James Parnel's Books that in reading them over he found Cramben his Coctam he might have forborn this for shame in this case For as for Reiterations Repetitions and Tautologies of worse stuff than Colewort twice boild I never read any that surpassed him especially any of his Coat that stuff'd up a Book so big as his with so much Scoffing Jeering trifling and impious Reiterations with so little shew of Reason as he hath done which shews after what an Ungodly rate he has spent his Time and Study and how therein he has been attended and prompted with a Diabolical Spirit to inveigh like one mad with Envy against the Light of Christ within Perfection partaking of the Divine Nature and Unity of the true Church § XXXII Pr. pag. 122. Take heed to the Light of God within you this is only a Whim of the Qrs. Brain which hath no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings In Scripture we find mention made often of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you But take heed to the Light of God within you this is only the Quakers false Doctrine Answ Look here he can scarce write a Paragraph without scoffing at the Qrs. Thus he inveighs against taking heed to the Light of God within he sayes It has no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings But see the man's Contradiction as well as his Ignorance herein He confesses that in Scripture we find often mention made of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you and has this no Foundation in the Apostles Writings If Christ be the Light and Christ within must not he be taken heed unto and followed as he is manifest within even in them that believe in his Light as he has taught but if God who commanded 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 2 Cor. 4.6 Must we not then take heed unto his Inshining Light in our Hearts when he shines in our Hearts to give us such Knowledge I had not repeated so much of this Man 's reiterated trifling and scornful Contradiction and Opposition to Truth but that his Folly may the more be seen and remain on record against him â—r Ibid. To be one in the Eternal Vnity smells strong of Parnel 's Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that God is with us manifested in the Flesh all which is Abâ—â—inable â—lasphemy Answ As for Eternal Unity among Christ's Followers did not he pray for it John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us And this partaking of Christ's Divine Nature offends the Priest still but his Folly therein is sufficiently detected before which now he greatly adds to in accounting it Abominable Blasphemy to say God is with us c. How then is Christ called Immanuel God with us And hath not God promised to dwell and walk in his People And were not the true Believers given up to suffer with Christ and to be delivered up to Death for his sake that the Life also of Jesus might be manifest in their mortal Flesh And doth not the Spirit of Christ dwell in true Believers and quicken their mortal Body to yield their Members as Instruments of Righteousness to God that Christ may dwell in their Hearts by Faith that they might know the Love of Christ and be filled with all the Fulness of God For which End Paul bow'd his Knees unto the Fathers of our Lord Jesus Christ see Ephes 3.14 to the end Pr. p. 124. Christ Jesus his Body is one which is his Church behold except the Church which is Christ's Mystical Body our Saviour hath no other Body Answ The Priest takes occasion for these words from a Passage he cites out of a Book called Truth 's Defence which as he cites it is That the Body of Christ is but one and he is the Head of the Body which is the Church Whence he infers our Saviour hath no other Body which is but his own Narrow Construction For it follows not from saying the Body of Christ or his Church is but one that Christ hath no Spiritual or Glorious Body peculiar to and of himself whereof the Church contains Members For what 's more plain than where it s said For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ 1 Cor. 12.20 Then that all those many Members and that one Body of Christ whereof they are Members make upone Body collectively and joyntly in Christ and that the Church and Members of Christ as joyn'd to him and his Body to make up one Body in universal Union and Fulness of Christ Jesus so as all are joyned to him and Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone this makes us one Body where there is likewise one Christ who takes in and comprehends with him both his own Glorious Body like unto which the Body of the Saints Lowness was to be fashioned Phil. 3.21 and all the Members thereof who are joyned to him in that Mysterious Union that is between Christ and his Church as he is the true Vine and they the Branches And granting still that Christ has a Glorious Body most near proper to himself above and more excellent than all our Earthly Bodies like unto which he will change our Low and Humble Body 't is not improper to say The Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body Now are there many Members yet but one Body 1 Corinth 12.20 And there is one Body and one Spirit Ephes 4.4 Therefore a plurality of Bodies and Members may be truly called one Body in that Mystical or hidden Union that is between Christ and his Church for any Collective Body consisting of many People may be called one Body though this be far inferiour to the heavenly Union between Christ his Body and Church Lastly How can true Believers who are many be said to be One Bread from their eating of that one Bread which is Christ even of his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World or be said to be Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone from their Union with him or his Church be said not only to be his Body but the Fulness of him that filleth all in all if in this Bread his Flesh Body and Fulness Christ's own Body be not so included and his Church therewith so nearly united as All comprehensively to make up One universal Body in the Fulness of Christ for how should his particular Body be excluded out of his Fulness and yet there are those who discern not the Lord's Body who eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own Damnation But this Priest still proceeds in his Envious Attempts telling
thus viz. Pr. There are neither Heads of England nor Ministers whom the Quakers own both the Magistrates and known Ministry of England are absolutely denied by all through-paced Quakers p. 81. And that this Quaker gives us plainly to understand that the real Quakers are none of the Kings Loyal Subjects for they own no Magistrates but such as are Quakers like themselves Answ All which are invective malicious and abominable Slanders and false Inferences shewing a very Cruel and Bloody mind in this Priest Be it noted still that J. Parn plainly testified against the Corruption Partiallity and Persecution that was among the then Rulers and Heads in England who were highly guilty of Persecuting the Innocent in those days and that this was in the time of the former Powers in Cromwell's time before the King's Return For 't is above Twenty Years ago since J. Parnel dyed in Prison in Colchester Castle for his Conscience and Testimony Therefore be it now observ'd that this Malicious Priest shews himself mad against those Testimonies which were really given forth in Reproof to those Corrupt Persecuting Rulers who acted in O. Cromwel's Name and by his Authority As also that this Priest has perverted those Testimonies to render the Qrs. none of the King 's Loyal Subjects and Denyers of Magistrates except such as are Qrs. Which are foul Aspersions and gross Untruths How like a Revengeful Temporizer has this Priest shewn himself to incense the Present Government against us for such plain Testimonies against the Corruption of O. Cromwel's Government and Magistrates as if the King and present Government must be stirred up to persecute us to avenge their Enemies Quarrel upon us for our Plainness and Sincerity in Testifying against their Persecutions and Oppressions Thus the Priest has over-shot himself in his Envy Cruelty and Out-rage But I would yet ask him If it be not possible for Princes and Rulers to commit any Offences against God And if his Servants may not be called to Reprehend and Warn them And therefore seeing he has argued so meanly and pitifully against us and has used so many Citations abusively instead of giving us any Christian or Rational Answer I shall here present the Reader with a Catalogue of some more of his Lyes most Malicious and Devilish Slanders and Falshoods being Thirty Five in Number for brevity's sake as followeth viz. § XXVI 1. That no Magistrates no Government no Laws without Quakerism stampt on them are either owned or honoured by any Qrs. p. 92. This is a Malicious Lye 2. That the Qrs. are Lawless as well as none of the King 's Loyal Subjects p. 92 93. A Persecuting Slander 3. That King and Parliament Magistrates Laws Government of this Kingdom are very little either owned or honoured by any Qrs. p. 93. A Lye also 4. That they proclaim our Magistrates to be men of Blood Bloody Magistrates p. 93. A Gross Lye 5. That it s no Qrs. Duty to be Subject to the Higher Powers p. 85. A Lying Forgery 6. That all Qrs. with their false Christ the Light within them are in Print a Lawless Generation of People professed Opposers of the Government of this Kingdom Ibid. A Blasphemous and Malicious Lye and Slander 7. That Vnquakerized Magistrates are no Terror to Evil doers p. 86. A Gross Lye still 8. That the King's Majesty upon the Throne the Peers with their Nobility and high Honour the Knights with their Worship the Gentlemen c. are as bad and miserable as the Devil p. 89. A Most Abominable and Shameful Slander 9. That any Peasant Qr. is more Honourable than the King 's Sacred Majesty A Ridiculous Lye 10. That the Qr. is boldly base saith in Print there is no Honour belongs to the Kings of England who are born Heirs of the Crown p. 91. A Lye still 11. That the Qrs. are basely Destructive to the King's Majesty to all Superiority Nobility and Honour c. A base Falshood 12. That the Qrs. do not give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's nor Fear unto whom Fear Honour to whom Honour is due c. p. 93. A Falshood also 13. That he looks upon them that do not Thou one another or are You 'd by others as so many Tyrants worse then Turks p. 95. A Shameful Lye 14. That according to this Qr. the King as Supream Head of this Kingdom hath that degree of Honour above all his Subjects which is made by the Devil p. 99 100. Observe Those Cruel Slanders and Devouring Words appear to be designedly forged to render us Odious to the King Parliament and Rulers to incense them against us to destroy us Thus like a Raging Wave and one of Cain's Race has this Priest attempted Mischief against the Innocent plainly evincing how he serves the Devil who is the Father of Lyes and Lyars 15. That Gospel-Truths are by this Qr. said to be told men by the Devil and God's Ministers the Devil's Mouth p. 102. Evident Lyes also 16. That Qrs. dare affirm that all those Ministers of the Cospel are the Devils Mouth in saying that Christ dyed for all Ibid. A Notorious Lye 17. That the Belief or Pleading for a Perfect Freedom from sin in this Life makes the Qrs. miserably Proud in their own Eyes and is an Haughty Over-holy Dotage of this Qr. p. 103. These are Lyes also 18. That according to this Qr. there hath been no true Christianity nothing but Ant-christianism cruel Darkness and Ignorance and Estrangedness from the Lord in all Ages of the Christian Church ever since the Apostles Dayes p. 107. A Lying Inferrence 19. That according to the Qrs. Mind ever since the Apostles Dayes they were only vain Believers who said they believed that that was the Christ that dyed at Jerusalem rose again sits at the right hand of God c. Ibid. A Perverse Lye 20. That by this Qr. believing in Christ that dyed is slighted Ibid. A Notorious Lye 21. That there hath not been one jot of Christianity in any part of the World for many Hundreds of Years last past ever since the Apostles Dayes all Christians in the World have not known the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer p. 111. Shameful Lyes 22. That as for this Church and Kingdom there is nothing but Anti-christ and what is Anti-christian to be found in them p. 112. A Manifest and Gross Lye 23. That like G. Fox the old Qr. they are all equal with God himself p. 116. A Horrid Lye 24. That Parnel affirms That all Qrs. are Partakers of Christs Divine Nature and hence that Women as well as Men Qrs are no less the Eternal Sons of God than Christ himself is p. 116. Notorious Lyes 25. That all Real Qrs. are in their own vain Imaginations Godded with God and Christed with Christ no less God incarnate than our Saviour p. 117. Malicious and Shameful Lyes 26. That the Leaven of that little Book Theologia Germanica hath sowred the Qrs. whole Lump Ibid. A Falshood 27. That for
the sake of this Quaking Blasphemy the Qrs. may well be ashamed of their Light within Ibid. Which Basphemy he charges upon those who affirm a being made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature Observation by which they are made Christians as in p. 115 116. And so he has in effect charged the Apostle Peter with Blasphemy herein see 2 Pet. 1.4 28. That in these Qrs. account the Ministers of the Gospel are no more but Ministers of the Letter and Persecuters of the Spirit p. 123. This is also False 29. That it is the Qrs. Mind that Christ's Body did vanish at his Ascension p. 124. A Gross Falshood 30. That the Quaking account of the Resurrection of the Saints is that no particular Saint shall rise with particular Bodies from Death to Life again Ibid. A Manifest Falshood 31. That a Qr. calls the Lords Table the Table of Devils an Idol and the Fellowship thereat very Wicked p. 126. Falshoods also 32. That all Qrs. are become so many Infallible Popes in their own account p. 127. A Scornful Lye 33. That Qrs. give forth Papers and Books full of old Errors Abominable Blasphemy c. And that all these are pretended to be from the Immediate Eternal Spirit Ibid. Abusive Lyes 34. That in this Qrs. Account both the Worship of God and his Ordinances are nothing else but a Mocking of God p. 130. Which is a Gross Lye also for he speaks this not of the Worship or Ordinance of God Note but of your Hypocritical Carnal Worship Traditional Ordinances and Observances p. 129. Note that the Sum or most of these our Adversary's Horrid Lyes before cited with many more are answered in this Treatise § XXVII Pr. 35. That a Qrs. Light within him can act the part of Dis-loyalty Rebellion and High Treason against the King's Sacred Majesty p. 140. This is a most Malicious and Cruel Slander Note that the occasion the Priest takes thus to charge the Qrs. Light within Observation is upon a Book of Warnings and Letters sent to Oliver and Richard Cromwel by G. Bishop in the Year 1655. wherein the Priests deadly Malice is not only against the Dead but against the Living This is to put an Odium upon the Qrs. in general and the Light within from some Passages in the Letters of one deceased so long ago writ which 't is not my business to Vindicate all that is contained in them relating to the Powers and Revolutions of Government yet however where any Passage in any of them may seem Disgustful to any in Power this Priest has made but an Uncharitable and Unchristian use thereof to render a whole Body of People Odious Obnoxious to the King present Government wherein he hath more than a little manifestly affronted and violated the King's favour in the Act of Indemnity and shewn a manifest Contempt and Breach thereof though G. B. has now no need of that to be sure But supposing the Passages he takes Occasion at to be as Offensive as with any Colour of Reason he can make or render them making the worst he can of them You may see what Loyalty this Priest shews to the King and present Government in going about to render a People who are free-born English men and peaceable Subjects Obnoxious to the Government Disloyal and Rebellious on such a particular occasion telling us Pag. 138 139. that their tender Consciences had no feeling of Rebellion and Treason and now charging the Qrs Light within with acting the part of Disloyalty Rebellion and high Treason against the King's Sacred Majesty Also in his writing against Edw. Burroughs for reproving the Oppressing Priests and Rulers that were in O. Cromwel's Day and for telling them the Lord would cut them off wherein he truly foretold their Down-fall This also the Priest takes notice of both in his 132 133 134th pages and also makes it an Article of the Qrs. Faith Art 90. to render us Odious to the present Rulers for hee 's not so honest as to tell them it concern'd Cromwel when Protector and his Greatures or Agents not to excuse any Corrupt Rulers now Thus like a most Envious Forger and Perverter the Priest has treated us And supposing he had real occasion against something in G. B's Warnings or Letters aforesaid yet how manifestly hath he Violated the Act of Indemnity and herein shewn himself most Uncharitable and Unchristian and yet he is the man that pretendeth to so much Charity and Christianity He counts it Uncharitable to put black Names as he calls them upon Persons and saith that Christian Charity thinks no Evil and Christianity speaks Evil of no man pag. 113. But he has shewn himself so much void both of this Charity and this Christianity that he both thinks Evil speaks Evil and acts Wickedly against many in his writing thus maliciously not only against particular Persons but against the People called Qrs. and the Light within Also that in pursuance of his Malicious purpose to render them Disloyal and Rebellious he forges Five Articles in the Qrs. Name as their Belief concerning O. Cromwel and the late King and the Powers c. as in his Articles 91 92 93 94 95. which he forges on the said G. B's Letters aforesaid on purpose to render the Qrs. as odious and offensive as possibly he can some-what like Jeroboam's Priest saying Amos hath conspired against thee Amos 7.10 to incense the present Government against them As for instance Art 91. this Priest thus proceeds in his Forgery viz. Pr. We Qrs. do believe that O. Cromwel was one of our Friends c. And Art 92. We Qrs. do believe that O. Cromwel was no Rebel nor Vsurper nor Traytor Observe Thus the cruel Priest our Adversary hath most maliciously and most Knavishly Forged these things in the Quakers Name as Articles of their Faith which were never so made much less agreed upon by the Quakers as Articles of their Faith Besides G. B. plainly testified against Oliver Cromwell even when Protector and so did Edward Burroughs whom this Priest quotes and upbraids for Reproving the Rulers of England for their Covetousness and Corruption and telling them the Lord will cut them off c. whereupon the Priest Exclaims against E. Burroughs crying out brain-sick Quaker blacking the Magistrates of England Lying Vision As if the Priest designed to Incense the present Rulers against the Quakers on this occasion whereas E. B's Book quoted by him was Printed in the Year 1654 as he confesseth which was in Cromwells dayes So that this Priest is offended at those Testimonies that struck at Cromwell and his Corrupt Magistrates How abominably hath this Priest played the Knave and abus'd us in a most sordid manner both in these two cited Articles and in many others which with the assistance of a Diabolical Inspiration he has contriv'd and forged in the Pit of Darkness and Habitation of Cruelty where his Spirit is conversant among the unclean lying
Believer in Christ can witness that Christ is come to destroy the Works of the Devil and to redeem him from under his Power before this saving Work of Christ be effected or compleated from the very first appearance of Christ and work of his Grace in the Heart through Faith which he is the Author of there is a real Belief Sense Expectation and Hope that he who has begun a good Work will perfect it in his own due time he that hath begun to Cleanse to Purifie to work out Sin to engage the Soul in a Spiritual Warfare against it will in his own time even in this Life perfect this Work of Cleansing and Redeeming the Creature from all Sin so that he is known to be a Redeemer by that effectual Progress which he makes in his Work in Man in the gradual carrying on of it unto Perfection there is a time of Washing and Cleansing and a time of being Washed and Cleansed from Sin there is a time of Warring and a time of Conquering as also a being made more then Conquerors through him that loved us Pr. pag. 103. It s no marvail that the Qrs. do ignorantly plead for a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life for this is their Top-gallant Error which makes them reign like Kings above the World Death Hell and the Devil Answ See here how mad against Perfection this Priest is he likes not to hear of perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life he calls it The Quakers Top-gallant Error his Clamour against us on this occasion he reiterates over and over and therefore I recite his words that the Reader may see how earnest he is for Satan's Kingdom he has done no less herein than Blasphem'd the Work and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles which was against all Sin and for a perfect Freedom from it in this Life as being a Top-gallant Error thus he has shewn himself an Industrious Agent for Satan's Kingdom Pr. Ibid. By this Quaking Doctrine of Perfection this Quaker saith that the Children of God and the Children of the Devil are made manifest Behold in this Qrs. account they are manifestly the Children of the Devil who do not hold a perfect Freedom from Sin on Earth Answ That which here he scornfully calls Quaking Doctrine is according to plain Scripture which he has flatly opposed see 1 John 3.9 10. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Pr. Ibid. Thus this Idoliz'd Perfection of the Qrs. serves to Vnchristian all but themselves Answ Manifest Scorn and Falshood we do not idolize Christ's Work of Perfection nor unchristian any by vindicating of it but seek to bring them to true Christianity that they may know Christ his Image and divine Nature formed and brought forth in them by the Operation of his Spirit and Power Pr. Ibid. In vain doth this Qr. tell us that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not for the Scripture records no such Over-holy Inhabitants Answ The Scripture doth record such Holy Inhabitants in Christ as sin not Ye know that He was manifested to take away Our Sins and in him is No Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5 6. But this the Priest counts Over-holy that is with him 't is Over-holy to abide in Christ and not to sin whereas Christ said Abide in me and I in you Pr. Ibid. It s true it s the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so Answ Then Priest to be sure thy Mouth ought to be stopt for much of thy work here is pleading striving and contending for Sin reiterating the same sinful Doctrine of thine against Perfection and Freedom from Sin in this Life over and over frequently and therefore thou art therein the Devil's Mouth and not the Mouth of God nor Christ The Devil pleads for Sin and so dost thou thou and the Devil are manifestly united together against Christ and all his Followers in this matter and therefore stop thy Mouth for shame thou Flattering Sin-pleasing Priest who strengthenest the hands of Evil-doers that they may not forsake their sins like the false Prophets of old promising them Life Justification Peace and Salvation in a sinful state Pr. Ibid. But to affirm the In-being and Dwelling of Sin in the best of men in this World is no siding with the Devil in the same Plea Answ Here the Priest hath accused the best of men in this World with the In-being and Dwelling of Sin and is not this a pleading for Sin and a siding with the Devil against Christ's Manifestation and Work which is to take away Sin to destroy the Work of the Devil and if to Destroy it then not to let it have a Being or Dwelling in any true Believers The best of men are free from consenting to the In-being of sin much more from pleading or contending for it for being made free from Sin and become Servants to God such have their Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Pr. Ibid. Ministers of the Gospel who teach that none can be Perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life Answ They that teach that none can be perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life preach another Gospel than the holy Apostles preached whose Preaching and Work of the Ministry was to present Believers Perfect in Christ and for the Perfecting of the Saints But such Ministers as teach that none can be cleansed from all Sin in this Life are like or of kin to such as hold a Purgatory or place of Purgation to cleanse in after Death only they fall short of the Papists in this that they 'l allow none no not the best of men on Earth to be perfectly cleansed from all sin in this Life whereas the Papists do grant that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven when they dye but yet they will imagine a Purgatory for the greatest part of their People to give them ease in their Sins and get Money and Gifts of the Richer sort to mitigate and shorten their pains in Purgatory Thus Satan has divers wayes to sooth up Sinners and to maintain his own Kingdom against Christ his Work and Kingdom Pr. pag. 104. O Quaking Perfection from all Sin in this Life O Brain-sick Whimsy To what Extravigant Assertions to what Devilish Expressions hast thou transported this Poor Deluded Quaker This Quaking Error Answ Thus the Priest Hectors Rants Vapours Vilifies and Reproaches the Quaker for pleading against the Devil's Work which is Sin and for Christ's Work and Service which is Perfection and perfect Freedom But the Priest in his pleading for Sin and therein siding with the Devil Rants it
of men in this Life as he hath done § XXX Pag. 115. Qr. And are made Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which they are made Christians Pr. The Priest Answers In these few words this Qr. hath given a most Blasphemous account of all Qrs. for he saith that they are made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that they are Christians thus made Answ His telling of a Blasphemous account of All Qrs. is a Falshood to abuse us for the matter here opposed by him as it is in James Parnel's Book p. 176 177. Collect. is not placed in these words as that All Qrs. are made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature but the words are more general relating to the Church of Christ and his Members who live by the Faith of the Son of God who are New Creatures in Christ Jesus set free by the Law of the Spirit of Life and are made Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which they are made Christians and such now witness the effect of the Blood of Christ wrought within them and the End of his Coming and the Benefit of his Death who are dead with him c. Thus far J. Parnel Observe well here that I shall not let this Priest pass as only making Exception against all the Qrs. being made Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature but also I must take him as opposing the thing it self that his Quarrel is not only against the Persons Quakers but against the thing i. e. the partaking of Christ's divine Nature wherein his gross Ignorance both of Christianity and Scripture will farther appear in what follows Pr. p. 116. Behold here is our Saviours Godhead shared amongst the Quakers behold here are the Quakers made more than Co-heirs with Jesus Christ no less God than himself is Answ Behold here the Priest hath not only shewn his lamentable Ignorance but his false as well as blasphemous Inference for us to own a being made partakers of Christs Divine Nature He counts this not only a sharing of our Saviours Godhead among us but also a making our selves no less than God himself which is a sad and most Ignorant Inference that new Creatures in Christ and his Members may not partake of his Divine Nature unless they be God and Christ himself What sad and miserable blindness and Irrational Work is this As if the Member of a Body must not partake of the Nature of the Body unless that Member could be the whole Body Heb. 3.14 We are Members of Christ in particular joyn'd to him partakers of Christ having his Spirit and Life manifest in us as all real Saints and true Christians have And can all this be can any be so nearly related and joyn'd to Christ and not Partakers of his Divine Nature Can they be Partakers of Christ of his Power Heb. 3.14 Rom. 11.16 17. Spirit Virtue Life Faith Divine Image Holiness and have him therein form'd in them and yet not be Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature What strange Inconsistency is this Though the Priest will not own this of the Qrs. we impose it not so upon him yet will he own it of any of Christ's Members No See what follows as his Consequence on the Assertion and farther Evidence of his great Blindness and Ignorance both of Scripture and Christian Experience pr. Ibid. Every Real Qr. is truly Godded with God and Christed with Christ according to this Abominable Quaking Assertion they are all Partakers of that same Divine Nature which Christ hath Quaking Blasphemy Intolerable Blasphemy Answ See now how it is the Assertion itself that this Priest opposes viz. The Partaking of the Divine Nature which Christ hath this he puts these black Characters Quaking Blasphemy Intolerable Blasphemy upon We will not contend whether all called Qrs. partake thereof or no for I don't affirm it because its possible for some to be Unfaithful under that Profession and may hold the Truth in Unrighteousness but whether any Saints Members of Christ or New Creatures be Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ I affirm they are as every true Branch that is grafted in the true Root partaketh of the Root and Fatness of the Olive Tree Rom. 11.17 And saith Christ I am the true Vine and ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit for without me or severed from me ye can do nothing John 15. Now doth not every such Branch partake of the Nature Virtue of the Vine Did you ever hear of a Branch in any Vine that beareth Fruit without partaking of the Nature Virtue or Sap of the Vine But it seems here is a Priest a Teacher that would be counted a Member of Christ a Christian a Believer a True Fruitful Branch no doubt and yet altogether Void and Destitute of the Nature Virtue and Life of the true Vine which can be neither true in Spirituals nor in Temporals And for a Final Confutation of his folly in this Great Point take one Scripture more 2 Pet. 1.3 4. According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that portain unto Life and Godliness through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE having escaped the Corruption of the World which is through Lust Mark here how plain it is that the Apostle did confess how they were Partakers of the Divine Nature which our Adversary has counted such an Abominable Assertion and Intolerable Blasphemy Thus he hath Reproached and Blasphemed the Primitive Christian Doctrine and Attainment in and by Christ his Divine Power and Nature which the Saints were made Partakers of Qr. pag. 117. Here is the true Church where there is but One Teacher One Lord One Faith One Baptism One Light One Life One Way One Shepherd and One Sheepfold One Priest over the Houshold of God One Hope One Language One Family One God and Father of all Pr. To this the Priest Answers viz. In these Quaking Lines we have such an account given of the true Church of God as was never heard nor read of till within these Thirty Years by past such an account as no Age of the Primitive Church can render the like except in a Qrs. Conventicle this true Church is not to be found on Earth Answ What a stranger to the true Church and the Unity thereof hath our Adversary shewn himself to be He has here such an Account of the true Church of God as it seems he never heard nor read of before he knew the People called Quakers But he falsly presumes in saying that no Age of the Primitive Church can tender the like and that this true Church is not to be found on Earth by which he has rendred his own Church no such true Church But why is it such a strange Account of the true Church Is it strange that
is the Body of Christ as he has plainly declared pag. 78. Which is directly according to the Popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation § 25. Pr. Art 52. We Q. do believe that the Priests of England who Trade with the Form get human Learning pretend to study Divinity get certain Wage and sell that which they have studied their Ministry only hath the Form and denyes the Power that they come by the Will of Man and not by the Will of God that their Call and Ministry is a formal Imitation of Man c. Answ Seeing the Priest does not believe this it being so repugnant to his Gain and Interest it seems he believes that these Priests are come by the Will of God and not by the Will of Man and that their Call and Ministry is not Formal nor of Man but of God and that their Ministry hath the Power with it He herein believes them to be better then the Qr doth But yet we have but his Belief that they have their Call and Ministry from God and not from Man and till he produce better proof for his Belief than yet he has done we have no Reason to believe as he does without good Evidence and Conviction Which we are the more apt to dispair of while few of them do believe or own an Immediate Call or Mission from Heaven in these Dayes § 15. Pr. Art 54. We Q. believe that the Pharaoh like Magistrate God will Plague and Confound Answ But this Temporizing Priest owns not this Belief that God will Plague and Confound the Pharaoh-like Heard-hearted Oppressing Magistrate he is rather for Flattering and Crying Peace to the Wicked contrary to the Belief and Testimony of all God's holy Prophets and Witnesses who testified against Oppressors both King 's Rulers and others § 16 24 25. Pr. Art 55. We Q. still believe that the Devil is the Head of Man who would be Honoured Answ This still thwarts the Priests Belief who it seems believes not that the Devil is the Head of Proud Man that 's ambitious or desirous of Worldly Honour Surely he cannot reasonably think that Christ is the Head of such Unbelievers as are seeking that Honour which is from beneath § 17 18. Pr. Art 58. We Q. believe that it is the Devil and his Ministers who tell men That the Righteous man sins seven times a day that to deny a sinless Perfection in this Life is that Doctrine which maintains the Devils Kingdom that Doctrine whereby the Devil carries on People in an Easie Delightsom Way to the Flesh a Doctrine which heals them up in their Sins with a feigned Faith Answ But this the Priest will not at all believe he cannot entertain such mean and hard Thoughts of that Doctrine which denyes or opposeth a Sinless Perfection in this Life He does not believe that to argue for the Being of Sin in all Men Term of Life does either maintain the Devils Kingdom or that 't is an Easie Delightsom way to the Flesh whenas it must needs be more grateful and pleasing to Corrupt Flesh to have Sin remaining all its Dayes in false hopes of Happiness hereafter than to be crucified and mortified unto sin in this Life without which I believe and testifie men cannot be Happy hereafter whatever the Priest's Belief is to please Corrupt Flesh as his belief That Believers in Christ sin daily and that the Righteous man sins seven times a day We are neither of his belief herein nor yet that any of Christ's Ministers did ever teach or perswade people into such a Faith for Sins Continuance or thus to accuse the Believers and Righteous with sinning daily and seven times a day herein he has wrong'd the Scripture For though 't is said For a Just man falleth seven times Prov. 24.16 and riseth up again yet 't is neither said that he sins seven times a day nor that he sins daily Neither does it appear that this Just Man's falling seven times is a falling into Sin but rather a falling into Affliction and Trouble as it is said He shall deliver thee in six Troubles yea in seven there shall no Evil touch thee Job 5.19 It s evident that the Just Man's falling seven times and rising up again Prov. 24.16 is opposed to the Wicked's falling into Mischief and Vers 15. it s said Lay not in wait O Wicked man against the Dwelling of the Righteous spoil not his Resting place for a Just man falleth seven times and riseth up again which makes it more clear that this intends the Just Man's falling into Trouble and Suffering by reason of the Wicked laying in wait against him And to this purpose see Psal 37.23 24. The steps of a good man are ordred by the Lord and he delights in his Way though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand § 21. 28. Pr. Art eod We Q. do believe still that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not Answ This is contrary to the Priests Faith still he believes that they who abide in the Righteousness of Christ sin daily sin seven times a day sin all their Life-time which is contrary to plain Scripture 1 John 3.6 Whosoever abideth in him that is in Christ sinneth not And see Chap. 2.1 But seeing this Priest believes not that he that abideth in Christ sinneth not but that he sins seven times a day he believes not his own Prayer in the Lyturgy viz. Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin And a little after Minister O God make clean our Hearts within us Answ And take not thy holy Spirit from us And Almighty Father Collect. on Tu. in Easter Week which hast given thine only Son to dye for our Sins and to rise again for our Justification grant us so to put away the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness that we may alway serve thee in pureness of Living and Truth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Surely this Priest doth not present these Prayers to God either in Faith or Reality but only in pretence and shew from the Teeth outward § 28. See also § 7. 11. Pr. Art 59. We Q. do believe that they set up Infant-Baptism for which there is no Scripture That they have no Scripture for the word Sacrament Answ If this be a part of the Qrs. unsound Faith as the Priest renders it then he believes that there is Scripture for baptizing or sprinkling Infants and that they have Scripture for the word Sacrament He should do well to shew us those Scriptures for Sprinkling Insants and the word Sacrament in any of the holy mens Writings that were the Pen-men of Scripture that he might convince the Qrs. of the unsoundness of their Faith in this Point See ◠16 25. Pr. Art 62. We Q. do believe as our Friend James Parnel hath writ that we are Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which we are made Christians and that God
is with us manifested in the Flesh Answ But this the Priest believes not either of us or any people else for he counts it a high base Doctrine intolerable Blasphemy an abominable Quaking Assertion and all one as to say that they are no less God than himself is Godded with God and Christed with Christ Thus he has exploded such a Doctrine as the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature of Christ as an Abominable Quaking Assertion as his words are more at large aggravated in his 116th page whereby he hath discovered his gross Darkness Blasphemy and Ignorance of the Scripture and Testimony of holy Apostles see 2 Pet 1.3 4. According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust But this partaking of the Divine Nature the Priest counts an Abominable Quaking Assertion Quaking Blasphemy c. see now what an Ignorant Blasphemous Person he hath shewn himself one that neither knoweth the Scriptures nor the Power of God See § 30. Pr. Art 63. We Q. do believe that the true Church is where there is one Lord one Light one Life one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Baptism one God and Father of all § 30. Answ Yes we must believe this whether the Priest will believe it or no and if he will not believe it he will not believe as the Scripture faith There should be One Shepherd and One Sheep fold there is One Body and One Spirit even as ye are called by One Hope of your Calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism all which the true Chutch partaketh of Pr. Art 64. We Q. do believe as G. F. writes that the Priests of England are going mad in preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning so that Balaam 's Ass may reprove them all Answ And we have no Cause to believe that the Priests of England are going Wise in Preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning such as do not put into their Mouthes But it seems this Priest believes they are Wise Priests that preach for Rewards and take these harsh and severe Courses of Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning them that cannot put into their Mouthes But did not Paul confess he was Exceeding Mad when he persecuted For he counts what G. F. has written in this Case one of the Articles of the Qrs. Unsound Faith Pr. Art 75. We Q. do believe that there is a Way to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through John to come to Christ that when a man hath gone this strange Way then he may see that the Light is but one Answ This is a Strange Way to our Adversary the Priest and to all that are alive without the Law but 't was not a Strange Way to the Apostle Paul nor to any true Christian who have traversed those steps of Judgments and through Death and Condemnation under the spiritual Administration of the Law under which the Offenders Mouth is stopt and all the World become guilty before God and the Righteousness of God is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3. And I had not known Sin but by the Law saith Paul Chap. 7.7 And we know that the Law is Spiritual Vers 14. And saith Paul I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.19 20. And therefore he did spiritually pass through the Law And see what Christ saith Matth. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Again he saith Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you do even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Matth. 7.12 Luke 6.31 And this is no strange Way to any true Christian Pr. Art 77. We Q. do believe that Jesus Christ remains in Heaven that the same that did descend did ascend Answ This is also rank't in among his Articles of the Quakers Unsound Faith which plainly reflects upon the Apostle Paul's Testimony Ephes 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Pr. Art 79. We Q. do believe that Christ lives in that Body which is the Church Answ And must this needs be an Unsound Faith too Does not Christ live in his Church To deny this how contrary is it to Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies see John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one And did not he walk in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks which were the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 1.13 20. And his being in the Heavens and living in his Church are not inconsistent Hebr. 8.1 2. We have an High Priest who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man And where was this Sanctuary and true Tabernacle but in his Church where he lives and ministers to the Edification of all those in whose Hearts Christ dwells by Faith Pr. Art 97. We Q. do believe that all the Teachers of England who are not sent who have no Commission from God who go forth only in the Will of Man that they are no Ministers of Christ that their Doctrine is not from Heaven but men below they teach for Doctrine the Traditions of Men. Answ And how should we believe otherwise of them who have no Commission from God but go forth in the Will of Man how should we believe that they are Ministers of Christ or that they receive their Doctrine or Commission from Heaven * §. 15. If our Adversary will still believe that such unsent Teachers as have no Divine Commission from Heaven are Christ's Ministers he may believe so long enough before the QVAKERS will be of his Faith There are several more things in his Ninety Eight Articles wherein his Ignorance as well as his Falshood appears But I think I have given Instances sufficient to evince both to any impartial and unbyassed Readers as also to Vindicate Truth from his Malicious Perverse and Knavish Attempts for which I leave him to the Just God to Reckon with Judge and Reward him according to his Works