others for plain Scripture and would suggest because doth proceed is mentioned instead of is sent that he himself is Unscriptural He omits to tell the World what it was G. F. made that Demand for viz. to prove Three Distinct and Separate Persons in the Godhead Now whether there is the same Reason for the one as for the other I leave to all sober Men to judge yea to our Adversary himself if he dare be just 9thly His last Socinian Objection to G. F's Citation and Application of Scripture is this That whereas the Scripture sayes For this End Christ both dyed and rose and revived that He might be Lord both of the Dead and Living He sayes That he might be God both of the Dead and Living Also where the Scripture sayes Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly G. F. has it Let the Word of God dwell richly in you By all which it is easie to observe how averse he is from allowing Christ the least share in an Eternal Divinity making it his Business to abstract from every Scripture that may in the least Favour such a thing and imperiously rant it over us in the abusivest termes as Impostor Lyar False Prophet Forger void of all Reason with abundance of the like Complexion the proper Language of Brutish Malice and not a True Disciple But let us answer to his Objection If Christ be God over all as saith the Apostle then why not God both of the Dead and of the Living as well as Lord both of the Dead and Living and likewise why not let the Word of God as well as let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly for if the Word of Christ be the Word of God and if God be the Lord and the Lord God then why not God in both places as well as Lord First I am well assur'd that God is called Judge of Quick and Dead and if so then because Christ is Lord of Quick and Dead Christ the Lord is God of both Quick and Dead unless there be more Lords of the Living and the Dead then the One Almighty God and Lord of Heaven and Earth Besides methinks this Critick might have consider'd that it is not expresly in the Greek that He might be Lord but that he might Raign over the Dead and the Living so saith the Arabick but the Aethiopick has it That he might judge both the Dead and the Living In short Christ is called both God Lord and Judge and since there is but one only True God Lord and Judge of right Christians we therefore believe Christ to be that only True God Lord and Judge of both Quick and Dead And here let me caution the Man of his eager Opposition to Christ's Divinity since supposing it should not be true there can be no Detraction and if it should prove true as he may one day know he will be guilty of robbing Christ of that for which he thought it no robbery himself to be equal with God that is to be the only true God Himself A Summary Consideration of such Scripture Citations as he trivially Objects against not so much about Matter of Doctrine as in Point of imperfect Quotation and Transposition of Words GEorge Fox in answer to a Priest thus Contrary to John's Doctrine and Christ's who saith The Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the World is the true Light that man through the Light might believe Our Adversary answers That it is through Him that is John Baptist Now granting it to be so yet John was no more Instrumental then as by the Light fitted to be so as Erasmus well said and others Whatsoever Light John had he received it from Christ the Fountain of Life So that still the Light was that Medium or Instrument Besides he does not positively charge G. F. with referring those words to that Verse and to be sure that is no Doctrinal Mistake since most true in it self Secondly His next Criticism is this whereas the Scripture runs thus For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ He brings in G. F. citing it thus The Light which shined in their Hearts to give the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Again Which was the Work of the true Apostles to bring People to the Light within that shined in their Hearts to give c. Again he sayes The Light that which gives the Knowledge But sayes he if he had recited it right it would then have appeared not only that God was the Giver but also that it is the Light of Knowledge and created for God caused Light to shine out of Darkness by creating it Gen. 1. 3 4. Thus far this impertinent Man To all which I say that first he obtrudes an arrant Lye upon our very Senses to say that G. F. has not rightly cited it for so much as he did cite For God caused the Light to shine where in their Hearts So sayes G. F. But for what to give of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ And doth not G. F. say the same Wretched Scribler How Idle how Frivolous and how very Troublesom is he with his Ridiculous Remarks Secondly that the Knowledge comes by the Light all but such Bats as himself must needs see For why did God give his outward Light if not to give external Sight and Discerning And to what purpose did He cause his Invisible Spiritual Light to shine if not to give an Internal Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Besides God himself is Light He is that Great Supernatural Sun that shines throughout the Intellectual World offering unto Men the Knowledge of his Divine Glory and that in the Face of Jesus Christ This is our Message aâ— it was the true Messengers of Old And who talk of the Creation of this Light because it gives Knowledge may as well say God who was the Fountain of it was created too because He gives Knowledge I would have him give us one Scripture that therefore calls the Light created because it gives Divine Knowledge or if he can but one Reason who fools himself and would others with the Conceit that he is a great Master of it For what grosser Darkness can be then to assert the Creation of the hight upon that very Account for which we ought most truly to believe it Spiritual and Eternal But enough for this Thirdly G. F. saith But the Word is nigh thee in thy Heart Deut. 30. Moses saith our Adversary sayes But the Word is very nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou maystâ— do it Where observe that the only Difference lies in leaving out in his Mouth though it be imply'd for where it is in the Heart it will be in the Mouth But
therein contained which is belying him with a Witness I suppose our Adversaries Observation in the World cannot but give him to understand Yet how we can properly Character such Libidinoso's or inordinate Persons false Prophets or Impostors is left with the ingeneous Reader to consider I hope by this time the Way he takes to prove George Fox what he wickedly sayes him to be is evidently detected of Insufficiency and that upon his own positions George Fox can not be concluded either an Impostor or false Prophet I shall now make it appear that he is as well mistaken in the proof of the Truth of his Charge as in the way he took to state it and that no man in that compass could well have manifested more Weakness Folly Malice and Untruth as well in desending of his own as in opposing our Principles then this our Adversary we have in hand To follow him into every Absurdity would not only be more then he deserves at our hands or any mans that loves time better then to lose it But it would needlesly swell the Discourse beyond both my Intention and the Service it is designed to I shall therefore contract and divide his exceptions to George Fox's quotation of Scriptures into these three sorts 1. Such as may refer to Doctrinal Difference I mean wherein he opposeth us 2. Such as refer to his Socinian Interpretation of the Scriptures wherein Christ's Divinity is asserted where we oppose him 3. Such as are meerly trivial in which there can be no pretence for accusing George Fox of any alteration as to what himself judges generally to be the sence of the places only perhaps a transposing of the words or the using of a word of equal force but not the same no wayes detracting or varying from the mind of the Scriptures But that a man should make fifty Cavils and faithless number doctrinal or to any solid purpose befits no man that loves to be profitably employed but it therefore suits him that is so over-run with the Lazy as I am really perswaded he busies not himself in one serviceable Work in a week together only sits upon his own Saturnal Dreams till he has with difficulty hatcht them into some seeming consistency and then they are to slutter abroad upon his paper wings scarce good enough for waist to the shop which traffiques in such kind of ware till persecution comes with the Scorch of which they are wont to singe and wrap up like a Scrole But enough of this Now for his Doctrinal Exceptions He begins with what we confess to Gods Glory to be our beginning and stumbles at it as much as did the Jews of old I mean Christ Jesus the great Son of Righteousness and Light of the invisible and spiritual World by Which the invisible Souls and Spirits of men come to obtain the saving Knowledge of God and what is required from them in order to their eternal Salvation What can we expect then but Darkness from him that seeketh to disparage the Light But let us hear him The first Scripture which I shall pitch upon as misrecited in his Language that is George Fox's perverted and corrupted shall be that in John 1. 9. he cites it almost as often wrong as right The Scripture runs thus in our translation That was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World A long Porch where 's the House says he in the Greek it is coming not that cometh and so it may refer to light as well as man But George Fox hath it thus John said Every man that cometh into the World is enlightned and several sayings of the like tendency But now hath he observed that Exactness which he requires in others may there be no Difference between lighteth and enlighteth must every man of necessity he enlightned because the Light lighteth him Wonderful Distinction Certainly this man sets up for a new Class of Criticks I wonder into what Labyrinth he hath travell'd for this notable gloss a body would think he had left his Wits if ever he had any behind in exchange But I answer I look upon it as conceited and presumptious for any man to undertake what he cannot prove and not less base to affirm a man mis-cites perverts and corrupts Scripture when he renders the genuine sense of it And this I briefly prove If I grant to this Pseudo-linguist that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Participle and not a Verb as our English renders it what then must it needs follow that it refers to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Has he made no better use of his Greek Grammar 'T is strange that any man so mean in that Tongue should undertake to thwart the current of all indifferent Translators whom he sticks not to make use of at other times I have taken a view of the most and best Editions both of Greek Syriack Arabick Aethiopick and Latine I could at present find besides several other Languages amongst others a Gothick and Anglo Saxonick Testament which I suppose I understand as much as he doth Greek or thereabouts which I shall also produce for satisfaction The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was the true Light which enlighteth every man coming into the World The Syriack Version has it Omnem venientem in mundum All coming into the World Which sayes Drusius is sufficient The Arabick hath it thus That was the true Light which enlightens every man making coming to begin the next verse which I suppose was a Mistake in the Version of it however it gives no force to our Adversary since he is said to enlighten all men before his coming or being come into the World is mention'd by the Evangelist in him was Life and that Life was the Light of men he was the of men In the Aethiopick Version we find it thus And he is the Light of Righteousness which enlightens all men coming into the World Which Luther renders thus Erat lux vera quae illuminat omnen hominem venientem in hunc mundum Luther He was the true Light which enlightens every man that comes into the World Which Erasmus renders thus Erat lux illa lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in mundum Erasmus That Light was the true Light which enlightneth every man that comes into the World Which Beza renders thus Hic erat lux illa vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in Mundum Beza This was that true Light which enlightens every man that comes into the World Montanus thus Erat lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum Montanus He was the true Light which enlightens every man that comes into this World The Italian Version thus La vera Luce era quellach illumina ogni huomo che viene all mondo Italian The true Light was that which enlightens all men which come into the World The Spanish thus Aquella
that he was not antecedent to that work that he never enlightned the Fathers and holy men of old with a sufficient measure of that same Divine Light which without measure appeared in him and far greater then before to the Sons of men I appeal to any modest intelligent man if this be not Ingratitude nay Sacriledge in the highest degree Certainly therefore it can be no Injury to the Scripture if we say That He who enlightned the Patriarchs and Prophets of old hath in a more excellent manner and suitable to the Spirituality of his own Divine Nature revealed himself in this Gospel administration the which may aptly be compared to a well-built Temple which has been of old begun but left to these latter daies of Christ's more eminent manifestation to superstruct compleat adorn and sit for him the eternal Light of Life and Righteousness to be worshipped in so that there is a great Difference as Grotius in other words doth well observe between the Beginning of an administration and of the Author of it That might be the Beginning of those large Discoveries but not the Light that gave them and consequently notwithstanding John should have intended a Divine Creation yet it will not necessarily follow that the Light which is that Creator was not in beeing antecedently to that Divine Creation and so God both by pre-existence and omnipotency But I shall say no more of this I mean the transposition of the Participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till our Adversary sayes more to the contrary if we may then think it worth our notice But it may be fit to observe that the man shows a waveâ—ing in his own Judgment which is not only manifest from his saying It may as well be referred to Light as Man but in a manâ—script to a Friend of ours he affirmed it to be unreasonable to refer coming to Man and not to the true Light All we can say is this that though it show him to be unsettled in his own thoughts yet he was willing to be a little more modest in print then in his manuscript For his Distinction between Lighteth and Enlightneth I confess my self troubled not at his great Skill but â—olly It shows he would say something if he could tell what and to use a familiar Proverb The poor man will be playing at small game rather then stand out Then let 's to the Word since he would be thought a Critick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we read in Greek in the Latin illuminat and should in the English enlightneth the defect is not in the Original nor Latin versions but our English only I perceive whether it be Original or Translation which makes most for him that is the Infallible Text till it happens to contradict him and then if in the Original the Word is foisted in or thus to be transposed or rendred if in any of the versions then it is not so in the Original it is lamely rendred and the like But this Callenge I make to the man that if he can find one version in three and three to one that 's odds which reâ—dres it different from what we understand by it I shall acknowledge him a Critick and our selves ignorant in words All the Greek Coppies and Latin Translations I ever saw or heard of import no other thing then Illumination or Enlightning All that I have hitherto mentioned so give it us quae illuminat omnem hominem c. That this is the constant use of the Word throughout both the Old and New Testament so called is evident It is said of Jonathan that after he had tasted a little of that honey into which he put his rod his eyes were enlightned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia illuminati sunt oculi mei See saith Jonathan I pray you how mine eyes have been enlightned The Chaldee version hath it illuxerunt oculi mei how my eyes shined The Syriack thus my eyes have received light The Arabick thus quomodo illustrata est acies mea how is my Eye-sight clear'd but the Septuagint expresseth it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 behold how my eyes have seen which in a mystical sense is the same now for that eternal Light or Word of Life is that Honey out of that true Rock and Milk that the Prophet exhorted the Jews to buy without money and without price And who taste of that in faith receive that blessed effect namely true illumination Thus Job To bring his Soul from the pit that is from darkness death and sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad lucendum in luce viventium to be enlightned with the light of the living The Chaldee has it after this manner that my Soul may shine by the Light of the Living The Syriack and Arabick that is may see the Light of Life Job 33. 30. and upon v. 28. which speaks to the same purpose sayes Vatablus De luce illa coeleâ—â—â— intelligit fruetur Dei conspectu Which is He means by that heavenâ—â— Light he shall enjoy the presence of God Likewise David most emphatically useth the same Verb and that to our purpose undeâ—â—â—bly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quoniam tu illuminabis lucernam meam Deus meuâ— illuminabit tenebrositatem meam For thou wilt light my Candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness The Chaldee has it thus because thou wilt enlighten the Candle of Israel which was put out in the captivity for thou art the Author of the Light of Israel The Lord my God will bring me out of Darkness into Light A notable addition at least explanation of the place yet this is in the Chaldee version The Syriack Aethiopick and Septuagiâ—t are the same the Arabick differs only in tenses thou dost enlighten for wilt enlighten and he hath enlightned my darkness for he will enlighten my darkness And if the spirit of man be the Candle of the Lord and that God only can light it then certainly since man's spirit is within him it is not more unsound nor any more violating of Scripture sence to say that God enlightens then that he lightens every man within by communicating of his own Light to man's Spirit which receiving it becomes lighted by it to all right Knowledge and good Works Further if David's darkness was within him in his Soul and understanding as certainly he meant it so when he spake of it then must that Light which was to shine there shine in David's Soul and understanding And what false Doctrine or English it is or perversion of Scripture to say that man is then enlightned let sober people judge It is thus exprest in the Greek Copies of the New Testament also and the Latin Versions of them witness the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. illuminatos oculos cordis vestri Beza has it in his Copy and version 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illuminatis oculis mentis vestrae The Syriack has it that the eyes of your
either in its Original or the numerous Translations that are in the World whereof so scarcely two agree We say not the Letter but the Life it self is the Evangâ—lical Rule they say not any such Divine Life oâ— Spirit by any Internal Discoveries or Operations but the bare single Letter or Scriptures containing so many express Words Points c. are that only Gospelâ—Rule Wherefore to make G. F. as condemnable as the Priâ—â—ts they must first prove him to hold the same Principle that they do which because he does not he is not liable to the same Reproof with them Indeed to none at all Where let it be further considered That they affirm the Scriptures to be their Rule wholâ— excluding the Spirit of God And we believe the Eternal Spirit to be our Rule not excluding the Serious Use of Scriptures suitable to that Saying They that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and I will write my Law in their Hearts and put my Fear in their Inward Parts The Scriptures testifie of me but ye will not come unto me that ye may have Life But before I conclude this Subject I must needs tell the Man that he hath not only taken as well a New as Insufficient Way to prove G. F. an Impostor c. but he has equally manifested his Ignorance and Want of Candout in what he has done For who is there that ever understood the Laws of Translation that would revile a Man for giving the same Sense in Words as forceable though not the very same Or Who would count a Man an Impostor False Prophet c. because of a meer Verbal Alteration in a Sentence where the Matter remains intire and unviolated Certain I am that the best Translators in the World have endeavoured to make their Authors speak their matter in the Phrase and propriety of that Language into which they have been rendered which had been utterly impossible if they had been turned Verbatim and after the genuine Phrase and mode of their Original Tongues Such Versions being like the wrong side of the Cloath or reading Words backward Let our Adversary inform himself after what manner all the Classick Authors Great Philosophers and Famous Historians are made French by the Criticks of that Tongue in their New Academy at Paris Nor is Our Country wholely-void of Instances as the Translation of Thusidides Polybius Justinus Caesars Comentaries Quintus Curtius Livius Seneca Tacitus Homer Virgil Ovid Lucan Council of Trent Campanella Du-Plessy Grotius Bâ—colini Malvetzy St Amour and fourty more peeces in which I dare affirm that neither Verbs Nouns Pronouns Participles Gerunds Adjectives Conjunctives Copulates Subjunctives Prepositions Adverbs Tenses Cases Numbers c. are so much as considered in their Translation but only how the Matter so exprest in its Original Tongue may be most aptly rendered into Our own If then this Scope is both practised by and allowed to all Translators I would fain know why it should be so Criminal in G. F. to have given the Scope and whole tendency of Scripture Texts in other Words then what are in our conmon Translations But certainly this shows that rank Enmity which lodgeth in the Man's Mind and is to me a plain Demonstration of his implacable Malice that like the Black Jaundies has so over-run him as I fear it will almost be impossible that he should ever recover to any tolerable moderation though We could desire he might come to a Sight and Sense of his Folly Ignorance and Bitterness against us and not longer continue to kick against the pricks in himself nor to endeavour however he miss his aim to gore the sides of an Innocent People with his False Glosses and Calumnious Accusations for certainly the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth will effectually judge for these things by whose eternal Power and Spirit and for whose Cause on Earth we are what we are at this very day And though the Contradiction of Abstinate sinfull men be truely burthensom on their account and this continual toil of Controversy very unpleasant to our selves yet for the alone sake of Gods unchangeable Truth and Heavenly Way to Life Eternal we do cheerfully overlook our own Trouble Weight and Exercise counting it our duty and therein our Satisfaction to be at all times ready for the Service of it let what will ensue And be it known to all the World that as our Religion stands not in the Doctrines Meanings Preachings or Notions of mens devising or deducting from the Scriptures themselves but in the Living Quicking Power of the Eternal God which plainly discovers Sin and wounds deeply for it and as obeyed ransoms the Soul from Death Hell and the Grave to serve the Living Lord God in his New Living and Spiritual Way So do we proclaim it to the Nations that all Religions short of this are but the Form without the Power and make up but that Whâ—re with her golden Cup which has bewitched Tongues and Kindreds and People She that has a name to Live as the Lambs Bride true Church c. whilst indeed She is but that great Harlot that has committed all manner of Abomination with whole Kingdoms under the specious shew of Religion wherefore every one of you to whom this Book comes search and examine in the Dread and Fear of Almighty God how it stands with thee Hast thou ever been prickt to the Heart and repented with that Repentance which sorrows for Sin past and turns from Sin to come which is never to be repented of And dost thou feel the Living Powerfull Workings of Gods Power and Spirit in thy Heart regenerating thee without which thou canst not be a Child of God and Heir of Glory I say O Man unless thou comest to know the work of thy Souls Redemption from the Pit and Deliverance of thy mind from the Snares and Temptations of the Devil begun in thy self by which to live to God and to have the Testimony of his Eternal Spirit in thy Conscience that thou hast turned at the Reproof of Instruction and hast felt the Blood of Cleansing and art now walking on in the strait and narrow Way of Life and Righteousness which â—rucifies the Earthly Mind thy Praying Preaching Observations and whole Religion are vain and will prove all of none effect in the Day when the Lord God Eternal shall make strict Inquisition and Search after what Fruits have been by every one brought forth Wherefore be ye all awakened to the Fear of the Lord and mind diligently that Blessed Light which shines in your Hearts and is able to give unto you the Knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ which is the true Knowledge and Wisdom that come from above that make Wise to Life Eternal for the Wisdom that is from below may study carp contend about Scriptures and Religion and from thence frame and imagine how those thingâ—s are workt that are mention'd therein and I know doth but can never give
things of God which all Natural Understanding can never fathom because they are Spiritually to be discerned Fifteenth 1 Cor. 6. 19. What Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own The Apostle treating of the great nearness that every Believer stands in to the Lord and that Blessed Union which the Dispensation of the Gospel brings to by the putting away the Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and the Answer of a good Conscience before God in winding up this subject he thus smartly and as if his Query were enough to clear up all that he had to say to them as to their Duty and his Exhortation What know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you From whence I draw this Argument If Believers be the Temple in which the Holy Ghost dwells as evidently speaks the Scripture then are they not left without an Infalible Spirit as Judge Rule and Guide to repair to but it is apparent to sence that the holy Ghost is by the Apostle affirmed to inhabit or take up his abode in believers therefore they must needs be attended with an iufallible Spirit and for what if not the End before-mentioned Sixteenth 1 Cor. 12 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit By which Divine Sence of the Apostle we cannot but allow that if they were both baptized by one Spirit into one Body and made to drink into the same Spirit that the Saints were not without an Infallible Spirit since such Baptizing and Drinking do emphatically imply the whole Work of the Spirit in their Regeneration and their daily Union with and intimate Enjoyment of it the whole course of their lives And certainly If by that Eternal Spirit they were baptized ito that one Body Christ It was as impossible for them as Members thereof to live without the Life Vertue and Spirit of Christ Jesus their Head as for any natural Body to live without the same Life Blood Heat and Motion which belongs to its Head And how this man can be esteemed a good Christian who would render Christ Jesus the Head of a Fallible Body by divesting Christians of an Infallible Spirit I leave to Persons of better Judgment more Honesty and greater Moderation then himself to judge Seventeenth 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. This whole Chapter is an admirable account of the Super-Excellency of the Gospel Administration of Life to that of the Law how far it did transcend it as to all spiritual Knowledge Priviledge and Enjoyment which I desire the Reader seriously to read as well as to consider what is offered from the Verse cited If a Christian's Change into God's Image from Glory to Glory be the Work of the Eternal Spirit in men it follows necessarily That Christians can no more be without the Discoveries Leadings and Orderings of God's Spirit then they can be his Children without his Image since whatever they think say or do in reference to Religion should bear a near Relation to that resemblance of God which above all things they ought to act correspondently with but we see how very expresly and profoundly the Apostle describes the exceeding Blessedness of the New Covenant namely A being changed into the Image of God from Glory to Glory not by our own Notions or Comprehensions from the strength of our natural Reason or any Book without us but by the Spirit of the Lord operating in us therefore God's Children are not without an infallible Spirit unless he should deny God's Spirit to be such which methinks I cannot believe him to do Gal. 3. 3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect in the Flesh If Christians are both to begin and end in the Spirit or if a Christian throughout the whole course of his Life from the first step or measure to the fulness and perfection of his stature is to be informed regulated and guided by the infallible Spirit of God as the Apostle's Reproof of the Galatians for their declining to be ordered thereby evidently proves then Christians ought to begin and end in the Strength Knowledge Wisdom and Guidance of an Infallible Spirit aud consequently that Doctrine which denies such an Unerring Spirit to be the Judge Rule and Guide of Christians is Antichristian Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts If God sends forth his Spirit into the Hearts of his Children then are they not without an Infallible Spirit but the express Letter of the Scripture affirms it and consequently our Adversary's Reflection upon us for making it part of our Belief is unsound and condemnable Gal. 5. 16 18. This I say then Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh They that walk by the Spirit must first have it and next be led by it but the Apostle exhorted the Church so to walk therefore the Church had and Christians have the Spirit and should walk in or by it that is according to the Motions Leadings and Rule of â—it Eph. 1. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him If the Heavenly Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of God be through the Spirit then as without Revelation there is no Knowledge of God so without the Spirit there is no divine Wisdom and Revelation And if the Church was attended with that Wisdom and Revelation then with that Spirit from whence they came and consequently Christ's Church is not without that Eternal Vnerring Spirit as saith the Apostle in the 5th Chapter Be not Drunk with Wine wherein is Excess but be filled with the Spirit which signifies the Apostles mind to be quite another thing from the Judgment of our Adversary who thinks All men ought to be empty of it esteeming such as are filled therewith as the Jews did Paul Drunk with New Wine 1 Thes 15 19. Quench not the Spirit If those could not quench the Spirit who had it not then those to whom he gave that Caution had the Spirit consequently the Primitive Churches were not without an Vnerring Spirit because they were not without the Spirit of God which is Unerring 1 John 2. 27. But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him If the Judge of Truth
well suppose that because he doth reciprocally exhort Children and Servants that therefore he stiled them so in a way of singular Respect Either let our Adversary deny that particular Homage and Respect are intended by the vulgar Titles of Master Lord c. or else prove That the Apostle had the same Intention with these of our Times in their Titles of Respect to one another when He wrote to Fathers Children Masters and Servants But let it suffice that he was laying down a general Rule for both as in reference to such relations without having any particular Persons or Titles in his Eye and unless he had known and mentioned all the Names of those that then were and hereafter should be Fathers and Children Masters and Servants he could not otherwise have expressed his Mind But why should I farther contend with so much Weakness yet he seems to have a little Greek for his Ignorance let 's hear what it sayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are all rendered Master But that which is used by Christ in this Text Mat. 23. 10. is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Katheegeetees which signifies as the Learned tells us a Leader of the Way or Guide but as for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kyrios which the Apostle Paul useth to the Ephesians and Collossians and is translated sometimes Master and sometimes Sir most often Lord we find that the Apostles both singularly and plurally suffered themseles to be called by it as the Greeks called Philip Sir we would see Jesus John 12. 21. and the Jaylor came Trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and said Sirs or Masters what must I do to be saved I Answer This makes nothing for the Business though it makes Business for none questions the use of several words upon several Occasions in Scriptures as the Apostle to the Ephesians and Collossians doth Father Master c. which I have already explained and proved nothing to the matter in hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie a Lord or Master thus because it properly imports Authority or One having Power a Governour or the like But this makes for us such as are our Governours we do distinguish by Titles that plainly express their Authority though not with all those gaudy Flatteries that men in Deceitfulness invent and use to gratifie the Proud Part in any Man But what is this to calling Men Master since we deny not the use of Master Father Son Servant c. where they are significantly and not improperly and Sycophantly used And for the Greeks that desired to see Jesus and the Jaylor that tremblingly cryed out Sirs what shall I do to be saved they are no Instances of Advantage to him unless we should be so very ridiculous as to think that because any Man customarily calls me Master therefore I must call him or other Men Master and that I thought it well done in him to call me so or because any man commits an Evil and our Adversary does not immediately reprove him therefore it is no Evil in it self and he commits the like So what if Philip Paul and Silâ—â— were called Sirs not either to Tempt Jeer or Flatter them but in a customary manner in which many scarce think what they say must it follow that the Practice was not after the Proud Fashions of the Gentile Nations or that they were guilty of the same Practice because they did not just then reprove it when the poor Greeks lookt for a Saviour and God's heavy Judgments had taken hold on the Jaylor causing him to possess the Sins of his Youth which made him a Quaker indeed for he came fearing and trembling unto them No no the matter was then of greater moment the Salvation of Souls had they talked to them of the Title Master or Masters that would have been no Answer to their weighty Question nor any allay to that earnest Enquiry and deep Agony the Queriers were under Shew us the Saviour O! what must I do to be saved So that how Reprovable soever that had been in it self or at another time yet it did not seem then to the Holy Ghost to be the time the Matter in hand was how to bring them to the Light and Knowledge of that Jesus which was given for a Saviour and when they had found him and he had Discipled them to call no man Master nor to look for it because One was their Master would all naturally follow as relative to that Evangelical Religion Well but sayes he Mary Magdalene called Jesus Sir supposing he had been the Gardener and you will not say that Jesus suffered her to sin in his presence without reproving her which I abhor to think Yet this won't serve his turn for first that Sir was not of that force and Emphasis which Master was the Title mostly insisted on the next Verse tells us where Jesus said unto her Mary and she turned her self and said unto him Rabboni which is to say Master as if she had first recalled her self and then styl'd him by a more Reverent Title then that she gave him as the supposed Gardener Next we know that till the pouring out of the Holy Spirit which was to bring all things to their Remembrance that Jesus had at times said unto them and to lead them into all Truth the Disciples among whom she was not the least were in the practice of more Customs then that which after they grew up in a more mature Knowledge of Christ and his invisible Kingdom they declined and finally rejected Nor doth it follow that she therefore did well because she was not reproved of Jesus where the Stress seems to lie or did that which in the true State of Christianity was so much as allowable for Christ â—ever particularly chekâ— Peter for denying him that we read of and I suppose all grant Peter did amiss yet by our Adversary's inconsequent way of arguing he either would make Peter not to have done ill in denying his Lord or Jesus so in not reproving him for doing it which let me tell him we also abhor to think But now he doubtless pleas'd himself with the Conceit of having irrecoverably caught us in that passage of Stephen's where he saith That He a man full of Faith and Power said to the Council of the Jews Men Brothren and Fathers Theâ— were not his Fathers but they were Fathers In which his good will is seen but how to effect what he would have is as difficult as before for the Jews being a People peculiarly separated from all other Nations in comparison of others might not unfitly be called a great Family as being lineally descended of twelve Brethren so that it was frequent among them instead of Ancestors to say our Fathers did so and so And this Way of Speach Christ himself used when he said Your Fathers eat Manna in the Wilderness wherefore what Stephen said might be both allowable and true They were Men that is not disputed
and for no other Reason and consequently that some Women may preach which I prove thus If the Apostle had Companions and Fellow-Labourers in the Gospel that were Women then we ought to believe that all Women as Women only were not by him denyed to speak in the Church But the Apostles had Female Fellow-Labourers in the Gospel therefore not all Women but some Women only are excluded That he had such Companions he himself is Witness I commend unto you Romans Phâ—be our Sister which is a Servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea Great Priscilla and Aquila my Helpers in Christ Jesus Again Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa who labour in the Lord Salute the Beloved Persis which laboured much in the Lord who were all Women Aquila excepted Next If the Prophecy of Joel refer to the Times of the Gospel in which God promised To pour out of his Spirit on all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophecy c. as is remembred and so applyed by Peter when the holy Ghost was poured forth at Jerusalem then Women were not exempted as Women from the Gift of the Holyâ—Ghost and Prophesie thereby But it was never yet questioned by any that I know and therefore Women as Women are so far from being excluded that they are to partake of the Promise as well as Men. Again If Anna preached to the People in the Temple at Jerusalem the Glorious Day of Israel ' s Redemption as may be read in Luke and if Philip's four Daughters were Prophetesses and if Priscilla expounded to Apollo as well as her Husband the Way of God more perfectly even at that time when he was a Preacher among the People as may be read at large in the Acts then say I with good Reason Women as Women are not denyed by the Apostle to Teach and Instruct in the Wayes of God But the Scripture evidently proveth That such Women there have been and consequently Women as Women are not prohibited And methinks the Place urged by him against it clearly intimates as much For the Apostle is not treating in that Chapter who or what Sex shall Prophesie and what not but of that Order and Decency which such as Prophesie ought to observe For when he said You may all Prophesie one by 〈◊〉 if it had been asked Who Men or Women doubtless he would have answered All or every one provided any thing be revealed to you So that then this Prohibition of the Apostle extends only to their Disorder in the Church occasioned by their Ignorance which put them upon the proposing of their Doubts and Scruples unseasonably that is such of them as were Vnlearned and not an Anna a Priscilla a Tryphena a Tryphosa or a Beloved Persis who Preached Israel ' s Redemption and Expounded the Way of the Lord and were Fellow-Labourers in the Work and Gospel of Christ So then the words are to be read thus I permit not an Vnlearned or Ignorant Woman to speak in the Church and if she will learn any thing let it be at Home of her Husband for 't is a Shame that such a Person should be suffered to trouble the Church with her Vnseasonable and Vnlearned Questions And to this sense Grotius himself does more then encline as may be read in his Annotations upon this very place sayes he Intelligendum vero cum exceptione afflatus Prophetici diximus supra It is alwayes to be understood with an Exception to Prophetick Motions or Inspirations as we said before which implies a plain Contradiction to the Opinion of our Adversary who vainly supposeth That Women as Women are exempted Again he tels us That such Women are the Subjects of the Apostle's Discourse who being Ignorant and not well understanding what may have been spoken by the Teacher in the Congregation was not to interrupt the Speakers Ne interrumpant loquentes sed Mares Domus suae interrogent qui aut respondebunt exse aut consulent peritiores but ask their Husbands at Home who will either answer themselves or consult those who may be more experienced Thus much on this Particular and I believe enough to reconcile all sober minds to the serious Exhortations and Reproofs as well of Good and Holy Women as Men who are also Witnesses of his Resurrection who was Dead but is Alive and lives forever Scriptures Socinianiz'd I Shall now attend his Sophistication of several Scriptures in which his Displeasure against G. F. comes not from his ardent Love to any common Principles which he has hitherto seem'd to militate for but his great Regard to Socinianism both against G. F. and them The first is his Exception to G. F's Citation of that Scripture And have put on the New Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of Him that created him where G. F. puts Them for Him making the Saints the Antecedent to Them whereas the New Man is the Antecedent to Him and shows that the New Man is created which G. F. is not willing to allow for he corrects his Adversary for saying The Light is a Creature which is to say Christ who is called the Light is here called a New Man and such a one as is created and consequently is not God but a Creature A Doctrine that well becomes our Adversary To which I Answer That the New Man who is there said to be created is put in opposition to the Old Man mention'd in the Verse before who is thus described by the Apostle But now you also put off all these Anger Wrath Malice Blasphemy Filthy Communication out of your Mouth Lye not one to another seeing that ye have put off the Old Man Which shews he meant by the Old man those Habits and Customs of Evil which were almost become Natural that they were before addicted to and consequently that the New Man was the inward Regeneration or New Creation of the Soul Mind and Spirit with the Inclinations and Affections thereof so that the Image of the New Man may be created or begotten in Believers and on that account be called the New Man but not that Christ Jesus is the created New Man For it is he by their own Principle That Creates all things New in the Heavenly World of the Gospel who having all Power begets his People into a New State renewing them in all Divine Knowledge after the Image or that they may be the Likeness of him that created him that is that Image for nothing can be renewed that was not lost but Christ was never lost to speak properly in our Adversary's sense as well as ours but the Image of Christ has been lost almost from the Foundation of the World Therefore it is not Christ but his Image that is renewed and anew created So that if G. F. did put Them for Him it is not false for to create them anew in his Image or a new Image in them is all one and the words will bear it that Christ creates