Christ was it the Light of the Spirit of Christ yea or nay Answ Nay if I may judge of the Tree by the Fruit. Quest What Light is it then Answ The same wâ—th that which the Heathens had by Nature Sixteen Hundrâ—d Years since Rom. 2. 14. Reply Now let the Reader give Judgment concerning this Tree according to the Fruits thereof which he himself hath tasted as by his own Confession In pag. 7. As I went on I met with a Passage Ephes 5 Foolish Talking and Gesting and Mat. 12. 36. Ye shall give an Account for every Idle Word and the Light in me asseâ—ted to it that I ought not to do so and when I was reproved for it I was obedient and by Obedience was delivered from such Sins from whence I became of few words And in pag. 18. Quest Was there not a Power when I obeyed the Light Reproving me for Sin which did deliver me from Sinning and gave me strength to do that which was Good and Right and Just before God and Man Answ Yes there was a Power which did deliver me from sinning outwardly or doing any wrong to my Neighbour or telling Lyes but chused rather to suffer Anger then to do it It bore me up when I was hissed at for what I did c. And in pag. 3 4. I will insert one Remarkable Passage which I did when I was about Nineteen or Twenty Years of Age which is this viz. I being sâ—nt to the Shop for Herrings and had them dâ—livered unto me I did dislike some of them and being sent to the Barrel alone to change some of them I being a great Lover of them it rose in me What a Brave Oportunity I had to slip One into my Pocket for my self This was the Temptation On the other hand came the Light Reproving of me in this manner I must not do this thing Why If it should be known it would be a Dishonour to my Name and I should be ashamed to look any Body in the Face And if it were not known to Men yet God would know it and he would punish me if I sinned against him Through which Means I did obey that which did Reprove and touched none but what was my due And I went home Rejoycing with my self in this manner How happy was my Condition now beyond what it had been if I had diâ—obeyed the Reproof And how Good was the Lord to me in calling to me when I was tempted to do that Evil So was I convinced of one Evil one day and was delivered from it and another day another Evil and had Power over it and I had Joy and Peace in it Rep. And yet he compares this Blessed Light which hath done all this Good for him to the Egyptians which grievously and wickedly Oppressed and Afflicted the Children of Israel on whom the Lord sent his Plagues beâ—â—â—â— of their Cruelty which they exercised upon his People as may be seen in pag. 18. and yet confesseth he had Joy and Peace and Comfort and Quietness of Spirit under these Task-masters which the poor Israelites had not but cryed to the Lord as may be read Exod. 3. and so no fit but a wicked and unrighteous Comparison which the Lord will one day judge him for when his Blind Eye is opened And again in pag. 19. Quest Do I despise that Light Knowledge or Conscience which reproveth Man for Sin in him and judge it not to be Obeyed Answ No I believe it is the Duty of every one to walk in the Commandments of the Law of God aâ—d to keep a Conscience void of Offence according as it is written Holding Faith in a Pure Conscience hoping to be found in the same my self Quest For what End do I dâ—sire to be found in Obedience to this Light Answ Because it is my Duty to God not for Life but from a Principle of Lifâ— c. And â—illâ—am Haworth calls the same Light the Deity in his Epistle to the aforesaid Pamphlet And saith It s the Spirit maketh known Sin when â—t cometh which is not seen before as the shining of the Sun through a Crack into a Dark Room pag. 6. And in the Epistle saith again It s the Light of Nature Rom. 1. So let all People who have any Understanding or Skill to judge of a Tree by tâ—e Fruit take good notice of the Fruits and Effects of this Tree The Light which convinceth Man of Sin in him and alâ—o to consider the Confusions and Contradictions of these Blind Men who one while call it the Spirit and the Deity that is the Godhead and saith It maketh known Sin which is not seen before and saith It s my Duty to God to obey it and desires to obey it from a Principle of Life and how good was the Lord in calling to me So it s the Call of the Lord when tempted to forsake Evil and delivers from it and gives Power and Strength to do that which is Good Just and Right in the Sight of God and Men and gives Peace and Joy and Comfort as aforesaid And then again saith of the very same thing Nay it s not the Light of the Spirit of Christ if I may judge of the Tree by the Fruit. But its the Light of Nature and the same the Heathens had by Nature and the Egyptian-Task-masters and Bondage of Egypt pag. 18. So now put all their Jumble together and you will read their Blind Mad Work thus viz. It is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ that Convinceth of Sin p. 15. It is the Spirit that maketh known Sin which is not seen before p. 6. No it is the Light of Nature the Heathens had it by Nature and it s the Egyptian-Tasks and the Bondage of Cruel Pharoah No but it is the Godhead that the barbarous people saw by when they apprehended Paul to be a Murderer when the Viper fastened on his Hand Acts 28. 4. Do I despise this Light of Nature this Cruuel Pharoah this Light which is not of the Spirit of Christ No For what End do I desire to Obey this Egyptian-Task-master this Light of Nature this Spirit which is Not of Christ Because it s my Duty to God not for Life but from a Principle of Life Had not I a Power over Sin and Deliverance out of it and Strength to do that which was Good and Just and Right in the Sight of God and Man and Joy and Peace and Comfort and Quietness of Spirit when I obeyed this Pharoah this Light of Nature which is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ Yes I had a Joy and Peace in it and it was the Call of the Lord to me So compare this Heap of Confusion with the State of Israel in Egypt Exod. 3. and see what Joy and Peace and Comfort and Quietness of Spirit they had there which this Lad compares the Pure Light of the Son of God unto who knows not what he saith nor whereof he affirms of
so was not suoh a Perfect Quaker as W. H. hath said but stumbled at the very Door and VVay by which the Quakers came to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal John 17. 3. as I have before shewed And so William Haworth's great Joy Refreshment and Boast of the Quaker Converted is founded upon a Lye which is of the Devil the Father of Lyes which he hath made his Refuge and Bulwork against the Truth and them that walk in it and that he might privily shoot his Arrows at the upright in Heart the Children of Light whom he calls Seducers Anti-christian in whom Satan is transform'd into an Angel of Light with many other envious rayling speeches for which the Lord will judge him But the Children of Light are out of his reach and of all such who in their dark Envy and vain Imaginations seek to devour them and as they abide in the Truth they are in that the Devil is out of and he hath no Power over them and they are armed with the whole Armour of Light against all the fiery Darts of the Wicked Everlasting Praises be to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb forever who is getting the Victory over the Beast and his Image the Dragon and his Floods Whore and False Prophet And Great Babylon is sinking like a Mlll-stone whose Harpers Voice shall be heard no more at all and the Voice of her grinding Mill shall be heard no more at all Glory in the Highest The Day is come in which no Man will buy her Ware any more her Merchants are Howling and Gnawing their Tongues for Pain for strong is the Lord that judgeth Her And God is Confounding this Great City and setting up his Holy City upon a Hill which cannot be hid whose Light is like a Jasper clear as Chrystal And without are Dogs and all Lyars and whatsoever workeâ—h Abomiâ—ation and maketh a Lye And her True Light is shining and the Glory of God is arising more and more which shall shake terribly the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof amongst whom the Devil is come down in great Rage knowing he hath but a short time Rejoyce ye Children of the Lord and lift up your Heads all ye Upright in Heart Rejoyce ye Heavens and ye that dwell in the Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and Praise your God forever whose Power is come whose Glory shines whose Dominion is witnessed over Death and Hell and the Gates of it whose Dreadful Presence is now again known which the Worker of Iniquity cannot endure The Eye-lids of the Morning are unto them as the Shadow of Death Every one that doth Evil hates the Light neither cometh to it lest their Deeds should be reproved This is the Ground of their Vexation and Rage against the Pure Appearance of the Lord But Arise O God more and more and let the Sea Roar and the Waters be Troubled bring forth thy Glorious Work already begun in the Earth and rent thou the Vail of thick Darkness from Top to Bottom which is yet spread over People and Nations that the Graves may be opened and the Dead may here thy Voice and arise and come forth to Judgment let thy Dread fall upon the Heathen round about to awaken them and Exalt thy Everlasting Truth and Name over all the Powers of Darkness that many may be gathered into thy Heavenly Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace that the Poor among Men may Rejoyce and the Meek increase their Joy in tâ—ee who art the Strength of thy People in all Ages who never failed them that put their whole trust in thee To whom be Everlasting Praises Glory and Thanksgiving from all that know thy Name God over all Heaven and Earth blessed forever and ever Halelujah And now Will. Haworth I would put thee in Remembrance once more to consider this thy Work and the Ground of thy Rage against the Lord and his innocent People and what the Effects and End thereof will be and recollect in thy mind and ponder thy false Charges and things which thou hast written against them in that Pamphlet and see if thou canst stand by them when examined to thy face which thou hast published to the view of many People and let the Witness of God arise in thee and answer for it s of the Deity by which thou sayest the Barbarous People saw that Vengeance was due on Murderers and see if it will not be thy own Portion who art found a Hater of thy Brother as Cain did Abel without just Cause For he that hateth his Brother is a Murderer and we know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 John 3. 15. Chap. 2. vers 11. Therefore consider it and see if thy Fruits do agree with thy Professâ—on for the Tree is known and judged by the Fruits it brings forth who sayst You eat Christ's Flesh and drink his Blood and that he dwelleth IN you and you IN him too high words for a Lyar and Slanderer and Murderer for such as eats his Flesh and drinks his Blood hath Eternal Life John 6. 54. which the Hater of his Brother hath not nor the Lyar and Railer hath not any Inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. which thou art manifested to be both as by thy Fruits hath Appeared And so thy saying Christ dwells IN you and you IN him will not save thee from the Lyars Portion which is the Lake of Torment which is already begun in thee and the Smoak thereof ascends in this thy foaming out thy own Shame against an Innocent People for which the Lord doth judge thee and it will ascend forever if thou repent not speedily Who art so Hardened to say Thou Testifiest in the Lord that the Quakers Spirit is a Spirit of Delusion and that their Doctrine is Antichristian And callest them Seducers and other Reproachful Names and that thou hast many Ten Thousands are ready to Testifie the same with thee But Thy Lord thou hast manifested whose Name thou art in to be the Lyar and Murderer from the beginning which ruleth in thee as by thy Fruits is evident And we do judge of a Tree by its Fruits as the Young-Man also said whom thou sayst is a Quaker Converted to Christianity as if the Quakers are no Christians shewing thy Envy against them and thy Ignorance or Wilful Blindness concerning the Scriptures of Truth in which may be seen plentifully that God's People whom he hath had regard unto above all People in all Ages were such as Trembled at his Word as in Isa 66. and Moses was a Leading-Quaker Hebr. 12. and Ezekiel was a Quaker see Chap. 12. 18. and Daniel a Man greatly beloved was a Trembler Chap. 10. 11 12. and Paul preached in much Trembling and in the Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2. 3. and the same Apostle bid the true obedient Christians to work out their Salvation
Young-man did not knowing he Offended God c. 2dly Whether it be the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle to Assent to things without Ground or are they of that Frame of Spirit to be ready to assent to every thing another of them doth whether they have Ground for it or not as this Young-man was 4thly And whether it be the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle to say You to a Single Person and to call Men Master as this Young-man did who confesseth He could not agree with them in all things So take notice what the things are he did dislike and could not agree with them in which kept him back as he hath said And now see if he were fully of the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle and went faâ—ther then most of them towards that they call Perfection as W. H. hath affirmed and published to his own Shame who is so blind through his Envy that he did not see the same Young-man giving him the Lye in several places in the aforesaid Pamphlet to which he wrote the Epistle And how may the whole Nation of England and many in other Countries and such as have been their Persecutors give this Envious Man the Lye and rebuke him for his Folly and Wickedness who hath made such Notorious Lyes and Slanders against an Innocent Suffering People as will more appear in what followeth It is well known to many yet living what a Stir and Stumbling there was about their Meeting in Silence their Keeping on their Hats and Speaking plain Language without Respect of Persons according to the Scriptures of Truth denying their former needleâ—s Words and vain Complements being come to know a Bridle to their Tongues Iam. 1. 26. and their Salvation wrought out with Fear and Trembling which was a strange Work and Wonder to Professor and Prophane though plentifully testified of in the Scriptures which they call their Rule but know them not as is manifest And what Great and Cruel Sufferings did many of them sustain because of their Faithfulness to God in these things which were Contemptible in the Eyes of the Wise and Prudent Men of this VVorld who scornfully reproached them by the Name Quaker because they were such as Trembled at the VVord of the Lord Isa 66. Now these are the things that kept this Young-man back which he did not like nor find Ground in himself to do them as he hath said But the Quakâ—rs do still find Ground in the Truth to do what the Lord requireth and their Way Faith Spirit and Principle is the same and not changed Now wherein this Young-man was fully of their Way Faith Spirit and Principlâ— who knows And wherein his Perfection did consist no Body knows except in perfectly denying the Truth and Power of God and fleeing the Cross with W. H. who also did stumble at the same Stâ—mbling Stone which became as a Rock of Offence unto him as the Witneâ—s of God in him shall shortly bring to his Remembrance though at present his Pride and Envy hath blinded him and hath made Lyes his Refuge to Oppose and Villifie the People of the Lord. For this Young-man hath sufficiently confessed his Ignorance concerning the Work and Way of the Lord who did dislike and stumble at Silent Meetings which the Quakers do not dislike but do prize as a Means through which they came to know the Lord and his Salvation as their Brethren did in Ages past who waited for him in the Way of his Judgments Isa 26. 8. as may be plentifully seen in the Scriptures of Truth where the Lord commanded Silence and Stilness c. of which I may mention something at present for the sake of the Ignorant as Isa 41. Keep Silence before me O Islands and let the People renew their Strength let them come near then let them speak But this is hid from the vultures Eye and from all who Disobey the Light which they be lighted withal And Ezek. 2. 13. Be Silent O all Flesh before the Lord c. And Hab. 2. 20. But the Lord is in his Holy Temple let all the Earth keep Silence before him Hear this ye Earthly-minded who use your Tongues and the Lord never sent you And there was Silence in Heaven Rev. 8. But this is out of your Reach who cry Revelations are Ceased Be Still and know that I am God c. Psal 46. Tremble and Sin not Examine your own Hearts and be Still Psal 4. Therefore will I wait upon the Lord Isa 8. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their Strength Chap. 40. 31. And Christ Jesus the Lord bid his Disciples wait till they were indued with Power or Strength from on High Much more might be mentioned but this may serve to let you see your Ignorance of the Work and Way of the Lord among his People who did not dislike nor stumble at such things as you do For he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is no Occasion of Stumbling in him 1 John 2. 10. So here ye may read and see the Cause and Ground of your disliking and stumbling at these things which the Holy Men of God were acquainted with in all Ages And what was the Cause why the Name Qâ—â—kâ—r was first given this People in Reproach at that day But only for witnessing the States and Conditions of the Holy Men of God recorded in the Scriptures of Truth whose Salvation was wrought out with Fear and Trembling who would have been called Quâ—kâ—rs had they been in your dayes of which much miâ—ht be spoken So this Young-man W. H. cryes up for such a Perfect Quaker is so far from being such a one that he is ignorant of those things and dislikes them for which that Name was given them as he confessed the same to me and could not own that Refuge of Lyes W. H. hath made concerning him And I do not understand from his Master or any in Hartford that he was ever Ten Times at the Quakers Meetings but went sometimes as other Boyes did as he hath said and may be further seen in that Account from Hartford here inserted So let the Reader observe and take notice what a thing of nought or rather Scandalous Lyes which W. H. hath heaped up he reâ—oyces in and makes his vain Oration and Boast of as in his Epistle And see some of this poor beâ—â—â—der'd Lad's Câ—ntradictions and Confusions in speaking about the Light wherein he hath shewed his Weakness and Blindness â—nd not his Perfection nor Ability to engage any Quaker â—â— â—word as W. H. hath foolishly boasted like a Foolish Child of a Feather or like a Distracted Man that fights with the Air. Now here are some of the Young-man's own words as he hath set them down in the aforesaid Pamphlet by way of Question and Answer In pag. 15. Quest Was that Light by which I was convinced of Sin and by Obedience thereunto thought I should be brought into the Image of
The Quakers catch many simple Hearts and keep them in perfect popish Slavery and Bondage and callst them Foxes and Seducâ—rs c. Now consider with thy self and see how thou in thy blind Envy dost rush into lying and slandering as a Horse into the Battleâ— not fearing God nor regarding Man Art thou fit to be a Teacher of others who canst not bridle thy own Tongue Who will give thee any Credit in these false Charges but such as love and make Lyes like thy â—elf Dost thou know certainly what perfect popish Slavery and Bondage is Consider the Depth of thy Words and their Consequence if thy Charge were true against us Oh W. H. what hast thou done against the Innocent People of the Lord My Soul pitties thee and I can truly say my Bowels are turned for thee that a Place of Repentance thou mightst find before it be too late For thou hast quite mard thy Cause in hand and thy End the Lord hath frustrated and will of all his Opposers more and more and by the Strength of Envy no man shall prevail Will not Millions of People give thee the Lye if they should read or hear these Words of thine and abhor thy secret slaying the Innocent How darest thou so confidently assert such palpable Lyes and Slanders in the Face of Christendom The Papists would condemn and judge thee to be an envious Hypocrite should these Lines come to their Hands who are as opposite to us in their religious Wayes of Worship as Darkness is to Light and are wholy withou twith thee in their dark â—maginations And this shalt thou one Day know though at present thy Envy and Pride hath blinded thee And again sayst thou If ever Satan was transformed into an Angel of Light it is in this People and sayst They swarm like Locusts and that you have an Impudent Enemy to deal withall c. O William How came the Quakers to be thus contemptible and vile in thine Eyes that thou canst hardly find Words bad enough to reproach them with What Evil have they ever done thee How came they to be thy Enemies let God's Witness answer except for telling thee the Truth If they have any Way wronged thee let us understand it that thou mayst be righted and never foam out thy own Shame thus any more like the restless troubled Sea to the View of the Nation And as for Satans being transformed into an Angel of Light in the Quakers thou art as much mistaken as thy Brethren were that called Christ Jesus Belzebub for it is Christ in them the Hope of Glory which thou hast blasphemed against who is the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World to whom all the Angells must bow And as for their swarming which thou envyest it s not like Locusts that is thy Mistake also but as the Stars of Heaven and the Sand by the Sea-shore shall the Seed of Abraham be who rejoyced to see Christ's Day the true Light whom thou woulâ—st have reproached as thou hast us had he been in thy Dayes Therefore repent of this thy Wickedness and â—ease to perveâ—â— the right Way of the Lord and pray God the Thoughts of thy Heart and the Words of thy Mouth may be forgiven thee for the Burthen thereof will be thy own and not touch us as to hurt us for we feel sufficient Armour â—â— the Light against all the fiery raging Darts of the wicked blessed be the Lord forever Now to return again to some more of the young Man's Words page 17. where he speaks of another Light which every man hath not by which he saw Salvation by a Person wholy without him whose Righteousness being imputed to him Is this like Scripture-Language which you call your Rule see more of your Confusion and Blindness did the Apostles of Christ preach of a Light that every Man had not by which they saw their Salvation O strange erronious Doctrine quite contrary to the general Testimony of all the holy Men of God in all Ages Did not John the greatest of all the Prophets testifie That it was the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Joh. 1. 9. that all men through him might believe And do you not yet believe his Testimony If ye say you do then tell us what that other Light is beside the true Light that it may beknown distinctly according to plain Scripture for I never read of such a Light by which Salvation is seen though I have known the holy Scriptures from a Child yet of this kind of Light I am ignorant but I have read of the Grace of God that brings Salvation that teached the Saints but Paul said It hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. And he is as large as John in his Testimony and of this I have some true Knowledge with many more blessed be the Lord forever and ever Now if ye are not able to give us an Account of this Light according to plain Scripture which every man hath not a Measure of by which Salvation is seen by a Person wholy without you We shall justly judge it to be a meer dark and vain Imagination of your own Brains seeing the Scripture â—aith This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World c. And the wicked slothful Servant was not condemned because he had not a Tallent but for not improving it according to his Masters requiring but if all men are not lighted with the true Light then some men have no true Light then why should such be condemned who are so miserably deceived is this Equal But if all men are lighted with the true Light as I believe Then by your Doctrine some have two Lights another Light beside the true Light for thou sayst It s by a Light which every Man hath not So that thou mayst mean It s a greater Measure of the true Light then every Man hath or else it s another Sort of Kind of Light but if it be a greater measure of the true Light thou meanest then it alters not the Property Kind and Nature and so it s the same in Kind which every man hath a measure of But if it be of an other Kind and Nature then the true Light then is it properly another Light and so what shall we call this thy Light but a false Light or a Divination of thy dark Brain which thou mayst see by the true Light in thee thy own and W. H's Confusion and Blindness which is just from the Lord upon you all that oppose his blessed Truth and People And after thy confused Prayer p. 11. to Christ in thee and to Christ in the Heavens and by and in the Spirit as thou thoughtst thou sayst viz. Several Weeks was I in this Trouble making my Condition known to no one because I would not be perswaded to any thing but did wholy rely upon the inward Instructions of the Lord Thus did my Hope perish How didst thou wholy
not planted must be plucked up Doth God require Duty to him in that which he will pluck up Is it safe to desire to be Obedient to that How blind are you not to know what this Tree is by its Good Fruits May I not say to you as the Man whose Eyes Jesus Christ had opened did to the Hypocrites of old Why herein is a Marvelous thing that ye know not from whence he is and yet he hath opened mine Eyes And yet you say as to Light The Spirit maketh known Sin when it cometh which is not seen before So then that which gives the Sight of Sin at any time is the Spirit according to your own Doctrine pag. 6. Now how happy would it be in all Christendom yea in all the World if this Good Tree did grow and prosper in and among them all which delivers and keeps from Sinning outwardly and from Temptations from Lying and Stealing and Wronging their Neighbours and which gives Strength and Power to do that which is Good and Just and Right in the Sight of God and Man and gives Peace and Joy and Quietness of Spirit and Comfort in Obedience thereunto Consider it well and see if it be at all like the Cruel Bondage of Egypt whither this Young-man went down for help against the True Light and Spirit of Christ which makes known Sin and reproves it and delivers from it but it hath proved a Broken Reed to him Wo be to them saith the Lord that go down to Egypt for Help Isa 31. 1 2 3. Would not the Fruit of this Blessed Tree heal the Nations and still the Raging Sea of Folly and Wickedness which swells and abounds among them What a Blessed Peaceable Quiet Just Righteous Life would they all live in were they but come to this State Not to Wrong one another nor Steal one from another nor Lye one to another Would they not speak Truth every Man to his Neighbour as the Lord requireth then Surely that which keeps from Sin and Temptations Lying and Stealing and VVronging another would keep them from Killing and Robbing one another and from doing any Violence to one another or Persecuting one another about Religion for here they would be of one Heart Mind and Spirit sitting down in Joy and Peace and Comfort and none would make them afraid VVhat a Blessed Condition would this be Let all People that have any Sense judge And how Aimable and Desirable is this State in the Eyes of many People VVould not these Blessed Promises of the Lord be fulfilled They shall beat their Swords into Plough-Shares and their Spheers into Pruning-Hooks and Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2. And they shall sit every one under his own Vine and under his Fig-Tree and none shall make them afraid Mic. 4. VVould not this come to pass and be accomplished this VVay let the VVise in Heart judge VVould not Nations Rejoyce and be Glad at the Prosperity of this Blessed Tree And who would not be able among them to judge whence this Tree is by those blessed Fruits it bringeth forth For surely that which will keep a Young Man or an Old Man from stealing the value of a Herring will keep such whose Hearts have been long exercised with Covetous Practices from stealing a Cow or a Horse or any such things or from wronging their honest Neighbours any more as they have done and it will teach them if they obey it to do that which is Good Right and Just in the Sight of God and Man How would the very Root of Wickedness decay and wither Inwardly if all were ceased from Outwardly Would it not speak Barrenness if no Fruits appeared Would not the Devil and his Works and his Kingdom and Authority soon be destroyed and come to an End by this Means and Way Judge you that have Wisdom to count the Number of the Beast And who now is appointed to do this great Work or who or what is able to accomplish it but Christ Jesus the True Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1. 9. as it is written of him 1 John 3. 8. For this Purpose was the Son of God manifested That he might destroy the Works of the Devil Mark that And all Power is given to him And there is no other Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved or delivered from Sin Acts 4. 12. For he is the Deliverer which comes out of Sion to turn away Vngodliness from Jacob Isaiah 59. 20. Rom. 11. 26. If ye have Ears hear and read with Understanding And why now should ye thus Blame Reproach and grievously Slander and Envy the Quakers so called for vindicating and endeavouring the Prosperity of this Blessed Tree and Plant of Righteousness whose Fruit would Heal the Nations did they but sit under it Were they but Obedient to this Light how would it keep their Consciences void of Offence toward God and Man as this Young-man speaks of it Hoping to be found in the same himself as his Duty to God p. 19. And yet in pag. 12. he said The Devil had two Cards to play which were Objections against the Doctrine of Christ's making Satisfaction for all my Sins both past present and to come And in pag. 17. The Lord opened mine Eyes and shewed me Salvation by a Person wholely without me And pag. 18. But I found a greater Joy and Peace when I saw Salvation by the Righteousness of Christ without me being a more compleat and surer Righteousness then that wrought in me being hereby delivered from Fear of Miscarriages to the Loss of my Salvation And W. H. saith That the Righteousness of Faith by which we are justified is wholely without us And that the Father hath poured forth all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ Now if this Doctrine were True and Sound Doctrine there is no need to Fear of Miscarriages For there is now Wrath left to punish Sinners if All be poured forth upon Jesus Christ and that Satisfaction was made Sixteen Hundred Years ago for All Sins past present and to come the Devil might play what Cards he will now if this be true there 's no need to Fear the Loss of Salvation through Miscarriages And that was a needless Doctrine of Christ to bid his Disciples Watch and Pray lest they enter into Temptation Mat. 26. 41. and of the Apostle Peter who bid them give all Diligence to make their Calling and their Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10 If these Men's Doctrine be true and sound when will that time come that VVicked Men will not indure sound Doctrine which the Apostle said they would not but would heap up Teachers after their own Lusts and turn their Ears from the Truth 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. Who among all the Ungodly in Christendom so called would turn their Ears from this kind of Doctrine O ye Daubers with Untempored Morter and Sowers of Pillows under
rely upon the Inward Instructions of the Lord when thou prayedst in that confused Manner as aforesaid consider it And did ever any wholy rely upon the inward Instructions of the Lord and their Hope perish bring one Example for this or else conclude thou hast blasphemed against the Lord and belyed him and his People in all Ages as thou hast And in p. 19. thou sayst Thou hadst Peace of Conscience by the powerful Work of God without thee Is this like Scripture-Language Surely thou hast got a peace and out of thy Trouble the wrong Way if it be so and into much more Trouble must thou come then ever before thou canst have true Peace with God The Lord hath spoken it For thy Flight was in the Winter as I told thee and thou hast fled the Cross and slipt thy Neck from under the Yoak of Christ Jesus which W. H. calls the Burthen Yoâ—kâ—â— which is so indeed to all the Rebellious whose Tongues are at Liberty to lye and Slander as he hath done But did not the Saints and People of God in all Ages witness their Salvation and Peace of Conscience by the powerful Work of God within them Did not God work in them when their Salvation was wrought out with Fear and Trembling And did they not say God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ And we have this Treasure in earthen Vessells 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Of which much more might be spoken We deny not the Work of God and Christ without as some have imagined but do also know as our Brethren did that no man knows the Things and Works of God which are spiritually discerned but by the Spirit of God and it s the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead that dwells in his People which quickens their mortal Bodies And they never cryed up wholy without as you do but preached Christ in them after they had testified of his Appearance and Work without as you may read Rom. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. And Christ Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven within People Luke 17. 20. And the true Worship of the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth Joh. 4. And said What if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh that profits nothing when they cryed how can this Man give us his Flesh to eat whose Minds were wholy without like many of you John 6. And said Peter 2 Epist Ch. 1. v. 19. We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie to which ye do well to take heed as unto a Light that shines in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts And Jesus is the bright and Morning-Star as ye may read Revel 22. 16. And Jesus Christ bid People believe in the Light that they might become the Children of the Light Joh. 6. 62. and so do we And he said He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches And the same Jesus said He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life And said the Apostle 1 John 1. 7. But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin So they were to drink his Blood and that was it by which they were cleansed from Sin and had Eternal Life and if they drank it was it not then within them Read and understand for People have drunk Iniquity as an Ox drinks Water which hath defiled them as Christ Jesus said Mat. 15. 18 19. For out of the Heart proceeds evil Thoughts Murthers Adulteries Fornications Thefts false VVitness Blasphemies and these Things defile a man and Mark 7. 21 22 23. For from within out of the Heart of Men proceed evil Thoughts Adulteries Fornications Thefts Covetousness Wickedness Deceit Laciviousness an Evil Eye Blasphemy Pride Foolishness All these evil Things come from within and defile the Man Now must not these Evil Things be purged out according to that Saying of Paul 2 Tim. 2. 21. If a Man purge himself from these he shall be a Vessel unto Honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every Good Work Is any fit for the Master's Use but who is purged and sanctified as aforesaid or prepared to every good Work till the Evil Works are laid aside purged out and forsaken Or can People serve both these Masters For he that committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin as it is written John 8. 34. 1 John 3. 8. Now how or by what must these Evil Things which defiles People be purged out seeing they are within them Must not the Antidote be taken inwardly to expel the Poyson that works within to the corrupting and endangering the Ruin of the Body What is it then must cleanse the Inward Man of Corruption and Defilement but the precious Blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without Spot and Blemish Did not that Redeem People formerly from their Vain Conversations 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Rev. 5. 9 10. And did they not drink it and bless the Lord and called it The Cup of Blessing But this is a Mystery hid from the Fleshly Birth all that are in the dark Imaginations of their own Brains as the Spiritual Birth was hid from Nicodemus who came by Night And did not God say I will dwell IN them and walk IN them c 2 Cor. 6. And does not the Scripture say By Mercy and Truth Iniquity is purged Prov. 16. And did not the Son of God the Truth and the Light of the World walk in the midst of the Golden Candle-sticks And did he not say He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And is not God a Spirit and his Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth And is not the Spirit within and the Truth required in the Inward Parts And is not God Light Read and understand you that cry wholely without you you that clamour against the Light and Work of God within for we confess Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh as it is written 1 Joh. 4 c. And so we are not of Antichrist as William Haworth doth falsly charge us in his Epistle to that Pamphlet aforesaid titled The Quaker Converted which is a Lye uttered in the very opening of his Mouth against us for which the Lord will plead with him For the Young-man whom he hath thus vainly boasted of was no Quaker as I have before shewed to any Unprejudiced Eye and by his own Confession but a poor tossed unstable bewildred Lad as may be seen who went to prove Religions with he knew not what as in the 3d page of his Book may be read and
with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. and Exhorted Servants to obey their Masters with Fear and Trembling Ephes 6. 5. and the true Christians received Titus with Fear and Trembling 2 Cor. 7. 15. and much more might be mentioned of them Therefore let not thy Envy blind thee any longer nor go not about to shut up the Way to the Kingdom of Heaven against People as thou hast done though the Enterance thereof thou knowest not who art found without among the Biters at the Heels of the True Woman the King's Daughter whose Glory is within Psal 45. 13. And as for thy many Ten Thousands thou boastest of we know them For Every one that doth Evil hates the Light c. which are very many and so every Evil-doer is on thy side and is one with thee as thou hast said And so the Unclean Spirits may now cry as formerly Our Name is Legion for we are many But remember thou that true Saying of old viz. That though the Wicked joyn Haâ—d in Hand yet shall they not go unpunished but the Seed of the Righteous shall be delivered Prov. 11. 21. And now try thy own Spirit and thy Fruits by the Scriptures which many of you call the Touch-Stone who saith Christ dwells In you and you In him and that you eat his Flesh and drink his Blood For it is written If Christ be in you the Body is Dead because of â—in Rom. 8. And if any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature old things are passed away all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. Is thy Body dead Is not Lying and Slandering and Envy and False-Accusing Sin Are not these Sins alive in thee in thy Body Let all that know thee judge Art thou 〈◊〉 Creature Let them judge if all old things be 〈…〉 iâ— thee And did not the Blood of Christ cleanse them 〈…〉 it from all Sin Dost thou witness the same â—â—â—â—ct thereof 〈◊〉 they did who walked in the Light 1 John 1. 7. Dost thou wâ—â—ness it to cleanse thee from all Sin who art in thy dark Conâ—usion Blasphemy and false Doctrine Belying and Reviling God and hiâ— People saying He hath poured forth all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ What kind of Christianity is it that thou art endeavouring to Convert People to Where is one Scripture will bear thee out in this Saying of thine Though thou hast quoted Isa 50. that will not do it nor all the Coverings thou canst make will not hide thee from the Wrath to come which will overtake thee speedily and then thou shalt know that there is some left for thee and all Lyars and Evil-Speakers and that the Quakers are no Seducers as thou hast belyed them But such are Seducers as draw People from the Anointing in them which is the Truth as may by read 1 Joh. 2. 26 27. And not them that turn People from Darkness to the Light Acts 26. 18. the Anointing in them whom thou hast wickedly reproached as the Righteous God is Witness for us and against thee whose Innocent Cause he will assuredly plead with thee and all that oppose them And no Weapon formed against his blessed Truth and People shall ever prosper The Lord of Heaven and Earth hath spoken it This is written by a Labourer in the Lord's Harvest in true Love to his Blessed Truth and People and to the Souls of all People I am a Frieâ—â— bearing Testimony against the Works of the World that are Evil And I have â—â—â—â—ed to forgive Enemies and yet can truly say in this Concern in the behalf of the Lord and his Holy Name The Reproaches of them that Reproached thee fell on me WilliamBayly Southâ—ark the 17th of the 11th Moneth 1673. Postscript I Having seen a Book called The Quaker Converted have considered divers things therein mentioned but I find the main Scope of that Book is concerning a Young-man that had been sometimes at the Quakers Meetings and is now gone again to William Haworth's Meeting and declares of a State of Bondage he hath been in and how he is now come to Liberty The Book is sufficiently answered with the Epistle thereunto My Purpose is only to Animadvert briefly upon one Passage mentioned in the 18th page of the said Book where this William Dimsdale hath summed up the whole Discourse in a Metaphor or Comparison of the Children of Israel's being in Egypt and in Canaan the one was the House of Bondage the other the House of Freedom to which he compares his being engaged in Faith and Judgment to obey the Light in his Conscience as his Bondage and his being delivered from that Faith and Judgment and from that Obedience to be his being delivered from Pharoah and his grievous Tasks and Burdens and his being brought into the Land of Canaan where no such Burden is laid upon him as before was said Behold here a Cloud of Gross Darkness and Ignorance which would amaze any man that is not steddy in his right Senses that ever any one should become so Blind as thus to manifest his own Shame and the great Corruption and Wickedness of his Principles and Way he professeth Mark what his Tasks were that were laid upon him when he was under this Pharoah in this Egypt viz. First Not to Lye 2dly Not to speak Idle Words 3dly Not to be among other Boys in their Sports and Pastimes though he had Oportunity thereunto 4thly Not to Wrong his Neighbour 5thly Not to Steal Hâ—rrings though he loved them well and was tempted to them and was also sent to the Barrel alone 6thly not to sink under Hissings and Reproaches which happened to him for doing well and divers more such like Burdens which when he did observe he had Peace he saith But now he hath greater Peace in his Canaan where none of these Burdens are laid on him Oh horrible Canaan Such a Canaan sure God never led his People into nor never will where these Tasks are not laid upon them This is a Canaan for the Sons of Belial who are without a Yoak and not for Christians who must be yoaked from Lying from Idle-speaking from Stealing Herrings or any thing else and all things before-mentioned But now he is free from that Pharoah as he calls the Pure Light of Christ had not Men need take heed how they Believe him in his Words how they Trust him in his Actions or how they have to do with him seeing the Latitude of his Canaan is to have none of these Burdens laid upon him and the Latitude of his Judgment and Faith is to believe that if he doth Lye Steal Speak Idly or any other such things there is no VVrath left in God to be poured out upon him for it Nay that it was forgiven before it was done and Himself not a whit the less approved of God for doing it Nay that there is no Danger of his Salvation to Miscarry how great soever his Miscarriages may be Here is a CANAAN so called