us perfect and throughly furnished unto every good work through faith which is in Christ Jesus And though it is true that the naturall man understandeth not the things of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned to wit through an eye of faith For the word doth not profit unlesse it be mixed with faith in them that hear it Yet the wisdome of God hath appointed it to be taught to our children and to our Childrens children as so it was to Timothy of a child See for this Deut. 4.9 chap. 6. 6 7 verses and 2 Tim 3.15 Now these premises considered let any wise man judge what an absurd thing it were to teach our children to look for a light within and tell them that there is a light within them even in their consciences which they ought to obey and follow even that word and light which is in their heart and in their mouth and tell them that is the word and light and the onely word and that there is no word of God but one and that word and light is within them even in their heart and in their mouth And that the Scripture is not the word of God but Christ is the word which is within them And so utterly neglect to teach them the scriptures but if they doe and will learn them yet tell them they are but a dead letter and cannot profit them till they have the spirit to interpret them aright for whiles they are carnall they have nothing to do with scriptures I say let wise men judge whether these confused contradictions and lying doctrine were not more likely to make them mad then wise unto salvation It is true that Christ is the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 But this shined in darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not verse 5. Now we must confesse that Christ is able to enlighten little children and to make them capable of comprehending of it And that so he doth to so many children as are his elect and do depart this life in their childhood and minority for Jeremiah was sanctified in the womb and John the Baptist was filled with the holy Ghost from his mothers belly And Christ himselfe vvas qualified with the blessed Deity in the very seed of the woman And yet considered as Man he did not in his minority comprehend all that light which dwelt in him bodily But considered as Man he increased in wisdom and stature and in favour both with God and man Luke 2.52 Yea though considered as GOD Hee accounted it no robbery to be equall with God yet considered as Man hee was ignorant of the times and seasons which the Father had kept in his own power Nay after he was ascended and sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high when he gave forth the Revelation of St. John he had it but at the second hand considered as Man For it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew vnto his Servants things which must shortly come to passe And hee sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John So that John had it but at the third hand though he had Christ the light resident in him as so had also the seven Churches of Asia and the Angels thereof yet they had but this Revelation at the fourth and fifth hand From all which it is evident that though GOD can and doth when he seeth it good and necessary communicate his light immediatly by his blessed Spirit unto whom he pleaseth Yet his ordinary way where means is to be had is by the foolishnesse of preaching as so the world accounteth it to save them that believe And therefore such Doctrines as these vvhich tend so directly contrary to the use of meanes are as absurd and vvicked as if they should teach their children not to eat any meat because God is able to preserve them without it Nay it is so much worse as by how much the soule is better then the body and as it is more necessary to obtain and keep and increase our spirituall life rather then our naturall For as new born Babes vvee ought to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby if vvee be as babes And if we be grown up to be men of years and of a tall stature in Christianity yet there is strong meat for us if vvee can digest it and it may be stronger then vvee are able to beare or then vvee are yet capable or comprehensive of till vvee bee grown to more perfections It vvas therefore the wisdome of Christ to keepe back many things at present from his Disciples which he had to say unto them Because they could not beare them by reason of their infirmities And so did his Apostles after his example Yea to the weake they became as weake that they might winne the weake yea they became all things unto all that they might winne the more And injoyned others to receive the weake yet not unto doubtfull disputations And telleth the strong that they ought to beare the infirmities of the weake and not to please themselves And not to destroy their weake faith for whom Christ dyed And hee whomsoever that will be a faithfull Priest or Teacher in things concerning God must follow Christs example who though he was equall with God yet tooke upon him the forme of a servant and was touched with a fellow-feeling of our infirmities that hee might be a mercifull high Priest and have compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of the way hee therefore in all things became like unto us sinne onely excepted And who ever they are that have not a fellow-feeling of their brethrens infirmities but are ready to Judge and condemne them as Reprobates because they have faylings They are no Ministers sent of God but proud boasting vaine-glorious hypocrites and shall be judged themselves as they judge others and condemned also let them looke to it for it is their sentence given by Christ himselfe And againe James Naylor professeth himselfe to be perfect and to be infallibly guided by the Spirit of God The which if it be true it is the better for him and it is further then I have yet attained though I presse forwards and earnestly desire after the same things But I finde in my selfe many infirmities and failings and many times when I would doe good evill is present with mee so that I cannot doe the good I would nor avoyde the evill that I desire and I am yet ignorant of many secrets and mysteries of the kingdome of God which I desire to know and I am much too ignorant of the wayes of God and of the witnessing and meaning of the Spirit of God Whether he heareth my prayers and granteth my requests yea or no which was a thing ordinary in the primitive times amongst the Apostles and Prophets as the Apostle saith
testimonie whether it be of God yea or no for this calling of the scripture carnal and a dead letter is not like the testimony of the spirit of God which cals it spiritual and I rather beleeve that the Law is spiritual and James Naylor carnal then the Law carnal and he spiritual Now can I think that James Naylor was ever quickned and received the spirit by the hearing of faith preached nor by the operation of the word and spirit joyntly together as other beleevers for then he would never cal it but a dead letter and carnal c. if he had ever received spiritual life from it but he would love and own it above all other words and also acknowledg that he hath received light and comfort from it But he saith in his Answers to Baxter that the scripture holds out but one light and Word which I say is not true and therefore first I shal make it appear from Scripture that it houldeth out more light then one and then I shal prove my former assertions that there is more words of God then one held forth in scripture and so properly called in scripture which the Quakers cal blasphemy but the blasphemy is theirs And first for Lights Christ himself saith who is the essential Light and as it were the the original Luminary of all inferior or lesser Lights in his Sermon upon the Mount Ye are the light of the world speaking to his Disciples and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven see Matt 5.14 and 16. And again John was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light see Joh 5.35 And David saith The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple Ps 119.130 So that here is clearly more lights then one and these held forth in scripture though all proceeding from that one fountain and see also 2 Pet 1.19 We have saith the Apostle a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do wel that yee take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day starre arise in your hearts But I suppose James Nailor wil not acknowledg that he ever received any light from that sure word of Prophecie as from a ligh shining in a dark place but only some little brain knowledge of the bare letter Else he would not so reproach and disparage those that do take heed to the sure word of prophesie til they be enlightned thereby in what they were dark and did not understand For he intimateth so much as though he never needed any scripture light but had all immediatly and that by voice or immediate inspiration or both from the spirit of God all which if it were true yet it would become him better not to despise others that have it mediatly and it may be at the second third fourth hand especially some things that are hard to be understood with men that are dul of hearing as some of the Saints were to whom the Apostle writes see Heb 5.11 And lest I should seem to mistake his intimations he plainly expresseth himself in his Book against Thomas Moore pag 43.9 10 11 line where he saith I witness against thee who have received the word from his own mouth and immediate calling And that he accounteth their Ministry litteral who know not what it is to inquire at the mouth of the Lord. These are his words speaking to Thomas Moore to wit he saith he had reckoned up the names of many of the Saints of God which makes little for thy purpose who were all men that were taught in spirit and need not to run unto a Book to seek their knowledg but had the word of the Lord from Gods own mouth and there was the oracle whereat they enquired which thou wouldest make to be the letter who never knew what it was to enquire at his mouth whose Ministry is litteral see pag 28. line 16 to 24. Now these are his words and I shal not deny but even in these daies there is such men as may truly say with the Apostle to wit And trulie our fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonn Jesus Christ. But not all in a like measure the gifts and graces of God and the measures of them are various as the Lord said unto Aaron and Miriam Numb 12.6 7 8. to wit Hear now my words If there be a Prophet among you I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him in a dream My servant Moses is not so who is faithfull in all mine house with him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold wherefore then were ye not afraid to speake against my servant Moses From whence it appears there is different dispensations even amongst the Prophets of the Lord some have more apparent acquaintance and familiarity with God and those are such who are faithfull in all Gods house And some have a more dark and hidden acquaintance with and knowledge of God as it pleaseth him to communicate unto them in different measures and degrees according as they are different in measures and degrees of faithfulnesse Now Moses was faithful in all Gods house but so were not Aaron and Miriam nor the rest of the Ptophets then living though yet they were faithful in a good degree and were true Prophets of the Lord. Now I never read that Moses spake any thing at all to the disparagement of those that were inferior unto him in acquaintance with God though they spake against him as though he had assumed to much honour Say they Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed See verse 2. to 16. And the Lord himselfe vindicated Moses and was wroth with them but Moses being a meek man in stead of being angry prayed for Miriam that the Lord would heal her immediately but it could not be granted till after seven dayes so that the Lord himselfe was more severe then Moses whom she had spoken against But I find little of this meeknesse in James Naylor who accounteth himself the highest and all below him either Dwarfes or nothing like unto Christians insomuch as if they have need of a book either the Bible or any other they are despised by him as literal men in his book against Moore But Paul advised otherwise even to give attendance to reading and to exhortation and doctrine and not onely to a light within and biddeth not onely to bring his Cloake but the Books and especially the parchments In all likelihood then he himselfe made use of books and parchments Nay Christ himselfe disdained not to use a book or to read thereon
that in every place the Spirit witnessed that bonds and afflictions aboad for him And Agabus signifyed the same to him And in those dayes it is said of some that they were full of the holy Ghost and wisdome Steven being so full that his face shone and Philip was caught away from the Eunuch that he saw him no more yet hee was found at Azotus preaching the Gospel And the holy Ghost said Seperate Paul and Barnabas for the worke whereto I have called them But I was yet short in these things having not yet attained so much acquaintance and familiaritie with God And I hardly know how so to walke in the Spirit that I shall not fullfill the workes of the flesh lesse or more I have not yet attained to such a degree of faith as to aske what I will and it shall be given mee though I have a promise for it of him that cannot lye but many times my faith failes and I begin to sinke and come short of attainement of what I earnestly desire to wit the best of things and the best gifts and things needfull and lawfull to aske and desire after I have not yet learned so full as I ought to cast all my care on him whom I know careth for mee but am many times too much troubled with cares of this world I have not yet learned to keepe my heart with such diligence but the Issues thereof are sometimes evill I am too much troubled with carnall thoughts and vaine Imaginations which sometimes produce Idle and vaine words and actions of which I know I must give an account at the day of Judgement I am too much addicted to love the world and the things in the world though I well know that if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him And though I allow not my selfe in any of these things but desire and pray to him that hath power to helpe and deliver mee in these Respects that I may get victory and full conquest yet I have not attained it unto this day And whether the wisdome of God hath so determined it that it shall yet be thus because his power is made perfect through weaknesse as hee said to the Apostle or it be because of the weaknesse of faith or coldnesse of my desires after this conquest I cannot well determine yet I am resolved by the grace of God to presse on forwards and to fight the good fight of faith whiles I shall remaine in this tabernacle but I will get victory through Jesus Christ my Lord and life and onely Saviour who alone is able to make mee Conquerour in these respects for power belongeth unto God And I know him in part in whom I have beleeved and that hee is able to give mee victory I shall not deny but he is fully able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him and to guide them infallibly and leade them into all truth But I will not neglect either to reade the Scriptures or exercise my selfe in prayer unto God nor the teachings of men but shall be glad to learne of the meanest Christian that can teach mee further then I have attained I will not scorne to learne at James Naylor if he can teach me any truth of God of which I am ignorant though he would much disdaine to be taught by mee or by men whomsoever as so I cannot but judge in regard hee blameth and despiseth such who run after men and heape up teachers as being resolved for his part that he is infallible and without sinne or imperfection having the Spirit of God which is infallible and of power sufficient to inable him fully to doe the will of God yea to doe it on earth as it is done in heaven As so no man that knoweth God but will acknowledge his power and wisdome is all-sufficient if he so pleaseth And therefore the question doth not lye whether the Spirit of God be an infallible guide yea or no But whether James Naylor and others be infallibly guided by that infallible Spirit yea or no in all things that they doe Now though I shall confesse that what hee speaketh or writeth being mooved thereto by the Spirit of God is infallibly true and it may truly be called the word of God if the Spirit of God hath spoke it by him Yet when he speaketh or writeth that which is not true but quite contradictions to the Law and testimonie and that I know it so to be I shall never confesse that hee was mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God but that he hath done it presumptuously out of the vision of his owne heart or by Satans instigation And therefore when he dareth be so presumptuous as to disparage the Scriptures reproaching them that call them the word of God And when hee directeth men rather to the light within which in some for the present is clouded with darknesse rather then to the Scriptures for their guide to direct them to eternall life I dare not confesse he was mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God And so when hee directeth men still to eye their light within and to own it as sufficient without any word at all of the teachings of men And when he blameth Ministers of the word of God for taking of a Text and preaching from it as sometimes Christ and his Apostles did I shall not confesse hee was mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God And when hee blameth men for praising and singing of Psalmes in the Spirit unto God as the Apostles did I shall never beleeve he was mooved thereto by the Spirit of God nor that he was ever so merry I meane in the Lord as to rejoyce and delight so to expresse himselfe by singing of Psalmes as the Saints of God are many times and as for that end they were given forth and ordained of God and held forth by David and others And when he blameth men so much for having a Law without and morrall as well as the same Law written in their hearts and for having light and a word without as well as that within And a Church without and a Christ without and in heaven as well as within in their hearts As so he doth in his Epistle to all the faithlesse generation of the world and all that desire to know in what saith and hope they live and what faith and hope they deny I can never beleeve that hee writt this profession of faith being mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God Nor can I beleeve that their refusing to give honour to whom honour is due and feare to whom feare and shewing love to whom love is due is from the Spirit of God Nor can I ever beleeve that their uncivill uncourteous and brutish carriage and their harsh opprobrious disgracefull language and darke and dismall countenances so farre off from the least shew of love and amiablenesse is from the Spirit of God Nor can I ever beleeve that their
one that cometh into the world with what light they have of understanding and rationalitie And who knoweth not that Jesus Christ is in us except wee be Reprobates by his blessed Spirit in lesser or greater measure And who knoweth not that the word is nigh us even in our heart and in our mouth to wit the essentiall word which is Christ by his blessed Spirit if wee be his Elect And who knowath not that the ministration of the Spirit is not by the workes of the Law by which no flesh can be justified but by the hearing of faith preached because the letter of the Law killeth spiritually but the Spirit giveth life through faith and love which are in Christ Jesus And who knoweth not that God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth or not accept it But hee will be worshipped with the body also And who knoweth not that men should sing with the Spirit and with the understanding But what singing or praising of God is that which is not with the mouth I never heard such nor shall doe I thinke unlesse I heare the Angells which have not any proper mouthes And what Church is that which is in the heart our bodyes indeed are the Temples of the holy Ghost and I reade of the Church of the first-borne written in heaven but are these the Churches of the Saints spoken of in Scripture which yet some of them had their failings And who knoweth not that all that are without God and his Righteousnesse are in the world and strangers as yet to the Covenant of grace And who will not deny that faith and worship which God denyes And who knoweth not that those who have an unction from the holy One and know all things have no need that any man should teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them of all things see 1 John 2.20.27 But those who have this unction will not follow James Naylor nor his crooked and perverse doctrines for those that goe out from us are not of us see vers 19. For a stranger will they not follow for they know not the voyce of strangers Joh 10.5 But James Naylor is sent with strong delusiens to some that they might beleeve a lye that they all may be damned that receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse Qu But how is hee sent may wee Imagine Ans Not properly of God nor by his Spirit but Satan hath got commission to be a lying spirit in his mouth and in the mouthes of all his complices as hee was in the mouth of all Ahabs Prophets to deceive those who receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse If hee had a paire of hornes of Iron such as Zedekiah the sonne of Chenana made that hee might bring them to Fox and tell him that with those hee should push downe all the Ministers of God till hee had destroyed them It is very likely that Fox would beleeve him yet so doth not any Micaiah any true Prophet of the Lord though James Naylor himselfe hath prophesied so much concerning all the Ministers of God in England and elsewhere yea even all the generation of them who ever they be that will not receive and beleeve his lyes Which truly are so palpably grosse that I verily beleeve that not one Minister that is sent of God in all the world will owne for truthes though hee shuffle them up never so closely amongst the truthes of God as in that art hee is extreame cunning and it is no marvaile if that old lying spirit hath skill to teach him and be in his mouth for hee hath long used that very art and of all the arts that hee hath yet learned it is the most deceivable and therefore he hath used it longest hee deceived Eve with it when shee was pure from sinne and perfectly wise no marvaile then if hee deceive so many now that are laden with sinne and lead with divers lusts and not so wise as shee But I hope it is his last and cheifest Refuge I cannot but rejoyce to see him play this carde to transsorme himselfe into an Angell of light and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousnesse I hope it will be to his losse in the end If the Ranters doctrine would have taken amongst us hee would never have owned so many truthes and good things but that not taking hee was glad to transforme himselfe and his Ministers in new suits of apparrell not all out of course but finer wooll and smoothly woven and drest yet the designe and doctrines against the Scriptures being not owned as the word of God and in respect of disowning the teachings of men as utterly needlesse they being taught of God as they say to love one another They are just the same which the Ranters used Their designe being clearely the same with the Ranters to wit to preach downe all preachings and teachings of men though never so holy and spirituall teachings And why forsooth but because there is a promise that they shall be all taught of God using the very same Scripture-grounds which the Quakers doe and quite perverting them for the same use as the Ranters did which any spirituall understanding knoweth for certaine that they were never given forth by the holy Ghost for any such ends or uses but quite the contrary which were easie to demonstrate if it were needfull But let mee fall to question James Naylor a little as hee hath done us First Where the Scripture giveth any such directories for attaining unto life and power c. To wit That wee should onely give heed to that light within us and utterly desert all teachings of men save onely of themselves who onely direct us unto that light though it be but darknesse in comparison of what wee may learne from Scripture and from men likewise who teach us from thence by the Spirit of God Secondly Where doth the Scripture tell us that hee that is the light of the world and that inlighteneth every one that comuteth into the world doth inlighten all sufficiently and so as to guide them insallibly or that hee inlighteneth all alike and that immediately without the knowledge of the Scriptures or the teachings of men so as that they need not to teach one another saying know the Lord because all doe know him from the greatest of them even to the least of them Is the case so now that all know him what need is there then of the teachings of James Naylor and his complices if their light within them be sufficient it can teach them all that hee doth and all that he knoweth and how to eye it onely and to looke within for light and to desert and despise the teachings of men as so he doth and what else doth hee teach which is not taught by men from sacred Scripture and with more spirit and power then hee teacheth any thing and farre more rationally and convincingly in
the cleare evidence and demonstration of the Spirit And doth hee not herein teach men to despise his teachings also Have all a like measure of the Spirit and of power and of understanding But such who have more both can and ought to communicate it and to administer it what in them lyeth to such who want it or have the lesse But they that have it not cannot possibly administer it nor obtaine it neither but as it pleaseth God to give it forth unto them mediately or immediately And have all the people a like measure of light or are they alike capable or comprehensive of it though it be taught them precept upon precept and line upon line here a little and there a little as it were by drops distilled into them let wise men judge Are there not some people spoken of in Scripture that were a people of no understanding therefore hee that made them would have no mercy on them and hee that formed them would have no compassion on them And are there not some spoken of in Scripture that are sensuall having not the Spirit Jude And is not the manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to whom it is given to profit withall and whom shall they profit if all be alike qualified and need no teaching And is there not diversities of gifts of that selfe same Spirit and all for edifying of the body of Christ till wee all grow up to a full stature which is not yet attained no not by Naylor himselfe for all his boastings of his infallibilitie and purenesse from sinne And I doe beleeve that he keepeth within compasse and as free from any notorious sinne in the sight of men as hee possibly can and that for credit of his doctrine And so without all question Satan is willing to cloake them with any externall righteousnesse and with good words and doctrines and faire speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple and especially on this condition that hee may but stablish their doctrine and draw men off from the use of meanes and ordinances and from the teachings of men and to neglect the Scriptures For this would still continue and increase his kingdome unto all generations for where the Scriptures are not knowne nor the ordinances administred in power and puritie his kingdome is in peace and hee ruleth at pleasure in the children of disobedience and persecuteth the Elect and keepeth them in ignorance as is well knowne to all that know any thing What blindnesse and darknesse and sottish ignorance is in all places where the Word is not preached nor the Scriptures minded and searched and knowne So that give him but the reception of this doctrine and it is the best foundation for his kingdome that can be laid It is just suitable to that doctrine of the Papists to wit that ignorance is the mother of devotion and upon that they forbid that lay-people should meddle with the Scriptures in their own mother tongue which hath been a meanes to keepe them in such ignorance that their Priests have lead them and kept them so long in such grosse Idolatry and superstition to their utter destruction both of their soules and bodyes doe but paralle the cases and they are just the same and from the same spirit and principles which is a blacke author Hee well knoweth that where the Scripture is knowne and accounted of as the word of God his kingdome must downe in the hearts of the Elect and therefore it is that hee would have it sleighted as but a dead letter and as unusefull unto them till they have the Spirit But the Scripture would teach them how to obtaine the Spirit and how to obtaine wisdome if any man lacke namely to aske it of God which is none of Naylors directions but quite the contrary I never heard nor saw it in any of his bookes that ever hee advised men that lacke wisdome to aske is of God Jam 1.5 6. nor men that lacke the Spirit or desire greater measures of it to aske it of God though it is promised to them that aske him c. if they seeke him with all their heart hee will be found of them Luk. 11.13 1 Cor 28.9 And this is the directory of the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive But hee adviseth them to seeke it within before they have it and to follow and love that light within them which yet for the present is but grosse darknesse for ought hee knoweth A most grosse directory hee might as well bid some men follow and observe and obey the Devill for he ruleth Thirdly And againe in what part of Scripture is the Gospell called the Letter or the preaching of the faith the preaching of the letter answer if you can how much more is it not called a dead Letter Fourthly And where is it said in Scripture that God is not to be worshipped with reverent gestures of the body as well as in spirit and truth Fifthly And where doth the Scripture forbid praying praising and singing with the mouth and voyce as well as with the heart and with the understanding and Spirit Sixthly And where doth the Scripture forbid the assembling together of the Saints and faithfull for worshipping of God and for spirituall ministration in his sacred name of the Word and Sacraments which Christ hath appointed for their edification as the Churches of the Saints did in the primitive times and were so enjoyned by the holy Apostles Seventhly And where saith the Scripture that every one that commeth into the world hath an unction from the holy One and knoweth all things and needeth not that any man teach him but is the same anoynting teacheth him of all things Nay where saith the Scripture that all the Elect have it now for the present or at their comming first into the world But if none of these things be asserted in Scripture how shall James Naylor make his doctrines feizible amongst rationall creatures much more amongst the Elect For hee is not sent to deceive the Elect but such onely as have not received the truth in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse as hath been said before For it is not possible to deceive the Elect totally and finally though they may for a time be lead away with the errour of the wicked and fall from their owne steadfastnesse Eightly And let mee inquire further did not the Saints that were at Ephesus and the faithfull in Christ Jesus that were the Elect of God chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world In times then past to wit before they were quickned I say did they not walke according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience Ar But if this be true that the Elect of God before conversion be under the power and government of Satan as the most predominant and ruling spirit then within them Qu What a directorie is this to them to eye and
who value their carnall worldly things above God and Christ and the furtherance of the Gospell and things of an eternall nature Nay how can or dare they blesse such covetous men whom the Lord abhorres which is onely proper to wicked men I say it is onely proper for wicked men to blesse the covetous whom the Lord abhorres see Psal 10.3 And what greater signe of covetousnesse can be exhibited then the neglect of this duty And the love of money is the roote of all evill therefore how shall any man expect any good branches or sprouts from it I am very confident and not without many good grounds from Scripture which I can easily shew that this sinne of covetousnesse doth and may raigne in professors of Religion and they not discover it in themselves but may expect salvation through Jesus Christ till they depart this life and yet be eternally damned see onely for this Mat 25.41 to the end where their sentence is pronounced against them altogether for their neglect of duty even to the least of those little ones that beleeve in Christ and is really accounted as a neglect of duty to him to wit I was hungry and yee gave mee no meate c. The place is well knowne I wish it were as well laid to heart by all that professe Christianitie There would not so many goe blindfold to hell One would thinke it sufficient to know these things before-hand to warne all men as the Apostle doth to beware of covetousnesse as the most dangerous roote of sinne that can be least growing in the heart of man And the rather because it hath so many cloakes and covers both to hide it selfe from our owne eyes and the eyes of others As frugalitie good husbandry providing for our families the examples of other men that are well accounted of for Christianitie and the expectation of others that are nearer in relation for doing such works as are required of us and the faults discernable or suspected to be in the objects of our charitie or beneficence or because wee have not enough for our selves but that wee may come to want it for our selves or ours or wee are not yet sufficiently rich in lands or goods our neast is not throughly feathered for our selves and ours our ambition is not satisfied and such like many which are easily produced they are so common and every one hath them ready upon all occasions to hinder them from doing good the answering whereof would make my booke swell to a great volume But this I say briefly that if any of these or any other beare sway in us to hinder us in the least from our duties this way it is a great signe that covetousnesse raignes in us for the present and that so continuing it will bring us to hell one would thinke it enough to know that the Lord abhorres us if wee be covetous to make us to abhorre our selves and repent in dust and ashes for the least token of it to be found in us For whom the Lord abhorres wee ought to abhorre likewise wee ought to hate covetousnesse where ever wee see it in our selves or others And where wee see it raigne in any man wee ought to abhorre such a man as odious and abominable yea as a base spirited and ignoble person such as is not worthy of any Christian fellowship or communion The Apostle hath enumerated covetous persons amongst such as are so scandalous as that they are not to be compared together with if they be of such as are called brethren see 1 Cor 5.11 And so doe I likewise if they appeare to be such but these many cloakes doe so hide and cover them both from themselves and others as Judas was hid from the Disciples under specious pretences and covers to his utter destruction That they are not easily found out but goe for Saints of God and without so much as being suspected And were it not for swelling my booke over great it were easie to discover this odious sinne and such in whom it raignes and to make them appeare odious by convincing arguments and that from Scripture-grounds such as no man can deny But it would require a prettie volume I must not be so large in this Treatise but shall leave the further prosecution thereof till another opportunitie A paralell list of some of the manifest contradictions betwixt the teachings of the Spirit of God and of that spirit by which the Quakers are guided spirited and acted to wit 1. Their spirit teacheth them that there is no light but one spoken of in Scripture and that this light is within in every mans conscience and so they must turne their minds inward to looke for light and obey that measure of light they finde there for it is sufficient to leade them into all truth and to guide them in all the wayes of God and is an infallible guide so that if they obey that light within they cannot eire nor commit any sinne and that if they have but the least measure of the Spirit of God it is sufficient so that they need not to search the Scriptures for attaining to the knowledge of God and of Christ nor the teachings of men for they have that within them which will teach them sufficiently And all have this light they say yea every one that commeth into the world and this light is Christ the eternall light But the Spirit of God teacheth us That there are more lights than one though all from that eternall light For saith Christ As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world John 9.5 And saith he Yee are the light of the world speaking to his Disciples Mat. 5.14 15 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes c. And John was a burning and a shining light Now these inferiour lights are not lighted to be put under a bushell but on a Candlesticke that they may give light to the whole house to wit the whole Church they were lighted from that eternall light for that purpose and not to be covered Nor shall their light held forth in Scripture be covered from the true Church but they doe and shall give heed thereto as to a light shining in a darke place Nay though Satan himselfe be transformed into an Angell of light They shall not beleeve every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God seeing many false Prophets are gone forth into the world And by their fruits they shall know them and finde them to be Theeves and Robbers and shall detect them by the light of God held forth in Scripture which is a sure word of Prophesie containing many sure examples and patternes and commands which are and shall be as a lanterne to their feete and a light unto all their pathes And therefore they will give attendance unto reading and to exhortation and to doctrine and they will teach them to their children and to their childrens
children for so they are commanded by the Spirit of God in the holy Scriptures And to take heed to the Law and Testimonie whereby they will try the spirits whether they be of God for if they doe not speake according to these it is because there is no light in them but the spirit of darknesse that Ruleth in the children of disobedience as is more at large in the booke 2. Secondly their spirit teacheth them to deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and to call them carnall and a dead letter But the Spirit of God teacheth us that every word of God is pure and that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that the words which Christ hath spoken to us are spirit and life to them that beleeve them and receive them in love 3. Their spirit teacheth them to speake evill of all men that embrace not their lying doctrines and wayes But the Spirit of God teacheth us to speake evill of no man but to honour all men and as much as in us lyeth to have peace with all men 4. Their spirit teacheth them to Revile and disparage the Ministers of God and to blame and Revile those that heare them and maintaine them But the Spirit of God teacheth us to love and honour them and to communicate freely and liberally for their maintenance that they may have lacke of nothing nor need to labour and intangle them with the affaires of this life they being ingaged in a spirituall warfare against princiyalities and powers and spirituall wickednesse c. For if it be true that God hath so ordained that they that preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell Then it also followeth that such Churches or people whomsoever that doe not so ordaine and take care or doe not so communicate to those that teach them as that they may live of the Gospell and have lacke of nothing for themselves or theirs but doe inforce them to labour with their owne hands and to intangle themselves with the affaires of this life They are not obedient to the Gospell of Christ nor followers of God as his deare children neither doe they walke in love as Christ hath loved us nay they are so farre unlike Christians as that they are worse then Infidells for if it were an unjust thing and a worke of crueltie to mussle the mouth of an Oxe that treadeth out the corne How much more cruell will it one day appeare to mussle the mouth of a Minister and Messenger of God that Ruleth well and laboureth in the Word and Doctrine Are they not more in value in the sight of God then many sparrowes yea then many Oxen Doubtlesse they are so in the sight of God and ought to be so in the sight of Christians But how much pressing will this point need before it be effectuall so as to naturalize Christians like Christians indeed I have much more in a Manuscript that I writ long since concerning this point which when the Lord seeth good may likewise be held forth But 5. Their spirit teacheth and ingageth them also and that upon paine of eternall damnation not to use the word You but thou or thee to a single person But the Spirit of God never gave us any such charge nor are wee so limited by any Rule in Scripture but quite the contrary For wee are commanded to give custome to whom custome is due feare to whom feare honour to whom honour Now it is the Custome of all true Christians in our English Nation to use this word You when they direct their speech either to man or woman especially if they be their superiours or if but their equalls and that in meere civilitie as it is accounted fitt And is seldome otherwise amongst civill men that have any breeding or humanitie in them and are not brutishly Irrationall and besotted in their minds save onely in case when men are transported with passion as sometimes civill men may in case when provoked by some injurie or incivilitie offred them and when they shew their displeasure or it may be are ready to fight they beginne to thou each other and to Revile and reproach and miscall one another just as the spirit of the Quakers also acteth them but never at any time whiles they are in love and friendship and sobrietie And that is the reason as I suppose why the spirit in the Quakers will not allow them to give us any civill language because hee cannot love us nor indure to be at peace with us but must needs shew his wrath and malice against us it is so implacable and bitterly seated and habituated in him for there was enmitie put betwixt the seede of the woman and the seede of the Serpent even from the beginning And therefore it is that if the Quakers should love us and give us civill language hee could not indure to have any fellowship with them nor would hee owne and spirit and act them as hee now doth if they did not obey him in acting so malitiously and opprobriously against the people of God and against all Gods Ordinances yea against the Scripture it selfe and so by consequence against the Spirit of God which gave it forth But it is wonderfull to mee how hee ever wrought them up to such a height of exorbitancies in all these things For it cannot be but meere civilitie and rationalitie and their wonted customes of civilitie ingaged them to be shie and unwilling at the first to use them it being so Improper a language and carriage for children to thou their Parents servants their Masters subjects their Majestrates and inferiours their superiours of all sorts and Relations and bringeth them into such a snare as that they are made uncapable of living amongst and conversing with men or occupying any trade merchandize especially and chiefly with strangers who cannot but thinke them either to be naturall fooles or distracted persons or some angerie uncivill malicious men which will make them afraid to have any trading or dealing with them And the truth is this their grosse incivilitie doth much hinder their growth and multiplying And without all question Satan would give them a full dispensation in many of these things if it were not so that hee is forced through his malice onely to act with and in such men as are really mal gniz'd against the people of God and are first really ingaged to him in voluntary obedience in something or other that he well knoweth will worke a separation from the children of light else hee could not exspect to keepe them in darknesse But to keepe them in darknesse hee first perswadeth them that it is their duty to God to observe the language held forth in Scripture and the examples of Christ and his Apostles and upon paine of damnation not to varie from it Now it is true that thee and thou were commonly used in Scripture-language But for ought wee know not because the word you had been a sinne for
ministred by the hearing of faith preached as wel as sometimes immediatly both which administrations I own as true But I come now to his other main Tenent which chiefly tendeth to the disparagement of the Scriptures and which chiefly ingageth men to oppose him in it as a work of Sathan And why should not I whiles I am in the world what in me lieth indeavour to destroy the works of the devil see 1 Joh 3.8 He saith further in his Book against Baxter speaking of the Apostles that they did never say the letter was the Word And in his 7th Querie in the end of his Book he enquireth whether the word of God can be changed or can it admit of several meanings as to one particular thing A I Answer that James Naylor may wrest the Scriptures to his own destruction and he is not so infallible but he may misunderstand the genuine meaning 2 Pet. 3.16 2. He enquireth whether it be visible or invisible A I answer the Word was made flesh and dwelt on earth and is now visible in Heaven and yet is here invisibly in spirit in the hearts of his people but how the word was made flesh James Naylor understandeth not 3. He enquireth is there any word but one or whether was that word before the letter and shal be when the letter is turned to dust A. To which I answer that Christ the essential word is but one we own but one Christ who shal remain when the Quakers have burnt their Bibles if they wil burn them as some of them have said it were all one to them if the Bibles were all burnt Foster by name hath so exprest himself and they say they are all of one mind then such esteem they have all of the sacred scriptures which we account of as not only the word of men but the word of God as so I shal make to appear that it is not blasphemy as they most wickedly assert but our bounden duty to own and call it the word of God and that it is blasphemy in them to deny it and cal it carnal and a dead letter And the Lord assisting I shal prove 1. That there is not only one but many words yea words of God so taken in scripture 2. That what God hath spoken is his word 3. That whatever Christ hath spoken who is the essentia word is also the word of God 4. That all scriptures given by inspiration of God and all expressions of men unto which they are moved by the Holy Ghost are the words of God and that it is not they that speak but the spirit of their Father that speaketh in them 5. That every word of God is pure and also true by whomsoever spoken but nor such lies as these of the Quakers but they are the words of another spirit then the spirit of God as I trust in God to make it manifest as so I ought And before I begin for fuller satisfaction how they account of the scriptures take notice that I find it in a little Book called The holy Scriptures clearing it self from scandals or an Answer to a Book written by Richard Farnworth who is commonly called a Quaker written by Thomas Polard who had opposed them by argum nt in a publick way Which Thomas Polard saith that they cal the scripture carnal and a dead letter and say it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from the scripture is but brain knowledg And I find in a Book of Naylors against one Thomas Moore how he answereth this to wit being asked by Moore whether the writing of the Prophets and Apostles be a dead letter He answereth that without the spirit it is nor can any without that spirit that gave them forth understand them or know the voices of Prophets or Apostles aledging Luk 24.45 Act 13.27 A 1. But where doth the scripture or the spirit of God cal the scripture a dead letter or carnal and that it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from it is but brain knowledg A 2. Where is it said in scripture that the spirit of God and the scripture are seperated The words that Christ hath spoken they are spirit and they are life and Moses said unto the people set your hearts unto all the words that I testifie unto you this day which ye shal command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law for it is not a vain thing for you for it is your life and through this thing yee shall prolong your daies Deut 32.46 47. And again the law is spiritual faith saith the Apostle I am carnal Rom 7. and Prov 2. My sonn if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou incline thine ear to wisdom and apply thine heart unto understanding if thou seekest for her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God see v 1 2 3 4 5. See also Pro 3.1 2. My sonn forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandements For length of daies and long life and peace shal they add to thee see also ch 4.1 2 3 4. Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live And ver 13. Take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Consider I say whether the wisdome of God so pathetically expressing her self to us if possible to perswade us to attend and hearken to the words of his mouth and to keep his Commandements and instructions and treasure them in our hearts as words of life to our souls and marrow to our bones as in another place and that for this end we should teach them to our Children as I might be large upon any of these Texts But whether I say doth the wisdome of God account the scripture as a dead letter let all wise men judg and whether they have not in them more spirit of life and power then the words and writings of James Naylor and whether they ought not rather to be observed and beleeved and trusted in for eternal life Now it is evident that the directions of James Naylor as a way to be infallibly guided and to attaine unto life and peace and rest for our souls is one thing and these directions are another his directions are to attend and hearken to that spirit and light within though it be a question whether it be the spirit of God or a lying spirit and a question whether there be at all any light within but grosse darkness and he that is in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth til he be enlightned by the Word and Spirit But he that hateth his Brother is in darkness until this present time it were wisdom therefore for James Naylor himself to try his spirii and light by the Law and