Priviledge that doth attend those that walk therein for he saith God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we Lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1. 5 6 7. Well then the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the Light Rev. 21. 24. And the Lord sent the Apostle Paul to turn People from Darkness to Light Acts 26. 18. But what have the Watchmen of the Night the Merchants of Babylon been a doing these many Years Why they have laboured to keep People from the Light and Wo and Misery will be their Portion if they Repent not Qu. 4. Whether they believe any such thing as Original Sin that is Whether every Man is a Sinner and defilled from his very Birth Or whether Children when born into the World have their Natures depraved and corrupted by Sin Answ If by Original Sin be meant the first Sin of Adam there was such a Sin But all have not sinned after that similitude nor is every Man or Child a Sinner depraved and corrupted by Sin from his Natural Birth The Prophet Ezekiel saith This Proverb shall no more be used in Israel The Fathers have eaten sower Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge Behold saith the Lord all Souls are mine both the Soul of the Father and the Soul of the Son are mine the Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 2 3 4 5. Jer. 31. 29 30. Shall we ascribe the Wages of Sin to those that never sinned Christ said Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 19. 13 14. Mark 10. 13 14. And Christ saith Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child shall not enter therein Some were said to be sanctified from the Womb as John the Baptist the Prophet Jeremiah Chap. 1. 5. Before I formed thee in the Womb I knew thee and before thou camest out of the Womb I sanctified thee and ordained thee to be a Prophet unto the Nations But as to the General estate of Mankind the Apostle hath made known what man is by Nature dead in Sins and Trespasses and how man is saved 2 Ephes You hath he quickened who were dead in Trespasses and Sins Ephes 2. 1. And you who were dead in Sins and the Vncircumcision of your Flesh hath he Quickened together with him Forgiving you all your Trespasses 2 Ephes 5. When we were dead by Sins hath he quickened us together in Christ by whose Grace we are saved 2 Thes 2. 13. But we ought to give Thanks alwayes for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Qu. 5. Whether the Soul or Spirit of a Man is Immortal Whether it will never dye Or Whether the Soul lives whilst the Body lies rotting in the Grave Answ Yea Immortal never Dyes but ever Lives which are all one The Querist might have spared such impertinant Reitterations Yea we believe and that really as the Body goeth to Dust so the Spirit returns to God that gave it for if in this Life we have hope only we are of all Men most Miserable Qu. 6. Whether the Bodies of the Saints shall be raised again by the Power of God out of their Graves at the last day Answ Yea Spiritual we believe according to Scripture the Resurrection of Just and Unjust and that each shall receive a reward according to things done in the Body The Righteous unto Everlasting Life and the Wicked unto Everlasting Condemnation Well but now we may say as the Apostle Paul said Awake to Righteousness aâ—d Sin not But yet some one may say How are the Dead Raised up and with what Bodys do they come Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not Quicâ—ened except it Dye and that which thou sowest thou sowest not that Body that shall be But God giveth it a Body as it hath pleased him and to every seed his own Body There are Coelestial Bodys and Bodys Terrestial but the Glory of the Coelestial is one and the Glory of the Terrestial is another There is a Natural Body and there is a Spiritual Body Aâ—d as â—ne have born the Image of the Earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly but this I say Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption Inherit Incorruption 1 Cor. 15 34 35 36 37 38 40 44 45 50. Qu. 7. Whether Christ that suffered without the Walls of Jerusalem was true God and also true Man I demand a full direct Answer to this Question and pray let there be no Equivocation or shiftings here Answ Yea Christ was true God and true Man tho' it was as Man that he suffers for the Divinity and Manhood of Christ see Matth. 1. 23. John 1. 1 2 3 4. Prov. 8. 22 23 24. to the enâ— Psal 33. 6. Coll. 1. 16 1â— Eph. 3. 9. Heb. 1. 2. Rom. 9. 5. Rev. 3 14. 1 John 5. 20. Psal 45. 6 7. Heb. 1. 9. Isa 9 6. 7. Chap. 32. 2. John 10. 29 and Chap. 14. 28. Rom. 1. 3 4. 1 Cor. 15. Chap. 3. 4 5 6 7 8 45 47. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Gal. 3. 20. Heb. 8. 6. chap. 9. 15. chap. 12. 24. And if the Querist will not believe us but think we Equivocate let him ask us no more Questions until he be more charitable Qu. 8. Whether Christ by his Holy Life and painful Death Satisfied the Justice of God that was offended by the Sin of Man and thereby merited Pardon of Sin and all other Mercies and Blessings for us Answ This Query appears not consistant in the matters implyed between satisfying offended Justice and Pardon of Sin or between a Strict payment and a forgiveness of the Debt Yet no doubt God was well pleased and so satisfied in his Dear Son Christ being the Son of his Love both in his Life Suffering and Death and all the Worth Merit Desert and Dignity thereof and truly ascribed unto Christ in Holy Scriptures for the universal good of Mankind we must needs own and highly esteem yet not as intended to acquit the Guilty nor to indemnifie Pardon or Justifie Persons in their Sins or without Faith in his Name true repentance and Conversion But that they may come under these conditions and receive Pardon thereupon Antiquery 1. How did Christ satisfy the offended Justice of the Father 2. Did he undergo vindicative Justice in the Offenders stead 3. Did he pay all the debt in Man's stead 4. And was it for all Mankind or for some only 5. Or did he not rather appease stay and suspend the Execution of Divine Vengeance and Wrath
days hence Acts 1. 5. And we do believe that this Baptism is alone needful unto Salvation to wit the Baptism of the Holy Ghost seeing the Baptism is but one that is necessary as is proved before And this is the Baptism that the Apostle Paul spake of when he said By one Spirit are we all Baptized in to one Body 1 Cor. 12. 13. Mark Christ said Ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost And the Apostle Paul said By one Spirit are we all Baptized Now this was no Water-Baptism for it was done by the Spirit of God and not with Water by Man And the Apostle further said As many of you as have been Baptized unto Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. Now they that have put on Christ are in Christ And if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. And now that which we do desire of People every where is that they will turn in their minds unto the gift of Gods Spirit in their own Hearts and wait to be made a new by it Qu. 20. Whether the Lord's Supper as to its Administration and Participation be not a Duty still incumbent upon Christians in these Days that is whether Persons ought not to take Real Bread and eat it and Real Wine and drink it in Remembrance of the Death of Christ Jesus Answ Not incumbent in the Type or Figure but in the Substance or Antitype Antiquery 1. Where proves the Queriest that the Lord's Supper in this Gospel-day consists of eating outward Bread or drinking outward Wine 2. What was really the Lords Supper in the Figure and what in the Substance or Mystery 3. Were not the outward Bread and Cup typical or figurative of the Spiritual Meat and Drink 4. What Commemoration of him or his Death by outward Sign is comparable to his own inward Spiritual coming and appearance See the first Epistle of John Chap 5. 20 But we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an Vnderstanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true This is the true God and Eternal Life and we are Witnesses of his Second coming without Sin unto Salvation and we eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by which we have Life John 6. 56 57 As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me But the Jews it is said strove among themselves saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat The Apostle Paul tells us There were them that did eat and drink unworthily not discerning the Lord's Body and what that Body was some did eat Must not the Lord's Body be discerned by true Believers Rev. 3. 20. Christ saith Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any one hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and Sup with him and he with me And this Supper is not outward And the Lord said by his Prophet He would make unto all People in his holy Mountain a Feast of fat things And the Apostle Paul saith in Cor. 10. 14 15 16 17. Wherefore my dearly Beloved flee from Idolatry I speak as to Wise men judge ye what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ For we being many are one Bread and one Body For we are partakers of that one Bread and the Bread of God is he that comes down from Heaven and gives Life to the World This was the Saints Food in all Ages But of this Spiritual Food and Communion thâ—u art ignorant who art ignorant of the Light in which the Saints fellowship was and is and such as walk in it have and do know the Blood of Christ cleansing them from all Sin so that the Substance being witnessed to such here is no need of outward Signs to put them in Remembrance and this the Apostle Paul laboured to know the Power of his Death and the Vertue of his Resurrection Qu. 21. Whether any of the Sons or Daughters of Adam are able to attain to a Sinless Perfection in this Life Answ Yea by the Power of Christ and not of themselves The Work of the Ministry is for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4. 11 12 13. And although we say as the Scriptures testifie It is attainable yet not without great Diligence and Watchfulness to the Power of God And the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 writing to the Saints saith Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation which is prepared to be shewed in the last Times The Power of God is greater to keep out of Sin then the power of Satan to lead into Sin So said Christ Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World But this Perfection spoken of admits of degrees and a growth as a Child when born if compleat in all its Parts and Members is said to be a perfect Child so it is in the new Birth he that is born of the Spirit and lives up to the Manifestations of it may be said to be perfect in kind and yet there may be a growth still John writes to Little Children whose Sins were forgiven them for his Names sake as also he writes to Young Men because they had overcome the Wicked One and to Fathers because they had know him that was from the beginning And the Apostle preacht Wisdom among them that are perfect but not the Wisdom of this World which denyeth it But God Christ and the Apostles exhort unto it Job was said to be a perfect man And Paul was crucified to the World and the World to him and Christ lived in him And the Life saith he I now live is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me And he had faught a good Fight finished his Course and kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me said he a Crown of Righteousness Qu. 22. Whether the Quakers expect to be saved with a Christ within them or a Christ without them Answ This is an Unlearned and Unscriptural Question They profess not two Christs but the one very Christ of God within them and without them according to holy Scriptures That Christ we expect Salvation by is both within and without as hath been sufficiently expressed how he suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust and he died and rose again that he might be Lord of quick and dead and that those that live might not live unto themselve but unto him that died for them
there was Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron Exod. 15. 20. And there was Deborah a Prophetess the Wife of Lapidoth she judged Israel Judg. 4. 4. And the good King Josiah sent unto Huldah the Prophetess the Wife of Shalum to inquire of the Lord for him and the People 2 Kings 22. 13 14. And there was the Prophetess Noadiah Nehem. 6. 14. And the Lord spake by his Prophet Joel and said I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie Joel 2. 28. Mark Sons and Daughters shall prophesie And in Christ's Days there was one Ama a Prophetess Luk 2. 36. And the Woman of Samaria was a publick Preacher for when she had received some understanding of Christ she went her way into the Ciâ—y and saith unto the Men Come see a Man which told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ Then they went out of the City and came 〈…〉 Iob â—4 28 30. Now observe this Woman laboured to bring People unto Christ and many believed her Testimony and came unto him And now we may say that the Work of the Gospel-Ministers is to bring People unto Christ And again we may see that Jesus Christ was pleased to make use of a Woman Mary Magdalen first to preach his Resurrection for he said unto her Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God And Mary Magdalen went and told the Disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her John 20. 17 18. Mark Christ sent this Woman to declare these things unto his Disciples and the Apostle Paul was so far from denying Womens Praying or Prophecying that he signifies how they ought to Pray or Prophecy for he saith Every Woman that Prayeth or Prophesieth with her Head uncovered dishonoureth her Head 1 Cor. 11. 15. And Philip had four Daughters Virgins which did Prophesie Acts 21. 8 9. And the Apostle writing to the Phillipians saith I intreat thee also true Yoke-fellow help those Women which laboured with me in the Gospel Phil. 4. 3. Mark those Women laboured with him in the Gospel But now if any should say that Prophecying is not Preaching we shall answer thus That the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19. 10. Qu. 15. What Warrant the People called Quakers have in the Scriptures for their Silent Meetings Answ The same they have for waiting on God until indued with Power from on High and until required of him to Speak or Preach and in the mean time to be silent at the presence of God Yet we limit not our Meetings before-hand to Silence or Preaching but submit them to what God shall require We do greatly admire the Ignorance of many People professing themselves Christians and Ministers of Christ for the Prophecy of the Prophet it is on this wise All thy Children shall be Taught of the Lord and great shall be the Peace of thy Children Isa 54. 13. And again it is said I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit Chap. 48. 17. And the Prophet farther said Yet shall not thy Teacher be removed into a Corner any more but thine Eyes shall see thy Teacher and thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee saying This is the Way walk ye in it when ye turn to the Right Hand and when ye turn to the Left Chap. 30. 20 21. And now we do desire all People to consider how it is that the Lord doth teach his People himself if not by his Spirit And if by his Spirit then where And how must People be taught by him if not in the secret of their own Hearts and in the stillness and quietness of their Minds for David saith Wait on the Lord be of good Courage and he shall strengthen thine Heart Psal 27. 14. And again he saith Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him Chap. 37. 7. And the Wise man saith Wait on the Lord and he shall save thee Prov. 20. 22. And Isaiah saith That they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Isa 40. 31. And many other places might be Instanced And now how must People wait upon the Lord if not in Silence for Solomon saith That there is a Time to keep Silent and a Time to Speak Eccles 3. 7. Now it were well if all did know this time to keep silent and so wait upon the Lord in Silence for the Lord speaking by the Prophet Isaiah saith Keep Silence before me O Islands and let the People Renew their Strength Isa 41. 1. And again it is written The Lord is in his holy Temple let all the Earth keep Silence before him Hab. 2. 20. And it is farther written Be Silent O all Flesh be fore the Lord for he is raised up out of his Holy Habitation Zach. 2. 13. So now all Flesh ought to keep Silent before the Lord and wait upon him for the Teaching of his holy Spirit in their own Hearts that so they may come to know God and his Mind and Will for we live in the New Covenant Dispensation spoken of in Jer. 31. 31 32 33 34. Heb. 8. 8 9 10 11. where the Lord saith They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. And now we say it is good for all to be inwardly gathered and wait in Silence for the Teachings of the Lord for there his Appearance is according to the Apostle's Testimony for he saith That which may be known of God is manifest within Rom. 1. 19. And the same Apostle saith That the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lust we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Tit. 2. 11 12. Mark the Grace of God was the Apostle's Teacher And now forasmuch as that Grace that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men we would have all to mind the Teachings of it And the Apostle John saith The Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye 1 John 2. 27. Mark John saith that the Anointing abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you Well then as People meet together in true Silence in the stillness and quietness of there Minds to wait upon the Lord although there may be no Words spoken as outwardly yet there is a sufficient Teacher near unto them to teach them the Way of the Lord that so they may find Peace and Acceptance with him Glory be
and rose again for their Justification And it is Christ that died or rather that is risen again and because he lives we live also And God hath chosen us to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 2 Thes 2. 13. And is not this Work to be known within of the Spirit and Faith of Christ read Rom. 10 6 7 8 9 10. But thou dost not seem to love to hear of Christ and his Light within which Paul preached and said Know you not that Christ is in you except you be Reprobates This was the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations Christ within the Hope of Glory Qu. 23. Whether the way of serving of God that the Quakers use be the Way to Heaven And if it be the Way whether it be the only Way Answ The Way we profess and own is the Way to Heaven which is Christ the Way the Truth and the Life in whom our acceptance is Neither is there Salvation by any other Name And the Worship which he set up we practise which is in Spirit and Truth and that this is the right Way and the true Worship yea the only way to Heaven we have great assurance the Lord manifesting his presence in the midst of us which is his Seal of approbation and we have known and do know an Overcoming and Victory over the World by our Faith which stands in the Power of God which Paul exhorted the Believers unto that their Faith might not stand in the Wisdom of Words but in the Power of God and God is the Author and Finisher of our Faith and the Day of God's Power is known which hath made us a willing People and for the Word of our Testimony we have not neither do we love our Lives to the Death but far be it from us to limit the Holy One for in every Nation he that fears God and works Righteousness is accepted of him But can a man be said truly to fear God and work Righteousness without having regard to this inward Law by which the Gentiles are said to have attained to the Righteousness which is of Faith and they doing the things contained in the Law shewed the Effect of the Law written in their Hearts their Consciences also bearing Witness and their Thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another At the Day saith Paul when God shall Judg the Secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel Rom. 2. 15 16. This was the Gospel that great Apostle to the Gentiles preached the Law in the Heart the New Covenant Jer. 31. 32. Heb. 8. 9 10. This is the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel after those days I will put my Laws into their Minds and in their Hearts will I write them and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest So that we believe as the Scripture testifies God hath been always good to such as are of an Upright Heart though under various Professions and Ministrations and of this some have had experience before the Way of Truth was clearly made known to us as hath been since made manifest through the refreshment from the presence of the Father And our desire is for thee and for all Men that you would receive him that is Christ in his Light with which he hath lightned you and all men and thereby you will receive Power to become the Sons of God And take heed of grieving the good Spirit of God as the Apostle Exhorts Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto the Day of Redemption And this I say farther take heed of Opposing this Work for it is of God and shall stand Goa's Foundation stands sure 1 Peter 2. 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a Chief Corner-Stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded unto you therefore that believe he is pretious but unto them which are disobedient the Stone which the Builders Disallowed the same is made the Head of the Corner and a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offence even to them that Stumble at the Word being disobedient Mark such as Stumble at the Word he is a Stone of Stumbling unto them And the Word is near in the Mouth and in the Heart This is the Word of Faith which we Preach Rom. 10. 8. Having Answered thy Three and Twenty Questions by Scripture-proofs we proceed to Answer the other four put forth by Thee Qu. 1. Whether when a Man at any time Speaks to a single Person it be unlawful for him to use the Word You Ans It seems thou art offended at the Word Thee and Thou but was it not the Language of Christ and the Holy Men of God both to Superiour and Inferiour as is sufficiently Manifested in the Scripture And it seems strange that thou or any Man Learned in the Tongues should put forth such a Question knowing there is to be an Agreement in the number both in Hebrew Greek and Latin as our Translation makes apparent and why are Children taught Singular and Plural Number by the Grammer Rules but that it is absolutely necessary in the Latin Tongue as well as in other Tongues and without it thou knowest cannot be true so the Word You to one is improper it is as proper for a Man to use the Word Thee unto a Thousand Men as it is for him to use the Word You unto One for Thou is in the Singular Number but You is in the Plural So that for to use the Word You unto One it is nonsence For One is but one and the Word You signifies to more then one and it is also contrary unto the Holy Scriptures of Truth to use the Word You unto one and therefore it is unlawful for Christ said Thou unto Peter and Peter said Thou unto Christ several times in the 21. Chap. of John and it s the common Language throughout all the Scriptures of Truth to use the Word Thee or Thou unto one and we desire all People to take notice of it for the Lord used to Speak the Word Thee or Thou when he Spake unto any particular of his People and his People used to speak Thee or Thou unto the Lord and one unto another And People do use the Word Thee and Thou unto the Lord in their Prayers and we do greatly admire that People should count that Language which they give unto the Lord is not good enough for themselves For some have been very angry with us when we have used the simple proper Language as the Word Thee or Thou unto one O blush and be ye ashamed and bow before the Lord all ye proud ones that think scorn to receive that Language unto your selves that you give