted a Servant of God as in the Title of the said Collection and therefore proceeds as followeth Pr. Ibid. This Quaking holy Man of God was in the Quakers Account no less inspired by the holy Ghost than the holy Pen-men of Scripture Answ We make no such Comparison of his being inspired yet though we do not equalize him with those holy Pen-men he was in some degree inspired by the same holy Spirit and bore a Faithful Testimony in his Day and in his Suffering against the Corruptions of those Times both of the then Persecuting Priests Rulers and People Pr. Ibid. The Quakers are
at a high Rate he thinks he has paid it off and run down the Qr. and the Doctrine of Perfection with his Hectoring Insulting Scoffing and Deriding and yet he would have People believe he does not plead for Sin for he says 'T is the Devil that pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so A plain Confession which shall rise up against him to his own Condemnation that out of his own Mouth he may be judged Pr. Ibid. This Qr. was not rightly instructed to distinguish well betwixt the Being and ruling Power of Sin Answ He is here mistaken still concerning the Quakâ—r for he is so far instructed in Christ's School as to know that the same Seed which bruiseth the Serpent's Head breaks his strength and power subdues and destroyes his Kingdom doth in due time both remove and destroy the very being of Sin in all who receive believe and abide in Christ Jesus the promised Seed for granting that the ruling Power of Sin is taken away and removed by Christ what sincere Soul or upright Follower of Christ Jesus who thus far feels his Power to bruise the Serpent's Head and break his strength to the subduing of sin will yet suffer the Being and In-dwelling of Sin all his Life time to remain in him seeing he that is begotten of God keeps himself that the Wicked one toucheth him not 1 John 5.18 when he faithfully follows the Conduct of such a powerful and victorious Prince Captain and Conqueror as our Lord Jesus Christ who is able to do the Work that God has sent him to do and even to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him who also is he that is greater in us than he that is in the World and as the Author to the Hebrews prayed Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you PERFECT in every good Work to do his Will working IN you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ te whom be Glory forever and ever Heb. 13.20 21. § XXIX Pr. pag. 108. As for Infant-Baptism used in all Ages of the Christian Church this Qr. like an Anabaptist saith there is no Scripture nor Example for it Answ That Infant-Baptism or rather Sprinkling was used in all Ages of the Christian Church I plainly deny and it remains for this Priest to prove or else confess his Ignorance or false Assertion in this point as also since he upbraids the Qr. for saying there is no Scripture Example for it why does not he produce Scripture or Example thence for it that would end the Controversie And that it was imposed or settled by any general Council in the Christian Churches before Popery entred or before there was a Pope or Universal Bishop so called at Rome it remains for him to prove And since the Church of Rome pleads for Infant-Baptism and imposeth it upon the account of Tradition and not Scripture as it s said of Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France 1500. That he ordained that Infants Baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved a Command from the Scriptures The Question hereupon is Whether this Tradition he derived from the Church of Rome and so intended or from the Primitive Church in the Apostles Dayes For its being imposed by the Church of Rome cannot be binding to us Protestants because thereof And if they pretend Authority from the Primitive Christian Church in the Apostles Dayes then they should shew us this from Scripture especially these who are our present Opposers who profess the Scripture to be their Rule and not the Church of Rome For in vain is their Worship who teach for Doctrine the Traditions of men and whose fear towards God is taught by mens Precepts Notes by another hand on this Subject 'T is recorded that about the Year 248. lived a Priest called Fidus Cyprian who willed People to Baptize Young Children according to the manner of Circumcision About which Thing Cyprian with Sixty six Bishops and Elders gathered together ordained That Children should timely be baptized as well before as after the 8th day It seems the Doctrine of Fidus concerning Dipping or Sprinkling of Children was New and seem'd strange to Cyprian seeing he would not ratifie nor confirm the same without the Sentence and Advice of Sixty Six Bishops Had it been commanded by Christ practised by the Apostles and continued in matter and manner to Cyprian's days there had not been a necessity for the Concourse of so many Bishops concerning the same And though Cyprian here enjoyned Baptizing of Children yet a few Years before he was for the Dipping or Sprinkling of aged People see his Epistle to Magnus Cassander in his Book de Infantum Baptismo saith Cassander Pado-Baptisms rise That Baptism of Infants came to be much used by the Fathers who lived some three hundred Years after the Apostles He excludes it from being Christ's Command or practised by the Apostles Johannes Bohemius saith That Baptism of old was administred to none unless upon urgent necessity but to such as were before instructed in the Faith and catechised but when it came to be judged necessary to Everlasting Life it was ordained that Infants should be baptized and that they should have God-fathers and God-mothers who should be Sureties for Infants and should renounce the Devil in their behalfs It grew to this in the Roman-Catholick-Church that at the Baptizing of a Child the Priest First Blows three times in the Infants Face Secondly He anoints his Eyes Ears and Nostrils with Earth moistned with his Spittle Thirdly He Names him and Marks him with the Sign of the Cross upon his Breast and Back with Hallowed Oyl Fourthly He dips him into the Water or pours Water upon him three times in the form of a Cross Fifthly Dipping his Thumb in the holy Chrism as they call it he signs the Childs Fore-head with the sign of the Cross Sixthly He covers him with a White Garment Seventhly He puts into his hand a burning Candle Lib. 2. de Gentium Moribus For a farther Information about Baptisms I refer the Reader to Thomas Lawson's Treatise Entituled ΒΑΠΤΙΣΜΑΛΟΓΙΑ Or a TREATISE Concerning BAPTISMS Pr. p. 113. Behold is this the Chirstian Charity that thinks no Evil Is this the Christianity that speaks Evil of no man Answ Well this shall remain as Universal a Testimony against much of this man's Malicious and Scurrilous Work in this Pamphlet of his as his confessing that its the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that Mouth be stopt forever that doth so If he had well observed That Christian Charity thinks no Evil and that Christianity speaks Evil of no man he had not brought forth this large Uncharitable Pamphlet against the People called Quakers nor yet pleaded for Sin 's Continuance in the best
from the Life in the Eternal Word In him was Life and the Life was the Light of men § 3. Pr. Ibid. W. P's best Reason assisted with his Light within is Fondly at work to prove that the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave forth the Scriptures Answ Seeing he deridingly opposeth this we must take him as believing or speaking the contrary viz. That not the Light and Spirit of Truth within but the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave them forth Gross Ignorance as if the Scriptures were the Primary Dictater and Revealer of Scriptures and not the Light and Spirit of God within Contrary to plain Scripture Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God Surely the Scriptures could not be the Rule before they were but the Holy Spirit was both the Mover Rule and Guide in giving them forth Pr. Ibid. Its matter of Lamentation that the Quakers false Light and their lying Spirit do counterfeit the true Light and holy Spirit to decry the Scriptures from being the Rule of Faith and Life Answ It s matter of Lamentation that such blind Guides as this should keep People in Darkness from the true Light and holy Spirit under pretence of the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith and Life Which though this be a main Article of his Faith yet for this very Point he has not produc'd any plain Scripture that saith the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Life Which if he cannot produce such proof for they are not that only Rule but rather a Rule or Instruction subordinate to the true Light and holy Spirit as directing to it Pr. p. 8. Surely this Quakers Light within burnt dim in his Socket the Light within is no such Infallible Teacher as the Quakers brag of like the Papists infallible Judge it s not without its gross Mistakes Answ See how again he blasphemously scoffs against the Light within in his Comparing it with the Papists pretended Infallible Judge wherein he is grosly mistaken but so is not that Divine Light of Christ within which we profess believe and own In him was Life and that Life was the Light of men Though men may Err yet this Light cannot § 4. Pr. Ibid. The real Quaker is for Go teach baptizing with the holy Ghost and with Fire If this be not to turn People from Light to Darkness from God to the Power of Satan let the sober-minded Reader judge Answ The true Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel in Spirit and Power wherewith Christs Ministers were and are endued was for the Conversion and turning People from Darkness to Light and from Satans Power to the Power of God which does no whit fall short of a Spiritual Baptism or dipping into the Name Power and Life of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Go teach baptizing them into the Name c. was a Commission by divine Power and Authority and in the same was fulfilled by Christs presence with his Ministers Lo I am with you alway even unto the End said he and therefore it was by virtue of Christ's Presence with them that they were made Instrumental in baptizing with the Spirit And this was not to turn them from Light to Darkness as most ignorantly is alledged by this Priest Pr. Pag. 9. Surely W. Penn was as Oxford to Lick Glass-Windows Answ A scornful Detraction which shews the Pride of the Priest's Heart Pr. Ibid. It is the Judgment of a real Quaker that Water-Baptism is none of Christ's Institutions and that Paul was of the same mind which is a most gross mistake Answ No Mistake at all that Christ sent not Paul to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel as he himself expresly saith 1 Cor. 1. And this he gave as his most general Reason why he Baptized no more of them than he did And surely his Commission was not short of the rest of the Apostles Wherefore Water-Baptism was not included in it § V. Pr Ibid. That the real Quaker confesseth himself guilty of a base Doctrine viz. That â—ustification by that Righteousness which Christ fulfilled WHOLLY without us is a Sin pleasing Notion Answ No such Confession of Guilt by the Real Quaker who confesseth to Christ's Righteousness both without and within as 't is received by Faith unto Justification or making men Righteous for he cannot own that men can truly be reckoned Righteous or Just while they have none of Christ's Righteousness within them or while his Image is not at all renewed in them nor they in any Degree sanctified None are justified without living Faith in Christ Jesus Therefore none are justified in an unsanctified State so not wholly without them especially if Christ's living Faith be the instrumental Cause of our Justification or Causa sine qua non without which there 's no real Justification he that believes not is condemned already though Christ who is the Author of Faith be the Principal Cause of Good to us Pr. Ibid. The Papists call it a Putative Righteousness This Justification by Christ's Righteousness imputed by Faith which is a comfortable Doctrine is basely murthered betwixt these two Thieves Answ He has here maliciously as well as basely slandered us called Quakers in his Comparison for we never denyed Christ's Righteousness as imputed or reckoned to us by Faith taken in the Real Scripture Sense But some Professors reckoning of it to men in an Unbelieving Unconverted and Unsanctified State or when no Good is wrought in them in which State I suppose he dare not directly say Men are justified for without Faith its impossible to please God and yet he says little or no less if he tell us that men are justified and acquitted before God by a Righteousness of Câ—aist WHOLLY without them for that leaves no room for Christ's Righteousness to have any place within them for their Justification And is not this a Sin-pleasing Notion I would ask what that Righteousness that Christ fulfilled wholly without them was Did it not consist in his Obedience to the Father and fulfilled in his Sufferings and Death If this then has compleated Justification wholly without men then it must be compleated for all Mankind for whom he dyed And he dyed for all men tasted Death for every man for the whole World What then are all men yea the whole World that lies in Sin compleatly justified by this Priest's Doctrine they must if it be effected wholly without them See now what Sin-pleasing Work our Adversary's run into whereas Christ dyed for our Sins and rose again for our Justification Therefore 't was not wholly accomplished by his Death Pr. pag. 10. We are accounted Righteous before God ONLY for the Merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith That we are JUSTIFIED by Faith only is a most wholsome Doctrine Answ Here he joyns Faith to the Merit of our Lord in the Matter of Imputation but then says We are justified by Faith
of the Spirit there as he hath done surely he pronounceth and prayeth what he believes not but from the Teeth outward And also let it be noted how Inconsistent our present Adversary is with the Sermon preached before the Lords in Parliament upon the Fast day February 4. 1673. by Herbert Bishop of Hereford where after he has exclaimed against the Vice Debauchery Pride and Luxury the abominable Lust Excess and Superfluities of our Times he earnestly presseth and urgeth upon their Consciences For Humiliation Weeping Mourning Fasting mortifying their Carnal Bestial Lust that so God from his Mercy-seat might look down with Compassion upon them and pardon all their Crying Sins and then God would Bless them c. Here he did not preach Pardon Peace Blessing or Justification to them if they continued in Sin And further plainly saith Now that Sin is more hateful unto Christ than any Sufferings is evident because he endureth all these to take away Sin Christ could endure the greatest Torment in the World but cannot endure the least Sin for Sin is not only hateful but a flat Contradiction unto God for God is Holiness Can we be such ungrateful Beasts such savage Wolves such cruel Tygers such bloody Monsters as yet to crucify him afresh and put him again to open shame God forbid But let us rather scourge and crucifie the old Man that hater of this our blessed Saviour Thus sar the said-Bishop with much more of this kind of his Sermon aforesaid I am perswaded if the Bishops did see and rightly consider much of my Adversaries writing and what Sin-pleasing Antinomian Notions he would father upon the Church of England they would conclude that he had need to preach a Recantation Sermon or otherwise that he deserves to be degraded and Excommunicated I have quoted the more against him of matter owned by the Protestants and Church of England because he brags so much of that Church as if she would shelter him in all his Deceits and Abuses § XIII Pr. p. 25. In this Quaking Ramble we find too much abominable Doctrine viz. 1. No Hosanna due to Christ as the he Son of M ary no existing Bodily without us 2. Jesus the Son of Mary is not God our Saviour 3. That Jesus Christ is not the Son of the Substance of the Father Answ In all these this Envious Priest hath most shamefully abus'd and perverted my Words as may apparently be seen in the Book Entituled The Nature of Christianity c. pag. 40 and 41. As First About No Hosanna a falshood For I confess'd that the multitude cried Hosanna to the Son of David Matth. 21.9 And ask'd if Hosanna be not Save now I beseech thee only I shewed R. G. his mistake that it was the Multitudes that cryed Hosanna to the Son of David which he placed upon his Apostles and all his Ministers in all Ages whereas they all confessed his Deity as well as his Manhood his being the Son of God and the Root as well as the Off-spring of David Yet I condemn not their Hosanna to the Son of David who in simplicity of Heart cryed so But yet that there is an higher Expression of Honour to him with respect to his Deity and as the Eternal Son of God and David's Lord according to his own Testimony when he questioned the Pharisees and Scribes who called him the Son of David viz. What think ye of Christ whose Son is he They said unto him The Son of David He said unto them How then doth David in Spirit call him Lord saying The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my Right Hand till I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool If David then call him Lord how is he his Son And no man was able to answer him a Word neither durst any man from that day forth ask any more Questions Mat. 22. and Mark 12.35 36 37. Did Christ herein deny himself to be the Son of David or of his Seed according to the Flesh no sure no more have we What I writ as before was in relation to the Honour due to Christ as the Eternal Son of God which the Pharisees allow'd not of though they confessed him to be the Son of David but were offended at his owning himself to be the Son of God John 10.36 and 19.7 The Jews charged him with Blasphemy and said He ought to dye because thereof Secondly The Priest has most shamefully belyed me by inferring upon me a denial of the Deity of Jesus Christ as if I denied him to be God our Saviour which is a gross Lye for I have in plain words confest that the holy Prophets Apostles and Ministers pointed and testified unto Jesus Christ both as Man born of the Virgin to his coming in the Flesh Nat. Chri. pag. 40. and unto his Divinity and manifestation in Spirit Thirdly The Priest hath abominably belyed me in charging this Doctrine upon me that Jesus Christ is not the Son of the Substance of the Father * Which also he sets down in his 10th Article as the Quakers belief p. 147. whenas I have plainly confest his Divinity and the main drift of my Discourse is that he may be chiefly honour'd and worshipped as in respect to his Deity Divine Power and Glory as the Eternal Son of God For that Hosanna and Adoration Claim of Salvation which some pretend only to Christ as the Son of Mary or to him as the Son of Mary only this I was not satisfied with because it excludes his Divinity from that honour chiefly due thereto And it was hereupon that I asked R. G. the Question If he had so considered Christ to be God the Saviour or the Son from the Substance of the Father Which I asked not to deny him in either of these 't was far from my thoughts but only to shew my Opposer his mistake in attributing all to him only as the Son of Mary Thus far was I from denying the Deity of the Son of God or his being of the Substance of the Father from everlasting before the World was As also I shewed Mark 6.3 that they who called Christ the Carpenter the Son of Mary and were offended at him did not shew that honour and respect to him that Peter did who said Nat. Christ p. 51. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God though this can be no Denial of his outward Birth of the Virgin Pr. pag. 26. They deny that the Son of Mary is to be worshipped as God Answ We do not divide Christ though we distinguish between his Godhead and Manhood viz. That though he be perfect God and perfect Man yet inferior to the Father touching his Manhood as is confest in the Liturgy And if any of us have denied that meerly consider'd as the Son of Mary he is to be worshipped as God I think we should not be rendred Offenders nor yet Deniers of his Manhood on this occasion for men more Wise and Learned than our Adversary
has not told us very likely 't is by some severe means as Hanging the Quakers and Burning their Books this Priest hath Malice enough for both as if that would prevail more to the safety of Souls from Error then all the Priests Preaching or Arguments 'T is evident how little Interest they have in mens Consciences But then this course would honour the Quakers with Martyrdom and raise greater enquiry after their Religion and then it will be time for Persecuting Clergy-men to be silent Pr. Ibid. Books not so dangerous as this is have been burnt by the hand of the common Hangman Answ He smels still strong of the old Where 's Cup Envy and Persecution But the Impartial Readers will see that his Book is more fit for such Execution 't is so filled with Scorn and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ Jesus within Pr. Ibid. The Author is gone to his Judge so this Book deserves a black mark for his sake and its Pestilent Doctrine Answ Malicious and Blind Presumption thus finally to condemn the Author as he has the Book as if he were infallibly sure that he is gone to utter Damnation But see his Ignorance and Falshood in his proofs Pr. Ibid. This Quaking Primmer begins with a Lye to corrupt Children's Minds the Light within which is no express Scripture phrase is indeed a meer Fancy the Real Quaker's Idol Answ Gross Ignorance and Blasphemy the Light within is no Fancy nor Idol 't is the Light of Christ within God's inshining in our Hearts that we profess that mens Minds may be turned from Darkness that 's within them to the Light of Christ within That God hath shined in our Hearts is express Scripture Pr. p. 28. It s false Doctrine to make the Light within to be the Teacher of the Fear of God Answ The Light of Christ within teacheth to depart from Evil and to do good to speak and practise Truth and therefore the Fear of God is taught by it Pr. Ibid. In this Quaking Primmer little Children are taught to take heed to the Light within them that the Scripture the more sure Word of Prophecy may not be regarded by them as their Guide or Rule of their Lives Answ The more sure Word of Prophecy mentioned 2 Pet. 1.19 is explained in the same place what it is Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto A LIGHT that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your Hearts And therefore it is a Light of Christ within which directs and guides unto his inward Appearance who is the bright and morning Star It could not be the Scriptures of the Prophets that was intended by this more sure Word for they could not be more sure than that Voice which Peter James and John heard from the Excellent Glory when they were with Christ in the Mount Nor yet more sure than the Apostles Testimony Wherein then lies the Comparison but in that Divine Word or Light of the Son of God being more general and more near to them than that Voice though both true This Word doth shine in many dark Hearts that never heard that Voice Pr. pag. 29. Gross Popery here is Deliverance from Condemnation not by Faith in Christ's Merits but by obeying the Light within their worst Guide Answ Here is gross Ignorance and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within still Christ did not oppose his own Merit Deserving or Dignity by exhorting his Hearers to believe in the Light that they might become Children of the Light and if we walk in the Light as he i. e. God is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 and this in relation to the Divine Light for God is Light vers 5. Therefore this Light within is that whereby men may know the Benefit of Christ's Blood and Merit But this Priest has here branded Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies herein with gross Popery Pr. Ibid. Quakerism serves as a Stepping-stone for Popery in this Church and Kingdom Answ If Papists had not greater Hopes of making many of you Clergy-men swallow down Popery for Preferments and Self-ends than they have of the Quakers they would not be so confident in their Attempts 'T is easie for them to suppose that a Temporizing Clergy man whose Conscience is benumbed either by Avarice or Covenant-breaking is a fit Agent to introduce Popery gradually under some hidden Disguise or Cloak as this Adversary can cry up the Church of England and cry down Popery while he looks and steers his course directly towards Rome both in his Rage against dissenting Protestants and asserting divers Popish Doctrines Ibid. Qr. Primmer p. 13 14. Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus believe them not that turn you from the Light for they are not the Ministers of Christ Pr. answers Here you may observe how this Quaking Primmer is mainly designed to foist these new Vessels by this bad Liquor put into them Other Teachers whether Arch-Bishops or Bishops Priests or Deacons are but Deceivers no Ministers of Christ to whom little Children are here taught not to hearken nor believe them Answ How plain is it here that by his making the Application to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Priestsor Deacons he has granted them to be such Teachers as keep Persons from the Light of Christ Jesus and turn them from the Light for such are they that little Children are taught not to hearken to nor believe viz Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus c. Pr. pag. 30. Abominable False Doctrine that the holy Scriptures are not the Way to know the Truth Ibid. God's Ministers teach that the Scriptures are the way to know the Truth Answ Christ saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life and the Spirit of Truth shall guide you into all Truth Where do the Scriptures say They are the Way Surely they are not Christ nor the Spirit but testifie of both which is no decrying of the holy Scriptures to allow the Spirit the Preference Pr. Ibid. These Quakers are strangely fond of the Light within so as to cry down the Light of God's own Word This Quaking Dotage Answ No Fondness nor Dotage in crying up the Light of God's living Word within which is nigh in the Heart which is not to cry down the Scripture as is falsly supposed I have hid thy Word in mine Heart that I might not sin against thee 't is a Light unto my Paths and a Lanthorn to my Feet saith David Qr. Primmer p. 16. Such are Deceivers who preach for Money and Tythes such cannot lead you out of Transgression for they are in Transgression themselves for Christ said to his Freely ye have received freely give and Paul made not the Gospel Chargeable but these Priests that preach for filthy Lucre deceive people Pr. The Priest answers
Believer in Christ can witness that Christ is come to destroy the Works of the Devil and to redeem him from under his Power before this saving Work of Christ be effected or compleated from the very first appearance of Christ and work of his Grace in the Heart through Faith which he is the Author of there is a real Belief Sense Expectation and Hope that he who has begun a good Work will perfect it in his own due time he that hath begun to Cleanse to Purifie to work out Sin to engage the Soul in a Spiritual Warfare against it will in his own time even in this Life perfect this Work of Cleansing and Redeeming the Creature from all Sin so that he is known to be a Redeemer by that effectual Progress which he makes in his Work in Man in the gradual carrying on of it unto Perfection there is a time of Washing and Cleansing and a time of being Washed and Cleansed from Sin there is a time of Warring and a time of Conquering as also a being made more then Conquerors through him that loved us Pr. pag. 103. It s no marvail that the Qrs. do ignorantly plead for a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life for this is their Top-gallant Error which makes them reign like Kings above the World Death Hell and the Devil Answ See here how mad against Perfection this Priest is he likes not to hear of perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life he calls it The Quakers Top-gallant Error his Clamour against us on this occasion he reiterates over and over and therefore I recite his words that the Reader may see how earnest he is for Satan's Kingdom he has done no less herein than Blasphem'd the Work and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles which was against all Sin and for a perfect Freedom from it in this Life as being a Top-gallant Error thus he has shewn himself an Industrious Agent for Satan's Kingdom Pr. Ibid. By this Quaking Doctrine of Perfection this Quaker saith that the Children of God and the Children of the Devil are made manifest Behold in this Qrs. account they are manifestly the Children of the Devil who do not hold a perfect Freedom from Sin on Earth Answ That which here he scornfully calls Quaking Doctrine is according to plain Scripture which he has flatly opposed see 1 John 3.9 10. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Pr. Ibid. Thus this Idoliz'd Perfection of the Qrs. serves to Vnchristian all but themselves Answ Manifest Scorn and Falshood we do not idolize Christ's Work of Perfection nor unchristian any by vindicating of it but seek to bring them to true Christianity that they may know Christ his Image and divine Nature formed and brought forth in them by the Operation of his Spirit and Power Pr. Ibid. In vain doth this Qr. tell us that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not for the Scripture records no such Over-holy Inhabitants Answ The Scripture doth record such Holy Inhabitants in Christ as sin not Ye know that He was manifested to take away Our Sins and in him is No Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5 6. But this the Priest counts Over-holy that is with him 't is Over-holy to abide in Christ and not to sin whereas Christ said Abide in me and I in you Pr. Ibid. It s true it s the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so Answ Then Priest to be sure thy Mouth ought to be stopt for much of thy work here is pleading striving and contending for Sin reiterating the same sinful Doctrine of thine against Perfection and Freedom from Sin in this Life over and over frequently and therefore thou art therein the Devil's Mouth and not the Mouth of God nor Christ The Devil pleads for Sin and so dost thou thou and the Devil are manifestly united together against Christ and all his Followers in this matter and therefore stop thy Mouth for shame thou Flattering Sin-pleasing Priest who strengthenest the hands of Evil-doers that they may not forsake their sins like the false Prophets of old promising them Life Justification Peace and Salvation in a sinful state Pr. Ibid. But to affirm the In-being and Dwelling of Sin in the best of men in this World is no siding with the Devil in the same Plea Answ Here the Priest hath accused the best of men in this World with the In-being and Dwelling of Sin and is not this a pleading for Sin and a siding with the Devil against Christ's Manifestation and Work which is to take away Sin to destroy the Work of the Devil and if to Destroy it then not to let it have a Being or Dwelling in any true Believers The best of men are free from consenting to the In-being of sin much more from pleading or contending for it for being made free from Sin and become Servants to God such have their Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Pr. Ibid. Ministers of the Gospel who teach that none can be Perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life Answ They that teach that none can be perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life preach another Gospel than the holy Apostles preached whose Preaching and Work of the Ministry was to present Believers Perfect in Christ and for the Perfecting of the Saints But such Ministers as teach that none can be cleansed from all Sin in this Life are like or of kin to such as hold a Purgatory or place of Purgation to cleanse in after Death only they fall short of the Papists in this that they 'l allow none no not the best of men on Earth to be perfectly cleansed from all sin in this Life whereas the Papists do grant that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven when they dye but yet they will imagine a Purgatory for the greatest part of their People to give them ease in their Sins and get Money and Gifts of the Richer sort to mitigate and shorten their pains in Purgatory Thus Satan has divers wayes to sooth up Sinners and to maintain his own Kingdom against Christ his Work and Kingdom Pr. pag. 104. O Quaking Perfection from all Sin in this Life O Brain-sick Whimsy To what Extravigant Assertions to what Devilish Expressions hast thou transported this Poor Deluded Quaker This Quaking Error Answ Thus the Priest Hectors Rants Vapours Vilifies and Reproaches the Quaker for pleading against the Devil's Work which is Sin and for Christ's Work and Service which is Perfection and perfect Freedom But the Priest in his pleading for Sin and therein siding with the Devil Rants it
is with us manifested in the Flesh Answ But this the Priest believes not either of us or any people else for he counts it a high base Doctrine intolerable Blasphemy an abominable Quaking Assertion and all one as to say that they are no less God than himself is Godded with God and Christed with Christ Thus he has exploded such a Doctrine as the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature of Christ as an Abominable Quaking Assertion as his words are more at large aggravated in his 116th page whereby he hath discovered his gross Darkness Blasphemy and Ignorance of the Scripture and Testimony of holy Apostles see 2 Pet 1.3 4. According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust But this partaking of the Divine Nature the Priest counts an Abominable Quaking Assertion Quaking Blasphemy c. see now what an Ignorant Blasphemous Person he hath shewn himself one that neither knoweth the Scriptures nor the Power of God See § 30. Pr. Art 63. We Q. do believe that the true Church is where there is one Lord one Light one Life one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Baptism one God and Father of all § 30. Answ Yes we must believe this whether the Priest will believe it or no and if he will not believe it he will not believe as the Scripture faith There should be One Shepherd and One Sheep fold there is One Body and One Spirit even as ye are called by One Hope of your Calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism all which the true Chutch partaketh of Pr. Art 64. We Q. do believe as G. F. writes that the Priests of England are going mad in preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning so that Balaam 's Ass may reprove them all Answ And we have no Cause to believe that the Priests of England are going Wise in Preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning such as do not put into their Mouthes But it seems this Priest believes they are Wise Priests that preach for Rewards and take these harsh and severe Courses of Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning them that cannot put into their Mouthes But did not Paul confess he was Exceeding Mad when he persecuted For he counts what G. F. has written in this Case one of the Articles of the Qrs. Unsound Faith Pr. Art 75. We Q. do believe that there is a Way to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through John to come to Christ that when a man hath gone this strange Way then he may see that the Light is but one Answ This is a Strange Way to our Adversary the Priest and to all that are alive without the Law but 't was not a Strange Way to the Apostle Paul nor to any true Christian who have traversed those steps of Judgments and through Death and Condemnation under the spiritual Administration of the Law under which the Offenders Mouth is stopt and all the World become guilty before God and the Righteousness of God is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3. And I had not known Sin but by the Law saith Paul Chap. 7.7 And we know that the Law is Spiritual Vers 14. And saith Paul I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.19 20. And therefore he did spiritually pass through the Law And see what Christ saith Matth. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Again he saith Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you do even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Matth. 7.12 Luke 6.31 And this is no strange Way to any true Christian Pr. Art 77. We Q. do believe that Jesus Christ remains in Heaven that the same that did descend did ascend Answ This is also rank't in among his Articles of the Quakers Unsound Faith which plainly reflects upon the Apostle Paul's Testimony Ephes 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Pr. Art 79. We Q. do believe that Christ lives in that Body which is the Church Answ And must this needs be an Unsound Faith too Does not Christ live in his Church To deny this how contrary is it to Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies see John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one And did not he walk in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks which were the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 1.13 20. And his being in the Heavens and living in his Church are not inconsistent Hebr. 8.1 2. We have an High Priest who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man And where was this Sanctuary and true Tabernacle but in his Church where he lives and ministers to the Edification of all those in whose Hearts Christ dwells by Faith Pr. Art 97. We Q. do believe that all the Teachers of England who are not sent who have no Commission from God who go forth only in the Will of Man that they are no Ministers of Christ that their Doctrine is not from Heaven but men below they teach for Doctrine the Traditions of Men. Answ And how should we believe otherwise of them who have no Commission from God but go forth in the Will of Man how should we believe that they are Ministers of Christ or that they receive their Doctrine or Commission from Heaven * §. 15. If our Adversary will still believe that such unsent Teachers as have no Divine Commission from Heaven are Christ's Ministers he may believe so long enough before the QVAKERS will be of his Faith There are several more things in his Ninety Eight Articles wherein his Ignorance as well as his Falshood appears But I think I have given Instances sufficient to evince both to any impartial and unbyassed Readers as also to Vindicate Truth from his Malicious Perverse and Knavish Attempts for which I leave him to the Just God to Reckon with Judge and Reward him according to his Works