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A40216 A New-England-fire-brand quenched being something in answer unto a lying, slanderous book, entituled, George Fox digged out of his burrows, &c. printed at Boston in the year 1676, of one Roger Williams of Providence in New-England ... : of a dispute upon XIV, of his proposals held and debated betwixt him, the said Roger Williams, on the one part, and John Stubs, William Edmundson, and John Burnyeat on the other at Providence and Newport in Rode-Island, in the year 1672 where his proposals are turn'd upon his own head, and there and here he was and is sufficiently confuted : in two parts : as also, something in answer to R.W.'s Appendix, &c. with a post-script confuting his blasphemous assertions ... : also, the letters of W. Coddington of Rode-Island, and R. Scot of Providence in New-England concerning R.W. and lastly, some testimonies of ancient & modern authors concerning the light, Scriptures, rule & the soul of men / by George Fox and John Burnyeat. Fox, George, 1624-1691.; Burnyeat, John, 1631-1690. 1678 (1678) Wing F1864; ESTC R3637 449,863 526

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By the Prince of Devils he casts out Devils And the Apostle telleth thee That the Natural Man doth not perceive the things of God And had not Pilate so much Reason as thou think'st thou who asked Christ Wha● was Truth And if the Holy Scripture was the Means the Rule and Judge to try Motions then Abel En●ch Abraham Isaac Jacob and Moses had none Now an Heavenly-Inspired Scripture which thou speakest of that is by the Spirit by which they are known again and not by the dark Spirit and Reason for No Man knoweth the Things of God but by the Spirit of God which Reason thou here settest above both the Spirit that Inspireth and the Scripture Inspired or given forth by it and so hast made the Reason the Chief Judge which the Apostle did not but the Spirit R. W. Thou say'st It is best to take James's Counsel If any Man want Wisdom let him ask of God c. If so then Reason tells us that except we suffer our selves to be led ●s Beasts by Satan as the poor Quakers are we must come to the Vse of Means or a Mediate Leading and Teaching and then what 's become of these Hellish Fancies of only Immediate Teachings and Inspirations Answ. This is R. W.'s Proof to prove That we have not the Spirit of God And R. W. calleth the Immediate Teachings and Inspirations of God Hellish Fancies Now would not he have dotingly said this to the Apostles had he been in their Dayes And so what must we understand from R. W.'s words He and his New-England Priests must come to REASON and a Mediate Leading and Teaching c. and to Mediate Means So it must not be the Inspiration and the Immediate Spirit of God the Holy Ghost to Lead into all Truth So his Leading is Mediate his Means are Mediate and his Teaching is Mediate and not Immediate and yet he must Ask Counsel and Wisdom as James did from God and yet it must not be Immediate and Inspired into him but Mediate And if Evil Spirits have such a Great Reason as R. W. saith Append. p. 108. and he Admireth them so and Reason telleth R. W. that except we suffer our selves to be led as Beasts by Satan c. and yet Evil Spirits have great Reason and let the Reader see what Distinction thou hast made between Satan's Reason and thy own and the New-England-Priests and who is thy Leader And as for the Poor Quakers the Light and Spirit of God which proceedeth from the Father and Son is their Comforter and will lead them into all Truth And so Hellish Fa●cy thou may'st apply at home who fightest against God's Immediate Teaching and Inspiration And what dost thou talk of the Spirit of Wisdom or Knowledge and talkest of Reason that must be Judge Isa. 11. Luk. 11. And as for Dreamers thou may'st keep to thy self And R. W. I must tell thee None know the Scriptures and the Mysteries of Christ by their own Spirits nor their dark Reason but by the Spirit of God R. W. And thou say'st The Scripture in John Ye know all things we expounded Literally c. and say'st Then why are not the Quakers Omnipotent and Almighty as well as Omniscient or knowing all things Answ. Why doth R. W. take James's words Literally and not John's As for Omnipotent and Almighty and Omniscient or knowing all things as God the Quakers hold no such thing and there is no such saying in G. F's Answer Yet the Saints know all things concerning their Salvation and Election and concerning the Devil and his Angels that will deceive them and they knew knew all things so that no man needed to teach them and they knew God and Christ and J. Stubs's words will stand And did we speak no more to thee but the four Lines thou settest in page 83 Why could'st not thou put down our Words And why canst thou not take John's words Literally as thou takest James's who saith The Light which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which is Life in the Word c. which Light thou Blasphemously callest an Idol R. W. And thou say'st I desire to know what is meant by the Word WITHIN Answ. That which Paul preached Rom. ●0 which is as a Fire and hammereth down Sin and Evil sharper then a Two-edged Sword which was the Word of Faith which he preached and we And thou comest to learn of us What is meant by the Word Within It openeth the Vnderstanding it openeth the Eye of the Soul and changeth the Affections where it is lo●ed and done as James telleth thee but if thou be a Sayer of the Word and Dost it not thou deceivest thy own Soul And how now R. W is this thy Proving That we have not the Spirit of God To come and learn of us What is the Word of God within this is quite beside the Matter and well might W. Edmundson call thee back again when thou wast Rambling on beside the Matter R. W. Now thou say'st It is said that God hath shined in our hearts Answ. But thou dost not speak as the Apostle doth who saith God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 4 6. Now what must we understand from R. W.'s meanes or meanings here from the Scripture That God shineth in the Heart to give the Knowledge of God if we had said so would not he have cried out Blasphemy and God commanded God to shine out of Darkness O! R. W. take heed of such dark means R. W. And then thou contradictest thy self and say'st The Seat of the Light and Knowledge of God c. Further thou say'st Though Fox makes it the Light to be Natural and born with every Man c. and goest on a railing callest it Their Natural Hellish Darkness and upon this thou makest false Conclusions upon thy own Invented Words which G. F. hath not spoken Answ. Let the Reader see if G. F. any where hath made the Heavenly Light of Christ Natural c. John the greatest Prophet born of a Woman maketh not the Light Natural that came for a Witness to be a Witness of the true Life in the Word which was the Light that Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World For R. W. may read such as he is of the same Spirit saying John hath the Devil and such were not like to own the Light no more then R. W. which he bore Witness of R. W. Thou say'st That to hearken to to turn to to lissen to any Voice or Motion within in Heavenly things in matters of Super-natural Light is as proper as in matters of Law to go for Counsel to a Cheating Thief or Rogue in matters of Health to a known Cheating Mountebank as to turn within to a Man's Heart which is the Arrantest Jugler and Cheater in the World Answ. Why
Hellish Darkness the Spirit of Satan a false lying Christ. Answ. Thou hast proved thy self a Blasphemer and thy own false Light and Spirit and Anti-Christ to be so and God will Judge thee for these Words And what dost thou talk of God's Dispensation when thou blasphemest after this Manner against the Light of Christ his Spirit and his Son or talkest of Believing in him that Individual Person of Christ Jesus and not in a Fancy within Rom. 15. is owned and John 20. is own'd and dost thou ever think to receive Blessedness and Life from Jesus Christ at the Right Hand of God and can'st not endure to hear talk of him within and call'st his Light a Fancy and a lying Christ in the same page and Hellish Darkness But we own no other Christ than him that was born of the Virgin and conceived by the Holy Ghost and by the Holy Ghost we call him LORD which we know no Man can do but by the Holy Ghost And how can'st thou call him LORD which hast no Voice nor Motion within in Heavenly things in Matters of Super-natural Light And then thou fallest a-railing Pharisees Jesuites Quakers Atheists c. but this thou might'st have kept at Home And as for the Breath or Wind of the Devil in the Lips of Atheists Jews Ranters Papists c. thou might'st have kept at Home for it are not the Quakers but your selves that puff and blow with your Evil Breath against Christ Jesus his most Holy Light which shineth more pretious than the Sun in the Firmament and is revealed in our Hearts that giveth the Knowledge of him and standeth against all your Black Storms and Persecutions and Persecutors and shineth more and more to the Perfect Day Glory to God for Ever R. W. And then thou tell'st us a Famous Story in Turkey of a Woman appearing in the Heavens with a Book in her Hand c. and the Two Witnesses Item the Book in Revelations and queriest Whether it be the Book of the Revelations or the Whole Bible or Scripture Answ. If we must teach R. W. who saith We do not own the Scriptures we Answer That neither these Two Witnesses nor John did eat up the Outward Bible to wit Paper and Ink. Neither did he Eat up the Revelations in Paper and Ink for it was join'd to the Bible I believe History may tell thee a great while afterwards for the Book of Revelation was Revelations in him before he spoke them forth and then after it was printed And as thou bringest Tindal thou may'st stop thy Mouth for him for he owneth Christ and his Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World And thou tellest us the Story of the Jews of their Curious Writing the Old Testament And all this is nothing to prove R. W.'s Saying We disown the Scriptures and he is confounded in this over and over For he saith J. B. shewed him Scriptures and called unto thee for Scriptures and pray thee R. W. how many Scriptures did'st thou show to us when we were in the Dispute to prove thy false Charges against us but told'st us Several Stories as thou dost now R. W. Thou tell'st us of the First Protestants Affection to the Scriptures and then rail'st and say'st The Papists and Quakers slighting the Scriptures R. W. might have put in the New-England-Priests with him and not the Quakers which have an Esteem of the Scriptures and practise them more than they And then thou tell'st us of Christ's Martyrs or Witnesses Love to the Scriptures in the Days of Q. Mary of Ridley Bishop of London c. and as the Fire grew Hotter c. they spent Hours and Nights in Prayer and Holy Conference upon the Scripture Answ. What is this to R. W. and the New-England-Priests So have the Quakers spent Hours Nights and Days yea in New-England and other Places the Lord's Spirit stir'd us up the more as the New-England-Fires grew Hotter and Hotter till they came to HANGING and BLOOD-SHED And then we saw They that were born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit and the LORD alone knoweth what Suffering we have had amongst you who is our Only Protector Preserver and Vpholder to this Day We gave our Backs to our WHIPPERS and our EARS to be CUT OFF and to BRANDING with an HOT IRON Did we ever lift up a Hand did we not suffer as Lambs and Sheep among you Wolves and Foxes that profess'd the Scriptures as the Papists O! that the Lord would open your Eyes and thy Eyes R. W. that is all the Hurt we wish you that thou might'st see a Day of Repentance of thy Evil Work who abusest the Press desilest peoples Minds blasphemest against Christ and his Light But when we Consider it was the Portion of the Righteous in all Ages to suffer Affliction by the Birth of the Flesh that it was not only given us to Believe but also to Suffer that it was the Day of the True Lord Jesus Christ yea and by such a people as New-England's Great and High Professors that R. W. extolleth so high that could not stand in Persecution themselves but fled into the Wilderness as though they had learned of the Wolves and Bears there to Devour the Lambs and Servants of Christ it was no New Thing to us to suffer by such proud Pharisees that profess God and Christ in Words and Pesecute him where he is Manifest And R. W. most Impudently and Maliciously saith That James Parnel Murther'd himself which here is something following to Clear that Martyr and Witness of Jesus from R. W.'s lying Tongue and his fellow-Persecuting Priests A Short RELATION of JAMES PARNEL'S Imprisonment Sufferings and Death which R. W. slandereth and Printeth against One Henry Barrington a Justice said That James Parnel was Guilty of his own Death which he had as he saith from One Smith's Mouth And after he said He put those words concerning James Parnel's being Guilty of his own Death in Himself because there was a Letter he said at White Hall which was given in by One Davis which said That the Goaler through his Cruel Usage was Guilty of James Parnel's Death So here ye may see the Wickedness of the Justice to Cover the Murthering of the Innocent and see the Goaler's Cruel Usage of this James Parnel and R. W.'s Malice After they had put up James in a Close Hole and made an Order and stuck it upon the Door That every One that came to see him should spend Four Pence in Beer but James's Friends being not Free to serve the Goaler's Lusts the Goaler's Wife run at them with a Knife and would have taken their Hats from them And several of James's Friends and Relations came for to visit him but were denied and not suffered to sp●ak to him and when he had Victuals the Goaler's Wife set others to steal his Uictuals from him And the Goaler suffered the Prisoners to break James's Box and
W. And further thou say'st Now this Woful Cheater finding the word Spirit confounds as his course is all together and because God's Spirit Regenerates the Corinthians and opens to them a Glimpse of the Godhead's Power c. Answ. As for Cheating and Confounding thou mayst keep those Words at home but the Apostle telleth the Corinthians that were the Believers and Babes in Christ and Born again That the Light which shined in their Hearts giveth the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus and calleth this the Light of the Glorious Gospel which is the Image of God Now hath R. W. manifested himself to be Born again who doth not distinguish between them that is Born of the Spirit and them that Grieve the Spirit for G. F's Words were Such as were not Born of God by the Spirit yet they had the Spirit by which they might Know the things of God for how can they quench the Spirit and err from it if they have it not and how will God Judge the World in Righteousness according to the Gospel And whether is the Gospel Natural or all the Judgments of God Natural or Spiritual and if Spiritual whether or no it is not according to the Divine Light and Grace that enlightneth all Men and his Spirit that he poureth upon all Flesh R. W. And thou say'st I fear that G. F. c. never Experimened though they enjoy in Common a Light of Nature though God hath Endowed him and many of them with Excellent Natural Parts yea with a Light from the Holy Scripture yea a Light of Experience and Common Motions from God's Holy Spirit and have been lifted up c. and then thou fearest most of them will be brought down into Hell and Cast into great Condemnation Answ. R. Williams thou hast shewed thy Ignorance of G. F. and the People called Quakers Conditions What! dost thou call the Divine and Heavenly Light of Christ which is the Life in the Word the Light of Nature which Christ commands to believe in this is thy Darkness which cannot Comprehend the Light And as for our Experiences and Knowledge of the Holy Scripture it is by this Divine Light and Spirit of the Lord which if thou didst Live in thou wouldst never Rail so much against us And as for thy foolish Fears I tell thee they are Cain's and as for being lifted up as Capernaum being brought down into Hell and Condemnation this thou wilt know who hast been pufft up and erred from that Spirit which formerly hath opened thee therefore thou railest against them that walk in it And Roger thou reprovedst G. F. too soon for False English and Boys English and Non-sense as thou callest it but indeed I must needs tell thee that here is much False English and Non-sense in thy Book but whether the Fault be in thee or the Printer I shall leave it but how-ever I think the Printer that hath printed thy Book hath grown weary of it or at least been Careless for it is paged 74 74 76 77 77 78 80 what is this right Roger R. W. And thou bringest-in the same Author Fol. 222 saying Salvation and Faith are the Gifts of God distinct from Christ To this G. F. Answereth They are all of him and from him and with him and how is he the Author of Faith in whom it endeth from whence it cometh R. W. replyeth As Potiphar's Wife cries out against Joseph and pretends Chastity so doth this subtle Whore-monger pretending that all is pure Christ the Light is Christ their Hope Faith Saints and their own Spirits are Christ no Distinction between Christ and them for they are all of Him from Him and with Him Answ. Thou Justifiest what thou Condemnest thou cryest out against Potiphar's Wife and thou art guilty Spiritually of the same Evil that she would Carnally have committed Fain wouldst thou have enticed J. T. and others to thy Polluted and Defiled Bed and because they would have nothing to do with thee nor that Spirit that leadeth thee but refused Communion with thee thou wipest thy Mouth and complainest against Joseph and wouldst bedirt him now thou canst not have thy will of him and that he refuseth thy Harlotty Well but I am an Whore-monger yea a Subtle One how so Roger how provest thou this Black Charge why because I say That Salvation and Faith are of Christ from Christ and with Christ behold now ye New-England-People what Spirit this Man is of what Language he useth what Comparisons he maketh and Slanders he casteth upon me And for what doth he these things because I own and declare That Salvation and Faith are of Christ and from Christ and with Christ. I hope then none will say We but R. Williams denyeth Christ for they that deny Christ to be the Author of their Faith and Salvation deny Christ but it 's plain that R. W. doth so for his Salvation and Faith is not of Christ and what Regard should any have to what such an Anti-Christ saith But R. W. saith that we say That the Saints are Christ c. but Roger these are none of my Words but thy False Consequences But why is not Christ made to the Children of Light in this Day Light Salvation Hope Faith c. as well as he was made to them Sanctification and Redemption in the Days past where hast thou been hast thou lost thy Bible as well as thy Religion in the Woods see what cometh of thy Vnfaithfulness thou that werest an Opposer of the Priests art turned their Oratour against the People of God But what a Forgery 't is in thee Roger to say We make the Saints Christ and our own Spirit Christ were those my Words to God's witness in all Consciences I appeal against thee in this thing and let my Book be read True Christians are of Christ yet not Christ yet One with Christ 't was Christ's Last Prayer that they should be One in the Father and the Son And for our own Spirit it 's enlightned by Christ but it is not that Light nor Christ the Light for he is our Lord and King and we are his Servants and Subjects and Friends and Children so thy Malice and Ignorance will not do the Day hath discovered thee Thou goest on to prove That Christ is not the Saints nor the Saints are not Christ And who said They were and callest us Vngrateful Monsters and such Monstrous Names for believing so that never believed so nor never writ so it 's a Faith of thy own making Yet Christ is in the Saints and the Saints are in Christ but that the Devil cannot abide for he would fain get at them but that he cannot do while they are in Christ and this maketh all his Instruments rage and thee Roger amongst the rest And thou takest up much room to prove The Saints are not Christ from Col. 1 ver 11 and who said they were so so that
Hearts and is the Body and Soul and Root and Branch of their whole Religion Answ. Truly R. W. we may use the Proverb and say Thy Tongue is no Slander for thou art given up to Lies and abusest us with them Neither do we abuse the Scriptures but esteem of them and as for the Pope c. thou should'st have gone to Rome and told them these Words And as for Worldly Advantages and Religion rooted upon It is not our Religion but hath been the Religion of New-England as witness their SPOILING of our Goods worse than ever did the Papists R. W. Bringeth from G. F's Fol. p. 243 Richard Sherlock's saying We must not look for an Immediate Extra-ordinary Miraculous Teaching from the Lord. G. F. Answ. Yet he saith All Men are Taught Of God what Confusion is here The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men and this he calleth an Outward Teaching by the Lord Jesus Christ is that which bringeth Salvation Outward all in the Truth may judge this and try thy Spirit And the Teachings of the Lord are not only Mediate but Extra-ordinary also above all Yours which are Men got up since the Days of the Apostles R. W. replyeth and saith Although I have spoken before of their Immediate Inspirations yet seeing how greedily and boastingly this Deluded Soul with Scorn and Contempt of all his Opposites sucks in the Poyson of Devilish Inspiration instead of the pure Wine and Milk of the Christian Truth and milks out this Poyson into the Mouths of his Poor bewitched Followers Answ. Let the Reader observe what Railing Expressions he giveth in the Front of his Reply that God's Teaching in his Covenant of Grace and by his Spirit he calleth B●●sting Deluded Souls Scorn and Contempt a Sucking-in of Poyson and the Devil's Inspiration bewitching his poor Bewitched Followers that follow God's Teaching as though God's Teachings were not pure Wine and Milk and Christian ●r●ths but God's Immediate Teaching is Poyson to R. W. R. W. saith That G. F. affirmeth That the Teachings of the Lord are not Mediate but Immediate and Extraordinary c. Contrary to the whole Stream of the S●●●●●tes and Experience Contrary to Psal. 9. Contrary to God's Teachings in every Man's Nature and God 's Teaching the Fowls and Abraham's Teaching his Children and the ordinary Teaching and Feeding by Shep-herds and Contrary to the Teaching of the Holy Scriptures written by the Immediate Breath of God This great Wrester of Holy Scriptures saith They shall be all Taught of God and Contrary to the Ordinary Teachings of the Priests and Levites c. Answ. The Teaching of God in his New Covenant is as the Apostle saith Heb. 8. The Lord saith I will put my Laws into 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 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 c. and Isaiah saith Ch. 54. All thy Children shall be Taught of the Lord and Christ saith Joh. 6. All thy Children shall be Taught of God and this of God's Teaching in the New Covenant is above Nature's Teaching and Outward Mediate Teaching and the Priests and Levites Teaching in the Old Covenant And this is not Contrary to the Scripture nor true Experience but according to it and not Wresting the Scriptures which saith They shall be all Taught of God And as for Abraham's Teaching and that in Psal. 9. and the Apostle's Teaching what are your Teachers to them who are got up since the Apostles And if the Scriptures were written by the Immediate Divine Breath of God and they were made Ministers by Divine Revelation can any understand the Scriptures but by the Divine Spirit and is that Mediate or Immediate And doth not Moses say A Prophet will God raise up unto you c. and him shall ye hear and he that will not hear this Prophet shall be cut off R. W. Saith What is there in G. F's wild Notion Can that which bringeth Salvation be Outward c. Answ. The Grace of God which hath appeared to all Men which bringeth Salvation Teacheth us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live soberly and Godly c. Tit. 2. and this thou callest a Wild Notion but that is thy own and wilful Ignorance And is this Grace of God Outward which bringeth Salvation And as for our Men and Women-Apostles their Teaching it is in the Power and Spirit of Christ and they turn People from Darkness to Light and so to God and Christ's Teaching and to the New Covenant and do not keep People always under Teaching saying like the New-England-Priests But thou wouldst see a Sign and a Miracle like the Adulterous Generation the Priests Scribes and Pharisees thy Fore-Fathers And as Assisted by the Devil's Doctrine R.W. this suiteth thy own Spirit best and thou hast proved nothing against us but thy self to be a Liar and Ignorant of God's Teaching in his New Covenant R. W. Thou say'st While they cry out Light Light there is none as Isaiah speaketh not a Spark of Light within them Answ. Here thou wrongest Isaiah's Words and thou bringest them in Opposition to the New Covenant and givest the Apostle the Lie who saith God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ which we and all true Christians have and witness in our Hearts And what must we Conclude from R. W's Words That he and the New-England-Priests have not a Spark of the Light within them that the Apostle speaketh of John telleth you Your Darkness cannot comprehend it Then thou and you are Pitiful Blind Teachers Disputers and Oratours and ye are like to be no other that call Light Darkness and Darkness Light R. W. Goeth on to his 43 Instance where he brings-in Christopher Wade G. F. Fol. p. 247. saying The written Word is the Sword of the Spirit and he maketh another Rule beside the Scripture False G. F. Answ. Which we say is the Spirit which gave them forth whereby Peace is known upon the Israel of God And the Pharisees had the Scripture but had not the Sword of the Spirit the Scriptures testifie of the Sword of the Spirit R. W. saith I reply and affirm The Spirit of God cannot here be the Sword intended 1. This Spiritual Furniture being a Similitude taken from War-like Furniture Helmet Breast-plate Shield Shoes c. and every one applyed to Gifts and Means flowing from God's Spirit as Faith Hope Sincerity c. it were most improper then to bring in God or the Spirit to be the Sword or any of the other Pieces 2. There is no more Reason to make the Spirit of God to be the Sword than the Shield 3. It seems
of the Spirits of Men So the Question lieth here Whether or no the Saints do come while they are upon the Earth to the Just Mens Spirits made Perfect and to God the Judge of all and to the Heavenly Jerusalem the City of the Living God For the Apostle saith Ye are come hither YE ARE COME and the Apostle and the Saints were alive upon the Earth when he spoke this And thou makest a jumble about the Saints Bodies and say'st We are proud Boasters and we never said of ourselves that we were Perfect of our selves but perfect by Christ who doth perfect for ever by one Offering them that are Sanctified Heb. 10 14. mark them that are Sanctified And we do own the States of the Saints in this World and the States in the World to come Life Everlasting and so we can truly turn thy lyes back again seeing they are not ours And the Spirit in the Apostles encourageth the Saints to Perfection and the Apostle saith he spoke Wisdom amongst them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2 And Be ye Perfect and of good Comfort 2 Cor. 13 Let us as many as be perfect Phil. 3 12 and Col 1 their work was that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus so the Imperfection was in Old Adam That ye may stand perfect and compleat Col. 4 how should they stand perfect and compleat if they were not in it That the Man of God may be Perfect 2 Tim. 3 and Christ saith Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Christ saith Every one that is Perfect shall be as his Master Luk. 6 David saith Mark the Perfect Man Psal. 37 and David saith Many shoot in Secret at them that are Perfect but if R. W. and the New-England-Priests say There is none disseit the Grave to be Perfect then there is none to shoot at nor to be markt at And Christ saith Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect Matth. 5 and Peter saith After you have suffer'd a while make you Perfect Signifying that it is Attainable or else Peter would not have encouraged to it And God saith Job was a Perfect Man and upright and one that feared God and by one Offering hath Perfected for ever them that are Sanctified Heb. 10 14 And the Apostle saith An Inheritance amongst them that are Sanctified mark that ARE SANCTIFIED were not these upon the Earth the Apostle saith He that Sanctifieth and they that are Sanctified are all of One Heb. 2 And the Apostle saith I beseech you Brethren through the Mercies of God that you present your Bodies a Living Sacrifice Holy and acceptable to God which is your Reasonable Service Rom. 12 Now must not the Saints R. W. present their Bodies thus Holy and a Living Sacrifice to God while they be upon the Earth and how can they present them to God if they must not be Perfect but carry a body of Sin to the Grave or must they present their Bodies when they are Dead and doth not Sin make their Bodies dead while they be upon the Earth before they be dead outwardly Now if the Spirit of Christ that raised him from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall quicken your Mortal Bodies and this we witness Rom. 8. R. W. Thou askest What Truth is in these Words Christ is the End of all Words and further thou say'st The truth is their horrible unclean and foul Spirit would fain be rid of all Scripture-words and Learning also that he may bring the more of miserable mankind under the Cheating sound of Light into his Eternal Darkness Answ. R. W. that is thy own Condition with the Cheating sound of Light and these reviling Words of thine I abhor And the Scripture Words we own and all true Learning of that which is Good both Natural and Spiritual but thou wouldst rid the Spirit and Light out of the Peoples Hearts if thou couldst who hatest and grievest and vexest it in thy self and so railest against them that walk in it And I tell thee Christ is the End of all these Words that are spoken of him and doth fulfil them and that is my Meaning if thou wilt have a Meaning R. W. bringeth Timothy Travers G. F. Fol. 325. saying God hath Ordained to Eternal Life all that shall be saved before they had a Being in the World but none cometh to Possession of this Salvation but through the Obedience of the Spirit G. F. Answ. The Ground of Man's Belief and Obedience is Christ who doth Enlighten him to the Intent that he might Believe and Obey the Truth And who knoweth the Seed knoweth the Election before the World was made c. R. W. replyeth and saith If he meaneth that Christ is the Ground or Author the Giver of Repentance and Faith to all the Elect whom God the Father hath given him we say so Answ. You say so in Words but not in the Faith and in the Repentance if you did we should have Unity with you for who should be the Author of Faith and Caller and Giver of Repentance but Christ Jesus R. W. Thou say'st But if he put in their Invented Light in the Room of God's Election and Predestination as the Efficient and First Cause and of Christ as the Mediatour c. he speaks Blasphemously of God and of his Son c. he is now in the Burrough c. who destroys God's Election before the World was and says That when a Man Believes he is Elected when he is Predestinate c. Contrary to all the Pretious Beds of Flowers in the Garden of the Scriptures c. Contrary to the Wit and Skill of Men who frame a Book or a House or a Ship c. Answ. Let the Reader see how R. W. wrongeth G. F's Words or if there be any such Words in his Answer to T. T. the great Ranter But what are all R. W's Words which he hath framed here which are not G. F's Can a Man know Election Ordination Reprobation or Predestination or Christ the Mediatour and Redeemer and Saviour without the Light of Christ Jesus must not he first be turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to Christ and God in whom the Election is before the World began In whom the Election is And doth not Christ command to believe in the Light and the Light giveth him the Knowledge c is not this Blasphemy in thee R. W. to say That I Invent the Light of Christ which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which is Life in the Word Joh. 1 and Rom. 8. Ephes. 1. those Scriptures we own as they speak And can God's Election be destroyed before the World began thou say'st Who destroy God's Election before the World began I tell thee that neither thou nor the Devil can destroy God's Election before the World began 't is like Thy Election which is Reprobation may be destroyed
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 ●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 Puni●●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 quot●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 fait●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