teaching in the Hebrew applied from the new Prophets Isaiah and Ieremiah is the teaching of the new Covenant and that is the promise of Grace and Mercy to so many as are predestinate and called c. 2. That is no Immediate Extraordinary and miraculous business for this is common to all that repent or turn to God 3. Many had and may have the speaking with Tongues and working with Miracles and yet not know what the teaching of the Spirit in a new Birth is 4. In the Ordinary Teaching to Conversion the Lord owns his Servants as Fellow Labourers Workers Builders Husbandmen Fathers c. wherein he is pleased to open the hearts of one Thousand and Ten Thousand as he did in the first preachings of that glad News and I hope will do so again 5. The great Promise to Christ Jesus and his Seed is that there shall be a gracious Continuance in Christs mouth the mouth of his Seed of both the word that is preached and the holy Spirit more or less accompanying and Teaching Isa. 59. 6. What is there in G. Fox his wild Notion Can that which brings Salvation be outward Against all the Proofs before I mentioned and so many others concerning the Foolishness of Preaching c. Object He saith The grace of God teacheth every man to deny ungodly Lusts c. And I ask 1. If every man in the world hath this Immemediate work on them what 's the Reason we find none in the world no not the wisest until they have the Scripture or the Doctrine thereof some way opened to them that have been able to give us the least Tidings of any such business 2. What 's the Reason that so few in the world have any shew of Repentance c. much less a sound and and saving turning of the whole Soul unto God 87 Why do the Quakers make such adoe about their Apostles Men and Women as if that glorious Light the Father Son and Spirit in every man were not able to teach Effectually by his Extraordinary and miraculous power without their outward speaking to the Seed that is to God within them 4. If they themselves teach by such an Extraordinary and miraculous power as the Prophets of old and the Apostles of Christ Jesus did what should be the Cause why we see no such miraculous deeds done by any of them The Truth is God is pleased to chain up Sathan otherwise the Foxians would have their longing which it may be some shall after them But if they shall be permitted by God and assisted by the Devil to do as the Magicians did yet if their Doctrine be other then what is written as I have abundantly proved it to be while they cry out Light Light there is none as Isaiah speaketh not a Spark of Light within them The 43. Instance is in Pag. 247. where G. Fox brings in Christopher Wade saying The written Word is the Sword of the Spirit And he makes another Rule beside the Scripture false He Answers which we say is the Spirit which gave them forth whereby Peace is known upon the Israel of God And the Pharisees had the Scripture but had not the Sword of the Spirit the Scriptures testifies of the Sword of the Spirit I Reply 1. With all humble Reverence to the most holy Spirit of God who is God himself I affirme the Spirit or God can not here be the Sword intended For 1. This Spiritual Furniture being a Similitude taken from warlike and Military Provision and Artillery from Head to Foot the Helmet Breastplate the Shield the girdle the Shoes and every one applied to gifts and means flowing from Gods Spirit as Faith Hope Sincerity c. it were most improper then to bring in God or the Spirit to be the Sword or any of the other pieces 2. For there is no more Reason to make the Spirit or God to be the Sword then the Shield or any other piece 3. It seems too low to the holy Spirit and God to be here in this Similitude resembled to a Sword or Instrument in the hands of men to be drawn and brandished and fought withal for Offence and Defence at mens pleasure though in some Sence God 88 4. This was the Sword the only Sword is called a Sword with which the Lord Jesus fought and vanquished the Devil Gegraptas Gegraptai It is written it is written and we may well say of it as David of the Sword of Goliah by which Davidâ—nt â—nt off his head there is none to that c. The holy Spirit Christ and God are Authors of all these heavenly Gifts and Graces the Beginner and Finisher of Faith and therefore not Faith nor Hope nor any other piece of the Artillery themselves no more then the Armorer is the Helmet or the Cutler the Sword c. 6. In Revel 1. Christ and the Sword with two Edges which cometh forth of his mouth are distinct and can not be the same as G. Fox usually Confounds and mixeth all together Hence the the Word of Christ Col. 3. can not be Christ himself but that which cometh from him and tendeth to him 7. These great Interpreters are Confounded in themselves for here in Ephes. 4. the Spirit must be the Sword and Word of God But in Heb. 4. Christ must be the Sword with two Edges being the Word of God and not the Spirit So like Iuglers do they shift from one hand to another to Confound and beguile the Beholders Object But the Spirit saith G. Fox was before the Scripture and gave forth the Scripture I Answer what then G. Fox is before his Book and gave it forth is it not therefore G. Fox his word writing but G. Fox himself Or is it not the Kings Majesty before his Declaration or Proclamation to the world Is it not therefore the Kings word or is it the King himself This Immediate Inspiration of the holy Scripture from the Spirit makes it a Word so powerful a Magazine Store-house so full of Treasury so rich a Standard Touchstone or Weights so perfect for the trial of all Spirits all writings all Doctrines all Religions Worships Actions c. Object But the Pharisees saith G. Fox had the Scripture but they had not the Sword of Gods Spirit I Answer The Iews had and have and so the Turks have had much of it the Papists and the Quakers and other Blasphemors yea and the Devils themselves may have the Scripture the word of God in their Hands and mouths for may not a true Sword a choice Sword be in a mad mans hand whereby he may 89 mischief and wound and kill himself and others Hence men make merchandize of it sophisticate and Adulterate and turn it into a Lie c. On the other hand the Spirit of God is promised to Gods Children Gods Spirit and Word are promised to go together in the mouths of all true Christians Isa. 55.
The Quak. dig up the root of al Christianity in the 4 great Doctrines thereof 1 Interline man R. W. Ms. Ann. Tho Collier The Quak. hold no Heaven nor Hell to come John Clapham The Pollard The epicurian Philosophers the Quakers one Sect. 1 Change to err R. W. Ms. Ann. The 9th Position proved Mâ— Perkins saying of the Papists and mine of the Quakers Neither Papists nor Quak skil â—ow to pay Gods justice The Character of a Quaker 1 Interline or R. W. Ms. Ann. What true turning to God is Iacobs Ladder of true Christianity The Quakers â—nd most mens Shipwrack The Quakers Minâ—sters and â—heir Plea A close fight as to Religion The easiness of the Quakers Religion One Devil changed for another yea sometimes one for seven The Quakers simple boast of numbers The carnal weapons The Quakers Spirit far from purity and Holiness The Spight og the Quakers Spirit The ignorance of the Quakers The abominable Spirit of the Quakers nakedness Quakers driven on by the old Spirit of the Adamites The rising of the Quakers Diverse Sorts suffered by God to fall into the Quak Ditch But especially for Male and Female Protestants The great distinguishing Character of true and false Pretenders The 3d Position debated at Providence Two great Competitors the Popes and Foxians Spiritual pride the devils pride The Popes Quakers pride compared The Quakers hoast of their number The audncious impious faecs of the Foxians Pope Edmond commanding silencing the Governour A second Paralel between the Pope Quakers 1 these R. W. Ms. Ann. The Pope and Quakers usurp over the Souls of all men Humph Norton G Fox compared G F. a subtler Fox then Hum. Norton A third parallel between the Pope Quak. Both Papists Qukers their Pride above the Scriptures The Pope aad Quakers horrible revilers Slanderours cursers of the Righteous The 5. parallel The infallibility of the Popes and Quakers Oracles The Holy Spirit in a Cloakbag at the Councel at Trent The Pope and Quak the two great pretenders and corrivals for the pretended Holy Ghost The Quak pretending to be Apostles F F his Counterfeit mirrcles 1 Interline and. R. W. Ms. Ann. A 6 Parallel between the Pope the Quak. A 7 parallel between the Pope and Quakers 8 Parallel as to the sinless condition of the Quakers G F his proud Blasphemy as to God himself H B the first Perfâ—ctist in these parts and most notorious for Imperfections The difference amongst the Quakers as to these things The 4th of the seven last Positions The Indians Religion A Deity or higher Power acknowledged by Indians The four chief Religions of the World The religious Diffâ—rences among the Protestants Fundamental Differences The Quakers easie Conversion and Churches not comparable to the way of N-England Flatterers of Kings The whorish Quakers and whore of Rome The Devil a roaring Lion The Quak pretences to outgo all pretending Preachers True Preachers or messengers The Earthly Heavenly Sword A great mystery amongst Papists and Protestants A word to the Protestants The mystical Farmers The 5th of the last 7 positions The suffrings of the Quakers Pauls and the Quak suffrings The Quak. sufferings in Hystory of G. Bishop recorded E. Burrowes his Epistle quoted The Quotation weighed What true Suffering is 1 Interline and R. W. Ms. Ann. True Scripture Language The wonderfull Sufferings of Hereticks Great failings of Gods Children in this life True and False Sufferers for the Name of Christ. The Quakers described 1 Interline a. R. W. Ms. Ann. I Fox G Fox their Martyrs the contrary causes of their Sufferings Heavenly love carried on G Foxes even felf God and Christ Spirit Virgin love to God c. The humility of Christs sufferers Devilish pride The predictions of the Quakers A blessed saying of blessed Mr. Dod. The 13 position discusd The Quakers and other Authors compared G. F. his Writingâ— poor and lamâ— G F his book in folio considered G F his ignorance of common English Horrible contradiction 1 Holy Spirit R. W. Ms. Ann. The excellent men Whom G F in his book in folio trampleth â—n as Dishclouts Dogs Devils A difference of Sinners G. Fox no true Goldsmith Fox his subtilty and yet simplicity in granting the Script to be the words of God The word Humane abominable above all words to the Quakers The simple tautologyes of the Quakers The injuâ—â—ing wild imperiousness of G. Fox Hen. Haggar Bloudy and devillish Pride of the Foxians Fox his horrihle railing Fox his bruitish and ridiculous Song What Railing is Instances out of G. F. his Book Sam. Eaton 1 1. Tim. 6. R. W. Ms. Ann. Gods being out of our reach The nature of Spirits How God and Christ of is in us Sam. Eaton The Scripture the Rule The Holy Scripture a Lanthorn Try all things Sam Eaton Gods mediate teachings his word voice manifold and specified Pauls wonderful mediate and immediate conversion Immediate teachings Revelations considered in 7 particulars The great business of Revelations Sam Eaton What is the Gospel The horrible Cheat of the Foxians Why the Gospel is called the Power of God How it is called Pauls Gospel 1 by R. W. Ms. Ann. Three Foxes The Scripture the word or glad news from Heaven written Counterfeits destroy not true â—eirs and owners for ever A word to all Foxians Gods wonderful preservation of his word or wil to poor mankind John Bunian The great Position of Iustification Iustification what it is The proud Quakers affirm no distinction between God themselves 1 Drops R. W. Ms. Ann. Ioseph Kellet Our natural Alienation from God Few excellent men saved 1 Ye R. W. Ms. Ann. Our alienation from God Richard Baxter The matters of perfection Phil. 3. about perfection 1 Erase Brethren and. R. W. Ms. Ann. The estate of Gods Children upon Earth Richard Baxter The great consequence of a word Ellis Bradshaw The honor which the Quakers give to others Civil respect Thou Thee Incivilities ought to be moderately punisht The 14. Position debated W E. c standing upon coals Civility and Courtesie N. Eng. one work to civilize a Barbarous People The Quakers monstrous Incivility The Indians and Quakers of one Spirit The Quakers again maintain their womens Nakedness Signs and Figures discussed The Quakers spirit enraged The Quakers spirit tending to Arbetrary Government The Quakers have no need of Scripture much less of the written Laws of men The Quakers none else in the World fit for Gonrnment as they judge T A his Testimony The 3d. Branch Immediate impulses The Kings Grandfather H. 4. of France murthered upon pretence of a vision of Angels W. Edm. W. Harris their mallice towards me W Harris his character and practise W H the Q the higher powers as they simply affirm W Edm. his ignorant and impudent zeal and upbraidings The point of persecution So many Quak. so many Popes The pretended meekness of the Quakers
he brings in the Author of Hosannah to the Son of David saying The sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of is the Prophesie of Scriptures He Answers Doth the Scripture shine in a dark place until the Day dawne Are they them them that must be taken heed unto as to a Light Can any see the Scripture and know the Scripture but with the Light within Can not a Cain a Baalam a Core bring Scripture that is gone from the Spirit of Prophesie within and then put the Letter for it 98 I Reply 1. I know that Fox makes their Idol within called Light to be the more sure word of Prophesie and his usual proof is The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie But first why must all the Prophets or Messengers of God who from the beginning of the world were Gods mouth and Pens Concerning the Birth Life Death Burial Resurrection Ascention and coming to Judgement of the Lord Jesus be here cast out from the Word of Prophesie Is it nothing Luk. 1 that God spake surely Gods speaking is his word God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the World began And Heb. 1. God spake sundry times and in divers manners in Time past unto the Fathers but how did God thus speake or utter his word but by the Prophets And Rom. 16. But now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandment c. Therefore how oft is it written concerning the Lord Jesus These things were done that the Scriptures might be Fulfilled in which regard as to our satisfaction and belief the written word of Prophesie of the Prophets are a more sure Word and Evidence to us concerning the Lord Jesus then the Miraculous Appearance from Heaven of Moses and Elias and the voice from Heaven of which Peter here speaketh though in it self a true Testimony yet not so sure so firm and pregnant as the Word that God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets from the beginning of the World c. Hence the Answer of Abraham and indeed of Christ Jesus If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one should rise from the Dead 2. How sure is the Quakers Light their Word of Prophesie A sober mind can not but admire that Face and Forehead of Brass and Adamant with which God the Righteous Judge of the whole hath plauged Satan and his Followers so that they blush not to prefer such a simple Image a meer Babie and Childs Puppet of their Immediate Word of Prophesie before the Word the mind and will of God by the mouth of all the Prophets For is it not known in the holy Scripture in all Histories in all Ages in all Nations what Cursed Opinions horrible Uncleannesses Bloody Murthers and Slaughters have been Conceived and brought forth from the Spirit within and Revelati 99 on s from Divilish Lights and Spirits and the horrible End that generally the Authors and Promoters of such Spirits and Inspirations have come to 3. This Scripture Revel 19. The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie what is it but Goliahs Sword to fetch off the head of this proud Philistin for doth not the Angels forbid Iohn worshipping of him upon this ground viz. that the Angel was his Fellow Broker Fellow Servant Fellow Worshipper Fellow Witness Is not this the Argument whereby he prohibits him viz. that one Testimony of Jesus was the work of Gods Spirit in the Angels in their way as well as in Iohns and Peters in theirs c. and shall we say that the Angels too are Quakers and Christ hath enlightened them also as well as every man that comes c And Revel 22. Doth not Christ threaten the Adders to and Diminishers from the word of this Book of this Prophesie what Affinity hath a written Book a written Prophesie with Immediate whisperings and Inspirations 2. Why should G. Fox here mention Cain Balaam Core what Scriptures could they bring what Scriptures were written in their times I think it no breach of Charity to guess that the Quakers and G. Fox are so used to Cursing and Censuring their Opposites at the first dash for Cains Baalams Cores that they could not well tell how to miss them Such persons no question and the Foxians and the lying Spirit the Old Fox and Serpent bring Scripture But doth the Divel cordially prize and love the word of Prophesie the Testimony and Witnesses of Jesus However he plainly here Confesseth that the holy Scripture is so powerful that the very Counterfeit the picture and Name of it will do him good Service with such whom he desires to cheat and Ruine And yet secondly this shews the Quakers horrible wickedness that although they love the holy Scripture for the general of them as well as doth their lying Father yet turn they the Truth of God into a lye and with the ugly Spider sucks that which he turns into poyson even from the same Flowers of Paradice the holy Scriptures from whence the hony Bees the true Believers suck the pure hony of Eternal Truth and Comfort 3. Again what madness is it for this blind Dreamer to ask his Opposite whether the Scripture shines in a dark place until the 100 dawne whether they must be taken heed unto as to a Light For how often is the holy Scripture even the very Law before the Gospel or glad News was preached adorn'd and beautified with the Illustrious Title of Light and all the subtle Foxes in the world must know that if they attend unto whisperings and peepings Isai. 8. and leave the written Law the Word and other Prophesies of Scripture or written Prophesies Words and Oracles of God! For all their Childish Vapourings and pratings of their Light the Eternal Father of Lights proclaims them to be Children of howling darkness and that there is no Light within them I speak it with horrour and Amazement and also with sorrowful Confidence that he that shall find a spark of true Light either of the knowledge or grace of the true Lord Jesus in this their Fantastick Light he shall find the Living among the Dead he shall prove the Prophets that spake and the Lord God of the Prophets whose word was spoke to be Lyars for saying there is no Light within them But Fox again demands Can any know the Scripture but with the Light within And I ask him what Light have the Papists and Iews and the Divel himself when they and he bring Scripture to Christ himself I know very well what he means in his Iesuitical Diabolical Reservations by the Light within and by knowing the Scripture his meaning is known and Common viz. except he be one of those dark Souls called Quakers But did not the Devil bring a pertinent Scripture and promise to Christ Jesus as ever Papist or Quaker could have alleadged though pointed and directed
G. Fox Answers Though the Scripture saith the Spirit dwells in the Saints 1 Cor. 6. And he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Joh. 1. As though the Saints had not Union with God which the Scripture say they have I Reply concerning the Essence or Being of the Immortal Invisible Infinite Eternal Omnipotent and Omniscient and only Wise we know no more then a Fly knows what a King is and therefore 1 Tim. 9. He dwells in the Light that no man can approach to how fully doth the Holy Spirit in the Book of Iob and especially in that dreadful Word or Voice of God in a Whirlwind knock out the brains of all these proud Fancies let this proud Fox or any of the stoutest Lions or Lionesses amongst them look but a few minutes upon the glorious Sun in the Heavens and then tell us how their eyes do and yet thus like proud and pratling Children do they make a noise about their Bibs and Aprons and Muckingers and how they are one with God his Being and Essence c. Is it not enough for Sun Moon and Stars and Men to be enlightned by his Infinity but they must be God himself and Light it self in the highest sence because God is Light c. What impudence would it be in a Wife because she is one with her Husband in Relation to say She is the Husband himself and not to keep her just distinction and distance or in a Subject because the Subjects and the King are Relatives and in a sence one 189 therefore to say that they are the King himself Again we know that the word Spirit is taken in Holy Scripture for a Spiritual Nature Hence it is said that God is a Spirit not that God is properly a Spirit no more then he is Light though my Opposites in our Dispute affirmed he was but of such a Heavenly and Spiritual Nature For the Devils also are Spirits though defiled with sin and wickedness thus Ioh. 3. That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit not that Spirits beget Spirits and that a new Creature is a young holy Spirit or God himself as I told one of the chief of the Quakers at Newport And that 1. Cor. 6. shews us in what respect he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit For know you not saith Paul that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Spirit and Ephes. 2. For an Habitation of God through the Spirit Thus God dwelt in his Temple of old as a Man in his House and a King in his Palace not that a Mans House or the Kings Palace is of his Substance or Essence no more then an house is of the Suns Essence c. and no more was Gods Temple of old nor his Temples his Saints now after the blockish and blasphemous nonsence of the Quaker In Page 2. He brings in Sam Eaton saying The Scripture is to be judge of Doctrines and Manners G. Fox Answers The Iews had not the infallible Iudgement that had Scripture but stood against Christ the Light and judged him to be a Devil that judgement was not infallible and that Doctrine and Manners of theirs was not right which goes against Christ the Light I Reply as the Sun in the Heavens is the Epitomy or Center of all Natural Light though some eyes are sore look a squint or are stark blinde And as the Rule or Canon though Fox simply bogles at that as not a Scripture word is the same for it is in the Greek though millions know it not and millions as the Pharises pervert and misapply it The Holy Scripture is granted by G. Fox to be Gods Words though in a subtle fancie not his Word but if it be every word of their Gods then is every Word as Dâ—vid saith a Light to our feet and a Lanthorn to our Paths though we despise it and wilfully refuse it as some sometimes do Lanthorns and wilfully stumble 190 into the Ditch Eternal and other poor Souls after us Thus the Heavenly Sun-Dial is one and constant in its guidance and direction to us poor Travellers though we neglect to look on it or be ignorant of the figures and lines of it and be willingly ignorant c. We are not only commanded to read and meditate in the Holy Scriptures and to search them as the Bereans did but we are commanded to try all things to try the very Spirits The Papists slap us in the mouth with the infallible Spirit of the Pope and that he is not to be judged the Quakers say the same of themselves which is no more then as I said in the Dispute when W Edmund interrupted me crying out Blasphemy for a Man to go for Counsel to an arrant Cheater and Jugler then cheating most when he calls all others Cheaters In Page 3. He brings in the same Author saying That God did not intend immediate Teaching nor to give out an immediate voice in after ages which should direct and guid men in the way of Salvation He Answers which is contrary to the Scripture which saith All the people of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord and he that is of God heareth Gods word and that is immediate and living and doth endure for ever there is no fallibility nor delusion in the Revelation of God but all fallibility and delusion is out of it I Reply it is granted that God speaks mediately unto us by the light of Nature within us doth not nature teach you that it is a shame for a man to have long hair c. 2. By his works of Creation 3. His Providence without us in his mercies and judgements so that every drop of Rain and crumb of Bread and grain of Corn is Gods word and witness And 4. The pains of the Body and Dreams in the night have much of Gods word and voice in them Iob 33. God speaks once and twice but man hears it not and is not Gods speaking his Word And 5 All grant that the words of Scripture are the words of God And 6. The teachings of men Ephes. 4. are granted to be means c. both for the gathering of the Church as Apostles and for the Governing of the Flocks as Pastors and Shepherds c. 191 7. The Water the Bread the Wine c. are appointed by Christ Jesus to be means while profession of Christ Jesus is made on earth to hold forth a remembrance of him until his second coming 8. The private Prayers and Fastings and Meditations of the Saints day and night are holy Meanes in and by which the Eternal God speaks Peace Instruction Reproof and Comfort to to them that fear him 9. Sometimes it pleaseth God by the Ministration of his Ministring Spirits the invisible Angels to work by unknown and unseen wayes to us thus in Pauls Light and Voice and Blindness and the Iailors Earthquake but afterward in Ananias his sending
Enemies until Faith G. Fox Answers So they have denied their School-Master which is until faith which will keep them out of the Alienation which is the Law I Reply with Ioseph Kellet and the rest of those excellent men whom Fox useth as Dishclouts that by nature our Alienation from God is so great that the finest and sweetest nature in the World is so alienated and opposite unto God that it resolves like some Ships against a Turk or other Enemy we resolve to kill or be killd yea and to sink by his side before we will yield to be taken by him therefore doth the Holy Spirit so often speak of mans hating of God and Gods hating of him yea of mans abhorring of God and Gods abhorring of him and Rom. 8. that not only mans wisdome is at enmity but enmity it self against God Hence it is few Kings few Counsellours few Nobles few Schollars few Merchants c. who use to be the wisest of men relish the Doctrine of the Manger and the Gallowes for the more natural Wisdome the more aversation from the foolishness of the glad news to poor lost drown'd and damn'd Mankind 197 2. Again I say as Solomon the legs of the lame are not equal c. for how doth it follow that we deny the Law to be a School-master pointing unto Christ because we deny the Law can bring us to Christ which is so indeed in the English Gal. 3. but is not fo in the Greek yea how could the Law of Ceremonies pointing out the Lamb of God or the Law of Do this and live keep out of the Alienation do they more then the Law of Creation leave any converting Impression from the Soul until Gods hand open a door of Believing The Dyal points to the Sun c. but who receives benefit by it but he that skills it and looks upon it c. and yet the Dyal is not the Sun c. but points as all the Proyhecies Ceremonies Commandmenâ—s before his coming unto that God Man the Sun of Righteousness Christ Jesus As to the rest of his Answer viz Which will keep them out of the Alienation which is the Law it is a piece of bruitish Nonsence as are not a few more in his Book and it may be taken like the Answer of the Devil at Delphos many wayes for it may be taken that Faith will keep them out Alienation or the School-Master will keep them out of the Alienation or whether the Alienation is the Law or Faith is the Law is doubtful and if his meaning should be that thy Law either of Ceremonies c. should keep them from being Alienated from God and so being actually to God how not only will all the Holy Scriptures but all Mankinde Iews and Gentiles call him a simple ane destroying Lyar An eighth Instance of Foxes poor lame Answer is in Page 27. where he brings in Richard Baxter saying To say that any is perfect and without sin is the Devil speaking in man G. Fox Answers contrary to the language of the Apostles and Christ who bid them be perfect and the Apostle spake Wisdome among them that be perfect and â—aid they were made free from sin and it is the Devil speaking in man that speaks for sin while Men are upon the Earth for the Devil holds him up that makes men not perfect which Truth makes men free again from the Devil speaks in Man and says be perfect I Reply whether this willingly ignorant Soul knows or no I know that the Devil knows that there is a Fallacie in this word Perfection 1. Sometime in Scripture it signifies no more then Sincerity Uprightness and so is translated sometimes Compleatness Fulness in its kinde though but in a small Vessel sometimes Fortified Strong Armed and sometimes the Fulness of the Godhead to whose incomprehensible Ocean not one Drop can be given nor one Drop taken from him In Mat. 5. Be ye Perfect c We are not exhorted 198 to be equal with God in Holiness for that is to be God our selves and being set down in the throne of the Godhead to thrust the Eternal God out for there can be but one in the Throne of the Godhead But we are commanded to labour to be like unto God who not only is kinde to his Friends but his Enemies also As when we are bid to be like the Sun to shine upon the Bad as well as the Good will a sober Soul imagine that we are bid to be as Pure as Glorious as Vast as Swift as the Sun is but the Spirit tells us of a Generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed from their filthiness Yea but saith Fox Paul spake Wisdome amongst them that were perfect Phil 3. I answer what if the Translators had turned that word among them that be strong intelligent capacious as the word often and there signifies why doth Paul also speaking of such a strength or capacity as the Saints may attain to in this life profess that he was yet as it were but clambring up the Hill this is the vote of all the highest Saints in Scripture lamenting their Brethren and Inabilities and the Battle between the old Man and the new Of which Battle G. Fox and his Foxians know not for Sathan having Possession all is in peace It hath been ever known that all Gods Children are like high and glorious Queens Empresses who wittingly endure not as the Holy Scripture speaks that such an ugly Fiend as the Devil should touch them no not in an evil thought 3. They are like Fields Gardens in which the Husbandman and Gardiner allows not nor endures not a Weed but with grief and endeavour of their extirpation 4. And this is far from being Proctors and Advocates for sin as G. Fox most simply and impudently urgeth for the known truth is that Fox and his Foxians fall most foolishly and fiercely upon such as profess most holiness most sincerity and most Mortification most love to God and his only begotten the Spirit of Holiness the Holy Scriptures or written Will of God A ninth Instance is in page 28. where G. Fox tells how the same Author preached an external word Which the Scripture speaks not of but of the word that lives abides and endures for ever and of the Scriptures of Truth that cannot be broken and of Gods words and Christs words and that is not external this is not agreeable to sound words that cannot be condemned but that is like his Doctrine that knows not the Eternal but the Ministers of Christ did not tell of an external word but you being made by the will of man speaks to the People of an external word I Reply The word whether external internal or eternal is a 199 similitude for we know God hath no Mouth nor Tongue nor Words as we have but as Kings and Generals of
Armies or Navies or any Commanders in chief signifie their minds by Speech by Writing yea by sign at a distance this Word or will which was before in the Kings breast and internal is now outward or external Hence Christ Jesus above all other wayes of Gods manifesting himself externally or outwardly is called the Word of God and the Word which was God Hence in common speech we call our Thoughts our selves So I think c. this is my Word my Vote or Mind And as it is the Field If a General himself who first gave the external Word from his own internal Thoughts if he forget the word in the night a common Sentinel will make him stand or fire upon him and shall men be so careful in these transitory businesses and shall we suffer open Enemies to the true Lord Jesus presumptuously to pass without the external word or mind of God and audaciously to deny such a word at all to be When Christ Jesus Luke 4 spake out of the Prophet Isaiah and when Paul disputed three Sabbath dayes out of the Scriptures and when Apollos mightily convinced the Iews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ did they not use external audible Expoundings and Applyings of that written word or mind of God as the external and outward manifestation of his internal and eternal holy Pleasure A tenth Instance is in page 32. where G. Fox brings in Ellis Bradshaw saying The Quakers Spirit doth teach them to honour no Man He Answers That is a Lye for it teacheth them to have all Men in esteem and to honour all men in the Lord yet they are convinced by the Law to be Transgressors if they respect Mens persons as you doe I Reply I have spoken of their proud and lofty behaviour toward all men the Highest the Eldest the Holyest upon the 10th Position of their Pride c. and therefore briefly say 1. That all men may see how truely they honour and esteem all men in the Lord and what Lord and honour it is that they mean when G. F. his first word to his Opposite is in that most provoking Term viz. That is a Lye in his very pleading and the very first words of it It is true Christ Jesus and his Servants the Prophets and Apostles used sharp and bitter Reproofs Similitudes c. but thus suddenly at the first dash to give fire Thou Lyest That is a Lye c. It shews neither Religion nor Civility but a Barbarous Spirit for they that know the Barbarians know how common that word is in all their mouths T is true of late divers of Fox his followers have followed him in courtesie 200 looking toward you taking you by the hand bowing and half uncovering the head more or less c. But this is but a Revolt and Apostacy from their first Rigid Spirit and Cariage as Humphrey Norton rightly maintains against them Yea. 2. it is against all Foxes and their first Writings and this very place of Iames here urged viz. they are convinced by the Law if they respect mens Persons Again t is true in Christ Jesus there is neither Bond nor Free Male nor Female and consequently no Master no Man no Father no Child no King no Subject but all are one in Christ Jesus and the second Birth as all are of one kinde in the first Adam and the first Birth 1. Yet first how full is the Holy Scripture of Commands and Examples of Gods Children giving respective Words and Titles and Bowings even to persons that knew not God 2. Fox grants difference of gifts and saith that some in comparison of others of them not so grown c. are Elders sure this is some respect of persons according to that of the 1 Cor. 12. Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers c. Therefore how ever they Hypocritically lye and pretend to honour all men in the Lord yet the most Holy and only Wise knows how proudly and simply and barbarously they have run into uncivil and inhumane Behaviours towards all their Superiours the eldest and highest how that they have declared by principle and practice that there are no Men to be respected in the World but themselves as being Gods and Christs T is true our English Bibles and Grammar as Fox his great Learning often objects makes thou to a single person and Thou in Holy Scripture is used in a grave and respective way unto Superiours unto Kings and Parents and God himself But 1. As I have said the Hebrew and the Greek signifie no more Thou then You and so may be truely turned 2. Every Nation every Shire every Calling have their particular Properties or Idioms Speech which are improper and ridiculous with others Hence these simple Reformers are extreamly ridiculous in giving Thou and Thee to every body which our Nation commonly gives to Familiars only and they are extreamly and insufferably proud and contemptuous unto all their Superiours in using Thou to every body which our English Ideom or propriety of speech useth in way of familiarity or of Anger Scorn and Contempt I have therefore publickly declared my self that a due and moderate restraint and punishing of these incivilities though pretending Conscience is as far from Persecution properly so called as that it is a Duty and Command of God unto all mankinde first in Families and thence into all mankinde Societies 201 Having thus through Gods mercifull help gone through the 13th Position in publick and this private supply of some few Instances of their Lame writings of out G. F reserving the liberty if God please of presenting the Reader with a further Apendix or Addition of some few further Instances out of G. Fox his Writings I hasten to the 14 Proposition the last of the seven at Providence They read it publickly viz. the spirit of the Quakers tends mainly to the reducing of Persons from Civility to Barbarisme to an Arbitrary Government and the Dictates and Decrees of that sudden Spirit that acts them 3. To a sudden cutting off of People yea of Kings and Princes that oppose them and 4. To as fierce and fiery Persecution in matters of Conscience as hath been or can be practised by any Hunters or Persecutors in the World I told them I could adde more Branches to this Head as unto the peace and civil Societyes of Mankind in the world but I remembred my promise of Brevity and W. E. was often remembring me sayinge Is this thy Quarter of an hour for I believe they stood here upon Coals and were not willing that I should insist upon it my full Quarter and they hasted me on to prove that their spirit tended to Barbarisme they said one and an other that their spirit was an Holy Spirit the Spirit of God and the Grace of God had appeared to all men and had taught them to deny all ungodliness and wordly lusts and to live soberly righteously godly
Prophecies of Scriptures or the written foretellings and utterings concerning Jesus Christ. Thus the God of Heaven most holy and only wise stoops to our weakness and calls his mind his word his works his word his Providences of mercy or Judgement his Word the Lord Jesus his only begotten his word his writings his Word and this in a way of Condescention to our Capacity seeing that all the World over Kings and Rulers Fathers Masters of Families of Ships c. give the word that is the manifestation of their mind and will and this as the Spring in Clocks and watches turn about all other wheels and motions Hence it is that if ancient Records and Deeds with Hands and Seals be produced at the Bar of Trial all mouths are stopt at such Evidences Thus the Word of God in the mouths of the Prophets written for after Generations is Comparatively beyond the Report of Peter 25 and Iohn themselves is in all Religions The Iews have their Talmud the Turks their Alcheron the Pope his Decretans and the Protestants the Written Word or Scriptures When therefore a Pardon is written and Sealed with the Board Seal of a King or State what a fancy is it for a condemned Wretch to hearken first to a Pardon revealed within to a voice within to a King within to a Writing within a Seal within and so slighting the true pardon in the Kings way to be conveyed from without to the Mind and Spirit within to lose his Pardon and Deliverance as thousands of such poor cheated Souls must do A 14 Instance G Fox brings in Pag. 49. his Opposite Ralph Hall saying It is against the Light of Nature for Women to Preach c. G. Fox Answers Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and the mind of God and the Prophets who said God would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and Daughters should Prophesie So that he is a limiter of the Holy one a quencher of the Spirit and in the Darkness and this is above the Light of Nature I Reply First What is the Light of Nature but the Light in which every man comes into the World with as the Foxians speak a Light differing from that Light which Beasts wilde and tame and Birds and Fishes have And a Second Light differing from what is Supernatural as that Light revealed from Heaven in the Holy Scriptures and infused into the Souls of Men by the Holy Spirit or Power of God 2. What is the Light of Nature in Man but that Order which the most Glorious Former of all things hath set like Wheeles in Clocks or Watches a going in all his Creatures Some have observed that in the Insensible Creatures to which the most High hath only giving Beings that there may be observed a Male and Female amongst them This is more observable in Vegetables or growing Creatures as in Plants Trees Herbs Flowers c. More yet in Sensitives as Birds Beasts Fishes Most of all in Rationals Men and Women whom the most High hath so wonderfully distinguished It is true that in Religious and Christian Matters there is no 26 respect of persons with God as of Man before the Woman otherwise than to order Natural and Civil The Woman is Predestinated is Called is Justified is Glorified and wears that Golden Chain as well as the Wisest and Strongest of Mankinde And it is true the Wisdome of God perfers some Women before thousands of Men in their being born of Nobles in excellent parts as is observable in the Lady Iane and Queen Elizabeth c. in some special favour as Christ Jesus first appearing to Mary Magdalen and other Women and sending them to carry the first Tydings or Gospel of his Resurrection to his Apostles yea in effusions or powrings forth of an extraordinary measure of his Spirit before Christs coming as on Miriam Deborah Anna Huldah c. and at his coming according to Ioels Prophesie on his Daughters as well as his Sons so that as my opposites alledged to me in publick Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters thus extraordinarily endâ—wed yet this favour of God toward Women destroys not the order which the God of Order or Nature hath set in those Bounds and Limits and Distinctions between the Male and Female the Man and Woman though the Holy Scripture were silent yet Reason and Experience tell us that the Woman is the weaker Vessel that she is more fitted to keep and order the House and Children c. that the Lord hath given a covering of longer Hair to Women as a sign or teacher of covering Modesty and Bashfulness Silence and Retiredness and therefore not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments Therefore because of Ioels Prophesie or because we must not limit or quench the Spirit as G. Fox saith there is no ground in Gods ordinary course of Nature to permit Women to pretend to be Apostles or Messengers to the Nation or Preachers and Teachers in the Publick Assemblies 1. Because we finde no such Commission given by Christ Jesus or any such Practice amongst the first Believers 2. The Lord hath set as Seamen speak a preventer to such an unnatural boldness by express Prohibitions with the Reasons and Grounds to the Corinthians and to Timothy and to answer those Scriptures with a flam viz. that Eve the Transgressor and Women that be Tatlers are forbidden and the Woman Iezebel 27 c. is all one to tell us that Paul was not a Man nor Timothy a Man nor the Teachers Men nor Corinth a City but all signifie Metaphorical and Mystical Business 3. Why may not Women much more be Lord Majors and Bailiffs and Sherriffs and Iustices and Constables Captains Colonels Generals and Commanders by Sea and Land 4. That Reason the Spirit gives to the Corinthians for the vailing of Women in publick Assemblies makes much more for their vailing and silence in matters of Prophesying Preaching and Praying viz. Because of the Angels I know not any fair and sober Exposition of this Scripture except as the blind Quakers who swallow down a fly Camel too but that of the Heavenly Angels and Spirits attending on and guarding the Assemblies of true Christians and rejoycing in the comliness order and beauty of their publick Administrations Some few years since there came to my House two Maries it is said they came from London they bid me Repent and Hearken to the Light within me I prayd them â—o sit down that we might quietly reason together they would not then standing I askt them the ground of their such Travel and Employment they alledged Ioels Prophesie I answered that was fulfilled that was not every dayes work besides their business was not Prophetical but Apostolical c. they regarded not my Answers nor Admonitions but powred the Curses and Judgements of God against me and hurried away to Barbadoes they went and being War
Historians Geographers Rulers and Iudges c. It is true that Thomas Munster and Becold and Knipperdoling and Fifer pretending immediate Revelations and so have other Leaders of these Nicolaitans in France and England c. but none were so large and open hearted as to communicate so freely and bountifully to all their followers the immediate Inspirations of their pretended holy spirit as these 81 foolish and filthy Dreamers do for so saith Fox All the Quakers say or do is by the infallible and eternal Spirit but how horribly their Spirits Principles Divisions Miscarriages in many sinful practises and Apostacies amongst themselves give the lye and contradict this their infallibility is notoriously proclaimed on the house top and I may say something more to this Head afterward At present I return to my Antagonists who while I was Arguing against their immediate Spirit could not hold until my quarter of an hour and this Head about their Spirit was finished but brake silence and they said especially Iohn Stubs doth not the Scripture say if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and ye have an unction and need not that any man teach you and you know all things I then answered that there was a leading of a Beast by an Halter or Bridle and there was a leading of a Man with a Reason when his understanding and judgement is satisfied and if so I presumed they intended that the leading of the Spirit did not lead them as Beasts but as Rational satisfying their Reasons and Judgements and if so Reason grants that there are false Spirits lying Prophets Seducers and Deceivers c. Reason therefore further saith that every Soul must be satisfied whether this Leading or Anointing or Teaching of the Spirit be by means of Praying Preaching Reading Meditating Conferring c. or immediate without the use of these if motions without the use of these be pretended Reasons tells us that a Rational Soul must be able to try whether the Spirit pretending to be true or lying Spirit and that it must have some Rule or Touch-stone to make their Tryal by that the Rule must be my own Reason or some Testimony of unquestionable Witnesses satisfying my Reason or some heavenly inspired Scripture or Writing which my Reason tells me came from God Reason also tells each rational creature that it is very suspicious to be a false lying and develish motion which slights the Holy Scripture and other holy means wherein the Holy Spirit Presence and Power of God hath appeared to Gods People formerly Reason tells me that if I finde my self weak as who doth not to fight against the Devil the roaring Lion and old Serpent and I am bound to seek out for help and what help more powerful 82 and proper then that of the eternal and all powerful Father of Spirits and that it is best to take Iames his Counsel if any Man wants wisdome let him ask of God who gives to all Men liberally and upbraideth not if so then Reason tells us that except we suffer our selves to be led as Beasts by Sathan as the poor Quakers are we must come to the use of Means or a mediate leading and teaching and then what is become of these hellish fancies of only immediate Teachings and Inspirations I told them that beside this Counsel and Command of God in Iames the Lord Jesus tells us by an admirable similie that the holy Spirit of God is given in the use of means Luk. 11. If you who are evil give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him and that is Isa. 11. the Spirit of Wisdome the Spirit of Knowledge the fear of the Lord and all Graces of the holy Spirit It is clear that the Pen-men and holy Scribes of Gods will unto us in whom God did speak and by whom he wrote immediately and infallibly those blessed chosen pens of his were not infallibly guided by an immediate Spirit in all that they said and did about this Scripture as these poor Dreamers say of themselves and therefore must necessarily dash against the Holy Scriptures and all holy means formerly used by the first Christians yea and all rational means to pieces for all that they say or do is the immediate Spirit and Christ and God himself as Fox here affirmeth I answered further that if that Scripture alleadged by Iohn Stubs To know all things be to be expounded litterally and as G. Fox in this Book viz. that the Saints know all things as God then why are not the Quakers Omnipotent and Almighty as well as Omniscient yea as it is said of the Pope if he can deliver all Souls out of Purgatory if he please without Money surely he is very inhumane impious and cruel that he doth not so I said what impiety is it what cruelty and inhumanity is it in the Quakers said I so insallibly knowing all things as God not to reveal unto Men and especially in their publick Assemblies so many deep points of the Godhead of Creation of the Holy Three in Heaven and Earth which they confess and all the deep Mysteries and Prophecies in the Holy Scripture especially in Iohn and Daniel their Revelations c. the Most Holy Omniscient and Eternal Iehovah knows that the Pope and his Purgatory the Quakers and 83 their Omnisciency are but Childrens and Frantick Persons Dreams and Phantasies and that the Saints knowing all things is the same with their doing all things through Christ which strengtheneth them that is not all things litterally for that were ridiculous and blasphemous to affirm it but all things figuratively and Comparatively which his holy Wisdome thinks fit to require them to know and do in order to his Glory and their Salvation But Iohn Stubs insisted how they knew the Mystical number of 1260 dayes the 42 Months the Time and Times and half a Time and that the Woman was come and coming out of the Wilderness in them and that now they were Preaching the Everlasting Gospel to them that dwell upon the Earth I Replied it is notorious how many excellent men have been bewildred and missed in the opening of these Mysteries I said that if their infallible and their all-knowing Light could open all things and was now the Everlasting Gospel or Glad News the Word Eternal c. and that it was not only in the Quakers and their Saints but in all Mankind I desired to know what they meant by this Word within whether they meant in the understanding the eye of the Soul or in the Will or in the Memory or in the Affections or in all of these joyntly for Light is only seen with the Eye not with the Tongue nor Ear nor Hand it is true in the 2 Cor. 4. it is said
case being my self then in London whatever Fox the Quakers impudently affirm to the contrary 95 It is true that Iames Parnel and Fox and all of them sometimes miserably and after the Devils Method make use of Scripture as a Shield or Buckler to fence themselves against the Scripture and as a Sword to run through the Heart and Bowels of the Scripture the Saints and Christ and God himself they make use of it as Stirrops and Ladders and Scaffolds for their counterfeit Christ in pretence but in reallity themselves to mount up into their Saddles and Thrones of the Eternal power and Godhead that so the Earth may be theirs by Authority So that as the Lord speaks of the Iews Sacrifices that they were not his and of Iehoiakim that he did not know the Lord Jer. 22. and of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11. that they did not eat the Lords Supper though they did eat it so I affirm from all the premises alleadged the Quakers do not own that is truely and Christianly as they say Bonâ fide and in reality but slight and villifie and abominate and nullifie the holy Scripture that their unwritten Lies and lying Spirits may be exalted We have a great word in use amongst Merchants and others to wit the word Effects they desire to see effects of money or Goods for want of a real and effectual prizing and loving obeying and magnifying the holy Scriptures The Iewes Pharises the Papists and Quakers do not owne the perfection Authority of the holy Scriptures but set up their Traditions and Popes Councils Spirits above them and therefore the Iewes Papists and Quakers do not owne the holy Scriptures I freely acknowledge that many of these Particulars I could not then express because of my Confinement to a quarter of an hour and sometimes the Interposure of my Opposites I remember I urged that dead and rotten esteem that both Papists and Quakers fling as dirt in the face of the holy Scriptures calling it a dead Letter a Nose of wax a leaden Rule which may be pincht and bow'd to every mans Opinion But First They horribly bow and pinch that holy Scripture 2. Cor. 3. which meddles not with all the Scripture but with the Covenant of the Law and Iustice opposite to the Covenant of Grace Mercy calls the Law a killing Letter compar'd with the Grace Mercy of an offended God now reconciled by Christ Iesus But Secondly These poor Foxes fly to their Burroughs and confound the matter of the Scripture or Writing being Paper 96 and ink c. with the contents the purport and as I may say the matter contained in the matter we use to say what have you to shew for it what evidences have you what Records and sometimes when no Witnesses are living or can be had an old poor Record is produced which proves the life and spirit of the business what Simpletons do these only wise ones shew themselves in affairs of men that know not that as Solomon sayes of the Tongue Life and Death is in the power of the Tongue so Life and Death is in the power of a piece of Paper what hath an Executor yea many thousand Executors to shew for their Estates sometimes of hundreds yea thousands years but a little paper and ink and wax from the Testators what gives life to a condemned soul but a Pardon or Reprieve in a piece of Paper who knowes not that a Writ or Paper signed by his Majesty the Lord Chancellour the Lord ceief Iustice hath Death in it and fetcheth off the heads of many yea the highest Offenders The Quotations out of G. Fox which then I could not insist on I shall present a few and then pass on to the fifth Position In the 47th Pag. G. Fox brings in Ios. Miller saying It is an Errour if not damnable to say Christ is the meanes and that there is no other meanes of Salvation He Answers And Christ saith no man comes unto the Father but by me and he is able to the uttermost to save and he shall be my Salvation to the end of the Earth saith the Lord and saith the Apostle God is in Christ reconciling the World to himself and he that hath the Son hath Life and the Father and the Son are one and there is no salvation in any other I reply I shall now freely declare to the Sence of this Allegation though in the Dispute my Adversaryes would not suffer me to meddle with the Sence of G. Fox his words contrary to our Covenant in my Writing viz. that each Party should speak as long as they pleased which Liberty they enjoyed without my Interruption and first I doe not think that Ios. Millers words run so loosely in his own Book I do not think that a man of Wisdom would call it an error to say that Christ is the meanes of Salvation But to the second part to which G. Fox opposeth I believe it is an Error and a damnable Error and a Doctrine of Devils to say there is no other meanes of Salvation for this wretched Iugler subtilly confounds the Instrumental Causes of Salvation with 97 the Efficient in God the Father and Meritorious in God the Son Christ Jesus 'T is true there is no Redemption and Forgiveness of sin but in his Blood Ephes. 1. though I know this Iugler as before means not a Christ nor his Blood nor Death as we do mean but Imaginary within c. And yet as Means and Instruments Christs Messengers are said to save themselves and others The holy Scriptures are said to make wise to Salvation A man may be Gods means or Hand to save his Wife and the Wife her Husband We are saved by hope saith Paul and saved by Baptisme saith Peter yea Women are saved by Child-bearing as God blesseth those painful Curses to be blessed means of bringing to or growing up in Christ the Saviour All these subtly and wickedly G. Fox sets at variance with the Meritorious Salvation by Christ Jesus between which there is an Heavenly Union and Concord as between a man saving his Brother by throwing a Rope or Oar or Board unto him c. or a Midwife saving both Woman and her Birth in Child-bearing by the Means of Women and Helps which her Skil and Labour administreth to her To talk of this Immediate Christ and Spirit without Scriptures without Preaching and other holy means is as silly as Impious as Blockish as Blasphemous and as Bedlam and Frantick as wicked and Anti-Christian Would not every body laugh at G. Fox if he should say that because the Kings Majesty graciously pardons Condemned Rebels at the Mediation of the Prince his Son therefore the Composing the writing the proclaiming of the pardon the bring of it to the Rebels hands written and sealed with the Kings broad Seal are no means of their Salvation and Deliverance In Pap. 221.
for the spirit lead them to speak forth Scripture I Reply If among the seven things that God hates he is an Abomination that soweth Discord what is he that would Oppose and set at Odds the most holy spirit against the holy scriptures Inspired by him and in Effect declares that Gods Children are not to attend to the voice of God in these his holy Inspired writings but to a secret Voice or whispering within them Contrary to the scriptures Voice both before and since Christs coming as I have and shall further manifest 2. As to the spirits leading into all Truth and the sons of God are led by the spirit of God Is not Fox here in his Burrough not distinguishing between the Extraordinary leading of the holy Apostles Appointed to be the Eye Witnysses of Christs Death 104 and Resurrection c. and the first Messengers or Apostles to the Nations in which Respect the one Author of those three Gifts Administrations Operations 1 Cor. 12. peremptorily asks the Question Are all Apostles are all Prophets have all the Gifts of Miracles and yet all Gods Children are Regenerated are sanctifiâ—d are guided and built up an habitation of God through the Spirit and yet also the gracious presence and working of the holy Spirit may be hindred and quenched by neglecting of the holy Fuel of the holy Scriptures and other holy means appointed And therefore the Lord Jesus Commands us to pray for the Spirit and Daved cries out Thy Spirit is good lead me c. and take not thy holy Spirit from me And this is the Devils the Old Fox his Devilish Subtlety to make the Cloak of the Spirit Extraordinary Assistance and the Angels Extraordinary protection a ground of Christ Jesus and his Servants flinging themselves down from the Pinacle of the Temple and this I say from the God of Truth will be the Breack neck of the People called Quakers without Repentance every Soul of them We now descend to the proof of the fifth Position with their Consent which was their Principles and Professions are full of Contradiction and Hypocrisies I told them that they knew well that the Spirit of God had given us abundant Warning against false Gods false Worships false Christs false Spirits false Prophets He Commands us in Scripture not to believe them c. but to try them to try all things as we do with Touchstones and with Ballances yea with Fire it self For some Counterfiet Coyne hath been so like pure gold so double guilt in the middle and the Ring round about pure gold that it hath deceived the Touchstone The Devil himself as black a Fiend as he is the Spirit of Darkness yet he knows how to wear Samuels Mantle and the white Robe of an Angel of Light c. I told them it was Common for Spanish Turkish or any other Enemy in Time of Warr to hang out English Colours the more easily to deceive Catch the poor Merchant man and Iudas the Traitour gave no other signe to the Iews in his betraying of his Lord and Master the Lord Jesus but God save my Master and a Kiss 105 Most of this I Remember I spake and then I told them that Paul tels Timothy of some that should speake Lyes in Hipocrisie I told them of these there were two sorts 1 Such as knowingly for wicked and Devilish Ends of Profit or Preferment take the Leading Staff in hand as 't is more then probable that the Misleader of so many Millions of Mahumetans did and as one of the Popes in Merriment to his Cardinals Confest it saying Quantum Lucri fecimus ex hac Fabula Christi What gain have we made of this Fable of Christ Thus Iudas knowingly for his Gain sought Opportunities to betray Christ Jesus Thus the Schechemites and Millions are their Successors as they are to Nebuchadnezzars Idolaters underwent that painful and shameful Ordinance of Circumcision partly to please their Princes and partly for that hope as Schechem told them that all that Israel had should be theirs A second Sort of Soul Deceivers that are and yet know not in their Consciences that they are blind Guides or blind Followers but for not loving Truth God hath given them up to believe Lyes for Truths false Christs and Spirits for true Christs and Spirits yea and with Paul to think that they verily ought to do many things against Iesus of Nazareth yea and as the Lord Jesus Positively Foretold they shall think to do God Service to kill himself in killing his Servants I told them my Charity bid me hope that the Quakers and themselves present were not of the first but of the second sort and I prayed them to be as patient as they could while I must prove that their Principles and Professions were full of Lyes and Contradictions and of Hipocrisies and Dissimulations I wondred that my Opposites and Auditors bare all this Load so silently But at this word W. Edmundson and the rest brake out saying We regard not what thou thinkest and sayest of us nor do we need thy Charity but go on to thy proofs c. I then said that their many Books and G. Foxes that thereby me and their Professions did so exceedingly Clash one with another and some of their latter Books as Christopher Houldsworths and some of theis latter Professions and Practices were such that many of their Observes Conclude that either they had altered their Religion in many of their Principles 106 and Practices and were turned from what they formerly held and were amongst us Or else their Hipocrisies and Dissimulations were more and more prodigiously Abominable I came to Instances and told them that when they were Charged to deny that man Christ Jesus they profess and preach they are wronged for they believe in that Christ which was born of a Virgin and died at Ierusalem and yet for all this it is but in Truth a Spiritual and Mistical and Allegorical Christ which under boord and in the bottom which they hold For in New-England before G. Fox came H. Norton and others say is not Christ God and is not God a Spirit and is there not a Spiritual Virgin a Mistical Bethlehem an Heavenly Ierusalem And do not G. Fox and Ed. Burroughs all along hold out such a Christ whose Body is not now to be found and such a man as is in every Saint or Quaker and in every person in the world except he be a Reprobate Again 2. They say they hold the Christian Church the Christian Ordinances the Christian Ministry the Christian Baptisme Supper the Resurrection the Iudgement the Life Everlasting but search their Books Examine their preachings and professings and you shall see and may admire their Juglings and Dissimulations Do not Fox and Burroughs all along disclaim any Church Ministers Baptisme c. but what is Immediate and Invisible Do they really own any Supper but Christs inward
though not so brief as I was forced to be in our publick probations I told them that the Papists and the Quakers were great Confederates in their Endeavours to raze the Records of Heaven and to rob the Saints and the world of this Inestimable Iewel and Treasure of the holy Scriptures 1 The Papists own it not to be all the word or will of God revealed but that there be unwritten Verities that is Gods mind revealed from Father to Son by Tradition The Quakers will not vouchsafe it the Name of the word of God out of a simple pretence because Christ is the word of God that is he isindeed the chief manifestation of all the Appearances of God 2. The Papists horribly abuse it calling it a Nose of wax a Leaden Rule a dead Letter c. and so do the Quakers triumphing over it with base Insultations as over a deed Letter a Carkass c. 3. The whole world of Papists assembled in eighteen Years Labours Chymical Laboratories at Trent at last thundred out their Anathamaes and Curses against all that should not prefer the Vulgar Latin Copies before the Hebrew Copies and the Greek in which it pleased the holy Spirit of God first to write his mind and will or word unto us And do not the Quakers as simply and bruitishly bind themselves to the bare Letter of the Common English Though they know the Hebrew and Greek Copies are the Foundation and Touchstone of all other though millions of Translations Though they know there be more English Translations then one Though the English Translations wonderfully 135 differ Though Ravius that Famous Oriental Hebrician c. proclaims above a Thousand Faults and some gross in our last Translation though some of them as Iohn Stubs boast of their humane Learning produced his Hebrew Bible in our Conference yet will these Ephesians cry out like Frantick mad great is our Latin Translation great is our English Translation Yea one of them boasted to my self that the Spirit of God would teach them Scripture without the Hebrew and the Greek or the English either 4. The Papists set up a Judge in Controversies above the holy Scriptures who can dispense with Scriptures and do all that God can do And say not the Quakers the same of their Spirit which is above the Scriptures for it gave forth the Scriptures and is in every man 5. The Papists though they will not deny to make the Scriptures the Rule and profess to be tried by it yet their Church and the head of it the Pope must Interpret And do not the Quakers herein the same concerning themselves though some think more bruitishly for they will allow no Interpretations nor meaning at all but you must take the words as the Translators have given them us right or wrong and you must not enquire either into the meaning of words or the meaning of mind of God in the place Oh what a black deaf and dumb Lazie Spirit hath possessed the Souls of these great pretenders too and Monopolizers of the holy Spirit of God both Papists and Quakers 6 The Papists generally use not nor have the holy Scripture no not in their Devotions in their own Tongue but in the Latine the Whores Tongue of Italy therefore no wonder they prize it not but even the Lights or Luminaries so pretending amongst them disuse it Care not for it read it not c. many have it not So that Luther tels us that in Thirteen years or more he saw not a Bible in his College at Erford until by Gods merciful providence he came to see one to his own the Comfott of Thousands Luther tels us that at one great Assembly of the Emperour and Princes the Protestants of Germany had Conveyed a Bible on the Table The Cardinal being first come he opened the Book and read here and there in it it is like he had not seen 132 it before in his Life In comes one of the Popish Princes and askt the Cardinals Eminency what Book he had there He Answerred I know not but I am sure it is agaiust us and it is laid here for that purpose Oh the Infinite mercies of God to us in our times and our Infinite Debt to his Infinite goodness and our Infinite guilt in neglect of it The Quakers at first took off themselves Families and Assemblies from any use of it Their Spirit they Crake that made the Scriptures supplies all c. The Papists and Quakers both have said and printed that if the Scripture were consumed quite taken out of the world there would be no Loss so long as they have the Spirit The Truth is I could by Arguments many make it appear that the Papists and Quakers love the holy Scriptures no better than Goliah loved Davids stone and sling nor no better then the Devil loved Christs Gegraptai It is written It is written for the Papists and the Quakers and the Devil knows that if the holy Scriptures be Exalted as the revealed will or word or Declaration of the mind of God down-falls their pretences of Traditions and Revelations whereby the Devil deceivs themselves and himself also 4. The Papists and Quakers shake hands in the most hellish Doctrine of Justification by what is within us by what Christ works within us in short by what is called Sanctification put for Justification and the forgiveness of sin in and for the merits of the Lord Jesus freely imputed and given to us The Papists use the word Inherent Righteousness but the Quakers bogle at the word not finding it in the English Bible yet they agree that by the works of Obedience yea and also by the Acts of their own Inventions and Superstitions they can make a pardon under a hedge to themselves and Crake that they have received a pardon and Justification sealed under the Broad Seal of Heaven to them but it is against the glory of the King of Heaven and against the glory of the Son of God and his glorious Sufferings and their own Salvation 5 The Quakers are Papists in that Spirit of Infallibility which they arrogate to themselves pretending that the holy Spirit shall lead them into all Truth speak Immediately in 133 them c. though herein they differ the Pope infallibly expounds Scripture but the Quakers speaks Scripture and his word is Gospel c. yea all men have this Spirit and need no Teacher and yet what an horrible Contradictious noise is there of the Quakers Apostles Messengers Ministers Preachers He and she sent into Old-England and New-England Scotland Ireland Turky Italy to bid people hearken to the Immediate Spirit within 6. The Quakers are Papists in that high lofty Conceit of their Perfection when Calvins time this Spirit came from Hell under the name of Spirituals and when of latter years in Lancashire under the Name of Grindletonians all their Religion turned chiefly upon these two Hinges 1.
c. and proved as clear as at Noon-day the holy Scriptures and every Tittle of them to be the holy Word or Will or Declaration of the holy mind of God The 48th Instance is in Pag. 264. where he brings in Samuel Palmer saying The State of the Soul in this Life is threefold Creation Corruption and Regeneration G. Fox Answers In Regeneration the Life is changed from the Life which is in the Fall So Regeneration and Corruption is not one in the new Life I Reply who saith they be who saith that Regeneration and Corruption are one in the new Life what a foul Trick is this of a false man to impute that to his Opposite which he abhorreth I guess or he means that in Regeneration there is perfection and no Sin or Corruption left c. Hence the plea of some of their Spirits for Adams nakedness being come to the State of Innocency Hence the poor frantick Souls cry out that the Protestants preach for Sin for Tearme of Life c I Answer questionless the Devil deals with the Foxians as the Pirat doth with Ships he makes no Opposition against such he hath taken and is possessed of So that no question but the Quakers may be freed from many Transgressions and Temptations to them which others are assaulted with 2. These poor Souls foolishly and extream simply Answer Pauls Complaints and Cryes and bewailing himself Rom. 7. with Pauls giving thanks for his sudden victory in the last words as if just then the Battel had turnâ—d and Paul had not spoke of the Constant Battel and Warfare which all the Saints of God in about four thousand years together throughout the holy Scripture 96 Experimented Noah Abraham David Peter Iohn Barnabas c. 3. It is a mistery which neither Iews nor Turks Atheists or Papists or Quakers know viz. how the Seed of all grace may be in the new born and yet the Seed also of all sin except the sin against the holy Spirit remaining in them Therefore when they hear of the Falls of the Saints in Scripture and so great Some question the Truth of the Scripture others make a sport of them and pretend a Cloak for their sins saying none are perfect why may we not as well as they Others as the Foxians say We are come to a more perfect and pure Estate then Paul at first was in or Iohn who saith If we Confess our Sin or Iames who saith In many things we offend all or the Father that cried help my Unbelief c. But the Papists and Quakers are so perfect and Superperfect that though they be full of pride Ambition Unbelief Unthankfulness Intemperancy Covetousness full of rash Anger bitter Railings and dreadful Blasphemies against Heaven yet they can with the Whore wipe their mouths and say they are pure from all uncleanness The 49th Instance of G. Fox his lame writings is in Pag. 275. where he quotes Richard Meyo saying To say the Gospel is the Power of God is but a Metaphorical Speech G. Fox Answers The Apostle doth not say so for the Apostle saith the Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes in plain words Rom. 1. I Reply 1. As before and as thousands know that the word Gospel is in all Languages glad News the same which the Angel brought to the Sheepherds of a Saviour born and laid in a manger at Bethlehem this is the News the placid good News though set forth and beautified in the holy Scripture with variety of Figures and Metaphors 2. The great Fox the Devil who thirsts after the Blood of the Quakers and of all mens Souls he whispers viz. the Gospel is Christ it is the Spirit the Light and God himself why talk you of a written Gospel of a preached Gospel the Scriptures are within you the Gospel is within you Translations Interpretations within you why gaze you upon pen and Ink and after a man c. 3. As if the glad Tidings or Gospel to a dying man of a par 97 don of Life c. sounding to his Ear were not by the External Dore of his Ear conveyed by that Dore to the inward dore and Closet of his mind who but Frantick Souls in Bedlam will say what need you mind the Kings Declarations or Proclamations of pardon or Liberty The King himself is the Gospel the Declaration and the Librty the King is within you the Gospel or glad News is within you 4. The Devil hates the glad News of Christ Jesus as much as Darkness hateth Light therefore he hath two sorts of Souldiers 1. Some that say what tell you us of Reading and praying and preaching mind the Kernel within while the second sort are all for the outside which without the In-side are but Shels and Husks and Shadows 5. How commonly doth the holy Spirit in the Scriptures speak Ridles and Figures that they that see not may see and they that say they see Papists Quakers c. may be blinded why is the Lamb called the Passover Christ the Temple the Cup his Blood the Bread his Body c. There were many hundreds brought before King Henry and Queen Mary after him c. for Insurrections with Haltars about their Necks These Princes and others pronounced their inward mind by word External the Heralds and Proclamations and Trumpets were in a Figurative Sense all glad News and Gospel and yet the substance of the glad News or Gospel was the pardon offered and vouchsafed to them 6. Mine Eyes have seen a Condemned Soul turned off at the Gallows a Post comes galloping all drive waving his hat which being espied Execution is staid the people cried a pardon the Post cried a Reprieve The Sheriff cried neither no Reprieve c. until he saw the Kings hand or Authority from him the Post delivers to the Sheriff a bit of paper which the Sheriff reading He Commanded the Halter to be taken off and the Prisoner to be delivered to the Post the Prisoner with joyful lips bid Death and his Fellow Sufferers Farewel and with joyful Legs leaps up behind the welcome Messenger of his Deliverance for afterward he had his pardon under the broad Seal of England I ask here how many passages and particulars may Figuratively be stiled Glad News or the Gospel to this dying man 7. I ask whether the glad News or Gospel which this Post 98 Messenger or Preacher brought might not Figuratively be called his Gospel or glad News as Paul Rom. 2. calls it his Gospel and 2. Cor. 4. our Gospel if hid it is hid to them that be lost It is hid two wayes 1. When not by writing or preaching it is preached or declared as it is not as yet discovered to innumerable millions in the world 2. When the Power or Spirit of God opens not as he did Lidiahs the Ears and Hearts and Spirits of men to
book if such had proved desirable These alterations will all be noted in this reprint and will be designated as Roger Williams ' Manuscript Annotations The seconâ— Position Concerning true false Christs Traitors Rebells against the King eternaâ— Murtherers of him The true Lord Iesus Christ His humane nature which G. Fox alâ— night long so barks against The Quakers Christ allegorical and meerly Fancy destroying the History Humphrey Norton deales plainly against the Person of Christ The Equivocation of the Foxians Eph 3. 10. The true Union that is â—etween Christ Iesus Believers The Quakers painted Christ. Christ winhin and Christ without Two Questions to Quakers G Fâ—x his Book in Folio produced Page 3. The Papists Quakers destroy the Person of Christ. The being of Christ in the Heavens The Quakers endure not trying but are willingly ignorant Willing Ignorance Nehem 8 they gave the Sence The Quakers nonsensical Spirit Iohn Bunyan Christs twofold Presence The Quakers Conjure with Christs Body The Quakers endure not Sences or Meanings just as the Papists and yet talk all of light The old question of Christs Presence Fox Bonnet no difference The Quakers pretend to ownâ— Christs Bloud yet in truth allow him no Bloud to shed Enoch Howet The divine and humane nature of the Lord Iesus Nicholas the Deacon and Nicholas Fathers of the old and new Nicholaitans 1 believe R. W. Ms. Ann. So Cristopher Houlder he boggles at the word Manhood The word Humane considered Used in the Scripture 1 Cor 10. Dan. Grudry Christ not seen as he is until the day of Iudgement The personal coming of the Lord Iesus A visible and in visible eye and object Christ â—ithin Christ without The Papists and Quakers Christ is no where Christoph Wade The Author whome G. Fox opposeth and in Pride and madness rageth against The Quakers Christ but a whimsical Christ Hosanna to the Son of David 1 Ye poor Apostates R. W. Ms. Ann. The Spirit of the Papists the Quakers but one The Quakers notoriously dissemble for they do own and not own the Christ that dyed at Ierusalem Humph. Norton more plain in words then other Quakers Christ yesterday and to day The Quakers endure not to be searched temer of false and thievish spirits 1 Interline be R. W. Ms. Ann. The Quakers Apolloes Oracles the same Iohn Burton If ever there Equivocating Iesuites in the world the Quakers are The Quakers wonderful jugling about the true Christ John Burton The Quakers Traitors Rebels against the true Lord Iesus I have known the poor Lobsters catch the Foxes The wonderful blindness and hardness of my Antagonists 1 the plain Evidences R. W. Ms. Ann. Frances Higginson The Quakers endure not the word Humane Acts 13. Opened of Christs Humanity Tho. Collier The second coming of the Lord Iesus The Everlasting Fathâ—r Christ Iâ—su how The Quakers wonderfully changed yet but in Dissimulation as to learning the Scriptures W. Edmund leaves the Dispute is hurried into Preaching W. Edmund his story concerning Benefices And his vain extolling of their Idol Light John Stubs his sermon The Quakers unruly and rash interruptions A short Answer to 2 Sermons The motions of Gods spirit not those of the Quakers Tâ—e Quakers not orderly nor patient The Offices of Christ Iesus The Kingly office of the Lord Iesus The visible Christian Church Ordinances Touching the several Churches extant Churches nearest to Christ Iesus This was and I hope is the principle of the N English Church The various appearances of Christ Iesus 1 their R. W. Ms. Ann. My offer in the end of the second dayes conference Lying pretenders to Gods service The Authors just Apologie agaiâ—st the unjust clamors of the Quakers A mutual agreement for a third dayes conference A quarter of an hour much canvased The Quakers spirit policy The Quakers would not dispute on the first day and why The third dayes conference at New-port A Letter sent in to all of us The Letter refused to be opened by the Quakers The Sum of the Letter My self reproved in the Letter in 3 particulars The dâ—fference of the Quakers Sharpness sometimes a duty The Letter it self True librety infringed Quenching of the Spirit The insulting Spirit of the Quakers The true cause of our long discourse at Newport The modesty of this letter The third Position against the Quakers spirit Discussed The word spirit The quality of Spirits All spirits must be tried Gods Spirit given by Gods means The Spirit of God working by means The Quakers at Newport appealed too publickly Samuel Eaton Henoch Hoâ—vet G. Fox ignorant of the true spirit of God Tho. Moor. The use of means Fox and the Quakers above all Kings and Princes Popes Emperors Saints and Angels The Mahumetans Quakers considered and found one The Quakers Gods upon Earth all other Beasts Reprobates Devils The leading of the Spirits debated The tryal of Revelations Reason sanctified and rightly improved The Spirit gotten of prayer The Quakers Spirit The omnisciency of the Quakers Their in humanityâ— and cruelty Knowing and doing all things The Light within 2 Cor. 4 God hath shined in our hearts The darkness within An Evidence that the Quakers spirit and a deceitful Heart are one The testimony of the Deputy Governour Câ—pt Cranston and others against W. E. slanderous rashness The great Cheater who cheats all Cheaters The great Magna Charta xi Iâ—a 59. The true Seed The railng spirit of the Quakers Their Cursing Mens and Womens Nakedness Their Womens Preaching Dumb Meetings The monstrous Singing of the Quakers The true Spirit willing to be examined by the Scripture and every mans Consceence The false and Iuglers endure not searching The Quakers cry is Light but they dare not come to it The two pretended Witnesses Reeve and Muggleton The Quakers would set the Spirit and Scripture at odds The 4th Position concerning the Scriptures A twofold owning of any scripture or Writing The Iews and Papists and Quakers all of them in effect deny the holy Scriptures The Quakers slighting the holy Scriptures in many horrible Particlars A dissembling Show of Quakers respecting the Scriptures An Irish Papist confessing the Truth The Scriptures miraculously preservd to be Gods standing outward Record witness The holy Scripture the only outward standing Rule Record like the Records in the Tower The Holp Scriptures are Gods Love-letters The admirable excellency of the Scripture Luthers Light Ioh 20. 2. considered A famous vision in Turkey The two Witnesses eat up the book of Script Tindal the first heavenly Translator burned 1 nail up this R. W. Ms. Ann. The Iews outward reverence to the Script The first Protestants affâ—ction to the Scripture The Scriptures put both Papists Quakers to flight Christs Martyrs or Witnesses love to Scriptures Iames Parnel his horrible sin Iudgment How the Quakers own Scripture 2. King 17. the Samaritans feared the Lord and yet feared him not
as are the Papists Iews and Quakers Allegations to a Venemous and poysonous End He brings in Henoch Howet saying The Scripture to be the only Weapon whereby Christ overthrew the Devil He Answers who bruiseth his Head and was before Scripture was yet the Scripture is for Correction and Doctrine furnishing the man of God in his place and Christ the Seed was before the Scripture was And all them that hath Scripture and not Christ cannot overcome the Devil you and the Papists doing his work for they that overcome him that is with the Power and those have the Scriptures of Truth which the Devil is out of 101 I Reply How doth Christs bruising of Satans Head and being before Scripture was disprove Fox his Opposites saying viz. the only weapon whereby Christ Jesus overcome the Devil was the Scripture what is this to the point of the Compass may not half and Eye see what a simple Sophister this is to make such Yawes as not to come near the Ships Course and point in hand 2. Who sees not Fox in his Burrough of the divers Acceptation of the Word Christ For in the Sense of his Opposite that man Christ Jesus who fought the Devil and Fox Confesseth died at Ierusalem was not before the Scriptures But his Birth and Life and Death were Proppesied and declared by the Scripture long before he was born 3. As for this saying They that have the Scripture and not Christ can not overcome the Devil What News doth Fox tell the World which no Body denies and how doth this deny that Christ Jesus overcome the Devil by the Scripture 4. Is all Scripture or writing given by Inspiration of God and is profitable though Fox alleadgeth this Scripture by halves for Correction and Doctrine c. then it clearly follows that as Christ Jesus overcome the Devil by the Scripture so by the same Weapon this subtle Fox and all other of Satans Foxes must be Corrected Confuted Catcht and destroyed except they repent for ever But what is this Confession that the Scripture is profitable for Correction c. but a kind of grant to his Opposite that Christ did overcome the Devil by this Weapon for he Confesseth it profitable for Correction c. though yet all this running about in and out into his holes in this Answer is a whispering and yet loud enough to be heard viz. that Christ did not overcome the Devil by the Scripture 5. As for the Quakers Power here pretended in Opposition to the Scripture as being those that have Scripture within them and so overcome the Devil How doth the Devil deal as one that pretends to Fight with Children who lies down and Cries as if those poor Childish Souls had Overcome him Thus sometimes a Devil of Drunkenness of Swearing of Stealing runs away from the Sermons of the Quakers as a naughty Devil sometimes at the Chiding and Conjuring of a good Witch That he may get the faster hold by spiritual pride hypocrisie 102 self Conceit and Contradiction to the Scripture by will worship and Superstitious Inventions against the holy Institutions and Commands of the true Lord Jesus Christ. Pag. 289. He brings in Francis Duke saying When Christ told the Devil that man should not live by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God that was believing the Scripture And this Word of God in the Scripture was the Ground of Christs Faith and so to all that are his He Answers Many may have the Scripture and never hear the voice of God as the Jews in the fifth of Iohn and they said they believed the Scriptures though they were out of the true belief But receiving the Word from God is as they that gave forth the Scriptures which man lives by and not by bread alone and so knows him who was before Scripture was given forth And for saying that the Scripture was the Ground of Christs Faith he was afore the Scripture was writ and so fulfils their Words and is the Author and the Finisher of the Saints Faith which was before the Scripture was given forth him by whom the World was made and is the Author of the Saints Faith that bruised the Serpent under his feet which was before the Scripture was 1. I Reply How Notorious for Tautologies are these brutish Clamours Thrice in this small Answer have we of Christ which was before Scripture was who was before Scripture was c. shall we believe their Notorious Lyes viz. that the Light within them gave forth Scripture and that they speak and write as they are moved by the most holy and Infallible Spirit when their writings are so weak lame and Childish just like the talk of Aged doting Women and so full of Idle Repetitions 2. What Answer is this how brutish and Impious viz. that a man may have the Scripture and yet not be in the belief therefore the Word of God was not the Ground of Christs belief so again the Devil and wicked men may have the Scripture and yet believe not in them therefore Christ Jesus and his saints believe them not neither this Inference is clear you say Christ was before Scripture was c. I Reply He was and he was not But let Heaven and Earth Hear and abhor the Sophistry of these Deceivers they would fain 103 have no such Christ as man a Christ without an out-side Christ but a Spirit and God only and that in their Flesh yet again for shame of the world they are forct to Confess that there was such a man or person c. and yet to Cloak and Cover that Confession from Crossing their Principle they say that before Scripture was Christ bruised the Serpents Head that is Christ that made the World Christ the Light the Word But this again we say is false also for the Promise is Gen. 3. that the Seed of a Womau which was Christ in his Manhood born in the Fulness of Time Gal. 4. And let G. Fox or any of their Iuglers Answer If they speak honestly and bona fide if there was really such a man called Jesus at Ierusalem c. as there was such a man called G. Fox lately in New-England was there not such a man called Jesus after the Scripture was written or penn'd was dot this man forty dayes tempted of the Devil and did not this man called Jesus Christ Overcome the Devil by the Weapon of the writing or Scripture and was not the holy Scripture the Ground of his Faith as he makes the Will or Word of God declared in this holy Writing or Record the Ground of his saints Faith also He brings in Iohn Timson saying The Scripture is the Rule of Life He Answers Contrary to Christ who said the Spirit should lead them into all Truth And they that are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and the Churches was to hear what the spirit said