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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
in them and he to be formed in them and he to Sup with them and they with him which is all according to the Scripture as you may read Rev. 3 20. Gal. 4 19. Ephes. 5 30. Read John 6. Rom. 12 5. Col. 1 18.24 27. Ephes. 1 22 23. 1 Joh. 5 12. 1 Cor. 12 27. Col. 3 3 4. 1 Cor. 6 19. Hebr. 3 6. Now who readeth these Scriptures may see that the Apostles and Primitive Christians did witness Christ within and the Light within even that Light which gave the Knowledge of the Glory of God as may be read 2 Cor. 4 6. And now this Appearance of Christ R. W. fighteth against Reprobate-like as if those that own him Now in this his Spiritual Appearing and are Witnesses thereof must needs own him in Opposition to his Appearing in that Body wherein he suffered And so doth Labour to make us Deniers of Christ that suffer'd at Jerusalem and was born at Bethlehem though he often confesseth We own him in our words and our True Christianity hath manifested it self against that Antichristian Spirit that you are in in New-England But he R. W. though he saith He hath not the same Spirit that Abraham had and the Holy men of God by which things were revealed to them yet he hath taken upon him to Judge our Hearts and Intents contrary to our Words and there-upon doth condemn us through his Book and this way he goeth To prove his Charges and hath Confidence to say He hath produced such Grounds as shall never be shaken as pag 41. R. W. Now let all observe how R. W. appeareth against Christ's Appearance according to the Experience of the people of God in the Scripture viz. Christ within which he calleth Our Christ he saith is but half a Christ a Light an Image a Picture or a Fancy of a Christ made up to the God-head and their Flesh Christ within an Imagination an Image a Christ in the Mystical Notion but in reality Nothing Answ. He may as well say The Christ the Apostle witnessed was Made up of the God-head and their Flesh for they are the Apostle's Words he thus quarreleth against Ephes. 5 30 for we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones R. W. In the same page he Confesseth That we say Christ was Born at Bethlehem and died at Jerusalem but he saith We intend in Truth and Reality no other Birth nor Life nor Death c. but what may be extant and wrought in the Heart of man Answ. Behold how this man Judgeth of our Intents contrary to our Words and we say contrary to our Intents for we never intended so But we always believed that he was SO born and did SO suffer as the Scripture doth declare and by his Life or Spirit within us we are confirmed in this Belief and so it is not in Opposition to his Appearance at that Day in that Body So we are not in a Bog and Swamp as he saith between Christ within and Christ without our Understanding is clear it 's his own State R. W. He also chargeth us To preach the Lord Jesus to be Our selves and saith Though we speak of Christ without that died at Jerusalem agreeing with Christ within Our Meaning is Mystical and he saith also Ask them What 's become of the Person that Suffered at Jerusalem and we are forc'd to say He is within and saith We answered so at Newport in Rode-Island Answ. That we deny that we ever said That Person that Suffered at Jerusalem was within us and appeal to the Sober people that was there whether he hath not wronged us in this Charge And That we preach the Lord Jesus to be Our selves We deny and lay it upon him as a false Charge let him prove it if he can R. W. He querieth Do we not hold the Light within Every man to Be all to Suffer all within that Christ without is or did or suffer'd without Answ. I say No it cometh FROM HIM and witnesseth TO HIM R. W. And pag 43 thy Second Position is That their Christ was not the True Lord Jesus Christ. To which we Answer This thou hast not proved though thou hast Uttered many False Words against us but this Position will be Thy own Condition and the N. Engl. Priests For doth the True Lord Jesus Christ give thee Command to Desire Magistrates to Punish the people of God and doth the True Lord Jesus Christ lead you New-England-Priests to CVT OFF their EARS WHIP HANG SPOIL Goods and BANISH of his people O No for Thou and You that do Evil hate his Light and will not come unto it because it Reproveth you And so you love the Darkness and do the Works of Darkness and the Works of the Prince of the Air that ruleth in you and not the Works of Christ. And again how can you own the True Lord Jesus and own not him the Light of the World which Lighteth every man that cometh into the World and canst thou and you believe in the True Lord Jesus who saith Believe in the Light that you may become Children of the Light and thou callest that Light 〈◊〉 Frantick Light and an Idol And therefore thy Position is come upon thy self Not to own the True Lord Jesus in his Light which giveth the knowledge of him who died without the Gates of Jerusalem and like the Jews in Words professed God so dost thou Christ and deniest the Light that giveth the knowledge of him 2 Cor. 4. R. W. Thou say'st pag. 35. I had observed and prepared many Quotations out of G. F. 's Book but they desired not to bear them read as in the following Day 's Conference they were read by my Continual Importunate Urgings And pag. 47. thou say'st That they were willing I should Produce out of G. F.'s Book c. And pag. 48. Thou say'st The Truth is they were Gravelled with those Considerations and they were Willing that G. F.'s Book and his Answers should answer for them And when I began to open and compare the Assertions of the Opposite and G. F.'s his Answer they would cry out like a Gall'd Horse winching Why dost thou make Observations upon G. F.'s Words G. F.'s Words need not thy Expositions Let G. F.'s Words alone they are able to speak for themselves Answ. R. W. How darest thou affirm That we desired not the Quotations read of G. F.'s Book when all the people knoweth that we Called for them so often And pag. 35. thou makest it Thy Importunate Vrgings the Occasion of the Reading of them but pag. 48 thou makest Our Being Gravelled the Occasion of our Desiring to have them read of our selves which is altogether false and to say That we were Gravell'd or Unwilling to have them read But our Calling for them was to Clear that which thou said'st was in them which was not and therein thou hast Gravell'd thy self which spake that which G.F. had not spoken with Charging
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
truth And as for Caring no more for Jews or Gentiles than Foxes for Lambs and Chickens to make a prey of them and our pretences of Soul-kindness to be Soul-cruelties this R W. thou might'st have kept at home and the New-England Priests And for telling all Man-kind that they have Christ in them c. in this thou wrongest us For we turn them to the Light which Christ has enlightned them withall that they might with it see Christ and receive him and come into the Covenant of grace and so we turn them as the Apostle did from Darkness to Light c. And where was this Darkness and where was this Light for did not the Apostle which turned both Jews and Gentiles to the Light turn them to the Covenant of Grace And the Lord saith I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou may'st be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and doth either Jew or Gentile know their Salvation but by this Light of Christ And where thou slightingly say'st twice he means the New Covenant and he means Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and when it comes too he means no other Christ but a Spirit and then thou bring'st in Humphry Norton but bring'st no proof what he saith therefore that is turned back upon thee But where did'st thou ever read in any of the Quakers Books that they said That it was a Spirit that dyed at Jerusalem as thou say'st we mean And then thou say'st This will be found an Evil Spirit as one saith c. and this is thy own lying Evil Spirit that is out of the truth for Christ Jesus that was born of a Virgin the man Christ Jesus who suffered according to the flesh and dyed without the Gates of outward Jerusalem and was buryed and rose again and sits at the Right Hand of God and yet manifest in his People by his Spirit is gathering us by his Spirit to his Heavenly Jerusalem Glory to his Name for ever R W. And thou say'st That G F. slights the Scripture with a But It is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith and he slights he Novelty of it saying There was Faith before there was Scripture and then thou say'st It 's wonderful what an aking Tooth against the holy Writings of God the old Serpent and all the Wolves and Foxes of this world have ●ad who have more or less damned and cursed it and longed to have it out of the world Answ. We own and esteem the Holy Scriptures of truth which the holy Men of God were moved to give forth by the Holy Ghost but we cannot own them to be the means and Author of our Faith for Christ Jesus is the Author and finisher of our Faith which is the Gift of God as they that gave forth Scripture said And thy Slanderous tongue belyes us in saying What a Tooth-ach we have against the Scripture or the Holy Writings of God or that we would have them out of the world or ever cursed them or slighted them but we Esteem them and can bless the Lord for them For the Jews had Scripture of the Old Testament who were not in the Faith of Moses and the Prophets and Christ bid them Search the Scriptures for they testified of him Joh. 5 39 40. but they would not come to him that they might have Life who is the Author of their Faith But they thought to have had Life in the Scriptures as I K. and R W. think the Scripture is the means of Faith and then do not you throw out and leave off God and Christ and holy means and Author of Faith c And doth not the Apostle bid them Look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of their Faith Heb. 12 2 and God deals to every man the measure of Faith Rom. 12 3. so let God and Christ have their Glory And had not Abraham and Enoch Faith before the Scripture was written and is the Scriptures the means of Faith or Christ or but a Declaration of Faith or is it Faith it self R W R W. And thou say'st The Jews Turks and Papists c. and Quakers make use of it the Scriptures for their ends Answ. But why did'st thou not put in thy self and the New-England Priests thou might have left out the Quakers for thou belyest them For do not your Priests make a trade of them for their Bellies or their own ends for if the Priests Means were taken away there would be little Vsing or Preaching of the Scriptures by them But all that fear God know that thou wrong'st us in saying that we make use of them for our own ends as the Lord God knows For we prove by Scripture that Jesus is the Christ and Preach him freely as the Apostles did and have suffered Persecution and Spoyling of Goods and Death it self amongst you New-England Priests and Professors and yet thou would'st have the Magistrates to Punish us manifesting thy Birth of the Flesh as it 's said before R W. And further thou say'st None can rightly use it but as a Blessed Candle Lanthorn or Torch sent down from Heaven into this dark Dungeon of the world to guide us out unto the saving knowledge of God and Eternal Blessedness with him Answ. Where doth the Apostle call the Scripture of the New-Testament a Candle a Lanthorn or Torch I say that none can Vse the Scriptures aright but with that Holy-Ghost that leadeth into all the truth of them and gave them forth through the Holy men which received them from God and spoke them forth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and we can praise God for them who have the comfort of them and the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ. And hast not thou here set up the Scriptures instead of Christ for Saving knowledge and a Guide and instead of the Holy-Ghost and the Jews which had the Scriptures resisted him that gave the Saving knowledge R W. saith How doth this follow that if God hath appointed the Holy Writings as means that God and Christ are thrown out Answ. As being the Author and Finisher of the Saints Faith when as you make them the Means and not God and Christ. And if the Scriptures be the Means of Faith then what Means had Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Moses before the Scripture was written if the Scripture be the means of Faith R W. Thou say'st Cannot there be a Harmony between the First and all Subordinate Causes Answ. Yes if thou meanest the Scriptures of Truth R W. And further thou say'st Did Moses throw out God because he took the Rod in his hand when he wrought all those Wonders and did Solomon because he used so many Means in Rearing the Temple as Moses about the Tabernacle Or Sampson when he used the Jaw-bone of an Ass or Christ throw out his Father when he made use of Clay and Spittle Answ. Solomon's Temple and Moses's Tabernacle and the Jaw-bone of an Ass were not the
or came to Jerusalem and doth not the Apostle bid the Saints Beware of Philosophy c. And the Apostle saith also Certain of your Poets have said that we are of his Off-spring to wit God's and Act. 17. Then certain Philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoicks encountred with Paul and some said What will this Babler say and others said He seemeth to be a Setter-forth of strange Gods because he preached Christ Jesus and his Resurrection Now if R. W. and I. M. have no more Knowledge of Christ then these Philosophers c. in their Light of their Carnal Reasoning which was Darkness to the Light of Christ they may give over talking of Christ. And these knew not God nor Christ as King and Mediator which is known by his own Light and such Philosophers or others if they did Know God or Christ it was by his own Light For that which G. F. doth affirm is true as concerning of Christ and their Knowledge in the New-Covenant and Christ Enlightneth every man that cometh into the world as he is the Word God And the Spirit of man being the Candle of the Lord he Enlightneth their Spirit their Candle by which they might see him as he is and as Christ saith No man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son Revealeth him c. R. W. Thou say'st The utmost Reason of these Excellent Men to wit the Philosophers it is known I say that the Activity of the highest Reason in this world falleth short in two grand particulars And thou say'st 1. As to the Creatures for some of them must needs fall short when Plato granted a Creation and a kind of Father Son and Holy Spirit in the Creation of it Aristotle pretendeth to see further then Plato and all his Arguments and Asserteth The World to have no Beginning nor Ending Answ. What must we Infer from this but that thou settest up the Knowledge of the Philosophers above thy own and others and maintainest I. M's Principles and his Doctrine That the wise Heathen Philosophers had a greater measure of Light in them which is the first Adam then I can think any man hath now saith I.M. And are not these Philosophers contrary to Moses in Genesis who said In the Beginning God Created the Heavens and the Earth and thy Philosophers that thou bringest say That the World had No Beginning nor Ending c. and doth not this oppose Christ's words and 2 Tim. 9. Before the World began and Tit. 1 2. Before the World began And Christ saith The Harvest is the End of the World Math. 13 39 40. Math. 24 21. Since the World began Now let R. W. and the Philosophers read these Scriptures and see what work they are making about their great Knowledge but if any of them did know the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit they knew it by the Spirit and had it by Revelation as some of the Heathen had but it 's very like that Many of the Heathen Philosophers had more knowledge in the Creation then R. Williams And then thou goest on tellest what the Philosophers say of the Sun and of the Globe c. but we tell thee the Scriptures are a better Book then their Books concerning God and his Son and his Creation R. W. And that which Paul speaketh Rom. 1. thou say'st That by the Creation some come to know there is an Eternal Power and God-head and thou say'st that Paul tells us the World by wisdom knew not God which must he Expounded or else swallow a Contradiction as the Quakers guise is c. Answ. Thou can'st hardly speak without Railing For these Scriptures 1 Cor. 1. and Rom. 1 need no Expounding for they are plain as they speak for its true That the world by their wisdom knew not God Some knew the Eternal Power and God-head for the Apostle saith Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them though they glorified not God c so with This of God in them which God had shewed unto them they knew Him and his God head and his Creation Rom 1 19 20. So the Guise thou may'st apply to thy self who hast lest out That of God which he hath shewed unto people who was their Teacher Are these the wise Philosophers of R. W. and I. M. that have more Light then any man now that say The world hath No Beginning nor Ending and is this your Court and Palace furnished with such Heavenly guests c. but to know God and Jesus Christ that he hath sent is Eternal Life And then thou confesseth That a Natural man cannot perceive the things of God and yet The Philosophers had a greater measure of Light then any man now R. W. And thou say'st Yet this Foolish man maketh every mans heart in the world a Court of Heaven a thing which all men may abhor to think of and yet thou confessest That there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience and Reprobates Appen p. 5 Answ. But let the Reader see if there be any such words in G. F's Answer to I. M. as The Court of Heaven is in every mans heart But for all R. W's Railing we cannot deny Christ's Doctrine who said The Kingdom of Heaven was in the Pharisees and Christ enligteth every man that cometh into the world Joh 1. And it 's very like thou do'st Abhor to hear or think of this whose Foolish heart is darkned and thy Wisdom is Enmity hating God himself as the Scripture concludes which thou may'st apply to thy self Yet we believe Christ hath enlightned thee which will to be the Condemnation of them that hate it R. W. Thou say'st Moses built the Tabernacle and Noah the Ark and Solomon the Temple c. which thou confessest were the gifts of God to them Then thou callest them the Excellent gifts of Nature that reach not Heavenly and Spiritual things and say'st What are all these to the Enlightning of my soul with my Natural Vndone and Damned Condition to a sight of Sin as Sin c. Answ. Noah by Faith builded the Ark as in Hebrews and Moses saw Christ the great Prophet and God spake to Solomon and David who saw Christ and called him Lord and if thou do'st confess that this was a Knowledge beyond the Heathen Philosophers yea and such as said The world had neither Beginning nor Ending then thou hast overthrown thy own words which thou hast been opposing G. F. withall And was it by a Natural gift that Noah built the Ark and Moses the Tabernacle and Solomon the Temple was it not by the Faith and Command of God were these done with Natural parts and good Education as thou speakest of how dark art thou in the Scripture And the Temple and the Ark c. were Figures of the things of the Law which Christ is the substance of who enligh●●eth every man that cometh into the world
say'st There is but One Spirit and that in all And all in one Sentence confoundest thy self And so as for Silly Rash Fury of Mind and Pen thou mightst have kept this at home R. W. Thou say'st A Man is a Reasonable Creature as opposite to a Woolf and Fox c. and yet he may be Unreasonable in his Actings as a Woolf and Fox who though Unreasonable in their Natures are not Sinful though a Plague to a Man since his Fall Answ. Let the Reader see what a Silly Reply R. W. bringeth here to G. F.'s Answer to J. N. G. F. doth not speak of Wolves and Foxes Vnreasonableness but he speaketh of Men that have not Faith are Vnreasonable and that have Faith are Reasonable and the Priest J. N. maintaineth that Evil Spirits are Sinful and Reasonable which R. W. saith nothing unto but telleth us of Wolves and Foxes though Vnreasonable yet not Sinful that have been a Plague to Man since the Fall and falleth a Railing And who knoweth not that a Man is a Reasonable Creature and opposite to a Woolf and Fox and his Actings Vnreasonable like a Woolf or Fox out of the Faith of Christ as thou and the New-England-Priests and Professors have done to the People of God and Herod and the Chief-Priests against Christ and his Apostles R. W. Oh! Happy were it for G. F. that he had been a Wild Fox in the Woods and had not been so Sinful by so horribly abusing so great a Talent of Wit and Reason which the Father of Lights hath given him and yet Knoweth no more than a Parret p. 35. Answ. And why would R. W. have G. F. to have been a Wild Fox in the Woods because he would not follow his Imaginations and such like in others but followeth Christ Jesus and he is his Prophet his Bishop and Shepherd Counseller and High-Priest But R. W. thou say'st G. F. hath so great a Talent of Wit and Reason which the Father of Lights hath given him but it 's thou that so Sinfully and Horribly abusest it not he And then thou Contradictest thy self and say'st pag. 87. They cry out Light Light and there is none as Isaiah speaketh not a Spark of Light within them and here thou abusest Isaiah for Isaiah doth not speak so Isa. 8. as let all read And thou may'st see in the Margin There is no Morning in them and there are many Stars Outwardly before people cometh to the Morning and is it not so Inwardly as it is Outwardly But dost not thou deny the Prophecy of Isaiah of Christ who saith I give him for a Covenant of Light to enlighten the Gentiles I must tell thee we Gentiles have received this Light according to John's Witness who Enlightneth every man that cometh into the World Christ Jesus And pag. 100. R. W. saith These poor proud Bruits have not so much sight of as the Devil to wit of God and pag. 108 So great a Talent of Wit and Reason which the Father of Lights hath given him c. so here R. W. New-England's Mouth and Oratour may see how he contradicteth himself R. W. saith We know the Nature of the Devils Admirable Wit and Reason as well as the Power of those Vnclean Spirits the Lord Jesus Christ cast out they did believe and confess the Lord Jesus Christ c. and This their Knowledge and Ability is from God though their Sinful Hardness by God's Just Sentence runs them upon such mad and desperate Courses as it is with the Sons of Men when the most holy Judge deliveres them up to the Counsels and Projects of their Proud and Deceitful hearts and Spirits Answ. R. W. thou hast spoken thy own Belief and the Belief of New-England's priests and professors and the Practice of your proud deceitful hearts and Spirits hath manifested themselves But R. W. is the Vnclean Spirits their Wit and Reason so Admirable with thee and thou say'st Their Knowledge and Ability is from God but where did ever Christ and the Apostle say so For Christ wilt thou give him the Lye he saith He was a Murderer from the beginning and he abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him and when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh it of his own mark not from God for he is a Lyar and the Father of it Joh. 8 44. Now I query from R. W. and the New-England Priests What Knowledge and Ability hath the Devil from God and what Admirable Wit and Reason seeing Christ saith There is no Truth in him and what Wit and Reason can a Murderer have which Christ calleth a Murderer from the Beginning And he that is called a Murderer from the Beginning thou allowest Admirable Wit and Reason and say'st you know it and say'st that their Knowledge and Ability is from God If from God it must be Truth and Christ telleth thee There is no Truth in him And it 's like R. W. and the New-England-priests have more Knowledge and Acquaintance with the Devil and Vnclean Spirits than with God and Christ Jesus and your Belief and Confession is like theirs And though the Devil did Confess the Son of God yet this was not Truth in the Devil but in the Son of God for in the Devil is no Truth if there be no Truth there can be no true Reason and Reason doth not run into mad and desperate Courses as thou say'st the Evil Spirits run into And have the Saints their Knowledge and Abilities from God and the Devils their Knowledge and Abilities from God too but is not the Devil's Knowledge and Ability Wit and Reason SIN and EVIL seeing Christ saith There is no Truth in him then how is the Truth in his Knowledge and Abilities Admirable Wit and Reason seeing when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it so his Abilities nor Wit nor Reason is not from God And he abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him then what can all his Abilities and Knowledge Admirable Wit and Reason be And Christ destroyeth the Devil and his Works what doth Christ destroy Admirable Wit and Reason and the Knowledge and Ability that is from God no surely that was out of the Truth in whom there was no Truth whom Christ the Truth destroyeth the Lyar the Murderer who abode not in the Truth R. W. Bringeth Henry Foreside a Scotch Priest G. F. Fol. 345. saying Concerning those Words of Ezek. 18 28. If the Righteous Man turn away from his Righteousness his Former Righteousness shall be no more remembred and he said The Meaning of that Scripture was They thought they had been Righteous and were not but supposed they had been so G. F. Answ. Here-in thou art a Minister of Vnrighteousness and thou goest about to make God a Lyar and the Prophets and pervertest the Scripture For if he forsake his Righteousness and commit Sin and Iniquity and trespasse he shall die