you may be tryed and ye shall have Tribulation ten days be thou Faithful unto Death I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 As concerning the Wicked the Apostâ—e saith There is NO FEAR of God before their Eyes Rom. 3.18 Psalm 36.1 Again And unâ—o Man he said Behold the FEAR of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil is Vnderstanding Job 28 28. Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Psal 111.10 Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge but Fools despise Wisdom and Instruction Prov. 1.7 Again speaking of the Wicked he saith They hated Knowledge and did NOT chuse the FEAR of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they would none of my Reproof therefore shall they eat of their own Way and be filled with their own Devices for the turning away of the Simple or Ignorant shall slay them and the prosperity of Fools shall destroy them but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil verse the 29th to the end Here God speaking by Solomon saith The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge vers 7. and in vers 29. he complaineth of the wicked saying They hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord. Therefore Misery and Destruction came upon them but saith God Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil. So those who chuse Gods Fear and take his Counsel are kept by his mighty Power in that which is well pleasing to him and such are not terrified with the fear of Evil for they know God to be their Keeper who keeps them out of the Evil that is in the World and from the wrath and punishment which he will bring upon the Wicked who chuse not his sear nor take his counsel who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Here God distinguisheth betwixt Godly Fear which the Godly do stedfastly abide in and the fear of Evil which brings Torment upon the Ungodly Again The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life to depart out of the Snares of Death Prov. 14.27 Again By the Fear of the Lord men depart from Evil Chap. 16.6 Again Better is a little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Chap. 15.16 The Apostle Peter exhorted the Saints saying Fear God 1 Pet. 2.17 Again the Angel that preached the everlasting Gospel saith Fear God and give Glory to him Rev. 14.7 Many more Scripture-Testimonies might be brought to confirm this great Truth viz. that Godly Fear is to be continued in by Godly Men and Women unto the end of their dayes upon Earth but what I have already written doth sufficiently confute the Ranting Doctrines and Notions of this prophane Scribler And though I dearly own the Testimony of the holy Scriptures and therefore bring them for the confirmation of this great Truth yet that in which my greatest assurance lies is the living experience that I have had through many Years exercise of the excellency and preciousness of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God my Heart and Soul is deeply affected therewith because of the preciousness and excellency thereof therefore I commend it unto all People as that which is indispensably needful to be come into and kept in without which no Man or Woman can come to Peace and Rest with God And I tenderly exhort and warn the Sons and Daughters of men to chuse the Fear of the Lord God in whose hand their Life is and to flee from all Ranting Atheistical Books Doctrines Principles and Practices which would keep them out of or lead them out of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God and every one apply your Hearts to the Spirit of Truth which God hath sent which shews you what is good and what is evil believe in that and attend upon it and be careful to keep out of that which you know to be Evil and let your care be to obey God in what you know to be your duty and as you are obedient to him in what he has made known unto you to be your duty that which is further needful for you to know which you yet know not God will freely make it known unto you That which is and hath been the hurt of many is their hunting after the Knowledge of the Secrets and Mysteries of God in their SELF-WILL while they have neglected to obey God in that they already knew and by this means many have hunted themselves into Ranterism and Atheism which is lamentable to behold at this Day Others there are who desire not to know any thing but the following the foolish fleshly Lusts and vile Affections which War against their Souls who giving up themselves thereto and pursuing the same with a greedy Appetite become swallowed up therein and drowned in Perdition or Destruction thereby as the holy Apostles have testified see 1 Tim. 6.9 and 1 Pet. 2.11 The Apostle saith The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the Vnjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished but chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government presumptuous are they SELF-WILLED c. Such speak Evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly Perish in their own Corruption having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin beguling unstable Souls an Heart they have exercised with Covetous Practices cursed Children which have for saken the right Way these are Wells without Water Clouds that are carried with a Tempest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever For when they speak great swelling Words of Vanity they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were CLEAN ESCAPED from them who live in Error while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption c. see 2 Pet. 2. verse 9 10 12 13 14 15. to the end read the Chapter through Again the Apostle saith This second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the COMMANDMENT of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the last dayes Scoffers walking after their own Lust c. Chap. 3. Verse 1 2 3. Again Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth forever 1 John 2.15 16 17. Jude the Servant of
Trembling is no New Thing among God's People but that it was a State that all God's People passed through and that all now must pass through before ever they can enter God's Kingdom according to these Scriptures Sion shall be redeemed with Judgment Isa 1.27 And they shall Mourn for him as for an only Son and be in Bitterness as for a first born Zach. 12. and must know God to be as a Resiners Fire and as Fullers Soap and must know his Word of Power to be sharper than a two-edged Sword to divide between the Joynts and the Marrow Thus Judgment must be set up in the Heart for Sin and then the Cry will be with the Apostle Paul Oh Wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin And this my Adversary must come to have Experience of before he be approved of God to come with a Song as he saith in pag. 4. And this I do assure him as one who hath known the Terrors of the Lord for Sin That this Power will make him Quake and Tremble as easie a matter as he now thinks it to get to Heaven And as for his saying That Balaam 's Ass the Demoniacks Foelix Judas and the Devils might put in for a share is very Absurd For First As to Balaam's Ass God had not accomplished him with an Immortal Soul to subsist after this Life therefore not in a capacity to come in for a share and as to the rest it s also very Absurd especially the last viz. the Devils for although they had a sence of God's Power and were terrified thereby and made to Tremble yet it was not possible for them to have acceptance with God although believing and Trembling also are acts in his Chiâ—dren which are accepted of him And if my Adversary do not in this Life come to witness Fear and Trembling to accompany his believing he may also when it s too late know the Addition of Quaking and Trembling to his Believing and then his believing nor trembling will stand him in no more stead than the Devil 's did unto them And as for Judas Faelix and the rest mentioned by him in this case I say as the Apostle saith God's Will is that all men may know the Truth and be saved God said by the Mouth of the Prophet I have no pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his Evil Way and live So Judas and Faelix and the rest had a Day or Time of Visitation from God in which Time they might have turned to God and have had a share in his Salvation And Judas and all others who have no share in the Salvation of God their Destruction is of themselves and the Lord God is clear and just in giving them their Portion in the Lake of Endless Misery because as he saith in Proverbs Chap. 1. When I called ye would not answer when I stretched out my Hand no Man regarded they set at naught all my Counsel and would have none of my Reproof c. And Christ said unto the Rebellious Jews Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life And he said to Jerusalem I would have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but ye would not And God said unto the Rebellious Jews O Israel thou destroyest thy self but in me is thy Help Christ lighteth every one that cometh into the World and God doth require all men to believe and obey Christ casted Death for every man as saith the Apostle And the Apostle John saith He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for our Sins only but also for the Sins of the whole World Judas partook of the Ministry and by Transgression he Fell. In opposition to Trembling he goes on quoting Luke 1. The Libeller pag. 4. That being delivered from the hands of our Enemies might serve God without fear in Righteousness and Holiness all the dayes of our Lives Reply Is it not to be delivered from our Enemies to be delivered from Sin which is a cause of Fear and Trembling And if my Adversary had been really awakened as in his Scrullious Welch Letter he saith he is he might have seen two States or Conditions couched in these words First A State of Sin and Bondage And Secondly A State of being delivered from Sin and Bondage And I hope he or at least all Moderate men will grant that the Words being delivered are words in the Present Tense So that Deliverance was there witnessed which was the cause of his Confidence of serving the Lord without fear yet I must tell him Not without fear of sinning against God but without fear of Hell Devils Men or Punishment but this is a state the Priests do deny that deliverance from sin is attainable in this Life and then the other state of serving God in Righteousness and Holiness cannot be expected And let my Adversary know that God will not call that Righteous and Holy that is mixed with Sin neither are any delivered from their Enemies until they be delivered from Sin and until then let the Libeller Fear and Dread coming before the Lords Presence with a Song lest the Lord our God turn his Song into Howling and his Gladness unto Sorrow and Trembling which he now puts afar off as his Arguments make manifest yet in one of them he boggles standing to his Argument Hear him And though till we have mortified our Affections and Lusts Libeller p. 4. we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling yet after a most hearty and profound Repentance we humbly hope all our past Vnrighteousness is forgiven and our sins covered we may then doubtless come before his Presence with a Song Reply Behold Reader what Confusion and Contradiction is this for in his last words of the same page in opposition to me and my making Quaking and Trembling to be a state that all must pass through before they come to be in favour with God he tells of serving God without Fear And now in Contradiction to himself granting me my Argument he saith Till we have mortified our Affections and Lusts we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling This looks as if the man then immediately had found himself smitten of God in his own Conscience but how this will agree with the Priests Faith That no mans sin can be wholly mortified in this Life I leave to the Impartial to judge His Confusion is He hath left no room for serving God in Holiness and Righteousness for its Protestant Doctrine that none can be freed from sin in this Life If so they must be mortifying their Lusts during Life and so by his own Argument must Fear and Tremble during Life and so hath no place for his coming before God's Presence with his Song Yet in Cotradiction to Protestant Faith and to his own as he hath stated it Libeller p. 5. he quotes Paul and
they cannot all people may see how far the Piety and Charity of Levi's Priests in his day and time did exceed these Priests of our time for then the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow were satisfied of the Tythes but now the Priests who pretend their Authority for taking Tythes from Levi do allow the Poor no share though they see them in great Want they are every day begging at our Doors But the Libeller goeth on in the Priests Vindication of having the Tythes Remember that our Lord Jesus was both a Bishop and a Priest and is said by the Author to the Hebrews Libeller to be a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek Rep. It s true what the Author to the Hebrews said there but he doth acquit himself of the Libeller's Charge for he doth not in that Epistle nor in any other say that its lawful for Gospel Ministers to take Tythes but in the same Chapter viz. Hebr. 7.12 in Contradiction to the Libeller he said The Priesthood being changed who had command from God to take Tythes there is made also a Necessity of the Change of the Law But it seems my Opponent hath found another Law since then which grants a Right to the Priests for Tythes made in the 9th of Hen. 3. I confess that we read of that but for my part I do not believe he had Power to repeal the Law of God which said The Priesthood was changed and there was made of Necessity a Change of the Law And for his insisting on Christ's being a Bishop and a Priest this makes nothing for him nor them for Christ did not set up Tythes but ended them neither were his Apostles inducted to any Benefices one two or three apiece but on the contrary he said Matth. 8.20 The Foxes have Holes and the Birds have Nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his Head And when he sent forth his Disciples he did not say to them that whatsoever City or Town they entered into they should settle there and be Incombent of that Place and take their Tythes of them and if they would not receive them then sue them at Law and take treble Damage But on the contrary said Freely ye have received freely give and eat what 's set before you and if they will not receive you shake off the Dust of your Feet for a Testimony against them Surely the Libeller missed chusing a Pattern for taking Tythes for Christ although he was a Bishop and Priest he took no Tythes nor his Disciples neither took none but wrought with their Hands and ministred to their own Necessity and the Necessity of o hers But after the Apostles days there was a great Apostacy among the Professed Christians for some turned to be Wolvâ—s which Christ said would come and Tore and Devoured them that kept the Testimony of Jesus and great strivâ—ng was among them about their Priests Maintenance and for setting up of TYTHES as the Reader may read at large in Frarcis Howgil's Book called THE CREAT CASE OF TYTHES and there may be seen how in the several Ages since Christ was put to Death according to the Flesh God had a People that bore their Testimony against TYTHES Soon after the Year 600. Gregoâ—y the fiâ—st who was the first Pope of Rome soon after sent Augustine the Monk to England â—ad Lib. 26. who as it s said Converted E helbert King of Kent but it was but to Popery and he and his Clergy for a long time after followed the Example of tâ—e Apostolical Primitive Church living in common upon the Free-Offerings of their Converts And from that time until Henry the 3 d no Tythes as Tythes were generally paid but only a Decree made Ex. in Bad. 663 c. that for every twenty Shillings Rent a Farding a Sunday was to be paid and this was given by way of Offering From this time until the Year 1200. all that the Priests could do brought the People no farther than to pay their Tythes at their own pleasures which made Pope Innocent the third send his Decretal Letters to the Bishop of Canterbury commanding him to enjoyn every man to pay his Temporal Goods to those that ministred spiritual Things to them which was enforced by Ecclesiastical Censure And this was the first beginning of general parochial Tythes in England this the Popes Decertal Epistle was admitted and enjoyned by the Law of the Nation King and People being then Papists The Decree of the Pope receiving all possible Assistance from the Bishops and Priests on whose behalf it was made did not only in a short time take away the Peoples right to give their Tythes to those that best deserved them but did also so much corrupt the Clergy that in the time of Richard the second Book Mart. John Wickliff our famous Reformer did make a heavy Complaint to the Parliament in the words following Ah Lord God! where this be reason to constrain the poor People to find a Worldly Priest some time unable both of Life and cunning in Pompe and Pride Gluttony and Drunkenness and Letchery in Symony and Heresie with fat Horse and Jolly and Gay Saddles and Bridles Ringing by the way and himself in costly Cloaths and Pleasures and suffer their poor Wives and Children and poor Neighbours perish for Hunger Thurst and Cold and other Mischiefs of the World Ah Lord Jesus Christ s ith within few Years men paid their Tythes and Offerings at their own free will to Good Men and able to great Worship of God to prâ—fit and fairness of holy Church fighting on Earth Why were it lawful that a Worldly Priest should destroy this holy and approved Custom constraining men to leave this Freedom turning Tythes and Offerings unto Wicked Uses Again hear him That Tythes were and are a Free Gift as among Christians and only pure Alms and the Parishioner may for the Offence of their â—urate detain keep them back Acts Men. p. 69. and bâ—stow them upon others at their own will and pleasures This was also maintained by J. Hus who was burnt for his Testimony at Constance take his own words That the Clergy are not Lords and Professors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards Acts Mon. pag. 605. and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be transported to the poor and if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Thieves and Robbers and Sacriledgious persons except they do Repent by the Judgment of God they are to be condemned Will Thorp an Eminent Protestant gave a large Testimony against Tythes saying That those Priests that took Tythes Book Mart. deny Christ come in the Flesh for the Priesthood was changed that gave them At which the Bishop said God's Curse have you and mine for thus teaching Jerom of Prague William Swinderby Walter Brute Rueas Silvi in his Bohem. History the
man leaves out the next following words which shews what fear it was that they were out of the following words are these viz. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.7 8. Here the Apostle shews that it was not the fear of God that they were out of but the fear of wicked men their Persecutors under whose wicked Power Paul then was a Prisoner Again this prophane man as a Plea for casting off godly Fear he quotes the Apostle John's words who saith Perfect love casteth out Fear But Treacherously or Ignorantly leaves out the very next Verse to those words he cites which verse hath only these following words in it which words shew what fear it was that perfeâ—â— love cast out viz. Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this world 1 Joh. 4.17 18. Here the Apostle shews that their Establishment in the Truth yea in the God of all Truth gave them dominion over the Devil and over the fear of him and over Fear of torment and punishment with him but yet they retain a godly fear according to the Command of Christ who said I will teach you whom ye shall fear Fear not him who killeth the Body but cannot kill the Soul but fear him who can cast Soul Body into Hell And the Man Christ Jesus himself in the days of his flesh had a fear and reverence towards the Father as the Apostle shews and as I have shewed before And the Apostles and Prophets lived in Godly fear and exhorted others unto it and to continue in it and they that do and teach the contrary which this vain Scribler doth they are ungodly men such as the Apostle speaks of who do despight unto the spirit of Grace who live want only and prophanely upon the Earth such are Sons of Belial who live without God and Christ's Yoke who are like the wild Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke and like the wild Asses Colt in the Wilderness And VVo unto such if they Repent not and if they do not forsake their Vngodly ways they must have their portion with the Devil and his Angels in the Lake of Endless misery where the worm never dyes neither is the fire ever quenched Christ saith Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest come take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for my Yoke is easie and my burthen is light They who are heavy laden with their sins and weary of their sins they are invited by him to come unto him and they that come unto him must believe in that spiritual and divine Light wherewith he hath enlightened them who lights every man that cometh into the VVorld according to Joh. 1.9 Joh. 8.12 12.46 Luke 2. 32. Act. 13. 47. Joh. 3.19 20. and see the â—â—st Epist of Iohn 5.7 where the Apostle saith God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we fellowship one with an other and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin And they who believe in the Light where-with Christ hath enlightened them this will let them see their sins and lead them to Repent of their sins which are past so God will forgive them their sins which are past and will strengthen them to resist sin in time to come such who so do are the real Disciples of Christ who said he that will be my Disciple must deny himself he must take up his Cross daily follow me And such come to be baptized by Christ by his holy spirit and fire which burns up and consumes all filthiness of flesh and spirit and such come to answer the holy Exhortation of the Apostle who exhorted the Saints saying Having therefore these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the FEAR of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Take notice here that the Apostle exhorted these believing Corinthians to Perfect Holiness in the fear of God so then they were not to cast off godly fear when they were come to Holiness even Perfect Holiness God saith by the Prophet David O ye Sons of Men how long will ye turn my Glory into shame How long will ye love Vanity and seek after Leasing Selah But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself stand in awe and sin not c. Psal 4.2 3 4. So all those who desire to be kept out of sin must keep in the Fear or Awe of God continually for as I have shewed before The Fear of the Lord God is as a Fountain of Life which preserves from the Snares of Death c. God hath promised unto his People saying I will give them one Heart and one Way that they may FEAR me FOREVER for the good of them and their Children after them I will put my FEAR in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.39 40. Here God who cannot Lye hath promised that he will put his Fear in his Peoples Hearts and that they shall fear him forever then they must NOT cast off Gods fear or Godly Fear which the prophane and debauched Ranters and Atheists do and as this ungodly Scribler doth in his scoffing lying and malicious Pamphlet as doth largely appear God hath promised by the Mouth of the Prophet Mâ—lachi saying Vnto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing under his Wings and ye shall go forth and grow as Calves in the Stall Mal. 4. This Libeller saith page the 10th That the worst of Men have commonly the greatest share of Fear Rep. That share of Fear which the worst of Men have is not the Holy Fear of God or not Godly fear but their Fear is of the same kind which the Devils fear is of which Fear the Apostle James makes mention of in his Epistle whose Words this Libeller quotes and wickedly wrest to emboâ—den and encourage People to cast off Godly Fear in which all that are Godly do stedfastly abide and in their so abiding do enjoy the pure Power and Wisdom of God by which they aâ—e preserved out of Sin which is the Devils work God saith by the Mouth of the Prophet Isaiah to his People Say ye not a confederacy to them to whom this People shall say a Confederacy neither fear ye their Fear nor be afraid sanctifie the Lord of Host himself and let him be your FEAR and let him be your Dread Isa 8.12 13. Christ Jesus who is First Last which was dead is alive lives foâ—evermore said unto the Church in Smirna Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that
Jesus Christ writing against the false Teachers and rebellious Apostates said They walk after their own Lusts c. but said unto the Believers Beloved remember ye the Words which were spoken before of the Aposâ—les of our Lord Jesus how that they told you there should be Mockers in the last Times who should walk after their own ungodly Lusts Jude 16.17 18. Oh Reader seriously read and ponder these weighty and holy Sayings of the Apostles of Christ and flee from those fleshly and ungodly Lusts which War against the Soul and drown those in Destruction who do not unfeignedly Repent thereof and turn therefrom while God gives them a Time of Visitation while he visits them by his holy Spirit of Grace Life and Strength to lead them thereby to unfeigned Repentance and to redeem them thereby out of all sinful and ungodly Lust O blessed are all they who turn unto him while he strives with them to gather them unto himself but most miserable are those who turn not unto him but go on after their own ungodly Lusts who set at nought all Gods Counsel both that which is immediately given them by his Spirit inwardly and also that which is given by him through his Instruments his Prophets Apostles and his faithful Servants which is witnessed unto by the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith every man that cometh into the World is lighted according to John 1.9 as is shewed before Of this evil Generation the Prophet complains they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy Wayes What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we Pray unto him Job 21.14 15. and 22.17 The Holy Prophet said I sought the Lord and he heard me c. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them O! taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the Man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him The young Lyons do lack and suffer Hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Come ye Children hearken unto me and I will teach you the Fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth Life loveth Dayes that he may see good Keep thy Tongue from Evil and thy Lips from speaking Guile Depart from Evil and do Good seek Peace and pursue it The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and his Ears are open unto their Cry The Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil to cut off the remembrance of them c. The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their Troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Psalm 38.4 to the 19th Thus Reader the Psalmist declares of the Mercies and Judgments of the Lord as he had seen and experienced them The Author of the Scoffing Book called Work for a Cooper would no doubt be esteemed a Religious man The Apostle saith If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue this man's Religion is Vain Pure Religion and Vndefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World James 1.26 27. That this man hath not a Bridle to his Tongue and that his Religion is Vain take his own Book for proof which is plentifully furnished with Lyes Scoffing and Railing a little of which I may here Collect. Thomas VVynne is known amongst his Neighbours to be a Sober Honest Man I have known him for above Twenty Years last past and I never knew nor heard other of him till this prophane Scoffers Pamphlet appeared against him These are the Names he gives him viz. Our second Tom of Bedlam pag. 6. Our Cinque and Cater pag. 7. Note here this vain man speaks here more like a prophane Player at Dice then a sober Religious man Again Our wise man of Gotham pag. 8. Again speaking of T.W. and his Friends saith Their Hocuspocus Tricks are now much laid aside pag. 13. Again speaking of the said People saith That they are the most Formal Coxcombs produceable in this Age pag. 15. Again pag. 1â— he renders T.W. A beastly Quaker Again scoffing at T.W. saith He knoweth not what Consanguinity there is betweâ—n the Porpos and the VVhale or the Craw-Fish and the Lobster pag. 21. Again he call him A Robber upon Gods High Way pag. 23. Again he calls him Wicked Ferry-man of Hell pag. 24. Thus I have collected a few of his bad Words and ill Names he has given to an Honest Man by which the Reader may see that his Tongue is not bridled as it ought to be and that his Religion is vain Now I shall collect a few of his Lyes He sayes The Quakers would endeavour to obtrude that they had been with God c. and have received the Spirit of Prophecy with the Gift of Miracles and all other that God had or could bestow pag. 12. Answ He names no persons on whom he fastens this his charge but throws it at the Quakers in General I say it is a Horrid Slander proceeding from the Father of Lyes for though we do own that God hath given the Manifestion of his Spirit to profit withal and some amongst us do prophecy and testifie of Christ and of God in the Spirit which he hath given yet we never said That we had received all other that God had or could bestow This is an Abominable Slander their is none that will believe him herein but those who are given up to believe Lyes Again That they could to a minute fore-tell the Last and Dreadful Day of Judgment Answ This Charge is general against the Quakers he names no Person or Persons that said so I return it as a Lye forged against the People of God and I exhort him to Repent of that and the rest of his Wickedness Again thus And heal more Diseases then all the World could possibly need help for Answ This is another horrid Slander that the Wicked One has in Envy led him to cast upon us the Lord Rebuke thee thou Prophane Man Again thus That they and they only were those of whom it was said They should lay their hands upon the Sick and they should recover Answ This is another horrid Slander proceeding from the Father of Lyes for which God will bring thee to Judgment Again thus And that God meant them only when he said I will pour my Spirit upon all Flesh Answ This is another horrid Lye for we believe that he poured forth his Spirit upon his Prophets and Apostles his Sons and Daughters and Hand-maids according to his Promise in former time and he is pouring it sorth in this Day and we believe he will pour it sorth according to his Promise upon all Flesh but we do not believe that the People called Quakers are only intended to be that All Flesh Mark In the compass of nine Lines he has told five Lyes in pag. 12. there being five in so little compass Reader thou mayst conclude there is a great many more in the whole Book These few here may suffice to give thee a taste and sence of the Wickedness of the man and to shew thee how Wickedly he deals with the People called Quakers It is our desire that he may Repent of these things and do so no more that so he may know forgiveness of the same and may come to Peace and Rest with God in his Latter-end God speaking of his People said Surely they are my People Children that will not Lye so he was their Saviour Isa 63.8 A Faithful Witness will not Lye but a False VVitness will utter Lyes Prov. 14.5 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it John 8.44 A False Witness shall not be Vnpunished and he that speaketh Lyes shall not escape Prov. 19.5 They bend their Tongues like Bows for Lyes but they are not valiant for the Truth Jer. 9.3 In this POSTSCRIPT I have shewed the Falseness and Wickedness of this Scornful man and have rebuked him in the Love and Fear of God and I unfeignedly desire his Repentance and Salvation who am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness who desires the Eternal good of all People but I Hate Lying Envy and all Wickedness William Gibson London the 25th of the 8th Moneth 1679. THE END
and to be the Mouth of their Priests But instead of so doing he hath not come much short of the worst of men that ever writ against us as will appear by his scurrillity Perversion of my Words and of Scripture also his many Lyes and Slanders Detractions and unjust Reflections both upon me and the whole Body of Gods People called Quakers in general First after he hath bestowed on me and my Friends about three or four pages of abusive Reflection and casting of Dirt at us he cul'd out two Testimonies out of about thirty which I brought to prove Quaking and Trembling not to be Novel among Gods People and how he undertakes to confute me in those two you shall hear anon But before I make my Reply I think it convenient to acquaint my Reader how I came to joyn my self to those poor despised and abused People of God called Quakers I was Baptized and brought up a Protestant and having learned the Articles of their Faith and the Prayers of the Church I thought all was well untill I was about fifteen Years old and then soon after it happened that I could not find any such Church as I was baptized into the Wolf was got among them who tore many of them to pieces and the rest fled So that go to what Church I would I could find neither Bishop Doctor Prebend Vicar nor Curat to look after my Soul viz. not one of my Protestant Instructers they were all fled and left me to the mercy of the Wolf that had worried them and for many Years together there were none of them so much as visited me nor sent me so much as an Epistle or Collect nor any comfort or hopes But before I was twenty Years of Age I was amazed and astonished to see what was come to pass and began to reflect upon my self and to think what would become of my poor Soul For those who pretended to be my guides to Heaven were fled I knew not the way And my Brethren the Protestants without any more ado both great small went to hear the Hirelings that were then set up unless it were here there one and most of these men of low degree such as they could get nothing off and when I saw it thus come to pass I went also for company but found their great matter was to Exclaim against the Protestants which hit me upon the Sore but when I came to inquire strictly after them I found they did as the Protestants had done before them as to that part called Interest they had their Peepers into every ones Field lest any should give them a little Sheaf for a great one and were excellently skill'd in Arithmetick for they could make their Parishoners by a Figure they then had and the Priests now have If there were but five or six Geese belonging to a House make them pass for Ten urging as the Libeller doth pag. 26 27. That it was of as much Right to them as the other five were to the Owner They had also the same way for the Piggs and were as well skill'd for Easter-Reckonings and Midsummer-Dues as they call them I thought these did not quadrate well with those nor can it be Gospel in the present ones by this time I began to question whether any were then to be found in the right or not For my Instructers were fled and the others at best were but miserable Comforters for turn to the Right hand or Left I saw Iniquity abound and then I began to recollect my self and consider what my God-Fathers and God-Mothers so called had promised and vowed for me in my Baptism as they called it viz. That I should forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh This indeed was to forsake all Sin but how to perform I could not tell for I had lost my Guides that so taught however I inquired of others whether this might be performed or not No no said they none can ever be freed from Sin in this Life Then might I well say it was unreasonable that any should be bound and so solemnly as with a Vow to do that which neither they nor I nor none in the World could do I asked then Whether any could keep the Christian Faith and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in them all the dayes of their Lives No no said they I afterwards asked both Protestants and Papists the same but found them all to agree in this point That none could be freed from sin in this life then began my Sorrow to encrease and to be more then I could bear and this was the time dear Country-men that the Almighty God who is no Respecter of Persons did break in upon my Soul by his Everlasting Light and discovered to me the emptiness of all those great Professions who only talked Largely and Eloquently of God and Christ and of Religion as it is at this day which was and is verified in their Practices the many great Pretences to Religion was and is but really a pursuing the Error of Balaam viz. Gifes and Rewards And it was at this time that the Lord raised many Witnesses to proclaim the Controversie that God had both with Professors and with Prophane and the Amazing Terrors of God being upon them for sin made them exceedingly to Tremble and it was not for fear of the then Powers nor for fear of Hell nor of Punishment as the Libeller wickedly insinuates in pag. 11. for the contrary will appear by their boldness in bearing their Testimony against the Hirelings and Powers then in Being whose Sufferings were so great that much of them could could not be recorded which will to all moderate men sufficiently rescue them from the Libellers false Insinuations in p. 8. That their Trembling was or is from a servile Fear But hear his Answer pag. 4. If Fear and Trembling were enough to prove a certainty of being beloved of God The Libeller page 4. then Balaam 's Ass and the Demoniacks among the Tombs Faelix the Hypocrite and Judas that hang'd himself for fear of any more seeing his Innocent and Righteous Master yea the Devils themselves might put in for a share too for St James expresly sayes that they believe and Tremble Reply Where hath this Malicious Perverter read in my Book or in any others of the Quakers Writings That Fear and Trembling is enough to prove a Certainty of being beloved of God Nay Serious Reader if thou wilt be but just to both him and me thou wilt find no such Word in my Book as That Fear and Trembling is enough to prove any's being beloved of God Upon my arguing on about thirty Testimonies of holy Writ of which he hath meddled with Two which indeed were too many to Pervert as he hath done and if thou wilt in Moderation read mine thou wilt find me only inser from them That Quaking and
to lay his Mouth in the Dust to see if there were hopes this was it the holy Prophets and Apostles could speak experimentally of and this is the narrow Way and strait Gate c. this was it that pricked Paul to the Heart and made him cry out Oh wretched man that I am c. and this was it which did overtake in an acceptable time these poor despised People called Quakers in our Age And whereas the Libeller in his 11. and 12. pages scurrilously tells of their Trances Distortions Quaking and Trembling comparing them to Conjurers and Bell-Founders c. Rep. That the Holy Ancients passed through such a State I have proved before and when in our day and time the Lord appeared unto us he appeared in the way of his Judgment for Sin and the powerful eternal Word of the Lord which is the Sword of the Spirit pricked many to their Hearts and I being one among them can do no less then give in my Testimony concerning the Operation or Working of the Heavenly Power it wounded as a Sword it smote like a Hammer at the whole Body of Sin in my Bowels it burned like Fire yea so dreadfully it burned that it made by Bowels boyl it pierced as a Sword it broke as a Hammer And then the Pangs of Death I felt in my Members which did make me to roar yea and to Quake and Tremble for this Fire when it burned it gave Light as its the Nature of Fire to do and it discovered to me and these poor despised People the great body of Sin and Death which was indeed terrible to behold and not only so but it discovered the narrowness of the Gate and that there was no going in thereat but by first having all that combustable Body of Sin and Death destroyed and burnt up at this time did great Terror and Amazement fall upon many and this my Opposer must come experimentally to know and witness in this Life or else his latter End will be miserable And as for his telling of a great Change within this 12. or 14. Years I say there is a Change Glory to God for the fame for many are passed from Death to Life and do witnesâ— the work of Regeneration in them and can sing the Song of Sion even the Song of Moses and the Lamb to whom by them and all the Host of Heaven be sung Halelujahs for evermore So here 's great alteration indeed Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel them who were dead in Sins and Trespasses are quickened and made alive they who were Alians and Strangers to God made Fellow-Citizens of the New Jerusalem and the Prodigal Son who had been feeding among the Swine on Husks brought home into the Father's House where there 's living Bread enough yea and Wine also well refined and he saith Eaâ— Oh Friends yea drink abundantly Oh Beloved CHAP. II. of TYTHES THe Tythes Liâ—eller pag 24. the chief Cause of all his grumbling are but a Portion which God himself out of his own Word hath given such as minister about holy things Reply We do not read either in the Old or New Testament that God perpetuated the Levitical Priesthood to be in force in Gospel Times and it s my Faith in God That they who take Tythes or give Tythes in Gospel Times deny Christ come in the Flesh and so are of Antichrist my Reasons are as followeth First That the Levitical Priesthood was by it self a distinct Priesthood which Christ Jesus by offering up himself once for all hath ended Secondly That under that Priesthood the Priests were to have but a Part of the Tythes for the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widows were to be maintained out of it Deut. 14.28 And at the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the Tythe of thine Increase the same year and shalt lay it up within thy Gates and the Levite because he hath no Inheritance with thee and the Stranger and the Fatherless and Widows which are within thy Gates shall come and eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the Works of thy Hands which thou dost Mark Reader the Use of Tythes in their first Institution were for the Stranger the Fatherless and Widows they weâ—e to eat and be satiâ—fied of them a very pious Use under that Dâ—spensation and the Priests had only a share with them Deut. 18. vers 1 2 3. The Priests the Levites and all thè Tribe of Levi shall have no Inheritance with Israel they shall eat the Offerings of the Lord made by Fire and his Inheritance 2. Therefore they shall have no Inheritance among their Brethren the Lord is their Inheritance as he hath said unto them 3. And this shall be the Priests due from the People for them that offer a Sacrifice whether it be Ox or Sheep they shall give unto the Priest the Sholder the two Cheeks and the Maw Now if these Priests will have it in these Gospel Dayes as it was ordered by the Levitical Law to the Priests then this Clause of the Law doth tell them what is their Due Share or Portion and what was their Due of the other Encrease is exprest in the afore-going Text the Poor the Fatherless Strangers and Widow were to eat and to be satisfied and then the Priests were to have their Due or Portion as is read in Gen. 47.22 and that Portion was Pharaoh's free Gift there was no Law to enforce treble Damage if not paid Behold the Zeal of the Libeller for Tythes which were only due under the Levitical Priesthood One would think that so zealous a Son of the Church should be prefer'd unto a Benefice if he have none as some say he hath not for he hath stood up for Tythes as stoutly as the Presbyterians did in Oliver's dayes who had then a Law to enforce them with treble Damage but although he and the Priests hold up Levi's Priesthood they have changed the course of it for in Levi's time it was to be stored up for the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow and the Priests were only to have a share of it and their share or due was of an Ox or Sheep they were to have one Sholder the two Cheeks and the Maw but now they have altered their course they have taken all the Tythes they could get to themselves and have turned the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow to beg not so much as giving them any share it had been Charity for them to have allowed them something if it had been but the Sholder or two Cheeks it had been better than nothing and since it s by Levi's Priesthood the Priests now claim their Tythes may not the Poor the Fatherless and Widows by it lay as good a Claim to it if not let the Priests or this Libeller their Agent shew us by the Scriptures of Truth when and where they were excluded if
Fishing-trade and call them Lay-Preachers and scoff at their Fisher's Coats especially knowing them to be illiterate men did not the great Schollars who had the Hebrew Greek and Latin in those days in Derision call Christ a Carpenter's Son and Blasphemer and Devil thus their Tongues and Languages deceived them for they knew him not with all these Tongues Acts 18.3 Were not Paul and Pricilla and Aquilla Tent makers and were not these true Preachers sure they were So all people that are spiritually awakened may see how that God in the time of the Prophets and Apostles made choice of Lay-men as my Adversary hiâ— stile is to be his Ministâ—rs but it may be the Libeller thinks that now the Case is alter'd and that God hath changed his mind from Lay-men to Schollars only if not why are Lay-men excluded now adays is noâ— thiâ— to limit the Holy One of Israel who will not be limitted but is now risen in his Power in a poor and despised Remnant to whom he hath made known a heavenly Principle wâ—â—ch is the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus God's Anointed the Second Adam who is made a Quickening Spirit as saith the Apostle in man and thiâ— was it I bore Testimony to in my Book and it s not fe lo de se to deny all outward Teaching in the days of the Gospel that springs not from Christ Jesus the Anointed of God who is enjoyed within by the true Christians in this Age as was by such in former Ages Glory to the Lord God for the same Christ saith God is a Spirit and they who VVorship him they must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth And this spirit is the true Teacher which we have believed in this is he whom God hath anointed to preach good Tidings to the Poor even Christ Jesus in his Children this is he whom God has sent to bind up the broken-hearted and to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to those that are bound and to proclaim the Acceptable Year of the Lord and the Day of the Vengeance of our God to all that oppose the Appearance of his Son yea and to comfort all that truly mourn for Sin yea and to appoint to all that mourn in Sion to give to them Beauty for Ashes and the Oyl of Joy for mourning and the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness that they may be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord. The Conclusion to the Welch Y cymry anwyl cynor yr apostol oedd at bawb yddynt brofiâ—pob peth a glynu wrth y peth sydda ag nid wgf yn disyfy dim yngwaneg genych agos gwnei di velly yn dy gydwybod a cymo anwyl a cei di wir far no ba wreiddin y doeth lythur ar atebwr T. W. An Epistle to my dear Friends the People in Derision called Quakers MY Everlâ—stingly Endeared and Beloved Friends my Soul in a deep sense of the great Love of God and of the Mercy of the meek and lowly Jesus doth dearly salute you all heartily desiring that both you and I may spend all the little remainder of our time with bowed down Souls in holy Obedience to the holy Precepâ—s of the Immaculate Lamb who lives forever who is now risen in Power and great Glory and hath revealed his own everlasting Arm of Power to lead us out of Captivity and Bondage and hath given every one of us in measure of his blessed eternal Spirit to be our Guide and Conducter to that blessed Inheritance prepared for us before the World began Therefore my dear Friends wait diligently and give Obedience to the pure and holy Motions of the divine Light Life Power Spirit of God and Christ in you for the Testimony of Jesus is upon record Rom. 8.14 that they that are led by the Spirit of God are the Children of God And I desire all the Young-convinced who have not yet known what it is to wade through the many Tribulâ—tions Not to be daunted with the Vapours of any Goliah or Envious Enemy and let none in the least think much at this kind of Treatment which I and my dear Brethren have met with from this and many other Angry Adversaries but keep your Eye to Christ Jesus who is our Patern who said Learn of me for I am meek lowly in Heart And forever blessed be his Name I can in truth bear this Testimony That I have learnt to forgive Enemies to bless them that curse me and to pray for them that despightfully use me and persecute me And although the Libeller hath employed his learning his wit and parts most horridly and despightfully to abuse you above most that ever I read yet do I from my Heart desire the Lord if it be his Will to forgive him and though I have resented his ill behaviour to me and you and the blessed Truch with just Rebuke and must do yet again if the Lord will if Cause be given yet it is in the Love of God and in the innocent Nature of his Son And dear Friends It s the desire of my Soul that every one of you may be true Witnesses that this Love of God do always predominate in your hearts towards your Enemies for nothing hath happened to us but what hath abundantly more happened to our Lord himself For his Visage was marred more than any man's and his Form more than the Sons of men he hath no Form nor Comliness in him he was despised and rejected of men a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastizement of our Peace was upon him and by his Stripes were we healed all we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own Way and the Lord laid on him the Iniquity of us all he was oppressed he was afflicted yet he opened not his Mouth he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb so he opened not his Mouth he was taken from Prison and from Judgment who shall declare his Generation he was cut off out of the Land of the Living and for our Transgression was he stricken Oh! dear Friends how can we but be overcome with such Love as this for it hath none to compare to it Oh that it may be imprinted in every one of our Hearts with so large a Character that our great Enemies may be perswaded that the Love of God dwells abundantly in our Hearts both towards Priests and People Professors and Prophane and that which we desire for them is that they also may partake of the same Love of God which Love will destroy Enmity and Discord and take away the ground of war and strife yea the very ground of all plotting contriving hurt to any either high or low and this dear Friends I know you have