Reveal the things of God doth make them Overseers R. W. And thou say'st The Christian Profession and Professours how-ever they were wrought and prepared and by divers Means by God's Spirit yet c. Answ. But what these divers Means are R. W. hath not told the World But what is this in opposition that the Holy Ghost made not Overseers in the Church in the Apostles days it is nothing to that R. W. And thou say'st Yet the Lord Jesus Christ compareth them to the most Visible Conspicuous and Glorious Things and Persons to the Sun and Moon in the Heavens and the Heavens and Stars also to Mountains and Cities c. and to Kings their Houses and Palaces c. R. W. What is all this to oppose the Apostle's Doctrine and say The Holy Ghost did not make them Overseers which is the Consequence of R. W's Jangling For we do grant what the Lord Jesus Christ doth compare his Holy People to in Scriptures but that 's not thy State R. W. And thou say'st Although the Lord Mayor of London and the several Officers of the City are not made and ordained in the publick Streets nor Generals c. are they not therefore Visible c. Answ. What a Story is this who opposeth thee in this who saith They are not Visible But what is this to oppose the Apostle's Doctrine still who said The Holy Ghost that is Invisible made them Overseers Will R. W. say It is the Holy Ghost that maketh all Mayors and Generals and Officers which are Visible Officers by Visible Commissioners else what doth he bring this Comparison for The Work of Christ's Overseers is Spiritual it is with a Spiritual Eye and a Spiritual Discerning and by a Spiritual Power and to watch over the Invisible Spirits of People the Souls of Men and Women R. W. It is most true c. that the Church is in God and then thou Contradictest thy self and say'st And is it not also true in one Sense that is thy Sense not the Apostle's 1 Thess. We live in God and move in God and have our being in God c. Answ. What Roger one while a Church and not in God and yet Live in him and move in him as thou confessest Thou say'st The whole Creation is Gloriously Visible Who saith to the contrary of that which is Outward R. W. And thou say'st The Saints their Assemblies and Officers are in God Visible to the world c. though in an Heavenly Spiritual Sense transcending the being of the Creation Answ. And yet R. W. bringeth J. M. to Contradict himself in his Append. pag. 21. and saith The Wise Heathen Philosophers had a greater measure of Light in them which is the first Adam than any I can find now And R. W. opposeth G. F. for setting up Christ the Second Adam and his New Covenant and his New Creatures above the First Adam and the Heathen-Philosophers and now in his 42 Page he confesseth This transcends the being of the First Creation Why didst thou oppose G. F. then in thy 21 Page and there Contradict what thou say'st in page 42 But where doth the Scripture say That the Saints and their Assemblies and Officers are in God Visible for God is a Spirit and they that are joined to the Lord and are in the Lord it must be by the Spirit for none knoweth his things but by his Spirit that is Invisible And G. F. never denyed that the Bodies of the Saints and Officers and Assemblies were Visible now and in the Apostles dayes and they were and are to be seen with Visible Eyes or else how could they have been persecuted in the Apostles days and in New-England if you had not seen Quakers there you could not have Hanged them And thou say'st It is most true and most sweet that the Church is in God yet again G. F's Reason is notoriously Silly and Impudent because he saith to the Priest R. W. defendeth that the Church is in God So Roger put thy Words together and see what Sense thou canst make of them R. W. Thou say'st Yea G. F. and his c. for all their being in God and some of their proud and silly Answerings in Courts that they Live in God and Dwell in God c. Answ. See R. W's Contradiction before in the same page where he saith We live in God and move in God and have our Being in God c we must not now confess this that he just now owned without being called Proud and Silly But why must not we tell where our Living and Being is before your Courts and are not they Silly and Proud as thou speakest and live not in God that cannot endure to hear People tell you where their Living and Being is And yet thou say'st They disown not their own Visible Congregations c. Why should they disown their Visible Assemblies or Teachers or Overseers which are gathered together in the Name of Jesus and are Ministers of the Spirit and are made Overseers by the Holy Ghost that is Invisible and their Singing and Praying in the Spirit they own As for those Audible Performances thou speakest of the Saints perform their Worship Praying Preaching c. by the Spirit is the Spirit and Truth Visible in which God is worshipped let R. W. and all the Priests prove that by Scripture if they can R. W. And thou say'st VVhy doth this poor notoriously Visible Cheater thus prate of Invisibilities especially in times of Peace and not in Elias his Case Answ. What! must they not talk of Faith by which the Invisible God is seen nor the VVord of God which was made Flesh by which all things were made nor talk of the Holy Ghost which made Overseers And did not the Apostle say Ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit Rom. 8 9. and yet all these were upon the Earth but thou art dark not knowing the things of God But you Professors that prate so much of Visibility are Invisible enough at Times running away and flying your Testimony but the things that are seen that are Temporal your striving is in and so thou pleadst for Visibility And though we are for God's Invisible things against your Carnal envious Minds yet have we not been visible in Tryals and Persecutions did we hide from you R. W. And thou bringst M. Bine which saith The Scriptures may be understood by the Help of Tongues And G. F. Answ. All Scriptures were given forth by Inspiration and so without the same Inspiration it is not understood Again Pilate had the Scriptures and Tongues and yet did not understand the Scriptures nor Christ the Substance of them and this you have set up since the Apostacy your Tongues you Raveners from the Spirit R. W. replyeth and saith That G. F. confesseth that every Syllable or Title in the Scripture is the Word or immediately revealed VVill of God against his and the Quakers common Song hath God any more Words than one Answ.
up Treasure in Heaven where the Thieves come not but by R. W.'s Argument as far as in them lay they can Rob him of it Thou say'st As far as in them lay but we must tell thee this cannot he said and thou speakest vainly though thou may'st Crucifie him to thy self a fresh And R. W. hath not proved this Assertion That we go about to do any such thing but it is his own Assertion that calleth his Light an Idol and we might very well Deny all thy Proofs seeing that thou could'st make none of them Good out of G. F.'s Book R. W. Thou say'st We deny that Visible Kingdom and Church and Institutions which he Christ as King over all his Subjects hath Soveraign Right unto and most faithfully and wisely Ordained to continue till his Coming again And thou say'st Thou Told us that G. F.'s his Book and all our Books and Professions denied any Visible Church of Christ at all and Visible Officers and that we maintain the Church was in God Answ. Christ saith His Kingdom is not of this World but an Everlasting Kingdom And how wilt thou prove that Christ's Kingdom is Visible is it not Spiritual and ruleth in the Hearts of his people and is not that a Spiritual Rule He Ruleth the Nations with a Rod of Iron is that Outward His Kingdom we do own though all his Subjects his people as to the Bodies be Visible and his Church yet he Ruleth them by his Invisible Power and Spirit And doth G. F.'s Book that thou brought'st and other Books or any of the Quakers Profession prove that the Church of Christ or Outward Congregations to wit the Bodies of his people were Invisible though we do maintain That the Church is in God as the Apostle saith 2 Thes. 1. And we Worship God in Spirit and in Truth and is not the Spirit Invisible and though the Outward Bodies of the Saints and Officers of the Church are Visible but the Holy Ghost that maketh them Officers and Over-seers is Invisible and is not Christ's Baptism with the Holy Ghost and Fire Invisible and is not this within And Christ saith If any one hear my Voice and open unto me I will come in to him and Sup with him and he with me Is this Supper Visible Revel 3 20. And as for Outward Bread Water and Wine art thou in that Practice thy self R. W. And thou say'st J. Stubs demanded of thee why thou Charged'st us of being Guilty and not Living in Church-Ordinance thy self Answ. J. Stubs had Good Reason to ask thee this Question seeing thou livest not in the Practice nor under the Exercise of none thy self as we understand And whom hath R. W. Fellowship withal or of what Church is he a Member of but is not R. W.'s like wild Ismael his Hand against every man the Bond-Woman's Son cast out of Abraham's Family the Father of the Faithful and well might J. Stubs reprove thee who livest in none and opposest us that do And thou goest over and over with thy Tautologies of Christ the King of Kings his Visible Kingdom and how that we turned all to Notions and Fancies of an Invisible Kingdom Roger are not the True Christians Christ's Army and Officers though they outwardly be Visible are the Weapons of Christ's Ministers and Officers Visible yet do not they say Their Weapons are Spiritual and not Carnal and is Spiritual Visible And doth not the Apostle say The Kingdom of God standeth not in Words but in Power and Joy in the Holy Ghost and is the Power of God and the Holy Ghost Visible in which the Kingdom standeth prove thou and the New-England priests this by Scripture though the Saints Bodies that possess this are Visible and thou may'st take thy Notions and Fancies to thy self of God and Christ's Kingdom R. W. After thy Search thou say'st Thou dost believe that some come nearer to the First Primitive Churches and Institutions and Appointments of Christ Jesus then others as in many Respects so in that Gallant and Heavenly and Fundamental Principle of the true Matter of a Christian Congregation Flock or Society viz Actual Believers True Disciples and Converts Living Stones c This was and I hope is the Principle of the New-English Church Answ. How now Roger art thou Flattering the NEW-ENGLAND-CHVRCH and Daubing of them here with thy Untempered Morter to get Favour who hast so long lived in the Woods and Wildernesses like Ismael but let us Examine this NEW-ENGLAND-CHVRCH with their Heavenly Fundamental Principles and try thâ—se Actual Believers True Disciples and Converts Living Stones c. which thou say'st Come nearer to the First Primitive Churches and Institutions and Appointments of Christ. And yet R. W. professeth That if his Soul could find Rest in Joining with any of the Churches professing Christ Jesus now Extant he would readily and gladly do it How now Roger canst thou not Join with those Actual Believers True Disciples and Converts Living Stones to wit The CHVRCH in NEW-ENGLAND which was and hopest she is and comes nearer to the Primitive Churches and Institutions and Appointments of Christ's Gallant and Heavenly Fundamental Principle Why canst not thou Join with this R. W. that thou hast extoll'd so high But Roger as we said before we must Try this CHVRCH of NEW-ENGLAND by the Fruits as Christ Commandeth us whether she be not the Whore and False Prophet and Strumpet and Anti-Christ and the Beast that hath her Power from the Dragon that made war with the Saints and the Whore that drunk the Bâ—ood of the Saints and the inwardâ—y Ravening Wolves that devour the Sheep in the Sheeps-Cloathing and inwardly Ravened from the Spirit of God and the Light which cometh from Christ Jesus which thou call'st an Idol and so have denied the True Lord Jesus Christ. And Christ saith We shall know them by the Fruits and so we must try them by the Fruits as Christ saith For Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles And now let AMERICA and EVROPE whom the Sound of the Fruits of this CHVRCH of NEW-ENGLAND is come into see if they be such as R. W. hath Characteriz'd them to be Have they not manifest themselves to be the Thorny Trees not the Vines and the Thistles not the Fig-trees by their Pricking and Tearing of God's Chosen Have they not manifested themselves to be the Wolves Worrying and Devouring of God's Lambs and Sheep and have they not HVNTED them with their Outward Dogs up and down the Woods Have they not WHIPT and TORN the very Bodies of Men and Women on Whip-stocks till they Tore the very Paâ— of the tender Breast Have they not WHIPT WITH PITCHED ROPES the very Body to a Yelly Have they not HANG'D FOVR OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD upon the Gallows and BANISH'D MANY upon PAIN of DEATH Have they not made FINES that none should receive God's people nor a Book and â—aid GREAT FINES upon Masters of Ships that they should
is that written But the Counterfeit and the Dross and the Devil himself as black a Fiend c. the Spirit of Darkness Samuel's Mantle thou speakest of and Sheeps-Cloathing and Deceiving and Covering your Black Spirit withal and then thou say'st Thou told'st us 'T was Common for the Papists and Turks and Judas betraying his Master with a Kiss and a many such like Words but we do remember few but this is nothing to prove our Principles and Profession what others were And R. W. Thou say'st Thou Remembrest thou told'st us That Paul telleth Timothy of some that speak Lies in Hypocrisy What is this to us this is thy own Condition this is no Proof and of Such as knowingly for Devilish and Wicked Ends Preferment Profit take the Leading-Staff in the Hand c. and then thou Tell'st of the Pope's and Cardinals and of Judas his Gain that betrayed Christ c. of the Sechemites and their Successors of Nebuchadnezar's Idolatry c. And further thou Tell'st us of such that the Lord Jesus Christ hath positively fore-told of that they should think to do God Service to Kill himself in Killing his Servants Answ. But R. W. giveth us no Scripture for this To Kill himself in Killing his Servants except he meaneth them in New-England that Crucified Christ first to Themselves and then Killed his Servants but all this is nothing to us Here thou dost Confess and Wonder that We bore all this Load of Stories which was to no purpose therefore thou might'st very well Wonder at their Patience but R W. had not W. E. and the rest which thou scoffingly say'st Broke out Reason to call thee to prove thy Charge when thou had'st run so far beside the Matter And we are as we were when we First came amongst you And R. W. Thou say'st Thou told'st us that we were Charg'd with denying the Man Christ Jesus But Answ. We say thy Charge is False For we own Christ that died at Jerusalem more than thou and the New-England-Priests as we said before and there is no such thing neither in G. F.'s nor in any of our Books And let the Reader see whether there be any such Words in G. F.'s Book It is R. W.'s own false Charging to prove his Assertions And our Books hold forth without Juggling as thou Falsly Chargest us Church-Ministry Baptism c. Resurrection Eternal Judgment Eternal Life now and in the World to come R. W. And thou say'st We deny any Church but that Invisible Answ. The Church is in God but their Bodies are Visible 1 Thes. 1. And so thy Principles are False and thy Profession that is not according to the Apostle's And that which keepeth us together in the Fellowship and Vnity is the Spirit which as it doth Move us we Pray we Preach we Sing as the Holy Men of God did who spake as the Spirit of God gave them Vtterance And this is according to the Primitive Sense Principle and Profession though thou may'st say Monstrous and Dissimulation And we do proâ—ess we have an Vnction and Christ enlightneth every one that cometh into the world and this as in John 1.2 and this is according to Sound Principle and the Profession of the Holy Men of God and thou deniest this and art in a false principle and profession contrary to the Apostle's R. W. And further thou say'st That Christ and the Spirit and the Kingdom of Heaven is in them as the Pharisees had and the very same the Saints have Answ. These are thy false professions and principles and not ours But that which we do profess we shall manifest Know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his And thou that deniest this to the Saints art of a false principle and profession contrary to the Apostle And Christ said The Kingdom of Heaven was in the Pharisees Luke 17. but neither Christ nor We say That Christ was in them as he was in the Saints and the Pharisees and their going from and hating the Light which Christ hath enlightned them withal they are condemn'd by the Light and not Justified R. W. And then thou Scoffest at the Quakers She-Apostles and He-Apostles sent into New-England Ireland Scotland Italy and Turkey c. Answ. Yea they are gone thither where R. W. and the New-England-Priests durst not shew their Heads though they may Rail against the Turk and Pope behind their Backs your Spirits are too Cowardly And by all this thou hast not disprov'd our principles and profession And we believe if R. W. had been in the Dayes of the Apostles he would have join'd with the Scribes and Pharisees against Christ Jesus and have Rail'd against Christ and his Disciples and against Mary Magdalen and other Women that preach'd the Resurrection of Christ Jesus R. W. Thou say'st We profess the Scriptures to be the Words of God and not the Word and therefore We are in a false Principle and Profession Answ. Are we Is this thy Proof And doth not the Scriptures which thou say'st is the Rule and Touch-stone themselves call a Declaration the Words of God and Christ Nay dost not thou call it an History And so thou that callest the Scriptures with other Names than the Holy Men of God have called them thou art in a false profession not we who speakest otherwise than the Scripture speaketh And where did ever we say If all the Scripture was burnt we have the Scriptures within us We charge thee to make this good by any of our Books or Writings until then we look upon thee as one that hath Slander'd us to the World And we abhor thy words as Burning the Scriptures and yet we must not deny Knowing the Scriptures by the Spirit of God within R. W. And so thou say'st By deceitful Owning and not Owning as G. F. in his late Book Exalting the Heathen Answ. This is thy false Charge for we Really Own the Scriptures And G. F. Magnifieth the Lord and Exalteth that of God in the Heathen which was condemned by such as thou and the New-England-Priests that have no Scripture As let the Reader read over the Book called Heathens Divinity and let him see whether he doth Exalt the Heathen or the Lord on their behalf R. W. And thou say'st How full are their Books against Persecutors Answ. And well they may be for we have felt the stroke of it even to DEATH in New-England amongst whom there is manifest both their Profession and Principle to be False and not according to the Primitive Church R. W. He bringeth G. F.'s Fol. 170. John Stallam saying The Magistrate is not to level the Law with the Light in every Man's Conscience Again If the Magistrates be in the Light and discern the Mind of Christ and discern his Law is he to Compel all the Nation and Common-Wealth to come to the Practice of his Light G. F. Answereth The
Consciences are not so sear'd with an Hot Iron as R. W.'s is against the True Lord Jesus Christ who casteth a Flood of Wickedness against him and his Light but we expect no other it is nothing to us R. W. Bringeth James Brown that saith The Kingdom of Heaven that is in the Saints is not in the Pharisees Fol. G. F. p. 259. G. F. Answ. That which is in the Saints is in the Pharisees in a Measure though it be but as a Grain of Mustard-seed or as a Little Leaven But this is fully Answered in the Append. where he bringeth it there And R. W. Replieth and bringeth Luke 11.12 Christ's Saying If I by the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you And this R. W. Malitiously bringeth to Oppose Christ's Words cited when the Pharisees demanded of Christ When the Kingdom should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of Heaven cometh not with Observations neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you Luke 17. Now whether must we believe Christ or R. W And this he bringeth to Disprove our Principles and Profession not to be True and hath here manifest his own Profession and Principle not to be according to Christ. And R. W. Thou say'st That the Pharisees expected a Temporal Kingdom and yet thou say'st Christ's Visible Kingdom is his Church And the Apostle telleth thee His Kingdom standeth in Power c. and the Holy Ghost and what is Visible but Temporal And we do not say That the Pharisees had such a Kingdom as the Saints in Joy and Peace with the Holy Ghost for their Darkness could not comprehend the Light therefore they were not like to receive such a Kingdom And what Kingdom was this in the Pharisees if it was not a Measure of the Seed which Christ Soweth in all Grounds and of the Spirit and of the Light which enlightneth every man that cometh into the World R. W. And whereas thou Scoffingly say'st What do We talk of Measures but that We are all one in Quality and Equality c. Answ. Let the Reader see if there be any such Words in G. F.'s Answer R. W. cannot bridle his Tongue and keep in the Rule But R. W. Thou say'st What a Stinking Work do these proud Pharisees make of Christianity how justly c. Answ. This R. W. might have applied at home his Stinking Work and proud Pharisees c. What! must not we own Christ's words nor Scripture Were not they Fools blind Guides and Pharisees that would not own Christ's Doctrine and so it may be said Still of R. W. R. W. Asketh the Reason Why this Seed doth not Grow and this Leaven doth not Spread within the Pharisees Can a Nation be Subject to the King of England or Spain c. and yet not know how nor have no Knowledge or Feeling of it at all Can there be such a God such a Spirit such a Fire â—ea but such a Mustard-seed or Leaven such a Teacher and yet not grow not prevail nor prosper nor be perceived ye Fools and Blind And so goeth on a-railing to the end of pag. 113. Answ. Here thou hast manifest thy self to be as Blind as the Pharisees concerning the Doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven within as Christ preached For is it not the same Seed that is sown upon all Sorts of Grounds by the Seeds-Man though Christ tellâ—th thee Ye are Thorns and Stony Hearts and what ye do to the Seed And is it not the same Light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the World which the Saints believed in which Thou and the Pharisees and the New-England-Professors hate and thou callest an 〈◊〉 So thy principle and profession is False and not agreeable to the Primitive profession and principle And is not the same Grace which bringeth Salvation appeared to All Men which the Wicked turn into Wantonness and walk despitefully against it And is not the same Spirit which is poured out upon All Flesh by which the Sons and Daughters Prophesy c. but if thou quenchest the Spirit and turnest the Grace of God into Wantonness and the Carnal Mind choke the Seed and erre from the Spirit then thou may'st say Why doth it not Grow Why doth not Leaven Spread Why doth it not Spring Why don't it Grow and Why are they not Subjects to the King and yet thou art building the Tombs of the Righteous And all such that erre from the Spirit turn the Grace of God into Wantonness and hate his Light and by their Carnal Mind choke the Seed and are Rebels to the Kingdom of Heaven and go read the Talent of the Slothful Servant However thou hast improv'd the Devil's Talent and hidden the Lord's thou and the New-England-Priests and therefore ye persecute him with your Tongue and Hand and a many Vnsavoury Words that are in this page which are not worth mentioning And so in all this thou hast prov'd thy self not to have the Spirit of Christ Jesus but an Opposer of his Doctrine and prov'd thy own profession and principle False and contrary to Christ's and the Apostle's words R. W. Thou say'st That the Quakers Religion is Heresy and they themselves Hereticks in the Matters of God's Worship Answ. The Religion we maintain which the Apostles above 1600. years since set up which is Pure c. and therefore we forsake yours And the Worship of God which Christ set up 1600. years ago this we in Practice maintain and we do not differ from the Servants of God the Prophets and Apostles but we have Unity with them in the Faith and Spirit of God Glory to the Lord God for ever And we believe we Shall prove thee in the Heresy thou speakest of which thou confessest John Stub stood up and said That Heresy was defined by some to be an Opinion obstinately stood in against the First Christian Purity and this thou confessest too First thou say'st R. W. That our Religion Way or Sect was False c. and upon this Ground R. W. will prove Our Religion is not only Heresy in Matters of Worship but also in Doctrines of Repentance Faith c. Now come on R. Williams make good thy Charge and see if thou hast not thrown thy self in the same Condition as thou chargest us R. W. Thou say'st First as to Worship We deny the Converting or Gathering of Saints into Visible Congregations affirming the Church to be Invisible the Ministry Invisible the Baptism and Supper Invisible Answ. Let the People in New-Engâ—and Judge whether we do not Gather people into Visible Assemblies let their Meetings there speak And though we do say as the Apostle saith 1 Thes. 1.2 2 Thes. â— The Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ yet the Saints Bodies were Visible upon the Earth and thou that deniest this Doctrine deniest this Primitive Doctrine and so holdest another Opinion than the
which are thy own words not ours And G. F. asketh you the question concerning the Soul but why doth not R. W. Answer it and tell what the Soul is as the Reader may see in pag. 147 in the Book And then thou tell'st a Story of the Manichees when this is nothing to the purpose to prove thy Charge but to fill up the Book and Time And the Apostle saith Beware of Dogs and Cantâ— 2 Beware of Foxes which thou bringest Then the Lambs must beware of such as thou and of the New-England-Persecutors R. W. And thou say'st You are to fly c. from these brutish Fancies brutish Barkings and Blasphemies against the infinitely Glorious and Inconceivable Excellencies of God c. Answ. Then they must Fly from such as thou who callest Christ's Light an Idol and a Fancy and therefore thou art not able to know neither Christ nor his Godhead R. W. And thou qoutest G. F.'s Fol. p. 67 Fran. Higginson saying That one should say He was Equal with God G. F. Answ. And in the Catechism of the Assembly of the Priests called Divines which they have put forth to the Nation in which they have laid down for young Children and old Men and all to Learn That the Holy Ghost and the Son are Equal in Power and Glory with the Father Yet if any one come to witness the Son of God to by Revealed in him or any come to witness the Holy Ghost in them as they did that gave forth the Scriptures or witness the Mind of Christ or witness that Equal with the Father that Equality which you speak of ye Priests destroy that which ye have put forth to the Nation and cry out Horrible Blasphemy c. R. W. Replieth and beginneth with Raiâ—ing and saith The Quakers say that they are Equal in Power and Glory with the Father the Son and Holy Spirit c. Answ. Now let the Reader but read G. F.'s Answer and see how horribly he abuseth it doth he mention WE but only the Holy Ghost and Christ and the Son of God to be Equal with the Father according as the Priests said and yet they are against this Son and the Holy Ghost to be in Man and Woman And the Reader may see how he hath changed a many words in G. F.'s Answer to instead of or and Equality for Equal and so hath changed the sence and crieth out Horrible Blasphemy as ye may see in G. F.'s Answer And besides he hath left out many of his words Anâ— how can they who are Witnesses of the Holy Ghost and Witnesses of the Son how can it be meant they be Equal when they are but the Witnesses of it The Reader may see if R. W. hath not doâ—e this on purpose to wrong G. F.'s words R. W. Bringeth G. F.'s Fol. p. 282. Daâ— Gawdry saying Surely they cannot be Perfect here or hereafter in Equality but only in Quality G. F.'s Answ. Christ maketh no distinction in his words but saith Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect and be ye Merciful as He is Merciful and as He is so are we in this World And that which is Perfect and Merciful as he is Perfect and Merciful is one in Quality with the same thing And R. W. Replieth and saith The Quakers challenge an Equality with God and crieth Horrible Blasphemy Answ. But let the Reader see if there be any such thing in G. F.'s words in his Answer but using Christ's words Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect and Be ye Merciful as He is Merciful and as He is so are we in this present World Now if these words be Blasphemy then R. W. may as well call John's and Christ's words Blasphemy But none of those Stories proveth his Assertion And there is not the word Equality in G. F.'s Answer which R. W. hath basely thrust in And R. W. Bringeth G. F.'s Fol. p. 248. To say that God is substantially c. Thou bringest Names and there is no such thing in that page as the Reader may see in G. F.'s Folio aforesaid And then thou sayst That the Quakers make themselves Father Son and Holy Ghost Answ. All people may see we have need of great patience to hear all thy Lies and false Charges for it 's thy own Confession Thou say'st that G. F. Answereth That God will dwell in Man and the Saints had Vnity with the Father and the Son and this is Scripture as in John 1. And how darest thou enviously say upon these words of G. F.'s They make themselves Father Son and Holy Ghost And thou sayst We make no Distinction between Christ Jesus himself and his Saints or Believers in him when often we declared Christ in us the hope of Glory and Christ in you except ye be Reprobates And how did the Apostles make the Saints the Father Son and Holy Ghost who preached this Doctrine R. W. might as well charge the Apostles as the Quakers R. W. And thou sayst We make no other work of Redemption and Justification but what is wrought in our Spirits Minds and Fancies called within them Answ. R. W. we say Christ is made unto us Redemption and Sanctification we make him not God has made him so to us For we know him so by his Light within and dost thou pervert our words And thou might'st as well have Charged the Apostle with such sayings as us who saith 1 Cor. 1 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption This we witness Glory to God for ever And R. W. Bringeth Christopher Wade G. F.'s Fol. p. 246 saying God the Father never took upon him Humane Nature G. F.'s Answ. Contrary to Scripture who saith GOD was in CHRIST reconciling the World to himself And art Ignorant of the great Mystery GOD manifest in the FLESH and his Name is called the Everlasting Father As for the word HVMANE which is From the Ground it comes from thy own Knowledge which is Earthly and Christ took upon him the Seed of Abraham and David according to the Flesh and this is Scripture-Language R. W. Replieth and saith The Bottom of this is to deny the Lord Jesus to be a Man c. Answ. Let the Reader see and read G. F.'s words how he wrongeth him for G. F. speaketh no such thing And doth not Christ say to his Disciples when they asked him Shew us the Father and he Answered them and said Believest not thou that I am in the Father and the Father in me the words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me c. John 14. And R. W. Bringeth in Priest Fâ—rgison G. F.'s fol. p. 293. saying That Christ the Father and the Holy Ghost are not one but they are Three therefore Distinct. G. F.'s Answ. This is a denying of Christ's Doctrine who saith I and my Father are One
and the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and he was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and they are all One and not Distinct but One in Vnity And that which cometh out from him to wit the Holy Ghost leadeth the Saints into all Truth and that was it that ever was given forth from the Spirit of Truth and so up to God the Father of Truth and so goeth back from whence it came R. W. Replieth and saith That G. F. calls that Blasphemy which the most-Holy and Eternal Lord calls Heavenly Truth he hath like some Witches c. so inur'd himself c. Answ. Why R. W because he speaketh Scriptures art not thou like the Pharisees that could not endure to hear Christ say That he and his Father was One And John said They were One wilt thou call him a Notorious Wretch Indeed thy Spirit will call Christ a Deceiver But R. W. and his Priests say They are Distinct give us a Scripture that saith so and that they are not One and How far are they Distinct one from another then thou sayst something R. W. And thou say'st That the Scripture tells us concerning these Mysteries that in this Life we know but in part as through a Glass darkly c. Answ. Let the Reader read 1 Cor. 13. and see whether R. W. hath not addeth In this Life to the Apostle's words and the Apostle doth not mention in this Life So here thou abusest the Apostle's words as thou dost ours And we know Christ saith My Father is greater than I And what then doth this deny Christ's words who said The Father is in him and he and the Father is One nay do not your own Books say They are One and Equal But thou wast finding Fault with the Socinians nay all the Proofs and Evasions thou bring'st concerning G. F. and M. F. is nothing to disprove Christ's words who saith He and the Father are One. And what dost thou talk of the Four Points of the Pather Son and Spirit c. Fall and Redemption c. of the Church-Officers Baptism c. and Resurrection Eternal Judgment c. Art thou like to see them when thou callest Christ's Light a Fancy and an Idol For all these we own as Scripture declares both within and without and therefore thy Charge is false R. W. And thou bring'st in Tho Collier in G. F.'s Fol. p. 38. saying The Kingdom is not come nor the Refreshing from the Spirit of the Lord. G. F. Answ. Which sheweth they are like unto the Pharisees Unconverted gazing here and there and Christ told them the Kingdom was in them And they that are not turned to the Light which cometh from Christ the Refresher whereby Refreshing might come are not come to Repentance yet And R. W. Replieth and saith Who sees not that G. F. speakes not here of the Kingdom of Christ in the future and to come and the times of Refreshing but that he cuts off all future hopes and expectations to come Answ. The Reader may see this is a false Interpretation upon G. F.'s words for did Christ Cut off all Future Comfort to come to his Saints when he said The Kingdom of Heaven was in them And they that turn to the Light receive Refreshing from the Lord. And G. F. saith They that turn not to the Light which cometh from Christ the Refresher whereby Refreshings might come Receive not And how can R. W. say G. F. cuts off all future Hopes and Expectations to come But what should we expect from him that calleth Christ's Light a Fancy and an Idol R. W. saith That the Scripture tells him and Experience that the Hypocrites have no solid Peace and Joy here nor solid Hope or Joy of Glory to come c. Answ. Roger this is thy own Condition and if thou did'st not abhor the Thoughts of a Judgment to come thou would'st never have spoken such words And Foolishly Atheistically Childish Dreams of no Heaven and Refreshing which thou speakest of thou might'st have applied to thy self And let the Reader see if G. F. say There is no Heaven or Hell or Torment in us c. is there any such saying in G. F.'s Answer here These are words of thy own Forging and then thou hast charged them upon us and criest Foolish Childish Dreams c. which are thy own Sayings and not ours R. W. Bringeth John Clapham G. F.'s Fol. p. 101. saying To witness Heaven and Hell and Resurrection within is the Mystery of Iniquity G. F.'s Answ. Which sheweth thou never knew'st Heaven in thy self nor Hell there nor Christ's Resurrection and the Life which they are Blessed that are made Partakers of the first Resurrection on them the Second Death shall have no Power And the Scripture doth witness Heaven within and if Christ that was offered up the Resurrection and the Life be not within thee thou art a Reprobate R. W. Replieth and saith If G. F. would speak of Heaven and Angels and Hell and Devils and Resurrection and Life to come by way of Allusion and Similitude or by way of First Fruits or Tast of them he might profitably do it Answ. All ye that do not know a Resurrection of Life to come by Christ Jesus and know not the Kingdom of Heaven within you how can ye know it without you And know Hell and the Strong Man cast out there how will ye know the Eternal Judgement which is upon the Devil and his Angels upon the Wicked cast into Hell and the Lake which burnes with Fire and Brimstone which go to the Devil who is out of the Truth who are gone from the Spirit of God his Grace his Truth in the Inwards parts and his Light which thou callest a Fancy and an Idol which will condemn thee and thou shalt know a Hâ—ll which thou so much pleadest for without thee And we are not Revolted from the true Christians Faith and Religion that was in the Apostles Days but thou that deniest this art And R. W. in the same page bringeth Some Nameless Author G. F.'s Fol p. 214. saying To say the Heaven and Glory is in Man which was before Man was they are sâ—ttish and blind G. F. Answ. There is none have a Glory and a Heaven but within them which was before Man had a being And he brings Tho Pollard's Saying G. F. Fol p. 81 For a perfection of Glory to be attained to on this side the Grave I utterly deny G. F. Answ. Where Glory is in the least Degree it is in Perfection and who have not Glory and do not Attain to Glory on this side the Grave they are in a sad Condition For the Saints rejoiced with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory and they witnessed the Hope of Glory within them while they were upon the Earth Col. 1 and of that Hope they were to give a Reason that was within them And they Saw the Glory of God and of the Father and so came to be
Changed from Glory to Glory till they came into the Image of God And the Apostle saw c. And so ye may read at large in G. F.'s Fol which is to large to be set down here but R. W. hath taken about three lines of it and left out the rest And R. W. replieth As the Swinish Epicures and Dives's of this World what-ever they formally and loosly profess have no solid Hope of Peace and Joy to come after this Life and therefore like Brute Beasts practically confess it saying in their Hearts and Lives Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die c. Answ. What is this to the purpose for G. F.'s Answer R. W. might have put himself amongst his Company and Judged himself as well as others for it 's his own Condition R. W. thou sayst Thou knowest that same of the Quakers will not believe that G. F. and others of them deny the Resurrection c. Answ. And why should they believe a Lie as thou dost and why should not we stand by G. F.'s words when he speaketh Scripture and thou that dost not deniest Scripture and the Light of Christ and call'st it a Fancy And the Resurrection we own according to Scripture R. W. And here thou bringest the Ninth false Charge viz All that the Quakers Religion requireth externally and internally to make Converts or Prâ—selytes amounts to no more then what a Reprobate easily may attain to and perform Answ. This is false for Reprobates do not believe in the Light and become not Children of Light and recâ—ive not Christ in them from whence the Light cometh R. W. And thou hopest many of us will come to Abraham's Bosom But then why dost thou rail at us And how can we come to Abraham's Bosom and Attain to no further then to what a Reprobate may And then thou sayst Thousands may have gotten all their Religion requires or performs yea all that their Principles call for outwardly or Inwardly and yet not be accepted but rejected from the holy presence of God Answ. How now Roger and yet come to Abraham's Bosom O Roger thy Darkness cannot comprehend the Light that seest not our Condition no more then thou seest the Saints in the Apotles Days thou would'st have said the same of them had'st thou been in their Day We know our Assurance of God and our Acceptation through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son through whom we have peace with God and we do know the Son by Revelation and God that sent him which is Eternal Life Blessed be his Name for Ever And are grafted into him and built upon him the Rock and Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and thy words are but Chaff R. W. And then thou tell'st a story of Perkins and appliest that to us which he spoke of the Papists But thou hadst better to have applied this to thy self And thou fall'st a Judging the Common Protestants and Quakers and tell'st of their Great Reformations and Joys c. their enduring great persecution and burning of their bodies c. and yet be far from the true Protestant Religion either in the true Dâ—ctrine and Principles or in the true Life and Practice of it Answ. How can Roger Williams tell why doth he Judge such that they were not in the true Religion Who was this Protestant not in New-England nor R. W he never felt the Flame nor was BRANDED with an HOT IRON his Religion will not lead him to undergo such suffering for why did he not stand but go in the Woods when he was tried in Boston-Colony But R. W. would make people believe he was a High Protestant beyond all these but plainly he is nothing but a Railer as his Book doth make manifeâ—t But let the Reader see how he hath lost himself and gone from G. F.'s Answer And R. W. Tearmes our Faith to Rotten Nature c and our Prayyers and Fastings and Sufferings to Womens filâ—hy Clouts and dung of Men and Beasts put into the Ballance of God's Infinite Justice instead of the Infinite Righteousness and Satisfaction of the Son of God c. Answ. As for the Papists they may Answer for themselves but our FAITH Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of we had it not from Men nor Rotten Nature And we Pray as we are moved by the Spirit of God and â—ast as we are ordered by his Divine Wisdom And our Sufferings amongst the New-England-Professors have been for the Truth and the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ's sake in whom our Poor Souls have had Satisfaction And we know Christ's words to be true Blessed are they that Suffer for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5. And for all thy Vngratious Words the Lord will rebuke thee in one Day and in that Day of thy Torment remember thou hast wronged us R. W. And thou scoffingly sayst That if a Notorious Drunkard be convinced and come to hearken to a Spirit within to say Thee and Thou and thinks himself Equal and above all his former Superiors c. he is Justified Sanctified c. and so holy that he cannot sin in Thoughts and Words c. Thus they pretend Repentance Faith and a Change of Heart because they have changed their Talk and Garments Answ. The Spirit of God within leadeth to no such Sudden Thing neither is the Work so easily done as R. W. here would foist into the minds of the World to make them load the Truth neither shall he find it so easy himself if ever he should see a Day of Repentance And the Spirit of the Lord leadeth to Humility and that is a good Spirit that Leadeth to Modesty in Apparel and to True Words and from Evil Thoughts and from Drunkenness For after a Man is restrained from Actual Sins without him then he cometh to know the putting off the Body of it within and crieth as Paul did to Christ for no Man can help him then but He that did help Paul who Thanks God in Victory in the end But why should R. W. be so against the Spirit within in saying THEE and THOV and putting off our needless Apparel seeing it was the Practice of the holy Men of God in the Scripture hath not he proved himself that he is degenerated from the Spirit Life and Practice of the Primitive Church R. W. And thou say'st John Bradford said unto God Lord thou art Heaven and I am Hell Answ. And was not this Hell within him think'st thou and if so why dost thou find Fault with the Quakers R. W. Then thou fallest on a preaching but to no purpose to thy Position nor G. F.'s answer And dost thou not say The Blood of God doth Cleanse and Redeem thee Answ. And yet dost thou not find Fault with the Quakers for mentioning the Blood of God And the 2 Cor 7. doth not evidence thy True Repentance from a Pharisee's And R. W. Thou say'st That no Papist nor Quaker by
Lord Jesus Christ but we would haue them to mind the Grace of God that hath appeared to them and the Light and his good Spirit that they have grieved and believe in the Light of Christ which thou callest an Idol And we know Sweet Odors cannot come from a Spirit of Persecution But R. W. saith But G. F. will be found to adore an Image and Crucifix for the true Lord Jesus c. Answ. Nay R. W. thou art nearer that Condition who callest the Light of the true Lord Jesus an Idol which we never heard the Papists that adore Images and Crucifix did He is better built upon the Foundation of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles R. W. Thou say'st For doth not this proud Censor know that Men may be true Saints in their persons Answ. So not in their hearts if they be true Saints in person is that Sufficient R. W. and yet be subject to sudden Falling Fits Answ. But R. W. and the New-England-Priests did David walk with God with a perfect heart when he committed Adultery and Murther And whether these Actions did not defile his Persâ—n And if so then how can they be True Saints in their Persons Surely R. W. would be a Saint and a Ranter and the rest of the New-England-Persecutors And R. W. was finding Fault with the Ranters but I never heard any bring such Sayings of the Ranters before R. W. AND thou speakest of Peter denying c. But the Scripture saith If the Righteous fall they shall rise again but the Wicked shall fall into Mischief And R. W. it appeareth that he was never out of the Fall yet who saith There is no Motion nor Voice to be heard within of Heavenly things and supernatural Light and calleth the Light which John bare Testimony of a Frantick Light and an Idol R. W. And thou say'st After Christ's Ascension Peter played the Hypocrite and the Dâ—ssembler Answ. But where doth Paul call him a Hypocrite and Dissembler as thou dost Read Gal. 2. and let him see if Paul there calleth Peter Hypocrite And R. W. Thou bringest the Fathers in Godliness and famous Kings in God's Church of their Incivilities of many Wives and Impiety of Worshipping c. Answ. How canst thou say these are Fathers in Godliness when thou chargest them with Incivilities and Impieties For Godliness cannot be Impiety and Vncivil thou canst not make Godly when they acted these things But the Prophets writing these things as the Apostle saith were writ for Examples and Warnings that we should not follow such things for the End of the Prophets and Apostles Writings of such as fell and rise was that God's People should shun such Impieties and Evils and not for the Wicked to make use of the Scriptures to plead for Sin and say Such a one did such a Sin and strengthen themselves in the Evil. But the Apostle saith They were for our Examples to the Intent we should not lust after Evil things as they also lusted So here the Apostle doth not grant any Allowance for the Best to Sin as thou by the Conparison of the Goldsmith seemest to infer who giveth his Allowance as thou say'st to the best Gold c. But God giveth no such Allowance Christ's Command is to the Contrary And G. F. in all his Book never called them that were truly Humble and Able Godly and Conscientious Vipers Serpents Cains false Prophets Pharisees dumb Dogs c. Reprobates c. But must we not tell a Pharisee that he is a Pharisee Persecutors they are Persecuting like Uipeâ—s and Serpents did not Christ call them so Yea such were the Great Church of the Jews like the New-England-Church And doth not the Apostle say Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And thou that callest the Light an Idol and Christ within a Fancy and so art not thou a Râ—probate And have not the New-England-Priests and Professors manifest themselves to be like them that Killed their Brethren for Religion and about Sacrifice And greedy dumb Dogs doth not Isaiah call them so that can never have enough the Shepheards that cannot understand they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Let all People look whether all the New-England-Priests do not seek for their Gain from their Quarter And are not they Dogs and have not they TORN the FLESH of the Lambs of the true Lord Jesus And are they not Dumb as to God for thou say'st There is no Voice nor Motion within in Heavenly things in matters of Supernatural Light to be listen'd to or hearken'd to R. W. Thou say'st again That G. F. denies the Scriptures to be the Word of God Answ. This hath been answered over and over We tell thee what the Scriptures say of themselves to wit The WORDS of GOD Exod. 20. Revel 22. And thou therefore say'st Thou can'st not prove them in plain words of Scripture that they call themselves the WORD And if thou wast an Orator as thou say'st thou would'st not speak such a thing over so often because of which we are fain to Answer thee in so many pages And do not Scriptures signify Writings R. W. And thou say'st G. F. saith that every Man in the World hath that Spirit that gave forth Scriptures Answ. This is Answered over and over But R. W. doth not the Holy Spirit that leadeth the Saints into all Truth reprove the World of Sin c. John 16 8. though they do not or will not receive it R. W. And that all Saints are Acted by the Spirit Immediately that moved the Prophets and the Apostles Answ. And what then will R. W. deny the Saints from having the Spirit to Act them as the Apostles and Prophets had R. W. Thou say'st All this tends to nullify and vilify the Holy Scriptures Answ. This is thy Ignorance Can any Confirm and Establish the Scriptures without the Spirit that gave them forth But what must we Infer from R. W's words That he and his New-England priests have not the Spirit as the Prophets had that gave forth the Scriptures to lead them into all truth And That the Holy Ghost doth not reprove the World And this to prove himself and his New-England-Teachers degenerated from the Doctrine and Spirit of Christ and his Apostles and only to have the Form of Godliness and denying the Spirit and Power thereof R. W. And thou say'st again G. F. saith in his Book The Scriptures are not the Word of God and speakest Concerning every Word that proceedeth from the Mouth of God Answ. Then they are Words if they be Every Word and Every Word of God is fresh Food to us And his Saints we know but your Imaginations we cannot feed upon And R. W. Also the word Trinity and Sacrament Oh! how Zealous is this Fox for the purity of Language Why may not the word Humane be used as well as Sabboth c. which are Hebrew words as well as the word Bapâ—ism c.
truth And as for Caring no more for Jews or Gentiles than Foxes for Lambs and Chickens to make a prey of them and our pretences of Soul-kindness to be Soul-cruelties this R W. thou might'st have kept at home and the New-England Priests And for telling all Man-kind that they have Christ in them c. in this thou wrongest us For we turn them to the Light which Christ has enlightned them withall that they might with it see Christ and receive him and come into the Covenant of grace and so we turn them as the Apostle did from Darkness to Light c. And where was this Darkness and where was this Light for did not the Apostle which turned both Jews and Gentiles to the Light turn them to the Covenant of Grace And the Lord saith I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou may'st be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and doth either Jew or Gentile know their Salvation but by this Light of Christ And where thou slightingly say'st twice he means the New Covenant and he means Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and when it comes too he means no other Christ but a Spirit and then thou bring'st in Humphry Norton but bring'st no proof what he saith therefore that is turned back upon thee But where did'st thou ever read in any of the Quakers Books that they said That it was a Spirit that dyed at Jerusalem as thou say'st we mean And then thou say'st This will be found an Evil Spirit as one saith c. and this is thy own lying Evil Spirit that is out of the truth for Christ Jesus that was born of a Virgin the man Christ Jesus who suffered according to the flesh and dyed without the Gates of outward Jerusalem and was buryed and rose again and sits at the Right Hand of God and yet manifest in his People by his Spirit is gathering us by his Spirit to his Heavenly Jerusalem Glory to his Name for ever R W. And thou say'st That G F. slights the Scripture with a But It is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith and he slights he Novelty of it saying There was Faith before there was Scripture and then thou say'st It 's wonderful what an aking Tooth against the holy Writings of God the old Serpent and all the Wolves and Foxes of this world have â—ad who have more or less damned and cursed it and longed to have it out of the world Answ. We own and esteem the Holy Scriptures of truth which the holy Men of God were moved to give forth by the Holy Ghost but we cannot own them to be the means and Author of our Faith for Christ Jesus is the Author and finisher of our Faith which is the Gift of God as they that gave forth Scripture said And thy Slanderous tongue belyes us in saying What a Tooth-ach we have against the Scripture or the Holy Writings of God or that we would have them out of the world or ever cursed them or slighted them but we Esteem them and can bless the Lord for them For the Jews had Scripture of the Old Testament who were not in the Faith of Moses and the Prophets and Christ bid them Search the Scriptures for they testified of him Joh. 5 39 40. but they would not come to him that they might have Life who is the Author of their Faith But they thought to have had Life in the Scriptures as I K. and R W. think the Scripture is the means of Faith and then do not you throw out and leave off God and Christ and holy means and Author of Faith c And doth not the Apostle bid them Look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of their Faith Heb. 12 2 and God deals to every man the measure of Faith Rom. 12 3. so let God and Christ have their Glory And had not Abraham and Enoch Faith before the Scripture was written and is the Scriptures the means of Faith or Christ or but a Declaration of Faith or is it Faith it self R W R W. And thou say'st The Jews Turks and Papists c. and Quakers make use of it the Scriptures for their ends Answ. But why did'st thou not put in thy self and the New-England Priests thou might have left out the Quakers for thou belyest them For do not your Priests make a trade of them for their Bellies or their own ends for if the Priests Means were taken away there would be little Vsing or Preaching of the Scriptures by them But all that fear God know that thou wrong'st us in saying that we make use of them for our own ends as the Lord God knows For we prove by Scripture that Jesus is the Christ and Preach him freely as the Apostles did and have suffered Persecution and Spoyling of Goods and Death it self amongst you New-England Priests and Professors and yet thou would'st have the Magistrates to Punish us manifesting thy Birth of the Flesh as it 's said before R W. And further thou say'st None can rightly use it but as a Blessed Candle Lanthorn or Torch sent down from Heaven into this dark Dungeon of the world to guide us out unto the saving knowledge of God and Eternal Blessedness with him Answ. Where doth the Apostle call the Scripture of the New-Testament a Candle a Lanthorn or Torch I say that none can Vse the Scriptures aright but with that Holy-Ghost that leadeth into all the truth of them and gave them forth through the Holy men which received them from God and spoke them forth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and we can praise God for them who have the comfort of them and the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ. And hast not thou here set up the Scriptures instead of Christ for Saving knowledge and a Guide and instead of the Holy-Ghost and the Jews which had the Scriptures resisted him that gave the Saving knowledge R W. saith How doth this follow that if God hath appointed the Holy Writings as means that God and Christ are thrown out Answ. As being the Author and Finisher of the Saints Faith when as you make them the Means and not God and Christ. And if the Scriptures be the Means of Faith then what Means had Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Moses before the Scripture was written if the Scripture be the means of Faith R W. Thou say'st Cannot there be a Harmony between the First and all Subordinate Causes Answ. Yes if thou meanest the Scriptures of Truth R W. And further thou say'st Did Moses throw out God because he took the Rod in his hand when he wrought all those Wonders and did Solomon because he used so many Means in Rearing the Temple as Moses about the Tabernacle Or Sampson when he used the Jaw-bone of an Ass or Christ throw out his Father when he made use of Clay and Spittle Answ. Solomon's Temple and Moses's Tabernacle and the Jaw-bone of an Ass were not the
heareth the Words of this Prophesie if any man shall take away from the Words of this Book So were all these Audacious and blockish in a foul Spirit and a mad wild fancy that called them words and not the Word For the Scripture saith In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and God was the Word and Christ his Name is called the Word of God Joh. 1. Rev. 19. therefore let God and Christ have their Due and the Scriptures have its due which are recorded by the holy men of God and are profitable c. And the Saints that have Christ have the comfort of them And doth not the Apostle say That they were made able Ministers not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life and doth not the Apostle say If the Ministration of Death written graven in stones c. and further the Apostle saith For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistles of Christ written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God not in Tables of Stone but in the â—â—eshly Tables of the heart and dost thou call those Blockish Expressions which we have often used Poor man thou knowest little of the Saints Conditions And we have an Esteem of the Scriptures blessed be the Lord for all his Mercies R. W. And thou say'st They dare not though what dares not theiâ— Hellish Spirit against the King of Heaven c and many words thou usest to prove the Scriptures to be the words and usest the Kings Name and Declarations c and then thou say'st The bottom and the truth is the Spirit by which the Quakers are acted would be glad that there were not such a Person called the Word of God nor such a writing declaring so sweetly so plainly so fully and so Heavenly of him Answ. These be all Lyes of thy own forging And as for Hellish Spirit against the King of Heaven it 's within thy own breast for we can praise the King of Heaven who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and own the Person of Christ by the Spirit of Christ that he hath given us as fully and plainly and as Heavenly as the Scriptures declare him whose Name is called the Word of God but not the Scriptures Rev. 19. And we are built upon him who was the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and all Believers praises to the Lord for ever R. W. And thou say'st G. F. is in his burrough of the various sense of the word Form Answ. Because G. F. saith The Apostles work was to bring People off the Form to wit the Jews to the Substance Christ and they that keep People in the Form without the power was an Error and was not in the Apostles work Which is true And as for thy various sense of the word Form which hath respect to Nature to Arts to Civil Natural and Divine matters G. F. mentions not such things and the Apostle would have them to live in the power of the Form of Divine Matters R. W. And thou say'st Shall I now like a Fool or a Mad Man cry down all Natural Civil and Divine beings are not all the Internal and External Forms Shapes and Beings of the Creation in Heaven and Earth and Sea of Angels Sun and Moon Men Birds Beasts and Fishes c. glorious Answ. Doth G. F. cry down any of these Forms or Shapes I say thou art a Mad Man if thou do'st And what is all this to the Apostle's saying who saith Having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power from such turn away that they might live in the Substance Christ Jesus And yet the Form of Godliness the Apostle doth not bid them turn away from R. W. Thou say'st G. F. runs to the Picture or Forms of these forms and saith Childishly That the Form or Picture without the Life is nothing And then thou say'st Who knoweth not that Answ. And then thou hast answered thyself Childishly as thou Scoffingly confesses But doth G. F. mention Picture in his Answer R. W. Thou say'st But to come to worship was there not a Form or manner of Circumcision the Pass-over the Tabernacle the Temple Answ. Yes among the Jews But do'st thou follow that Form and must the Christians follow that Form or Christ and doth not the Apostle say If you be Circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing Gal. 5 and is not the Jews Temple and Tabernacle abolished by Christ R. W. And whereas thou say'st Did ever the Servants of God when they inveighed against the Customarinesâ— the Carelesness the Pictures and the meer formality of the worshippers Jews or Christians inveigh against the worship it self and the Appointments of God and of his Son Jesus Christ Answ. The true Prophets judged the Jews when they lived in the Form without the Power and told them their Service was no more then Cutting off a Dogs neck though the Prophets owned their worship till Christ came And then the Believers in Christ denyed the Jews worship and Altars which they offered upon when Christ was offered up once for all and denyed the Circumcision though it was death to a man that was not Circumcised among the Jews And they that have the Form of Christianity and deny the power though they turn away from them they do not turn away from Christ Jesus nor from the worship which Christ hath set up in Spirit and in Truth nor from the Christians Form of Godliness And it was the Labour of Gods Servants to bring People to the worship of God it self and to bring them off their dead and meer formalizing of them without the power and their Pictures R. W. And thou say'st What a shameless falshood is it that any of Gods Messengers brought Gods people off from those Heavenly Fabricks which God erected by their Ministry or Service all the world over Answ. Those Services and Offerings in the time of the Law it was no Shame nor falshood to bring them off them to Christ the substance And it is no Shame nor Falshood to turn away from them that have the Form of Godliness and deny the power now among Christians as the Apostle commandeth R. W. And thou say'st May not Gods Messengers now cry out against the Apish Imitations and the Formalities of the Papists so horribly and bloodily abusing Prayer and Preaching and Baptisme and the Lords Supper c. but like the Assyrians or Babilonians all these Christian Appointments must be broken and tumbled down with Axes and Hammers c. Answ. The Axes and Hammers as thou speakest of are the New-England Priests and Professors Weapons with their Whips and Goales and Gallowses For have the Papists been more bloody in this Age then you have been or the Babilonians or Assyrians and though you cry against the Papists yet you use their Weapons which you call Apish Imitations and Formalities But God's Messengers Weapons are Spiritual who
thy Contradiction G. F. talks of Heaven and Hell as the Parrot R. W. doth the Parrot know that Hell is called Sorrow and Bitterness Death and Grave R. W. And thou say'st That he G. F. knows the Visible state of the true Profession of Christ is called Heaven But can every Visible Eye see this Heaven And thou say'st Such as have an Interest in Christ Jesus have sitten down with him in those Heavenly Mansions into which he is entered bodily and gone to prepare for their Reception and Coming Answ. If thou and the New-England Professors were in this which thou speakest of they would not persecute the People of God called Quakers And then thou tellest of the Third Heaven the Place of Paul's Rapture of Joy and Blessedness c when these Heavens and Earth are burnt up and consumed What! are the Heavenly Mansions and Glories to be burnt up which they that have an Interest in Christ have sitten down in him in those Heavenly Mansions for we know what Heavens and Earth the Apostle telleth of that must be Burnt up and Consumed R. W. And thou say'st It 's like G. F. hath been occasioned to these thoughts by the Papists Fables about Heaven and Hell and Purgatory Answ. No such matter R. W. And then thou goest on with a great Story of the Papists which thou hadst better to have kept at home and thou say'st G. F. knows how that the Papists get a great world of Money of these Notions of Heaven and Hell c. Ans. And G. F. knows that the New-England Priests get a great deal of Mâ—â— as well as the Papists by telling People of Heaven and Hell and make a trade with the Scriptures as the Papists do with their Inventions R. W. And thou say'st G. F. not believing these Fables he fancies that Hell is some Apprehensions in the Mind of Wrath to come and that is Hell and Wrath it self and having had flashies of Pride and Peace in their Minds these are the Joys of Heaven Answ. Then this is above the Parrot taâ—king of Heaven and Hell for hath the Parrot had such Apprehensions And as for Pride and the Fables keep at home Roger for we have known as David and the Holy Men of God did what Hell is and the Righteous passeth through in this Life and it is well if thou have have not made Agreement with Hell Isa. 15.18 And hath not Hell enlarged her self by thee and such as speak so much Evil against the Light of Christ and the Believers in it and see if thy TONGVE BE NOT SET ON FIRE OF HELL Jam. 3. and the Wicked that Christ speaketh of That must go into Hell thou shalt know that I warrant thee except thou Repent Mark 9 43 45 47. And thou and the New-England Priests and Professors may read your Conditions Matth. 13 15. how the Jews compassed Sea and Land to make a Proselyte and when he was made they made him two-fold more a Child of Hell c like you New-England Priests and was not this to get him into a Form of Godliness without Life and Power and oppose Christ in his Light But we can say The Lord Jesus hath delivered us from the Wrath to come 1 Thess. 1 10 and God hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who dyed for us awd we shall be saved from Wrath through him and so from Hell who are justified by his Blood Rom. 5 9 and therefore do not thou Treasure up Wrath unto thy self against the Day of Wrath c Rom. 2. And the Believers in Christ do Enjoy in this Life an hundred-fold and in the World to come Life Everlasting so our Joys are not Flashies of Heaven and Hell neither do we Cheat poor Souls as thou falsly accusest us with such Flashies but do believe according to the sound Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles R. W. And thou say'st after thou hast rambled a great whileâ—t no purpose They do allow a time more or less before they come into the perfect Heavenly State c. Answ. We say There is a Growth from a Child to a Young-man and to a Father in the Truth and God accepteth of the Faithfulness of all And as for Satan enticing into proud vanities thou might'st have kept at home R. W. And thou say'st They have a mad Fancy of their Souls going into God and becoming more God c. Answ. This is thy own mad Fancy and let the Reader see if there be any such thing in G. F's Answer But this is a Word of thy own forging and not ours to say Our Souls becoming more God but to say Our Souls go to Christ who is the Bishop of them that is true and why should they not who hath Bought us and them with his Blood And dost thou not Contradict thy self in saying Their Souls go to Jesus pag. 21 and pag. 37. R. W. And thou tellest of a State of Eternal Joy to the Righteous after this Life and a State of Eternal Misery to the Vngodly c. Answ. Thou needest not to tell us of this though thou say'st The exact Knowledge of Particulars exceeds the present Sight of our Mortal Eys and the Hearing of our Ears c. Can these things or the Joy of the Holy Ghost be Seen with Mortal Eys or Heard with Mortal Ears for doth not Christ say He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And is it by the Sight of the Mortal Eye and the Hearing of the Mortal Ear that seeth and heareth the Joy and Comfort of the Holy Ghost or the Spiritual Ear in this Life And the Apostle saith Ye have your Fruits unto Holiness and your End everlasting Life now did not the Apostle See and Hear this with a Spiritual Eye and Ear what the Saints did Enjoy both in this Life and in Everlasting Life Rom. 6 for what canst thou See with thy Mortal Eye or Hear with thy Mortal Ear but that which is Mortal A Natural Man perceiveth not the things of God as thou hast confessed but the Apostle saith The Eye hath not seen nor the Ear heard c. the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for his Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God R. W. And then thou runnest on and say'st The first Fruits and a Tast both of the Heavenly Joys and the Torments of the damned are given by God in this Life to the first in that Solid Peace and Joy which they have in God to the other in that Horror and Despair and Enmity against God Answ. This last R. W. may apply home to himself For if ever he had known the First Fruits of the heavenly peace which God's people hath in God he would never have written such a book against his people but it is like his Torments are begun in this Life
R. W. And thou sayest There is three sorts of men especially will seek there is an Hell to come above other sinners The Voluptuous and Luxurious c whose God is their belly c. the devourers of the poor c The proud pufft up with foolish confidences boldly crying Lord open to us c. Answ. R. W. might have applyed a great deal of this to himself who hath Hell so often in his mouth against the Redeemed of the Lord. R. W. And thou bringest Jer. Ives who said The Pharisees were far enough from having the Kingdom of heaven within them And G F. Ans. Contrary to Christs words who said It was within them And R. W. replyeth and saith The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven is one Answ. Who saith to the Contrary And then thou say'st Of the Kingdom or Government of God and Christ in the Soul and the Government of God in his holy Providence in the World and his Government in the Churches and Saints and the Glorious State to come after this Life Who saith to the Contrary of this not the Quakers R. W. And then thou sayst That his Journey-man G F. is a sit Instrument to destroy all these and to erect in their steed a dull proud dogged Confusion or Babel within under the Name of God Christ Spirit Light Faith Righteousness Resurrection Answ. All these be Lyes For let the Righteous and Honest Christian Judge can the Government of God in his holy Providence be destroyed or Christ's government in his Church be destroyed when Christ saith The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against his Church Can Gods Glorious government and state after this Life of his people be destroyed which R. W. saith His Journey-man G F. is a fit Instrument to destroy all these We say Nay But thy Antichristian Religion may be destroyed And as for dull proud dogged Confusion c under the Name of God Christ Spirit Light c which thou talkest of without Life is thy own Confused Babel that may be destroyed But Christ who is the Quickning Spirit and the Author of Faith and the Lord of Righteousness and the Resurrection him thou canst not destroy he dieth no more and he hath enlightned us and given us Faith who is the Lord of Righteousness and our Resurrection yea now and at the last day R. W. And then thou tellest us Christ knew That the Jews and his own Christian Followers were leavened with a Worldly Notion that their Messiah should be a Glorious Temporal King and he tells them That they were mistaken and saith That his Kingdom should not be such a Kingdom but that it was within them Hence the Kingdom of Heaven is a spiritual inward and soul-Kingdom concerning God and the Soul and Spiritual matters Answ. And this thou confessest was to the Jews and his Christian Followers which were Leavened with a worldly Notion And why dost thou oppose G. F. there for bringing his Words who said The Kingdom of Heaven was within the Pharisees R. W. And thou runnest on and say'st Sometimes it was In them and sometimes thou say'st it was Among them in the Streets and makest a pitiful Jumble about Christ's Words in his saying The Kingdom of God was within them And thou say'st That the Kingdom of God that is God and Christ and the Spirit were litterally in the Pharisees and so in every Hyprocrite in the World c. though they know it not Answ. Didst noâ— thou say before That the Kingdom of Heaven is spiritual inward and a Soul-Kingdom and that Christ said It was within the Jews as thou say'st And doth not Christ say That the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto Leaven or a Grain of Mustard-Seed and cannot this Kingdom be in the Pharisees except as thou say'st God and Christ must be litterally in them And whereas thou say'st Though the Pharisees knew it not No more does thou though it be in thee as it was in the Pharisees who jumblest things together in this manner and is this the Dividing the Word aright R. W. And then thou say'st What Agreement is there betwixt Christ and Belial Light and Darkness Righteousness and Vnrighteousness Answ. No there is no Agreement nor the Spirit with the Flesh. Yet we must not say That the Light and Spirit is not within Man for we do believe thou that hast not known this hast known little War in thy self R. W. And thou say'st Whereas it is most improperly and impiously objected That the Light shineth in Darkness c. Answ. Here thou chargest John and the Translators to be improper and impious not only the Quakers here thou railest against John the Evangelist besides thy Railing against the Quakers that he speaketh Impiously and Improperly who saith The Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not And there thou that abusest John and the Scripture what are thy Words good for R. W. And then thou ramblest on in thy Confusion and say'st But the Light is at the Window and the Eye but the Eye the Door is shut and the Man within is not only a sleep but dead and rotten in Nature's Filthiness and actual Transgressions and Abominations Answ. This is thy own Condition R. W. who hast read it whose Darkness cannot comprehend the Light but it comprehendeth thee in thy Darkness But what Man is this within that is dead to wit within Man and is rotten how dost thou describe him and him that he is within but thou that hatest the Light then Christ may knock at thy door when Sin is gotten in in thy Heart and thou lovest it better than the Light of Christ. And John doth not say That the Light is at the Window or Eye as thou dost but In shineth in Darkness and thou in thy Darkness thinkest to give a better Meaning of John's Words that he himself No no. R. W. Thou say'st It is against all Colour of Reason to imagine that the Lord Jesus should tell the Jews and Pharisees and the rest of his bloody Enemies who some weakly and some maliciously opposed his Kingdom and Coming to rule by his Grace over them that his Grace was King within them what ever their Hearts or Tongues said or Hands did c. Answ. This is R. W's Sense who is confounded as the Pharisees were with Christ's Doctrine And yet before he contradicteth himself and saith That the Kingdom of Heaven was in the Pharisees and Jews and Disciples a Spiritual inward and Soul-Kingdom c and thus he confoundeth himself with his own Colours and â—easons R W. And thou say'st It is contrary to what G. F. and his Clamour that the Kingdom of God consists in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit as opposite to the Kingdom in the Pharisees and all Hypocrites as Hell to Heaven Answ. And why so why may not the Kingdom of Heaven be compared to Leaven and a Grain of Mustard-Seed as the Kingdom of God which the
Saints are Heirs of that standeth in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit Darest thou say That the Kingdom of Heaven that was within the Pharisees was of the Nature of Hell or as Hell to Heaven prove this by Scripture And where was that Holy Ghost that Stephen told the Jews they did resist as their Fathers did and what was that that prickt Saul and made him kick again But thou Contradictest thy self here again to what thou say'st pag. 38. That Christ's Kingdom in the Jews Pharisees and Disciples was an inward Soul-Kingdom within them thou say'st there R. W. R. W. thou goest on and makest a great Gust as thou callest it but to no purpose and thou say'st The thing is so notoriously childish and ridiculous that a King should affirm He was an Actual King in his Enemies Country where the Whole was up in Arms against him c. Answ. What Childish talk is this Is not a King a King though the Country be up in Arms against him and is not Christ King though all do not obey him and did not Christ shed his Blood and dye for all Men though all Men do not live to him And doth not the Reign who saith All Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him and the Apostle saith They that Suffer with him shall Reign with him 2 Tim. 2 And dost thou not wickedly charge Christ to be Notoriously Childish and Ridiculous for saying The Kingdom of Heaven was within the Pharisees and thou say'st the same pag. 38. For thou and the Pharisees being blind would not receive Christ the King to Rule in their Hearts and therefore saith the Apostle to the Saints Let Christ Rule in your Hearts by Faith And then thou tellest a Story of a Lamb and a Wolf and a Man pretending to love a Woman in the way of Marriage and she abhors to hear of the Motion This thou may'st apply at Home For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life R. W. And then thou goest on and Contradictest thy self and say'st It 's true the Motions of War and Love are made and offered from the King Warring c. Answ. But they rejected these Commands of Christ. And then thou say'st But that this Government and Kingdom should be within them is nothing but impious impudent and childish Prating But what are thy Words to the purpose here Christ doth not say That he Governed in the Pharisees as he Governed in the Saints but it is Wickedness in thee to say That Christ's Words are Childish prating and impious which said The Kingdom of Heaven was within the Pharisees Luk. 17. And this Childish prating is thy own and Contradictest thy self who saith That the Kingdom of Heaven is a Spiritual inward Soul-Kingdom and was in the Pharisees Jews and Disciples So thou hast been Fighting against that which thou hast granted R. W. And thou bringest Thomas Weld's Saying How clear the Scripture is Faith comes by Hearing and not by Minding the Light within And G. F. Answ. Doth any Man know Christ but by the Light within And is not Christ the Word and can any see without Christ the Word Doth it not make manifest nay doth it not give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 4. from whence Faith cometh And so Faith cometh by Minding the Light within Christ the Author of it and bringeth to look at him and hear him Very good Truth to them that know it R. W. Replyeth and saith My Eyes have seen a poor distracted aged Woman walking in State boasting of her Majesty Jewels and Crown with a Straw in her hand for her Scepter And thus this poor and mad Soul walks even like Nebuchadnezar upon his Babel All is Christ and he is Christ Christ is Faith and all Answ. This confused Babel thou may'st apply to thy own Condition of the Distracted Woman for it is not ours And let the Reader see if he hath not abused G. F's Answer to T. W Doth he say All is Christ and He is Christ and Christ is Faith for G. F. saith Faith cometh from Christ and the Light cometh from Christ and Christ is the Author and Finisher of it R. W. And thou say'st He slights this so known and unquestionable Record Faith comes by Hearing c and Rom. 10. concerning true Salvation true Worshipping Praying Believing Preaching Sending which Holy Writing Fox dares not seriously and impartially and in the Fear of the most-High consider as to the various means and ways of God's sending unto Man Answ. As for God's sending unto Man all such we own for they Preach Christ the Word For the Apostle saith The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart and this is the Word of Faith which we Preach and thou confessest that the Lord opened Lydia's Heart and then she received the VVord Christ which the Apostle Preached But what is all this to your Teachers that Preach and never were sent and as many of you confess you never Heard the Voice of God and Christ from Heaven immediately but thou hast wronged G. F's Words and hast not set them right down as they are in the Book Folio And can any Man believe preach pray or worship God or see their Salvation without the true Light of Christ Jesus which cometh from him the Word R. W. And thou say'st For all G. F. his Scepter of Straw his mad Fancy of Light that works Faith c. Answ. These are thy Railing Language and abusing of G. F's Words for his Words are not Worketh by Faith but Christ Jesus who is the Author of Faith is the Light of the World And then R. W. asketh What is Faith c It is I say the Gift of God and thou may'st see how the Apostle describeth it Heb. 11 and Christ who dyed for the Sins of the World enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World that they may believe in him that dyed for them And then thou ramblest on but to no purpose in Reply to G. F's Answer R. W. And thou askest VVhat is Preaching but a Publishing c or declaring what the VVill or Mind of the King Eternal is which he hath revealed to the Patriarches Moses and the Prophets from the beginning of the VVorld and what did Christ Jesus declare to the Apostles but that which Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass c and was not this Proclamation of Good News to be made over all the VVorld and first at Jerusalem c Answ. Who gain-sayeth this the Quakers do not But what is this to G F's Answer to T. W. or to R. W. and all his Priests in New-England for did ever they Hear the Eternal King's Voice immediately from Heaven and Preach this good News as the Prophets and Apostles did freely as they had received freely to
of praised be the Lord for ever R. W. And thou say'st Whereas G. F. here saith The Work of the Ministry was to bring the Saints to a Perfect Man he grosly abuses that Heavenly Eph. 4 which concerns the Fulness and Perfection of all the Elect of God c. Answ. Then were not the Ephesians concerned And doth G. F. mention the Ephesians only in his Answer are not his Words general so the Gross Abuse is thy own and not G. F.'s R. W. And thou say'st Applying it to every particular deluded Convert of theirs as being as much Holy as much God as Christ Jesus c. Answ. Let the Reader see G. F's Answer if R. W. hath not grosly Abused his Words here again for there are no such Words in his Answer of the Saints being as much God as Christ. But doth not the Apostle say That we may present every Man Perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. And He spoke Wisdom among them that were Perfect 1 Cor. 2 6 And Col. 4 12 That ye may stand Perfect and compleat in all the Will of God And doth not God and Christ exhort to Holiness and Perfection and Without Holiness none shall see the Lord. And Christ saith Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect Matth. 5 and must they not be perfect in their Love and Measure of the Spirit of God which they have from him the Fountain who are Sealed by his Holy Spirit of Promise Ephes. 1 13 and 1 Thes. 4 8 And doth not Peter say Ye are a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation 1 Pet. 2 9 and doth not the Apostle Paul call the Saints Holy Brethren 1 Thess. 5 26 27 And their hands were to be Holy that they lifted up to God 1 Tim. 2 And 2 Tim. 1 the Lord called them with a Holy Calling and 1 Pet. 1 Be ye Holy in all manner of Conversations Be ye Holy for I am Holy saith the Lord. So is not the Vessel to be Holy and Potle that holdeth the Heavenly Treasure of his Spirit which they have from the Holy God the Fountain But to say The Saints are as much God as Christ I ask thee how the little Vessels or Potles can contain him who filleth Heaven and Earth But what is thy end in all this that thou wouldst not have God and Christ dwell in his Saints by his Spirit and by his Faith R. W. Thou say'st I may use the Exprobrations of Moses against Korah Dothan and Abiram Is it not enough for you but ye will seek the Priesthood also Answ. This thou mightst well have applyed to thy self and the Priests of New-England and not to the Quakers for it is through the Grace and Mercy of God that we are what we are R. W. And thou say'st Is it not enough that the Most-High Potter hath made us Men and Women and not Serpents and Toads and not Pagans Turks Jews Papists but English Protestants Answ. Are not the New-England Priests and thou in the same Nature and Spirit that the Turks Pagans Jews and Papists that persecute with Tongue and Hands yea to DEATH as witness the New-England Laws and did not Christ call the persecuting Jews Serpents and of their Father the Devil that did not do the Works of Abraham and what may be said to you that do not do the Works of true Christians R. W. And further thou say'st We must also be Infinites Eternals Omniscients c. Answ. If thou chargest this upon the Quakers we say they are Words of thy own forging and do challenge thee to make it good out of the Quakers Writings or name the Persons that said so which we know thou canst not R. W. And further thou say'st Will not the infinite Favour of Leave to drink of some Heavenly Drops of the Infinite and Inconcâ—ivable Ocean of his Goodness satisfie and content us but we will be Gods with the Devil and our first Parents we will be the Inconceivable Ocean it self Answ. I never did hear such Lies before come out of a Man's Mouth that any of the People of God used any such terms as They were the Inconceivable Ocean it self and that they would be Gods They might say they were God's People and he would dwell in them and Christ was in them and all their Springs were in him and this is according to Scripture But let the Reader see if there be any such Occasion in G. F's Answer for him to use this forging Language And if thou werest one of those proud Rebels thou speakest of that was fetcht from the Gallows by the Smile of a Prince thou would never have used these Expressions against us But thou say'st They must be the Prince and King himself Thou hast not proued this though we must tell thee Christ makes his Redeemed Saints both Kings and Priests to Reign over the Deuil and offer up Spiritual Sacrifice to God Revel 1 R. W. And thou say'st The Pagans of the World as they are wild to all Civility so to all Divinity and Heavenly matters And then thou tellest a great Story what they Worship Lyons Dragons c. And such as cryed out of Paul and said he was a God c. And thou say'st They apprehend a Doity it 's like thou meanest a Deity if thou hadst Printed it right c. Answ. And what is all this to the purpose to prove that the Saints did not receive of Christ's Fulness and grow up to a perfect Man For may be some of us have read the Story of these things as well as thou but thou shouldst have brought Paul's Answer to those R. W. And thou say'st It pleased the Most-High c. often to meet with Pharaohs Absoloms Nebuchadnezars Hamans Herods of this World with Nations Cities Armies for their Pride as he did with Sodom with remarkable Strokes of Judgment c. Answ. Let thee and New-England take heed of this who boast your selves against God's People Sons and Servants take heed that God's Remarkable Stroke do not come upon you for be sure it will if you do not find a day of Repentance R. W. And thou say'st Paul in danger to be pufft up in Voices and Questions out ef the Whirle-wind c. Answ. But it were well if R. W. saw himself then he would not be against the Quakers who say God's Grace is sufficient both to teach and bring Salvation R. W. And thou say'st Till we more and more come to see how Perfect we are in Dirt and Stink and Filth and Death and Hell Crawling like Monsters of Pride and Self-conceitedness upon this Earth c. Answ. It seemeth you do not see your Stink to the full yet of Filth Death and Hell and your Crawling monstrous Pride of Self-conceitedness and how should you without the Light of Christ which giveth the Knowledge of Christ and his Blood that cleanseth from Sin and maketh their Garments white R. W. And thou bring'st M. B. Fol. 90. saying There is a kind of
c. And how can G. F. say That Christ suffered without his Person without the Gates of Jerusalem who yet is manifest within his People according to the Apostle's Doctrine And it was the Favour of Christ and the Love of God that Christ should die for Sinners and it is the Love and Favour of God that he should be made manifest in his People R. W. And then thou tellest a story of a King and General or Admiral which is to no purpose And the writings of G. F. where they come there is not G. F. except he be there Answ. But what is this to the purpose that Christ that suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem must not be manifest in his people by his Spirit Many may have the Scriptures that speak of Christ but if they have not the Son they have not Life as John saith And if thou owned'st that in the Truth which is spoken of Ephes. 2. and Gal. 2. thou wouldst not oppose the Quakers R. W. And thou confessest Faith is given of God c. and this Faith and belief is wrought by Christ Jesus and finished by him and may with a good sence be called Christ himself Answ. Let the sober Reader see if G. F. do mention in his Answer or any where else that Christ is Faith but the Authour and Finisher of it And how can Faith be wrought in Men's Hearts if Christ the Worker of it be not there also by his Spirit And then thou goest on in thy Story and tellst us a Story of Humph. Norton That he resolved Christ only into a Spirit c. This is like the rest of thy Slanders for we do not believe thee that Humphry Norton owned not the Man Christ Jesus but the Question is Whether R. W. and the New-England Priests will own Christ to be a quickning Spirit And as for Paul's saying to the Corinthians He was absent in Body yet present in Spirit this will prove that Christ by his Spirit is in his People though he be at the Right Hand of God And then thou tellest us a Story of Souldiers to no purpose against G. F's Answer of Christ being manifest in his Saints that suffered without And can any see Christ Jesus at the Right Hand of God but by his Spirit and his Light within did not Stephen see him by the Holy Ghost and was not that within And that is true which was sent to them that stood gazing As they saw him go so should he come as in Acts 1 10 11 which also said Ye men of Gallilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven the same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven And did not Christ appear to his Disciples after his Ascension and to Paul and was manifest in his Saints and will come and Reward every man according to his Works as in Revelations And thou goest on and usest many words but to no purpose And if Christ be felt in the bruised Reed and the smoaking flax and the poor in Spirit and to feed the Hungry and Thirsty is not this all within and is not he the Hope of Glory manifested within his People and doth not the sup with the Saints and the Saints sup with him the Heavenly Supper And doth not he stand at the door and knock but you will not open and cleave to his Light and receive him And without his Light you may seek Day and Night and grope in the dark and never find him R. W. And thou sayst There is a false Feeling of Christ a false Conception in a Woman and how many are bold to cry Lord Lord open for we have Prophecy'd in thy Name Answ. Truly Roger this is thy own Condition and the New-England Priests and Professors in the False Feeling and Conception that do not believe in the Light as Christ Commands but persecute them that believe in the Light and truly feel and are become Children of the Light and have brought forth the true Birth and are graffted into Christ. R. W. Thou say'st I will not say as G. F. hath said All that have not my Feeling or Working of Christ are Reprâ—bates Answ. G. F's Words are the Apostle's Doctrine who saith If Christ be not in you you are Reprobates c. 2 Cor. 13 and therefore he bids them Prove and Examine themselves and so it is every true Christian's Duty R. W. And whereas thou say'st Yet this I say as Solomon A Whore is loud and clamorous Truly R. W. thou art of her for I never heard so many clamorous Words from a Man's Mouth in my Life as from thine but it is well thou hast shewed thy Spirit which will be abhorred by all sober Men and Women And then thou say'st The Devil spoke as Holy and Heavenly VVords as Angels could have spoken yet it was but the Devil in Samuel's Mantle Answ. R. W. this is thy own Condition for thou may'st bring the Scriptures as the Jews and the Devil did that tempted Christ and oppose him as the Jews did in they days of his flesh as he being the man Christ So now thou opposest his Divinity and the divine Light which is the Life in the Word which Light his believers believed in and which Light shines in their hearts and gives them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 4. R. W. And thou bring'st Giles Ferman G. F. Fol. 117. Saying Paul Swore after Christ and the Angels Swore I wonder Paul should so forget himself and Sin so fearfully in Swearing So the Quakers Light that denyes Swearing is of Satan and not the Light of Christ. G. F. Answers to G. Ferman Christ the Light which Satan is out of who is the Oath of God endeth all Oaths Sworn by Prophets or Angels whatsoever and who Swear be fallen into the Condemnation of the Devil And it is no where said that Paul Swore but such as thou art matter not what you speak So that spirit that Preaches for Swearing is not the spirit of Christ. But the Spirit of Anti-Christ Preacheth up that which Christ and the Apostles Preached down and Preached condemnation to them that Swear R. W. Replyeth though he hath left out Preacheth Condemnation to them that Swear of G. F. words and also hath left out That which thou preachest up to wit Swearing Christ and the Apostles Preached down So here and there thou hast taken some of G. F's Words And further thou say'st that G. F. dare not deny but the Angel and Paul Swore after Christ and yet thou say'st that Christ put an end to Swearing and that it is not said that Paul Swore and callest it G. F.'s old Song Answ. Here thou contradicts thy self for G. F. saith It is no where said that Paul Swore And if the Angel did Swear is it not said in the Scripture I will bring forth my Begotten into the world let all
and the Apostle's Doctrine and plead for it And why should the Parliament and all Lawiers search well and appoint a Committee to examin if their Laws upon New appearances from Heaven have not need of Rectifying c. And as R.W. saith If Swearing be a part of God's worship c then did not R. W. Sin in not Swearing in the Chancery in England in leaving off a part of God's worship which he saith Swearing is But in this you may see how R. W. Contradicts himself and hath manifested what Love he hath to Christ and his Apostles who perverteth their words as he doth G. F's and Slights their Doctrine who saith Swear not at all R. W. And thou bring'st T. Moor saying It is not properly nor in a full sence that God is manifested in the flesh of his Saints but Roger hath quoted no page for this G. F. Answ. The Saints are the Temples of God and God dwells in them and they come to witness the Flesh of Christ and they glorify him in their Souls and bodies and the Lord is Glorifyed in their bringing forth much fruit and they witness his Seed to wit Christ the one Offering for Sin to be manifested within And such are not Reprobates that witness the One Offering Christ Jesus and they that have not him within they are Reprobates R. W. replyeth and saith A great designe of the Devil in all Ages hath been to Cavil at and hinder God's Love to mankind Answ. What! doth this hinder the Love of God to mankind and to have Christ manifest within them which is God's Love to the World And is it not the Devil's designe to deceive Man and keep his house and will suffer him to talk of Christ as long as he will but will not suffer the strong one to be bound and cast out And they that are Married to Christ who bruiseth the Serpent's head are they not of his flesh and of his bones and they that have the Son can praise God for his Love to fallen mankind R. W. And thou say'st Against this Lord Jesus Christ this old Serpent hisseth and rageth before his birth at his birth and after his birth c. Answ. We who have Christ formed in us have felt the Rage of the Old Serpent in this Age both in R.W. and the New England-Priests and professours as Christ and the Prophets and Apostles did in their Age by the professors of Christ in words as the Jews professed him to come in words And whereas thou rank'st the people of God called Quakers amongst the Libertines Manicheans Adamites Ranters c. these R. W. and the New-England-Priests might very well apply'd at home who have manifested your Order in the Dragon's power thou speakest of persecuting with Tongue and Hands as Michael the Arch-Angel when Contending with the Devil he disputed about the Body of Moses durst not bring against him a Railing Accusation but said The Lord Rebuke thee And now art not thou with thy Railing Accusations disputing about the Body and Flesh of Christ as thou may'st see in Jude and Zach 3. R. W. And whereas thou tell'st us What the Arrians hold But thou had'st better to see what thou held'st and did'st possess of Christ thy self And thou say'st But with Christ's Man-hood and the Scriptures the Devil and the Papists and the Quakers for the most part of them could with all their heart make an Everlasting parting The Devil 's End is to destroy this Saviour and Salvation to poor lost man she Quakers pretend their End to be the Exalting and Glorifying God in the Flesh of his Saints Answ. As for what the Papists and the Devil do thou may'st apply that at home who so often hast the Devil in thy Mouth And as for parting Christ Jesus from his God-head that is not our work for he is called the heavenly man the Second Adam a quickning Spirit And the Scripture we own and also are to Glorify God with our Souls and bodies which are his And we tell thee the Devil cannot destroy our Saviour Christ Jesus for he destroyeth the Devil and his Works but it 's like he may destroy your Imaginary Christ or Anti-Christ and set up another for Christ was dead and is alive and liveth for Evermore Revel 1 18 R. W. And thou say'st that G. F. plays upon the various meaning of the word Flesh he plays also upon those holy Scriptures viz God is glorifyed in the Souls and bodies of his Saints c. Answ. As for saying G. F. plays that thou might'st have applyed at home for his words are Scripture-phrases For must not all the Children of the New Covenant witness their bodies the Tempâ—es of God and him to dwell in them and waâ—k in them by his Spirit and they to bring forth fruits of his Spirit and to Glorify God in their bodies and Souls c And we do know what the Protestants do hold and what you do hold in words concerning Christ who persecute us that do possess him and you had better possess him and let him Rule in your hearts by Faith and not the Dragon the Old persecutor For we own Christ in the promise in the prophecies who was born of a Virgin his Sufferings Resurrection in whom the fullness of the God-head dwells bodily and of his fulness have we Received Grace for Grace Col. 4 R. W. And thou say'st That G. F knowes his Opposite intends such a manifestation of God in the Flesh that renders the one Single person Christ Jesus the head of the Church and that they hold there is as much difference between that one Individual person Christ Jesus the Head and his Followers as between our heads and our bodies c. Answ. If you hold this this is a Nighness betwixt Christ and his Church but do you possess it And G. F knoweth his Opposites in the other Power 's days it was a wonder to them to hear of Christ's dwelling in people so G. F. knew their meaning very well And must not God that was manifested in the Flesh of Christ that one Single person must not he and his Father be manifest in his people by his Spirit and he to dwell in them Now as he did in the Apostle's days R. W. And thou say'st How poor and lame is it that because the Saints are God's Temple therefore they must be God himself Answ. Let the Reader see if there be any such words as these in G. F's Answer for G F's words are The Saints are the Temples of God and God will dwell in them as 1 Cor. 6. and 2 Cor. 6. G. F. doth not say The Saints are God as thou hast falsly forged And doth not the Apostle Exhort the Saints that Christ may dwell in their hearts by Faith Eph. 3. and therefore thou say'st They say they are Christ himself Let the Reader see if there be any such word in G. F's Answer and whether he has not abused G. F's words here
word Lye and is it Civil for thee with the Mittins And we know that Christ after his Resurrection appeared unto his Disciples and that the Holy Ghost came to his Disciples after his Ascension but what is all this to the purpose to disprove G. F's Answer That Christ doth not dwell in his Saints now and that the Holy Ghost is not in them now And we do believe of Christ's birth sufferings Death and Resurrection and Manifest in people who will Judge the world in Righteousness R. W. And thou say'st That we maintain Christ's Second Coming to be Spiritual And doth R. W. maintain his coming to be Carnal And thou say'st They count all gazing fools that look after a man for Christ is come unto them in Spirit and in them he maintains his great Assizes and now passeth Judgment upon men by them c. Answ. Doth not Christ dwell in his peoples hearts by his Spirit and doth not he there Judge down Sin Evil that is in the hearts of Men and doth not he give a Judgement to his Saints to Judge the Evil of the world read 1 Cor. 5 And must the Saints deny this Judgement that he giveth his people because Christ will Judge the world in Righteousness and reward every man according to his works Nay Roger thou must feel it for belying and vilifying his people And if you look after Christ as a Carnal Man may they not call you Fools who is called the Second Adam THE LORD FROM HEAVEN R. W. And thou say'st If these poor filthy dreamers lived without food and Physick c. without procreation c. Answ. We may say to thee as Christ said to the Devil Man liveth not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God And as for thy saying VVithout procreation and bringing forth of Children without the Stinks of Nature c. and a great deal of such Rambling stuff which thou hast filled thy book up withall thou may'st keep at home and where did ever the Prophets or Apostles use such Language concerning Marriage which is an Ordinance of God or of Nature which is good in it self And as for thy speaking of Eating of the flesh of Christ until they bâ—come Christ himself which thou say'st is Simple Monstrous and Blasphemous c. let the Reader see if there be any such words in G. F's Answer or if they be not words of his own forging and Lyes But we cannot deny our bread from Heaven for all R. W's Lyes and Slanders for which we can praise God for it as the Apostles did who are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone And thou tell'st of Manicheans and of a Frantick Spirit As for the Manicheans these thou might'st have kept at home R. W. And thou say'st This Frantick Spirit saith Is not Christ in us how is he distinct from us what need you ask me how I do can Christ be sick can Christ do but well speaking of themselves And thou Observest God's wonderful Stroke in this world upon three sorts of persons c. Answ. It were well if R. W. did see the Stroke of God upon himself and let others alone to stand or fall to their own Master And Reader is there any of these Expressions in G. F's Answer to Tho. Moor for he hath not named any that hath spoken such words as he hath forged here And was that a Frantick Spirit in the Apostle who said Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates but doth not Christ say I was thirsty hungry naked in prison a stranger and sick c. whether this was not Christ in his members and if so then whether R. W. and the New-England-Professors have not been persecuting him all this while as the persecuting Jews did who looked on him as a Deceiver And as for the other Scoffing words we leave them they are not worth mentioning as in the 62 63 64 pages may be seen R. W. And thou bring'st S. Hamond Fol. 186 who saith What Warrant have you to go out to the Quakers shall a Man go hear the Jews and Popish Mass because Paul bids Try all things No no. And G. F. answereth Paul biddeth us Quench not the Spirit and where the Spirit is not quenched they may try Papists Jews Protestants who quench not the Spirit But who quench the Spirit and draw People from the Light within they draw them from that they should See withal then you stuff them up with Old Authors and Lying Stories as you Print abroad R. W. instead of Replying he asketh Questions Whether the Jews Papists or Idolaters have the Holy Spirit and whether they may go to hear God speaking in his Holy Promise among them c. Answ. Have not the Jews the Old Testament and the Papists the Old and New as well as thou to speak of And do not they hate the Light of Christ and quench the Spirit as well as thou and persecute them that believe and walk in it and I ask R. W Whether he can judge of them without hearing of them or reading of their Books And doth not the Lord say He would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh as well as thee though they grieve it and lighteth all as well as thee though they and thou hate it R. W. And thou say'st May I hear a Papist a Jew or an Idolater a False Worshipper c. when I am convinced that they speak not from the Holy Spirit c. Or May I go to worship God with them when thou believest they worship a False God Answ. If thou wast convinced with the Holy Spirit of God as we are then thou couldst not join with any false Worship nor hear them to uphold them in it for with the Spirit they are tryed and not followed in which Spirit of Truth God is worshipped But is it not Sam. Hamond's and R. William's Intent here that they would not have the People to hear the Quakers and to worship God in the Spirit and Truth Though the Apostles went up and down into all Nations to Preach the Gospel yet they did not join with their VVorships and hold them up and they that are convinced of the Falseness of them they have tryed them R. W. And thou say'st May I hear a False Prophet or be present at any False Worship but with Actual Reproving of them and labouring to reduce them c. Answ. If thou werest in the true Spirit out of the false lying slandering Spirit thou mightst Admonish and Reprove if thou wast in the Spirit of God as the Apostles were in but how cometh it to pass that the New-England Professors who are the Pesecutors and False Prophets cannot bear such as Actually reprove them And why do the New-England Professors make the Quakers pay Five shillings a day that do not go to hear them when they are convinced and have proved them and tryed them that they do not speak from the Spirit of God
of all the Saints of God in the Holy Scripture who maintained a Battle between the Flesh and the Spirit all their days c. Gal. 5 like the two Houses of Saul and David in Abraham and Isaac Paul and Peter and Paul crying out that the Good that he would that he did not c. Answ. All these Scriptures do not prove that Jeremiah and John that were Sanctified in the Womb and the Children that Paul speaketh of Cor. 7 that he said were Holy that they were Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity because David said He was Neither doth Gal. 5. say That the Saints have a Battle between Flesh and Spirit within them all their days neither doth the Scripture say that there was a Battle between the House of Saul and David all David's days for David said All that is within me praise the Lord and his Sins were removed as far as the East is from the West Neither did Abraham nor Isaac say that they had a Battle in them all their days nor Paul nor Peter but Paul said there was No Condemnation to them that were in Christ Jesus who walked not after the Flesh but after the Spirit though he had cryed out That Good that he would do he did not but after he saith The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free mark me Paul free from the Law of Sin and Death Nay did not he say They were more than Conquerours and doth not he say That he had fought the good Fight and kept the Faith then he was not Fighting when he had Fought and was a Conquerour And Paul saith I am Crucified with Christ mark I AM and Christ Liveth in me and the Life that I now live in the Flesh is by Faith in the Son of God c. is not the Faith Victory And thou fallest a railing and speaking of our Conditions which thou art ignorant of and thy own and hast abused both the Scriptures and Vs. R. W. And thou bringest John Jackson G. F. Fol. 217. saying False Prophets and Christs and Deceivers many should come if it were possible to deceive the very Elect. And G. F. Answ. Yea Christ said They should come to the Apostles which before their Decease they did come and went forth from them which Christ said should inwardly Ravin and get the Sheeps-Cloathing which since the Days of the Apostles all the VVorld went after them as thou may'st read in the Revelat And now are People but coming from them to the Rock and now shall the Everlasting Gospel be Preached to them that dwell upon the Earth over the Heads of the Beast and their False Prophet and they shall be taken and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the Victory R. W. replyeth and saith That great Fox the Pope of Rome and his Foxians the Worshippers of the Beast maintains that Anti-Christ is not yet come This is nothing to my Answer And thou say'st That G. F. c. crys out Anti-Christ why he is come and gone long ago as if False Christs might not be then and now too Answ. Let the Reader see if he hath not wronged G. F's Words and see what Sense thou canst make of R. W's Words For G. F. doth not say Why he is come and gone long ago to wit Anti-Christ c. these are thy forged Lies for we say Thou and the New-England Priests are in the Spirit of Anti-Christ as your Fruits have manifested Act. 20 and Matth. 7 and 2 Pet. 2 and 2 Cor. 11 and Jude have sufficiently discovered you And thou runnest on in a long Tale of Pope and Protestants-to no purpose but why doth R. W. and the New-England Priests cry against the Pope and are found so much in this Spirit R. W. But thou say'st What Ignorance doth this little Fox this great Boaster discover in saying Now are People come forth from them to wit Anti-Christ c. Answ. Herein thou hast discovered thy own Ignorance of both the Scripture and the Spirit and Power of God and the Gospel For we must tell thee and the persecuting Priests that the Gospel is Preached again freely as it was in the Apostle's days and People are coming again to the true Lord Jesus Christ by the Light and Grace of his Everlasting Gospel from such False Teachers as thou and the rest of the Persecuting Priests R. W. And whereas thou tellest of the Jews and Romans mocking and murthering Christ Jesus c. just as the Pope and the great Fox and these little Foxians pretend to be sole Heir unto the Crown of Heaven and all others Reprobates from their Heavenly Majesty Answ. Let R. W. look at home amongst his New-England Priests and Professors who have mocked and MVRTHERED the Members of Christ and dost not thou encourage them to Persecute and Punish them as in pag. 200 what could your Father the Pope do worse or the Romans or the Jews And blessed be the Lord we are Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and do know the Crown of Life and we do know that thou that dost encourage to Punish us and the Priests that Persecuted us and they that MVRTHERED us are in a Blind Zeal and Reprobate Spirit and Rebel against the Commands of Christ that said Love one another and Love Enemies and Christ said He came to Save Mens Lives and not to Destroy them R. W. And thou say'st The Protestants maintain that the Pope is the Anti-Christ the Man of Sin pag. 70 Answ. If R. W. and the Priests and Professors of New-England do bring forth the same Fruits that the Pope hath done are not they Anti-Christ R. W. And thou bringest John Jackson G. F. Fol. 218 saying I hope you will not Condemn the Generation of the Righteous because they are not Perfect G. F. Answ. That which Condemneth is Righteous it Condemns that which is not Perfect and that which is Righteous is Perfect and the Generation that 's Righteous is not to be Condemned R. W. Replyeth and saith That Our selves being Perfect are not to be Condemned the Summe of his Answer is Himself and the Foxians are Gods as Pure and as Holy as God is Answ. Let the Reader see if there any such Words as these in G. F's Answer and Read G. F's Answer and see if R. W. hath not forged all these Words therefore they are Slanders But doth not the Lord often Command that his People should be Holy as he is Holy I say let the Reader examin G. F's Answer and see if he calls Men Gods Though we cannot deny but we are the Temples of the Living God and that he Dwelleth in us by his Spirit as the Apostle saith Who is in you all and over you all God blessed for ever Eph. 4 again He that Sanctifieth and they that are Sanctified are all of One thus speaketh the Scripture And R. W. is made to conâ—ess that all that is not Perfect is not Righteous R. W. And
of Christ's mouth that which is not of him was not that of Christ that he breathed upon his disciples when he said Receive ye the Holy Ghost what was that a Figure of if not of a Participation of his own Breath Life and Spirit and if so it seemeth this that cometh out of Christ's mouth must be his breath By the Brightness of his Coming and the Breath of his mouth he shall destroy the man of sin that is by his Spirit what now Roger is it not Christ's Breath that goeth out of his Mouth that destroyeth and is it not his Breath his Spirit doth not both the Hebrew and the Greek say so wherefore the Sword with Two Edges that cometh out of Christ's mouth is the Spirit by which he destroyeth and will destroy the man of sin and all such scornful men as thou art if you repent not R. W. Theâ—e great Interpreters are confounded in themselves for in Ephes. 4. the Spirit must be the Sword but in Hebr. 4. Christ must be the Sword with two edges being the Word of God and not the Spirit Answ. Thou writest as if thou ravest there is no such passage in Ephes. 4. Next for Hebr. 4 there is no such thing as making Christ the Two-edged Sword For the words are That the Word of God is sharper then any Two-edged Sword but that the Scriptures are not Christ and the Spirit as thou wouldst have it neither can they pierce even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow nor are they a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart this were to make the Scripture a Spiritual and Invisible Being yea an Omnipresent one yea God For they declare that he that searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins and telleth unto man his Thoughts the LORD OF HOSTS is his Name Thou art like the Apostate Jews that by thinking to Honour the Scripture dishonour God Christ Spirit and Scripture too But thou callest us Juglers for shifting from Christ to Spirit and Spirit to Christ again what Vnsavoury Words hast thou Is not Christ Jesus called the Word of God and is he not called the Quickning Spirit and is not the Spirit Christ's Spirit and can Christ be separated from his own Spirit but thou art Ignorant of that Vnion being in the Death and Alienation from Christ and his Spirit R. W. But it is Objected by G. F. That the Spirit was before the Scripture and gave forth the Scripture I answer What then G. F. is before his Book and gave it forth is it not therefore G. F's Word and Writing but G. F. himself Or is not the King's Majesty before his Declaration to the World is it not therefore the King's Word or is it the King himself Answ. What I say is true and R. W. shall not be able to deny it if he own plain Scripture For before the Scriptures were the Word was it was In the Beginning so were not the Scriptures The Word was with God and was God so were never the Scriptures All things were made by it that were made but nothing was ever Created by the Scriptures therefore not the Word of God but Words Again the Word of God that came to the Prophets was not the Written Word yet the Word therefore the Written Word was not that Word but a Declaration of that Word and came from the Word so that which was before the Scriptures and from whence they came is the Word and not themselves So that what thou Alludest to confoundeth thy self G. F. is before his Writing and the Writing is not G. F the King is bâ—fore his Declaration and the Declaration is not the King In like manner the Word is before the Scripture and the Scripture is not the Word but a Declaration of that Word and the Words of that great Word So we are for the Form of Sound Words that proceed from that Divine Word that dwelt in Enoch Abraham and the Patriarchs before the Scriptures were and in the Holy Prophets and Apostles before they gave forth the Old and New-Testament-Writings which they directed the Antient Saints to and desired that it might dwell richly in them R. W. Thou say'st This Immediate Inspiration of the Holy Scripture from the Spirit makes it a Word so powerful a Standard Touch-stone or Weights so perfect for the Tryal of all Spirits Writings Doctrines Religions Worships Actions c. Answ. The Immediate Inspiration of the Holy Scripture is no Scripture-saying neither can the Scripture Inspire Thou bringest-in From the Spirit if thou meanest that they are Given forth by Inspiration we own it if thou intendest more 't is Erroneous for Inspiration is by the Spirit of God only Now the Scripture is a Sâ—aled Book to thee and thy Generation neither knowest thou the Meaning of it for it is only given to the Spiritual Man to Discern he that is lead and guided by the Spirit but thou shuttest the Spirit out the Scripture is sufficient Wherefore thou art ignorant of the Scriptures for they are not to be learned but by the Spirit that gave them forth they are shut up from all the Wisdom of this World therefore the Jews understood them not but persecuted Jesus by them as they dâ—rkly imagin'd as thou dost us and thought in them to find Eternal Life and not in Christ whom they discerned not as thou dost not the Children of Light But do the Scriptures try Spirits they say the Anointing is to do it whom shall we believe But Roger Tryal of Spirits is more than Tryal of Doctrines Writings and External Truth What! if a Man profess all the Doctrines of the Apostles and were outwardly not to be condemned in his Conversation yet might have a Deceitful Spirit to gather to himself and endeavour to supplant the true Servants of God and an all occasions use the Words of the Prophets and Apostles and say Thus saith the Lord but God never spoke by him how wouldst thou try this Spirit and this Power what Chapter or Verse would give thee a Savour and Discerning of the Spirit of this Deceiver this Wolf in the Sheeps-Cloathing to try not the Words but the Nature Life and Spirit that useth them But it hath ever been the Devil's Way in his Instruments since the Scriptures were given forth to pretend to Stand up for the Scripture when the Design is to war against and undervalue the Power Spirit and Anointing endeavouring to bring it into Disgrace But the Lord beholds these things and he will overtake such Evil Instruments with his Judgments and his Power and Spirit and Seed of Life and Holy Anointing which the Scriptures of Truth testifie of shall appear more and more and go over all R. W. Thou say'st further But the Pharisees saith G. F. had the Scriptures but they had not the Sword of the Spirit I answer The Jews had and have and so the Turks have had much of it the Papists and the Quakers
of the Spirits of Men So the Question lieth here Whether or no the Saints do come while they are upon the Earth to the Just Mens Spirits made Perfect and to God the Judge of all and to the Heavenly Jerusalem the City of the Living God For the Apostle saith Ye are come hither YE ARE COME and the Apostle and the Saints were alive upon the Earth when he spoke this And thou makest a jumble about the Saints Bodies and say'st We are proud Boasters and we never said of ourselves that we were Perfect of our selves but perfect by Christ who doth perfect for ever by one Offering them that are Sanctified Heb. 10 14. mark them that are Sanctified And we do own the States of the Saints in this World and the States in the World to come Life Everlasting and so we can truly turn thy lyes back again seeing they are not ours And the Spirit in the Apostles encourageth the Saints to Perfection and the Apostle saith he spoke Wisdom amongst them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2 And Be ye Perfect and of good Comfort 2 Cor. 13 Let us as many as be perfect Phil. 3 12 and Col 1 their work was that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus so the Imperfection was in Old Adam That ye may stand perfect and compleat Col. 4 how should they stand perfect and compleat if they were not in it That the Man of God may be Perfect 2 Tim. 3 and Christ saith Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Christ saith Every one that is Perfect shall be as his Master Luk. 6 David saith Mark the Perfect Man Psal. 37 and David saith Many shoot in Secret at them that are Perfect but if R. W. and the New-England-Priests say There is none disseit the Grave to be Perfect then there is none to shoot at nor to be markt at And Christ saith Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect Matth. 5 and Peter saith After you have suffer'd a while make you Perfect Signifying that it is Attainable or else Peter would not have encouraged to it And God saith Job was a Perfect Man and upright and one that feared God and by one Offering hath Perfected for ever them that are Sanctified Heb. 10 14 And the Apostle saith An Inheritance amongst them that are Sanctified mark that ARE SANCTIFIED were not these upon the Earth the Apostle saith He that Sanctifieth and they that are Sanctified are all of One Heb. 2 And the Apostle saith I beseech you Brethren through the Mercies of God that you present your Bodies a Living Sacrifice Holy and acceptable to God which is your Reasonable Service Rom. 12 Now must not the Saints R. W. present their Bodies thus Holy and a Living Sacrifice to God while they be upon the Earth and how can they present them to God if they must not be Perfect but carry a body of Sin to the Grave or must they present their Bodies when they are Dead and doth not Sin make their Bodies dead while they be upon the Earth before they be dead outwardly Now if the Spirit of Christ that raised him from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall quicken your Mortal Bodies and this we witness Rom. 8. R. W. Thou askest What Truth is in these Words Christ is the End of all Words and further thou say'st The truth is their horrible unclean and foul Spirit would fain be rid of all Scripture-words and Learning also that he may bring the more of miserable mankind under the Cheating sound of Light into his Eternal Darkness Answ. R. W. that is thy own Condition with the Cheating sound of Light and these reviling Words of thine I abhor And the Scripture Words we own and all true Learning of that which is Good both Natural and Spiritual but thou wouldst rid the Spirit and Light out of the Peoples Hearts if thou couldst who hatest and grievest and vexest it in thy self and so railest against them that walk in it And I tell thee Christ is the End of all these Words that are spoken of him and doth fulfil them and that is my Meaning if thou wilt have a Meaning R. W. bringeth Timothy Travers G. F. Fol. 325. saying God hath Ordained to Eternal Life all that shall be saved before they had a Being in the World but none cometh to Possession of this Salvation but through the Obedience of the Spirit G. F. Answ. The Ground of Man's Belief and Obedience is Christ who doth Enlighten him to the Intent that he might Believe and Obey the Truth And who knoweth the Seed knoweth the Election before the World was made c. R. W. replyeth and saith If he meaneth that Christ is the Ground or Author the Giver of Repentance and Faith to all the Elect whom God the Father hath given him we say so Answ. You say so in Words but not in the Faith and in the Repentance if you did we should have Unity with you for who should be the Author of Faith and Caller and Giver of Repentance but Christ Jesus R. W. Thou say'st But if he put in their Invented Light in the Room of God's Election and Predestination as the Efficient and First Cause and of Christ as the Mediatour c. he speaks Blasphemously of God and of his Son c. he is now in the Burrough c. who destroys God's Election before the World was and says That when a Man Believes he is Elected when he is Predestinate c. Contrary to all the Pretious Beds of Flowers in the Garden of the Scriptures c. Contrary to the Wit and Skill of Men who frame a Book or a House or a Ship c. Answ. Let the Reader see how R. W. wrongeth G. F's Words or if there be any such Words in his Answer to T. T. the great Ranter But what are all R. W's Words which he hath framed here which are not G. F's Can a Man know Election Ordination Reprobation or Predestination or Christ the Mediatour and Redeemer and Saviour without the Light of Christ Jesus must not he first be turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to Christ and God in whom the Election is before the World began In whom the Election is And doth not Christ command to believe in the Light and the Light giveth him the Knowledge c is not this Blasphemy in thee R. W. to say That I Invent the Light of Christ which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which is Life in the Word Joh. 1 and Rom. 8. Ephes. 1. those Scriptures we own as they speak And can God's Election be destroyed before the World began thou say'st Who destroy God's Election before the World began I tell thee that neither thou nor the Devil can destroy God's Election before the World began 't is like Thy Election which is Reprobation may be destroyed
from his Spirit and resist the Holy Ghost But thou say'st The Men and Women in the World have never seen or heard of any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness What! have they never heard of Christ the Sun of Righteousness I believe there is Millions of Men and Women in the World that will say thou art a Lyar. For were not the Apostles to Preach the Gospel Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousness to all Nations and doth not the Apostle say The Gospel was preached to EVERY CREATVRE VNDER HEAVEN whereof he was made a Minister Col. 1 23. and the Apostle saith Have they not all heard YES VERILY Rom. 10 and the Prophane Mouth thou speakest with is thy own If they hate the Light of Christ and quench his Spirit that God hath poured upon them and erred from his Spirit then they are not like to See him indeed and will not Hear him in the Spirit and his Light they will not See him nor Hear him like the Pharisees and thou R. W. And why dost thou fret thy self about the Light and the word ALL and EVERY MAN but thy Spirit is the Sect-maker and would not have ALL nor EVERY MAN who art opposite to the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine Peter saith It shall come to pass in the last Days saith the Lord I will pour out my Spirit upon ALL FLESH to wit Sons Daughters Young-Men Old Men Servants Hand-maids Joel 2. Act. 2 and John saith This is the true Light which was Life in the Word which lighteth EVERY Man that cometh into the World And Paul saith to Titus The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto ALL MEN and Christ bid his Disciples To go into All Nations to Preach the Gospel unto Every Creature and the Apostle saith That the Gospel was Preach'd unto Every Creature under Heaven But R. W. saith Men and Women in the World who have never seen or heard of any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness and yet thou say'st pag. 28. I find in all Mankind a Conviction that God is IVST and Powerful and again I find all Men confess that the Will or Word or Mind of God is PVRE I find that First There is Generally in all Mankind in the World a Conviction of an Invisible Omnipotent and Eternal Power and Godhead and pag. 102. Men and Women in the World have never seen or heard any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness thou say'st how now R. W. dost not thou Contradict thy self here dost thou Divide the Word here as thou accusest me is this New-England's Great Oratour And so as for Vnclean Beast and Proud Fancy and Vainly and Wickedly deluding and Soul-Cheating thou might'st have kept this in thy own Bottle R. W. Thou say'st G. F's 2d Answer here is to wit The Spirit of God shall lead the Saints into all Truth and R. W. saith I observe here how like a Skittish Jade this Wild Soul runs in and out c. before he brings in the Spirit of God poured out upon the Common World and now he brings in the Spirit leading the Saints the next word he concludes is Every Man in the World to have the Spirit c. Answ. Dost not thou confess that the Holy Spirit testifieth that he is the Comforter of the Saints and is he not the Leader also and dost not thou confess that the Spirit is the Reprover of the World p. 102 103. then hast not thou made thy self the Skittish Jade thou speakest of and Running in and out are not these Vnsavoury and Vnseemly Words out of an Old Man's Mouth that professeth Christianity And if the Spirit of Truth doth Reprove the World and God hath poured his Spirit upon All Flesh then is not this the Common World and if it be upon All Flesh is not Every Man come into the World else how will God Judge the World in Righteousness according to the Gospel Thou confessest That the Holy Ghost is a Reprover of the World and that he Reproveth the World in his Threatnings and Judgments and doth not he then Reprove the World for its Unrighteousness Judgment and Unbelief also and if thou didst not Resist it it would Reprove thee for thy Vnrighteousness False Judgment and Vnbelief as Christ saith R. W. Dost not thou say The World mocks at this Holy Spirit Banisheth Imprisoneth and Murdereth such in whom the true Spirit of God appeareth And further thou say'st It is Lying Peor tells us That all the VVorld without Distinction have the Manifestation of the Spirit of God to profit withal There have been Persons professing the Order of the Holy Ghost yet are far from the Savour of the Holy Spirit Answ. This is thy own Condition R. W. and thy own New-England-Professors who Resist it as Stephen saith Act. 7. and Mock at it and BANISH IMPRISON and MVRTHER such in whom the Spirit of God appeareth this hath been the Practice of the New-England-Priests and Professors to the Dishonour of Christianity And doth not the Apostle say God will pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh WITHOVT DISTINCTION as Peter saith and is not this All the Men and Women of the World what Flesh dare say but they have the Reproofs of God's Spirit when they do Ill except it be such as R. W. and R. W's Professors that quench it and have erred from it so thou may'st take thy Lying Peor to thy self And so it is thou that art resisting and fighting against the holy Spirit of God And can any profit in the things of God without the Manifestation of the Holy Spirit that is given to profit withal and Peter and Paul say to All flesh and to Every Man so it is their Doctrine thou oppossest not with the Spirit but with the dark fleshly mind And thou tellest a story of Babilonish Orders and of Absolom which if thou did'st see that thy own Condition in the Light of Christ thou hatest it would be better for thee R. W. Thou say'st Oh! what Reproofs of God's Spirit hath G. F. and others of their Leaders had in and by so many Excellent Opposites and Scriptures and Arguments which G. F. here trampleth under his Prophane Feet without any Savour of the Spirit of God Answ. R. W. thou highly extollest the Ranters here Tim. Trav. the great Ranter one of our Opposites but thou hast manifest thy Spirit and what thou takest part with-al against the People of God And we have a Savour of the Holy Spirit of God and in it can Savour our Opposites or Old Persecutors Spirits not to be of Christ and it hath been the Evil Spirit is in thee and them that hath stroven against us And we know you may bring Scripture to a wrong End as the Devil did to Christ and the Lord hath given us Power over the Devil's Spirit blessed be his Name for ever and he hath blasted it and brought down which was up in Oliver's Days that Persecuting Spirit And we do own the Scriptures letâ—it
the Devil 's making to apprehend Christ within G. F. Answereth If there be any other Christ but he who was Crucified within he is the False Christ and the Scripture holds sorth this and the Devil never made it but he and his Messengers are against it And he that hath not this Christ that was Crucified and Risen within is a Reprobate though Devils and Reprobates may talk of him without And R. W. replyeth and telleth a Story of Pagans Mahometans and Christians and Jews of their Dispute about Christ which is to no purpose Answ. The Quakers do acknowledge the Birth Death and Resurrection of Christ and it 's to no purpose for thee to alleadge the contrary and his Doctrine and Preachings and his Apostles and all this is true R. W. And thou say'st Certain it is that he that shall turn over all the former Relations and Histories and all the Writings of the Apostles and predicate a Christ that was Risen within and Crucified within in opposition to that Jesus of Nazareth without c. Answ. Here dost not thou Confess that that Christ which dyed at Jerusalem must be within People and not opposite but what Sun of Righteousness is he that shall arise with Healing in his VVings to them that fear God's Name Mal. 4 R. W. And thou tellest What the Protestants do believe of the Birth Life and Death of Christ c. and of applying the Promises and the New Covenant c. and bargain in his Blood for a New Spirit and a New Heart c. Answ. Do not ye believe that G. F. and the People called Quakers do not know that R. W. and the New-England Professors and these Persecutors and his old Opposers do apply the Promises and the New Covenant to their old Heart and their Persecuting Spirit But where is the New Heart and where is the New Spirit and how do ye dye with Christ and how are ye made Conformable to his Death do not the Children of the New-Covenant that are born again of the Immortal Seed and are Heirs of the Promise feel the Blood of Christ in them to sprinkle their Consciences c. and make their Garments white But where doth Christ or the Apostles use that Expression of a Bargain in Christ's Blood where is thy Rule for it in Scripture R. W. And thou say'st G. F. is believing in a Christ Crucified within in opposition to Christ Promised and Prophecyed of brought forth Living and Dying so preached so believed on and what a Forehead of Hell must he have that calls all those Reprobates and Devils that talk of Christ without c. Answ. Now let the Reader see how R.W. abuseth G. F's Words For G. F. doth not say The Devil and Reprobates may talk of a Christ without but G. F. is proving that it is Christ that was Crucified and is Risen to wit at the Right Hand of God it is he that is to be within his Saints And we know that the Devil and his Messengers cannot endure to hear tell that Christ should Rule in the Hearts of his People because he destroyeth the Devil from Reigning and we know that the Devil may suffer R. W. to apply to him Christ's Sufferings Death and Resurrection and Promises so that he will not have Christ to Reign in him And we own Christ as was promised and prophecyed of and his Birth Life Death and Resurrection and yet manifest within us who will Judge the World in Righteousness and Reward every Man according to their Works Glory to God for ever And as for Fore-head of Hell it becometh R. W. best the Sober mind-minded who read his Book may see his Fruit as ye may see page 66 R. W. And thou bringest The Elders and Messengers of the Churches in Wales saying We are Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity And G. F. answereth Fol. 214 And David doth not say YOV who were Conceived in Sin but I and W. P. saith John was sanctified from the Womb and the Scriptures speak of such as were Sanctified from the VVomb and Children that were Clean. And so you do not speak as the Elders and Messengers of the true Churches or Men dividing the VVord aright but you are one against another though you are all against them you call Quakers that be in the Truth R. W. replyeth and falleth a railing and saith G. F. discovers to any Intelligent and Savoury Spirit not only a weak and deluded Soul but a Popish and Arminian Poyson about the State of all Mankind in the First Birth a strong Presumption that he never felt what the woful Estate of all Mankind by Nature is and what to cry out in his own particular with David I was Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity which Cry is one of the first Soul-Cries of every Child of God Answ. Let the Reader judge betwixt R. W. and G. F. For G. F. doth not speak of the State of all Mankind but of John Baptist and such as the Scripture speaketh of that were Sanctified from the VVomb and such Children as the Scripture speaketh of that were Clean as 1 Cor. 7. that Paul speaketh of did John and those that were Sanctified and Clean cry out to God that they were Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity prove this or else confess thy unsavoury Spirit and weak deluded Soul And as for Pope and Arminian Poyson thou mayst keep that to thy self And the Estate of Mankind by Nature I have known yet I must put a Difference as the Apostles and Holy Men of God have done and will not say as thou and thy Messengers of such as were Sanctified from the VVomb and Clean That they were brought forth in Sin and Iniquity And what is all the Work of R. W. in his 67 and 68 pages who telleth of the Pelagians and the Forces of the Prince of Orange against them and David's crying out that he was Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity this doth not pâ—ove that John was Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity nor prove that Jeremiah was not Sanctified in the VVomb Jer. 1 but here thou hast justified the Persecution and the Force against Pelagians And thou hast rambled over a great deal and tellest of the Spots of the Leopards and the Blackness of the Negroes and Gen. 6 Psal. 51 and Rom. 5 all this doth not prove that Jeremiah and John nor the Children that were Clean were brought forth in Iniquity R. W. And thou sayest These Rotten and Crooked dispositions in every Child bring forth wild Asses-fruit in Youth c. Answ. Wherein did Jeremiah and John Baptist or such as were Clean or Sanctified in the VVomb bring forth such Fruits as thou speakest of prove it by the Scripture For thou say'st Every Child here the Child Jesus hath not escaped thy Censure was not he called a Child Luk. 2 27 who was the Holy One. R. W. And thou say'st The Experience