broken mangled and perverted Quotations for our Principles and perhaps an Unapt Expression or two pickt up out of Good Matter And the main Things or Principles wherein we have all along even from the first chiefly differed from many of the Clergy are these viz. 1st Our sincere belief of the True Vrim and Thummim the Light and Perfection And 2dly Our Christian Testimony against Tythes forced maintenance and Persecution together with Popish Ceremonies and Superstitions not yet purged out as inconsistent with Christ's free Ministry concerning which we are manifestly the very same in Principle and Persuasion we were from the Beginning To the 2d part quoted against me I have already answered there may be various manners of wording and expressing the same matter and yet our Intentions 〈◊〉 â—he same As where I explain my Friends Meaning and Intentions 〈◊〉 be agreeable to mine and more fully distinguish and clear it according to the Harmony of his other Concurrent Passages in the same and other Books as sometimes in these precedent Observations As to Bugg's Postcript 't is according to his other Scribles Falshood and Jeers frequently repeated and mostly answered in the foregoing Observations and other Answers of mine He is so full of Tautologies Repetitions of the same Falshoods Boastings Scoffing and Flouting beginning and ending with Falshoods as observing us timerous about their Petition and that we make the World believe we fear Persecution Because we have endeavoured to prevent his and some Priests endeavours tending thereto against us to Authority this has disquieted him and them And therefore to be revenged he repeats his old detected Lies and Calumnies against us as that we call the Scriptures Serpent's Meat Beastly Ware c. with many more abominable Lies since often told of the same yet persists therein like a Hardned Wretch so that it is not worth the while to spend much more time in tracing the Crooked Steps of such a Mercenary Agent who gives no solid nor pertinent Reply to any serious Answer but clamours scoffs boasts vilifies and throws as much Dirt as he can upon us spending his precious time to seek our Ruin by Reproaches and Calumnies to enrage the Priests and incense Authority if he could against us But the Lord will Rebuke him and Reward him according to his Deeds I wish he may yet seek and find a place of Repentance if yet to be found before he be cut off and however that others may take warning by his Lamentable Relapse and Treacherous Apostasie A Brief Examination OF A Defaming Pamphlet Without Author's name to it Reproachfully stiled Some few of the Quakers many Horrid Blasphemies Heresies and their Bloody Treasonable Principles destructive to Government Delivered to the Members of both Houses of the LORDS and COMMONS in the Month of March 1698 9. PART II. THIS Title looks with Persecution Fury Deadly Envy and Blood in the Face of it it is like the work of certain Judasses and their Priests who are fallen into such a faint and feeble Condition as to be beholden to Apostates to help and assist them in their private Cabals to Plot and Contrive Mischief against the Innocent and to bring forth such furious Clamour Calumnies and Perversions thereby labouring to incense the Parliament and Government against the Peaceable People called Quakers Now let 's Examine some of their Principal Objections or Allegations quoted for Proof of their Furious Persecuting Title I. Concerning the Holy Trinity 1. Their first Objection The Scriptures do not tell the People of a Trinity nor Three Persons c. Against Geo. Fox Great Mystery p. 246. Here in the same Paragraph Period and Answer these Words are left out viz. And the Father Son and Holy Spirit are always one Observe hence what may be term'd the Scripture Trinity or Divine Three in the Deity the Father Son and Holy Spirit is plainly confess'd As also in Gr. Myst p. 99. As for the Unity we own and Christ being the brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his Substance we own As also in some Principles of the Elect People of God Printed 1671. p. 43. Of the Word Trinitas there is no mention made in Scripture yet the Scripture speaks of Father Son and Holy Ghost and all these are One. Now pray observe if any be offended at this and if our Adversaries will produce us plain Scripture-Proof for the Terms Trinity of Three Persons then 't is meet we should Retract those Words before i. e. That the Scriptures do not tell People thereof 'T is worthy our Observation what Dr. Burnet now Bishop of Sarum in the Life of John Earl of Rochester p. 104. speaking of the Trinity saith Which for want of Terms fit to express them by we call Persons and are called in Scripture the Father Son and Holy Ghost Whereby it seems then they do not think the Word Persons either a fit or Scriptural Term to express the Father Son and Holy Ghost by and therefore these Men should not be too severe in Imposing it or Uncharitable in their Censuring others about it to occasion Disturbance in Peoples Minds and such Disputes as probably they cannot well quiet or bring to a clear Solution By any of our Questioning or not using the Term Persons in this case we do not deny the Doctrine or thing intended i. e. the Father the Word and Holy Spirit which Three are one And we would not have any so Injurious or Disingenuous as to conclude we deny the same 2 Q. Against Will Penn's Sandy Foundation p. 12 13 14 15. they pick up some Pieces of his Arguments but Answer them not levelled against this Doctrine held by some which they leave out viz. The Trinity of Distinct and Separate Persons in the Unity of Essence This our Adversaries leave out and which by this time a Day we hope none will maintain such a Separation in the Deity between the Father Son and Holy Ghost being one God blessed for ever They also take no notice of what he Writes for this Scripture Trinity Sandy Found p. 32. viz. Mistake me not we never have disown'd the Father Word and Spirit which are one And in p. 36. As concerning Christ I declare on behalf of that Despised People Vulgarly called Quakers the Grace of which we testifie hath never taught us to acknowledge another God than he that 's Father of all things who fills Heaven and Earth Neither to confess another Lord Jesus Christ than he that appear'd so many Hundred Years ago made of a Virgin like unto us in all things Sin excepted or any other Doctrine than was by Him declar'd and practis'd and also being God's Innocent Heritage in Principles Life and Death to bear an Unanimous Testimony for the only true God true Christ and Heavenly Doctrine which in their Vindication is openly attested Thus far W. P. in his own and our Friends Vindication 3. Here is the Three Persons thou dreams of which thou wouldst divide out of
whether you be in the Faith Prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Quaery Was not this the very Christ of God suppose ye Or is there any more than one Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 8.6 though his appearance hath been in divers manners as in the Flesh and in the Spirit He who is the very Christ of God is truly Spiritually in true Believers see also Colos 1.27 Gal. 4.6 which is no Blasphemy to assert as we are unjustly aspersed Of the SOVL 7th Instance of Blasphemy charg'd p. 5. G. F. Great Myst p. 91. They shall see the Bishop of their Souls Christ the Power of God which is Immortal brings the Immortal Soul into the Immortal God Christ their Sanctification who Sanctifies their Spirits and Bodies and brings the Soul up into God from whence it came whereby they came to be one Soul Qu. Where 's the Blasphemy here pray 1. That Christ is the Bishop of the Soul is true 1 Pet. 2.25 2. That he is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God is also true 1 Cor. 1.24 3. That Christ of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption is also true 1 Cor. 1.30 1 Thess 4.4 The Rational Soul or Spirit of Man is Immortal and 't is Christ that Redeems and brings it up into God that gave it and they that are joyned to the Lord are one Spirit is also true See Eccles 3.21 ch 12.7 2 Sam. 4.9 Psal 71.23 Rev. 5.9 1 Cor. 6.17 I wish these Men that are so ready to call such-like Doctrine Blasphemy would more seriously read the Holy Scriptures As for G. F's Question Is not this that cometh out from God Part of God of God and from God c. and that 't is not horrid Blasphemy so to say Gr. Myst p. 100 273. The Term Part of God appears to be Originally by some Adversaries obtruded upon the Quakers and not G. F's but only admitted by him as from them and then Questions them in their own Improper Terms for God is not to be divided into Parts And where 't is said God breathed into Man the breath of Life and he became a living Soul and thereupon Question'd Is not this that cometh out from God or that which came out from God of God's Being Gr. Myst p. 100. This and that expresly relates to that Divine Inspiration or Breath of Life whereby Man became a Living Soul and not to the Creature Man himself or the Rational Soul or Spirit of Man as such The Question is not whether the distinct Souls or Spirits of Men are not of God's Being For that were as absurd as to ask if the Creature Man be not God About this Point our Adversaries quote Gr. Myst p. 91 100 273 100 90. Thus back and forward but still leaves our what 's most Material and Explanatory about the Soul or Spirit of Man and that which came out from God whereby Man became a living Soul as Gr. Myst p. 91. The Soul being in Death in Transgression so Man's Spirit there is not Sanctified and the Soul is in Death But he further declares on the other hand where the living of the Soul or Spirit is That 't is there Sanctified and the Counsel of God diligently hearken'd unto and stood in and Christ their Sanctification Sanctifies their Spirits c. And Gr. Myst p. 100. God breathed into Man the breath of Life and he i. e. Man became a living Soul These Passages our Adversaries leave out which shews their great Injurious Partiality and how inconsiderate they are of the distinction included between God and Man the Creator and the Creature between that Divine Breath or Spirit of Life which came out from God and the Creature Man who thereby became a living Soul The Soul is sometime put for God Prov. 6.16 Heb. 10.38 his Divine Life Breath or Spirit as the Great and Universal Soul of Mankind even the Soul or Life of the Soul as some Phrase it The Objection against G. F. in this Point is more fully Answered in my Treatise Entituled The Christianity of the People commonly call'd Quakers Vindicated from Antichristian Opposition Printed 1690 p. 4. as followeth Here the Doctor i. e. Forde has unfairly Quoted G. F. upon Trust leaving out what 's most Material both Distinction and Explanation about the Soul or Spirit of Man both with relation to its Creator and to the Creature Man being spoken of in both respects by our Friend 1. Where G. F. insists on the Words God breathed into Man the breath of Life and he became a Living Soul It was to this Breath or Spirit of Life as immediately coming from God that his Words related as his Question plainly shews i. e. was not that of God and of his Being which came out from God Meaning that Divine Breath or Spirit of Life by which Man became a Living Soul and from whence came not only Man 's Natural Breath and Life but also his Spiritual And this does distinguish between the Divine Being and the Creature Man and not confound their Beings And for the Soul or Spirit of Sanctified Man to center with God this is not to render it the Being of God or God Himself We know none professing the true God and Christ so grosly absurd as to say That Man made himself or was his own Maker Saviour or Redeemer 2. Our Friend speaks plainly in the same Book quoted against him Gr. Myst p. 90 91 100. That the Soul should be subject to the Power of God That Christ is the Bishop of the Soul who brings it up into God the Soul being in Death in Transgression Man's Spirit not Sanctified c. This could not intend the Being of God for that never sinned though there be something thereof in the Soul even in that Reasonable Soul or Spirit of Man which God by his Divine Word Breath or Spirit formed in Man Zech. 12.1 And so made Man a Living Soul The Quakers do not make themselves Equal with God and of Perfection c. 8th Instance Saul's Errand Printed 1654. p. 8. He that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ is equal with God We deny the Words as there Printed to be according to G. F's Sense or ours which is That the Holy Ghost and the Son is equab with the Father in Power and Glory then if any come to witness the Holy Ghost they come to Wieness that which is Equal in Power and Glory with the Father What if any come to Witness the Son of God revealed in them which he that hath not Him hath not Life do they not come to witness Him who is Equal in Power and Glory with the Father as in Gr. Myst p. 100. Therefore the Words He that hath in the said Instance should be left out being contrary to G. F's and our Principle and to his own very Words and Confession a little before in the
same Book where being charg'd with Professing himself to be equal with God he positively denies the Charge but confesses the Father and the Son are one and that Christ and the Holy Spirit are equal with God p. 5 6. And so Christ Jesus hoth as He was of the Seed of Abraham and also as he was Equal with God i. e. both to his Manhood and Divinity Therefore 't is falsly noted in their Margent That they i. e. the Quakers make themselves Equal with God Though they believe a Renewing into his Image by his Spirit and Power and to be thereby made Conformable to the Image of his Son and so to be made like him as every really Godly Man and true Christian in Christ is in some degree as Partakers of the Divine Nature yet the Creature Man is not Essentially Equal with his Maker that was never our Principle so to confound their Beings 9. Again to prove the Blasphemy against us Fr. Howgill's Works p. 232. is quoted viz. He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit There is Vnity and the Vnity stands in Equality it self When the Son is revealed and speaks the Father speaks in him and dwells in him and he in the Father in that which is equal Obs Here the Equality is placed between the Father and the Son as the Vnion is between Him and them who are joined to Him in Spirit and live and dwell in that Spirit which is Equal Where 's then the Blasphemy See Christ's Prayer John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou O Father art in Me and I in Thee that they may be also one in Vs that the World may believe that Thou hast sent me Ver. 22. And the Glory which thou gavest Me I have giventhem that they may be one as We are one Ver. 23. I in them and Thou in Me that they may be made Perfect in one that the World may know that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me. See also Ver. 26. The Equality in Nature objected relates to the Divine Nature which the Child of God partakes of in measure Tho' not in Stature relates to the Child that Divine Nature is one and unchangeable but our participating of it and growth in it is Gradual until all i. e. Christ's whole Church and Body come unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Ephes 4.12 13. Now if Equality be apply'd to the Saints it can be intended no otherwise than their having in them a living Resemblance or Likeness of him who has renewed them into his own Image by the Power of his Spirit that is into his Righteousness and true Holiness so as to be partakers thereof in Christ Jesus And not an Essential Equality between them being Creatures and him that created and renewed them Perfect Holiness and Righteousness being required and believed of all true and Faithful Christians in Christ Jesus Yet we do not pretend to the Infinite Fulness of Wisdom and Knowledge as it is in God and Christ or to his manifold Wisdom but to a Degree of Divine Wisdom and Understanding according as his Spirit reveals it is to us and we capable to receive it which therefore is perfectly true and certain in every Measure and Degree thereof Now Serious Reader note by the way that we have more right to interpret our deceased Friends words with whom we were conversant when living to such an Evangelical Sense as we knew they intended than these Adversaries have to Charge them and us with Blasphemous Principles from their own Partial Minced Mangled and Broken Quotations as are and may be justly enumerated upon them together with their divers false notes in the Margent 9th Instance to prove Blasphemy against us p. 6 7. G. F. Great Mystery p. 107. He saith speaking of the Priest the Holyest Man that is is not able to give an Infallible Character of another Man To which he answers Hast not thou in this discovered thy self to be no Minister of Christ or of the Spirit who cannot give an Infallible Character of another Man How canst thou Minister to his condition p. 96. and thou not being Infallible thou art not in the Spirit and so art not a Minister of Christ and art not able to Judge of Powers that is not Infallible nor Magistrates nor Kingdoms nor Churches p. 33. And are they Ministers of Christ that are Fallible Obs Tho' these Instances to prove us Guilty of Blasphemous Principles are very unfairly quoted the principal and most demonstrative Words both precedent and subsequent especially being left out by these Three Clergy-men as from the last words are they Ministers of Christ that are Fallible they leave out these material Questions both before and after them viz. Now he that is not Infallible in his Counsel Judgment and Advice is not he in Error And are not the Ministers of Christ the Ministers of the Spirit And is not that out of the Error which is Infallible in Counsel and Judgment And are they Ministers of Christ that are Fallible And is not the Power the Gospel Infallible Thus Great Mystery p. 33. Notwithstanding they have quoted sufficient to shew what they deem Blasphemy and what they hold to the contrary and their own not only Fallibility but great Darkness for to invert their sense contrary to what they have here quoted for Blasphemy and it must run thus viz. 1. That the Holiest Man that is is not able to give an Infallible Character of another Man 2. That a Minister of Christ or of the Spirit cannot give an Infallible Character of another Man and yet Minister to his Condition 3. That a Minster that 's Fallible is in the Spirit a Minister of Christ and yet cannot discern another Man's State or Condition so as to give an Infallible Character of him 4. Consequently Christ's Ministers without exception the Holiest of them all are hereby rendred not only Fallible but Uncertain in their Ministry Blind and Ignorant of the Spiritual States and Conditions of others All which shews these Guides to be in the Dark and very uncertain blind and Ignorant as well as Envious in their Calumniating us with Blasphemy for confessing to Infallibility sound Judgment and Discerning which we ascribe not to our selves alone without the Spirit 's Teachings and Guidance but originally and principally to the Spirit of Truth which Guides true Christians into all Truth which in it self is Infallible Unerring and Certain and so is the Teaching and Ministry thereof And so far as we are taught and led by the Spirit we are assured by it and led into sound Judgment Certainty and full Assurance both of Faith and Doctrine in matters of Salvation Revealed in the Gospel and Spiritual Ministry of Christ Jesus our Lord and Blessed Saviour tho' we ascribe not omniscience to our selves in any state He that abides in Christ sinneth not 1 John 3.6 consequently errs not is certain and as in Christ is
to Jesus Christ or his Blood c. quoted against G. W's Light and Life of Christ within p. 8. Note here after Anty-type they leave out viz. neither to the outward Temple I ask these Men where the Scripture doth so direct Men to go to the outward Temple at Jerusalem for Jesus Christ Nay Doth it not contrariwise direct them See plain Scripture Deut. 30.12 13 14. and Rom. 10.6 7 8. 14. And indeed this i. e. Justification by that we deny c. Q. Against G. W. and W. P. their Serious Apology p. 148. Here they wrong the Quotation again Justification by what But by what Christ fulfilled wholly without us This is left out For if Sanctification Regeneration and the New Birth be necessary to the compleating our Justification and Acceptance in Christ then 't is not compleated wholly without us tho' obtain'd for us without us by Christ as the one Offering and our Mediator 15. Faith in Christ's outward Manifestation has been a deadly Poison these latter Ages have been infected with Against W. P's Quakerism a new Nick-name p. 6. 'T is making Faith in the History thereof that is in opposition to his Power and Work in the Soul and to Godly living as is evident in the place quoted 16. And since they believe that outward Appearance i. e. of Jesus at Jerusalem they need not Preach what is not to be again Against W. P. Ibid. p. 12. He means they need not always preach it where 't is believed and confesseth all true Quakers own that Visible Appearance of Christ 17. So when you come to know this to wit the Operation of Christ or the Light within you will cease remembring his Death at Jerusalem c. Against The Doctrine of Perfection Vindicated p. 19. I don't believe this to be justly or impartially quoted let them produce it at large and whose Book it is 18. So all Christendom hath talked long enough of Christ's Flesh and Blood Against G. F's Several Papers for spreading the Truth p. 59. This also looks like an unjust Quotation let them produce it with the reason thereof at large or else be ashamed of such Picking Nibling and Curtailing to deceive the Reader 19. Not to Jesus the Son of Abraham David and Mary Saint or Angel but to God the Father all Worship Honour and Glory be given Against W. Shewen's Treatise of Thoughts and Imaginations p. 37. I know his intent was not to Jesus Only as the Son of Abraham David and Mary but as he is God over all blessed for ever All Worship Hononr and Glory belongs to him And as he is the Eternal Son of God to whom all Power and all Judgment is committed it is that all Men should Honour the Son even as they Honour the Father John 5.22 23. and Matth. 28.18 20. Can outward Blood cleanse the Conscience Against Isaac Penington's Questions p. 25. Answ Not without the Spirit for the Spirit the Water and the Blood agree in One. 21. These nameless Adversaries again charge us with a two-fold Falshood namely That tho the Quakers do deny the outward Blood of Christ to have any Vertue or Efficacy towards cleansing of the Conscience yet they attribute this to their own Blood which they deny to the Blood of Christ p. 5. These are both most odious Perversions which we solemnly testifie against They also perversly add for Proof against the Quakers in this point viz. 22. For speaking of their own Sufferings and the Shedding of their Blood which was never done in England unless some Boy gave them a Bloody Nose This is a very scornful Untruth by the way They say thus to those whom they call their Persecutors That you will by no means be thence cleansed i. e. from the Guilt of the Quakers Blood but by the same Blood which you so Cruelly Shed Against The Guilty Clergy-Man Vnvailed p. 17. Anno. 1657. Now pray observe the Parenthesis i. e. from the Guilt of the Quakers Blood is perversly added and their Citation as lamely taken the Antecedent matter on which the Subsequent depends and to which 't is relative being left out and both the Intent and Sense of the Author wholly perverted by these Men's applying it all to the Quakers own Sufferings and Blood and therefore take T. S's whole Paragraph in the place quoted viz. Be not prevailed with to release Barrabas and give over Jesus to be crucified to gratifie the Murderous Appetites either of your Priests or the Multitude considering that altho' you may with Pilate wash your hands and to those Eyes that are dazled with Fury and Prejudice against Innocent Jesus appear clear from his Blood yet before the pure Eyes of the Lord will the condemning Stain thereof be found upon you so fresh that you will by no means be thence cleansed but by the same Blood which you so cruelly shed The Guilty covered Clergy-Man p. 17. I cannot believe this was Literally meant by the Author being a Man known to be of a better Understanding and Experience than represented by those Adversaries I 'm sure it is not the Quakers Principle to attribute Cleansing the Conscience to their own Blood or Sufferings The Guilt of Innocent Blood shed by the hands of cruel Persecutors may be charged upon Persecutors in after-Ages as Christ told the Persecutors of the Primitive Christians Matth. 23.34 35. Behold I send unto Prophets and Wise Men and Scribes and some of them ye shall Kill and Crucifie and some of them shall ye Scourge in your Synagogues and Persecute them from City to City That upon you may come all the Righteous Blood shed upon the Earth from the Blood of Righteous Abel unto the Blood of Zacharias Son of Barachias whom ye stew between the Temple and the Altar And was not this above Eight Hundred Years before Christ was Born that Zacharias was thus Slain 2 Chron. 24.21 surely the Wickedness of the Wicked shall be upon him And are not many Guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ who never actually shed it And as the Iniquities of all met upon him are not they all Guilty of his Blood and chargeable with it who remain Impenitent Persecutors of him in his Members and who Crucifie to themselves the Lord of Life a-fresh 23. If there be any other Christ c. answered fully before and the Mistake discover'd 24. Christ's Body or what he had from the Virgin Strictly considered as such was not the Seed i. e. the Seed of the Woman promised Gen. 3.15 Against W. P's Christian Quaker p. 97. Here they add the Parenthesis in Crotchets but Answer not the Scope or Intent of the Matter or Arguments urged both before and after what they have quoted W. P. denies not but confesseth Christ to have been Born of the Virgin and that he was the promised Seed the true Christ who bruiseth the Serpent's Head the Son of the living God and also God over all both before and after he took Flesh of the Virgin But