speak evil of the way of truth is not this thy great business to speak evil of Christ the light of the world who is the way and the truth which thou art speaking against so act out of the doctrine of Redemption not knowing thy Redeemer to live having not obeyed from thy heart the form of Christ doctrine so art not come to the work of Redemption which worketh by his own mighty power in all that beleeve in him saving from fin redeeming from all iniquity and making perfect for ever through the sanctification of the spirit which is his work within and yet without all men these things thou canst not reach unto in thy wisdom below 15. Partic. That they make the Word of God of none Authority Proof Is proved by their Traditions against the teachings of the Word of God which tells men that they who are without Faith are without Christ the true light Eph. 2. 12. But the Quakers tells men who are without faith that they have must look to Christ the true light within a flat contradiction to the divâ—nâ— Authority of the Word of God Reply All that knows the Word of God the teachings thereof do see thee to be in that state as they were who were without Christ the Apostle doth not say that Christ was not within them but that they were without Christ without God in the world therfore he calls them to awake arise from the dead 〈…〉 Christ might give them light which was not a light without â—nem for that they had whilst they were dead but to the light within them did he mind them which when they had received they were made light in the Lord knew him to be the Author of their Faith which he wrought in their â—eaâ—â—s by the Word of his power which is the Word of Faith preached stands in the divine authority of God that so it is the true doctrin which the Word of God teacheth without any contradiction that they who are without faith are without Christ yet who are without faith are to look unto Christ within them obey him there that he may work faith in their hearts which those who are at enmity with him doth not come to know so abides without him in the unbelief in the world having no comunion with his life though such be without him yet he is within them a faithful witness to reprove them in their own conscience for their transgression disobedience but the Book unto thee is sealed thou art unlearn'd thy heart hardened that thou wilt not beleeve truth though from the living Word of God it be declared 16. Partic. That they set their hearts against the Lords Teachings in the Scriptures Proof Is proved in their setting themselves in array against the teachings of Christ his Apostles in the scriptures which is the open manifestation of the true light calling men into the desart and secret place to look for light in the house of darkness Reply Christ said false Christs false Prophets should arise shew great figns and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect but saith he Behold I have told you before wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desart go not forth Mat. 24. If thy understanding was opened to know the scriptures Christs own words declares theâ— plainly what thou art what signs wonders thou art shewing to deceive by saying Christ is without behold him there Christ saith Go not forth this is his own doctrine all believers obeys it that which they were not to go forth from was within them and when those false Prophets came vvhich Christ said should come John savv their deceit their seducing spirit in the same light in vvhich thou art novv made manifest he exhorted to bevvare of that vvhich did seduce to look unto that vvhich vvas vvithin them which is the anointing saith he that ye have received of him abideth in you you need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and no lye Joh. 2 27. And thus the Scriptures comes to be known and witnessed in the unity of that Spirit which is but one in all Christ said false prophets should come Go 〈◊〉 forth John saw them when they did come and he said Abide in the anointing which is in 〈◊〉 and here is the pure Doctrine of Christ the Apostle declared in the unity of the Spirit which thou art at enmity with and so teacheth another Doctrine as all false Prophets deceivers do 17. Partic. That they set up their own traditions Proof Is proved in setting up their pretended light which is quite contrary to the light and teachings of Scripture Rep. Thou being in the state of darkness calls good evil and so falsly accuses the truth by thy lying spirit which to make way for thy lyes to be brought in cryes out against the truth to be contrary to the Scripture-teaching and under this Vail of thick darkness was the Lord of glory crucified by the wise Scripture-learned who cried out against him to teach contrary to what was written in the Law and the Prophets and so enviously set themselves against him who was the end of the Law and Prophets and falsly accused him as thou in that Wisdom art doing who is the light of the world 18. Partic. That they pull down the Oracle of God in the Scriptures Proof Is proved in their calling the Scriptures dead and lifeless and pulling their teachings from mens hearts and minds that they might receive their false Voice which is quite contrary to them Rep. Christ's sheep hear his voice and follows him and his voice they know from strangers and it is the true Voice which is uttered from Gods holy habitation which is sweet to all that love it and a terror to all that hate it unto which we mind all people to give diligence that with a ready performance they may obey and do whatsoever it doth command and this is the still voice which is behinde thee from which thou starts aside and will not abide the reproof thereof 19. Partic. That they set up their own Idol-Books as a living voice Proof Is proved in their setting up their Books for Teachers and calling the Scriptures dead and lifelefs which books compared with their denyal of the Scriptures teaching are set forth with blâ—sphemous Tities Rep. The Lord God who lives for ever pleads the cause of the innocent against thy false tongue and he that searcheth all hearts and judgeth right in every conscience knows that thou dost falsly accuse the righteous generation and that there is no guilt upon them as to what thou hast charged against them for they do not deny the Scriptures nor sets up their Books for Teachers neither are the
declared from the motion of the Spirit and sets them in opposition to the same light and spirit which now as truly moveth in the children of obedience as it did in them who were made Witnesses of the Grace of God and through the operation of the spirit did declare it Therefore be not so rash in your minds as to call good evil and Truth a delusion but sink down in Gods fear and know that which is near you to reprove you in your ignorance and then you wil know there is nothing so sure as that which was before the World or Man or Scriptures were which is that which changeth not but is to day as yesterday and abides the same for ever And this is the everlasting truth which from the beginning hath been made manifest through ages and generations according to the dispensation of Gods good pleasure which all the holy men of God have walked in and been obedient to and declared of whose sayings are all true and faithful and are owned to be a true Declaration of the living Word which from the beginning was novv is vvhich changeth not in vvhich they felt Gods loving kindness made manifest unto them as they vvalked in obedience unto him and likewise declared of Gods severity and displeasure revealed against the ungodly and unbelievers and thus was the truth known from the beginning to instruct and lead and guide the righteous in the holy Way wherein they erred not and to convince and condemn the World for sinne who walked with a froward heart against the Lord Be not deceived for all visible things must perish and that which hath a beginning hath an end howsoever it may appear in shew unto you there will be no help found in any created being in the needful time for your foundation which in your own Wisdom you have laid and in your own strength you are building upon one tempest will beat it all down and your labor will be lost after so many years spent Therefore be meek and lowly in your hearts and â—ink down to the Corner-stone and reject it no longer for it will not fail neither can the Gates of Hell prevail against it All wait for the Hand of Love to bring you thither that there your footsteps may be placed and your goings ordered that a spiritual House you may know raised up by the Arm of the Lord and here Christ is known who is true for evermore and leads into all truth those that believe in him and are guided by him the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending the first and the last there is none besides him nor any to be compared into him who baptizeth all that believe in him into one body by one spirit and there cleanseth them by the washing of Water through the Word where the regeneration comes to be witnessed and the answer of a good conscience received the pure Water flowing forth which washeth and cleanseth the body inwardly by which believers comes to be baptized into Christ and puts him on and this is the one baptism known and witnessed by all that follow the light of the Lord and walks in obedience to his commands and if you do not wilfully outstand Gods Witness you cannot but confess this is the baptism in which believers are baptized and is the one baptism the Scriptures declares of and that there is not another to be continued Therefore be silent before the Lord and yeild obedience to what he commands you by his spirit in the inner man and there know that one baptism which all believers are baptized with in which they are washed and cleansed to follow Christ in the regeneration and newness of life He that can receive it let him For you cannot prove by plain Scripture that Christ was a Minister of Water Baptism or that he did command it or preached it for Doctrine or pressed it as a duty but he sent his Disciples forth to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and to give that which they had received freely and you cannot prove that when they were thus sent forth that they had received Water-baptism but what was made manifest in them and which they had received that they gave and declared thereof in Gods power and this reached the inward parts and pricked the hearts of those that heard it and brought them to enquire what they might do unto whom Peter said Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost Acts 2. 38. This day is this Scripture fulfilled praises be unto the Lord God for ever and many are true Witnesses of this baptism whose hearts have been pricked by the eternal living Word in their own conscience that they have been brought to enquire what they might do and the living Word hath been obeyed and the reproof thereof which hath vvrought the godly sorrovv unto repentance never to be repented of and there the Fountain hath been opened which washeth avvay sin and uncleanness and baptizeth into the Name of Jesus Christ where sins are remitted and the gift of the Holy Ghost received And in this Scripture Water is not once named where the Apostle preaches the Doctrine of Baptism and was the first which vvas preached after the Holy Ghost fell upon them Therefore be not so envious against those who witness the truth as they know it in Jesus and are baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire and hath felt him whose Fan is in his hand thoroughly purging his floor and cleansing the inward parts from all unrighteousness and this licks up the Water and consumes it as the fire did which fell from Elijah's Altar which was a true figure of the two Ministrations if you could read it for had you obeyed that which once did truly move in you and opened Gods love unto you and gave you a sight of many things which in your hearts were secretly lodged and let you see the Ways and Worship of the World to be vain if you had continued faithful unto this pure Guide it would not have left you on Jordans brinks nor in the midst thereof but would have opened it unto you and led you thorow it and over it and given you an inheritance in the true rest for ever Therefore be awakened and lift up your eyes and behold where you are for you are not come where â—ongs of deliverance are sung but are set down short of the pure rejoicing from whence you are all called to arise and join to the Hand of Love which is still reached forth unto you that thereby you might be gnided in the Way of peace that leadeth to eternal life and though many of you may swell in Wrath because the little stone is smiting your Image and that you know not how to uphold it but by contending for it and talking of the Scriptures yet this will not uphold it nor your Worship and
loveth and will stand above thee and all thy deceit though thou hast blasphemed him 4 Partic. That they steat Scriptures to deck their false Harlots with Proof Is proved in first calling the Scriptures dead and liveless to bring their false Harlot called light within into osteem and then fills their mouths with it to seem spiritualized and to make the world believe 't is from themselves and not from Scripture and this was proved against thes in thy Title Page of thy Book to H. H. Reply The light within is already proved from plain Scripture to be Christ the light of the world and the eternal truth and power of God and the Scriptures are dead and liveless unto thee who art at enmity with the light and life from which they were declared and unto which they bear testimony and therefore we deny thee though thy mouth may be somtimes filled with Scripture expressions and of which it is now empty but the Scriptures we own and have unity with them in the same Spirit from which they were given forth and knows them to be fulfilled in us who walk after the Spirit and what thou sayest was proved before to this matter against me is a proof which was of thy own inventions as these are which thou hast now offered to thy shame for ever not giving a Scripture expression nor naming a Scripture for what thou hast said but thy mouth is filled with Lyes instead of Scripture and that thou calls a proof 5. Partic. That they labour to have the Scriptures dead in mâ—ns estâ—mation Proof Is proved plainâ—y in telling men the Scriptures are a dead Letter and a liveless Book and saying it is a damnable Doctrine to say the Spirit is received by the hearing of Faith preached and beleeving according to the Scriptures and in calling the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ in the Scriptures outward Forms and liveless Reply That which hath not life in it self is dead and thou cannot deny it and the Book hath not life in it self neither can the Letter thereof give life to any though they may read it and hear it all their life time and if ever thou come to know the Scriptures and the true use of them thou must come to the light which is the life of men without whom all things are dead and it is a damnable Doctrine to preach the Letter for Christ and set it above him which is not according to the Doctrine of those who were Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter and this doth the Letter declare and the Spirit is not received by hearing or reading the Letter but by the hearing of Faith preached in the heart by the Spirit that quickneth and the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles which the Scriptures do declare and beleeving according to that Doctrine we own and in it walk by the same spirit which doth not lead any contrary who by it are guided but leads into the fulfilling of all and into the life where living vertue is received which from the beginning was ordained which is not dead nor formal but life and power but thou can sit down in thy own time to eat and drink in immitation of what thy imagination comprehends by reading the Scriptures that the Saints did and so thou glories in appearance and not in heart 6. Partic. That they deny the Scriptures Proof Is proved afore in which they are manifested to be the most audacious denyers of Scripture that ever hath been of all the Antich istian party Reply That which thou hast proved afore thou hast manifested thy self in to be a servant unto him who is an enemy to truth and every appearance of Righteousness which by the light is brought forth in the Children of Obedience that strikes at every work of darkness having no Communion with it and this makes him rage in Wrath and Fury in thee to speak great swelling words of vanity and offer them for a Proof that his Lyes might have a likeness of truth put upon them by which many are at this day deceived for the scriptures are owned and beleeved in and the Doctrine of Christ is obeyed and the light is walked in which gives us fellowship with the Father and with the Son where we have Communion with the life but Antichrist denyeth the Father and the Son and is at enmity with the divine Nature and fighting against every appearance of godliness which from the living vertue thereof is brought forth which thou makes thy great business to oppose and contend against 7. Partic. â—hat they are not guided by that light and spirit that gave forth the Scriptures Proof Is proved both by their denyal of those Scriptures and Commands gâ—vâ—n forth by the light and spirit of God in the Scriptures and also in their seâ—ting up a pretended light within contrary to any teachings of the spirit of God in the Scriptures Reply Thou art proved a Lyar by plain scripture in the Third Reply where it is proved that Christ is the light and it was in their hearts and this doth the teachings of Gods spirit in the scripture witness and we neither deny the teachings nor Commands given forth by the light and spirit of God in the scriptures but have unity with them and the sâ—me light and spirit teacheth us and unto the Commands thereof we wait to yield obedience but it is thy business to make Lyes thy Refuge and adds one to another without shame neither shewing what the Teachings and Commands are which thou sayest the scriptures teacheth and commandeth and what we deny nor what the light and spirit is nor where to be waited for which thou sayest we are not guided by but thou passeth all for Proof because thou sayest it 8. Par That they are evil dealers and fighters against God Proof Is proved in their evil dealing and fighting against the spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and denying obedience thereunto and rayling against those that dâ— obey to exalt their lying spirit against it Reply What shall be done unto thee O thou false tongue who without fear uttereth such Lyes against the innocent who are guided by the spirit of truth out of all evil dealing or wrong doing but thou art in the depth of the bottomless pit and from thence foaming out thy own shame not fearing to speak any thing which the lying spirit puts into thy mouth and calls it a Proof when thou hast neither scripture ground nor reason to shew for what thou sayest but as the Devil hatcheth mischief in thy heart so with a ready mind thou serves him in what he will have thee to do and so falsely accuses the innocent who in all obedience serves the Lord and walks-after the spirit and yields all obedience to it and yet thou sayest they deny the spirit of God speaking in the scriptures but hast not shewed what those speakings are nor who they are that do obey that they rail against nor what
obedience to it for the Witness is true and the testimony thereof doth stand against you and over it you cannot prevail and this is my rejoicing in it that I have the answer of a good conscience and peace with God though many of you may be hardened and set your selves against the Word of Truth and hates to be reformed by it yet truth is the same and you cannot change it with all your inventions And let all the simple-minded who are yet seeking rest and are not satisfied with what you are feeding upon O return unto the Lord and come again to that of God in you who will heal your backslidings and open your understandings where the right Way of the Lord will be made known unto you for it is man that doth deceive you and leads you in many Wayes that they have imagined and in their Wills sets up their own inventions for the Way of God when the Lord hath not required it at their hands and whilst you are 〈◊〉 bewitched with the Inchanters and Southsayers and 〈◊〉 your delight in their crooked pathes you will not find that wherein satisfaction is which some of you are truly seâ—-king after Therefore unto you is this moved from the living God who are tender hearted and in whom there is yet a true breathing after God who cannot be satisfied with those things that will perish but are seeking after the enjoyment of something that will abide hearken to the light of Christ and feel the Hand of Love and join your selves unto it that you may be acquainted with it and know the leadings of it this will bring you to the life from whence it comes as you yeild obedience to it there will you feel living springs opened freely to you and plentifully to refresh you where you will know the Water that faileth not which yeildeth satisfaction and pure refreshment and though many be set down with their hearts hardened and denies every motion of the Spirit in them and instead of being filled with the Spirit according to the Apostles Doctrine they are filled with envy and fury against it and every appearance of it and opens their mouths in blasphemy against it but they shall all know a day of Tryal in which a recompence of reward will be given from the righteous God who will bring every secret thing into Judgement and make all his Enemies his Footstool let not their hard heartedness be an occcasion to make your tender hearts stumble at the Way of Truth neither give your minds to harken to their Inchantments who hath so long bewitched you from obeying the truth but all be diligent to hearken to the light which is truly moving in many of you and doth couvince you that you are not walking in the right Way you see something amiss amongst you which you cannot have communion with and something which you are not come to live in and which you cannot deny but to be truth as it is brought forth from the Spirit of Truth in others Therefore do you weigh and consider vvisely vvhere you are that you may be no longer deceived but may come and knovv the right Way of the Lord So all in the light keepe your mindes stayed and hasten not but lye dovvn and patiently vvait that you may see salvation brought unto you as you are brought to stand still and so will the Lord work his own Work for you by the Arm of his power and make known his secrets and reveal his Son in you that you may not confer with flesh and blood So unto the light of Christ with which you are enlightened all give up your selves in obedience that every motion thereof you may be willing to follow that it may be your Leader guide you out of your own Ways and Words and Works and Thoughts and bring you into subjection to do the Fathers Will in all things and to obey his Teachings which by his Spirit he requireth and it will bring you to know truth in the inner parts which the Lord loveth and as you obey the light and follows it you will feel every motion thereof to be precious and bringing you nearer unto the life from vvhence it comes vvhere the pure openings of Gods love you vvill feel to satisfie you So all in Gods fear stand and sink down to the Corner-stone which in you is placed and know that to be your foundation and this will be a sure Way to come to Christ when you feel his Vertue to stay your Issue and this is the Grace of God that brings salvation and appeareth to all Men teacheth what to deny and what to vvalk in which if you take heed unto you will need no other Teacher but as the anointing teacheth you which is in you and is truth and no lye which will open your understandings to know the things of God and let you see things that differ and bring you to a true discerning betwixt the precious and the vile where mans Way and Gods Way will be plainly opened unto you For the Seeds sake this is declared Reject not counsel ye tender hearts but be willing to receive instruction that your minds may be informed where to wait for Gods loving kindness that the Hand of Love may lead you in the new and living Way that brings to the Father where the true Rest you will find and perfect peace Truth defended and cleared from the Lyes and Slanders declared by JONATHAN JOHNSON HAving observed the Envious Spirit to rage for a long season in Jonathan Johnson against the Truth as it hath been declared and published in the motion of the Spirit of Life and that as Books hath come to his hand which hath been so published he hath been set on work in his busie mind to write in the leaves thereof against the truth which hath been therein declared for which cause I having unity through the love of God with that truth so declared and being made a Witness thereof it was laid upon me as my duty to write unto him and declare against his secret working in which I offered this unto him in the fear of the Lord That he would set out his own Work and make it publike in print and also sent him some Queries for to answer publikely and thereby did let him know that I should not receive him upon any other account but as he made his Work publike having heard much of his contentious spirit unto which offer and queries he sent me a plain denial in Writing back again in which were many Words and false Accusations against the truth which I did not find my duty to reply to in Writing having before let him know that I should not receive him upon that account therefore my duty was now to let him know that it was my desire that Truth might appear and be seen where it was so was ordered to write to him again wherein I then offered in the fear of the Lord to
the lying spirit is that they exalt for what thou hast here laid down is but in substance one with thy whole matter which thou calls Proofs for what thou hast to say is chiefly against the light within and disobedience to the scripture teaching in which thou hast been proved a lyar and a false accuser manifesting nothing but envy against the Righteous generation whose foundation is sure and their footsteps so ordered upon it that all thy darts cannot make them to move neither can the strength of thy might shake their foundation 9. Part. That they have nâ—ither part in nor fellowship with the Scriptures Proof What part or fellowship can they have with the Scriptures who deny their Teachings and Commands thereof and the spirits speaking 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 from their Teaching except that part and fellowship of condemnation which the Scriptures doth pass sentence of against all that disobey their Teaching Reply Wilt thou not here see thy ignorance to ask a question and offer it for a Proof was ever any that thou readest of in the scriptures who were guided by the spirit of truth thus taught for the scriptures doth not set up it self to be the teacher neither canst thou prove it or that the scripture passeth sentence upon any but the Lord gives forth his Word that gives sentance against all the disobedient the scriptures do but declare that sencence which was given forth by the Lord and it is the grace of God that teacheth and the anointing within and this the scripture bears Witness of directs the minds of all people unto where true teaching is received from the true voice this we labour to draw all men unto therefore thy condemnation will be from the light which thou art at enmity with and hates it because thy deeds are evil 10. Partic. That they are guilty of taking counsel together against Christ Proof Is Proved in their binding themselves together in many several places thereby all the violence of words and writings that they can draw men from the teaching of Christ his Apostles to follow their false devices and secret pretended light Reply Thou art in the Heathens rage there fighting against the Lord speaking evil of the things thou knowest not calling the light false and pretended which Christ his Apostles preached for the doctrine of salvation unto all that love it believe in it for condemnation unto all that hate it unto this light we exhort all people to look unto be saved which is the eternal truth which thou canst not prevail against 11. Partic. That they seek to kill Christ in his Witness Proof Is proved in their seeking to kill that Christ which is preached and taught in the scriptures to set up their own falsâ— Idol which they call Christ within never preach'd or Taught in scripture but the scriptures will be lively Witnesses to their condemnation Reply Thou art a cruel blasphemer to call Christ within a false Idol dare affirm that he never was so preacht or taught in the scriptures doest thou talk so much of the scripture and their teaching hast thou never read in the declaration thereof that Christ is in heaven did not he teach unbeleevers to look for the kingdom of heaven within them and hast thou not read Joh. 17. 23. I in them and thou in me and Gal. 1. 15 16. But when it pleased God who separated me from my Mothers womb and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Gentiles and Col. 1. 27 28. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory whom we preach Now let the wise in heart judge thy blasphemy who hath denied Christ the plain words of scriptures saith Christ within is a false Idol that he was never so preacht in the scriptures when they preach'd that Christ that was in them not another whom we know to live in us so preaches him which thou by wicked hands crucifies slayes in thee so blasphems his holy name I am moved to warn thee to repentance that thou mayst not go on in the hardness of thy heart to treasure up Wrath against the day of Wrath revelation of the righteous judgment of God for thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity 12. Partic. That they set up a Kingdom of darkness Proof Is proved in setting up their low-bred devices of darkness against the glorious and heavenly light of Christ in the scriptures Reply Let thy mouth of iniquity be for ever stopped who hath denied Christ the scriptures stands an open enemy against the glorious light of Christ declared of in the scriptures but where is it written that the heavenly light of Christ is in the scriptures but it is written that the true light is Christ and the scriptures are not Christ but are they which testifies of him therfore thy understanding is darkned the god of this World hath thee captive at his will fills thee full of Witchcraft that by thy sorceries the simple minds are deceived unto whose view thou art now opened and thy enchantments is discovered that thou may be seen naked and bare 13. Partic. That they are against the Scriptures Proof Was there ever any more grosly wickedly against the scriptures than they who denied their life disobey their teachings boldly audaciously and sets up their own darkness which they call light against the light thereof Reply Thou hast here manifested thy folly in asking a question and offering it for a Proof speaking the same sentences over again which thou hast used before and is Replied to but thou art is a lost man who knows not which way to take so many times goeth backward when he should go forward as thou art doing who knows not what to say to make up somthing to call a Proof but the scriptures thou hast denied and it is plainly proved against thee and the light which they bear Witness of thou art an enemy unto it and fighting against it 14. Partic. That they deny the Lord that Bought them Proof Is proved in their bringing in damnable hereâ—ies 2 Pet. 2. 1. under a pretence of a light within to deny the â—ight of Christ held forth in the Scripture as in the doctrine of Redemption saying Their light within is the Redeemer and that nothing without a man can Redeemâ— him by which is denied that great Redemption and Redeemer who without â—ll men did Redeem all men Reply Thou hast here brought a scripture which is owned and seen to be fulfilled in thee that hast denied Christ within who is the Lord which is a damnable heresie contrary to the scriptures doth not that scripture say that such as bring in damnable hereâ—ies shall also