Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
they were begotten in the New-birth pag. 56. Answ. See how contrary to plain Scriptures he reasons for Christ is called the Seed unto which the Promises are Gal. 3.16 And He is that Word which begets into the New-birth and not the Letter and this Seed is Living and Incorruptible though the Devil steals away the hearts of many from the sense of the the Seed or Word of Life as he hath blinded the minds of Infidels 2 Cor. 4.4 J.N. Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. yet there is no Man that is an Angel p. 59. Answ. Yes If he be an Embassador Messenger or Minister he is an Angel J.N. Christ cannot dwell in Man for Christ is perfect Man as well as perfect God p. 61. Answ. To say Christ cannot dwell in Man doth not only oppose His Spirituality Deity and OMNIPOTENCY but also is contrary to the Apostles plain Testimonies of Christ's being in the Saints And if He be perfect God he can dwell iâ— His People as He hath promised and suâ—ely His being perfect Man doth not put a limitation upon Him as a let or hinderance to disable Him from being in His People whilst He who was Christ as come in the Flesh was also truly Jesus Christ within in his Spiâ—itual appearance and we do not confine Him under this or that particular Name His Names are divers in Scriptures according to His Manifestations Offices and Works He is called Emmanuel God with us He is called Jesus Christ The Way The Truth The Light The Life The Seed The Son The Everlasting Father The Word The Power of God A Quickning Spirit c. J.N. Christ Jesus after He rose He was still a Body of Flesh Contradiction the God-head took Flesh in the Womb of Mary the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in Flesh c. pag. 52 60 63. Answ. Christ Jesus was more than a body of flesh for he was Spirit as well aâ— flesh He was Lord from Heaven Neither is Man made up simply of a body of Flesh being a complex or composition of parts of Body Soul and Spirit Also there is a manifest inconsistency between these words He was still a body of flesh And He took flesh or was God manifest in flesh J. N's Argument If he rose Jesus Christ then he rose Flesh and Blood and also Man But he arose Jesus Christ. Therefore Flesh and Blood c. And he did ascend with the same body and is still at the right hand of God with a body of flâ—sh c. p. 64 65. Contradiction As we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we are now to bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus p. 89. Answer Though I grant That Christ arose with the same body that was Crucified and put to Death and that he ascended into Glory even the same Glory which he had with the Father before the World began And that the same that Descended was the same that Ascended far above all Heavens Eph. 4. And as Christ said What and if ye see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before Joh. 6. Yet the Argument is fallaciously and corruptly staâ—ed in the manner of it the Inference of the first Proposition and so the Consequence being inconsequent to it carrying no proof along in it for it still strictly limits or tyes up the Name Jesus Christ to a body of flesh and blood and so covertly denies His being before he took on him that visible body of flesh blood and bones and so opposeth his Divinity as before Whereas He was the Spiritual Rock which all Israel drank of long before And as to His being at the right hand of God I grant according to the Scriptures but cannot believe His body to be a carnal body in Heaven or that He consists of a carnal existence And further these words are not the Scripture language viz. to say That Christ is a body of flesh blood and bones in Heaven and a Personal being at the right hand of God without all Men remote as J. N's terms are But these words Spiritual Body Glorious Boâ—y One Body and One Spirit and that the Saints discerned and eaâ— the Lord's Body were Members of His Body c. And except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no life in you saith Christ These are Scripture terms and language So neither is Chriâ—t nor God's right hand so limitted to a remoatness from them And as we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we must bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus this is true But the definition that J. N. hath given of Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man is That He is a body of flesh and blood a personal being not in man From whence it follows That this Heavenly Image men must bear or be changed into is a personal Image of flesh blood and bones as if they had not such a body or Image before Whereas the Heavenly man is spiritual and so is His Image And the Apostle distinguisheth between the Natural body and the Spiritual body as he doth between the bodies that are Coelestial and the bodies Terrestrial 1 Cor. 15. And further to take off Objections and Scruples I confess that according to the Flesh Jesus Christ came of the Seed of David and the body that He took upon him or that was prepared for him to do the will of God in upon Earth was a real and not a fantastical body and that according to the flesh He was put to death or died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and rose again the third day and was after seen of the Disciples and of above five hundred Brethren at once and that He was seen of James then of all the Apostles 1 Cor. 15. To which the Apostle Paul adds vers 8. And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time And how did he appear unto Paul Even by Revelation God revealed his Son in him It was the same Son of God who appeared vaâ—iously both visibly and invisibly after His Resurrection he appeared in various forms and shewed Himself diversly First to Mary Magdalen 2dly to other Women 3dly to the Disciples as they went to Emaus 4thly to James 5thly to Peter 6thly to the Apostles when the Doors were shut 7thly to more than five hundred Brethren as aforesaid after he appeared to Thomas when he said Reach hither thine hands c. Mat. 28. Mark 16. Luke 24. Iohn 20. 1 Cor. 15. Once he said to them Handle Me Luke 24.39 another time to Mary Magdalen when she thought him to be the Gardener Touch Me not Joh. 20.17 And it 's said Luk. 24.30 31. as he sate at meat with them He took bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and their eyes were open and they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight Now seeing that he appeared so diversly being capable
of it and neither of them owning the Scriptures as we have them and never like to be Converted by such shallow Contenders and impertinent Preachers as thou art And as for the Law and the Testimony thou speakest of pag. 125. they are yet unknown to thee for the Law is Light and the Testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophesie Prov. 6.23 Rev. 19.10 which were before the Scriptures And How are Spirits to be tryed as John exhorted 1 Joh. 4.12 To this thou sayest The holy Touchstone by which they are to be tryed is that golden Rule by which the noble Bereans tried the Doctrine of Paul even the Scriptures to know by what Spirit he spake And then thou addest By this we shall know the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of Error and not to prove a Spirit by a Spirit within From whence thou observest That that Spirit which will not be tried by the Scriptures is the Spirit of Antichrist p. 125. Answ. What gross Ignorance Error and perverting the Scriptures hast thou herein shewed thy self guilty of For first Where provest thou in all the Rule thou pretendest That the Scriptures are the Touchstone and golden Rule to try the Spirits by Produce us plain Scripture for this thy Doctrine or else confess thy Error 2dly The tryal of Spirits is more mysteriâ—us than meerly the trying of Doctrines by comparing them with Scriptures for many false Spirits bring Scripture who are not discerned to be such without the Spirit of God which searcheth all things 3dly John did not say That the Scriptures were the Touchstone by which they were to try the Spirits whether they were of God But he saith plainly These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you but the Anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things c. 1 Joh. 2.20 26 27. Now then the tryal of Spirits being â—uch a weighty thing which they were concerned in this Unction in them was the Touchstone and that is the Spirit of Antichrist that opposeth this 4thly The Scripture doth not say That the Bereans tried Pauls Spirit by the Scriptures but that they received the Word with all readiness of mind mark that and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17. It is not said They searched them to try Pauls Spirit by them for their receiving the Word with all readiness of mind implyes some good belief they had of the Spirit in Paul by which he preached And when they had received the Word they daily searched the Scriptures not with prejudice against the true Ministers or Light within as many of you do but simply to see whether those things were so Now this kind of searching them we own the Word being received within which gives the understanding of the Scriptures And as for thy scoffing at the word Pure Seed calling it New-coyned without Book c. pag. 97. And thy saying Which Seed we vainly say is Christ begotten in us c. p. 98. Thou hast scofft herein without any ground and thereby discovered thy own folly For Is not the Incorruptible Seed a pure Seed and doth not the Apostle call the Seed Christ Gal. 3.16 And is not Christ in the true Believer where the Body is dead because of sin But thou that so nicely carps at words as pure Seed which is Christ within as being without Book what Scripture or Book thereof hast thou for thy calling the Scriptures the only Rule for Salvation for all men to the Worlds end and no other the Touchstone the golden Rule to try or know the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error the ground of Faith c. Produce plain Scripture for these words or else confess thy Error who so exâ—ctly pretendest the Scripture thy Rule how dost thou square thy work by it what Rule canst thou produce for us to believe thou speakest truth when thou givest those Characters of the Scriptures which are not to be produced in them And was not the end of Paul's labouring with the Jews to turn them from Darkness to the Light within which thou contemptuously callst a pretended Spirit p. 127. Was his perswading them to believe in Christ in opposition to his Light within surely no but all in order to turn them to his Spirit or Light within But thou hast confessed his perswading them was concerning the Kingdom of God to teach them to believe on the Name of Jesus and direct them to the Kingdom of God see how manifestly thou art here Contradicted by thy own words for was not the Kingdom of God within Luke 17.21 And the Name of Jesus and its Power thou seest not who hast vilified His Light within and the Scriptures thou citest are against thee as that of Rom. 9 10 11 Chap. for both the Righteousness the Word of Faith and Grace were inward and spiritual Again To prove that the Scriptures make manifest the Righteousness of God thou citest Rom. 1.17 which is thy gross abuse of that Scripture for it saith that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation and therein is his Righteousness revealed from Faith to Faith c. It is not said the Scriptures are the Power of God for the Power of God or Gospel was preached to Abraham before the Scriptures were written And to thy saying Faith hath a holy End which it leadeth to even the Salvation of Souls not now in man but at the last day when our bodies shall be raised out of the dust p. 123. And where provest thou this Doctrine Is not the Soul in man And is not its Salvation deliverance and safety from sin wrought within by the Power and Arm of God How dost thou essay to frustrate the End of the true Faith which is Salvation whilst thou sayest It leads to the Salvation of Souls not now in man but at the last day when our bodies shall be raised out of the dust And when thinkest thou shall that be Must all the Sâ—ints have their Hope Expectation and Faith for Salvation of their Souls unanswered till then what is become of their Souls all this while since their decease if they have not received the End of their Faith to wit Salvation in them Surely thou art yet in the dust and death and daâ—kness have power over thy mind or else thou wouldst never shew thy self such an ignorant Papist as here thou hast done for thou hast though at unawares run thy self into rank Popery putting Salvation of Souls so far off till thou knowest not when according to thy earthly and carnal conceits which thou wouldest have us believe for gracious Truths which thou sayest Quakerism doth not own unless in a Mystery to deceive But this is not thy first slanderous Conclusion against the Quakers who only oppose the graceless Errors and
above all and through all and in all his own Eph. 4.6 And he that dwelleth on High and inhabiteth Eternity dwells with such also as are poor in Spirit and tremble at his Word Oh! how ignorant are these Opposers of the Scriptures and of the Power of God W's Doct. I do believe That essentially from Eternity the Scripture was as really God as a man's mind is himself before it is revealed so before that Spirit that proceedeth from Father and Son gave forth the Scripturâ— the Scripture was really God Can the Quakers shew you That Christ the Word is not Scripture c. pag. 17. Thus far his Assertion Answ. Let this be kept on Record for his Brethren to peruse and for all other that reade this to judge of that the Scripture was really God from eternity yea and that essentially as much as to say the Essence of the Scripture is the Essence of God What say you Baptists and Professors do you own this doctrine If you do not then give forth your Testimony against him and it and correct and stop such Nâ—vices and ignorant men amongst you from medling with Controversies and from scribling their Confusion and Blasphemies against us For do you own that the Scriptures are God or that the Scriptures made all things Or when you carry a Bible in your pocket do you carry God and his essence there Is not this Rantism in the highest that your Brother hath affirmed and doth it not tend to lead into Atheism let Truth in all judge Many of this Opposers Impertinencies gross Lyes Slanders and Abuses against us called Quakers in his Pamphlet I here pass by my recital of these few passages of his being that the rest of his Brethren may take notice thereof and be cautioned not to suffer enmity and darkness to lead them to war against the Light and its Children as too many have done lest that shame and confusion of face instead of Justification and Peace with the Lord be their reward Here followeth a Copy of the Baptists Bill of Excommunication WEE the Church of Christ meeting near Bow of which you Hester Bird were once a Member Do by these presents signifie and declare That you have turned out of the right way of the Lord both in Doctrine and Practice viz. Departing from the Foundation Doctrine of Justification by Grace From the Resurrection of this Body The Personal coming of the Lord Jesus And the Holy Ordinances of Christ viz. Baptism Communion of Saints and the Lords Supper And you having been by Us or some of Us Admonished and remaining Incorrigible WEE do hereby declare That you are gone out from Us because you were not of Us having rejected the Word of the Lord and Us his People WEE also do reject you according to the Sentence of the Lord exprest by the Apostles in these Scriptures mentioned in the Margent George Barrett Benj. Dennis Edw. Annesley Rich. Mathyson Ralph Chapman Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of the Church the 17 th of the 7 th Month 1669 Here followeth a Copy of the said Hester Bird now Hester Andrews her Answer GEorge Barret Benjamin Dennis and the rest concerned I do not own you to be the Church of Christ as you call your selves For the true Church never gave out such a false Bill of Excommunication as you have against Me therefore your pretended Authority therein I deny Whereas you falsly charge me with turning from the Communion of Saints I have sensibly known and felt the Communion of Saints blessed be the Lord since I have been from amongst you As to the Personal Reign of Christ I never owned it when I was amongst you but his Spiritual Appearance I am a witness of Your outward Bread and Wine satisfies not the Soul I have had more peace when I did not touch your Shadows than when I did As to the Water-Baptism I never found any thing in it I was the same when I came out as when I went in Blessed be the Lord I have known one Baptism the Baptism of Christ viz. being Baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire for he will throughly purge his Floor As to departing from the Foundation Doctrine of Justification by Grace as you falsly and slanderously charge me I know the Foundation of God standeth sure and another Foundation can no man lay than that is already laid which is Christ in us which is the Hope of Glory by whose Grace I am Justified freely and this I find to be the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers which I own A Word from the Lord unto you That you would come out from among your dark Customs of this World and come to the Appearance of Christ in you As to your Excommunication it 's known I came from you some years ago take heed your Censure falls not on your own heads but it shews of what spirit you are Your charge of departing from the Resurrection of this Body as you state it It s neither truth nor sense nor have you told me your meaning For what Resurrection and Body have I come to that I have departed from Howbeit the Resurrection I believe according to the Testimony of Christ and his Ministers see Joh. 11.25 1 Cor. 15.42 to the end And Christ's Answer to the Saduces Mat. 22.29 30. H. A. A few brief Observations on the Scriptures in the Margent of the Baptists Bill or rather Bull against the said Hester Bird alias Andrews which they have perverted and misapplyed As FIrst That of Jer. 8.8 9. was against the Rebellious Jews who were backslidden and knew not the Judgment of the Lord and had rejected his Word who were all given to Covetousness and to deal falsly from the People to the Priest vers 7 10. None of which Evils have these angry Baptists proved against this Person whom they have Rejected or Excommunicated for she did first reject them as she was perswaded she had good reason for and that therein she did not reject the Word of the Lord but such as have rejected it whom she denyes to be either Called by Christ to the Ministry or to be of his Church Secondly That 1 Joh. 2.19 was against those Antichrists who went out from the true Apostles and Church where note these Baptists have neither proved their Call to the Ministry nor themselves to be either true Apostles or a true Church nor yet Convicted this Woman to be such an one mentioned 1 Joh. 2.18 19. for she is now directed to and owneth the Vnction within from the Holy One which preserves out of Antichrist's Delusions Lyes and Deceits c. which if she continues in and obey to the end she shall continue in the Son and in the Father and not deny Jesâ—â— Christ or the Father as the Antichrists did vers 22 23. But this Anointing within these Baptists have never turned People unto that they might follow and obey it in all things for they impose upon People their
were given forth the Commands are called words that God spake Is not there a manifest difference between the Word that made all things and the words spoken or writ As also between the Ministry of the Word which is the preaching Jesus Christ and the Writings of the Two Testaments which this ignorant man makes no distinction between for was not the Apostle Paul a Minister of the Word though not of the Letter Did not he distinguish between them which this confused Opposer hath not done J. N's Contrad The Scriptures in which is contained the will of God in order to man's Salvation is properly and principally called the Word and not Christ. There are a People labour to blind this truth by affirming that Christ is the Word of God and not the Scriptures for they say The Scriptures are the Sayings or the Words of God Christ cannot be understood to be the Word of God whereas some do affirm Christ to be the VVord of God Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster rather than a compleat God and Man c. p. 12 13 15 17 17 49. I shall freely grant That Christ is called by this Name the Word of God Christ being the Word of God Christ may be said to be in men He may be called the Word of God because he will be that dreadful Executioner By the Word of God's Eternal Power c. He shall by by the Word of God slay all his enemies in this he may be truly called the Word of God p. 14 46 47. Animad Thou art a blind Opposer who perverts and darkens Truth with thy monstrous prejudice who denies Christ to be the Word of God and blasphemously sayest Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster c. Yet for all this thou shalt freely grant Christ to be called the VVord yea the VVord of God's Eternal Power doest thou herein make him a Monster And did not the holy Men of God call him the Word And did they blind the Truth or make a Monster of Christ supposest thou Must we reject their Testimonies as improper and monstrous and believe thine as only proper which is so repugnant to the Scriptures which are the Writings that do contain sayings or words of God which to affirm is no blinding of truth And where provest thou these words in the Scriptures That the will of God is contained in them Is not the will of God Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain God So take thy Contradictions back again viz. That to affirm Christ to be the Word of God is to make him a Monster yet I shall freely grant Christ is called the Word of God the Word of God's Eternal Power J. N's Contrad The Scriptures properly and principally called the VVord The Word of God therein contained Or the Teachings therein contained The Will and Mind of God contained in the Scriptures p. 19 45 49. Animad See the Contradiction and falshood of these for one while to say the Scriptures are the VVord another while they contain the Word and Mind of God these are different and thou mightest as well say that God is contained in the Scriptures as to say the Word and his Mind and Will is and so grosly go to circumscribe and limit him who is Infinite and unlimitable who is the Eternal Word Mark also how J. N. his Doctrine of the Scriptures being principally called the VVord is absolutely confuted by himself in what follows J. N's Contrad How was Heaven and Earth and the VVorld made by the VVord of God and also by the same VVord are kept in store p. 48. The wicked shall be destroyed by this VVord The Rod of his mouth Isa. 11.11 The Spirit of his mouth Rev. 2.12 The sharp Sword with two edges The word of God's Grace in convincing and converting of Souls quick and powerful sharper than a two edged Sword In this sense Christ may be called the VVord Animad But surely the Scriptures are not all this nor ever had this sense given of them that is here given of the Word which made Heaven and Earth and keeps them in store and this did not the Scriptures J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the VVord of God may be corrupted by man This Word may be and is corâ—upted by man c. p. 19 20. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever p. 57 c. Contradiction again This maketh nothing to prove this word here to be Christ. Animad The Incorruptible Seed or Word by which we are born again is not the Scriptures which have been corrupted by such Perverters and Corrupters of them as thou art who goes to set them in Christ's place and yet Hypocrite like art not willing to keep to the language and terms or Doctrines of them J. N's Contrad The Scripâ—ures are an absolute perfect Rule for all men c. unto the end of the world Faith is bâ—gotten by Preaching the VVord with the work of his blessed Spirit Christ the Way to bring us to Life c. pag. 42 43 50. Animad The Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth therefore this Spirit or Christ within is both the Guide Way and Rule to all that are Spirtiually minded All men have not the Scriptures to the World's end but Christ is given both for a Covenant and Light for Salvation to the ends of the Earth J. N. his Idolatry in exalting the Scriptures into the place of Christ. The Scriptures the enlightening way of the Lord The perfect way of God A Light unto his paths p. 4 5. The Gospel The Seed in the hearts The will of God in order to Salvation pag. 11 17 20. Eternal Life therein viz. in Scriptures pag. 24. The Scripture's an absolute perfect Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other pag. 24 25 26 27 28 29. The Scriptures may be corrupted by man False Teachers corrupted the Scriptures The Scriptures may and is corrupted by man p. 19 20. The Devil taketh out of mens hearts the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Animad To the first part these are high Names put upon the Scriptures but not so proved thereby For the Enlightening perfect Way and Word of the Lord God the Gospel the Seed the Will of God Eternal Life c. were before the Scriptures were written and did preceed the writing thereof it them who spake or writ them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and Eternal Life is in Christ not contained in the Scriptures as the unbelieving Jews vainly thought Joh. 5. who set up the Scriptures above Christ the Life And the Scriptures are not the absolute sole Rule for Salvation and none other especially if they be corrupted by the Devil and Wicked men But the Rule of the spiritual mind is spiritual of that Spirit which leads the true Believers into all truth For that which must be owned
having the immediate evidence of the Spirit in it from God which the Letter or outward writing hath not for it is directed and given to us traditionally though I intend no invalidating of it hereby but do oppose that spirit and doctrine which sets it out of its place that calleth the Letter the Only Rule for Salvation and so leaveth no room for the Immediate Teachings of God's Spirit or Light as the Rule in these days Which is the old defign and work of Antichrist which thou J. N. and others of thy Brethren are carrying on to keep people in blindness in a dark faith under your trâ—ditional teachings who can give no certain demonstration for the ground of your Faith and yet thou hast granted the Spirit to be more vertuous and greater than the Letter p. 112. Enough to confute thy opinion of the Scriptures being the only Rule for now the Spirit is greater But then again thou tellest us The sufficiency of the Saints Rule and Guidâ— standeth in the Spirit and Scripture both For sayest thou they cannot be separated in their Nature Purity c. p. 110. At if thou wouldest not freely grant the Spirit 's sufficiency without the Scriptures or to those that have them not but seemest to limit or tye up the Spirit to the Scripture as being inseparable in their Nature and Purity as if the Nature of the Writing were â—he Nature of the Spirit and equally Pure with it whereas the Spirit cannot be corrupted and its Râ—le is more infallible than the Scriptures according to thy own Confession and also thou hast confessed That in all Dispensations God never left his People without a word of Direction either written or immediately from his own mouth p. 106 110. So that here it appears some had immediate Directions from God who had not the letter and so may many now for ought thou knowest for God is not limitted though thou wouldest limit his Spirit and the Saints to the letter as if none were Saints and Believers but who had the Scriptures Oh! Ignorance and yet thou hast confessed That the Spirit is of more efficacy and greater than the Letter p. 110 112. How then is the Letter the only Rule And I ask Is that Word the Scriptures or Letter which thou sayest Christians are nursed with the sincere Milk of Does Milk flow from Letter or Spirit And is the nourishment of the new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 the Letter Or are none true Babes but who have the Letter What ignorance narrowness and pinching work art thou found in who hast so tyed up all to and in the Letter as Spirit only Rule sincere Milk Well-spring of Comforts c. And yet grants p. 115. That the Spirit is the Key of Divine Knowledge which overthrows thy work about the Scriptures in thy setting them out of their place As also to the Query p. 117. Whether the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be a sufficient Rule and Guide To this thou answerest viz. Who is so ignorant as to deny the sufficiency of God's Spirit If thou doest not deny it Why doest thou go about to tye up all men to the Worlds end unto the Scriptures as the only Rule when now thou doest not deny the Spirits sufficiency as Rule and Guide nor darest thou assert the Scriptures sufficient without the Spirit though thou grantest That the Spirit is sufficient apart from the Scriptures which thou callest â—â—e Word pag. 118. Then the Scriptures are not the only Rule the Spirit being the Key of divine Knowledge the sufficient Rule above the Scriptures and greater than they As Also in pag. 116. thou confessest That there are secrets and private discoveries that God makes to the Soul by his blessed Spirit which are not manifest to any but to the heart that doth enjoy it These secrets are to those that fear him c. Where note That these secrets and private discoveries are not manifest to all that have the Scriptures but to those that fear God 2d That they are not made manifest or revealed by the Letter or Scripture outward but by the blessed Spirit inward unto the heart and soul that feareth God or hath Communion with him in his own Light Life and Spirit which is greater and above the Letter Again A further Confutation to thy self appeareth pag. 108. where thou grantest in the best sense That the Spirit is the Rule in its own Administration To which I say This still confutes thy work for that Administration is immediately and inwardly received from the Spirit which in the best sense is the Rule and this Spirit being the greatest all wholesome Doctrines Teachings and Directions are contained and summed up in it and so the Scriptures of Truth are not hereby made void though not the only Rule but fulfilled in them who walk after the Spirit or Rule of the New Creature for if you walk in the Spirit then are you not under the Law and they begun well who begun in the Spirit But whereas thou turnest â—ound again tying up the Spirits Rule to this viz. Doctrine and Teaching delivered in words also written in Scriptum est sayest thou As also that the word Regeneration signifies twice born to wit both after the flesh and from a state of sin whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to regenerate is to beget again not after the flesh Here Thy Divinity and Scholarship may both go together for where the Rule of the Spirit thou limittest to the Writing how consists this with the Spirits sufficiency to them that have not the Scripture or to its sufficiency apart or alone But 't is no strange thing for thee and such to be found in such manifest self Contradictions However thou wouldst have us take notice that thou art both a Divine and a Scholar And thy saying That Christ cannot be a Rule for any man in his Personal being p. 94. What makes this for thy purpose May it not be here implyed that he hath a spiritual being and that he can be and is a Rule in it to his People as He is their Way to walk in And where hast thou these words Personal being in thy Rule Is the Essence or Being of the Son of God Personal Was not his Being Divine before his Incarnation or Appearance in Person But thou appearest as ignorant both what Essence or Being is and what Person is which are different Again Thou appearest as grosly mistaking the state of the Controversie where thou sayest viz. What if my Spirit lead me to Mahomets Rule Or if my Spirit perswade me to believe the Popes mouth to be infallible c. Now it is not thy Spirit that may thus egregiously mislead thee that we are pleading for the Rule of but it is the infallible Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures neither is thy Assertions concerning the Scriptures any valid Plea or Argument to convince either Turks or Papists who are both out of the Truth and the Spirit
Absurdities of thee and such blind insolent Opposers who oppose the Light within and the power of Godliness as thou J. N. hast manifestly done And now J. N. here follows a few of thy gross Lyes and slanderous Accusations laid down and implyed against us which I return back upon thy own head 1. THat noâ—hing that is of man shall at the last be saved but only the Pure Seed This is a gross abuse for the Redemption Reâ—toration and Salvation of the whole man we own 2. False it is That our Family Preacheth and Printeth down the Scriptures and the Commands of Christ as Carnal c. 3. False it is That the Scripture is not to be owned by Saints 4. False it is That they bid People turn to a feigned and pretended Light or Spirit within 5. False it is That our Family doth use the Scripture but as a Cloak to carry on a design of darkness when we own the Scripture in its proper place 6. False it is That the proper place of Scripture is but to stand by us as a Stalking-Horse 7. A malitious slander it is To charge us as crafty Fowlers with shooting the simple Soul through by deceitful darts 8. False it is That we cast behind our backs all the Order and Discipline of the Primitive Churches of our Lord and Master For the Worship in Spirit and the Living Way which Châ—ist set up and Consecrated we Testifie to and for 9. We do not make use of either God's Word or Scriptures in hypocrisie as most slanderously is implyed against us 10. And that of bâ—inging a mist and fog upon the Scripture out of the bottomless Pit and bringing it to such a low rate by Evasions and Contradictions These things J. N. thou and such peevish slâ—nderers are guilty of and not we as thy work and self-Contradictions sufficiently have discovered 11. A gross and manifest slander it is That we will not own the Man Christ to be risen 12. False it is That we own not a Rising or Resurrection of the the Dead c. at the last â—ay according to the Scripâ—ures Though not according to the unscriptural conceits of some busie Intrudeâ—s or Fools who now as formerly are contending and asking How are the Dead raised and with wâ—â—t body do they come 1 Cor. 15.35 36 37. 13. And as to these dreadful Opinions and Delusions of not owning an Eternal Life c. of drawing all the glory after this life into a present enjoyment and in this life to make an end of all our happiness c. These are none of our Opinions nor ever owned as Principles among us but judged as Atheistical and therefore are most injuriously and falsly drawn or inferred against us But I have heard of some of the Baptists that have held the Mortallity of the Soul that it dyes with the body c. 14. Also a false Inference it is against us That the Grave will be the farthest Journey that man shall go towards Eternal Life For as touching the Righteous or Ransomed of the Lord who believe in his Light within they own and witness to an Immortal state and receive Power in Him who is the Resurrection and the Life over Death Hell and the Grave And as we do own a Resurrection both of the just and unjust according to the Scriptures and that each shall have rewards according to their works so neither Death nor Hell nor Grave nor Earth nor Sea shall detain or keep back the wicked from their just rewards and punishments due for their Iniquity Rebellion and Transgressions who have rejected the Light within and hated to be Reformed For there is a Lake of perpetual torment for the Devil and wicked men for the Beast and false Prophet that War against the Lamb the Light and his followers for such as receive his Mark and such as are not found written in the Book of Life Rev. 19.20 20.10 to the end Yea and further it is said That the Fearful and Unbelieving and the Abominable and Murderers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers shall hâ—ve their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev. 21.8 Wherefore J. N. and thy Brethren take heed how you go on in your Envy Lyes and Slanders against an innocent Peopâ—e but Repent repent of your wickedness therein which hitherto divers of you have often appeared in in â—our malicious Spirits But the Lord will sweep away your Refuge of Lyes and Slanders and he knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the Unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 And whereas thou J. N. chargest us with dreadful Delusion as bringing all to an invisible state all within man and that there is no visible God no visible Christ c. p. 133. Answ. Dreadful Delusion is without any proof against us it s thy own who opposest the invisible state and inward enjoyment of God who is invisible and that which may be known of God is manifest wiâ—hin And what Rule in Scripture hast thou for these words visible God visible Christ c. Here thou hast not squared thy Work by the Rule thou pretendest for is not Christ the Image of the Invisible God Col. 1.15 And did not Moses by Faith see him that is Invisible when he had respect unto the recompence of Reward Heb. 11. And is not that recompence of reward viz. Eternal Life Peace and Felicity inwardly and spiâ—itually received by those that patiently now suffer for Christ whose sufferings of the present time are not to be compared unto the Glory that shall be revealed in them Rom. 8.18 But thou that art so carnally imagining and thus shutting out the weighty things of Salvation out of man and like the old Hereticâ—l Egyptian Monks the Anthropomorphites and late Muggletonians art telling of a visible God and Christ remote not in any and despising the Light within as but feigned What could we expect better from â—hee than such darkness ignorance and confusion as hath appeared in this thy malicious irrational Book against the Light within and the Children or Family of Light called Quakers against neither of whom hast thou urged any reason or validity so as to disaffect any that are unprejudiced against us but the more against thy self and them that will own thee Wherefore my advice and caution to all that are simply-minded who read this that they seriously minde and follow the Light and Unction from the Holy-One within that thereby their minds may be kept out of prejudice and enmity and over and out of the perverse wayes of imaginary conceited dark and prejudiced spirits who pervert the Scriptures and deride at the Light within and abuse the Children of it as thou hast done But the Truth is set over thy head and all those of thy Fraternity whose spirits the Devil hath inveterately set against that which you shall one day know will be
too strong and mighty for you Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Tim. 1.17 The Baptist and Presbyter c. conjunct against us to their own Disjunction and Confusion OR A Relation of some Heads of Two Discourses in London the first whereof was the 28 th of the 10 th Month 69. at which Thomas Danson formerly Priest of Sandwich in Kent and William Kiffin Baptist with the Assistance of Ald. Hayes joyned against us THe Question disputed on both times was Whether the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith yea or nay VVhich was affirmed by them but denyed by us Now let the impartial Readers note how confused and contradictory they were in the management of their Affirmation As first when we had excepted against their Affirmation the particle Only being exclusive of any higher Rule yea even of the Spirit of Truth it self and importing the Scriptures as the chief or sole singular and alone Rule of Faith excluding all other Now when any of these our Opposers did at any time include the Spirit or the divine illumination thereof in the understanding when they had asserted the Scriptures to be the only Rule this Contradistion they divers times appeared in And T. D. when he could not stand by the Assertion in the terms proposed instead of the word Scriptures he would have it The Doctrines contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the only Rule of Faith which he also could not prove according to his general Assertion therein and his disserting the terms of the Question to wit of the Scriptures being the only Rule he rendred no sufficient Reason for it for the Doctrines as contained therein have still relation to the Scriptures which are of divers kinds as those of the Law for the Circumcision and other Shadows and those of the New Testament forbidding them But yet though one while the Scriptures and another while the Doctrines contained in them were asserted to be the only Rule of Faith in Contradiction to this he would assent to the guidance of the Spirit of God and would include the Holy Ghost in the comfort of the Scriptures and confess at length That the Scriptures without divine illumination are but the foundation of an historical Faith and not a saving Faith and that a man may believe the historical part and not be saved and that the divine illumination of the Spirit is the Foundation and Rule of saving Faith Observ. Mark Here is a Foundation or Rule of the Spirit assented to above the Scriptures If the divine illumination of the Spirit be the Rule of the Understanding the Rule for Conviction and consequently the Rule of Faith then the Scriptures are not the only Rule And T. D. granted That the Scriptures are not the Rule of Conviction for those that denied their divine Authority it being but a begging the Question to argue from Scripture for the Conviction of such c. Therefore it follows that the inlightning of the holy Spirit which is able to convict Gain-sayeâ—s is a Rule above the Scriptures which therefore are not the only Rule But W. Kiffin to prove their first Assertion so much confuted by T. D. himself told us That the Director and Rule to Faith and Salvation were two distinct things as the Way to Bristol and my Director into the Way and that the Scriptures are the only Rule and Way in which we are to walk and the Spirit of God is the Guide and Director c. Answ. To thâ—s he was Answered That Christ is both the Leader and Director into the way of God and the Way also and that we are to walk in the Spirit and therefore his asserting that the Director is not the Way in this Instance against the Spirit being the Rule is all one as to say Christ cannot be the Way because he is the Guide which is contrary to his own Testimony And while W.K. did state the Way and Rule as the same or equivolent he mâ—nifestly ran to his own confutation Christ Jesus and his Light being the Author of Faith and only Way to Salvation As to the Question If the Scriptcres come where men question them or their Relation of those Miracles or Works of God's Power c. which T.D. argued as ground or matter of Conviction c. How shall such be Convicted by that Relation which they question without the Living Evidence of the Spirit T. D. replied Would you question whether there were such a man as King Henry the Eight c. Answ. This is not an Answer to the only Rule of Faith and proves no farther than a traditional Faith and by this it appears what is the nature of these mens Faith and how weak for they did not know that there was a King Henry the Eight by divine illumination and sure the Spirit and Power that gave forth the Scriptures hath an influence upon the understandings and opens the Holy Scriptures where it is submitted to within His Instance of King Henry the Eight was a very mean and pitiful one in this case to answer the Ground and Rule of true and living Faith which is the Gift of God and whereof Christ is the Author Farther Mark what corrupt Doctrines and Extravagancies the said T.D. runs into against the universal extent of the Spirit of God and sufficiency of his Light having granted or supposed many places in the World where there is neither Bible nor Minister to Preach he proceeded as followeth T. D. I say that God ordinarily doth not by his Spirit immediately reveal the Doctrines contained in the Scriptures meaning without them His Spirit doth not go into the farthest parts of India where the Scriptures are not the Spirit of God doth not go into the remotest parts of the World We suppose there are some placâ—s where there is neither Bible nor Minister I do not understand any ground that the Spirit in those places doth immediately reveal those things c. p. 9. Answ. 1. See if this be not a limitation put upon the Spirit of God and a denial of its alone sufficiency to teach or reveal all Truth without the Scriptures And how this man supposes that there are remote places where the Spirit doth not come which is contrary to plain Scripture Whither shall a man go from the Spirit or flee from the presence of God see Psal. 139.7 8 9 10. for his Presence fills Heaven and Earth 2dly Supposing that in some places they have neither the Scriptures nor their outward Preaching it were a sad sentence to conclude them all in a state of Damnation for want thereof and to conclude that therefore God doth not afford them of his Spirit or Light to be an inward Rule of their Faith without the Scriptures What cruelty doth this charge upon God against his Creatures And what a narrow limitation doth this put upon his Spirit to allow him his
the only Wise God the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 where Only is both used in a most eminent sense and excluding all others from that eminence And if in this sense according to Jer. Ives his Instance the Scriptures be taken as the most eminent Rule before and above all other Rule what is this but to set the Scriptures above the Spirit that gave them forth and above all Divine Illuminations although without it the Scriptures cannot be understood which is as much as to set them above God and Christ. And yet Jer. Ives in Contradiction to their own Assertion granted That they did not intend that none have Faith but they that have the Scriptures some may have Faith who have them not c. It follows therefore that that some have the Rule of Faith without the Scriptures See what a deadly blow he hath given to his and their own Cause Jer. Ives God doth not require any thing to be believed as a Point of Faith or to be practised as a Duty for which there is not a Rule laid down in the Scriptures and that there is not any sin committed but what is there mentioned there is no sin that I commit but I may correct it by the Scriptures c. Obs. See how both these passages do egregiously vary from the state of the Question and their general Assertion before Of the Scriptures being the only Rule of Faith For a Rule in the Scriptures and they to be the only Rule are much different And however if it were granted which 't is not That God doth not require any thing to be believed c. or practised as duty for which there is not a Rule laid down which imports a particular Rule or measure specified for every particular point or practice or else not to be believed nor practised then it follows That if there be not a particular Rule in Scripture to prove That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith nor which so saith of them We are not bound to believe these men's Assertion therein as any Point of Faith for God doth not require us to believe it however they contend for it and would impose it upon our Faith But further 1. If by a Rule laid down it be intended that there is a particular Rule Command or Precept specified exactly to measure every particular duty or thing to be believed or practised by all Christians as there are many express Commands and Precepts expressing the particular duty and forbidding the offence this is not so expressed under a general Command nor yet proved as Jer. Ives endeavoured as when I put the Qâ—estion viz. Whether God doth not or may not by his immediate Power in these dayes raise up and Commissionate Prophets to declare peculiar Messages to particular Places People or Governments yea or nay To this Jer. Ives granted That God might for any thing he knew do so But suppose there may be Prophets now sent with immediate Commission to a particular Place as Rome c. said he The Scripture hath a Rule in it that such Prophets ought to obey their Master and that the Scripture commands to hear Christ in all things and not to quench the Spirit nor despise Prophesie c. Thus far Jer. Ives But while he cannot prove that all those things are particularly prescribed in Scripture which they are to hear and learn of Christ and which are to be prophesied but hath granted the contrary to wit That there may be immediate Commissions and peculiar Messages from God to particular Places c. suppose Rome or London which are not particularly specified in Scripture however Christ is to be heard in all things and his Spirit not to be quenched Therefore it follows that the Scriptures are neither the Rule of those Prophets Faith either for such their Commission or peculiar Messages for they have neither from the Scriptures but immediately from God And therefore if they should go to question their Commission and try such their Messages by the Scriptures and not find them there this would argue unbelief and cause disobedience whereas their particular Commissions and Messages are evidenced to them by the Spirit and Power of God whether it be by Vision or Revelation which is the immediate Object Rule and Foundation of their Faith therein 2dly And in our dayes there hath been such Prophets raised up both to this Nation and City of London witness Humphry Smith's Vision of Fire to London Jo. Rance his Prophecy in Meeter before the Contagion of the great Wo and debacement of London T. Ibbot's Vision of the Fire which he came to proclaim and went through the Streets as a sign thereof and of the great Distraction upon it the day before it broke forth But W.K. his surmise or may be that these might have a hand in it was malitious and wicked as divers present took notice Yea many more have truly foretold of the Judgments and Calamities of this Nation and City and it would be voluminous to repeat what hath been truly foretold by divers of the Servants of the Lord concerning O. C. and those persecuting Professors that persecuted us in his Name and what 's yet to come upon the Persecutors who follow their steps and of the Confusions that his Priests and those persecutors of the Innocent would fall into as also the temporizing of many of them which is manifest both upon many of the Presbyterians Independants and Baptists at this day whose insatiable enmity is still continued against us though they be confounded among themselves and their horns broken that they cannot push as formerly 3dly As the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith nor is there a particular Rule therein for every individual motion or action so are they not the sole Rule of discovery of sin and evil in men particularly though they witness against all sin Nor are they the immediate or original Obligation upon the Conscience to Righteousness or Duty in the sight of God for it is the Light of Christ within that immediately opens an inward eye that discovers to men their particular sins and guilt and that immediately obligeth to Righteousness and did so oblige man in the beginning before it was so written in letters because of God who both telleth unto man his thoughts and what he ought to do as his duty And whatsoever makes manifest is Light all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light yea by that Ligâ—t which Christ giveth Eph. 5.13 14. Howbeit every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his deeds should be reproved but he that doth truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3.19 20 21. So that it 's evident the Light is that Rule that tryes and manifests all things and this was before the Scriptures and is where they are not Many over-look and will not see
their own evils though they read those very Scriptures that testifie against them but if they turn to the Light of Christ within it will make them manifest and bring them under a sense of their own guilt therein that they may repent and cease from sin and so receive remission 4thly And now as for this great Point or Article of our present Opposers Faith viz. That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith the Spirit being absolutely excluded as a Rule by W. K. It is to be noted that since Jer. Ives in a Letter to me saith viz. Though I might own this Question in their sense yet I never owned it in their words c. Whereby the Reader may see That Jer. Ives upon a more deliberate Consideration hath disserted his Brethrens Cause he perceiving as it seems that they cannot maintain the Scriptures to be the only Rule But 1st where he saith He might own it in their sense this is not true For his sense of owning it was That he did not exclude but included the Spirit But his Brother Kiffin's sense was absolutely to exclude the Spirit as a Rule so their senses herein absolutely opposed each other 2dly His saying He never owned it in their words is as false however he now evades or disowns it for many Persons of Credit that were present can testifie as also the Relation of the Discourse taken by an expert Short-writer that he did own the Question whether the Scriptures are the only Rule in these their terms for some time however now he would acquit himself of it and thereby has failed his Brethren and broke the neck of their Cause These few Questions are for W. Kiffin and the rest who own him in his Principle Quest. 1. BY what Rule would you have us believe you when you say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and Practice and absolutely exclude the Spirit as a Rule 2. Whether any can truly know and believe the Scriptures without having their understandings divinely enlightned by the Spirit that gave them forth yea or nay 3. Is not the true beginning of Believers in that Spirit In order to Righteousness Life and Salvation 4. Do you own the immediate Teaching of the Spirit or divine Revelation to be attainable in these dayes Or 5. Can any come truly to know the true God or Jesus Christ without immediate Revelation 6. What is the key of true knowledge 7. What was the Rule of Abel Enoch Abraham Moses c. their Faith before the Scriptures were written 8. Do you think the Spirit is to be received in the Scriptures Or that the Letter and the Spirit are inseparable yea or nay 9. What Rule would you make use of for the Conviction of those that either oppose the Divine Authority supposed or Translation of the Scriptures seeing such cannot be Convicted by the Scriptures themselves 10. 〈…〉 Measâ—re and â—â—le whereunto the trâ—e Miniâ—â—ers and belieâ—ing Geâ—â—iles had attained â—hich they were to walk by mentioned 2 Cor. 10 13 15. Phil. 3.16 Gal. 6.16 was that Rule the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament or Bible yea or nay Here follows a few Doctrines asserted by one Wheatly at Lambeth in a Book directed in Manuscript to one Mr. Cox as he calls him this Wheatley seems to be a Brother of these Baptists by his opposing the Light within and pleading for their outward Forms and their Water-Baptism from the Example of Christ's going down into the Water to be Baptized of John Wheatley his Doctrine viz. DO not blame the Devil to exclude the example of the Children of God if he can by any pretence do not blame the Devil to perswade men to trust to the Light within c. pag. 4 5. Answ. However this man seems to be a Friend to the Devil in that he exhorts not to blame him he is grosly mistaken in saying The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within for the Devil and such his Instruments perswade men against the Light as much as they can for his Kingdom is held up in the dark and his way is darkness it self wherein his Followers walk who will not bring their deeds to the Light lest it should reprove them but the Light of Christ in every man and the sufficiency thereof and the Scriptures of Truth which testifie to it we beat witness unto and against both the Devil and this Opposer and against all such as are in the same spirit of darkâ—â—ss and enmity with him and the Devil who oppose the True Light And he that saith The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within he hath highly advanced the Devil and conferred as much dignity upon him as the Ranters when they have told us That the Devil is Gods good Servant his faithful Servant c. This is like his blasphemy who setteth the Devil in the place of God's faithful Servants and Ministers whose work it was to perswade men to his Light within but both the Devil and Ranters are enemies to the true Light within W's Doct. There may be a Light amongst men and not within for Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees the Kingdom of God was within them when indeed it was but among them saith he And to prove it he citeth Luke 17.22 Answ. See how he hath proved the Light not within viz. The Kingdom of God was within the Pharisees Christ saith It is within but this Man saith Not within Shall we believe Christ or him But as if he would plainly let us know how he is set to oppose Christ after he hath told us That Jesus Christ said The Kingdom of God was within them In Contradiction to Christ he saith When indeed it was but among them and this to prove the Light not within It is no marvel this man sets himself to oppose Christ's Followers and Servants for asserting his Light within when thus he opposeth Christ himself for saying That the Kingdom of God is within but this man saith it was not within it was but among them Now then here is the case and state of the Controversie Christ and his Followers do bear witness to the Kingdom of God and his Light within But the Devil and his Followers strive and war against the Light and Kingdom of God within as much as they can the Devil he hath blinded their eyes from seeing the Light he hath made fools vassals and slaves of them to do his drudgery to shew their enmity and vomit out their shame and principles of darkness against the Light within Oh! how hath the Devil deceived such wilful Opposers and Unbelievers W's Doct. If God and Christ and Holy Spirit be within them then there is none above them Is not this spiritual pride c. Answ. No it was not spiritual pride in the People of God and Followers of Christ to witness God and Christ to dwell in them neither did this argue at all that God and Christ were not above them for God is