too Low to the Holy Spirit and God to be here in this Similitude Answ. Stay Roger to the First If the Written Word be the Sword of the Spirit then before the Written Word was it seemeth the Spirit had never a Sword which is false it had as good a Sword before as since To the next It is not a distinct Gift though a distinct Name but a distinct Operation and that thou shalt know Yet if the Spirit be God notwithstanding it proceedeth from the Father and Son and the Spirit of God be God as thou confessest so may the Sword of God be God and the Sword of the Spirit be the Spirit To thy Second Particular Why not a Shield as well as a Sword Right and it is so This sheweth thy Ignorance of God his Spirit Scripture and Experiences of the Holy Men of God of Old Was not God David's Buckler and Shield and was not God's Name a Tower of Defence and is that distinct and separate from God Again is not God's Word as a Fire and is not the Holy One of Israel a Flame yea Everlasting Burnings that will consume thy Chaff and Stubble and therefore is that Word not God or is that Fire or Flame not the Word To thy Third Allegation That it is below God's Spirit to be so called or resembled this still sheweth thy Ignorance Why not to a Sword as well as to a Lyon a Rock a Door a Man of War a Captain a Stone c and is not a Sword the Emblem of Justice God's great Attribute R. W. But thou goest on saying 4 This was the Sword the Only Sword is called a Sword with which the Lord Jesus fought and vanquisht the Devil It 's Written it 's Written and we may well say of it as David of the Sword of Goliah by which David cut of his Head There is none to that c. Answ. O Roger thy great Stupidity was the Written Word Christ's Sword yea his Only Sword the Spirit and Power of God is excluded then And if it be what had Christ that the Devil had not for he us'd the Written Words and therefore Christ said It 's Written it 's Written and so said the Devil because Satan began with him with a Scripture in his Mouth And so according to R. W. the Devil had the same Only Sword that Christ had But consider what thou say'st The Scripture is the Only Sword Roger what Scripture had Christ â—or his saying Get thee hence Satan Did not he with these Words rebuke the Devil and by his Power resisted him and over-came him because thou say'st The Scripture is the only Sword with which the Lord Jesus fought and vanquished the Devil shew us that Scripture from which Christ had that Rebuking Resisting Sword when he said Get thee hence Satan But what became of poor Abraham Enoch Lot and the Patriachs if the Written Word be the Only Shield Sword c. that had no Written Word But dost thou not commit Idolatry consider it well to say There is none like to the Written word What was that Word when it was never written or spoken that Burnt as a Fire in the Prophets that which came to them before Writings were and of which Writings do but declare that was an Ax an Hammer a Sword a Fire c is the Written Word more powerful than that yea than the Word in the Heart the Word of Regeneration and Reconciliation the Word that was God that made all things O Idolatry O Blasphemy against God Christ and Holy Spirit Besides Roger did Christ the Lord of the New Covenant make the Old-Testament-Writings his Only Sword for there were no New-Testament-Writings then if so then either the New-Testament-Writings are none of the Sword or the Sword was Imperfect how say'st thou to that But Roger remember 'T was not principally Goliah's Sword that Kill'd Goliah but the Stone so the Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands which the Written Word was not is that which smiteth the Image and bringeth it down and will bring down thy Images and Imaginations with which thou puffest up thy self in the Pride of thy Airy and Luciferian Mind against God his Truth and People Again the Sword that cut off Goliah's Head was that which Goliah used as well as David but the Stone was that which slew him that he despised as thou dost the Light and Spirit of Christ and which Goliah could never use which may be called a Figure of Christ and not of the Scriptures that wicked Men use as well as good R. W. But go on The Holy Spirit Christ and God are Authors of all those Heavenly Gifts and Graces the Beginner and Finisher of Faith and therefore not Faith nor Hope Answ. Here thou prevaricatest and abusest me Did I say the Spirit was Faith or Hope or Faith or Hope the Spirit read my words again even as thou lay'st them down But why may not Faith and Hope be called the Spirit that begetteth them as well as Christ is called Sanctification and Redemption but thou art blind Again the Question is about the Spirit 's power being its own Sword the Sword the Spirit the Spirit the Sword of God and not Faith or Hope the Spirit But that the Word of God Ephes. 6 17 which the Apostle calleth the Sword of the Spirit is the Spirit and not the Letter is clear from the Greek which is thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being in the Neuter Gender is relative to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is also in the Neuter whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Foeminine and therefore the true English Translation of these words is thus And the Sword of the Spirit which Spirit is the Word of God And so doth Clarius one of the Criticks understand them as may be seen Tom. 7. Crit. p. 3480. and he doth observe that the words are an Hebraism The Sword of the Spirit that is to say the Spiritual Sword or the Sword of the Spirit it self or the Sword which is the Spirit and that is the Word of God for Christ whose Name is the Word of God is the Quickning Spirit Even as when he saith the Breast-plate of Righteousness he understandeth the Breast-plate which is Righteousness and the Sheild of Faith that is the Sheild which is Faith so the Sword of the Spirit that is the Sword which is the Spirit Thou talkest of thy Learning and Experience and either can'st not or else deceitfully wilt not distinguish between Gifts and Operations Faith and Hope are Gifts to us that believe but the Sword Fire Ax Hammer Iron Rod Honey Balm c. are names for the divers Operations of the same Power R. W. But thou say'st Christ and the Sword with Two Edges which cometh forth of his mouth are distinct and cannot be the same Answ. But where is thy Reason for this or where is thy boasted Experience What! is that which goeth out
of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him mark no truth in him to wit the Devil when he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it Mark this R W. Christ saith there is No Truth in him to wit the Devil and God is the God of truth and that which is of him or of his power and wisdom is True which thou say'st There is something of God that is from the power and wisdom of God c. in the fallen Spirits and the Devils themselves mark in them and Christ plainly saith There is no truth in the Devil Is not something of God to wit his power and wisdom Truth so do'st thou not here oppose Christ's doctrine as well as ours and we charge him and the N. England Priests to make this good by Scripture R W. And whereas thou say'st G F. meanes God himself pressed down as a Cart with sheaves the holy Seed Christ Jesus under the clods the holy Spirit in Prison for the Soul is a part of the Essence or being of God himself But that there is here a word or title of colour to any of this dirt and filth flung in the face of the Majesty of Heaven Ans. Here R. W. surely wants matter when he gives his meanings to G F's words and when he has done he says This dirt and filth flung in the face of the Majesty of Heaven R W This is thy own dirt and filth but in the face of the Majesty of God in Heaven thou cannot fling it he is too high above thee or any one else to fling so far dirt and filth in his face Oh R W that ever thou professing thy self to be a Christian should'st utter forth such words And it may be seen Amos 2 13 how the Lord said to the transgressing Jews I am prest under you as a Cart is pressed that is full of Shâ—aves and this was not Flinging dirt in the face of the Most High and may not the same be said to the Christians and to you Priests professors in N. England that rebell against Gods Spirit that they press it and quench it And doth not Christ say I was in Prison and ye visited me not to wit in his members and what must not these Scriptures be owned And doth not Christ say he is the Seeds-man thas Sowes the good Seed in all grounds and is not the same Seed Sown upon the Thorny ground c. as well as the Good and doth not this spring through the gooâ— Earth and bring forth 30 50 c And did not God breath into Man the breath of life and he became a Living Soul and is not that part of his breath c. R W. And thou say'st This Scripture Rom. 1 2. speaks of the works or working of the written Law in their hearts here thou art made to confess the truth But thou say'st What is this to the second writing or the holy Scriptures or writing inspired into the hearts by the most Holy Spirit yea or what is this to a third writing of their names in Heaven in the Lambs book of Life and what is this to a fourth writing of the New Covenant consisting of sin and a new heart a heart of flesh in which the Law was written as formerly in tables of stone Ans. The New Covenant doth exceed the Old for the one was in Tables of Stone and they had their Offerings and Sacrifices c. and the Priests Lips were to preserve the peoples knowledge But Christ is come our High-Priest which ends the Priesthood of Aron and so he is the New-Covenant promised Heb. 8 And the Lord saith Jer. 31 33. I will put my Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and this writing is with the Spirit or Finger of God And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest And I will be merciful to their Vnrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more So the First Covenant waxeth old and decayes but this is an Everlasting Covenant the New Covenant and Christ is an unchangable Priest who is holy harmless separate from Sinners and made higher then the Heavens And so they that know Christ to be their High-Priest know him to be a more greater and perfect Tabernacle then that made with hands all the true believers in him can say he is the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge And such as be in Christ Jesus are New Creatures and the old things passe away whether they be Jewes oâ— Gentiles And the Church of Christ which is in the New Covenant the true Believers is come to Mount Sion and unto the City of the Living God and to New Jerusalem and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the blood of Sprinkling c. and to the general Assembly and Church of the First born which are written in Heaven and here the Saints did and do know the Heavenly Genealogies and their Names written in the Lambs book of Life before the foundation of the World glory to his Name for ever And such can say that the Blood of Christ ends the blood of Bulls and Goates and he the offering ends the offerings in the times of the Law and so Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to them that believe And the work of the Law written in the hearts which doth the work of the Law is not opposite to the written Law for it Judged them that had the written Law and did not live in it And the Children of the New Covenant can say If the Ministration of death written and graven in stone was glorious c. how shall not the Ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious for if the Ministration of Condemnation be glorious much more doth the Ministration of Righteousness exceed in glory for even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excells it c. 2 Cor. 3. So we can praise the Lord through Jesus Christ who is come and has ended the Priesthood of Aaron and his Temple and Tythes and his Services who said to his Disciplâ—s and Ministers Freely ye have received freely give And Christ is our New and Living Way to the Father praises be given to the Lord God for ever And what dost thou talk of these 4. Writings and hast No motion in Heavenly things within thee R W And then thou tells us of a New Covenant consisting of Sin and a new heart and a heart of flesh Answ. All the Believers in the New Covenant have a new heart and a heart of flesh and Christ
Protestants pag. Id. 136 Body Fol. 93. The Mystical Body may be sometimes subject to Distempers and Humors and Wants Rob. Simson pag. 110 111 Books They slight Reading and Studying Books yea God's Book R. W. pag. 132 C. CArt with Sheaves They mean God himself pressed down as a Cart with Sheaves R. W. pag. 11 CHRIST They maintain Christ's Second Coming to be Spiritual 38 39 147. pag. Id. 128 Christ's Blood 126 127. pag. 144 They have Christ and the New Covenant within them 18 19. pag. Id. 21 It is a Scripture of the Devil 's making to apprehend this Crucified Christ within 27 116 117 134. J. Burton pag. 133 Christ is Distinct from every one of us and without us and our particular Persons Fol. 136. 126-129 Thomas Moor. pag. 126 Christ the Door pag. 94 146. It is not properly nor in a full Sense That God is manifested in the Flesh of his Saints Fol. 135. 123 124 126 127 144. pag. Id. 122 They are Christ and God himself 39 125-128 R. W. pag. 125 Christ Sick c. 129. Christ pag. 143-145 Their Christ within whose Name is now Light Motions within c. 21 68. pag. Id. 67 Men are Saved but not by Christ within us W. Thomas pag. 116 Condemn They Condemn others 6 10. R. W. pag. 35 Congregation They disown not their own Visible Congregations and Assemblings Church in God 90 91 92. pag. Id. 93 Conscience The Scripture plainly denyes That Conscience can Iustify though it may Condemn Fol. 11. 20. J. Bunyan pag. 3 4 Consciences and Hearts sprinkled c. pag. 5-7 Conversion I ask Where Souls have been truly Converted by any such Notion and not by some External Means and Outward Hearing 34 36 40-44 46 89. R. W. pag. 87 If God please to appoint the Words his first Apostles used to be still the Means of Conversion c. -47. pag. Id. 40 Contradictions of R. W.'s p. 14-16 28 42 43 47 48 52 53 59 72 76-78 82-84 92 95 97 102 132 141 145 170 172 181 182 184 189 190 pag. 196 203 Covenant The New Covenant c. an Heart of Flesh in which the Law was written c. 14 17 19-21 168. pag. Id. â—19 First Covenant pag. 194 Creation How should they know a Creation but by Scripture 51 52 96. pag. Id. 95 D. DEvil The Devil is manifest in their Flesh. 11 34 70 148. See Vnclean Spirits R. W. pag. 125 Devil 11. and Anti-Christ pag. 202 Discern see Judgment Trial. Doing all Things Phil. 4 I can Do all Things pag. Id. 2 Duty The most Faithful Messengers of Christ have acknowledged they came short of their Duty Robert Tuchin pag. 198 199 E. ELection God hath Ordained to Eternal Life all that shall be Saved before they had a Being in the World c. 16 17-19 Tim. Travers pag. 177 178 Enlighten Christ doth Enlighten none but those that do Receive him 14-16 21 72. Hugh Archbal pag. 185 Iews Gentiles 180 181. Enquirers pag. 89 90 Enter Some will Endeavour and Seek to Enter Jews c. and shall not be Able R. W. pag. 101 F. FAilings Peter 's Failing in Denying his Master c. 67 192 193 198 R. W. pag. 199 Faith How clear the Scripture is Faith comes by Hearing and not by Minding the Light within G. F. Fol. p. 75. 22 28 85-89 117 157. Unbelief 101. Thomas Weld pag. 84 Salvation and Faith are the Gifts of God distinct from Christ. 27 28. Fines 130 131. Hosanna c. pag. 143 Fire-brands Jesuits and Quakers they both carry Fire-brands in their Tails Fire-ships 164. R. W. pag. 45 Form You call all Men Dead and Carnal in the Serpent's Nature in what Form so-ever c. 30-33 44. H. Haggar pag. 163 Fulness The Saints are neither in the Fulness of the Godhead nor in Part Away with this Blasphemy that saith This is 107. Magnus Bine pag. 103 104 G. GAllowses That follow the Mediator from his Cradle and Manger to his Cross Gallowses with us c. R. W. pag. 102 Gifts of God c. Gift of Tongues 98 180. Gifts of Nature Solomon's Temple Moses's Tabernacle c. pag. Id. 53 God Man is not Able to Discern the Things of God till he be Born again 141 142. Hosanna pag. 140. Then shall we know in the next Life in the Heavenly State to come what is God c. 141. R. W. pag. 200 201 They say They are one with God and Christ and know all Things and can do all Things c. 24 49 106 107 138. see Christ. pag. Id. 1 2 There is something of God that is from the Power and Wisdom of God in the Fall'n Spirits the Devils themselves pag. Id. 11 They say They Live in God Dwell in God 105 152. pag. Id. 93 God 's Government 80. The Right Hand of God 117 124 134 God is a Spirit 149. A Spirit as Literally Properly c. 111 Stabbing God and Christ c. R. W pag. 202 203 God's Temples p. 125. The Word pag. 55 Godhead By the Creation some knew the Eternal Power and Godhead 50 95. pag. Id. 52 I find that there is generally in all Mankind a Conviction of an Invisible and Omnipotent and Eternal Power and Godhead and doth arise from the Creation 50 75 95 163. R. W. pag. 61 62 The Sight of the Godhead without Faith in Christ is the Foundation of all False Worships Thomas Higginson pag. 61 Gospel To say The Gospel is the Power of God is a Metaphorical Speech And The Gospel is no more the Power of God than the Rose-Cake that lay in his Window 142. Richard Mayo pag. 173 174 Grace is something but reacheth not Home c. 9 67 89. R. W. pag. 90 H. HEaring What Warrant have you to go out to the Quakers Shall a Man go and Hear the Jews and Papists Mass because Paul bids Try all Things Sam. Hammond pag. 129 130 131 No Reading or Hearing can do a Soul any Good until God by the Power or Finger of his own Self or Spirit make the Means Powerful and Effectual 74 79 84 85 87-89 95 96. See Conversion R. W. pag. 203 Men and Women in the World who never Saw nor Heard of any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness 9 10 17 18 20 74 145. R. W. pag. 180 181 Heathen-Philosophers The Wise Heathen-Philosophers had a greater Measure of Light in them which is the First Adam than I can think any Man hath now 52-54 95 111 200 201. Heathen 151. Joshua Miller pag. 50 51 Heaven and Hell It is known Error to say That a Man was in Hell and in Heaven Fol. p. 64. Jer. Ives pag. 76 G. F. knows how the Papists get a world of Money with these Notions of Heaven and Hell R. W. pag. 77 Not believing these Fables he fancies that Hell is some Apprehensions in the Mind of Wrath to come c. 79 80 99. pag. Id. 78 Heavenly Places His Sitting in Heavenly Places c. 206.
how now Roger hast thou not fulfilled W. Edm. 's Words here who said Thou wast a Blasphemer And is this the Proof to prove That we have not Spirit of God and is R. W.'s heart such a Juggler and Cheat as he compareth to the Thieves Rogues and Mountebanks But come R. W. Though Men's hearts are wicked as Gen. 6. c. and dark deceitful as in Jer. and thou say'st as God is Light and no Darkness so in them is Darkness no Light so that to hearken to any Voice or to Lissen to any Voice or Motion within in Heavenly things and matters of Super-natural Light is as thou said'st before c. But let us Consider Is there no Light in R. W nor in his New-England-Priests nor no Voice nor Motion in him or them in Heavenly things in Matters of Super-natural Light then how can he judge us That we are not in the Spirit of God and that our Spirit is not the Spirit of God whereas he hath no Savour of it and how can'st thou otherwise but call the Light of Christ a Fancy and an Idol when thou hast no Voice or Motion within in the Heavenly things in Matters of Super-natural Light But we tell R. W. that Christ hath Enlightned him though his Darkness cannot comprehend it and Christ hath poured out his Spirit upon all Flesh though he quencheth it and grieveth it though he saith There is no Motion in him and so of others as he falsly judgeth And did not the Holy Men speak forth the Scriptures as they were Moved by the Holy Ghost and was not that within them and did not the Light shine in the hearts of the Corinthians to give them Knowledge c. and was not that Within them And so thou hast proved thy Spirit to be Satan's and not the Holy Spirit of God which we are led by And as for Jugglers and Cheaters and Mountebank thou speakest three times over in this page thou might'st have kept at home R. W. And dost not thou Contradict thy self and say'st That God hath shined in our Hearts and no Voice nor Motion there R. W. to hearken or lissen to and yet God shineth there to give Knowledge c. R. W. Thou bringest Isa. 59 That we own but what is this to prove That we have not the Spirit of God that proveth That the Word and Spirit of Christ should be in the Mouth of his Seed and in the Mouth of his Seeds Seed which we are that proveth not that we have not the Spirit of God who are true Believers and call upon the Name of the Lord. And R. W. Thou further say'st That G. F. should not say that the Word and the Spirit are all One as Commonly he saith and The Father and Son are One c. Answ. For Christ saith Joh. 16 30. I and my Father are One. Then the Jews took up stones to stone Him for Blasphemy and is not R. W. and the New-England-Priests ready to stone us for holding forth Christ's Doctrine manifesting that he hath not the Spirit of Christ which is offended at us that we say Christ and his Father are One We do not say The Word that liveth and abideth and endureth for Ever is the Scriptures though the Word owneth the Scriptures which gave them forth in the Holy Men of God And Christ saith himself I and my Father are One He doth not say I and my Father are Two and Distinct R. W. For thou say'st That we join not the Word and Holy Spirit together but tread upon the Word under a Cloak of Advancing the Spirit Answ. The Word is called the Sword of the Spirit and how can they be divided we do not divide them And the Word of God cannot be Trodden under Foot under a Cloak of Advancing his Spirit for the Word of God is as a Hammer and a Fire and a Sword and thou and the New-England-Priests may as well Tread upon a Fire and a Sword as Tread upon the Word of God though thou and you may Tread upon the Scriptures And therefore thou hast manifest thy Ignorance and Dotishness of the Word of God and his Spirit and knowest not it nor ours neither art thou like to try ours that hast no Motion in thee of Heavenly Things R. W And thou Instancest that we have not the Spirit of God from our Reviling c. Answ. By the same Argument thou hast proved thy self that thou hast not the Spirit of God But thou must not call Truth 's Speaking Reviling for when thou speakest Lies we tell thee who is the Father of them We tell thee when thou callest the Light of Christ Frantick Fancy and an Idol we tell thee it is Darkness in thee that is no Reviling as Christ to the Pharisees said They were Blind and cried Wo against them Nor the Apostle did not Rail against Elimas and Simon Magus And as for Monks and Friars and Oister Women thou might'st have kept at home And as for Priest Wiggan the Woman's Words were true upon him whom God suddenly Cut off by an Eminent Hand And our Going Naked and the Lord who hath moved some to Go Naked a Figure of your Nakedness as he did Isaiah this doth not prove That we have not the Spirit of God which hath been fulfilled upon the Priests and Magistrates in England and hath been fulfilled upon you in a Measure and will be more R. W. And to prove our Spirit not to be the Spirit of God he Chargeth us with Irrationality and Vnruliness which is Contrary to the Wisdom Rationality and Order and Holiness of the Spirit of God this saith he is Apparent from their Bitter and Frantick Reviling Answ. Now Let all that read his Book Consider Whether this Argument that he hath brought To prove Our Spirit not to be the Spirit of God he hath not sufficiently manifested His Spirit not to be the Spirit of God by the Irrationality and Vnruliness of it in his Apparent Bitter Reviling the like scarce to be read of Exceeding in words the Devilish Inquisitors Monks and Friars c. spattering out Diablo Diablo c. as he speaketh of R. W. Thou tellest us of a Dumb Spirit and Dumb Meetings and then 3 lines after thou Contradictest thy self and say'st Their Monstrous Singing and Tuning c. Answ. What R. Williams Dumb Spirits and Dumb Meetings and Sing too this proveth thee in a Dotish Contradiction and not that we have not the Spirit of God For we are not like thee that can'st Speak when thou wilt for we Speak or Sing as the Spirit of the Lord giveth us Utterance And thou hast No Motion of Heavenly Things in thy Heart who can'st speak and write when or what thou wilt as pag. 83. R. W. saith The Holy Spirit of God is subjecting it self to be tried commanding all Men to Search the Records and commending the Bereans for examining Paul's Preaching and Spirit by the Scriptures c. and this
this Good by plain Scripture and give us Chapter and Verse and a Rule for it either And Secondly tell us Where is this Dark Place and what it is that this Written Word or Prophecies of the Prophets shine in seeing he saith That the Scripture availeth nothing without the Spirit and yet they are more and then how can they Shine when they avail nothing And whether he doth not now oppose Peter's Doctrine who calleth it a Light that shineth in a dark place and the Day-dawning which shineth in the heart so if the Light be the Written Word that shineth in a dark place whether or no the Day-dawning and Day-star be the Written-Word And this Light that shineth in a dark place which we are to take heed unto until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in our hearts this Light and Day-star doth own all the Prophets from the Beginning of the World concerning the Lord Christ who fulfilleth them And R. W. thou say'st How sure is the Quakers Light their Word of Prophecy a Sober Mind cannot but admire that Face and Fore-head of Brass and Adamant c. So that they blush not to prefer such a simple Image a meer Baby and Child's Puppet of their Immediate Word of Prophecy before the Word the Mind and Will of God by the Mouth of all the Prophets c. And dost not thou say What Cursed Opinions horrible Vncleannesses Bloody Murthers and Slaughters have been conceived and brought forth from the Spirit within and Revelations from Devilish Lights and Spirits c. Answ. Let all the Moderate and Sober Christians Judge here of R. W.'s words and what work he hath made against Peter's Doctrine who saith That they have a More sure Word of Prophecy which they do well to take heed unto as unto a Light till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in their hearts which we do own and stand unto Now he calleth this a Simple Image a Meer Baby a Child's Puppet and he would make this Light and Spirit the Author of Murther and Blood-shed and Cursed Opinions and likewise the Author of Devilish Lights and Spirits see how he blasphemeth Peter's Doctrine with Devilish Lights and Spirits Murthers Slaughters he might have applied it at home to his own Spirit and the New-England-Priests and Professors as in pag. 98. And thou bringest Rev. 19. The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy and then in the Margent thou say'st The workings of Satan by his Spirit and Inspirations in all Ages but not by the Testimony of Jesus the Testimony of Prophecy R. W. but by such a Spirit as thou art in And thou say'st R. W. Doth not the Angel forbid John Worshipping of him c. Answ. But hath R. W. and his New-England-Priests forbidden this Worship and art not thou offended in speaking the Word Thee and Thou to every Body and for want of the Hat and Knee c. and thou hast publickly declared thy self that we might be punished for not doing these things But would'st not thou and the New-England-priests and Professors be honoured with Hat and Knee and yet John was not to bow down to the Angel R. W. And thou goest on Railing and say'st And shall we say that the Angels too are Quakers and Christ hath Enlightned them also as well as every Man c. Answ. where did ever we say the Angels were Quakers is there any such thing in G. F.'s Reply to Hosanna let the Reader see But were not all things made by Christ Jesus and did not Christ who is God who made them enlighten them if not how should they see their Work they are to do who are called Ministring Spirits Flames of Fire c. Hebr. R. W. And then thou tellest G. F. mentions Cain and Balaam and Koâ—e Answ. And very well he may Vse it to thee and to our Old Persecutors and such as thou and the New-England-Priests who gain-say the Light of Christ and the Law of the Spirit which maketh us free from Sin and Death as Core did the Law of Moses And we have not mist you for you are worse then Core who did not call the Law of God an Idol and a Fancy as thou hast called the Light of Christ over and over in thy Book And all the Prophets of God from the Beginning of the World they spoke from an Inward Sight and Light of God in their hearts which is heard known and seen by the Light and Spirit of God in the heart which leadeth into the Truth of them and thou that would'st not hear the Light within and take heed unto in the dark place thou would'st not hear the Prophets and Christ Jesus from whence it cometh And so Remember Dives And R. W. goeth on Railing and saith G. F. is so used to Cursing c. Answ. But let the Reader see Whether there be any such words of Cursing in G. F.'s Answer in page 97 And so as for Horrible Wickedness their Lying Father Vgly Spiders Poison and blind Dreamer thou might'st have applied to thy self And R. W. thou say'st What a madness is it for this Blind Dreamer to ask Whether the Scripture shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in the heart c. and then thou say'st All the suttle Foxes in the World must know that if they attend unto Whisperings and Peepings and leave the Written Law c. and other Prophecies of Scripture c. for all their Childish Vapourings and Prating of their Light the Eternal Father of Lights proclaimeth them to be Children of howling Darkness and that there is no Light within them And thou say'st He that shall find a spark of true Light c. in this their Fantastick Light he shall find the Living among the Dead and prove the Prophets of God and God whose Word was Spoken to be Liars for saying There is no Light within them Answ. All this Blasphemy and Railing is not so much against the Quakers but against Peter's Doctrine to wit the Light which the Saints did and were to Take heed unto until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in their hearts And R. W. goeth about to give Peter the Lie and would seem to prove it by the Law of God and his Prophets but by this he hath prov'd himself a Liar and one that hateth the Light And he bringeth Esa 8 but let him see it is said in the Margent there And there is no Morning in them if they speak not according to the Law and Prophets so we may speak to him And R. W. this is not in him who speaketh not according to the Law and Prophets Christ and his Apostles for the Light that Peter speaketh of that shineth in Darkness which they are to take heed unto until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise this was afore the Morning they were come to the Morning And so he giveth Peter the Lie and John the Lie and abuseth Esaiah's Words what John saith
God Figure forth prove it by Scripture And can the Jews receive the Gospel but by the Power of God and then by Revelation And we question whether R. VV. and his New-England-priests ever knew the Gospel for if he did we should not have such foul Language of him And we own the Gospel Rom. 2. as the Apostle calleth it Rom. 1. For the Gospel is not called the Power of God Figuratively but Properly according to the Apostle's words and if the Declaration of the Gospel can be called the Gospel that is Figurative as when the Description or Map of England is called England And G. F. had good Reason to oppose the Priest calling the Letter the Gospel because thereby they would assume to themselves the Priviledge of being Preachers of the Gospel because of their preaching the Letter which at best is but Figuratively so while they are both Strangers and Enemies to that which is really the Gospel to wit the Power of God AND as for Paul's calling the Gospel HIS GOSPEL it maketh nothing for R. VV.'s purpose no more than David calling God HIS GOD which any Saint may do For David meant God Really there and not Figuratively And Paul was a Minister of the Power of God and of God and Christ and the Spirit and therefore God and Christ and the Power and the Spirit may in a true Sense be said to be HIS as freely given him of God And the Story of the Three Foxes is wholly Impertinent and serveth only to show thy Folly and Malice Where did we deny a Distinction in such a Case that Fox a Beast should be distinguished from Fox a Man And how appliest thou that to the present Matter And is not thy Malice great to upbraid G. Fox with his Name while thou commendest John Fox as an Heavenly Man having the same Sir-Name How is it a Reproach to the one and not to the other Thy Comparison of the Traitor and the King's Pardon as applied to the Gospel c. is Lame and Silly because thy Pardon to the Traitor is positive and particular and there needs nothing further but the Writing and the Seal to make it Effectual But the Letter is General and Conditional and a Testimony only of the Gospel which is the Power of God which bringeth the true Pardon where it is received in the Soul which the Letter doth not R. VV.'s Example of G. F.'s writing News to his Friends may be the same way Answered and shews his light and malicious Mind And whereas thou acknowledgest That some may have the Letter and Form without the Power as G. F. affiâ—meth there thou hast thereby over-turned thy self For so some may have the Letter and want the Gospel which is the Power of God and such what-ever they pretend to are but still Pictures and not Members of Christ. The rest of thy work to thy Fifth Instance pag. 195. is nothing but Falshood and Malice as to say That G. F. preacheth an Imaginary and Allegorical Christ That he accounts himself or others call him the Only True Christ Which is returned upon thy head as Lies Neither do we Divide the Letter from the Meaning nor the Instrument from the Husband-Man We refuse not to call Good News Good News But we know it is one thing to talk of good things and another thing to enjoy and possess them And as for thy malicious Talk That we would be glad to have the Bible Burned We return it upon thee as a malitious Lie and dare thee to prove it We honor the Scriptures in their Due Place and by them can prove R. VV. and such as he to be false Teachers and Enemies to Christ and his Gospel And R. VV. Bringeth in John Bunyan G. F. Fol. p. 10. It is not Faith and Works that Justify in the Sight of God â—ut it's Faith and Good Works which Justify in the Sight of Men only c. And G. F. Answ. Abraham was not Justified to Men only by his Obedience but to God and where Faith is there is Justification which worketh by Love And the Saints Faith and Works were not only to Justify them in the Sight of Men but the Work of God is to DO what he saith and his Will which who do not are not Justified in so doing but to be beaten with Stripes Who seek to be Justified by their Faith and Works in the Sigâ—t of Men are in a Dead Faith and Works both This R. VV. hath brought in his Book p. 150. and 195. and also he brings it p. 125. and 126. in the same Book which is fully Answered pag. 142 143. And in p. 125. he calls him John Bunyar and pag. 195. he calls him John Bunian and yet they are both one Man's Sayings as the Reader may see in G. F.'s Fol. p. 110. and he himself quotes them both of this page And if G. F. should have said Bunyar for Bunyan as R. VV. who calls himself Orator doth he would have cried Simple and Lame and Tautologies to Answer the same Man's words Twice over in one and the same Book And R. W. thou say'st For what is Justification but a Pardon written and sealed and declared from the King of Heaven to poor condemned Traitors That this Pardon may be merited by any Price that either we or any in the World can offer is denied by true Protestants c. Answ. What must we understand from R. W.'s words but that Every one Protestant Papist Arminian as he crieth against c. that hath the written Scripture which they may purchase for a small Price hath both Pardon and Justification without Faith and Spirit And then the Papists Arminians and Socinians that he crieth so much against as well as us have the Justification and written Pardon and Seal though they know not the Son and Father but by Revelation Then why doth the Apostle say They are Justified by FAITH and what is this to over-throw James's words that saith Our Father Abraham was Justified by WORKS Was this in the Sight of Men R. W. or in the Sight of God Which Works were wrought by Faith And the Apostle telleth thee that As the Body is dead without the Spirit so is Faith without Works Jam. 3. And the Apostle saith Rom. 3 28. Therefore we conclude that a Man is Justified without the Deeds of the Law being Justified freely by his Grace But this doth not prove Abraham's being Justified by his Works only but by his Faith And doth not the Apostle say Have ye received the Spirit by the works of the Law or hearing of Faith Now where is this Voice to be heard if not within And many may cry out of their Sins and may have the written Pardon or Justification and may have the outward written Pardon which thou callest Justification and some may cry out of their Sins and some may not be sensible of their Sins But thou confessest it was the Lord that opened Lydias Heart to give
his Calumny And if the English Bibles and Grammar as R. VV. confesseth make use of Thou to a single Person why should R. W. quarrel with the Quakers for following the English Bibles and Grammar With the like Confidence and without Proof he doth affirm That the Hebrew and Greek signifieth no more You then Thou For all those that understand those Languages know that they distinguish the Singular and the Plural as well as the English And albeit Every Nation c have their particular Proprieties of Speech yet that doth not destroy the Real Distinction of Singular and Plural universally acknowledged in all Languages And therefore to accuse those as Ridiculous that use this Distinction is in R. VV. but a manifesting of his own Folly as likewise a sufficient Evidence of his Mâ—lice and Wickedness to declare It 's no Persecution to punish Men who for Conscience sake cannot comply with his mind or Corrupt Custom in these matters R. VV. undertaketh to prove That the Spirit of the Quakers tends 1 to reduce people from Civility to Barbarism Answ. And albeit he braggs here that W. E. and the rest in the Dâ—spute stood upon Coles and overdrive him for fear he should prove it yet now he hath Leisure enough to write what he pleaseth without Interruption He produceth no solid Reason for it The words of Paul Ephes. 4. and Peter 1 Pet. 3. Be Pitiful be Courteous we own neither doth he prove that we are otherwise But did the New-England-Priests and Professors obey this Command when they HANGED c. the Innocent Were they led by the Spirit of Christ Jesus which R. VV. saith leadeth to Courteousness Gentleness and Sociableness to the greatest Opposites Did they not in so doing behave themselves more like the dogged proud sullen Pharisees R. W. speaketh of and also like himself in his Book then the Disciples of Jesus With the like foolish Confidence he affirmeth R. W. That the Quakers Spirit leads to bring into that Barbarity which the English were wearing out among the Indians and that because they past by people sometimes without speaking to them saying They are like the Popish Saints in a Procession Answ. But is Silence become such a Crime amongst the Christians who know that they shall be brought to an Account for every Idle Word If this were all for which the Indians are to be blamed it were no hard matter to prove them therein to be more Innocent then many of those Idle Talkers that go under the Name of Christians And it remains yet for R. W. to prove That Silence in such Cases or a Refusing to comply with Men in the Common Sort of Salutations proceeds from a Brutish Spirit which for R. W. to affirm and not to prove is pitifully to Beg the Question AS for his Story of the Quakers Nakedness the Account he himself giveth of W. Edmondson and J. Stubs their Answer for it shows there is nothing of Barbarity or Immodesty in the Case And for as much as R. W. saith That such a thing cannot now be admitted as a Sign because Signs and Figures are ceased under the Gospel Answ. The Objection is no ways valued For that will not hold forth as if we were under a shadow of Dispensation typifying some other Dispensation to come but only a particular Sign by a particular Mattâ—r of Fact by way of Prophecy As the Case of Agabus Act 21 11. taking Paul's girdle and binding himself as a Sign of his Bonds to come Which Instance R. W. confesseth J. Stubs gave doth sufficiently witness The Second Branch of R. W.'s Fourteenth Position or Charge is this The Spirit of the Quakers tends to bring in an Arbitrary Government His Proof consists in these Three things 1. That God wrote Laws for Israel some by his own Inconceivable Finger and some by Moses his Inspired Pen-man for that it pleased him not to leave their Wisest Kings and Governours without Written Known Laws with Rewards and Penalties anexed Answ. What then Roger Did not God promise That in the last days he would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and That all should know him from the Least to the Greatest Is thy Eye Evil because God's Eye is Good Is God's Promise become Erroneous and the Compleat Liberty and Freedom of the Gospel-Spirit Offensive and Dangerous to thee Or wilt thou compare the State of the Law with that of the Gospel Is not a greater than Moses come Is not he the great Pen-man of the Gospel Doth not he write his Heavenly Law in the Hearts of them that believe in him R. W. But thou say'st The Finger of God that wrote these Laws is Inconceivable How then canst thou understand it or them But thou further arguest If the Quakers are guided in all they say and do by the Immediate Spirit of God as I proved Fox maintained then if they obtain Higher or Lower Governours of their Spirits surely it shines clear that there is no need of Laws for them to Rule and Act by they have the Holy Scriptures within them their Teacher within them and all that they speak the Voice within them c. So I said much more might be said of Mens Laws and Writings that surely they had no need of them Answ. When and where did G. F. say That every thing that was done by a Quaker was done by the Immediate Motion of the Spirit of God and when and where did he maintain it For there are many outward indifferent Matters which true Christians called Quakers have a true Understanding and Liberty from God to do and not to place those things upon the Immediate Motion of God's Spirit within them which yet is not against the Mind of God See what Paul saith 1 Cor. 7 6 12. But a vain and foolish Argument hast thou brought indeed no Argument but rather a Repetition of thy Charge Howbeit this I say Christ never leads his people to disobey Just Laws but to fulfil them and Vnjust Laws are to be obeyed at no times yet all true Christians do patiently suffer when for good Conscience to God they are oppressed by them according to the Conmand and Example of Christ And how doth this destroy Righteous Government and Laws that fulfilleth all Righteousness Law is added because of Transgression where Transgression is removed the Law has no power And is this thy Evil and Arbitrary Government thou chargest upon the Quakers when To take away Sin and finish Transgression is the very End of Christ's Coming Roger what 's become of thy Wits Is Not to need the Law to Rebel against and break the Law and to Obey Christ the great Law-giver the way to Destroy Free Government and to set up an Arbitrary and Oppressive Government The Law is a School-master and it leadeth to Christ and all Just Government is owned in it's place But are those that are come to Christ and to God the Judge of all and the Spirits of the
birth and Esau was the first birth hated and let R W. look into himself and see if there be not the Nature of Esau and Pharaoh in him that is hardned And how must God be all in all and invite them to his Supper if he doth not enlighten All R W. And then thou tell'st of God walking in the midst of his Creation with his two feet of Mercy and Justice and how he wrote the Covenant of Justice in Tables of Stone c. and how he writes with the fingers of his Mercy and Grace his Mind and Will in the Tables of flesh and hearts of his Chosen And Many offers of Bargains and Marriages are made which never are embraced c. but in the New Covenant God gives a new heart to his Chosen and gives not and is not the Covenant to any but his Chosen all the world over even to the ends of the Earth Answ. If God walketh in the mid'st of his Creation where is it if it be not in the mid'st of the hearts of people in his Light doing Justice upon the Unrighteous and if he writes his will in the Tables of the fleshly hearts then therein they do know his will and then that Scripture or writing must be in them according to thy Assertion which I question whether thou wilt own thy own words again or no. And thou say'st Many Offers of Bargains and Marriages are made but never embraced With what are they made with the Spirit of God and never Embraced Thou say'st A Marriage may be between a man and a woman when they are absent each from other But can a Marriage be made with Christ without his Spirit and belief in him and he that believeth is grafted into Christ and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and then how is he Marryed And we know that God hath given a New Heart to his Children in the New Covenant of Light but they that hate the Light hate the Covenant R W. And thou say'st It is a monstrous dream of the Quakers to say That God and Christ Spirit and Covenant is in All Mankind Answ. And yet thou say'st that God is All in All. And thou say'st God walks in the mid'st of his Creation with his two feet of Mercy and Justice and therefore I query where it is that God walks whether it be not in the hearts of the Creation to wit his people and if so who is the Monstrous Dreamer is it not R W And we must tell him and them That hate the Light of Christ hate Christ though he stands at their doors and knocks And thou abusest the Doctrine of the Prophets and the Apostles who say'st Christ is not the New Covenant of Light given to none but the Chosen who enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the world to the Condemnation of them that hate it and the Salvation of them that believe in it R W. Thou say'st It 's true if G F. mean that the knowledge of God in a sense is offered to each mans Conscience in the world though more expresly and gloriously where he sends his Messengers Wisdoms Virgins c. Answ. G.F. means as he saith according to the Scripture as he brings But if it be profered to each mans Conscience in the world by his Messengers is not there then the Light of Christ in the Conscience for them to understand Wisdoms Virgins or his Messengers that be full of the power and Spirit of God or else how will God judge the world in Righteousness according to the Gospel the power of God And dost not thou contradict thy self here again that say'st He giveth none the New Covenant but to the Chosen R W. And then thou say'st But to say the Covenant or Bargain and the Mediator of a New Bargain and the Applyer of it the holy Spirit is in every of Man-kind and if they will turn to it c. and yet persons know no such thing nor never heard of it and none never had it so as to be saved by it but these Foxians c. Answ. How now R W. had none never the New Covenant but we whom thou scornfully calls Foxians as to be saved by it I cannot believe thee but that Christ sent his Disciples into all Nations to Preach the Gospel and the New Covenant and yet thou say'st That none never had it so as to be saved by it but we And again thou say'st Yet persons know no such thing nor never heard of it and before thou say'st That the knowledge of God in a sence is offered to each mans Conscience in the world and what never heard of it R W But is not the Mediator of the New Covenant Christ which thou call'st New Bargain were not the Disciples to Preach him to all Nations and to every Creature who dyed for their Sins and was risen again for their Justification who enlightens every man that cometh into the world that they might see him their Mediator R W. And then thou tell'st a story of a man having fits of the Gout and a woman having the pangs of Child-bearing yet neither of them knowing any such matter or how she had any such Marriage Covenant or Husband c. Answ. And truly thou might very well applyed this at home And why should not every man that cometh into the world be enlightned with Christ the New Covenant or Bridegroom according to John 1 And the Lord saith speaking of Christ I have called thee in Righteousness and I will hold thine hand and will keep thee and will give thee for a Covenant of the people for a Light of the Gentiles c. and they that love the Light of Christ that shines in their hearts it will give them the knowledge of Christ their Husband and become Children of Light and do know how they are Marryed to him in truth and righteousness But they that hate this Light which lighteth every man c. they are not like to come into the New Covenant nor to the Marriage of Christ. R W. And thou say'st G F. cares not for the Jews nor Gentiles no more than the Fox careth for the Lambs and Chickens but to make a prey of them though he pretends Love to all Mankind and tells them they have Christ and the New Covenant and the Spirit within them c. and he means not the Covenant of works but of grace c. he means that Christ that dyed at Jerusalem c. but when it comes too they mean no other Christ but a Spirit this Spirit will be found to be an Evil Spirit c. as one saith upon them Answ. Here thou hast published more of thy Lyes and Slanders against us to the world the Lord God knowes For our Love to Jews and our Love to Gentiles hath been manifest and our labour in the Lord has been much for them and to them and to all Mankind and not pretence as thou scoffingly say'st but in real
teach him to Judge as before And as for his terming of us like Mugleton with his Curses when a little before in the same page he saith A Cursed Rotten Nature are the Quakers Converts and art not thou of the same Spirit as Reeve and Muâ—leton who have been as great Enemies to the Quakers as thou art R. W. And thou say'st It 's true there is a Lawful judging not according to the rashness or pride as the Quakers is but according to the righteous Judgment And say'st The Spiritual man judgeth and discerneth all things that looketh into the Cause and Nature of things Times and Persons but what is this to the Natural Death of all Mankind Answ. Reader hath G. F. mentioned any thing but the Apostles words doth he mention the Natural Death of all Man-kind or shewed any Rash Judgment here or called the World before the Bar of Judgment as R. W. saith who hath puft out a great deal of Air about it and when he has done he beats it But it seemeth he grants That the Spiritual Man judgeth and discerneth all things but who it is and where he judgeth he hath not manifested or declared and yet he findeth fault with G. F. for saying so page 80. And as for Pride and Rash Judgment he might have kept that at home and not applyed it to the Quakers And the Apostle said O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory the Sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through Jesus Christ. R. W. And thou say'st I know the Foxians will turn this Scripture and that Golden Chain Heb. 6. the first Christian principles and Eternal Judgment into Mysteries Answ. Here again thou wrong'st us For we own Heb. 6 as it speaketh and we do believe they are Mysteries to thy Lying Spirit For sometimes thou say'st we take them literally and now thou say'st we turn them into Mysteries thus thou Contradicts thy self R. W. And that they now judge the secrets of Men by Paul's Gospel Rom. 2. Answ. Is there any such word in G. F's Answer to E. B. Priest For the Apostles words are In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel and this thou wickedly applyest to the Quakers out of thy dark airy mind and then thou beatest the air R. W. And thou say'st Therefore by looking on a man to wit the Quakers they can discern the Inward parts what each person is Answ. The least Child of God may easily discern what thou art by what cometh out of thee what is in thy Inward parts And doth R. W. think that the Saints did not know one anothers hearts when they were of One heart mind and soul c and were the Epistles of Christ c. written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God in fleshly Tables of the heart c. and God that given his Church a Discerning with the same Spirit in our day as he did in the Apostles R. W. And thou say'st The Lord is noâ— come saith Enoch and Jude in Ten Thousand of his Saints and now is the day appointed in which God judgeth the world by that Man Christ Jesus which Man they are of which the Word of God hath approved in that they are raised from the dead in souls and bodies to keep the Eternal Judgment though thou say'st some of their young Schollars will not believe it but they spare not to own their High Court of Justice Answ. Where did'st thou ever read in any of the Quakers Books any such Language that say the Quakers are the Man Christ Jesus this is thy Forgery for let the Reâ—der see if there be any such word in G. F's Answer to E. Bradshaw in thy 15th page And thou say'st They are the Man Christ Jesus to wit the Quakers but hast shewed no proof for it but how canst thou make the Saints to be the Man Christ Jesus Yet for all thy Lyes we cannot deny that Christ is in us and has quickned us which were dead in Sins and Trespasses as Ephes. 2. and Christ quickning our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us Rom. 8. and by his Spirit we can judge of such a Spirit as thine is by its fruits whose Spirit is Eternal which we received from Christ which thou Scoffingly callest High Court of Justice And Christ that ruleth in the hearts of his Saints he giveth them a Judgment and Discerning to forsake the Evil and cleave to the Good R. W. And then thou tells a Tale in Hartfordshire and termest us Like a Company of Drunken Sots that kept a Court there and had like to have brought themselves to the Gallowes Answ. But this may sute thine own and the New England Spirits best that have been Drunk with the Blood of the Saints the Quakers are clear from thy Lyes and Slanders and they do not touch them And thou shalt know Christ coming to Judgment who will reward thee according to thy works R. W. Thou say'st That the Quakers confess that Christ was a Real Man as any of us c. and thou say'st They could not give an account what was become of him at Newport Answ. There are more of thy Lyes For we tell thee as we told thee He is risen and at the Right Hand of God Luk. 22 6 9. Act. 2 25 23. Act. 5 31. Act. 7 35 36. Rom. 8 34. Ephes. 1 20. Col. 3 1. Heb. 1 3 13. Heb. 8 1. Heb. 10 12. 1 Pet. 3 22. and if thou wilt not believe those Scriptures thou wilt not believe us where the Man Christ Jesus is and yet Christ ruleth in the hearts of his Saints and this is a Mystery to thee And it 's like he is not Come unto thee for how should he when thou art so Ignorant of his Light which he ligheth every Man that cometh into the world withal for how can any come to Repentance and be Converted and hate the Heavenly Light of Christ R. W. And then thou runs on and hast proved nothing and say'st That their Pride Scornfulness rash Revilings rash Cursings Superstition new Inventions their Blasphemies and Hypocrisies Inhumanities Impudencies c. are such Answ. This R. W. and his Fellow-Priests might have kept at home for he hath made a great Noise with words but nothing signified Did not the Patience of the Lambs of Christ manifest otherwise when they Hanged them and Burned them and Cut off their Ears and Whip'd and Banish'd them did they not suffer like Lambs What was their Reviling Languages why did'st not thou and the Priests of Boston Print them for if they had Reviled it 's like we should have heard of it before now R. W. And thou say'st such that render them so far from being the High Saints and Judges of the World that they fall under the Judgment of all sober and modest persons Answ.
forth who called them the Holy Scriptures of Truth And thou needest not tell us What the Pope and the Jews and the Turk have and the Jews had the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets but would not receive Christ the Word R. W. And thou tellest of a written Pardon sealed with a broad Seal of a King or State and say'st What a fancy is it for a Condemned wretch first to hearken to a Pardon within to a King within a Writing within a Seal within and to slight the true Pardon in the King's way to be Conveyed from without to the Mind and Spirit within and to lose his pardon and deliverance as thousands of poor cheated souls must do Answ. The King 's written Pardon to Condemned men setteth them free but the Written in Scripture doth noâ— set men free nor Pardoneth mens Sins and Trespasses but it is Christ that dyed for their sins and shed his Blood for them and this the Scriptures testifie of that he hath purchased them with his Blood and he is the Offering for Sin And if the written Scripture be the Pardon of Sin of the Condemned World as the King 's written Pardon is for Condemned persons then all that have the Scripture have their Pardon by thy meaning but pag. 64. thou say'st The Scriptures avail nothing without the Spirit of God set it home upon us so here thou contradicts thy self And Christ saith Search the Scriptures for they testifie of me and in them you think to have Eternal Life but you will not come to me that you might have Life So the Life is in Christ and he that hath Christ hath Life and they that have not him have not Life and they that have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his though they may have the Scriptures And they who had their Garments made white it was by the Blood of the Lamb and not by written Pardons and they that are the true Believers in Christ the Light and are in the New Covenant as Heb. 8. he blotteth out their Sins and Trespasses in whom God writeth his Law in their hearts And 1 Cor. 15 3. Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scripture so it is not a written Pardon though the Scriptures declare this And Christ dyed for the Vngodly Rom. 5 6. Christ dyed for us 1 Thes. 5 10 So he it is that Pardoneth And the Apostle said This is a faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1 15. so it is God and Christ that doth Pardon and Forgive Sin Col. 2 13 and Luk. 5 20 and they that witness this their Sins are forgiven them For the true Believers are Sealed with the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God is within and hear the Voyce of Christ their Shepherd Thy sins are forgiven thee and so have their Testimony of pardon within and so come to be built upon Christ the Rock and Foundation So it is one thing to have the Writings and another thing to have the Seal of the Spirit of Christ as they had that gave forth the Scriptures and they that are Sealed with it have the comfort of God and Christ and the comfort of the Scriptures c. R. W. And thou bring'st R. H. which saith It is against the Light of Nature for Women to preach c. And G. F. Answers R. H. and saith Contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine the mind of God and the Prophets who said God would pour out of his Spirit upon All Flesh and his Sons and Daughters should prophesie So that he is a Limiter of the Holy One a Quencher of the Spirit in Darkness and this is above the Light of Nature And R. W. Replyeth and saith What is the Light of Nature but that Light in which every man cometh into the world with as the Quakers speak which differeth from the Light of Beasts c. Answ. What is this to G. F's Answer for G. F. and the People of God in Scorn called Quakers which thou in Scorn callest Foxians do not say That the true Light which is the Life in the Word which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world which is a Light to be revealed to the Gentiles as Simeon speaketh is a Natural Light or Light of Nature For this is the Super-Natural and Light from Heaven which John speaketh of in the Scripture and as God said I will give him for a Covenant and a Light to the Gentiles and he shall be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and where doth John or the Apostles call the true Light which is Life in the Word which Lighteth every man that cometh into the world a Natural Light or Light of Nature And then thou goest on and tellest a great Tale of the Natural Light in man which is nothing to the purpose to G. F's Answer R. W. And then thou say'st It 's true that in Religious and Christian matters there is no respect of persons with God as of man before the woman otherwise then to Order Natural and Civil And thou say'st It 's true the Wisdom of God preferreth some Women before thousands of men c. as Lady Jane and Q. Elizabeth c. And thou say'st Christ appearing to Mary Magdalen and other Women and sending them to carry the first Tydings of his Resurrection to his Apostles c. and Mirjam and Huldah c. Prophecying before Christ's coming and at his coming according to Joels Prophecy his Spirit on his Daughters as well as his Sons c. yet this favour of God towards Women destroyeth not the Order which the God of Order or Nature hath set in those Bounds Limits and Distinctions between Male and Female c. Though the Holy Scripture were silent yet Reason and Experience tells us that the Woman is the weaker Vessel that she is more fitted to keep and order her House c. And the Lord hath given a Covering of longer hair to Womâ—n as a sign of covering Modesty and Bastfulness Silence and Retiredness and therefore not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments Answ. Here doth not R. W. contradict himself Though the Apostle doth say That the Woman is the weaker Vessel and it is so known yet is not Christ and his Spirit as strong in the Female as he is in the Male For thou say'st There is no respect of persons with God as the Man before the Woman and God preferreth some Women before thousands of Men as Lady Jane and Q. Elizabeth and Deborah and yet thou say'st Women are not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments These were Manly Actions and Godly of Q. Elizabeth and Deborah c. And then thou sayâ—st She being the weaker Vessel she is more fit to keep and order her House and Children c in Silence and Retiredness c. but in this thou confoundest thy self for these were Fitted with
up his Cross and deny himself he that will be his Disciple and they must Die with Christ if they Live with him and suffer with him if they Reign with him and his Spirit teacheth Temperance Patience and Holiness yea to deny that which is Unholy both in Word and in Thought And the Righteousness of Christ Jesus is our Fine Linnen and it is God and Christ that doth justifie by the Spirit who art thou that dost Condemn And where did we say that Our Holiness is Christ and God though we cannot deny Christ to be Our Holiness c. who deny Self-holiness R. W. And thou say'st I know the Writers of the Quakers make this high Obedience to be the Crown of some high Saints among them as the Papists do and that others come not so high are taken by the fleshly Spirit and Repent and Confess and be more watchful as they say in a Contradiction of J. Naylor Answ. These are most horrid Lyes and Reader see if G. F. speaketh any of these words in his Answer to T. H. as to the Crowning of high Saints like the Papists for their Obedience or Making their Obedience a Crown for it is the Lord Jesus Christ that Crowneth his Saints that believe in his Name and grow up in his Grace and Truth And as for a Fleshly Spirit and Repent and Confess this you may apply at home for we own no Repentance nor Confession but what is made by the Spirit of God in which we have Unity and for Exhorting to the watchful that is Christ's Doctrine And it is no Contradiction to say He that is born of God cannot sin for the Apostle John explaineth this in his Epistles better than thou can'st which the Quakers own which thou makest a great Jumble about For the Apostle saith He that believeth is born of God and overcometh the world and is not that the world in mens hearts and he writeth to Young-men and Fathers which had Overcome the Wicked one and to Little Children that they sin not and if any man sinneth we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is a Propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the whole World 1 Joh. 2. R. W. Thou say'st Yet again in a horrible Mystery of Iniquity they exclaim against the Protestants for saying A Child of God cannot fall from the true Grace Finally or Totally Answ. Here are no such words in G. F.'s Answer to T. H. Or how hangeth this together thou say'st They say He that is born of God cannot sin then how Can they Fall from the true Grace But what say'st thou to them that Crucifie the Son of God afresh and do despite against the Spirit of Grace and turn it into Wantonness and these are such as do not Own the True Grace of God which is their Teacher though it hath appeared to them nor do not Believe in the Light of Christ Jesus but hate it And If the Righteous Fall they rise again but the Wicked Fall into Mischief R. W. And thou say'st Here is a Mystery of Hellish Iniquity in that they confess such a Man Christ to have been and his Blood-shedding the Types and real Predictions and Figures of him a real Death Resurrection and Ascension yet upon the point by a Devilish Chymistry evaporate all these and leave nothing but a Christ within as God and Man whose Name is now Light c. Motions within Answ. As for Hellish Mystery of Iniquity and Devilish Chymistry thou may'st keep at home for according to the Scriptures of Truth we do believe Christ Jesus his Birth Sufferings Resurrection and Ascension who fulfilled the Prophets and the Types and Shadows of him And what must we not call God and Christ as the Scriptures call them for God is called the Light and Christ saith I am the Light And though Christ is Risen and Sitteth at the Right hand of God yet he doth dwell In his Saints his Temple according to the Apostle's Doctrine as you may see 1 Cor. 6. and 2 Cor. 6. And what must not God's people Obey the Motions of the Spirit of Christ and his Light and to take heed to it by which they may see Christ their Saviour and Justification and Salvation and the Lord their Righteousness and the Apostle stirred up to Perfection and to Holiness which all the Saints are to follow R W. And thou say'st It is a Hellish Mystery of the Devil to Cosen poor souls with a Notion of the Difficulty and Hight of their profession and of Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth which they say no body in the world doth but they Spirit within Answ. Our good Profession which we make is of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour who hath enlightned us to follow him and his Worship that he hath set up in Spirit and Truth and they that quench the Spirit and hate the Light and will not come to Truth cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth John 3.4 And this Truth and Spirit of God is Within people and thou or they that draw people from the Truth in the Inward parts and Spirit within you draw them into the Hellish Mystery and Cosen poor souls as thou speakest of for coming to Christ and his Worship And whereas thou say'st Thou toldest them of an Image in the Bed but David was gone c. but this is thy own Condition And then thou say'st That their Religion is one of the Easiest in the world Nay thou never trod the Path thou do'st not know what it is the Gallowses and Goals and Whip-Stocks manifest whether Our Religion be Easie. R. W And whereas thou tellest us What will delight our Ears and Minds to wit various Tunes of Musick c. Answ. But that which Delighteth Vs is the Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Ghost and the Joy of the Lord is our Strength And that which thou applyest to Us thou may'st keep at home it 's thy own and none of ours R. W. And thou say'st If a poor soul give way an Inch and lets in one thought of yielding to the Voice of a Spirit within they are filled and ravished with Curious Notions of Justification Holiness and Righteousness God and Christ and the Spirit within them Answ. How endlesly do'st thou speak against the Voice of the Spirit of God in his People And the Apostle exhorteth Not to walk after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8 1 2 5 6 9 10 11 13 16 26 27. Rom. 12 11. and 1 Cor. 6 20 34. 1 Cor. 12 13. Gal. 5 5 16 18 25. Eph. 4 3 5 9. Phil. 1 27 That you stand fast in one Spirit Phil. 2 1 If any fellowship of the Spirit c and those are the Poor souls that do not hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And they that Obey the Voice of God and Christ must Obey the motions of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit leadeth to Holiness
give Act. 26. Luk. 24. and as you may see in the Evangelists But they have gotten the Form of Godliness and deny the Power thereof and persecute them that be in the Power of Godliness R. W. And thou talkest of Four sorts of Hearers of the Glad News that received and believe with a false and overly loose and Sandy Belief Answ. This is thy own Condition R. W. and the Priests in New-England And as for those that Receive Christ by believing in the Light are grafted into him and united to God And as for the Men of Samaria hearing the VVoman who preached Christ to them A Man that told her all that ever she had done this may shame thee and the Priests in New-England that did not receive God's Sons and Daughters which Preached Christ to them That told them all that ever they had done and would have turned them and thee to Christ and instead of receiving them you persecute them with Tongues and Hands Answ. And thou say'st I know these poor Foxians do hear a kind of a Motion within them Then that is more than the Parrots which thou speakest of pag. 35 and so in this thou confoundest thy self But thou say'st It is but as poor VVomen that go with False Conceptions or with Tympanies of Wind and Water or with the Mole that will resemble the Motion of a True Child but after all their Thoughts and Fancies by Day and Night after all their Seeming Feelings Perswasions Experience and Preparations this False Conception False Faith False Christ False Light shall vanish in shame and grief as did Q. Maries after the Thanksgivings and Bell-Ringings for her Deliverance Answ. This is R. VV's and the New-England Priests and Professors Condition he knows it better than the Quaker's Condition For do not their Laws and Persecutions declare it to the World to be the Birth of the Flesh that hath so Persecuted Hanged and Whipt God's People who are Born of the Spirit Is not their Faith prov'd false and not that which Christ is the Author of which worketh by Love and is not their False Light or False Christ made manifest who destroyeth Men's Lives about Religion for the Quakers true Christ said he came To save Men's Lives and bid them Love Enemies And so R. VV. and the New-England Professors their False Birth of all their Experiences appeareth to be but like a Tympany of VVind and VVater as he speaketh that vanisheth away and all their Preparations with their Elders and Members and their persecuting Priests that helped to beget this Birth is it not all passed away into Persecution with Tongue and Hand and not the true Birth and into Grief and Shame and Sorrow and did not the Indians say That their own God they Professed fought against them And as for R. VV. bringing Q. Mary let them that are concerned answer for that and thou art not to Speak Evil of the Dead R. W. And whereas thou say'st For my self I dare these Self-Confident to particularize any one Scripture where the Spirit of God directs any poor Soul to listen or hearken to a Light and Voice within him affirming that this is the Hearing by which Faith is wrought c I ask for some Solid Instances where Souls have been truly Converted the whole Soul unto God by any such Notion and not by some External Means and out-ward Hearing of this Glad News and Gospel Answ. In this thou hast shewed thy Ignorance of the Scriptures and the Holy Men of God Conditions For did not the Jews hear the External Means and outward Hearing of Christ and his Apostles and yet were not Converted to God Now we Challenge thee and all the New-England Priests Where ever any one was Converted to God by an Outward and External Hearing to answer this by plain Scripture And whereas thou hast said Listning to the Light but our Words are commonly Take heed to the Light as the Apostle doth until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your Hearts and was not the Light the Means to take heed unto And what External Means had Abraham that saw the Day of Christ and his Gospel and what External Means had Moses when God spoke to him or Outward Hearing of Man's Preaching to him And what External Means had Mary Magdalen and other Women when the Lord sent them to Preach the Resurrection And what External Means had Daniel when he Heard the Voice of God and was not this Voice of God within though we deny none that God and Christ speaketh to and sendeth But did not the VVord come to Jacob and was not that the Author of his Faith and was not he Converted and did not all the Holy Men of God speak as they were Moved by the Holy Ghost And doth not Christ say He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches and is that an Outward Hearing or External And doth not the Apostle say No Man knoweth the things of God but by the Spirit of God which Revealeth them and doth not Christ thank his Father for Revealing his things to his Disciples and hid them from such VVise as you are And can any come to Christ but whom the Father draweth and is that by an External and Outward Hearing And doth not the Lord say He openeth the Mouth of Babes c And did not the Lord open Lydia's Heart to hear Christ that Paul Preached who was a Minister of the Spirit and did not he and the Apostles Sow to the Spirit and was that an Outward and External Means And doth not the Lord say He will put his Laws in their Minds and write them in their Hearts and he will be their God and they shall be his People and they shall not teach every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the Least to the Greatest saith the Lord and is this your External Means in New-England and Outward Hearing who persecute the Children of the New Covenant that are Taught of God for not following of you R. W. And thou say'st I ask if it be not a Ridiculous Contradiction to fill the VVorld with a Sound of their New He and She Apostles Answ. We say Nay who are sent of God and have heard God and Christ's Voice as the Prophets and Apostles did And you who are feeding of your External Means of your Outward Hearing and hate the Light of Christ and are Erred from the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures persecute us as your Fore-Fathers did Christ and his Apostles R. W. And thou say'st I ask if this Light within without and opposite to the Hearing without which is the Question be the Means of Faith how is it possible that so many serious enquiring Men in all Ages should not perâ—eive a Breath of this VVind no not in their own Bosoms and that Famous Paul should be Conscientiously and fully perswaded that he ought to do
be out of whose Mouths it be though we cannot own their Meanings nor have Unity with such as hold up the Truth in Vnrighteousness And as for Trampling we trample nothing that is good under our Feet that is thy own Condition but we do own the Appearance of God in all People But R. W. thou say'st Without any Savour of the Spirit of God and yet thou say'st I find in all Mankind a Conviction that God is Just and Powerful and I find Generally in all Mankind a Conviction of an Invisible Omnipotent and Eternal Power and Godhead yet thou say'st Without any Savour of the Spirit of God read pag. 28. 102. thy Contradiction And thou say'st It pleaseth God to strive with Men by Preaching but not by such as thou and the New-England-Priests are that stir up the Punishment Persecution and HANGING R. W. Thou askest Why David complaineth Psal. 53. that all the Children of Men not one excepted are Unprofitable c. are Abominable to Spiritual Matters and Heavenly Things and further thou say'st until the Spirit of God comes and truly change the Heart and whole Frame of Nature until then we are as profitable as Hogs and Moles in a Garden c. and as devouring Foxes amongst the true Lambs and Chickkins of Christ Jesus Answ. R. W. thou hast writ thy Condition and the New-England-Priests there to wit the Devouring Foxes and Hogs of the Lambs of Christ and his Chickkins For mark the Word VNTIL the Spirit of God change their Hearts c. and we believe your Hearts and Natures are not changed but you are Vnprofitable for how can it be when thou say'st There is no Voice nor Motion within in Heavenly things in Matters of Supernatural Light to hearken to to turn to to listen to p 83. And was David's Complaint of the Children of Men Vnprofitable And doth not David bid All that hath Breath praise the Lord and how can they Praise the Lord if there be nothing of the Spirit of God in them And do not they quench that which God hath manifested in them which God hath shewn unto them and which convinceth them of an Invisible and Omnipotent and Eternal Power and God-head so is not this Conviction of the Spirit of God in them and will not the Lord pour out his Wrath upon all the Heathen that call not upon his Name And now is there not a further Manifestation in these Last Days by Christ who Enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World and the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to All Men and God poureth out his Spirit upon All Flesh but from this Spirit Grace and Light in all Men thou art erred from and canst not endure to hear of it R. W. Bringeth Hugh Archbal G. F. Fol. 328. saying Christ doth Enlighten none but those that do receive him G. F. Answ. Contrary to John 3. which speaketh of them that hate the Light and are Enlightned and will not come to it because the Light will Reprove them so he that hateth the Light is Enlightned will not Receive Christ. To which R. W. replyeth and after his wonted manner with foul Expressions saith G. F. abuseth 2 Cor. 4. saith Joh. 1. is not Enlightneth but Lighted and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signify both c. They which hate the Light are Enlightned no question but with the General Offer of Mercy as of a Candle or Sun to the Eyes of a Blind Man which is yet their Condemnation c. And before thou say'st There is a Higher Light which some are affected tinctur'd and Enlightned with and yet not the True and Saving Light that in Heb. 6. where some Persons as the pretended Quakers c. have seen much of the Nature of God of his Holiness and Justice c. and had a Tast of the Joys of the Next World Answ. If ENLIGHTNING and LIGHTED signify both then do not oppose it And here thou confessest They that hate the Light are Enlightned as well as the Believers in the Light it is the same Light but thou say'st It is a General Offer as a Candle or the Sun to the Eyes That is an Outward Light and a Blind Man can neither see Candle nor Fire and so that which he doth not see is his Condemnation according to thy Doctrine But is this according to Christ's Words Joh. 3. are his Words no more than a General Offer as a Candle or the Sun to the Eyes of a Blind Man for Christ saith One Hateth the Light and the other Loveth the Light and bringeth the Deeds to the Light that they may see they are wrought in God so that is not Natural which giveth the Knowledge of God which shineth in his Heart as in 2 Cor. 4. which I do not abuse but it is thou that abusest it And Christ saith This is the Condemnation the Light is come in the World and Men love Darkness rather than the Light because their Deeds be evil here Christ giveth the Reason for the Light discovereth the Darkness and their evil Deeds or else how should they know them For Every one that doth evil hateth the Light mark Every one neither cometh to the Light least his deeds should be reproved and so by the Light he knoweth this Evil Deeds and knoweth he doth Evil and knoweth he hateth it and that is his Condemnation And this is more than a Candle or the Sun to the Blind Man's Eyes that cannot see it and every one that doth the Truth cometh to the Light so it is the same Light that he that doth Evil hateth and he that doth the Truth loveth and this is the Light of Christ. And how darest thou say the Light was or is not Saving Hebr. 6 was not the Holy Ghost Saving and the Word of God Saving or is not the Word of God Sufficient to reconcile to God and the Holy Ghost Sufficient to lead into all Truth But thou say'st In Hebr. 6. the higher Light which enlightneth and yet not the True and Saving Light we charge thee to make this good all the New-England priests by the Scripture That the Light spoken of in Hebr. 6. is not the True and Saving Light it's like thou never tryed'st it But thou art such as they that are fallen away from the good Word of God and resist the Holy Ghost and become a Hater of this Light though thou hast tasted of the Gift and Crucifiest the Son of God a fresh to thy self as the New-England-priests and puttest him to open shame and then HANG punish and persecute others where he is manifest I tell you your Earth beareth Thorns and Bryars and read what will be your End Heb. 6. R. W. bringeth James Dorram saying The Believer is not in Sin as the Vnbeliever is he sinneth not as the Vnbeliever doth And in another place he saith That the Law is the same to the Believers that it is to the Unbelievers
shameful Lie And then concludes That they were his Witnesses that he had long said with David and he humbly hoped he should make it good that he hates and abhors Lying Providence in New-England Richard Scot. SOME TESTIMONIES of Ancient and Modern Authors concerning the LIGHT SCRIPTURES RULE and the SOUL of Man Testimonies concerning the LIGHT within MVnsterus Castalio Vatablus Drusius Clarius Codurus upon Iob 24 13 and Chap. 25 3. They â—re of those who rebel against the Light Vpon whom doth not his Light arise say That this Light is of the Divine Wisdom and Fountain of Light Alluding to the Psalmist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Mat. 4 19. The People that sate in Darkness saw great Light Also see Erasmus and Camerar upon Ioh. 1 4 9. Orpheus His Hand reacheth to the end of the Sea his right Hand is every where then within Of him alone are all things Clem. Alexandr Strom lib. 5. Thales thus There is but one God he is Glorious forever he knows Hearts and tells Thoughts He maketh the Teller of his Thoughts God as in Amos 4.13 Pythagoras thus GOD resembleth Light and Truth he is One He is not out of the World he is the Salt of all Ages ONE HEAVENLY LIGHT and Father of all things only Wise Invisible yet Intelligible Jambl. Iust. Mart. Heraclitus thus God is not made with Hands Pythagoras What things are agreeable to God cannot be known unless a man HEAR GOD himself Again Having overcome thy rebellious Appetites thou shalt know the Cohabitation of the Immortal God and mortal Men whose work is Immortality Eternal Life Trin. de Animâ Mundi Sophocles speaking of the Precepts written in Man's Heart saith God is their Father not Mortal Nature neither shall they ever be abrogated for there is in them a great God that never waxeth old Again saith he This is with respect to Man's Conscience a Divine a Sacred Good God the Overseer Oedip. Tyr. Clem. Alex. Str. l. 5. Socrates had the Guide of his Life within him and preached as he was moved by it even in the Streets and died for reproving the Corruptions of the Athenians in Manners and Religion Plotin taught That Man had a Divine Principle in him which maketh a True and Good Man Hierom called it a Domestick God The Good said Socrates shall be united to God in an In accessible place the Wicked in convenient places suffer due Puniâ—â—ment Iustin. Martyr in his Apology saith God hath built to himself a natural Temple in the Consciences of Men. Clem. Alex. Admon ad Gent. It is the Voice of Truth that Light will shine out of Darkness Therefore doth it shine in the Hidden Part of Mankind Strom. l. 5. Man cannot be void of Divine Knowledge who naturally partakes of Divine Inspirations Lactan. de Cult Ver. The Law of God is made known to us The Law is pure and unspotted Reason diffused through all the World Athanasius contr gent. The way to attain to the knowledge of God is within us which is proved from Moses who saith The Word of God is within thy heart and from this Saying of Christ The Faith and Kingdom of God is within you Minutius Felix saith God is every where not only very near us but infused As is observed by Grotius Crit. Tom. 7. on Acts 17 27. Testimonies concerning the SCRIPTURES LVther taught That the Spirit is required to the understanding of the whole Scripture and of every part thereof Again The Scriptures are not to be understood but by that very Spirit by which they were wrote Tom. 3. fol. 169. Iohn Bradford thus answered the Arch-Bishop of York We do believe and know the Scriptures as Christ's Sheep not because the Church saith they are the Scriptures but because they be so being thereof assured by the same Spirit that wrote and spake them Book of Mart. Vol. 3. p. 298. W. Tindal a faithful Martyr in Hen. 8. his time writes thus It is impossible to understand the Scriptures more then a Turk for him that hath not the Law of God written in his Heart to fulfil it Again Without the Spirit it is impossible to understand them W. Tindal's Works p. 319 and p. 80. B. Iewel against the Papists hath this Passage Flesh and Blood is not able to understand the Holy Will of God without special Revelation therefore Christ gave Thanks to his Father and likewise opened the Hearts of his Disciples that they might understand the Scriptures Without this special Help and Prompting of God's holy Spirit the Scriptures are unto the Reader be he never so Wise or well Learned as the Vision of a Sealed Book Calvin saith It is necessary that the same Spirit that spake by the Mouth of the Prophets should pierce into our Hearts to perswade us of the Truth of what they delivered Instit. lib. 1. cap. 8. Beza saith That the understanding of the Scriptures should be fetch'd from the same Spirit that dictated them Beza in Nov. Test. 2 Pet. 1.19 Peter Martyr taught That the Spirit is the Arbiter by whom we must assure our selves for understanding of the Scriptures that thereby we must discern between Christ's words and a Stranger 's Quoting Christ's words My Sheep know my voice and follow not a Stranger And among other Scriptures he quotâ—s these The Spirit searcheth out the deep things of God The Comforter shall declare all things that I have said unto you The spiritual Unction shall shew you all things Com. Loc. part 1. pag. 6. Again The Spirit of God reveals the truth in the holy Scriptures Com. loc p. 2. cap. 18. Again in an Oration to the Vniversity of Strasburgh concerning the Scriptures he expresseth himself thus The School of this Philosophy is Heaven Again We must remember that the Teacher hereof is the Holy Ghost Doct. Ames a Great Father of the Independents upon 1 Ioh 2. saith We require no more the Anointing of the holy Spirit doth teach the faitâ—ful to understand those things which they received of the Apostles there from to understand those things which are necessary to Salvation for these things those Believers had received of the Apostles With more to the same purpose in that Chapter lib. 1. c. 5. Thes. 32. contr Bellarm. H. Bullinger asserts in his 4 Decas and 8. Serm. dedicated to K. Edw. 6. That Men fetch'd the understanding of heavenly things and knowledge of the holy Ghost from no where else then from the same Spirit Doct. Owen saith The only publick Authentick and infallible Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures is he who is the Author of them from the breathing of whose Spirit it derives all its Verity Perspicuity and Authority Exerc. 2.7.9 T. C. an Antient and Considerable Baptist saith There is the Law and Testimony in the Spirit as well as in the Letter The Law of God is in the Heart there it is written and there it testifieth the Truth of God and if any Man speak not according to this Rule it