so was not suoh a Perfect Quaker as W. H. hath said but stumbled at the very Door and VVay by which the Quakers came to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal John 17. 3. as I have before shewed And so William Haworth's great Joy Refreshment and Boast of the Quaker Converted is founded upon a Lye which is of the Devil the Father of Lyes which he hath made his Refuge and Bulwork against the Truth and them that walk in it and that he might privily shoot his Arrows at the upright in Heart the Children of Light whom he calls Seducers Anti-christian in whom Satan is transform'd into an Angel of Light with many other envious rayling speeches for which the Lord will judge him But the Children of Light are out of his reach and of all such who in their dark Envy and vain Imaginations seek to devour them and as they abide in the Truth they are in that the Devil is out of and he hath no Power over them and they are armed with the whole Armour of Light against all the fiery Darts of the Wicked Everlasting Praises be to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb forever who is getting the Victory over the Beast and his Image the Dragon and his Floods Whore and False Prophet And Great Babylon is sinking like a Mlll-stone whose Harpers Voice shall be heard no more at all and the Voice of her grinding Mill shall be heard no more at all Glory in the Highest The Day is come in which no Man will buy her Ware any more her Merchants are Howling and Gnawing their Tongues for Pain for strong is the Lord that judgeth Her And God is Confounding this Great City and setting up his Holy City upon a Hill which cannot be hid whose Light is like a Jasper clear as Chrystal And without are Dogs and all Lyars and whatsoever workeâ—h Abomiâ—ation and maketh a Lye And her True Light is shining and the Glory of God is arising more and more which shall shake terribly the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof amongst whom the Devil is come down in great Rage knowing he hath but a short time Rejoyce ye Children of the Lord and lift up your Heads all ye Upright in Heart Rejoyce ye Heavens and ye that dwell in the Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and Praise your God forever whose Power is come whose Glory shines whose Dominion is witnessed over Death and Hell and the Gates of it whose Dreadful Presence is now again known which the Worker of Iniquity cannot endure The Eye-lids of the Morning are unto them as the Shadow of Death Every one that doth Evil hates the Light neither cometh to it lest their Deeds should be reproved This is the Ground of their Vexation and Rage against the Pure Appearance of the Lord But Arise O God more and more and let the Sea Roar and the Waters be Troubled bring forth thy Glorious Work already begun in the Earth and rent thou the Vail of thick Darkness from Top to Bottom which is yet spread over People and Nations that the Graves may be opened and the Dead may here thy Voice and arise and come forth to Judgment let thy Dread fall upon the Heathen round about to awaken them and Exalt thy Everlasting Truth and Name over all the Powers of Darkness that many may be gathered into thy Heavenly Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace that the Poor among Men may Rejoyce and the Meek increase their Joy in tâ—ee who art the Strength of thy People in all Ages who never failed them that put their whole trust in thee To whom be Everlasting Praises Glory and Thanksgiving from all that know thy Name God over all Heaven and Earth blessed forever and ever Halelujah And now Will. Haworth I would put thee in Remembrance once more to consider this thy Work and the Ground of thy Rage against the Lord and his innocent People and what the Effects and End thereof will be and recollect in thy mind and ponder thy false Charges and things which thou hast written against them in that Pamphlet and see if thou canst stand by them when examined to thy face which thou hast published to the view of many People and let the Witness of God arise in thee and answer for it s of the Deity by which thou sayest the Barbarous People saw that Vengeance was due on Murderers and see if it will not be thy own Portion who art found a Hater of thy Brother as Cain did Abel without just Cause For he that hateth his Brother is a Murderer and we know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 John 3. 15. Chap. 2. vers 11. Therefore consider it and see if thy Fruits do agree with thy Professâ—on for the Tree is known and judged by the Fruits it brings forth who sayst You eat Christ's Flesh and drink his Blood and that he dwelleth IN you and you IN him too high words for a Lyar and Slanderer and Murderer for such as eats his Flesh and drinks his Blood hath Eternal Life John 6. 54. which the Hater of his Brother hath not nor the Lyar and Railer hath not any Inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. which thou art manifested to be both as by thy Fruits hath Appeared And so thy saying Christ dwells IN you and you IN him will not save thee from the Lyars Portion which is the Lake of Torment which is already begun in thee and the Smoak thereof ascends in this thy foaming out thy own Shame against an Innocent People for which the Lord doth judge thee and it will ascend forever if thou repent not speedily Who art so Hardened to say Thou Testifiest in the Lord that the Quakers Spirit is a Spirit of Delusion and that their Doctrine is Antichristian And callest them Seducers and other Reproachful Names and that thou hast many Ten Thousands are ready to Testifie the same with thee But Thy Lord thou hast manifested whose Name thou art in to be the Lyar and Murderer from the beginning which ruleth in thee as by thy Fruits is evident And we do judge of a Tree by its Fruits as the Young-Man also said whom thou sayst is a Quaker Converted to Christianity as if the Quakers are no Christians shewing thy Envy against them and thy Ignorance or Wilful Blindness concerning the Scriptures of Truth in which may be seen plentifully that God's People whom he hath had regard unto above all People in all Ages were such as Trembled at his Word as in Isa 66. and Moses was a Leading-Quaker Hebr. 12. and Ezekiel was a Quaker see Chap. 12. 18. and Daniel a Man greatly beloved was a Trembler Chap. 10. 11 12. and Paul preached in much Trembling and in the Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2. 3. and the same Apostle bid the true obedient Christians to work out their Salvation
the Knowledge of the Gospel might discourage thee from making his Book publick c. Answ I wonder at it seeing thou saidst before that it is not possible for any to receive it truly and forsake it which if he hath not done thou speakest unadvisedly with thy Lips in saying It s an Experience which the Lord in rich Mercy gave him whom thou also callest Dear Elect Child and sayst Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this to him but our Father which is in Heaven But how can he that thus Contradicteth himself agree with the Truth in others Again Oh! that every one of you my dear Brethren and every one in Hartford had the Knowledge of Christ thus distinctly formed in you till which thing be the Soul of him to whom Christ hath committed you as his Charge shall Travel in Birth and be in Pain Blessing God that his poor Labours have not altogether been in vain as to this matter Answ What is that Travel and Labour worth that brings not to the distinct Knowledge of Christ And what a Church is that and what a Pastor is he and how can they be Dear Brethren in Truth in whom the dictinct Knowledge of Christ is not yet formed Thou sayst That thy daily Prayers to Christ is that we all meaning thy Brethren in the Ministry may be made able Ministers of the New Testament Answ Then it seems you are not yet so by thy own Confession therefore be silent till you are made so Thou sayest You have but Law and Gospel to preach Answ Where in all the New Testament dost thou find the Apostles preaching the Law and saying They were sent to preach the Law But a Dispensation of the Gospel was committed to them and they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter or Law but of the Spirit But why dost thou divide between Law and Gospel as if they were not one in their End and Nature saying The Law for the Conviction of Sin c. and yet thou call'st it Spiritual Answ The Spirit is said to Convince or Reprove the Unbelieving World John 16. 8. Jude 15. saith He shall Convince all that are Vngodly of all their Vngodly Deeds c. Again The Law is said to be perfect converting the Soul and making Wise the Simple Psalm 17. 7. So that Law and Spirit are frequently used as Terms that signifie the same thing and if thou Experimentally knewest the Spirituallity of the Law thou wouldst not go about to divide them or quarrel with us about them But hence hath risen the Mistakes of many viz. because they have found several Names or Terms in Scripture therefore concluded they must needs intend several things while it is frequent in Scripture to intend one and the same thing under several Names as Father Son and Spirit have several Names given to them yet one in Nature or Beeing several Ministrations divers Operations c. and yet all by one and the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12. We know the Spirituallity of the Law in the Apostle's Sense is the inward Convictions of the Spirit manifesting also God's holy Will and Commandments requiring perfect Obedience thereunto which man finding himself unable to do then the Sword or Law of the Spirit slayes him and he dyes being made willing so to do by God's Power or Law within though Self and Flesh cryes out to escape here thou fledst and savedst thy Life But into this Death thou must come if ever thou enterest into God's Kingdom the Talking of it will not serve in this State the Dead hear the Voice of the Son of God and live and his own Arm being then revealed raiseth up this Dead Man when no Eye so much as pittied him his Condition being so hid and unknown to all living in his former Estate then he gives Thanks from the very inward of his Soul to God through Jesus Christ crying out now as in a holy Triumph That there is no Condemnation now to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after thâ— Spirit Rom. 8. 1 2. where that Ransomed Captive renders the Reason of his Joy viz. because the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death Mark How he attributes that to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which before he ascribed to Jesus Christ as having an inward Sense and Feeling both of his Saviour and the Salvation come to his poor Soul thereby Thou either Ignorantly or Enviously if not both affirmest That whoever hath tasted that the Lord is Gracious never takes up with the Quakers Christ Oh! that the Gospel were studied by us more and preached by us more Answ The Quakers Christ is the Lord 's Christ as is shewed before the same that deliver'd Paul from his wretched State And if thou hadst understood what thou saidst immediately before concerning the Blood of Christ which thou call'st as Oyl poured into the Gashes of Conscience thou wouldst not have spoken thus sleightingly if not blasphemously of the Quakers Christ For all the Tasters and Feelers inwardly know him to be God's own Arm revealed when no Eye else pitties them But thou with many more have the outward words concerning these things yet are inwardly and experimentally Strangers to the Life and Vertue of them in your own Hearts and Consciences which Knowledge the Quakers account with the Apostle to be the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Oh vain man Dost thou think by thy Fleshly Study and preaching from the same to Advance the True Christ Nay but Man and Self instead of Christ and his Righteousness For the Gospel is a Mystery and the true Preaching of it Foolishness to all that Perish and the Things of it are the Heavenly Things themselves searched out only by the Spirit of God for they are too deep for Man's Will Study or Wisdom to find out Therefore cease from thy own Study and wait in the Silence of all Fleâ—â— for the pouring forth of the Spirit which only can open the Mysteries of Christ and his Righteousness and shew them unto thee Thou say'st We are to conceive of God according as the Scriptures set him forth to us Answ But the Scriptures contrariwise condemn all Man's Conceivings saying Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what God hath laid up for them that love him The Scriptures are true as God means them not as Man by his Conceivings interprets them and the Understanding of every True Disciple must be opened by Christ before he can rightly know them as 't is written He opened their Vnderstandings that they might undâ—rstand the Scriptures for until then they are a sealed Book both to the Learned and Unlearned Isaiah 29. 11 12. Thou utter'st many words about the Confession of Sin as if the Quakers were against the Confession of Sins to God
Young-man did not knowing he Offended God c. 2dly Whether it be the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle to Assent to things without Ground or are they of that Frame of Spirit to be ready to assent to every thing another of them doth whether they have Ground for it or not as this Young-man was 4thly And whether it be the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle to say You to a Single Person and to call Men Master as this Young-man did who confesseth He could not agree with them in all things So take notice what the things are he did dislike and could not agree with them in which kept him back as he hath said And now see if he were fully of the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle and went faâ—ther then most of them towards that they call Perfection as W. H. hath affirmed and published to his own Shame who is so blind through his Envy that he did not see the same Young-man giving him the Lye in several places in the aforesaid Pamphlet to which he wrote the Epistle And how may the whole Nation of England and many in other Countries and such as have been their Persecutors give this Envious Man the Lye and rebuke him for his Folly and Wickedness who hath made such Notorious Lyes and Slanders against an Innocent Suffering People as will more appear in what followeth It is well known to many yet living what a Stir and Stumbling there was about their Meeting in Silence their Keeping on their Hats and Speaking plain Language without Respect of Persons according to the Scriptures of Truth denying their former needleâ—s Words and vain Complements being come to know a Bridle to their Tongues Iam. 1. 26. and their Salvation wrought out with Fear and Trembling which was a strange Work and Wonder to Professor and Prophane though plentifully testified of in the Scriptures which they call their Rule but know them not as is manifest And what Great and Cruel Sufferings did many of them sustain because of their Faithfulness to God in these things which were Contemptible in the Eyes of the Wise and Prudent Men of this VVorld who scornfully reproached them by the Name Quaker because they were such as Trembled at the VVord of the Lord Isa 66. Now these are the things that kept this Young-man back which he did not like nor find Ground in himself to do them as he hath said But the Quakâ—rs do still find Ground in the Truth to do what the Lord requireth and their Way Faith Spirit and Principle is the same and not changed Now wherein this Young-man was fully of their Way Faith Spirit and Principlâ— who knows And wherein his Perfection did consist no Body knows except in perfectly denying the Truth and Power of God and fleeing the Cross with W. H. who also did stumble at the same Stâ—mbling Stone which became as a Rock of Offence unto him as the Witneâ—s of God in him shall shortly bring to his Remembrance though at present his Pride and Envy hath blinded him and hath made Lyes his Refuge to Oppose and Villifie the People of the Lord. For this Young-man hath sufficiently confessed his Ignorance concerning the Work and Way of the Lord who did dislike and stumble at Silent Meetings which the Quakers do not dislike but do prize as a Means through which they came to know the Lord and his Salvation as their Brethren did in Ages past who waited for him in the Way of his Judgments Isa 26. 8. as may be plentifully seen in the Scriptures of Truth where the Lord commanded Silence and Stilness c. of which I may mention something at present for the sake of the Ignorant as Isa 41. Keep Silence before me O Islands and let the People renew their Strength let them come near then let them speak But this is hid from the vultures Eye and from all who Disobey the Light which they be lighted withal And Ezek. 2. 13. Be Silent O all Flesh before the Lord c. And Hab. 2. 20. But the Lord is in his Holy Temple let all the Earth keep Silence before him Hear this ye Earthly-minded who use your Tongues and the Lord never sent you And there was Silence in Heaven Rev. 8. But this is out of your Reach who cry Revelations are Ceased Be Still and know that I am God c. Psal 46. Tremble and Sin not Examine your own Hearts and be Still Psal 4. Therefore will I wait upon the Lord Isa 8. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their Strength Chap. 40. 31. And Christ Jesus the Lord bid his Disciples wait till they were indued with Power or Strength from on High Much more might be mentioned but this may serve to let you see your Ignorance of the Work and Way of the Lord among his People who did not dislike nor stumble at such things as you do For he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is no Occasion of Stumbling in him 1 John 2. 10. So here ye may read and see the Cause and Ground of your disliking and stumbling at these things which the Holy Men of God were acquainted with in all Ages And what was the Cause why the Name Qâ—â—kâ—r was first given this People in Reproach at that day But only for witnessing the States and Conditions of the Holy Men of God recorded in the Scriptures of Truth whose Salvation was wrought out with Fear and Trembling who would have been called Quâ—kâ—rs had they been in your dayes of which much miâ—ht be spoken So this Young-man W. H. cryes up for such a Perfect Quaker is so far from being such a one that he is ignorant of those things and dislikes them for which that Name was given them as he confessed the same to me and could not own that Refuge of Lyes W. H. hath made concerning him And I do not understand from his Master or any in Hartford that he was ever Ten Times at the Quakers Meetings but went sometimes as other Boyes did as he hath said and may be further seen in that Account from Hartford here inserted So let the Reader observe and take notice what a thing of nought or rather Scandalous Lyes which W. H. hath heaped up he reâ—oyces in and makes his vain Oration and Boast of as in his Epistle And see some of this poor beâ—â—â—der'd Lad's Câ—ntradictions and Confusions in speaking about the Light wherein he hath shewed his Weakness and Blindness â—nd not his Perfection nor Ability to engage any Quaker â—â— â—word as W. H. hath foolishly boasted like a Foolish Child of a Feather or like a Distracted Man that fights with the Air. Now here are some of the Young-man's own words as he hath set them down in the aforesaid Pamphlet by way of Question and Answer In pag. 15. Quest Was that Light by which I was convinced of Sin and by Obedience thereunto thought I should be brought into the Image of
The Quakers catch many simple Hearts and keep them in perfect popish Slavery and Bondage and callst them Foxes and Seducâ—rs c. Now consider with thy self and see how thou in thy blind Envy dost rush into lying and slandering as a Horse into the Battleâ— not fearing God nor regarding Man Art thou fit to be a Teacher of others who canst not bridle thy own Tongue Who will give thee any Credit in these false Charges but such as love and make Lyes like thy â—elf Dost thou know certainly what perfect popish Slavery and Bondage is Consider the Depth of thy Words and their Consequence if thy Charge were true against us Oh W. H. what hast thou done against the Innocent People of the Lord My Soul pitties thee and I can truly say my Bowels are turned for thee that a Place of Repentance thou mightst find before it be too late For thou hast quite mard thy Cause in hand and thy End the Lord hath frustrated and will of all his Opposers more and more and by the Strength of Envy no man shall prevail Will not Millions of People give thee the Lye if they should read or hear these Words of thine and abhor thy secret slaying the Innocent How darest thou so confidently assert such palpable Lyes and Slanders in the Face of Christendom The Papists would condemn and judge thee to be an envious Hypocrite should these Lines come to their Hands who are as opposite to us in their religious Wayes of Worship as Darkness is to Light and are wholy withou twith thee in their dark â—maginations And this shalt thou one Day know though at present thy Envy and Pride hath blinded thee And again sayst thou If ever Satan was transformed into an Angel of Light it is in this People and sayst They swarm like Locusts and that you have an Impudent Enemy to deal withall c. O William How came the Quakers to be thus contemptible and vile in thine Eyes that thou canst hardly find Words bad enough to reproach them with What Evil have they ever done thee How came they to be thy Enemies let God's Witness answer except for telling thee the Truth If they have any Way wronged thee let us understand it that thou mayst be righted and never foam out thy own Shame thus any more like the restless troubled Sea to the View of the Nation And as for Satans being transformed into an Angel of Light in the Quakers thou art as much mistaken as thy Brethren were that called Christ Jesus Belzebub for it is Christ in them the Hope of Glory which thou hast blasphemed against who is the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World to whom all the Angells must bow And as for their swarming which thou envyest it s not like Locusts that is thy Mistake also but as the Stars of Heaven and the Sand by the Sea-shore shall the Seed of Abraham be who rejoyced to see Christ's Day the true Light whom thou woulâ—st have reproached as thou hast us had he been in thy Dayes Therefore repent of this thy Wickedness and â—ease to perveâ—â— the right Way of the Lord and pray God the Thoughts of thy Heart and the Words of thy Mouth may be forgiven thee for the Burthen thereof will be thy own and not touch us as to hurt us for we feel sufficient Armour â—â— the Light against all the fiery raging Darts of the wicked blessed be the Lord forever Now to return again to some more of the young Man's Words page 17. where he speaks of another Light which every man hath not by which he saw Salvation by a Person wholy without him whose Righteousness being imputed to him Is this like Scripture-Language which you call your Rule see more of your Confusion and Blindness did the Apostles of Christ preach of a Light that every Man had not by which they saw their Salvation O strange erronious Doctrine quite contrary to the general Testimony of all the holy Men of God in all Ages Did not John the greatest of all the Prophets testifie That it was the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Joh. 1. 9. that all men through him might believe And do you not yet believe his Testimony If ye say you do then tell us what that other Light is beside the true Light that it may beknown distinctly according to plain Scripture for I never read of such a Light by which Salvation is seen though I have known the holy Scriptures from a Child yet of this kind of Light I am ignorant but I have read of the Grace of God that brings Salvation that teached the Saints but Paul said It hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. And he is as large as John in his Testimony and of this I have some true Knowledge with many more blessed be the Lord forever and ever Now if ye are not able to give us an Account of this Light according to plain Scripture which every man hath not a Measure of by which Salvation is seen by a Person wholy without you We shall justly judge it to be a meer dark and vain Imagination of your own Brains seeing the Scripture â—aith This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World c. And the wicked slothful Servant was not condemned because he had not a Tallent but for not improving it according to his Masters requiring but if all men are not lighted with the true Light then some men have no true Light then why should such be condemned who are so miserably deceived is this Equal But if all men are lighted with the true Light as I believe Then by your Doctrine some have two Lights another Light beside the true Light for thou sayst It s by a Light which every Man hath not So that thou mayst mean It s a greater Measure of the true Light then every Man hath or else it s another Sort of Kind of Light but if it be a greater measure of the true Light thou meanest then it alters not the Property Kind and Nature and so it s the same in Kind which every man hath a measure of But if it be of an other Kind and Nature then the true Light then is it properly another Light and so what shall we call this thy Light but a false Light or a Divination of thy dark Brain which thou mayst see by the true Light in thee thy own and W. H's Confusion and Blindness which is just from the Lord upon you all that oppose his blessed Truth and People And after thy confused Prayer p. 11. to Christ in thee and to Christ in the Heavens and by and in the Spirit as thou thoughtst thou sayst viz. Several Weeks was I in this Trouble making my Condition known to no one because I would not be perswaded to any thing but did wholy rely upon the inward Instructions of the Lord Thus did my Hope perish How didst thou wholy
with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. and Exhorted Servants to obey their Masters with Fear and Trembling Ephes 6. 5. and the true Christians received Titus with Fear and Trembling 2 Cor. 7. 15. and much more might be mentioned of them Therefore let not thy Envy blind thee any longer nor go not about to shut up the Way to the Kingdom of Heaven against People as thou hast done though the Enterance thereof thou knowest not who art found without among the Biters at the Heels of the True Woman the King's Daughter whose Glory is within Psal 45. 13. And as for thy many Ten Thousands thou boastest of we know them For Every one that doth Evil hates the Light c. which are very many and so every Evil-doer is on thy side and is one with thee as thou hast said And so the Unclean Spirits may now cry as formerly Our Name is Legion for we are many But remember thou that true Saying of old viz. That though the Wicked joyn Haâ—d in Hand yet shall they not go unpunished but the Seed of the Righteous shall be delivered Prov. 11. 21. And now try thy own Spirit and thy Fruits by the Scriptures which many of you call the Touch-Stone who saith Christ dwells In you and you In him and that you eat his Flesh and drink his Blood For it is written If Christ be in you the Body is Dead because of â—in Rom. 8. And if any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature old things are passed away all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. Is thy Body dead Is not Lying and Slandering and Envy and False-Accusing Sin Are not these Sins alive in thee in thy Body Let all that know thee judge Art thou 〈◊〉 Creature Let them judge if all old things be 〈…〉 iâ— thee And did not the Blood of Christ cleanse them 〈…〉 it from all Sin Dost thou witness the same â—â—â—â—ct thereof 〈◊〉 they did who walked in the Light 1 John 1. 7. Dost thou wâ—â—ness it to cleanse thee from all Sin who art in thy dark Conâ—usion Blasphemy and false Doctrine Belying and Reviling God and hiâ— People saying He hath poured forth all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ What kind of Christianity is it that thou art endeavouring to Convert People to Where is one Scripture will bear thee out in this Saying of thine Though thou hast quoted Isa 50. that will not do it nor all the Coverings thou canst make will not hide thee from the Wrath to come which will overtake thee speedily and then thou shalt know that there is some left for thee and all Lyars and Evil-Speakers and that the Quakers are no Seducers as thou hast belyed them But such are Seducers as draw People from the Anointing in them which is the Truth as may by read 1 Joh. 2. 26 27. And not them that turn People from Darkness to the Light Acts 26. 18. the Anointing in them whom thou hast wickedly reproached as the Righteous God is Witness for us and against thee whose Innocent Cause he will assuredly plead with thee and all that oppose them And no Weapon formed against his blessed Truth and People shall ever prosper The Lord of Heaven and Earth hath spoken it This is written by a Labourer in the Lord's Harvest in true Love to his Blessed Truth and People and to the Souls of all People I am a Frieâ—â— bearing Testimony against the Works of the World that are Evil And I have â—â—â—â—ed to forgive Enemies and yet can truly say in this Concern in the behalf of the Lord and his Holy Name The Reproaches of them that Reproached thee fell on me WilliamBayly Southâ—ark the 17th of the 11th Moneth 1673. Postscript I Having seen a Book called The Quaker Converted have considered divers things therein mentioned but I find the main Scope of that Book is concerning a Young-man that had been sometimes at the Quakers Meetings and is now gone again to William Haworth's Meeting and declares of a State of Bondage he hath been in and how he is now come to Liberty The Book is sufficiently answered with the Epistle thereunto My Purpose is only to Animadvert briefly upon one Passage mentioned in the 18th page of the said Book where this William Dimsdale hath summed up the whole Discourse in a Metaphor or Comparison of the Children of Israel's being in Egypt and in Canaan the one was the House of Bondage the other the House of Freedom to which he compares his being engaged in Faith and Judgment to obey the Light in his Conscience as his Bondage and his being delivered from that Faith and Judgment and from that Obedience to be his being delivered from Pharoah and his grievous Tasks and Burdens and his being brought into the Land of Canaan where no such Burden is laid upon him as before was said Behold here a Cloud of Gross Darkness and Ignorance which would amaze any man that is not steddy in his right Senses that ever any one should become so Blind as thus to manifest his own Shame and the great Corruption and Wickedness of his Principles and Way he professeth Mark what his Tasks were that were laid upon him when he was under this Pharoah in this Egypt viz. First Not to Lye 2dly Not to speak Idle Words 3dly Not to be among other Boys in their Sports and Pastimes though he had Oportunity thereunto 4thly Not to Wrong his Neighbour 5thly Not to Steal Hâ—rrings though he loved them well and was tempted to them and was also sent to the Barrel alone 6thly not to sink under Hissings and Reproaches which happened to him for doing well and divers more such like Burdens which when he did observe he had Peace he saith But now he hath greater Peace in his Canaan where none of these Burdens are laid on him Oh horrible Canaan Such a Canaan sure God never led his People into nor never will where these Tasks are not laid upon them This is a Canaan for the Sons of Belial who are without a Yoak and not for Christians who must be yoaked from Lying from Idle-speaking from Stealing Herrings or any thing else and all things before-mentioned But now he is free from that Pharoah as he calls the Pure Light of Christ had not Men need take heed how they Believe him in his Words how they Trust him in his Actions or how they have to do with him seeing the Latitude of his Canaan is to have none of these Burdens laid upon him and the Latitude of his Judgment and Faith is to believe that if he doth Lye Steal Speak Idly or any other such things there is no VVrath left in God to be poured out upon him for it Nay that it was forgiven before it was done and Himself not a whit the less approved of God for doing it Nay that there is no Danger of his Salvation to Miscarry how great soever his Miscarriages may be Here is a CANAAN so called
Wo from the Lord God to every one that settles therein For I testifie in the Name of Jehovah that made the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in them That the True Name of this CANAAN is SODOM and EGYPT and that our Lord is daily Crucified therein And now William Dimsdale if there be a Day for thee to Repent in Repent of this thy great Wickedness in calling Christ Pharoah and his holy Burdens the Egyptian-Tasks and those Tastes of Comfort which thou hast felt to Encourage thee in thy Obedience to be like the Peace with the Egyptians when the Tale of Brick was delivered Oh Miserable Man if thou Perish thy Blood is upon thine own Head God never Required any thing of thee by his Light that was Unreasonable never to make Brick and find Straw but he gave thee a Measure of his Grace in which thou foundst Power to deliver thee and hadst thou kept Faithful to it thou hadst known Salvation by it But now thou hast cast off Christ's Yoak and Burden and endeavourest to betray him into the Hands of the Priests and Pharisees Oh Repent and Pray if it be possible that this thy Wickedness may be forgiven thee for if not the Weightof it will sink thee into Everlasting Misery S. Crisp AN ACCOUNT FROM HARTFORD HAving taken notice of a late Pamphlet set forth one part by William Haworth and the other part by W. D. the Title thereof A Quaker Converted to Christianity and that it was in Hartford We whose Names are under written being Inhabitants of the said Place could not but admire that such a thing should be in that Place and we wholely Strangers to it And One so Eminent as W. H. doth describe him that he need not fear to Encounter any Quaker in England in Discourse This set some of us on Enquiring who it should be upon which Enquiry it was found to be One who had been Apprentice and now is Servant to one Thomas Grigson of Hartford who by Trade is a Weaver and with his Wife hath belonged to our Meeting these many years They being asked concerning their Man Whether he was in any wise accounted a Quaker say They know nothing that be was ever so much as Convinced of that Blessed Truth owned by the Quakers so as to be in Society with them or Conformable to their Testimony And further They know not that he was ever looked upon by any Person whatsoever to be a Quaker in the least but only that he behaved himself soberly towards them And further his Master and Dame with whom he lived sayes He might come to the Meetings many years ago among the Boys somtimes but so that they never understood that he had any Convincement upon his Mind And so they with us do think strange that any Man or Men dare be so Impudent as to set forth in Print a thing so notoriously False and in it further to affirm That He to wit the said W. D. was fully of their Way Spirit Faith and Principle meaning the Quakers Now do but mind what the Lad saith of himself in his Part of the Pamphlet p. 7. First As to Silent Meetings he was not satisfied 2dly That he used to salute his Friends and others with Pulling off his Hat How now William Haworth Was this to be Fully of our Way Spirit Faith and Principle one with us Let them that know us judge For he that comes not to know a Benefit in Silent Meeting knows little of the Quakers Faith or Principle although we appoint none with the Limitation before-hand as to be Silent Meetings but if any have any thing to speak from the Lord is as much at Liberty as at other times But however a Benefit we know by them though no Words be spoken we whose Minds are gathered Inwards * Hab. 2. 1 2 3. James 5. 7. Acts 3. 19. to wait upon the Lord in the Silence of all Flesh or Fleshly Thoughts and to have an inward Ear open to hear what the Spirit saith and have and do blessed be the Lord often at such Meetings feel the Times of Refreshing which come from his Presence And here is the True Worship known which is in Spirit and in Truth and such the Lord seeks to worship him And so the Intent of the True Ministry * Acts 26. 17 18. is to direct the Minds of Men and Women to God's Spirit manifest in their Hearts and there to worship and not as W. H. saith That those Gifts and Vertues wrought by the Spirit of God in our Minds are a Man 's own Righteousness to wit that which Paul calls his own Phil. 3. 9. but the Righteousness of meer man which is as Gross a Contradiction and Corrupt Doctrine as if he should tell us That Paul in his desiring to be found in Christ not having his own Righteousness which was of the Law desired to be found in Christ not having those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our Minds Oh wonderful Darkness but this is answer'd else-where And then as to the World They can know a Quaker by his not pulling off his Hat which this Lad by his own Confession used to do Now William Haworth where is this Great Goliah Quaker that was thus Converted and yet was never known by us nor by the World to be a Quaker But rather then W. H. will want a Prodigy or a Wonder to the World he will call him a Quaker No doubt William thou deservest the Right-hand of Fellowship of Tho. Hicks for he only forges a silly Quaker and then makes him speak what he pleases but thou hast Converted a Quaker O Wonder if this had been true William the next time thou writest things of this kind lay them a little closer together and remember the old Proverb That it is Old Men and far Travellers that Lye without Controle So far we were willing to let the World know the Truth of the Matter believing that at times something of God hath been stirring both in William Haworth and the Young-Man which we desire they may Return to and Repent before it be too late We have subscribed our Names as followeth William Faireman Thoman Grigson Thomas Chalkley Henry Sweeting Nathaniel Gerrard Abraham Rutt Richard Martin Richard Thomas Edward Plumsted Henry Stout Nicholas Lucas AH William Haworth what is become of that Tenderness that once was upon thy Heart Then wast thou little in thy own Eyes then didst thou confess to the Truth and the Quakers were Honest People in thy Account How well had it been for thee if thou hadst grown in that Tenderness But it is just with the Lord that all who Rebel against the Light of his Son should be Hardned It would be well for thee to consider where thou art and what thou art doing for doubtless thou art now found fighting against the Lord and his Glorious Work which he hath begun in the Earth but it is all in vain and to no purpose for it will Prosper And if thou canst stop the Sun in its Course and set Bounds and Limits to the Sea then mayst thou accomplish thy Desire For the Lord hath Blessed us yea and we shall be Blessed and there is no Inchantment against us And thy Printing Books and spreading them and Preaching so much against the Quakers and Villifying them as thou dost doth but manifest that Spirit of Envy and Bitterness which is not of God and so is a Diâ—advantage to thy self and will be turned unto Advantage to us and all sober People and such as are of an Honest Upright Heart will soon discover thee For what is the Chaff to the Wheat And although thy Understanding be so darkened that thou canst not see the Dawning of the Day of God yet 't is not in thy Power to shut the Eyes of others from seeing the Glory of it nor to stop their Ears from hearing and knowing the True Shepherd's Voice from the Voice of the Stranger It is too late for thee to begin thy VVork at this time of the Day for the Son of God is come and hath given us an Understanding to know him that is True and many are in him and do know the Elect Seed born that cannot be Deceived And thy terming the Quakers Spirit to be Delusion and their Doctrine Antichristian these words if ever thy Eyes come to be opened will be a Burden too heavy for thee to bear For it is no less then Reviling the Light of the Son of God which he hath given for a Leader to his People to lead out of all Evil into all Truth and those who have followed the Lord fully and faithfully therein have found Life and Salvation according to that Promise He shall save his People from their Sins not in their Sins and of this there are Thousands of Living VVitnesses And therefore come down out of that high and lofty spirit and bow unto that which convinceth thee of Sin for all that will not bow thereunto will be broken thereby There is not an easier way unto Life for thee then there was for us and yet we have no Cause to complain of a Burdensom Yoak or that the Lord is a Hard Master for the Yoak of Christ is easie and his Burden is light And do not flatter thy self with vain Hopes of our Fall for the Eyes that look for that will perish in their Holes for we are built upon the Rock of Ages and though the Storms of Affliction beat on the one hand and the Raging Sea which casts up Mire and Dirt on the other yet shall we stand for our Foundation is unmovable and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against us And this is my Testimony for the Lord to thee and all who joyn with thee in this VVork Cease striving against the Lord in his People and Repent of your Evil else you and your VVork will fall together For no Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper Mary Stout ERRATA PAge 3. line 22. for banes read â—ands Page 4. line 13. for which read with P. 31. L. 38. for ontrary r. contrary P. 37. L. 31. for Babe r. Babel P. 39. L. 14. for withou twith r. without with P. 41. L. 36. for Burthen r. Burthensom And where any other Faults or Defects are escaped the Press the Unbyassed Reader is desired to Correct them according to the Sense of the Matter and none to impute them to the Authors THE END