shews the Nâ—mness of thy Spirit and thy Error from the command of Christ and the Apostle who forbid Swearing So it is not a Foâ—m of our making but it s a Form or Command of Christ Jesus and calling God to witness in speaking the Truth is not Swearing by Jesus Christ the Truth and the Oath of God And as for kissing the Book there is no Example for that not in the Old Testament when there was Swearing And its false to say that G. P. or we when we call God to Record for the Truth which we declare own that to be Swearing and this is not straining a Gnat and swallowing a Cammel as thou scoffingly sayst And hadst thou distinguished between Ceremony and Substance thou wouldst not have called it our Form not to â—wear and where dost thou prove Verity Verily a kind of an Oath And how dost thou prove by Paul calling God to Record upon his Soul to be Swearing and the Son comes to fulfill the Oaths that were in the Old time and Genesis Exodos Psalms Acts 2. and Heb. 3. do not prove swearing in the New Covenant no more than outward Offerings of Beasts and Circumcision c. And we have the Son which is more then the Letter that doth fulfil Swearing in the Old time and we are come to Christ who gives us Life and he is come who hath given us an understanding and we are in him that is true So all Swearing hath been since Man sell from Gods Image but Christ is come who renews us up into the Image of God who ends Swearing and sets up Yea and Nay in the lieu of it And R. R. saith We have our appointed dayes and set-set-times for our Meetings to worship God and this thou scoffingly calls New-Moons and saith Are not these Formal and Customary and rather more to set up some distinction from other Sects then from any clear Testimony the Lord at all times loads them into These Observations and these Traditions are become Idols thou sayest as Papists c. Answ And why is R. R. angry at our Set Dayes and maliciously calls them Traditions and Idols as the Papists R. R. would become Judge of all but himself but he had better have judged himself and seen himself whether he had not been without all Form confused and empty And did not the Apostles and the Church meet together the First day of the Week and commanded them not to forsake the Assembling of themselves together as the manner of some did But it is like thy Evil Spirit hath no Peace in such Meetings and as for grievously Persecuting these are Slandrous words in applying them to us thou who art in Cains fear And the true Light and Life of Christ Jesus and his Spirit hath led us to meet together and to praise the Lord and worship him and in which Light we do hold Christ the Head who bruiseth the Serpents Head though thou one of Hagars Children dost Scoff at us and the true Light which is the Life in the Word by which all things were made makes us greatly to differ both from the Papists and thee And whereas R. R. saith We often scourge J. N. by casting him out of our Synagogues and by false Reports and sold him into Egypt and that our Strife and Contention is about Ceremonies and that our Holiness and Righteousness is of the outside of the Cup and Platter and not in the inward Circumcision of the Heart c. And then R. R. when he hath forged all these Lyes cries Hallelujah Answ The Lord knows that all this is Envy that comes from R. R's malicious Heart and his own evil Surmisings and from an uncircumcised Heart and our Holiness and Righteousness comes from Christ Jesus and J. N. in the worst of his time would not so Revile us as R. R. doth and as for false Reports evil Surmisings and outside Cup and Platter this R. R. might have kept at home with his Strife and Contention and doth R.R. think to sell us to his Brethren AEgyptians with his false Reports and evil Surmisings that he hath Printed against us The Son of God had a place in AEgypt when Herod did seek to kill him And what is this but Envy against our Form which was the Form of the Apostles and them that walk in the fear of God and what we claim to our selves in the Light of Christ we would have all to walk in who are taught of God though we Exhort one another and Edifie one another and Build up one another in our most Holy Faith and we cast out none but if they go from the Light and Spirit of Christ they cast themselves out of the fellowship in it And as for the Spirit of Vsurpation and causes the Creation to groan and breeds the Famine c. Let R. R look to that and we know that the Stone which the Builders rejected is become the Head of the Corner and is marvelous in our Eyes who gives us plenty of Bread and Milk and Wine without Money And if R. R. and they that printed this Book had known this we should not have had so many foul Expressions from his Mouth and Uncircumcised Lips as here may be seen in pag. 35. And G. F. and we know that Christ lighteth every man that cometh into the World and they that hate it have not the same measure and God doth send his Labourers into his Vineyard some at one Hour and some at another and art not thou Persecuting Scoffing and Reproaching of them let thy Book speak thy Spirit and whether thou art subject to that Light or Spirit which God hath distributed to thy Mortification and Reformation or Condemnation Let the Book speak whether thy Language does not betray thee to be the Tongue of the AEgyptian Sea And thou sayst Why may not God enjoyn that as an Ordinance to day and give hit Power to it which also to morrow he may lay aside as useless Answ Prove that in the New Covenant where God and Christ did so in that which is Substantial that God with-drew his Power from any such thing and left it no better then a dead Idol And was the Bazen Serpent Temple Tabernacle Offerings Jews Ceremonies enjoyned by the Lord as an Ordinance one day and another as useless and a dead Idol or were they not to continue except the Brazâ—n Serpent till the Seed came the time of Reformation And R R. dost not thou say When thou hast been speaking of Jewish Ceremonies and Sacrifices such also aâ—e many things at this day both among the Quaker and other Sects which have been Shadows and Figures of good things to come which are beautified in their Season whilst the presence of God was in thâ—m but that being with-drawn they became as dead Idols c. Answ But what are these forms of good things to come among the People of God in the New Covenant called Quakers doth not R. R. Dote and not know what
â—e saith For in the New Covenant Christ is come to fulfiâ—l those Forms and Figures that were in the Old and a for other Sects let them answer for themselves And where did ever the Apostâ—es tâ—at preached the New Covenant tell them that God wouâ—d beautifie some Forms with his presence to day and then he would with-draw himself out of them to morrow and leave them as Idols And R. R. doth advise That all Men walk as they see and have received from the Lord and none to look out at others Then we must not look at R. R. nor his Book nor his Teaching Again R. R. saith Not call any Man Father or Master of their Spirits but God only See that R. R practise what he saith And hath not R. R. Traditions and Forms of his own who cries so much against Forms see his prescriptions and advice in his Book And we have forsaken our Fathers and Mothers Traditions which we were brought up in and do obey God rather then Man And thou that â—akest such work about Siâ—gular and Plural and Hat and Swearing to Magistrates Is not this thy Fathers Traditions and old Customs And G F and we it was alwayes our Principle that all should follow the Light of Christ to be their Guide to Christ from whence it comes and this not as thou scoffingly sayst to leave the Guide and follow thee and this Light leads out of the Apostacy and doth not lead into Vsurpation as thou scoffingly savst it led first out the Church of Rome but it leads into Humility And G. F. is not offended as thou scoffingly sayest at him that makes Conscience or no Conscience of an Idol But G.F. cannot encourage any Consciences to an Idol but to the Light of Christ that turns from Idols to him in which the true Love Liberty and Unity is in the Light of Christ who reconciles to God and all things in Heaven and in Earth And R. R. speaks of Leaving each other to the guiding of the holy Spirit of God in that Form that they are brought up in Answ Then why doth R. R. cry out so much against Forms in the Quakers doth he not here condemn himself and Gods Spirit and Grace and Truth the Apostles preached and brought both Jews and Gentiles out of the old Forms they were in into the New Covenant where they were all taught of God And if R. R. had minded Love Mercy and Truth and brought forth Fruits of true Christianity in Humility Harmlesness and Meekness and the Spirit of Christ he would not have made so much strife about outward Traditions and there would not have been such a Noise as he hath made in his Book about his Brass and Tinklin Simballs and if thou wouldst cease thy Envy and Disputing Back-biting and Surmising and Slandring with thy Tongue if thou and others would learn thi Lesson at home it would do well And R. R. thou sayst With Innocent Harmless Tender Loving Spirit of Crace I commend thee and all men c. And yet didst not thou say before in pag. 33. That G. F. was turned to the Witch of his Mand and in pag. 37. saith that He hath exercised Cruelty against J P. and hunted him as Saul did David by Papers of an Evil Spirit which thou hast begotten and raised in others against him c. Answ R R. this Languaâ—e comes not from a Loving Sober Tender Spirit a the Râ—ader may see which thou often goest over to swell up thy book with thy bitter Railing Language which is the old Liquor that comes out of the old Bottle and not from the new And as for Exercising Cruelty Eâ—mity and Hunting as Saul did David by Papers and an Evil spirit all this R. R. might have applyed to his own Spirit which he thinks to beget in others against the Innocent but one day the Lord will Reward him and them that promote his Work according to their Deeds For the Lord knoweth our tender Care and Love was for the preserving of J. P. though all was slighted And thou sayest That G. F. Accused Threatned and Condâ—mned J. N. as one departed from Truth c. and that he had lost his Authority Answ J N. did confess it when that he came to see himself and Repented But Threatned and Condemning these are thy own aggravating Words For J N diâ— conâ—ess G. F's and others Tenderness to him when he saw himselâ— anâ— Repented And R. R. saith That G. F tempted J N. with fair Speeches and Premises if he would bow down and be obedient to him to which Threats and Promises J. N. heâ—â— siâ—â—nt c. G. F. thereby thinking he was cast under Subjection and head forth his Hand to J. N. to Kiss as a Testimony of his Favoâ—â—â—o him and his Obedience to thee and J. N. refusing then G F â—ffered him his Foot and said He was mistaken And R.R. appeals to G. F's own Conscience for the Truth of this who saith He received it from J. N's own Mouth when he went to Bristol to receive his Crucifixion Therefore R R. concludes That G. F. hath lost his Guide and is led by the Spirit of Diotrephos Answ In all this R. R. hath manifested himself to be of a malicious Spirit and a Forger of most of these Words For these are Lyes to say that G. F. did tempt with Promises or Threats or he thinking to have brought him under Subjection by it these Words are from R. R's Imaginary Spirit and not from Love And after J. N. had given G. F. many hard words wâ—en the poor maâ— was out and dark G. F. would have taken him by the Hand and J. N. would not and G. F. was many time moved to pray for him and oner on his Knees and J. N's Spirit was so stupified with Darkness that he slighted it as them that were with G.F. then can test fie and alter he had given G. F. many hard words J N. said He would Kiss G. F. But what if G. F. said it was his Fâ—oâ— as a Testimony against that lofty Spirit which â—oor man after he condemned And as for the Spirit of Diotrephos R. R might have kept at home And G. F. did not fall from his Guide because he did not follow J. N. nor J. P. nor R. R. as R. R. would have it be And why could not J. N. R. R. have told G. F. of these things while J. N. was living but R. R. tells it to the World so many Years after J.N. was dead and after J.N. had given forth a Paper of Condemnation of that Spirit that led him others forth but it s like such condemned stuss is Food for R. R. to rake up and to feed on and also to feed the Prejudiced People and the World withal but this is not the Spirit of Christ Jesus nor Love that R. R. talks so much of in Words and we could have wished that R. R. had condemned himself and his Work as J. N. did
words to G. F. that were spoken to J. P. poor Man he fulfilled them his end manifested it And we know that every one that feareth God and works Righteousness is accepted of him this is no new thing to us Thou sayest It s vain for G. F. to shut up the Kingdom against others c. And further R. R. saith Thy Spirit is much blinded from beholding Gods present work in the World c. Answ R. R. might have applyed this to his own Spirit For G. F. nor we shut not the Kingdom of Heaven to any but that all might come to the Light of Christ and see the Kingdom and come into the Kingdom But this Railing Spirit of R. R's is out of the Light and Spirit of Christ and our of his Kingdom and rails against them that be in it who once were Darkness but now are they Light in the Lord and in his Light behold his Works and declare his Works what he is doing and though thou mayest boast thy self of the Kingdom yet thy railing Language maniâ—ests thee like the Pharisees who called themselves Children of the Kingdom but were shut out And therefore take heed and Repent R. R. if it be not hid from thine Eyes And God sending his Son a Light into the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World c. And whosoever believeth in him and followeth him shall have everlasting Life And God writing his Law in the Heart and putting it in the minds of his people And as the Law came by Moses so Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ which has appeared to all men This is not an offence and Stone of stumbling to G. F. as R. R. falsly imagins and saith neither is it our Practice to have dominion over the Faith of others nor to limit the Light of Christ These are thy own Imaginations and false Charges And as for Antichrist Mother of Harlots and Dragon and Babylon c. which thou often mentions R. R. might have applyed it at home to his airy Notions And R. R. often uses the word Hallelujah and saith The accuser of the Brethren is cast down Now let the Reader see if R. R. be not the accuser in this Book and it were well if he were cast down And R. R. talks of the new Birth and of the Lyon lying down with the Lamb. But this is not the Fruits of it nor of Mercy and Truth kissing each other And what if Anne Clayton which thou sayest is thy Servant to wit G. F. did send Copies into New-England Virginia and Maryland c. that none might be deceived with that Spirit and this was not the Seed of Enmity to oppose Michael the Prince c. And who is this Michael Prince of Love Is it J. P nay nor R. R. neither as thou speaks of in pag. 26. We cannot own you so to be And why did not R. R. print the Letters at large which Anne Clayton sent abroad that they might have been seen And that which was written to J. P. and Charles Bayley was for their good and to others that they should not run into such things as some had run into And Jane Stoaks hath condemned what was amiss in her as I faid before and thou dost not well to bring up her Name so often in Print But as for Charles Bayley he run quite out of the Form of Truth and his end manifested him as did J. P's And it had been well for them if they had been reclaimed to the Truth and thee also a Jane Stoaks is then thou wouldst not have been found in this work of bringing up the Dead in Print as thou hast done And R. R. saith What if J. P. did wear a Carnal Sword and Gandy Apparel and a Staff tipt with Silver and shot off Guns c. And then asks whether there be not a time and a season for all these things And thou sayest G. F. is very angry with J. P. that he should wear a Staff tipt with Gold which Major General Muddy ford gave him and if he had refused it he had rejected the love of God And then thou falls a railing of G. F. and saith His Eye is evil c. Answ It is false G. F. doth not Reproach J. P. in telling him those things that were true for he pretended to go Preach the Gospel as may be seen in pag. 20. But did the Apostles go to preach the Gospel with outward Swords and Guns and gorgious Apparel and Saff tipt with Gold And did not J. P. pretend that he would not kill a Louse a Rat nor a Worm when he was in England and elsewhere Then what would he do with his Cannons and his Carnal Sword and his Staff tipt with Gold Had he not here denyed his former Principle and Spirit who had come out of such things formerly And thou abusest G. F. in saying He was Angry with J. P. for his Staff tipt with Gold Nay that is a mistake though J. P. might be puffed up with such things and such as thee But that he should pretend one thing and act contrary to his own Principles such things did deserve Reproof And the Staff tipt with Gold thou sayest If he had rejected it he had rejected the Love of God So highly he and thee esteem or it it seem And G. F. doth not limit the Light of Christ in mens Considences And whereas R. R. tells a great Story of Hammon Mordecai Joseph and Daniel and of Esther's Feast c. to justifie J. P. in those Vanities before mentioned Answ Thou goest far back for thy proof and wast thou not telling G. F. of being Baptized to Moses in the Cloud and a Vail was come over his Heart as thou mayst see in pag. 24. So read this at home and apply it to thy self for it is not G. F's Condition And J. P's feasting the Governour a few dayes after he had been Whipping of Friends and letting off his Gunâ— this is no comparison to Esthers Feast his End declared it And if R. R. could have distinguished between the Shadows and the Substance he would not have gone about to justifie J. P. in these things or had been in the Law of Love to his Neighbour he would not have published these things to the Eye of the World And G. F. doth not Curse that which God doth Bless R. R. this is from an airy Spirit and not from the Law of Love And thou tells in pag. 27. Of such as shall Ride in the second Charriet of Pharoah and judge the Mount of Esau not in the Tower of Carnal Wrath and Enmity as Hagar's Children do Answ Thou and thy J. P. it s like loved this high place But look art not thou in the Mount of Esau that Hunter after the Just and against Jacob and in the Nature of Hagars Children in the Tower of Wrath and Enmity and not in the Law of Love thy Spirit doth not manifest otherwise And thou speakst of
seen the Locusts and Smoke at home in thy own Pit which now is come out And then thou tellst of thy Dream and hunting the Fox with Hounds which thou didst much affect and art thou turned into this same loose Nature again and thou applies thy filthy Dream to G. F. one of the Lambs of Christ thou wast hunting him in Esau and Nimrod's Nature But when thou art Confounded and thy Mount on Fire then remember the Journal of thy Life And G. F. hath not been hid the Prisons and Goals manifested that neither hath he hid himself under smooth Words For hast not thou been finding fault with his Words calling them Rabshekas and Reproaches all along thy Book see in pag. 32. Now to say they are smooth what Contradictions are these and said He Reproached J. P. in speaking plainly to him And thou sayest That G. F. loves none but who calls him Master or to receive his Mark or Number of his Name This is false in R. R. who is given up to forge Lyes and three times thou goest over to fill up thy â—ook withal in the Enmity that G. F. gave J. N. his Hand to Kiss which is false For G. F. would have taken him by the Hand and he reâ—used it and then thou fallst a Railing at G. F. and one day thou wilt know that it was not the Spirit of the Dragon nor Words without Life that G. F. spake to thee neither doth he bear any Enmity to the Innocent but is out of the Enmity the Lord knoweth it and if thou wert in the Love thou wouldst see it And then thou manifests thy Envy against E. B. and saith that He spoke great things and spoke many Mysteries and then scoffingly sayst So did Balaam that erred from the Spirit Doth not R. R. here manifest his Spirit like Ishmael his Hand against every man who thus compares E. B. that Innocent Servant of the Lord with Balaam and if thou hadst laid down thy Crown and denyed thy self as did others thou wouldst not have brought forth such as is in thy Book And thou tellst Of the Beast that hath yet a Golden Head standing and the Dragon tearing and rendring But if thou hadst seen this tearing Spirit in thy self thou wouldst have stopt thy Mouth And R. R. saith He sees the People are weary of the Manna that comes down from Heaven Gods Spirit and Life in them This is thy own condition with other of thy railing Expressions in this page and these Words thou hast not spoken by the moving of the Spirit of Grace for thou art not seasoned with it as may be seen in pag. 41. and 42. And as for the Flesh-Pots of Aegypt thou speakst of see if thou be not seeding in them And R. R. saith He had rather speak five Words from the Spirit of Grace moving then ten Thousand Words from hit Vnderstanding though never so true c. Answ R. R. need not Praise himself in this whose Words proceeds neither from the Spirit of Grace nor from a good Understanding as sober People that read his Book may see and judge and thou that condemnest the Innocent and justifiest the Wicked mayst read thy Portion And R. R. saith O Jerusalem how oft have I sought to find Love in thee towards thy Brethren c. how oft have I pursued after it bearing all Sins and Evils on my Body that he might gain the Love of his Brethren Answ R. R. these are but boasting Words without Life as thy Fruits declare it in thy Book and the Fruits of thy Spirit doth not manifest Love And R.R. saith He believes he might have been received into Fellow ship amongst us But then he saith he must first have turned the Truth of God unto a Lye and speak Evil of things that he knew to be good and denyed his Testimony and betrayed Jesus Answ Nay such a Spirit as this we could not have received into Unity but let R. R. look at home and see if he hath not done this already and if that be Good which J. N. hath condemned and if that be R. R's Testimony and a betraying of Jesus that the Light of Christ condemns R. R. may keep his Testimony to himself And we cannot believe that R. R. did bear all Sin and Evil on his own Body as he saith in pag. 44. Then R. R. tells us Of he that loves his Enemies speaks Evil of no man rewards Evil with Good and doth not salute his Brother only this it he that is Heir of all things and must Reign Answ But where is the Life of this Love in R. R Let the Reader see if he hath shewed forth the Fruits thereof in his Book and if not then he cannot Reign with Christ according to his own Judgment Doth he speak Evil of no man Doth he love Enemies hath not he rewarded Evil for Good And wast not thou before in thy Book contending more for Tradition then the Command of Christ who saith Swear not at all read pag. 35. and 44. And thou speakst of the Son of the Bond Woman called of Men Master c. which wilt not let his Brother go free c. Answ Art not thou called of men Master and callst others Master Read thy self and come down from thy Mount to the Witness of God in thee and see if thou canst put a difference between the two Seeds in thy self And thou sayst thou hast seen many mighty Men fall But it were better that thou didst see thy self in the fall And thou sayst Abide thou in that which thinks no ill and thou wilt be safe Answ R. R. had better have taken this Counsel to himself And R. R. saith When others Hearts shall fail them for fear that have begotten Children in Adultry that have imagined Mischief in their Hearts against the Innocent and have climbed up into their Fathers Bed But R. R. might very well have applyed this at home and kept it there and not have let it gone out into the World For we the Believers in the Light of Christ Jesus do own every appearance of him whether it be in Groaning or Sighing Hymn or Song and those are manifest that do betray the simple Ones whose Blood lies under Skirts and R. R. might have kept these last sayings at home And R. R. writes to his Dear Heart and saith Enter thou not into their Secrets nor say a Confederacy with the Blood-thirsty man c. Answ Is not this R. R's condition who would make G. F. a Blasphemer and what must Blasphemers be done withal and whose Bloody Hands must first be upon his Head Is not thy Nakedness here seen that hath long lain hid in secret and hast thou not Preached it now atop of the House of the Worlds Spirit And thou would see the dear Lamb once more under the Fig-tree not opposing Gods Spirits leading c. nor lending an Ear to Reports Answ But why hath not R. R. applyed this at home and practised it then he would not have Printed so many false Reports and Lyes of twenty Years standing as have been before instanced and if he had not followed his own understanding and his passionate angry Spirit and fathered the Fruit of it upon the motion of God as in pag. 40. it might have been better with him and not to have plucked up the Wheat with the Tares And thou sayst We should be in one Love and the Lord rebuke him that seeks occasion c. Answ Now let all tender sober Christians judge whether R. R. is not come under this Rebuke by his own Judgment hath not he sought occasion and made occasion in matters of Strife which has been twenty Years standing some more and some less and which were dead and buried and forgiven by us long ago which dead thing thy Spirit hath raised up which every Spirit raises its own but thy Spirit hath manifested not to bear the Fruits of the true love of God in Christ Jesus but the Spirit of the World that lusts to Envy Height Pride and Arrogancy and Turbulent and Revengeful as you may see in pag. 40. and throughout his Book Of what thou sayst thou hast returned to G. F. in this thou hast manifested thy self to be void of the Lamb-like Spirit of Jesus and the true Humility Learning of him nor one of his Disciples thou dost not bear that Badge or Mark by which they are known neither hast thou shewed forth the Nature of Grace which should Salt and Season thy Words let the Reader see whether the words in thy Book are not Unsavoury And many more Scoffing things there are in thy Book which indeed are not worth mentioning but this which is written it is for the sake of the Simple For our Lives are out of Strife in Christ Jesus our High-Priest who is over his Houshold of Faith in whose House there is Bread enough Praised be the Lord. And they that be out of this Light be out of his House then they may Mummur because of the Famine From them who love God and his Son and all that he hath Created who Worship God in the Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of whose Fellowship stands in the Gospel and Power of God in which the Devil cannot come who desire R. R's Repentance that he might become a new Man and put off the old if it be the Will of the Lord. THE END