distinguish of things not to confound them as thou dost which shall be more plainly shewn thee in the Answer which follows I Believe and speak that Light which every Child of wrath hath as he cometh into this world is not the Spirit as he is spoke of in the New Testament the Spirit of Regeneration Adoption the Spirit of the Son nay whatever thou wilt call it it is but Flesh whatsoever is born of the Flesh i.e. what ever Man is in his first-Birth he is but Flesh John 3. and in the 1 Pet. 1. All Flesh is Grass all called Flesh till the New-Birth of the incorruptible Seed which every Man hath not yet I have given and will give this Light its due and say it is from Christ he is the Author of it that gave Man his Rational Soul and created all Lights and had not the Lord preserved this Light Mankind had not been the Species would have been extinct and we like bruits and hereby is Man made fit for humane Society and Common-Wealths and through the restraining-Grace of God joined with this for I attribute it to that indeed chiefly as in the case of Abimelech Gen. 20. I kept thee c. else the Light within would not have done it Man is preserved from many gross outward evils One can distinguish between many things that are good and evil by this Light but to say as thou and others do that it is the Spirit Christ Regenerating Grace God as thou dost in thy words in this Epistle as I understand it let others judg of it calleth it the Son of God King of Zion applying that of the second Psalm to this Light therefore it is the Rule the Life the Blood the Principle such horrid Blasphemies as these dethroning Christ's person turning the God-Man into the Reason Conscience or Soul of Man making them all one and God the Spirit the same with this which is in every Murtherer Robber was in them Job 21. goes with the damned to Hell remains with them there Hear ye Heavens and give ear O Earth and be horribly ashamed of such Tenents as these my Soul through the Grace of God utterly abhors and detests them and I am and will be a professed Enemy to them as long as I have being in this world and doubts not in the least but Christ will stand by me in this his cause Oh how doth this puff up poor proud fallen Man that there is something left in him yet that will restore him when all the Light he had before could not preserve him from falling This thou hast heard at least was the old rotten gangrene of the Pelagians pleading for Nature O cease John cease perverting the right ways of God pleading for Nature in opposition to the Grace of God As for the Bands which thou mentionest of Christ the Son spoken of in the second Psalm and for his cords they are welcome to me I embrace them and it is my Liberty to be his Captive and Prisoner It 's freedom from my lusts I have found it so and do But no false Prophets as thou and others while you maintain these Doctrines shall ever bring me into bondage again to the cursing Law and the works of it looking for Life that way Yet do I wholly stoop to this King of Zion Jesus Christ as my Lord as he that hath subdued all my Enemies virtually already and will actually in time which I wait for and hath given out Rules how he will be served and worshipped which according to my Light I desire to be found in desiring this glorious King by the power of his Spirit to subdue all evil in my Soul But let me entreat thee John to use plain words when thou speakest of the works of God in the heart of Man by the Spirit at least say no more than what is said of it in the Holy Scriptures and do not use to strain Scripture and wrest it from its proper literal meaning when there is no need so to do but the doing of it takes off from the Glory of it and the Authority of the Truth contained in it Here thou turnest that great Scripture in Zachary into an Allegory which is a Prophecy of the Messias coming for the comfort of his people and was fulfilled in the Letter which was very glorious and bespake him to be the true Messias the ground of all Comfort to his people and he came in this low and mean way to shew his contempt of the World who could have commanded all the Glory of the Creation to attend him in this Triumph and State and yet this he did to shew forth something of his Authority and Majesty being really a King Now John why wilt thou go this way to work to use these uncouth Allegories is it not for want of plain and substantial knowledge in the Scriptures Dost thou not know what mischief this way of speaking hath done The evil one hath made use of this way in the World in false Teachers to take off from the Authority of the Scriptures I pray God this be not your intent in going this way if many senses of the Scripture then no one sence is certain for I have heard thee my self say this viz. He brought his Son out of Egypt i.e. out of the Egyptian darkness of our hearts Why doth not this take off from the History as if that were nothing as if such a thing had never been the Man Christ brought from that Country so called really and truely but as if this was the great intendment of the Holy-Ghost in it as to the work of God upon Mans heart now this was gross thick darkness such as might be felt why then surely there is no Light before Christ be brought forth and yet you call the Light Christ John it savours not right to say God brought his Son out of Egyptian darkness That work of the Spirit in our hearts is not God's Son and to say God's Son is brought out of darkness Egyptian darkness who was with God from Eternity and was God and was Light the Light of the world as Mediator and so the Author of all saving Light it is absurd But this is not so bad as that which thou spakest in Sarah Whites Chamber in London in my hearing and the hearing of others of my friends viz. the only begotten Son begotten in us Now John whereas thou chargest me with Blasphemy which shall be examined who now is guilty thou blushest surely to think on it you often speak of my tenderness how hard are your hearts that you can hear and speak such things as these and no shame upon you whereas at that time I was so tender that I could not but interrupt you by my Friend Oh! John how hath thy Pride and Itch to be a Teacher of Allegorical Mysteries Transported thee to be accounted a profound Doctor Some things thou spakest there that were true but Oh what a deadly poyson didst thoâ— throw presently
ashamed I hope J. C. pag. 6. Thou sayest that thy dayly Prayers to Christ are that we all meaning thy Brethren in the Ministery may be made able Ministers of the New Testament and to this it is Answered Then it seems you are not yet so by your own Confession therefore be silent till you are made so Answ Yea and I continue my Prayers for my self and Brethren in this manner yet this doth not follow that there is no ability already to Preach the Gospel John 17.17 Christ prays sanctifie them through thy Word by this way of reasoning it would follow that then these he prays for were not sanctified at all yet in v. 6. he saith he had manifested his Name unto them And v. 8. That they had received his words and in v. 20. That they did Believe not for these alone but for them that shall Believe It is evident that it was for more degrees of Sanctification and a continuance of it so then here when I pray that we may be made able c. it 's for a continuance of that Ability that we have already and further degrees thereof Paul intreats the Colossians Chapt. 4. v. 3. that they would pray for the Apostles that God would open unto them a Door of utterance to speak the Mysterie therefore according to thy Logick they had no faculty for that Work Ephes 1. the Apostle prays that God would give unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Therefore though Saints and faithful ones in Christ they had none of the Spirit How wouldst thou have me pray if not thus wouldest thou have me pray that we should be made weak Ministers of the Old Covenant of Works J. C. Pag. 7. Thou sayest thou hast but Law and Gospel to Preach Where in all the New Testament dost thou find the Apostles preaching the 〈◊〉 and saying they were sent to Preach the Law but a Dispensation of the Gospel was committed unto them and they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter or Law but of the Spirit Answ It follows in the Epistle which thou mightest have writ the Law for the knowledg of Sin and might have understood by that and what follows that we Preach the Law in order to the Gospel to prepare the Spirit of Man by convincing of Sin and so humbling the Soul to a welcome reception of the Grace of the Gospel the Soul being weary and heavy laden seeing its weakness to keep the Law flies to Christ for Rest and laying hold of the free Remission of sins by the Blood of Christ so that when thou enquirest Where in all the New Testament do I find the Apostles Preaching the Law thou hadst forgot a passage when but three pages lower These are thy words 〈◊〉 And as for the Moral Law Christ is so far from repealing it that in Matthâ— he binds it faster and closer to his Disciples How now John is Christ and the Apostles Ministry in a different way Method and tendency and dost thou not here say the Apostles Preached not the Law in all the New Testament and yet the Apostle of our profession Christ himself Heb. 3.1 preacheth the Law and the Moral Law and to his Disciples and binds it faster than Moses to be kept for Life thou meanest surely of which afterwards But again do not the Apostles in several places speak of the Law explaining the nature use of it Rom. 3. That by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin in the Corinthians the Letter killeth in Galatians how it was added because of Transgression how it is a Schoolmaster to Christ in Timothy how it is not for the Righteous in the Hebrews how frequently is the Law spoke of now is not this Preaching the Law 〈◊〉 grant that the main work was to preach the Gospel they but Preach the Law in subserviency to the Gospel Thus they were Ministers 〈◊〉 of the Letter only for this doth but kill but of the Spirit the Gospel by the dispensation of which the Spirit of Adoption is communicated But Christ wounds as well as heals he kills as well as makes alive The one he doth by the Preaching of the Law the other by the Gospel The Spirit of Bondage accompanies one the Spirit of Adoption the other J. C. ibid. But why dost thou divide betwixt Law and Gospel 〈◊〉 they were not one in the End and Nature saying the one is for the conviction of sin and yet thou callest it Spiritual Answ How this agreeth with the former that in all the New Testament the Apostles Preached not the Law but the Gospel and here they are not thou sayest to be divided but are one in the End and Nature is not this a Contradiction Why then the Apostles when they Preached the Gospel Preached the Law And why shouldest thou quarrel with 〈◊〉 for saying we have the Law to Preach for the Law and the Gospel are one in the End and Nature Why then when the Apostle Paul said we are able Ministers not of the Letter or Law which thou addest above i. e. not of the Gospel or Spirit for the Law and Gospel are all one in their Nature it will cost thee some Sweat to untie this Knot What strange Divinity is this But when the Lord hath infatuated and left 〈◊〉 through Pride to delusion what will they not speak Law and Gospel are one in the End and Nature then are Moses and Christ one yet 〈…〉 came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ then Haâ— Sarah are one Ishmael and Isaac one Jerusalem beneath and that above one Thou hast brought Heaven and Earth together Gal. 〈◊〉 there the Apostle makes them distinct then the Covenants are one and the same Heb. 8. one made with the People when he brought them out of Egypt and that afterwards spoke of in Jeremiah then no difference betwixt Mount Zion and Mount Sinai they are come toâ—â—â—â—â— Thou John canst remove Mountains they are now both one In the Galatians The Covenant and Promise the Apostle saith was 430 years before the Law but John Crook saith the Apostle was out in his Chronology for they were both delivered at once for the Law and Gospel are one the Spirit and Letter are all one that which was Engraven in Stones and that work of God on the heart by the Gospel This is like the Divinity that you may hear from Quakers when you have discoursed them a little which I have seen in Jacob Behmen All things are but one so here Light Spirit Word and Gospel Heaven and Earth and Sea all but one The Creation is God and God is nothing but Creation what we do he doth O Confusion what 〈◊〉 this to but Rantism indeed and Atheism yet hitherto tends this admitting of no distinction of Law and Gospel But let us proceed 〈…〉 were not one in their End and Nature thou sayest John the Nature of the Law is by the Apostle described in 2 Cor. 3.6 the
because by obedience to it 〈◊〉 may be delivered from some sin And he is ready to say This is 〈◊〉 that loved me before I loved him Thus misapprehending those 〈◊〉 words in the Scriptures which are to be understood of the Perâ—â— of Christ as a Saviour and a Redeemer As that viz. Walk in the â—ight as he is in the Light and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 〈◊〉 all Sin And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make ye 〈◊〉 And many more which might be reckoned up are all falsly apâ—yed to the Light within and the power that doth accompany it 〈◊〉 so according to the Quaker the Saviour the Redeemer the Blood which â—lâ—anseth are all within changing renewing quickning bringing 〈◊〉 perfection Without which they say There is no Salvation so that 〈◊〉 directly runs to the Tenet of those mentioned Acts 15.1 and in the Epistle to the Galatians who said they must be Circumcised and keep the Law of Moses without which they could not be saved 〈◊〉 the contest was about Circumcision yet the Law of Moses 〈◊〉 something more than Circumcision this likewise viz. Thou shal◠〈◊〉 the Lord thy God with all thy Heart Soul and Strength and thy 〈◊〉 bour as thy self Which no Man since the Fall was ever 〈…〉 Christ excepted as appeareth Acts 15.10 the Law is called 〈◊〉 which neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear And who were 〈◊〉 Fathers but Abraham Isaac and Jacob which were saved by 〈◊〉 and not by Works Rom. 4.1 2 3. But thou sayest Baily that Moses was a leading-Quaker when trembled at Mount Sinai at the terrible appearance of the Lord in 〈◊〉 the Law Declaring that we are under the dispensation of the Coveâ—â—â— Works But was Moses saved by that terrible Appearance No 〈◊〉 looked unto Christ to come in the flesh For he had Faith it's 〈◊〉 received not the promise Heb. 11.39 i. e. They lived not in this 〈◊〉 to see the accomplishment of the Promise of Christ to come in the 〈◊〉 Wherefore it appears that ye believe that the Blood Saviour Redâ—â—â— are within That Person that was put to death at Jerusalem raised 〈◊〉 Life again whom God hath Exalted Acts 5.30 31. Which is 〈◊〉 born of Mary for the Godhead could not dy and rise again 〈◊〉 he Exalted but the Manhood And not only this Person but 〈◊〉 wise Reconciliation in that Body of his Flesh the Peace through 〈◊〉 Blood of his Cross are little worth with you Quakers And so 〈◊〉 wel Gospel But the Light the Life the Power within as you 〈◊〉 it is all your Justifying Righteousness And so the Law with 〈◊〉 become the Gospel and the Gospel the Law Moses Christ and 〈◊〉 Moses Thus the poor Soul is shut up in Prison to work for Liâ—â— Salvation as I have said according to the Quakers Doctrine 〈◊〉 there is an end of Christ and the Gospel Not that I deny good 〈◊〉 in their place So that your Condition and State which I was once in may 〈◊〉 be compared to Bondage The Lord be merciful to you Furthermore Thou sayest Baily that in my asserting the Light 〈◊〉 which I was convinced of sin and by obedience there unto thoughâ— should be brought into the Image of Christ and in that Righteoâ—ness be accepted with God and delivered from Wrath to come 〈◊〉 to be the Light of the Spirit But only the same Light by which 〈◊〉 Heathens did by Nature things contained in the Law That I am 〈◊〉 a denyer of the Scripture which Scriptures thou sayest are John 〈◊〉 and again in Tit. 2.11.9 p. 29. of thy Book Both which places 〈…〉 〈◊〉 you told me were spoken of Christ he being called in one place 〈◊〉 in another Grace 〈…〉 that lighteth every Man and appeareth unto all Men is 〈…〉 the same according to you 〈◊〉 speak a little to the first Scripture 〈…〉 thou art out for I deny not the Scripture but your sence 〈◊〉 â—â—â—uing of the Scripture And I have good ground to judg and 〈◊〉 that thou mayest with thy friends corrupt the right meaning the Scripture for your own ends as thou hast our words and Wriâ—â— notwithstanding your pure Light For in saying W. Haworth 〈◊〉 the Deity and Godhead which the Barbarous people saw by when apprehended Paul to be a Murderer in pag. 29. and saith I have â—â—â—dicted my Companion Which is a Lye with which you have 〈◊〉 the heap of Confusion For W. H. doth not say By the 〈◊〉 but In the Deity they saw it As I by my eye see a Glory in the 〈◊〉 But the Glory of the Sun is not therefore my eye by which I 〈◊〉 God hath placed an understanding faculty in the Soul of Man 〈◊〉 he comes to know something of God It doth not follow â—â—â—upon that this faculty is God 〈◊〉 thou abusest our Words in affirming the Faith that justifieth 〈◊〉 wrought out by a person wholly without Man as in pag. 35. gâ—â—â—â— to make people apprehend that we say Faith is without as well 〈◊〉 Person Jesus Christ When as I said in pag. 19. speaking of imâ—â— Righteousness It was manifested to me in the Spirit working 〈◊〉 in me So here is a plain wrong done us yet we say that Faith 〈◊〉 the matter of Justification think of us as thou wilt but the Instruâ—â—â— which we lay hold of the Matter of Justification viz. the â—â—â—â—nal Righteousness of Jesus Christ This Faith God worketh in his 〈◊〉 by his Spirit according as it is written He shall testifie of me 〈◊〉 15.16 In pag. 51. S. Crisp saith I have cast of Christs Yoke and Burden 〈◊〉 â—ot to Sieal tell lies speak evil words c. and cautioneth the 〈◊〉 therefore to take heed of me pag. 50. Whereas I said in pag. 〈◊〉 the little Book that I ought to lead a good Conversation 1. For 〈◊〉 of God 2. To manifest my Love to Jesus Christ 3. To Conâ—â—â— the World of Sin c. Pag. 16. Faith is the Spring from whence true Christian-works do 〈◊〉 Pag 19. This Faith ingageth to Love the Lord. Pag. 20. Holding Faith in a pure Conscience hoping to be found 〈◊〉 my self Thus you abuse us turning our words to your sence and meaning because we will not admit of those Works wrought in us by the Spirit to come in to Justification But dare say so to do is no other but 〈◊〉 destroying of the Gospel 〈◊〉 a despising of Christ and making Man service his Saviour Therefore you would make the people believe thaâ— we are against good-works and Sanctification Surely in this Censure you pass you did not obey your Light 〈◊〉 else your Light cannot inform you aright which sheweth it to be impure and unsound But to the Scripture thou mentionest John 1.9 That was the true Light which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World 1. As to that Phrase True Light I believe it was Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 of the Virgin Mary God and Man united in One. As
Ainsworth the corrupt Doctrines of the Jews Now Josephus will tell thee that the Fruit which grew in the place where Sodom and Gomorrah stood was always Bitter and of a Poysonous Nature nay the Grapes and Apples there were so Rotten that if touched they would fall into Dust and Ashes that were fair to the Eye But you delight in such Childish quibbles J. C. pag. 16. Thy following words taste of the same Leaven like those Pharisees that said Christ was a Sinner when he had opened the blind Mans Eyes Let God have the Glory so sayest thou let Christ have the Glory for bringing this young Man amongst you Answ How wide art thou in applying this of the Pharisees the Pharisees did think Christ was a sinner we Believe he is the Holy and just One a Lamb without spot harmless and undefiled such an High-Priest became us to have They did not Believe that Christ was God therefore would not give the Glory to him We Believe according to the Scriptures that he is and was over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. and therefore we give the Glory of all his works and of this work of his upon the young Mans heart in opening the Eyes of his mind to see the glorious Gospel and discern your delusion who was in his first Birth Spiritually-blind Thou and thy Brethren are worse than the Pharisees they acknowledged matter of fact but you deny this young Mans Eyes to have been opened when-as the most inlightened Servants of Christ whos 's same is in all the Churches of the Saints have owned it as an eminent work of the Spirit giving thanks to Christ for it J. C. pag. 5. Again thy words None of those that went out from you were properly of you had Received the Gospel which you Believe No it is not possible for any to receive it truely and forsake it What that Gospel is which you Believe it concerns you to search that it be not another Gospel Gal. 16. than the Apostles Preached Answ It doth highly concern us I grant for we are saved by the Gospel Therefore we have searched the Scripture which you despise and say is not the Rule Where do you search for the Gospel You enquire of the Light within as of the Oracle Therefore that Gospel which we Believe is not another but the same with that which the Apostles Preached We are Built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ himself not the Light within being the chief Corner-Stone Ephes 2.20 The Gospel which we Believe is that Good Ancient Everlasting-Gospel which was revealed to Adam fallen and in vain was that Revelation if the Light within would have shewn it viz. The seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents bead The Light within cannot be said to be the Seed of the Woman When the Woman that is not to Prophecy in the Church according to your interpretation is the Carnal part but it is Christ that in the fulness of time was made of a Woman Gal. 4. Again it is that Gospel that was Preached to Abraham viz. In thy Seed shall all the Nations viz. Jews as well as Gentiles of the Earth be blessed Which Seed the same Apostle in the same Epistle saith is Christ's Person This Gospel is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets and the sum of it is in Rom. 1.1 separate unto the Gospel of Christ v. 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh This is more than to appear in a Body according to J Bolton's Faith and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead in Cor. 1.15 I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you c. v. 3. how that Christ died for our Sins according to the Scriptures v. 4. And that he was Buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures This is the Gospel and we confessing with the mouth this Jesus Christ and Believing with our hearts that God hath raised him from the dead shall be saved Rom. 10.7 For he was delivered i. e. to death for our offences and was raised up again for our justification Rom. 4.25 J. C. For there were those that perverted the true Gospel and turned it upside down and wrested their sayings to their own destruction and others departed from the Faith which Paul Exhorts Timothy to hold fast 1 Tim. 1.19 Answ It 's very true there were such in the Apostles times and they were those that made themselves equal to the Apostles they transformed themselves into the Apostles of Christ and said Paul was but Carnal walked after the Flesh and do not you pretend to an infallible Spirit equal to the Apostolical Spirit And have not you cryed down all sorts of Ministers besides your selves Now what was that perverting the true Gospel in the Galatians but joyning something to Christ in Justification viz. Circumcision whereby they would make every one a debtor to the whole Law that they must keep it to perfection which whether it be not the same thing that thou art pleading for shall be tryed as we go on Only herein these false Apostles were not so much to be blamed as you we read not that they deserted the person of Christ but you have run up and down the Nation with this viz. That the Light in every Man was Christ from that Text John 1. This was the Light c. J. C. That others departed from that Faith which Paul Exhorts Timothy to hold fast Answ Now John what is Paul's Exhortation to Thee Whenas thy Brother Bayly pag. 35. in a derision saith the Scripture which you call your Rule is not your Rule what matters it what Faith you are Exhorted to thereby why do you thus make use of it But let us see what Faith it was that these departed from in I Tim. 1.19 See that v. 20. mention is made of Hymeneus and Alexander Now in the 2 Epistle to Timothy Chap. 2.17 18. Hymeneus is named again and his Error particularly mentioned saying the Resurrection is past already v. 18. Hymeneus was for an Allegorical Resurrection within and now how often have I heard this that when I have spoke with your Friends concerning the Resurrection of the Body viz. That they witnessed the Resurrection They are for an Allegorical Resurrection This old musty Error of Hymeneus we all know you be guilty of Thou hadst better not named that Scripture Thou goest on J. C. pag. 5. And is not the Gospel the power of God Rom. 1.16 and the being led away by sin and lust a departure from or a denyal of the power as 2 Pet. 3.17 where the Apostle exhorts the Beloved that knew the Truth of the Gospel to beware lest they also should be led away with the Error of the wicked Answ The Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation Christ who is the
and defraud and so enrich your selves But I am confident this young man was honest and so true to his perswasion for honesty without the Faith of the Gospel is their perswasion and Religion Now thou reflectest upon us by way of Query then what they are converted from or to c I answer we are converted from darkness that imbred natural darkness that we are in and all men unto Light which Light is Christ's person and the Gospel which declares of him and so to all things that Christ in the Gospel requires of us which is not only Morality but attending upon his Institutions as the Lord's Supper As often as ye do it c and through Grace we are true to this perswasion that the Holy Ghost hath wrought in us You will give us leave to walk by our own Light not yours and to profess still that we are not perfect nor think we shall ever attain it in this Life Yet do we think that as the Carnal Jew went beyond the Unbelieving Gentile so if we were as you think us to be but carnal gospellers yet in that we are come further than the Quakers that go about to make the people only moral Heathens J. C. Thou sayst the little time he hath had for proficiency in the Knowledg of the Gospel might discourage thee from making his Book Publick To which thou replyest I wonder at it seeing thou sayst before that it is not possible for any to receive it truly and forsake it which if he hath not done thou speakest unadvisedly with thy lips in saying that it is an experience which the Lord in rich mercy gave him whom thou also callest dear and elect Child and sayest flesh and blood hath not revealed this to him but our Father which is in Heaven but how can he that thus contradicteth himself agree with the truth in others Answer So according to thy Reasoning and Logick It is not possible for any to have been but a little time in the Gospel and yet truly to receive it as to be out of danger to forsake it Is this is a Contradiction every one that receives the Gospel truly must have received it many years but if any turn Quaker as Mede Pen and Ruddier you will say they are in the truth the first day As to the others Cannot the Lord in rich mercy give an experience and yet there may have been but little proficiency in the Knowledg of the Gospel that one may have the true teachings of the Spirit and yet not fit to Write and Print Is it not plain to all but Cavillers that I speak it thus viz. That he having penned these in his own Words and Phrases who was but newly come into the Faith and so might have but a dim sight into some truths and not know how to express himself so fitly as others that had spent more years in the Faith why didst thou not add that which goes before viz. the meanness of the persons Education thou shouldest have taken them together But it seems any of your Proselytes though never so childish are fit presently to adventure out in the press and in the ministery who so hold as blind c. J. C. pag. 6. Oh that every one of you my dear Brethren and every one i◠Hatford had the Knowledg of Christ thus distinctly formed in you till which thing be the soul of him to whom Christ hath committed you as his charge shall travel in birth and be in pain blessing God that his poor labours 〈◊〉 not altogether been in vain as to this matter what is that travel and labour worth that brings not to a distinct Knowledg of Christ and what a Church is that and what a pastor is he and how can they be dear brethren in truth in whom the distinct Knowledg of Christ is not yet formed Answer Either thou hast forgotten that this Phrase which I make use of was ever used by Paul Gal. 4.19 My little Children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be formed in you or else thou dost plainly gibe at Paul the Apostle and the Church of the Galatians at least through our sides thou woundest them Paul writes to the Galatians owns them as the Churches of Christ Chap. 1.2 saith that they had received the Spirit Chap. 3.2 Yet in tha◠they were hearkening to false teachers and were wavering and halting and tossed he speaks this And I understand it as to the distinct Knowledg of Christ and so I speak of it they had some knowledg of Christ but it was too confused and dim otherwise they would not have been enticed they were but little Children in this vers 19. he called them so yet Children Now John is this language becoming thee viz. Paul what is thy labour and travel worth when-as thou hast not brought the Galatians to have Christ formed in them and Paul what a Church is this Church that thou writes to in Galatia and what a Pastor Preacher and Apostle art thou and what dear Brethren are they to thee and what a Spirit is that they have received in whom Christ is not yet formed well said John thou art now got a degree above the Apostles in that thou canst thus call them to an account and yet this may well be the tendency of thy lines spoken to us when-as your Doctrine and Paul's are so opposite much a kin to the Doctrine of the false Apostles that questioned Paul's authority and looked upon his ministery but carnal and thou hast in this declared the same Spirit Paul saith in another place Thess 1.3 there is much lacking in your Faith and to the Corinthians are ye not Carnal Now what an Apostle what a Pastor art thou Paul and what a Church is the Church of the Corinthians that are carnal what Saints are they and what faithful ones in Christ are they And John how hast thou forgot thy self in this cavil had the Disciples the distinct Knowledg of Christ when-as they knew not the import of his death nor that he should rise again We thought said they that it had been he that would have restored Israel Luk. 24. whereupon he calls them fools vers 25. They did not distinctly know why Christ died nor the Scriptures that prophesied of it they did not distinctly know of his Resurrection for they would not believe it when reported they thought of a carnal Kingdom which the Messias was come to set up Yet these Christ calls Friends Disciples Brethren Go tell my Brethren Mat. 28.10 and in another place I go to my God and your God my Father and your Father Now John see how it will become thee to say what Brethren are those what Friends are those that had no more Knowledg not a distinct knowledg of Christs death and resurrection that were so ignorant and what a Pastor was Jesus that had such followers that had not the distinct knowledg of Christ formed in them but this is enough to make thee
〈◊〉 killeth why then according to thy Divinity the Gospel killeth 〈◊〉 for they are both one in their Nature then the Gospel conâ—â—â—â—â— to Death What then is the Administration of Life and Spirit and Righteousness and hath more Glory in it that excelleth I suppose it is the Doctrine G. Fox hath brought out of the North-Country Gal. 5. the Law genders to Bondage so the Gospel for both are of one 〈◊〉 What makes free then What Truth is it As many as are of the works of the Law are under a Curse Gal. 3.10 how comes theâ— the Blessing For as many as are of Faith are but in the same 〈◊〉 for Law and Gospel are one The Law is called a Yoke in Acts 〈◊〉 That neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear why so is the Gospel for both are of one Nature The End of Preaching the Law and giving it upon Mount Sinai was to terrify afright trouble as all the people were exceedingly afraid The Law in Rom. 4.15 worketh Wâ—ath why so doth the Gospel and this is the End of Preaching it for they are both one in their Ends according to J. C. what Divinity 〈◊〉 is the Doctrine of Comfort J. C. The Law for the Conviction of sin and yet thou callest it Spiritual Answ Paul in Rom. 7. saith The Law is Spiritual i. e. requires that all the thoughts of Man and desires and Motions of the heart should be Holy and Spiritual continually therefore it is a fit instrument for the Spirit to make use of by enlightning the Soul in the Knowledge of it to convince not of outward gross evils only but of heart-pollutions and so he sees his spots in this Christal-Glass and cries out I am Câ—nal J. C. The Spirit is said to convince and reprove the unbelieving World John 16.8 Answ Ergo the Law Jude 15. He shall convince all that are ungodly of all their â—godly Deeds Answ This is the second Scripture thou producest to prove Law and Gospel all one now here is not one word of the Law Behold the Lord cometh with ten Thousands of his Holy ones which may be Angels as well as Elect Glorified Saints Is this Lord the Law Is it the Light within which thou wouldest have it interpreted of Is it not Christ Jesus that is so frequently called Lord in the New Testament Is not this Coming his second Coming to Judgment not an appearing of the Light only to Judg and Condemn Men in their Consciences It is the Lord Christ in person coming as Judg. Observe that all these that he will Judge spoke of here shall be condemned it is not a reproof in order to deliver and save It 's said to execute Judgment upon all i. e. upon all those false Teachers described in the foregoing verses that were such as denied Christ v. 4.18 They were Mockers 19. They were such as did separate from the Saints in order of the Gospel 19. They were such against whom the Saints were to contend for the Faith in a word They were of your Spirit and Principle and Doctrines herein is the difference yours is Rantism covered with Morality theirs was with open Face none of these were saved v. 4. Who were of all Ordained to this Condemnation therefore impertinently alledged by thee and prophanely wrested by thee to overturn the second Coming of the Lord whom he will judge when he cometh if you Repent not for all your hard Speeches against him which I have heard and read This Scripture is interpreted by another Mat. 16.27 For the Son of Man shall come is that the Light within in the Glory of his Father with his Angels what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here one expounds the other what is Holy ones there is Angels here Again he rewards them every one according to his works J. C. pag. ibid. Ps 19.7 The Law is said to be perfect converting the Soul Answ This is the third place alledged to prove Law and Gospel one The Law is here taken for all the writings of the Scriptures will it follow that therefore it is so to be taken in all other places and that there is no distinction to be made Nay but therefore one part of the Doctrine contained in the Scriptures the Spirit makes use of for conviction and another for Conversion according to the Nature of the Doctrines The whole Nation is called properly the Land is therefore every piece of Ground in it good to bear Wheat because Ground or Land in general is J. C. So that Law and Spirit are frequently used as terms that signifie the same thing Answ It doth not appear by those Scriptures thou hast yet mentioned And I challenge thee to produce one Scripture where Law and Spirit are one the Gospel is called Spirit 2 Cor. 3. but the Law is called the Letter J. C. If thou knewest that Spirituality of the Law thou wouldest not 〈◊〉 about to divide them or quarrel with us about them Answ I have known the Spirituality of the Law convincing me of that to be evil which you say is not Sin viz. Evil thoughts arising in my heart though not consented to Yet I know how to distinguish between Law and Gospel it was the Doctrine of Righteousness by the Gospel that relieved me as it did Paul though he had a Body of sin working in him yet gives thanks to God through Christ in that there 〈◊〉 condemnation to them that were in Christ It is the Doctrine of the Gospel not Law taken strictly that declares non-imputation of Trespasses J. C. pag. ibid. But hence hath risen the mistake of many because they 〈◊〉 found several Names in Scripture therefore concluded they must needs intend several things while it is frequent in the Scripture to intend one and the same thing under several Names given them yet one in Nature and Being several Ministrations divers operations yet all by one and the same Spirit Answ I have before shown that Law and Gospel have diffâ— Ends and Natures not only several names therefore this of Father Son and Spirit is nothing to the purpose Father Son and 〈◊〉 are one in nature Thou speakest of several ministrations c. and yet all by one and the same Spirit Answ What then is therefore the Gift of Tongues and the gift of Fielding one and the same Gift is the Gift of Faith and Miracles all one 〈◊〉 might not the one be where the other was not as Christ to them who had cast out Devils said I know you not There is but one Soul in the body and all the actions are from that Soul therefore is my speaking and walking both one The Heaven and Earth from one Creator Sun and Moon are they therefore one J. C. pag. ibid. We know the Spirituality of the Law in the Apostles sense is the inward Conviction of the Spirit Answ This cannot be for the Law in its own nature is spiritual though none should be convinced
that deep silence thou intimates in case we did look for such an effusion of the Spirit as was at first knowing that the Apostles themselves at Jerusalem waiting for the Promise of the Father Acts 1.14 continued with one accord in Prayer and Supplication I suppose it was not mental Prayer in a silent meeting but we believe by an ordinary Revelation of the Spirit upon our minds in the diligent reading of the Scripture we may be able to understand the Mysteries necessary for Salvation 1 Cor. 2.18 The Spiritual Man discerneth all things J. C. Thou sayest we are to conceive of God according as the Scripture sets him forth to us Ans Thou mightest well have joyned that to this which immediately goeth before it viz. we are prone to measure God by the Rules of our own imagination and to think that what appears to be Righteousness with us is so with him but this would have prevented thy following Cavil I insert it lest the Reader should not have the Epistle by him I ask now Whether the Scriptures or our imaginations and thoughts be the Rule whereby we are to measure God and true Righteousness J. C. pag. 16. But the Scriptures contrariwise Condemn all Mans conceivings saying Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard it hath not entred into the heart of Man to conceive Answ When I say We it 's plain I understand Saints and Ministers that have the Spirit not those that are totally destitute thereof For I write to a Church of Christ direct my Speech to them and by way of digression to my Brethren in the Ministery And though thou apprehendest none but Quakers and their Ministers have the Spirit give me leave to think that others have and these to whom my Epistle is sent so that thou dost but here trifle as in other places and very Childishly the Scripture doth no where condemn Man's conceivings of Godly the Scriptures and according to them The Scripture thou mentionest here speaks of the natural Man 1 Cor. 2.14 opposed to the Spiritual i. e. the Man that hath no more Light than that which every Man hath Why art thou angry with this John if any do conceive of God according to the Scripture he conceives aright of God and it argues he hath the Spirit But I know where it pincheth thee thou wouldest not that any should conceive of God according to the Scripture but according to the immediate teachings of the Light within I know John thou art an Enemy to the Scripture as shall appear as we go on J. C. ibid. The Scriptures are true as God means them not as Man by his conceivings interprets them Answ If thou wouldest speak out thou wouldest say that this God that only gives the meaning of the Scriptures is the Light within so that according to thee none can give any true meanings of the Scripture but John C. and those Brethren of his in the Minstery Thou art herein as bad as Muggleton the Prophet he saith none can interpret Scripture aright but he Thus John thou hast set up a few Popes at Devonshire-House from whom as from so many Oracles we are to receive the true Interpretation of Scriptures it 's true what thou sayest here But doth not the Spirit who is God give the meanings of the Scriptures in the Scriptures Do not they Interpret themselves best When thou sayest as viz. Man by his conceivings Why are not the Saints Men And the Ministers of Christ Men Ours are still though yours be Women and Virgins But J. C. how didst thou forget thy self in contradicting the Oracle G. F. who said that the Man in the Male and the Man in the Female may speak and so Interpret Scriptures in your Meetings and here thou sayest Not as Man by his conceivings Interprets them J. C. And the understanding of every true Disciple must be opened by Christ before he can rightly know them as it is written he opened their Understandings that they might Understand the Scriptures for till then they are a sealed Book to the Learned and Vnlearned Answ This likewise we acknowledg to be true but then do still query Whether this Light that openeth the Understanding of every true Disciple be not the Light within that every one hath if not then the Light within cannot do it thou grantest and that Scripture thou namest confirms me that thou hast forsaken thy Principle about the Omnipotency of the Light within for in the last of Luke that opening of the Disciples Understandings surely was another thing than any teachings of the Light that every one hath It was some Beamings of the Spirit at that time enlightning their Understandings which are of a different nature from that Light that every one hath as in time we will make evident I grant in the close that the Scriptures are a sealed Book both to the Learned and Unlearned that have not the Spirit of Christ according to Jer. 55.21.11 12. Only I query whether still it be not a sealed Book to all but the Quakers Thou goest on to the next Paragraph of the Epistle and meddles not with a word of this more so that I take it for granted and let the Reader take notice of it that J. C. consents either to this first Principle in the Series of the Principles as in order they are laid down viz. that such is the Purity of God that nothing is accepted by him but what is every way compleat and perfect and if so then he believes that Righteousness within which consists in the vertues and gifts of the Spirit in every Quaker is every way perfect and compleat and for this compleatness is accepted and that it will hold the test before God's Tribunal and so will justify us and that it is beyond the Righteousness of the Elect Angels or he doth not consent to it if so then he is afraid to touch it but silently passeth it as a Principle that is altogether too strong for him to encounter though it 's the basis of all the rest touching Imputed Righteousness J. C. pag. ibid. Thou utterest many words about the Confession of Sin as if the Quakers were against the Confession of sin to God Answ As to this Head or Principle that is also asserted thou dost not speak any thing viz. None of the Sons of Men since Adams fall that was no more than Man hath ever brought neither can any of them bring this perfect and compleat Righteousness to God either thou consentest to this or no if thou dost as by thy silence it should appear then what becomes of the Quakers Perfection that thou and all have pleaded for It is then a Perfection that is not a compleat Righteousness if thou dost not think this true thou playest the Hypocrite in not contradicting it but if thou would not juggle and play Leger-de main thou dost think that Man can bring a compleat perfect Righteousness since the fall and this Righteousness is in every Quaker wrought
That Christ was born of a Virgin so his Manhood 〈◊〉 without sin spotless and endued with the Spirit without Measure 〈◊〉 He did in his Holy Actions fulfil the Law 3. All his sufferings 〈◊〉 taken in being at last made an offering for sin he being God as well 〈◊〉 Man these Actions and sufferings are of infinite value now observe Reader not a word of this here in this place by J. C. but only in the general Righteousness manifested in him and by him Now what do the Quakers mean Let Pennington speak pag. 25. What Nature must these sacrifices be of which cleanse the Heavenly things whether of necessity they must be Heavenly If so then whether it was the Flesh and Blood of the Vail or the Flesh and Blood within the Vail Whether it was the Flesh and Blood of the outward Earthly Nature or the Flesh and Blood of the inward Spiritual Nature Whether it was not the Flesh and Blood which Christ took of the first Adams Nature or that of the second Adam's Nature Now John That Righteousness that in the fulness of time was manifested in Christ and by Christ was only the Obedience and Sufferings and Sacrifice of that Spiritual Heavenly Flesh and Blood of the first Adam's Nature that was in the Vail that of the Vail the Body and humane Nature that he had from the first Adam the Righteousness of this and the Sufferings of this is nothing Now let the Reader view the Harlot She is known now She is in her own Whorish Attire J.C. pag. ibid. And in due time made mine by the work and application of the Spirit in my inner parts Answ True we say that this Righteousness spoke of is really made mine thus The Spirit works Faith in my inward parts whereby I view it apprehend it receive it for my self having need of it therefore called so often the Righteousnss of Faith Through faith in his 〈◊〉 in Rom. 3. and it is really mine Faith is the substance of things hoped 〈◊〉 But now hear Penington Mysteries of the Kingdom pag. 17. Convered to the Creature in and through the seed and brought forth in the Creature by the seed and the Creature united to Christ in the seed here is Justification of Life This is the application of the Spirit in their sence This Righteousness is the Light Christ the heavenly flesh that was in the vail The seed through which it is conveyed is Christ and the Seed that brings it forth is Christ and the Seed in which the Creature is united to Christ is Christ the Light within every man The sum is then accâ—ording to Penington Christ the Light in every man is conveyed to the Creature by Christ and brought forth by Christ and the Creature is united to this Christ in Christ the Light This is John Crooks application of the Spirit Deny Peningtons Divinity if thou darest J. C. parag ibid. And God is well pleased or satisfied in and with him in whom I am accepted and not for works of righteousness that I have done nor yet for the works sake only or quatenus works though wrought in me by his Spirit but in and for the sake of him that works in us and for us Isa 26.12 Answ Would any think that it is the same man that writes a little further so much against my asserting that our own Righteousness consists in those Vertues and Gifts that the Holy Spirit works in our minds and that this is not the Righteousness in which we are accepted Oh would not any think that John had fully yielded herein to me and that he was very sound in this point and no Papist But now pray let us conster it by their own Dictionary and see what it will speak And God is well pleased and satisfied in and with him If this him was to be understood of the true Christ we need not one word further But Remember what the Quakers Christ is viz. the Heavenly Flesh Blood and Bones that came down from Heaven not Jesus of Nazareth and it is the man in every Male and Female that preacheth among the Quakers it is nothing but the Light in every man which is called the Spirit in the inward parts immediately before God is well pleased with this and satisfied with the Light and I am accepted in the Light he means and not for the works of Righteousness which I have done here is Pauls words but the Quakers sence still no but for the works of Righteousness that the Light does and are wrought in the Light that every man hath Naylor Love to the lost pag. 64. yet it is speaking of self-Sanctification and Mortification the Work of God wrought by Christ in the Believer whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into 〈◊〉 Obedience and his Obedience into them in the measure till they 〈◊〉 of one heart one mind one Soul one Flesh one bone one blood 〈◊〉 one Obedience and one Life and that it is no more we that live 〈◊〉 Christ that lives in us Now by this line you may fathom to the 〈◊〉 the Mystery of works of Righteousness which he hath done i. e. J. C. did them not but Christ the Light in him it was the Obedience of that Light wrought into him and he made one Soul flesh blood with this Christ the Light in every one ye know what Naylor made himself Thou now Reader sees the snare and trap uncovered this Divinity will bring you to this that the Personality of J. C. is lost and his personal actions are all lost when he prays or preaches it is Christ Prayeth and Preacheth not John Crooks and that Christ and he are both one Person Such monsters have been among the Quakers J. C. not for the works sake only or quatenus works though wrought in me by the Spirit Answ For the works sake only why then J.C. thou would have the works that are wrought by the Spirit have some share in acceptation thou would not have it only for their sakes which we may thank thee for but partial causes they must be Christ of himself and his Merit is not sufficient unless something wrought by the Light in us doth joyn its Merit with him but this Phrase quatenus works why if not as works how 〈◊〉 as they are Christ the Light and his Obedience as before according in Naylors sense J. C. Wrought in me by the Spirit but in and for the sake of him that works all our good works in us and for us Answ That is plainly it is for the Lights sake in which the Quakers works all their works that the Quakers do are accepted and which doth work all their works in them and for them J. C. pag. 10. Thou believest to be saved by a Righteousness wholly without thee reckoned but not real which Righteousness Christ wrought 1600. years since Answ And I do J. C. solemnly profess in the presence of God Angels and Men that I believe that Righteousness
truth then is this That our persons are the Subjects of that Righteousness which sanctifies Christ's Person is the Subject of that Righteousness which Justifies J. C. Pag. 14. Another Reason thou givest to prove the Gifts and Vertues aforementioned to be our own Righteousness because we put forth the Actions both internal and External Is it not we that Believe and we that Repent and we that are said to pray By this Argument it 's best neither to believe nor repent nor pray because these are but our own Righteousness and the more we do them the heavier are we loaden with the filthy Bags of our own Righteousness Answ The Reason is good and stands and thy inference is ungodly and wicked This I say distinguishing our own Righteousness from Christ's Righteousness it is not Christ that Believes or Repents or Prays neither was it any of us that suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem nor that was born of the Virgin nor perfectly fulfilled the Law and the inference from hence that is Genuine is this viz. therefore ought we not to trust to our Repentings Believings Prayings Sufferings for these are imperfect but to Christ and we are not laden the more with these Rags as thou speakest but the defects are pardoned for Christ's sake and we are and so our Duties accepted in Christ Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God no other way but through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 that phrase in Isai 64 4. which thou in scorn so often repeats are the Prophets words and thou mocks at the Holy Scriptures he doth speak it of his own Righteousness our Righteousness not only the peoples but his and the duties which he and the people were found in were those that God had commanded in the Ceremonial Law yet of these all he saith this and it 's true Comparatively to that pure spotless Righteousness of the Son of God and if God through Christ should not cleanse us and wash us and put his own Robes upon us we should all be cast out But let me ask thee darest thou say that this moral Principle of doing to others as we would have them to do to us is the Righteousness that Justifies before the Glorious Tribunal of an infinite pure God whose eyes are as a flame of Fire that thou darest stand and fall to the strict judgment of God as thou hast all thy days for cursed is he that continues not in all things to do them been true or false to this Principle I trow not wo to thee then for thou hast in several things in this thy writing dealt with me as thou wouldest not have me to deal with thee why but then if it be not that which Justifieth it is better never be found at all in doing to any as we would have others should do to us for this is but our Moral Righteousness in the second Table commanded between Man and Man how dost thou like this retortion Withal by this is implied the mercenary Spirit of the Quakers who would neither Pray nor be Holy if they did not think to merit something by their Works J. C. Parag. ibid. These things manifest thy estrangedness to the Works of Regeneration and helpings of the Spirit of God Answ I have through Grace experienced that work upon my Soul and have pleaded it with thee as thou knowest in opposition to their tenent of the Light in every one which overthrowes it as if every one had the Seed of it in his heart but yet I have learned to distinguish between this forgiveness of sins wherein my Justification lies as in Rom. 4. Regeneration this is but a Fruit of Forgiveness had not God forgiven my sins he would never have healed my Nature no Regeneration without Faith Acts 26.18 Sanctified by Faith So that your Doctrine destroys Sanctification if no Justification by imputed Righteousness no Regeneration I own the helpings of the Spirit of God and more I can say for that word helpings is too narrow as if there were some power in Man the Spirits causing creating Faith in me on this Righteousness of Christ which my heart hath been so far in helping in that it hath opposed But yet I will distinguish and say it was Christ and not the Spirit died for me Those helpings of the Spirit in me do not Justifie me yet I praise God for them as an evidence and fruit of Justification J. C. Parag. ibid. A heavy charge upon all the Prophets and Apostles of Christ who were obedient to these inward Gifts Vertues and Motions of God's Holy Spirit Answ If thou canst produce one instance of either Prophet or Apostle that ever sought to be Justified in the sight of God for any obedience to any inward Gifts and did not apply themselves to God through Christ for Pardon of sin I will leave this Doctrine Remember Rom. 3.24 But now the Righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets But John thou hast forgot what thou said'st pag. 10. viz. Not for the works sake though wrought in me by the Spirit and here pleads for Obedience to the inward Gifts which must be Works and saith all Prophets and Apostles were Obedient to them and this in opposition to imputed Righteousness But I knew thou wast not in earnest in what thou seemed'st to speak them but to conclude I believe that the good Men of old were obedient to the inward Gifts of the Spirit and we all ought to he and are through Grace in some measure but then by all that the Spirit doth in us it doth lead us to Christ and his Righteousness according to that in John 15. The Comforter shall testify of me Chap. 16. He shall take of mine and shew it unto you and hereby know we the Spirit of Truth the Comforter from the Spirit of error The Comforter will Glorifie Christ's person J. C. Parag. ibid. By thy Account they did but obey their own Righousness in what they did they knew and understood that their hearts are as the Pen of a ready Writer as David speaks Answ This thou bringest is very impertinent to the thing in hand That of David Ps 45.1 My Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer Thou changest Tongue here for Hearts Now doth not David a Prophet about to write great things of Christ in this Psalm make use of this Phrase to denote the Power of the Holy Ghost with him in giving forth this Holy Scripture that as Mans hand acts the Pen as its Organ so the Spirit the Tongue of David and thus the Holy Men of God that writ the Scripture are said in 2 Pet. 1. ult to be moved acted forcibly carried away by the Holy Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the speaking forth the Truths of the Scriptures and how sad is it that some of you should pretend to this same impulse to as high a degree in their Writings as I have seen some Title-pages of your Books filled
there was of old Elymas the Sorcerer and Simon Magus that bewitched the people of Samaria and 〈◊〉 there are now some such among the Papists so among you some thâ— be witch the poor Country people with Sorceries For one to be humble in his Carriage among his Neighbours to day surly dogged and proud to morrow courteous in his Salutes to day Bruitish and unmannerly to morrow affable and discoursing now presently 〈◊〉 silent morose to day speaking honourably of Christ Scripture Loâ— Supper to morrow either contemning of them oâ— quarrelling with them or else down-right speaking against them When as this day he came among God's people to morrow he will not come near them nor pray with them to day he prays with his Family next day noâ— now he is sedate and quiet in his Spirit within a while trembling restless raging to day love to his Relations next day runs away from them or little regards them if not Quakers in one day his whole Garb Carriage Love Words Gestures will be changed and which is remarkable they shall all agree to speak against the old substantial fundamental comfortable Truths of the Gospel yea the neaâ— the Truth is concerning Christ Jesus his Person Natures or Officer the more against it withal every one of them endowed presently with a sly cunning jugling Jesuitical temper for equivocations mental 〈◊〉 servations waiting to catch at words that are spoke to them all plain-heartedness and ingenuity is gon And again how worldly stingy reserved all freeness right generosity and nobility is all departed now is this the blessing Who can think but that another Spirit that is not Christ doth enter O Lord arise and let thine Enemies be scattered It 's very manifest now the Lord remedy it and deliver this poor blind people from these Regions of Darkness wherein they sit to the sweet Light of the Gospel which begetteth the quite contrary effâ— in the Saints What if a Spirit should possess any fill him toss him tumble him up and down throw him into Trances act him to pray yea to speak like an Angel and enable him to endure sufferings yea and in some measure he is at peace and in comfort yet loves not Christ Jesus nor his Gospel what would this avail was it not a Spirit of deâ—on and would not that person be in a deplorable Condition J. C's POSTSCRIPT OH that these smitings may be as Balm for they are the words of a Friend to thy poor lost Soul as at present thou art oh feel them feel them and be not wroth because of them lest the gate of Mercy be shut against thee Answ In Luke 18.23 If I have spoken evil hear Witness of the 〈◊〉 saith the Lord Christ but if well why smitest thou me so if I live writ any thing false confute it plainly if not why dost thou rail at me how then can I receive those smitings for bearing witness to the Truth as Balm when-as it is not the Balm of Gospel-Love but like the Vinegar and Gall they gave to Christ and the words of this Friend but like the kisses of such a Friend as Judas was that would betray 〈◊〉 redeemed Soul into the hand of damnable errors that would â—roy it thou bid'st me feel them I have felt them and perceive from what Spirit they proceed by the sharpness of them and cannot but be grieved that there should still remain in thee such a keen bitter proud Pharisaical Socinian Spirit against such a good ancient wholsom sound comfortable saving holy Truth as the Imputed Righteousness of Christ to poor fallen lost undone sinners without strength to keep the Law and save themselves and a Spirit of Hell and Satan directly contrary to the blessed Angelical Spirit the Angels rejoyce when a Sinner is converted but thou and thy Brethren are very angry at this young Man's Conversion Now I am not wroth as thou thinkest because of thy smitings but they have stirred my Zeal against erâ— for the Truth the more which shall by the Grace of God be improved to the utmost in preachings and writings against your ways â—ycing that the Keys are in Davids hand Jesus Christ's not thine for then the Gates of Mercy would be shut against all such as we are but they stand open and for such Rebels as thou art to the Grace of Christ Jesus and such Apostates from the Truth if peradventure God will give thee Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth that thou mayest be recovered out of the snare of the Devil that art taken Captive by him at his Will 2 Tim. 2.25 26. An Answer to the Aditional POSTSCRIPT THe Christian Judicious Reader having passed the foregoing lines by this time seeth that what followeth in this Postscript Pag. 18. is but a meer fallacious harangueof words purposely stitched together to deceive some weak ones this Testimony of thine is indeed like the Apples of Sodom touch them and they immediately moulder into dust let them be examined and they are found to be hollow rotten shouking but I have done it already and therefore need not do it over again And now that all may know thou art a dissembler I challenâ—e thee to Answer to these following Queries in thy next Book to which if thou Answerest me plainly briefly cordially properly to the truth of them thou wilt discover thy self that one of these two things will follow Either that thou art a perfect Cheat in these lines thou haft writ and so gross a Heretick that thou art not worthy that a Chrissâ—an should eat or drink with thee Or Secondly that thou hast presently renounced Quakerism and if so why then we desire thee to publish thy Repentance withal promising to Answer any Question thou wilt put to me to try the Principles of my Religion by and in thy Answer let me have I pray thee a solemn appeal unto God that thou speakest according to the bare literal ordinary meaning of the Words and Phrases which hath been received among the serious Professors of the Christian Religion this may do much to put an end to the controversie and satisfie many 1. Dost not thou know that the Independent Presbyterian and Anabaptist party are both in their Preachings and Writings for an Experimental spiritual knowledg of Christ and that they do generally assert that a bare Dogmatical and Historical knowledg of Jesus of Nazareth is not sufficient for Salvation without the Truths be inwardly taught by the Spirit because thou dost insinuate so much in the 8. P. as if they were only for an Historical and against an Experimental Knowledg 2. Dost not thou believe that some may know the Mystery and so be 〈◊〉 without ever hearing of or knowing the History of Jesus of Nazareth 3. Whether is Jesus Christ now a Person out of Man or only a Principle or Quality in Man 4. Dost thou believe that Man that was born of Mary the Virgin at Bethlehem in Judea to be the Messiah the Christ of
other Men. Reply That Scripture John 1.9 which thou bringest will not prove this viz. That every one that cometh into the World is lighted i. e. savingly by the Light of Christ for that Phrase cometh into the World hath reference to that Word Christ not the Word Man as appears by another Scripture John 12.46 I am come a Light into the World so that it 's said this Was the true Light having Respect to the person of Christ taking Flesh thus coming into the World he was the greatest Light and brought the greatest Light that ever was by his Preaching working Miracles giving the Spirit but saith not here that he is the Light in every one Now the other viz. that Lighteth every Man this cannot be meant universally of every individual Man or Woman in the World because many at that day were in darkness v. 5. The Light shined in darkness but the darkness comprehended it not Christ was among them yet they were darkness and they cannot be said to have a saving Light in them and yet be called darkness for then their state would be changed from darkness to Light Again the Apostles are the Light of the World will it therefore follow that all the Heathens and every one was Lighted within by them that they were that Light within that every Man hath It s said of Paul warning eâ—every Man and teaching every Man Col. 1.28 did Paul warn every individual Man and Woman in the World That Christ as a Creator doth give some kind of Light to every one may be granted to thee but not as a saving Light that must be as a Mediator thou must seek another Scripture It 's at hand Baily Titus 2. If the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men then it appeared to the Heathens for they were Men. Reply It should have been said in the last Proposition viz. to all the Heathens to the Heathens it did for many of them were converted by the Preaching of the Gospel but what is this to thy purpose the Light in every Man cannot be called the Grace of God in that I proved it to be a Natural Light before But withal how camest thou to be so mistaken if thou hadst minded the Margin it would have corrected the reading but thou wast not willing it is not so in the Greek as thou reads it viz. hath appeared to all Men neither ought it to be rendred in the translation but thus the Greek hath it The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all Men hath appeared this then will not effect thy business yet unless thou wilt say that this bringing Salvation to all Men will do it but if Salvation be brought to every individual then every one is saved surely then it was only to every one that was saved by it The Third Argument of Bayly is W. H. calls it the Deity Ergo. This is a notorious falshood it 's well if not maliciously perverting my plain words I have given a fair account of it in my Answer to Crook Pag. here thou acts not according to the Light to do as thou wouldst be dealt withal The Fourth Argument is drawn from the Fruits of this Tree which thou Blasphemously calls the Tree of Life which should be spoke of the Person of Christ He and He only is the Tree of Life The young Man saith the Light that every Man hath is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ i. e. Of Regeneration and Faith because of it's Fruits which were these three 1. It taught that the first motions to evil arising in the heart if not consented to were not sin 2. That the Doctrine of Justification was a Doctrine of Libertinism 3. That Salvation was by our own Righteousness Now thou speakest not a word here to this corrupt Fruit that sprang from that which thou callest the Tree of Life but let us hear what the Fruits are as thou sayest Baily 1. Thou sayest It assented to the word of Christ and his Apostles therefore it must be the Spirit of Christ Reply The Devil did assent to the words of the Scripture it will follow then according to thy Arguing which I may not write 2. It doth not assent to all the Scripture which the Spirit of Christ doth for it taught him contrary as you may see in these three things 3. It assented only to the Abstaining from outward Evils which foolish talking and jesting were which it may do and yet not be the Spirit of the Son as I will make appear plainly in the Answer to thy next proof 2. Fruit. It convinced him of Evil and let us joyn the four following to this for they are all of the same nature 3. Kept him from stealing 4. From Lying that of few words was spoke to before 5. From doing any wrong outwardly sinning outwardly 6. It gave him strength and power to do that which was good in the sight of God and Men. Reply In this last passage thou greatly wrongs the young Man and in that other likewise viz. and delivered him from it his words are that he had power over Evil and was delivered but not that this Light within gave him the Power but let it go as thou wouldest have it what from all these therefore is thy conclusion It is the Spirit of Truth the Comforter that leads into all Truth pag. 30. Reply Then had Judas the Spirit of Truth that leadeth into all Truth the Comforter for the was convinced of sin and so the most wicked Man under Heaven hath sometimes convictions for sin 2. Then the young Rich Man had the Spirit of Truth the Comforter for he could say touching the commands of the Law All these have I done So had Paul before his Conversion while a Persecutor and Blasphemer for at that time he could say of himself touching the Law blameless Phil. 3. likewise by this Reasoning of thine the Pharisee had the Spirit the Comforter that thanked God he was not as others nor as the Publican Luke 18. it 's said Matth. 12.44 of the Jews that they were swept and garnished yet Satan entred outward Reformation of Life doth not evince the Spirit 's indwellings 7. Fruit. He had Joy Peace and Comfort in obeying the Light Therefore it is the Comforter the Spirit of Truth Reply Then had Paul the Comforter the Spirit of Truth before his Conversion Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the Law once What is that But that he had Peace before he came to have the Spiritual Knowledg of the Law convincing him that desires after evil though not consented to were sin 2. If all Peace was true then this Fruit would argue it to be the Spirit of Christ but all Peace is not right good true else why doth Christ say my Peace I leave with you John 14. and the Apostle speaks of the Peace of God that passeth all understanding c. 3. There can be no Good Conscience nor true Peace without Faith in the
that proceed from hence were they not his own was it Christ or Paul that Believed Loved Prayed c all the Logick thou hast Baily cannot gainsay but that it was Paul and if so then it was not madness and folly to say but the Wisdom of the Spirit of God taught him so viz. That he would be found in Christ not having those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit had wrought in his Mind to Justify him in God's sight for there are defects in all these Gifts Faith Love c. and in all our Holiness and remember God chargeth his Angels with folly and might well have charged Paul with Madness and Folly if he had trusted to his own Righteousness to Justify him in his sight I wish thou wouldst see thy own Pride Hypocrisie Ignorance Pharisaism Answer any of you Could ever Paul have the least temptation to trust to his Pharisaical Righteousness after he was converted then surely it was this Sanctified Righteousness he here speaks of which he saw would come short to Justify him but thou art otherwise mindded as it 's said in Phil. 3. by Paul God reveal it to thee in due time many of us were thus minded for some time but now through inlightnings we follow Paul's example in this Truth and are like-minded with him herein B. And pag. 11. Thou sayest viz. The Quaker goeth about to make his own Righteousness to stand yes and blame him not if it consists in those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God worketh in his mind how is any a true Christian without these Reply Thou hast said more here through thy ignorance of the Righteousness of God than thou darest stand to darest thou say that thou wouldest stand or fall before the infinitely Holy God and have him deal with thee for ever in his exact Justice according as thou hast been found in the most holy Exercise of any of the Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit speak The Prophet saith Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be Justified Psal 143. 2. but here is a Prophet saith Thou mayest Lord to the utmost Judg me for I have Gifts and Vertues enough of the Spirit in me to Justify me in thy sight In Psal 130.3 The Psalmist saith If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand Yea saith this Pharisee but I shall and my Righteousness too for it consisteth in the Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit and let God mark iniquities never so narrowly I shall do well enough Job a perfect and upright Man speaketh on this wise Chapt. 9.2 How shall Man be Just with God v. 3. If he will contend with him he cannot answer him one of a thousand But here is a perfect Man that saith Man may be Just with God and if God doth contend with him he hath the Gifts of the Spirit which Job belike had not and this Righteousness shall stand and thus W. B. can Answer God every thing in every thousand that is laid to his Charge V. 15. Whom though I 〈◊〉 Righteous yet would I not Answer but make my supplication to my Judg yea v. 21. Though I were perfect yet would I not know my Soul 〈◊〉 30 31. Though I wash my self in Snow water and make my hands â—â—ver so clean yet shalt thou plung me in the Ditch and mine own Clothes â—â—all abhor me But W. B. saith he will Answer God in this his perfection and this shall be his Answer viz. That his Righteousness shall stand and he will know his own Soul thus adorned and let God plung him if he can he will adventure it The Heavens are not clean in 〈◊〉 sight the Scripture saith in the Book of Job but Baylies Righteousness is clean in God's sight He chargeth his Angels with folly no matâ—â—â— for that Bayly cannot be charged for his Righteousness consists in the Gifts of the Spirit But have not the Elect Angels the Gift of the Spirit But it 's likely not in such a Degree as this Man or they have more mixture of evil in the exercise of them than this Prophet I err not in calling thee a bold proud Man for this saying I will give thee a Testimony out of Foxes Monuments of one of the Martyrs see how it agrees with thy Doctrine in the third Volume pag. 418. Anno 1555. in a letter of Robert Samuels written to the Christian Congregation declaring the Confession of his Faith these are his words viz. All the Works Merits Deservings Doings and Obedience of Man towards God although they are done by the Spirit of God in the Grace of God yet being thus done be of no Validity Worthiness Merit before God except God for his Mercy and Grace account them worthy for the Worthiness and Merit of Christ Jesus c. And thou contradicts thy Brother John Crook who in his words acknowledgeth that he looks to be accepted not for works of Righteousness that he had done not for the works sake only though wrought by the Spirit yet here that which is wrought by the Spirit must Justifie us in Gods sight otherwise thou sayest nothing for we say that none are true Christians without the Gifts of the Spirit but yet these do not Justify them in God's sight Justification and Sanctification go hand in hand our state and Relation is changed there is Justification our Nature there is Sanctification the Gifts of the Spirit and Regeneration flow from Justification in order of Nature though not of times we are Justified before we are Renewed forgiven before Sanctified Pag. 37. I cannot well pass over one passage in Bailies Railery saying that I am like Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses proclaiming 〈◊〉 folly a Phrase used frequently by the Quakers Reply After that lofâ—y Anti-evangelical Speech that he had used before touching his own Righteousness how it must stand it will 〈◊〉 be amiss to cast our eye to the Scripture where this is mentioned 2 Tim. 3. 8. and view that sort of Men there described and see if they were not Quakers if of any sort v. 2. Boasters proud Blasphemers v. 3â— fierce dispisers of them that are good v. 4. Heady high minded v. 5. Having a form of Godliness denying the Power v. 7. Ever learning never coming to the knowledge of the Truth v. 8. Men of corrupt minds of no Judgment concerning the Faith These were they that were Seducers which did resist Pauls Doctrine as you may read in this Chapter B. And it 's known to thee and all the world that the Quakers own 〈◊〉 other Righteousness to be Justified by but the Righteousness of Jesus Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith in him Reply But now it 's too late to deceive with these good words We see your cunning Craftiness this Righteousness of Jesus Christ that you plead for he is only the Author of not the Subject it is noâ—â—â— his Person according to your Divinity but in
3. B. The Papists would Condemn and Judge thee to be an envious Hypoâ—â—â— should these Lines come to their hands who are as opposite to us in 〈◊〉 Religious ways of Worship as Darkness to Light Reply Let the Reader take notice that here Bayly hath shewn as 〈◊〉 ingenuity as in any part of his Book in that he doth tacitly imply 〈◊〉 the Papists and Quakers agree in Doctrine It 's only in Worship that they are Opposits And what agreement there is may be seen in 〈◊〉 Parallel Baily And are wholly without with thee in their dark imagination Reply Thou mayest see that many of the Papists are for Mental Prayer Passive Unions a State of introversion attendance upon God in the depths of the Spirit internal Solitude Thou art mistaâ— here thou mayest learn many brave mystical words from Mr. 〈◊〉 that speaks frequently of the Deiform fund of the Soul B. And again sayest thou If ever Satan was transformed into an Anâ— of Light It is in this People and sayest they swarm like Locusts and 〈…〉 have an Impudent Enemie to deal withal Reply There is not any thing said by thee to take off this Charge 〈◊〉 only thou askest what evil the Quakers have done me how they 〈◊〉 to be my Enemies promisest that if they have wronged me that they will right me I know what I have said is true and withal that 〈…〉 and wrong that the Quakers have done me in their Railings 〈◊〉 Language to my Face behind my Back the false Reports they 〈◊〉 raised of me may easily be passed over in that I see it is their 〈◊〉 way to deal so with all their Adversaries but their greatest 〈◊〉 is in Adulterating the Gospel perverting Scriptures Their 〈◊〉 fulsome loathsome Errors whereby they offend the Ears and 〈◊〉 the hearts of all the Godly in the Nation And if you should right me and others herein it would be well if thou and John Crook and George Whitehead and William Penn would write Books of Retractation in unfeigned Repentance B. For it is Christ in them the Hope of Glory which thou hast blâ—sphmed who is the true Light that lighted every Man that cometh into the World to whom all the Angels must bow Reyly Now I thank thee for this plain Testimony If you would always thus plainly speak out then would the people loath you and spew you out but thou wilt deny thy words again Here Reader thou seest the Light within which every Heathen hath and every Man living that cometh into the World is according to Baily a person and the very Christ He that was Preached of among the Gentiles that hath Riches of Glory treasured up in him that is both the ground and cause of all the hope of Salvation that any hath That all the good Angels must Worship and do Worship And all the Devils are subject to him No wonder a few Quakers Worshipped the Light in Nailor For all the Angels ought to Worship it No wonder thou chargest me with Blasphemy for saying that the Light in every Man was not the Christ of God when-as thou hast made it thy God and Worshipt it if this be true thou hast said here I am justly Charged by thee But art not thou Baily guilty of gross Idolatry and wouldest make all the elect Angels Idolaters with thee I charge thee with Idolatry and it will lie at thy Door and thou canst not extricate thy self B. As for their Swarming which thou enviest it 's not like Locusts the is thy mistake But as the Stars of Heaven and as the Sand upon the Sea-Shoar shall the Seed of Abraham be who rejoyced to see Christ day Reply I envy you not for your Multitudes neither writ I that â—â— Envy For I have said it to several Quakers that no other is to be expected but that this Gangrene Leprosie Plague will spread apaâ—â— Error runs like Wild-fire Christ's Flock is but a little Flock Truâ—h prevails but slowly If there be ten yea a hundred turn Quakers for one Christian it 's no more than what I look for But W. B. If I had used such a Phrase as thou usest here thou thy self would have laughed at me and the Reader may well smile at it viz. That the Quakers swarm like Stars and swarm like the Sinâ— udon the Sea-Shoar Swarm surely is a word properly used to Verminâ— not inanimate Creatures and so better to Locusts than Stars Locuâ— are living Creatures gendred of Corruption and who are they thâ— are made up of all the Corrupt Errors that have been these many years Revel 9.3 It 's said of the Locusts there that they came out of the smoke that arose out of the Bottomless Pit Which Pit is surely Hell â—ll Error ariseth from hell and is as smoke stinking offensive darkning Now what a smoke of Error has been in this Nation for a long while and who are they that have come out of the Smoke like Locusts for number v. 7. It 's said That they were like Horses prepared for the Battel What Boldness what Courage what Rushings into Sufferings and Dangers and Oppositions hath there been in this people wherein they vainly Glory V. 10. They had Tailes like Scorpions What a fawning flattering insinuating way have they in their proselyting people to them But there were Stings in their Tailes O what Venome Poyson Wounding and Death to the Soul is there in their Errors And hath it not been so As in this place of the Revelations it 's said that the Grass the green thing the Tree i. e. the Living Fruitful Established Christian have not been hurt by them They have wounded none of them Only those that had not the Seal of God upon their Foreheads If it were possible the Scripture saith they would deceive the very Elect but it is not possible B. And as the Sand upon the Sea-Shore so shall the Seed of Abraham be Reply Whoever have not the Faith of Abraham cannot be the Seed of Abraham B. Who rejoyced to see Christ's day the true Light c. Reply Abraham had that which thou callest the true Light when he was an Idolater and therefore this rejoycing to see Christ's day was hâ—s seeing by Faith that a certain time would come of the Messia's being born of his Seed Abraham's Seed according to the Flesh it being so promised by God viz. In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Not W. B. as thou thinkest to see the Day of George Foxes â—roaching this Error of Quakerism in the North B. Pag. 40. Now to return to some more of the young Mans Words Pag. 17. Where he speaks of another Light which every Man hath not by which he saw Salvation by a person wholly without him whose Righteousness being imputed to him Is this like Scripture-Language which ye call your Rule See more of your Confusion and blindness Did the Apostles of Christ Preach a Light that every Man hath not Reply There be two or three
things put together here with which thou art angry 1. That there is a Light that eâ—ry Man hath not 2. That there is a Righteousness imputed 3. That Salvation is from a Person wholly without which are all Truths and I am ready to defend them The First thou begins with and asks Whether the Apostles of Christ did Preach a Light or of a Light that every Man hath not 1. Now I assert and will make it good that the Scriptures do frequently speak of a Light that every man hath not Jude 19. Natural or Souly not having the Spirit Now the Spirit is Light and he that is but a Natural Man hath it not Then this Scripture speakâ— of a Light that every Man hath not John 14.17 The Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive If the World i. e. Worldly Carnal Men cannot receive it be sure they have it not Luk. 8.10 To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but to others in Parables that seeing they might not see c. Now here is a Light that the Disciples had which the others had not Matth. 11. Thou hast hid those things from the Wise and the Prudent and hast revealed them to Babes Then the Wise and Prudent to whom the Father reveals not Heavenly things want this Light that other Babes have Isa 60.21 Darkness shall cover the Earth and gross Darkness the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his Glory shall be seen upon thee A Prophecy of the Church that should be in Gospel-times All excepting these he saith will be in Darkness as Goshen had Light when all the rest of Egypt were in Darkness Here is a Light that the Church hath that none other hath This Light that they were to have in a distinguishing way was the Spirit in their Hearts and Gods word in their Mouths According to God's New Covenant Isa 59. and the last verse As for me this is my Covanant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy Mouth c. When thou writest be sure thou omit not answering these Scriptures plainly or else Recant for saying that it is a strange erroneous Doctrine quite contrary to the General Testimony of all the Holy Men of God in all ages B. saith What is that other Light beside the true Light That it may be known distinctly according to plain Scripture And in the next Paragâ— If you are not able to give us an account of this Light which every Man hath not a measure of we shall justly Judg it to be a meer dark and vain Imagination of your own Brains and asks in p. 41. Whether every one hath two Lights in him And whether they differ in degree only or in kind nature Reply This is something worth while to Answer to I am glad following thee step by step in every line that I have brought thee hither It had been fair if thou hadst promised that if in any plainness I lay down this thing thou desirest and Answer thy Objections that thou wouldest have left the dark vain Imagination of thy Brain and own this to be a Truth and ceased thy Quakerism 1. I Grant that there is a Light in every Man a spark remaining in â—llen Man of that Light that Adam had in a full Flame before his Transgression in his time of Innocency If ye ask me what it is I Answer some Principles of Common Truth fixed in the Mind of Man 2. What can it effect How far can it go 1. By this Man may know some Divine things viz. That there is a God and that he is to be Worshipped Therefore every Nation have had some kind of Worship 2. Hereby Man may discern betwixt some Moral Good and Evil. As the Heathens saw hereby Murther and Adultery to be Evils and therefore made Laws to punish those that were guilty of them 3. Man may hereby and by the help of Conscience and the Common Restraining Power of God be kept from many Evils and do many Duties that lie before him for the profit of his Neighbour for the good of the Society or Common-Wealth wherein he dwells for this one thing he seeth by it viz. the Judgment of God i. e. Justice to punish sin and this makes him fear 4. From this Light is that power in Man which he feels of condemning and excusing He may know many things to be good and his duty to do them now when he doth according to this knowledg of his reflecting upon it he hath Peace his Conscience will be quiet if not there will be trouble through the many reasonings that will be in Man and fear of Judgment 5. This Light is greatly helped and increased by the consideration of the Works of Creation Rom. 2.19 20. 6. More by the reading of the Scriptures hearing the Word preached converse with Christians And let it be noted that the Quakers had the Improvement of the Light this way though they will not acknowledg it In India we hear but of little Improvement of it 7. Many that live not up to this Light will be very inexcusably Condemned 8. And those that walk according to it doing some things contained in the Law do shame Judg and Condemn those that pretend to Christianity and yet live not in Righteousness and Sobriety And shall not Vncircumcision which is by Nature if it fulfil the Law Judg thee who by the Letter and Circumcision dost transgress the Law Rom. 2. 27. Quest 3. What can it not shew to Man 1. It cannot shew to Man how sin came into the world None of the Heathens ever spoke of this it is known only by the Revelation of the History of it in the Scriptures 2. It doth not shew to Man neither can it that the first motions to evil in the heart though not consented to are sin None of the Philosophers saw this Paul saith Rom. 7.7 I had not known Lust i. e. Concupiscence Desire to be sin he means except the Law That is Moses Moral Law had said thou shalt not Covet or desire He knew it not by all the Light of Nature within 3. It doth not shew Unbelief to be a sin a slighting and contemning and rejecting Jesus of Nazareth as the sealed Mediator John 14.8 He i. e. the Comforter shall convince the World of sin because they believe not Now this is plain in the Quakers who following the Light do so much contemn the Person of Jesus and his Righteousness 4. It shews not to Man some Moral Evils The Heathens saw not Fornication to be a Sin by all the Light they had Poligamy was not accounted a sin by them Nor Revenge a Sin Nor Vain Glory c. 5. It doth not shew the right way of Worship that is by Scripture-Revelation only Therefore the Heathens always ran into Idolatries and false Worships 6. It will not shew to Man the necessity of the New-Birth Every Man
end of his Coming and the import of his Death and tells them the way and means viz By attendance to the Prophecies of the Old Testament which they being Jews did reverence and he saith they did well to take heed to them for this end The Light within every Man cannot be meant by any Word or Phrase in this Scripture But it 's the Knowledg of the Person of Jesus He is called a Star by Balaam that was then in a Spirit of Prophecy 〈◊〉 24.14 There shall come a Star out of Jacob Foretelling his 〈◊〉 and Incarnation But where is the Light that every Man hath called so Besides this people had enjoyed and possessed the Light withâ—â— from the Womb. What need he speak of its arising and the day dawning in them If thou Baily say Though it be in Man yet it shiâ—â—th not it ariseth not in any brightness till attended to and obeyed which is commonly replyed by the Quakers Let this be considered in Answer That this people had before this â—ime of Peters writing obeyed it For they were converted In the beginning of the Epistle it 's said they had like precious Faith with the Apostles Now Faith and Conversion is nothing else according to the Quakers but a higher rising of the Light within The other Phrase To which ye do well to take heed as to a Light that â—ines in a dark place Can this be the Quakers Light If so then is the Quakers Light and the dictates thereof a more sure Word than a Voice from Heaven such an one as Peter heard in the Mount For of that he speaks here But which of the Quakers themselves will say so Again If so that by this Light in a dark place be meant the Quakers Light within then is there such a state to be attained in this Life by attendance to the Light in which there needs not be any more heed given to it For it 's said To which ye do well to take heed until the day down and the day-Star arise If we take the word until in that sence as some would have it so that after a while some must leave off being Quakers advancing into a higher Form As it was with Merchant Rich who stiled himself one of the Church of the First-born By this the Reader may see what little ground they have to make use of this Scripture for their way of Preaching pointing people to the Light within taking them off the Scriptures and from the Person of Christ the bright Morning-Star to follow Fox and Nayler Wandring Stars from the North Blazing Comets full of Malignancy portending much evil to the Inhabitants of this Nation As we have seen what a Plague of Error hath followed Baily And Jesus Christ bids people believe in the Light that they might become the Children of the Light Reply Which place is not as pointed in John 6.62 but in John 12.36 Now thou sayest Christ bid people believe in the Light I query Whether this Light was not himself Whether he pointed the people to believe in any thing or person but himself Answer We say It was not to believe in the Light that every Man hath For he saith in the same ver which thou omit'st While ye have the Light and v. 35. yet a little while is the Light with you Now the Light the Quakers speak of is always with every one never extinct as long as Nature remains It was then Christ's Person that was about to depart out of the World As he in this Chapt. speaketh v. 33. of his being Lifieâ— up This he said signifying what death he should dy When Christ Jesus departed out of the World the greatest Light that ever was departed Never any Preached as he wrought Miracles as he This fellow would make people think that Christ Preached in the same way that the Quakers Preach viz. That he bid the people believe in the Light of Nature within not in himself Whereas he had said of himself I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness Is this Baily a Christian Baily He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Reply I cannot find that this Spirit speaketh one Word of a Light that every Man hath as a Guide to follow But much in every place doth it speak of the Person of Jesus Christ The next Scripture we shall have an Occasion to mention ere long Baily And said the Apostle if we walk in the Light Reply To walk in the Light is to walk in Gospel-Holiness As he is in the Light Holiness is a likeness to God But it cannot be understood of the Light of Nature This may be walked in and yet no true Holiness and so no fellowship In that one may have that and be destitute of the Spirit of Adoption and Grace Baily Then have we fellowship one with another Reply Baily cites it thus but it 's not so in the Greek nor in the Translation the Word then is not there This walking in the Light doth not procure or cause this friendship reconciliation or fellowship with God as the Quakers Dream Neither this nor any Purity or Holiness can be the first Cause For indeed there is no Holiness without first there be friendship and Communion with God Only this Walking in the Light is a token that we have fellowship because it 's an effect of it Baily So they were to drink his Blood and that was it by which they were cleansed from sin and had Eternal Life and if they drank it was it not within them Reply There was a purging of sin when Christ shed his Blood and suffered Death Heb. 1.3 Who when he had by himself purged our sins sate down c. All the sins of all the Elect were virtually purged or cleansed then A price laid down to expiate them all by the Sacrifice of Christ This was sixteen hundred years since The drinking of the Blood is but the Application of it in time Then is it manifest that it was done for such But still thou confounds Justification and Sanctification We are not forgiven our sins by reason of any works wrought in us No these works in us are but effects of forgiveness But by the vertue and worth of the work and sufferings of Christ without us And whereas thou askest Whether the Blood be not within if it be drunk So I ask thee If any eat the Flesh of Christ is it not within him If Christ dwells in our hearts by Faith is not the Person of Christ in our very hearts and so the Man Christ Now by the Blood who understands any thing but all the Sufferings and Death of Christ his offering up himself as a Sacrifice Can these be drunk but by Faith So then as far as by Faith the Sufferings of Christ and his Death can be within us they are viz. We have all the benefit and vertue of them for procuring of all good for us
no need to give notice unto Men how they believed me in my words or trusted me in my actions c. But my Reproaches are not at an end but I do look for more day by day Knowing it is my Lot and Portion and so would resign up my self to undergo them What they may be the Lord knoweth William Dimsdel From Ware in Hartfordshire June the 20th 1674. An Index of some Scriptures opened in this Treatise Ch. Ver. Pag. Psalms 45. 13. 40,41 45. 1. 51. 46. 10. 78. 4. 4. 79. Isaiah 64. 4. 49. 26. 8. 76. 41. 1. 77. 40. 3. 79. 2. 4. 92. 66. 5. 127. Daniel 9. 24. 26. Micah 5. 2. 27. 4. 2. 92. Zachariah 2. 13. 78. Matthew 7. 13 14. 43. 5. 3 4 5. 47. 25. 14. 114   115. Luke 17. 21. 119. John 16. 8. 14. 1. 9. 84. 6. 62 63. 120. 12. 35. 122. 6. 53. 123. 16. 14 15. 150   151   153. 1. 9. 146. Romans 1. 16. 6 7. 7. 14. 14. 8. 6. 39. 5. 15. 46. 8. 4. 98. 2 Corinthians 4. 6. 118. Ephestans 5. 13. 88. 5. 8 9. 88. Philippians 13. 9. 99. 2. 12. 128. Titus 2. 11. 84. Hebrews 9. 23. 20 21. 12. 24. 25 26. 12. 21. 128. 1 Peter 1. 19. 125. 2 Peter 1. 3 5. 39. 1. 5 8. 41. 1. 19. 121. 1 John 4. 2 3 4. 103. 1. 2. 123. Jude  15. 14. Revelation 8. 1. 78. 9. 2 3 4 7 10. 107. FINIS ERRATA THesâ— in the Epistle Pag. 2. l. 23. r. Laundy p. 7. l. 12. r. to be done p. 6. l. 12. r. and that thou hast lost In the Book Pag. 2. l. 16. r. thy Spirit p. 3. l. 30. r. their Wine is the Poyson p. 5. l. 34. r. if not your Rule p. 6. r. doth explain this viz. the Preaching c. p. 8. l. 18. r. then you are not come p. 13. r. Divinity what then is the Doctrine of Comfort p. 15. l. penult r. several Names given them as Father Son and Spirit have several names given them yet one in nature c. p. 19. l. 10. r. glosing words p. 20. l. ult r. it is plainly spoke in opposition p. 21. l. 1. r. thou must understand by these heavenly thing themselves either Christ p. 25. l. 14. r. at that very time when they confessed sin were sprinckled p. 26. l. 8. r. and so we know that the Bloud speaks p. 27. l. 28. r. believing p. 28. l. 23. r. that it should rest â—1 28. l. 33. r. that which we should have borne p. 30. l. 28. r. somthing more p. 31. par 4. l. 4. r. the second Adams nature p. 39. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 43. par 3. l. 11. r. omitted by Luke p. 50. par 3. l. 14. r. so far from helping in p. 53. r. restrained to that things onw Nature p. 58. par 1. l. 7. r. Angels in Glory that have p. 59. par ult l. 8. r you hold that motions p. 60. par 1 * r. self-righteous till be came to know this by understanding the Spirituality of the Law p. 61. par 4. l. 2. r. clear Knowledg p. 61. par 4. l. 10. * dele her p. 61. par 4. * for and in the Room it s exalted r. in his room the Light within is exalted p. 62. l. 8. r. their flesh p. 63. par 2. l. 15. r. no cursing p. 64. l. 6. r. shattered cracked p. 64. l. 33. r. that is not Christs p. 66. par 2. l. 7. r. thou hast renounced p. 69. r. every Man hath believed in p. 70. * for and accepted r. Merrit p. 71. * for Institustion r. Justification p. 74. par 3. r. Mahumetane custom p. 78. par 2. r. bewrayeth p. 83. par 5 l. 1. r. Divine Revelation in vain p. 83. par 9. r. Angels could not have known p. 85. par 1. r. so rendred in the Translation p. 87. par 2. r. no other Name p. 89. l. 15. r. judg by our lives p. 101. l. 16. r. gifts p. 102. penult and say add to Bailies immediate following words p. 118. par 7. r. somthing within p. 115. r. this work was done p. 154. par 3. r. a low estate to come to before
sum and substance of the Gospel as coming of the Seed of David according to the Flesh was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Resurrection from the dead So it is the Power of God his power exerted in Christ's Resurrection whereby we have Justification He rose again for our justification Again the power of God was greatly exerted in working Miracles while they preached the Gospel Heb. 2.4 God bearing them witness with Signs and Wonders with divers Miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost While you pretend to a New Gospel you should have brought the Power of God to Seal it in Miracles When he calls it the Power of God it may be you understand it as Winkfield did that God's Essential Power is Communicated which cannot be for then would the Creature to whom it 's Communicated be omnipotent And if thou would'st plainly speak out dost thou not think that the Light that every Man hath is part of the essential Power of God which is able to save every one that doth obey it Now Paul speaks not a word of the Light that is in every one here he speaks of his readiness to Preach the Gospel to them at Rome v. 15. which Gospel what it was he had declared before v. 3 4. viz. a Doctrine concerning Christ's being Incarnate and his Resurrection now he saith he is not ashamed of this Doctrine but thou and thy Brethren are for you Preach it now now the reason why he was not ashamed of it is because it is the Power of God c. i. e. The Spirit who is God made use of this Doctrine that many despised to the Salvation of many The Spirit conveyed it self into the hearts of the hearers by this Doctrine and wrought Faith in them to receive it Therefore that Scripture 1 Cor. 1.18 doth explain the Preaching of the Cross i. e. Christ Crucified at Jerusalem without any Allegory not a word here of G. F's Doctrine of a Light that every Man hath to be turned to which thou hast been deluded by is to them that perish foolishness I pray God it be not so to you but unto us which are saved it is the power of God Now Paul Rom. 1.17 proceeds to tell us how this Doctrine not the Law nor the Light nor any other Doctrine is that which the Spirit makes use of to convert change and save because thereby the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith In the Doctrine of the Gospel is revealed a Righteousness that every way answers the holy Law of God which is the Righteousness that God approves of If I will be beloved of God reconciled have life I must have a Righteousness compleat to bring to God now no Doctrine declares this but the Gospel that declares the Remission of sins by the sacrifice of Christ and that by the Obedience of this one we are made righteous his Obedience without us Now he faith it is revealed from Faith to Faith therefore Faith is not that Righteousness but receiveth it being revealed I have writ the more upon this Scripture because it is greatly made use of by you And some will see hereby that it is not for you at all but against you Let me add this to what thou sayest that being led away by sin is a departure from or denial of the power To whomsoever God gives Faith in this Righteousness he sanctifieth inwardly and whoever hath this Faith he hath it in a pure Conscience and who-ever makes shipwrack of a good Conscience as to morals it 's a Token to us that he hath made shipwrack of Faith likewise if he continue so without Repentance This departing denying of the Power begins in unbelief an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb 3.11 The last Scripture thou bringest in is 2 Pet. 3.17 where the Apostle exhorts the beloved that knew the truth to beware left they also should be led away by the error of the wicked Now John what error is there scarce mentioned in the Scripture which thou and thy people are not guilty of In the late Scripture thou namest thou didst plainly read thy self in Hymeneus Now again what errour of the wicked in this vers 3. There shall come in the last days scoffers vers 4. saying Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers c. This was the error viz. They did not believe the second coming of Christ Now in the face of how many thousands have the Quakers denyed this speak of his coming again they answer he is come they witness his coming Tell them of that Scripture in remembrance of him till he come why Christ is come therefore the Lords Supper is antedated as to them Thus they are for an Allegorical coming the second time i. e. to the Spirit in giving heed to the Light and so it is without sin unto Salvation according to you Take heed lest your Salvation prove only Allegorical not real I have several times heard it can name one not long since of the Quakers of Hartford that hath spoke it That we that look for the second coming of Christ are but gazers and our eyes shall sink or rot in their holes before we see that day intimating it shall never be John the Scripture is against thee thou hadst better quote a piece of Jacob Beâ—eman J. C. pag. 6. The young man was fully of the Quakers way Spirit Faith and Principle Thy mistake also in this is very gross as may appear by the Answer to the young mans Book in this particular Answer I confess I said that the young man was fully of the Quakers way c. But it seems I am mistaken and that grosly as will appear by thy Brother Baylies Answers which I have looked over and find that the reason that he gives why this young man was no Quaker was because he did put off his Hat and was not satisfied in silent meetings So that I must it seems retract because I did not understand that these two things did essentially constitute a Quaker viz. Silence and Vnmannerliness so that even a Dumb Turk is a Quaker When wilt thou be ashamed of these things John J. C. pag. 6. Thou Say'st the young man was an honest Quaker 〈◊〉 to his perswasion as Luther said of himself before his Conversion c. 〈◊〉 which it 's thus replyed then what are they converted from or to that are 〈◊〉 true to their perswasion Examine thy self and thy people whether you is all things are true to your perswasion if nay then you are come so far a the honest Quaker by thy own confession Answer I said the young man was an honest Quaker c. because there be some Knavish Quakers John thou knowest as in Luthers time many pretended mortification under a Monks Cowle and at the same time were unclean sensualists So some of you it 's known pretend to exact honesty in trade and under pretence cheat
within every Man which according to Far the younger forgives Sin J. C. page ibid. And if thou hadst understood what thou saidst immediately before concerning the Blood of Christ which thou callest Oyl poured into the gashes of Conscience thou wouldest not have spoken thus slightingly not Blasphemously of the Quakers Christ Answer Through Grace I understand what I say in that expression and have experienced it in mine own Soul I understand by the Blood of Christ all the Sufferings of Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah and the Merit Virtue and Value of them I do not with Quaker Penington understand the Heavenly Blood in opposition to that Blood of his Earthly Body that was shed Penington in his Questions page the 25th saith can outward Blood cleanse the Conscience in thy confession upon this Article I Question not but thou art of the same mind that the outward Blood and Sufferings of Christ are all of no value for the taking away of Guilt notwithstanding all thy glorying words there This Blood and Sufferings the value of them towards God for the expiation of the Guilt of Sin I apply to my own Soul that is guilty of the breach of the Law and have peace hereby Rom. 5. Being justified by Faith we have peace with God are Reconciled and so must needs have Peace of Conscience through Jesus Christ As for my speaking slightingly if not â—sphemously of the Quakers Christ I am throughly perswaded by my reading and converse without the least desire in my heart to wrong them Nay this last Testimony of Fox the younger is enough to convince thee if thou hast been deluded by them That the Light in every one is the Quakers Christ and that they believe there is no Manhood of Christ now but it vanished when Christ ascended and diffused it self into every one Now if thou art of the same mind but will not pull of the Monks hood Why should you charge me with Blasphemy for saying that the tasters of Christ's Grace cannot take up with this Christ is this the Sealed One Him that was ordained as Peter speaks set forth Rom. 3. to be a Propitiation the Head of the Church the High Priest at God's right hand the first-born of every Creature the brightness of his Fathers Glory the Eternal Word that was made Flesh the Seed of Abraham in which all the Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed that Lamb of God that took away the Sins of the World Judge of quick and dead the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Alpha and Omega all in all Therefore hear me John that it thou beleivest as these have expressed themselves I charge thee with the highest Blasphemies imaginable and if thou do it knowingly and wittingly such as never shall be forgiven if thou attribute any of these Titles to any thing that is in Man besides the very Person of Jesus Christ J. C. Page 8. Oh that the Gospel was studied by us and Preached by us more J. C. is very angry at these words and saith O vain Man dost thou think by the fleshly study and Preaching from the same to advance the true Christ Nay but Man and self instead of Christ and his Righteousness for the Gospel is a Mysterie and the Preaching of it Foolishness to all that Perish and the things of it are the heavenly things themselves searched 〈◊〉 only by the Spirit of God Therefore cease from thy own study and wait in the silence of all Flesh for the pouring out of the Spirit which can only open the Mysteries of Christ and his Righteousness and shew them unto thee Answ Had I said that with fleshly study and Preaching from the same we should advance the true Christ I had spoke like a vain Man but thou hast foysted that in apprehending that all the study and pains that we take in searching the Holy Scripture is fleshly and carnal and Mr. Faldo's Key will open this to us that all the enquiries after Knowledg is accounted by you but the Toyle Labour and Birth of the Flesh I perceive thou art not at all for searching into the Scriptures and comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual only for waiting upon the Light within you as your Teacher and Rule and Guide Couldest thou perswade all the Ministers to silence Thou and Fox might carry your Kingdom of Delusion the better The Gospel is a Mysterie thou sayest but John it is a Mysterie revealed it was hid in God and none knew it but himself If a Mysterie we had more need to Study and search out for it in the Scriptures The Angels stoop down to pry into this Mysterie and to learn it now revealed and yet thou wouldest not have us to study it O vain Man But what dost thou mean by the Gospel being a Mysterie Is it such a Mysterie as cannot be understood by Mans searching the Scriptures through the enlightnings of the Holy Spirit But the Key helps me again It is a Mysterie because it is only an Allegorie and J. C. thinks that Allegorism is only the true Preaching of it as once I heard thee make use of that passage spoke by the Angels to Mary viz He is not here he is risen intimating so much we are not to Look by Faith to his Death but to the Light Rising in our hearts Thus it is a Mysterie as in your sence That Preaching that thou mentionest from the Corinthians was the Preaching of Christ Crucified that was counted Foolishness looking for Life to come by the death of another Per mortem alterius stultum est sperare salutem Thus do the Jews Heathens Socinians Quakers What that death 1600 years since as far off thee as Jerusalem This is thy Language the Heavenly things themselves which thou mentionest are the things of the Gospel in Heb. 9.23 It 's true but I am jealous that thou meanest the Light within by these Heavenly things themselves whereas it is plainly in opposition to the Vessels Tabernacle c. under the Law that were sprinkled with Blood thou must understand either Christ himself who in Chap. 2. v. 10. was consecrated through sufferings or the Church and People of God who are the Heavenly Jerusalem or Heaven it self whereinto he is entred with his Blood The things of the Gospel are things searched out by the Spirit i. e. they are already searched out by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Christ Crucified which he speaks of before the things of this Doctrine v. 16. but we have the mind of Christ they are revealed by the Apostles and by the Wisdom Judgment of Man enlightned by the same Spirit that gave them forth we may attain the Knowledge of them and not without but this Spirit thou speaks of is nothing but the Light that every Man hath according to the Quakers but withal we cannot be perswaded by thee to
by the Light and it doth justifie of which afterwards J. C. As if the Quakers were against that Confession of sin c. Ans Shall we not judg of your Opinions by your practices you Pray I know having heard you frequently without the least Confession of any sin Thus it may be the Quakers are not against the Confession of sin viz. they apprehend that others that are not Quakers being sinners ought to confess their sins But as for them they are not sinners I have lately tryed them in a discourse not a word can I draw out of them that they are sinners Wo unto them Pharisees Hypocrites Humphery Smith being asked at Hartford why he did not confess sin to God in Prayer answered he had none to confess as being no drunkard c. I can prove this by witness J. C. pag. ibid. We own the Holy Scriptures Answ Are not the Scriptures and Christ mightily obliged to you infallible Doctors that will condign to own such fragments and a Book patched up of so many scraps to help a little when the Church had lost the life of the Spirit One now living in Hartford about ten years since heard John Crook at Hartford in George Westwares house in a discourse amongst the people invalidating the Holy Scriptures as not being the Rule and that people should turn to the Light and therefore had words to this purpose as near as can be remembred viz. That at first the Saints lived by the life of the Spirit and were guided thereby and had none of those Books which they call meaning Professors the Scriptures which Scripture so called in the primitive times after they were written some part of them was at Corinth some at Colosse others at Rome c. now when the Churches had lost the life of the Spirit they called a Council and sent to those places and gathered those fragments and packed or patched them together and called them the Scriptures and he said fâ—rther That we had no more than the Rhemists who were Papists would let us have and that there was a Gospel written by some one of the Apostles and a Revelation by another which we had not when J. C. was charged with this at Hartford he replyed to the same person that had heard him that if these were his words it was not his Judgment J. C. pag. ibid. We say that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1.9 But confession of sin ought to be performed from the sense of evil of sin upon the Conscience and not out of formality and custom only as most do Ans We say the same here we agree but this phrase as most do I suppose are all of what sort soever that are not Quakers for Quakers do not at all confess sin therefore all are but in a senseless formal state besides them and what they do it is but out of custom Pag. ibid. Yet we say now this is spoke from an infallible oracle in the name of all the Quakers where the heart is sprinkled with the blood of Christ from an evil Conscience at that time and while remaining so thanksgiving is proper to be given to God for praise is comely for the upright and such Know c. Answ So may there not be a sense of the desert of the evil of sin though not anguish and trouble upon the Conscience for it at the same time that the Conscience is sprinkled with the blood of Christ and so there may be and should be Confession of sin and Praise together Supplication and Thanksgiving the Scripture speaks of and so in many of the Psalms there are Confessions and Thanksgiving together so there is a Rejoicing with Trembling I query whether the Quakers ever had a true sense of sin because they never do confess sin whether they are not much more perfect than Isaiah Job and John yet these Saints Consciences at that very time were sprinkled with the blood of Christ and so Isaiah when he said I am a man of unclean lips Paul had the sence of sin Rom. 7. yet at the same time gives thanks I query again whether any that have it sprinkled ever have it unsprinkled though they may lose the sense of it so indeed Praise not to exclude Confession is comely for the upright J. C. And such know the Blood of sprinkling to be a speaking blood it speaketh with the Apostle causing that soul that is washed with it alwayes to be mindful of it and truly to prize it Answ This true if rightly understood but by the Blood look in o Mr. Faldo's Key is to be meant the power of the light within not the sufferings of Christ according to the Quakers sense Remember what Pennington saith that external blood cannot cleanse the conscience the blood of Bulls and Goats could not do it no more can this there is no more worth in this than in other common blood in your account although thou dost afterwards seem to confess otherwise Pennington saith heavenly blood which Christ brought with him from Heaven and dwelt in the garment of the body a while and now is in every Quaker This is the blood thou meanest still thou art at Legerdemain Where doth this blood speak why we believe according to the Scriptures That as the high Priest entred into the Holy-place with the blood of the sacrifice so Christ by his own blood entred in once into the holy place Heb. 9.12 24. into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Now according to your Allegorists this Heaven it self is within man so was Christ in the Saints before he came in the flesh and his blood the Light within before any of his sufferings in the flesh But we now will declare our sound Scripture-sense as followeth Christ is our Advocate with the Father and his Blood the infinite worth of it the value of all his sufferings speaks to the Father John 1.2 he is an Advocate by vertue of his being a Propitiation as there it s spoken now he was not a propitiation within us therefore he is not an Advocate within that is the Spirits work enabling us to go to God in prayer through his Name yet we say that faith that looks to this and trusts to this is wrought within us by the Spirit and so know that the blood speaks the sufferings without and thus we have peace of Conscience J. C. pag. 9. Thou sayst Jesus Christ of Nazareth c. brought this Righteousness if thou believest that none were really saved or made righteous by that Righteousness of Christ till or after that time thy faith is contrary to the Scripture which calls Christs Righteousness an everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 Isa 45.17 Micah 5. Answ Yea and again I say Jesus of Nazareth brought this Righteousness and he only and it was not actually brought in before according to that in Dan.
whereby I am accepted of God Justified and saved is the righteousness of Jesus of Nazareth which he wrought out in his own personal Obedience and Sufferings 1600. years since that God giving Faith in this Righteousness which is by him reckoned to me and in this reckoning there is a reality what the Lord doth is really done and though this Righteousness was wrought in Palestine at such a distance from me nay Christs person be now at a greater distance than so yet it hinders not but the Merit of his death and bloodshed may and doth reach me my Surety paying such a Sum of money for me at never such a distance dischargeth me I have benefit by it as soon as I hear of it and accept it the Sun is at a distance in the heavens but we have the heat of it and feel it But indeed the Righteousness is not at a distance from us but put upon us by the Fathers Gift as the Scriptures speak ye have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 It is the best robe put upon us and as Isaac smelled the garment of Esan the Elder Brother when Jacob had it put on by his Mother and blessed Jacob so the Father doth in this case he is well pleased with us and blesseth us having Christ's the first-borns Righteousness upon us by Imputation receiving it by Faith and all that Righteousness that is within 〈◊〉 of Sanctification is but the fruit of this it was merited and purchased for us by this J. C. pag. ibid. adds Not that we undervalue that Righteousness 〈◊〉 cursed is he that so doth Answ According to J. C's desire let the curse be upon all those that undervalue the Righteousness of Jesus Christ that according to him is but a thing at a distance both as to time and place 1600 years since as far as Jerusalem never like to come nearer to us by our Imagining as he saith I do really think John that thou hast cursed many of thy Brethren and many of the people called Quakers and thy self wâ— to them if it should be according to thy curse this is like the Jews that said his blood be upon us and our Children and they are under a sad Curse to this day and surely there is a dreadful curse of hardness sottishness and pride upon the poor people the Quakers and from whence doth it arise but from the undervaluing that Righteousness that was wrought out 1600 years since and as far as Jerusalem But observe a little how thou writes this Not that we undervalue that Righteousness no. Answ But then it seems there is an other Righteousness in which we may be saved and which is by the Quakers valued at an higher rate and that Righteousness may be and is brought nearer to you Quakers than this to us Christians that it is a real Righteousness the other but reckoned the Righteousness thou meanest which is attained by attending on the Light now this was wrought nearer in the North of England in Lancashire and those parts when George Fox that Father of many Nations as a Quaker calls him arose and this was nigher than Jerusalem and this was not above 22 years since or thereabouts 1600 years is too long a time for Christs Righteousness to hold its vertue and Jerusalem where he died and now heaven were he lives is too far off for Christs Righteousness to have an influence by any act of Gods imputing according to these unbeleiving Quakers J. C. pag. 10. For proof of thy belief thou sayst we are made Righteous in the same way that he was made sin but he was not made sin by inheâ—â—â—â— or really as thou speakest elsewhere for he knew no sin therefore by â—â—putation The same way when Christ knew no sin nor was any sin inherent in him must we then be made Righteous without either knowing or enjoying any real righteousness in us as the Comparison holds forth Answ John I would know why thou passeth over the first argument and writes not one word in answer to it but thou would have laid thy self open too much it is likely but now at this thou cavillest the Comparison as thou callest it is not mine but Pauls 2 Cor. 5. v. ult for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Now my argument is viz. that we are trade Righteousness the same way that Christ was made sin he was not made sin by inhesion but by imputation Therefore the right conclusion is we are made Righteous in Justification for of this every one â—eeth that I am treating and the Apostle likewise not by Righteousness that inheres in us but that without us John when wilt thou learn to be ingenious and distinguish right when wilt thou desist winding and turning thus like a Crooked Serpent studying to deceive Who of us ever denyed that we were to have a real Righteousness in Sanctification but this is not to justifie us we make a difference between Christ's personal Righteousness and our Sanctification the one imputed to us the other wrought in us we had by the first Adam not only guilt of Sin but the loss of the image and the power of indwelling sin so we have two Righteousnesses by the second Adam Jesus Christ the one to take away the guilt of sin that is the Righteousness I am pleading for and the other to take away the reigning power of sin Sanctifiying of us and renewing of us into the image of Christ in some degree but this latter Righteousness is but an effect of the other Christ is not only the Author of the former that we are speaking of as he is of all Righteousness but the subject of it J. C. pag. ibid. But besides if we are made Righteous in the same way in all things Answ Rather than want something to write thou wilt add some words of thy own to write against did I say any where in all things There is no more than that we are made Righteous that way or same way as he was made sin Now he was made sin by imputation is plain so we by imputation for this Righteousness of God that we are made spoke of is not the Righteousness of Sanctification for that is not by Imputation but by Inhesion Therefore that which thou saith J. C. Parag. ibid. That he was made to be sin for sin is mentioned in the Abstract then we must be without or free from all manner of good as he was without or free from all manner of evil is true add but this to it in the point of Justification according to the Scripture Righteousness imputed without Works Yet the Doctrine of Sanctification is kept entire in its place as a fruit of this still J. C. In the next Page save one Thou affirmest That the Gifts and Veâ—tues that the Spirit of God works in our minds is our own Righteousness First because our Souls are the Subjects of it
Faith may not be found there v. 5. I see it Add to your Faith Vertue Now Faith always respects an Object without Christ's Person is the Object of Faith So now John it is right he is very blind that hath no Faith in Christ what is this to thy Business so the other that thou sayest those in whom Faith abounds upon this Righteousness will neither be barren nor unfruitful J. C. Par. ibid. What is this less than calling Christ Beelzebub and what followes but that be hath a Devil Answ Big words and a sore Charge which I would not be Guilty of for more than this World But what is the matter Why in that I say our Righteousness consists in those Vertues and Gifts that the Holy Spirit works in us First I call them Vertues and Gifts is there any hurt in that Secondly I say the Spirit is the Author of them God himself and he works them in the mind of Man through the Preaching of the Word Is this to call Christ Beelzebub to give him the Glory of his Works What then is the matter Because I cannot say that the Righteousness the Spirit works in us is the same but different from the Righteousness that was personally wrought out by Christ when here on Earth in that I think one far excels the other the sum is because I say that all the Righteousness the Quakers can attain to by attendance to the Light within will not justifie them without the personal Righteousness of Christ imputed which they despise J. C. Pag. ibid. And we express these outwardly in our Observation of the Moral Law in our walking among Men. So the worse people are and the Looser they walk the greater Right they have to the Righteousness of Christ and in a better Condition to receive it than those that in the sence of the evil of Sin turn from it because thou sayest this is properly 〈◊〉 own Righteousness which consists in those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our mind is not this Ranterism in the highest degree Answ If it be Ranterism it is thy own For thou addest many words there that are none of mine It is Knavery in thee to make such bad Inferences from the Doctrine of the Gospel it is like that in the Primitive time from Paul's Doctrine Shall we sin that Grace may abound Thou mayest find these words not far off viz. in my Epistle viz. the poor heavy laden Soul will thankfully receive this Righteousness the sick this Cordial the starved Prodigal this Bread How canst thou in Conscience go about to make the People Believe that we Preach in this wise That the worst people have a greater Right to Christ's Righteousness than those that have a sence of the Evil of Sin Dost thou not see thy nakedness Art not thou ashamed for this Guile Can any be heavy Laden Burdened sick Starved â—in a Spiritual Sence as I spake it and not have a sence of sin is this â—â—nterism now But let me add that the Right to this personal Righteousness ariseth not from any Righteous walking of ours but it is God's 〈◊〉 Gift he bestoweth it where he pleaseth There is no Righteous walking which thou supposeth here before we are in Christ and so have actual Right to this Righteousness But this I will heartily speak that there is more hope of so me of those vain wicked people to embrace this Righteousness of Christ and so to be saved than some reformed Quaker according to that in the Scripture Mat. 21.31 Publicans and 〈◊〉 go into the Kingdom of God sooner than you the Publican was justified when the Pharisee was rejected J. C. page ibid. For the moral Law Christ is so far from repealing 〈◊〉 that Matt. 5. he binds it faster and closer to his disciples for of old it 〈◊〉 said c. Answ What knowledg thou hast of the Law thou hast shewen before in saying Law and Gospel are both one Christ was so far from repealing it that he fulfilled it it is granted and he did fulfil it by keeping it 〈◊〉 I shewed in the Epistle and bearing the curse of it otherwise none 〈◊〉 have been saved but that he did bind the moral Law closer or faster 〈◊〉 his disciples is strange to say why Moses bound it for life did he not What did Christ bind it faster than Moses then it should be for more than life if they kept it then they incurred more than eternal death and condemnation if they broke it but when thou comest to this point Thou art wretchedly out John I challenge thee and all the Quakers in England to prove that Christ bound the Moral Law to any of his Disciples closer and faster than Moses to be kept for Life and Blessedness Nay John thou mayst see the end of Christ in expounding the Law so spiritually it was to take down that proud Pharisaical Spirit that is in thee and all Quakers and somthing of it in all Disciples and to convince them that they could not keep the Law and thereupon they might see a need of Forgiveness and Righteousness by another though thou hearest me say we are to express the Vertues outwardly in the observation of the Moral Law in our walkings among men what then By these deeds of this Law shall no flesh i. e. no man living Psal 143.2 none of the Sons of man be Justified J. C. pag. 13. But remarkable is that Mat. 7.13 14. where he Commands doing as he would be done by and calls it the strait gate Foreseeing that false Prophets would preach another broader way Answ Thy Exposition of Scripture is remarkable as will appear before we have done with this I charge thee with belying Christ in saying that he calls this Principle To do to others as we would be done by the straight Gate thy only argument that can be brought is this viz. That this sentence straight is the Gate doth immediately come after the other viz. to do as we would have others c. But now look into Luke 13.23 we must take all that the four Evangelists say to make up the compleat history There is the occasion of his speaking these words upon ones coming to him with this curious question viz. Lord are there few to be saved ver 24. strive to enter in at the straight gate This Passage of doing as we would be done by is omitted by Matthew So then there is not that coherence between the 12. and 13. verses as J. C. would make to be Christ had been speaking of several things of several Natures before and when he had done with one he begins with another distinct thing As in the Proverbs he that would make one verse there have connexion with the precedent verse in many places would make strange interpretation So here in this place now why should not we interpret one place by another Christ saith of himself I am the Door Joh. 10. By me if any Man enter he shall be
with such Blasphemies viz. Given forth by the Spirit through the Trunk of the Body of FOX or such a one Horrible Pride And therefore do your Disciples at this day account their Writings of equal Authority with the Writings of the Apostles nay beyond them because a newer Revelation of a later Date you be advanced to a good Degree but to the thing now what is this instance of an extraordinary Power of the Spirit to the ordinary working of Gifts in Sanctification which thou art treating of There are 7 Lines follows that are but Queries to the same purpose as before which I have Answered fully to viz. I have said in My Answer that we are for acting and doing and by the Holy Ghost yet dares not trust to it but to Christ In the End of this Paragraph you have this Neither is it we that speak as we are kept truly â—lent out of all our own thoughts but the Holy Ghost in us Mark 13.11 Answ Here is speaking and yet silence Reconcile contraries as you can that place in Mark speaks of the Holy Ghost being promised to the Disciples in times of Persecution to assist them in their Confessions of this Faith I am pleading for viz. Salvation by a Crucified Jesus as their Righteousness when they should be called to an account before Tribunals as if we could not have the Assistance of the Holy Ghost to enable before Magistrates or Quakers to confess the Faith but we must of necessity make this assistance our very Righteousness that Justifies us what weakness is this J. C. Pag. 15. Thou sayest our Righteousness is but the Righteousness of mere Man c. And yet before saith it consists in the Gifts and Vertues thâ— the Holy Ghost works in our minds See thy Confusion from thy 〈◊〉 words Answ I can see none and let the Reader Judg Thy Soul 〈◊〉 is the Soul of a meer Man yet the parts of it consist in Understanding and Will which God hath created and given the Light within is the Light of a meer Man yet it consists in a Faculty which God hath given of discerning Moral good and evil and a reflex Act of Coâ—science in accusing or excusing according to a Mans Actings thereunto So here when I say the Spirit works these there is the efficient cause when I say of meer Man there is the Subject in which it is wrought still to distinguish it from that Righteousness that Justifies that is the Righteousness of one who is God and Man Colâ—ss 2.9 This Scripture proves Christ to be God and Man for in him dwelleth All the fulness of the Godhead Bodily What is that Him and what that Fulness of the Godhead Where is now Confusion Reader J. C. pag. ibid. One Righteousness is perfect and compleat the other 〈◊〉 faulty imperfect and incompleat thou wouldest make them two in nature and kind the one from Heaven the other on Earth the one Christ's the other ours and yet saith it is incompleat as to Degree then they must be one in kind for Degrees varie not kind or Nature Answ That thy heart smote thee a little when thou was writing this John appears to me by thy way of expressing they self Thou sayest I would make them two in Nature and Kind c. Why then there was something spoken that made it evident as that the one was Christ's the other ours That an Adversary could not but take notice of it Degrees thou sayest varie not kind which is true in things of the same Nature But here I have plainly by thy own Confession made them of various Natures then this Sentence viz. faulty imperfect incompleat as to Degree must necessarily be restrained as to those things of their own Nature of which I am speaking viz. our own Righteousness and no more is in it than this viz. That the Spirit in working it in our Souls doth not work it up to that height as that 〈◊〉 thing of sin remains in us but as to the other Righteousness there was no spot in Christ Remember the Proverb Rather than Satan will 〈◊〉 he will play at a small Game Rather than thou willt not manifest thy enmity against Imputed Righteousness and be a Patron of our own to Justify us to take off from Christ thou wilt play a small low Game J. C. Pag. ibid. So it is manifest that thou knowest not what thou sayest such is thy confusion no marvel while thou errest from the form of sound words calling it a Righteousness contrived where findest thou such a word iâ— Scripture Answ Let the Reader judg if I know not what I say thou art a â—â—â—ty and not sit to judg in the Case now by saying the Form of 〈◊〉 words and then mentioning the Scriptures who would think 〈◊〉 J. C. began to be ashamed of the Quakers Principles and to own the Scriptures for the Rule which his Brother Bayly disowns and that 〈◊〉 was again returned to his old Christianity from which he had Apostatized and grew weary of those many uncouth strange words and Gibberish Language that Fox brought out of the North resolving to fashion all his words in his Prayers hereafter according to the Dialect of the Scriptures Oh that it might prove true Yet how can I but say this that an Ape that is most like a Man and yet of another kind is one of the most ill-favouredst of the Bruits so it rendereth thee most ridiculous in our eye when we see thee here Ape it so like a Christian and yet knoweth that thou art of a different Species Speak and write like a Quaker or else utterly forsake them my eye hath been deceived sometimes by the Art of Limning in thinking I have seen Living Creatures Men and Women Lions Bulls c. and yet turn but the other side and nothing but a thin painted Past-Board So here I fear many be deceived with thy expressions in thy lines wherein thou appears to a weak eye a Living real sound substantial Christian but I hope I have turned the other side and now it appears thou art but still a thin dead liveless rotten Apostate and Quaker only painted over with better Colours and a little more Art Thou hast got the Art that Gaptains have at Sea that they may have the greater advantage and thou thinkest it Lawful as they do thou comest up to us thinking to board us presently with an English 〈◊〉 and Colours when as thou art absolutely a French Man I have heard lately from one that hath read J. C's Books that in one of his Books he expresses himself to be for this viz. a Liberty for Quakers to admit themselves into all Churches of what Judgment soever This is the Man that is for overcoming not by force of Argument but 〈◊〉 Stratagems This is Romes way at this day And remember that 〈◊〉 writ before an Answer which J. C. gave to one that charged him with what he had said viz. If they were my Words that was
a sort of Papists said that every intellectual Being hath enough within it self to make it happy 8. That Man is justified by something within him 8. Bellarmine and others that Man is justified by Inherent Righteousness 9. That the Righteousness that is wrought by the Light which they call Spirit in obedience thereunto is the Righteousness of God and so Justifies 9. The Papists say that the Righteousness which the Spirit works is the Righteousness of God and therefore Justifies 10. The Quaker that Works done in the Light are of value worth and accepted 10. The Papist That Christ Merited that our good works might Merit 11. These say that if we obey and follow the Light that every Man hath the New Creature and Salvation and all Good will come 11. These that there is the Merit of Congruity i. e. a worth in some good works we do before Conversion for the sake of which God gives saving Grace the Spirit 12. The Quakers against the lawfulness of taking an Oath 12. Stilling Idolat page 290. The Spiritual Brethren of the Franciscan Order were against the takeing an Oath 13. The Quaker saith as John 〈◊〉 in his last Book that Law and Gospel are one 13. Bellarmine the Jesuit in his writings saith the same 14. The Quaker speaks of Forgreâ—ess of sins past i. e. till Conversion upon turning to the Light 14. The Papists you may see in their Writings speak of this very much which is called the first Institution 15. The Quakers in scorn as J.C. in his late Book speaks of 〈◊〉 Belief that we their Adversaâ—â—â—â— seek to be saved by calling our 〈◊〉 a fancy and imagination 15. The Papist calls Protestants Solifidians in a jeere as thinking to be justifyed by Faith alone and they frequently call the Faith of Protestants after the same rate viz. a Fancy c. 16. The Quakers write and 〈◊〉 as if they did think that 〈◊〉 will be saved but themselves 16. The Papists say none will be saved out of the Church of Rome 17. The Quakers deny the Saluâ—â—â—â—â— of the Hat to his Neighbour 〈◊〉 to give any Titles to any Men. 17. See Stilling Idolat pag. 314. Ignatius Loyola the first founder of the Order of the Jesuites was in this very mind viz. denied to put off the Hat to any and to give any Titles to Men giving this Reason that it proceeded from too great fear of Men. 18. The Quakers are for silent Meetings making it essential to 〈◊〉 way 18. Stilling Idolat page 332. There is an account of some of the Papist's ways of Devotion some of them were for abstractedness of Life Mental Prayer Passive Unions with God in the Deiform fund of the Soul a state of introversion and for attendance upon God alone in the depths of the Spirit for pure actuations in the Spirit these are their own words out of their own Books see Stillingfleet they are for the vacuity of the Soul and 〈◊〉 solitude c. Stilling Idol 322. 19. They are against making use of our Reason and understandings in Divine matters as in Crooks you may see and in Faldoes Key 19. The Papist speaks of an intire Union with God whereby the Soul is Deified that it is to be attained by self-annihilation the 〈◊〉 of nothingness the Union of nothing with nothing Now 〈…〉 compare Penningtons and 〈◊〉 Canting Language with this see 〈◊〉 they be not akin Stilling Idol 〈◊〉 20. The Quakers do speak of the everlasting Gospel they are come out withal a new Prophecy despiseing the Scripture talking much of the Spirit in opposition to the Scriptures that when this People began then the day came Christ's Light came the pouring out of the Spirit came looking upon themselves as having a greater measure than any fort of people before them owning it in Writing that there is no use of any Gospel-Ordinances as breaking Bread c. calling them shadows that are done away by the substances see an account of Penn by Mr. Hicks Dial. 20. In the same Book pag. 47 some of the Papists were for 〈◊〉 Kingdom of the Spirit and 〈◊〉 everlasting Gospel as a higher 〈◊〉 than Christ's Gospel that the 〈◊〉 of the Father they said contiâ—â—â—â—â— till Christ the Law of the Son 〈◊〉 their time and then the time of 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost was to come in which Sacraments were to cease and 〈◊〉 Administrations and every 〈◊〉 was to be saved by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost without any external Actions WILL. HAYWORTH 〈◊〉 Reply to William Baylies pretended Answer to the Pamphlet as he calls it entituled the Quaker Converted written 〈◊〉 Southwark the 17th of the 11th Month called February 1673. IOB 11.2 3. Should not the Multitude of words be Answered and should a Man of lips be justified Should thy lies make Men hold their peace and when thou mockest shall no Man make thee ashamed 〈◊〉 Bayly Thou Quarrellest with me for asserting that the young 〈◊〉 Willam Dinsdel was once fully of the Way Faith Spirit Princiâ—â—â— of the Quakers and that he went farther than most of them toâ—â—â—â— that which they call Perfection there be four things thou pitchâ—â—â—on to enervate and weaken my Testimony viz. 1. 〈◊〉 Pag. 23. Because he had no ground in himself to go to silent 〈◊〉 upon which thou queriest whether it be the Quakers Way 〈◊〉 Faith and Principle to dislike silent Meetings c. Reply I can if thou wilt put me upon it produce several owned 〈◊〉 you that are constantly among you that are not for silent Meetâ—â—â—â— 2. The young Man said he had not ground for it in himself yet followed be Light it seems thou wouldest have every one be like unto thy self 〈◊〉 other Quakers viz. For silent Meetings whether he hath ground 〈◊〉 it in himself or no otherwise no Quaker thou art in this a Papist 〈◊〉 for implicite Faith 3. It appears that an assent to this practice of yours and the practiâ—â—ng of it though no example for it or command in Scriptures is esâ—ential to Quakerism I suppose this practice must be founded upon 〈◊〉 private Inspiration 4. I challenge thee and any of you to give me any Instance in the â—cripture where the people of God did professedly meet together at 〈◊〉 times as you do sitting together in silence without any prayâ—â—ng or speaking by way of Exhortation or Doctrine thou mayest see 〈◊〉 that it was the practice of some of the Papists that they were 〈◊〉 Mental Prayer and profound silence Pag. 72. 2. Because he had no Grounds in himself to deny the puâ—ing of the Hat when he met a Friend not knowing that he offended God 〈◊〉 Now thou askest whether this be the Quakers way Reply as before I know two at this day that are Quakers and owned by many of you and yet use the Salute of the Hat and if thou wilt call me to it I will find thee several more 2. Thou makest this which is but a Mahumetan Instance an essential thing to Quakerism if
Resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 The Answer of a good Conscience through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ no Man can rightly Answer the accusation of his Conscience for not coming up to that absolute Perfection that the Law requireth but by Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ who rose again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 Now one may have the Light within which you speak of and yet want Faith and this young Man it 's manifest had one at this time but wanted the other therefore his Peace was naught 4. Withal if this will hold many ungodly ones most prophane have the Spirit the Comforter for they have Peace both living and dying Psal 73. There are no bands in their Death and they say Peace in their Lives 1 Thes 5. They stretch themselves upon their Couches and Châ—unt at the sound of the Viol Amos 6.4 5. I read on page 31 and meet with nothing but the same over again which the Judicious Reader will take notice of till we come to that passage viz. That there is 〈◊〉 name under Heaven by which Men can be saved observe this is the second time of Baylies Blasphemy applying this to the Light within every man that is no more than Nature which can be attributed to none but Jesus Christ the Mediator calling it also the Deliverer and Counsellor from Isa 59. as well mightest thou call the Soul Reason Understanding of Man by these Names And whereas thou askest in this same place is there any other Spirit and Light which can deliver from sin and give power over it but what is of Jesus Christ Reply The young Man never owned this Light to deliver from and give power over sin as thou here intimates nay the scope of his Relation speaks the contrary and in the 17. Page he saith in the greatest of his purity and perfection there were longing desires after evil which he could be delivered from no manner of ways Observe Reader how these people make lies their refuge to defend their tottering Opinions if any deliverance it was only in externals Lust had as much power within as ever and this as hath been shewn may be had without the Spirit of Regeneration viz. external Reformation Before I conclude this let the Reader observe that Baylies Question runs thus viz. Any Spirit but what is of Christ why the Light of the Sun is of Christ the Wind is of Christ as a Creator is it therefore the Spirit of Regeneration proceeding from Christ as Mediator No surely But again in one place that we mentioned he calls the Light within the Tree of Life and in another a little before the Name whereby all must be saved the Deliverer and the Counsellor now here only of Christ a Spirit of Christ see what consistency is in these Mens lines Bayly Is it not the Light of Christ that makes sin manifest mentioing Ephes 5 Reply What Passage it is that thou hast thine eye upon I know not except the 13. Whatsoever makes manifest is Light Now this is true of all kinds and sorts of Lights they all make manifest but they act according to their several Natures yet Christ is the Author of them all the Light of the Sun will not make sin manifest yet another Light will the Quakers Light that every Man hath will manifest some sin but not all and it appears by the young Mans Relation for it will not shew desires to evil to be sin if they be not consented to according to what Paul doth testify in Rom. 7. I had not known sin but by the Law So then this Light thou pointest to in Ephes 5. was of â—nother sort in that all things were reproved by it and in that it was but lately bellowed on the Ephesians not having it before for in ver 8. Ye were sometimes darkness notwithstanding all the Light within that they had from the Womb. Bayly And doth not the Apostle say in that same place v. 8 9. the Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodness Righteousness and Truth Reply By what I said before the Spirit spoke of in Ephes 5. is not the Light that every Man hath for they were darkness all that time they had that till Faith came This spoke of in the Ephesians was the Spirit of Grace Faith Adoption Regeneration the Spirit of the Son now the Root being different the Fruit must be different this Goodness Righteousness and Truth must be and is of another better sort and kind than that which yet is called by the same names springing from another Root viz. the Light that every Man hath B. And doth not W. H. Say it is the Spirit that maketh known 〈◊〉 which was not seen before then whenever any seeth sin it is the Spirit that makes it known and puts this word viz. Mark to it as a thing that he is happy in the hitting upon it and that what he saith is convincing and unanswerable Reply Now Reader see how acute this Man is in catching one in an Argument and holding one fast in it what a formidable Enemy I have to deal with This was spoke by me you may see in the sixth page of the little Book upon that Scripture viz. He shall Baptizâ— you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Luke 3.16 Saying that the Spirit did operate after the manner of Fire i. e. by Light and Heat As to the Light the Spirit maketh known sin when it cometh thou shouldest have repeated that Phrase and then said Mark but as often as thou reâ—eaâ—edst this thou ever omittedst that phrase is this fair play It followes as the shining of the Sun through a Crack into a dark Room we may behold every small dust within that compass these are the words 〈◊〉 let me reason with thee a little every one hath the Light within you grant but is every one Baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire is it not such a Spirit spoke of here wherewith every one is Baptized that is regenerated and none else which cometh to us at that time and worketh and dwelleth in us and we had it not before a Spirit that will shew the dust and. Atoms of sin and lust in our Souls which this Light that every one hath will not I will pass over and take no notice of thy railing Words that thou art full of here and elsewhere but the Conclusion will hold still which thou art angry with viz. That the Spirit of the Quakers is a Spirit of delusion and let the Reader 〈◊〉 by our Lives whether thou or I are more like the clamorous Woman thou speakest of I must desire the Reader to turn back to the 27th Page there is something that Bayly saith which I cannot well omit to speak something to it 's that which this Man doth frequently touch upon and his Brother 〈◊〉 I could not well Reply to it before because I would take all the objections I could gather and Answer them in order Bayly And yet he
thou mentionest 〈◊〉 the Pharisees themselves with their erroneous Principles directly such â— sort of People as the Quakers as thou mayest see in the Answer to Crook and the Lords hand will assuredly pluck up all Heresies and Hâ—reticks in due time In Pag. 33. He pretends to describe the Glorious State of the Kingdom of Christ as brought in by Obedience to the Light Within Read it over for it is too long to Transcribe and you will see this is the sum of it viz. That all the Earth would become outwardly reformed living Peaceably Sobeâ— Civil Neighbours one to another not wronging one another that Law-Suits and Wars would be no more but every 〈◊〉 growing Rich Building and Planting they would all have Vines and Fig-trees and so sit under them in Peace and Eat and Drink the good of the Land Live merry sensual proud lives yet all this while Carnal Ignorant have Lusts Reigning in their hearts not a Dram of the Knowledg of a Mediator or any thing of the Spirit of the Son upon them not a word of that in all this but only guided by the Light within i. e. In a word the Subjects of this Kingdom and all Inhabitants of the World will all be Quakers honest civil Heathens and Baily apprehends this Kingdom will never come till we all take up this Principle of obeying the Light of Nature and so turn Quakers Baily saith peremptorily that Christ's Kingdom would come this way viz. By attendance to the Light and appeals to the wise in heart to Judg. Now let the Judgment be made from these two Scriptures that he hath quoted Isa 2.4 and Micah 4.2 For out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Whether is this the Light within that every Man hath or the Preaching of the Gospel by Apostles is the question Now to resolve it what we are to understand by the Law going forth from Zion and the word from Jerusalem whether it was not the Apostles Preaching first to the Jews according to their Commission they were sent to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and not to go into the way of the Gentiles and this they did and when they had done it then they turned to the Gentiles The Preaching of the Gospel did thus go out of Zion and from Jerusalem from among the Jews to the Gentiles the Law of works was from Mount Sinai but the Law of Faith as it is called Rom. 3.27 did come from Mount Zion according to that in Luke 24.47 That Repentance and Reâ—â—â—â— of sins should be Preached in his Name among all Nations beginning Jerusalem Whether was it this Doctrine or the Doctrine that George Fox â—â—â—ght out of the Mountains in the North about 20. years since that 〈◊〉 in the Kingdom of Christ Let the wise Judg 〈◊〉 34. Baily Thou art running the same round again like in the 2 Paragraph thou hast this How would the very Root of wickedness decay and wither inwardly if all were ceased from outwardly would it 〈◊〉 speak Barrenness if no Fruit appeared Reply By this it 's clear what the Quakers Kingdom of Christ is that this Man hath spoke of what a Reformation they would have wrought in the World only outward if this be not right Pharisaism where is there any to paint the outside when all is full of Rottenness within not a word of any change of heart but thou supposest necessarily that if no Fruit outwardly the Root must decay when-as some external means as Cold Mildews Blastings Shakings by Wind may the away all the Fruit of a Tree and yet it 's Root be in it 's full Life and Vigour may not fear of the Law awe of Parents the strength of 〈◊〉 Disease Old Age take many off their Practice of Sin when-as at the same time the Love of it is in their Hearts thus we have counted the number of the Beast as thou biddest us and see that the Quakers Religion is meerly external Before we leave this let the Reader take notice how this blind Man perverts that Scripture 1 John 3.8 For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil and puts a mark upon it applying it to the Light within every Man calling it the Son of God who was of the same Nature with the Father the Jews knew that who-ever called himself the Son of God made himself God and therefore they charged Christ with Blasphemy and would have stoned him when he called God Father now here it 's plain he calls this Light of Nature the Son of God coequal coeternal with the Father An Eternal Father must have an eternal Son this is the 5th time of thy Blasphemy Now would you know what the manifestation of the Son of God is nothing but Obedience to the Light and Christ's destroying the works of the Devil only some outward Reformation attained by Obedience to the Light according to the Quakers The other Scripture is Matth. 28.18 All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth Bayly Why dost thou leave out these last words viz. in Heaven and in Earth why dost thou quote Scriptures as Satan did omitting 〈◊〉 thereof now Answer is all power in Heaven and Earth given to the Light within which is in every Drunkard Swearer and Robberâ— If so this Light then is to send forth Apostles as Christ did at that time he spoke this of himself and they are to Preach in the Name of this Light and teach them to observe all things that this Light commandeth and this Light is with them to the end of the World and this would enable them to cast out Devils to convert many and would give Eternal Life to as many as it pleased John 17.2 there it is said as thoâ— hast given him power over all flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him Doth not thy Ears tingle Reader and thy Heart tremble at these Rampant Blasphemies B. pag. 35. And W. H. saith that the Righteousness of Faith by which we are Justified is wholly without us and that the Father hath poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ now if this Doctrine 〈◊〉 true and sound Doctrine there is no need to fear miscarriages for there is 〈◊〉 Wrath left to punish sinners if all be poured out upon Jesus Christ Reply I have already given Answer to this Cavil consisting of two Branches As for the first touching the Righteousness of Faith I have abundantly spoke to it as the Reader may find in many places both in my Answer to Crook and this Caviller and to the other concerning Gods pouring out his Wrath but will add here a little to that This is true Baily rightly understood as it 's spoke of in the Epistle viz. That the Father poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ by the Wrath of God we understand as in the Epistle may
our Persons it is nothing but Sanctification the Quakers think nay nothing but an Obedienâ—â— to the Light that every Man hath B. According to the Scriptures of Truth Reply But yet not worthy to be the Quakers Rule it s well we call these Scriptures our Rule which are owned by the Quakers to be Scriptures of Truth B. And yet desire that the Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our minds may stand Reply But why dost not thou speak out do you desire that they should stand for Justification B. Had not Gamaliel more Wisdom and Patience c. Who said iâ— the Work was of God it would stand and they could not overthrâ—â— it Reply That work was the Preaching of this Doctrine that we assert as thou mayst read in Acts 3.30 31. The Death of Christ and his Exaltation and Repentance and Remission of sins through him which Doctrine ye do plainly oppose and instead of Jesus of Nazareth ye set up Nature in his stead and say B. Man's own Righteousness is Rotten and must fail as in the last page of your Book Reply The young Man speaks this of a Righteousness that some go about to set up in opposition to the Righteousness of Christ apprehending which is true that there is no Christian that hath any 〈◊〉 of an inherent Righteousness but is so much inlightned that â—eseeth the way of Justification by the blood of Christ whoever then hath any such thoughts to make inward Righteousness to stand for Justification have indeed no true inward Righteousness but it s meerly 〈◊〉 they never had the Spirit aright nor Faith how can their Righteousness be but Rotten though indeed comparatively to Christ's personal Righteousness all Righteousness is but Rotten in that there 〈◊〉 mixture of the Flesh in the exercising all the parts of it though the Spirit of God be holy and pure that is the Author of it B. Who is Antichrist now W. H. the Quaker or thee Read 1 John 〈◊〉 3 4. and consider Reply It 's well W. B. If thou wouldest stand to the Test of this Scripture have you confessed that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh 〈◊〉 which of the Quakers you will say ever denyed the History 〈◊〉 do not the Devils own the History to be true yea they gave their Testimony That he was the Son of God Mat. 8.29 Then this is not 〈◊〉 there must be something more Now surely Christ's coming 〈◊〉 Flesh was for some end some great end we ask what it was To be a propitiation or only as an Example if you think that Christ 〈◊〉 not to offer up himself as a Sacrifice to atone Justice and so to expiate for sin you do deny Christ to be come in the Flesh Again what is become of that Flesh we say it 's in being still in Heaven Christ is 〈◊〉 still hath the Nature of Man in Union with the Godhead but 〈◊〉 for you to cry up a Light in every Man to be the Christ the Mediator and so to overturn the Manhood of Jesus you plainly deny Christ to be come in the Flesh he is come in the Flesh in Man's Nature you say but that Nature is vanished you conceive and Christ withâ—â—◠〈◊〉 a great Idol as Pennington writ in a letter to Cobbet And must this Manhood of Christ ever be seen again no we are called Gazers by the Quakers that speak any such thing Why but surely this waâ— implyed in this comprehensive Character viz. Christ to be come in the Flesh Is not he in that Nature to Judg the World Acts 17. by 〈◊〉 Man whom he hath appointed was not this one end why he took it â—â— him but the Quakers deny any second coming but that coming to their Spirits and hearts in Obedience to the Light now who is Antichriâ—â— Baily To deny the Propitiation Sacrifice to say there is no Justification No Remission of sins indeed no Resurrection of Christ For if Christ 〈◊〉 no Manhood now how can we say his Body rose what became 〈◊〉 after the Resurrection no Ascension no Intercession no second 〈◊〉 therefore by all my discourse with them and perusing of their Writings I believe it thorowly and believed it when I writ and writ it then deliberately calmly and so do now and am willing to 〈◊〉 of your Faces in the most solemn publick Meetings you have to make it good that your Doctrine is Antichristian and in Diametrical opposition to the Apostles Doctrine B. For we can prove our Doctrine to be parallel with the Doctrine of the Apostles and Christ himself by the Scriptures of Truth Reply I suppose thou meanest that the Doctrine George Fox brought out of the North is of equal authority with that of the Apostles Paul Peter and John what ever it was nay with that of Christ in that George Fox was as infallibly inspired as any of them thou Judgeâ— in this 38. Page the Reader may take notice of this passage B. I testifie for God you call his true and faithful Witness in you 〈◊〉 Devil Reply Is this one of the Testimonies that the Quakers give for God to testify to a Lye a plain Lye Where do we call his true 〈◊〉 faithful Witness in us the Devil The Devil the young man 〈◊〉 had two Cards to play which were Objections c. The sum is thâ— viz. He was tempted once to be loose upon the breaking in of Light and again to despair upon misapprehension that only sins to the 〈◊〉 of Conversion were taken away by the blood of Christ Now 〈◊〉 is it but the Devil that would drive Souls either into Loosness or Despair but how any can say that he calls the Light within the Devil from hence I see not There is only thus much in it that after God undeceived him and had shewn him that the Light within was not the Christ nor sufficient for Salvation but rather misguided himâ—â—â— several things and then the Spirit of Jesus did truly lead him to 〈◊〉 right Christ and gave him some sound knowledge then steps in Sâ—tan with his Temptations to blind and mislead him Thou mightest 〈◊〉 well say that when-as it is writ That Christ spoke to Peter Get 〈◊〉 behind me Satan that was the Light within Christ calls it Satan Wheâ— he told Peter that Satan had a desire to Winnow him i. e. the Light within the true and faithful Witness he speaks this of B. It 's the Word of the Lord unto you all Reply And yet quarrels with us for calling the Scriptures the Word 〈◊〉 B. And thou W. H. saith the Quakers catch many simple hearts and 〈◊〉 them in perfect Popish Slavery and Bondage and callest them Foxes 〈◊〉 Seducers Reply This hath been made good abundantly in the Answer to Crook where he takes notice of the same thing and here is not a word spoke 〈◊〉 to any purpose to invalidate my Charge Let the Reader new my Lines which would be tedious to transcribe Only pag. 39. 〈◊〉
of obeying God hath not lost his power of Commanding and he may justly demand that of a Man which he hath wilfully lost and deprived himself of In a Word God condemneth none but those that have freely run on in sin and impenitency to the last And this Baily is Equal and Just Baily But if all Men are lighted with the true Light as I Believe then by your Doctrine some have two Lights another Light besides the True Light Reply It 's no absurdity at all to say that two Lights of two kinds and natures may be in one and the same Soul at one and the same time As the Light of the Sun and Moon are seen at one time in the Air. Baily If it be of another kind speaking of the Light that the Saints have then it must be a false Light because the other is a trâ—â— Light Reply We have granted that the Light every Man hath is a true Light in its kind and so is the other true in it's kind both true yet differ in Kind from one another The Light of the Moon some apprehend differs in Kind from the Suns Light Yet the Light of the Sun is not false because the Moons Light is true An Ass differs in Kind from a Man yet he is as true an Animal as a Man Here is all the strength of Argument I can find Let the Reader now judg who is guilty of confusion and blindness Baily And after thy confused Prayer p. 11. to Christ in thee and to Christ in the Heavens and by and in the Spirit as thou thoughtest thâ— sayest several weeks was I in this trouble making my Condition known to no one because I would not be perswaded to any thing but did wholly rely upon the inward instruction of the Lord Thus did my hope perish How did thou rely upon the inward instruction of the Spirit when thou prayed in that confused manner as aforesaid Consider it Reply He did rely upon them in the same way as the ignorant Quaker doth for he was one at that time and so this Lord was no other than the Light within and the instructions of the Lord that he speaks of no other but the Dictates of Nature No wonder he wandred Nature will not teach the right way of Prayer neither can 〈◊〉 will it shew that the Father through the Mediator Jesus is to Worshipped All may see by this what darkness ye be in in your â—â—ship and what Confusion and that you follow the dictates of 〈◊〉 Light of Nature and leave the Instructions of the Spirit in the Holy Scriptures It 's very lately a Quaker acknowledged she Worshipped Christ within and being ashamed of what she had spoke afterwards said she Worshipped Christ without also May not we say â—â— worship ye know not what Baily Did any ever rely upon the inward Instructions of the Lord and their hope perish Bring one Example for this Reply The Hypocrites hope will perish and every one that makes not Christ Jesus God and Man his Hope is a Hypocrite â— Tim. 1.1 Which is our Hope The inward Instructions of the Spirit lead to this Jesus Christ God and Man and whoever depends upon them in the 〈◊〉 of hearing the Word preached and reading the Scripture For the Spirit teacheth in the Use of these means their hopes shall be strengthned But this dependance was only as he thought upon the spirits teachings That expression viz. As I thought should be taâ—â—n in here But he was mistaken in that they were but Natures Dictates he was guided by when the Spirit came that led him to Christs Righteousness from his own And an Example as thou demandest I give thee in this same Case in Paul before his Conversion Acts 26 2â— I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to 〈◊〉 Name of Jesus of Nazareth He had the Light within at this time be thought this his Duty to Act against this Religion he rested in his Law-Righteousness he surely would have answered any that would have blamed him that he did all by the inward Instructions of the Lord for he followed his Light he verily thought c. it 's said yet in that State of Law-Righteousness his Hope perished Baily Thou sayest thou had'st peace of Conscience by the powerful work of God without thee Is this like Scripture-Language Reply Yea the Spirit doth every-where testify what the young Man instanceth in there viz. That the Fathers preparing a Body for Christ was the Work of the Omnipotent Power of God sixteen hundred years since his bearing sins in that Body and the Curse of the Law his dying in that Body and yet could not be held of Death but rose again God's upholding him in and through all those things was the wonderful work of God without us before thou and I and this young Man had our beings Let the Reader take notice that In Pag. 42. Baily acknowledgeth this that here he snarles at his Woâ—â— are viz. We deny not the Work of God and Christ without And likewise doth not the young Man own a work within This Doctrine he saith was manifest to him in the Spirit that was within surely His next Words are viz. Working Faith in me by this I had Peâ—s of Conscience All this was within Yet all this Work was not the Righteousness that justified him but that was by the powerful work without us in giving Christ for us Near the end of pag. 41. He threatens the young Man with trouble and concludes thus Baily The Lord hath spoke it Reply Doth he not pretend to as high an Inspiration as the Apostles And yet in the next Paragraph bewrays himself to be a weak fallible Man in that he saith Baily The Yoke which W. H. calls the burdensome Yoke Reply Whereas it was the young Man himself alone without the least intermedling of mine that gave this Title to the little Book as I have Witness calling that bondage he was in to the Law of Works when a Quaker the Burdensome-Yoke Baily Page 42. But did not the Saints and People of God in all Ages witness their Salvation and Peace of Conscience by the powerful work of God within them Reply Yea We heartily own it and the young Man owns it as before And thou art in this page and the next about a needless work none denying this If withal thou wilt but say that these Saints and People of God had some things within them of another Nature than the Light that every Man hath that did thus work in them which did still lead them forth to glory in the personal Righteousness of Jesus Christ for their Justification Therefore the first Scripture speaks for us not against us Baily 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined into our hearts Reply It appears by this plainly that they had not this Knowledg by any Light before but by some Light super-added and shining into them It
confident ones in that day That will say We have prophecyed in Name and Christ will say I know ye not Therefore take heed 〈◊〉 your Faith be the same with that which Peter professed which 〈◊〉 this of the Person of Jesus Thou art that Christ the Son of the Liâ—â—â— God Against which all the power of Hell shall not prevail But 〈◊〉 profession is that not Jesus of Nazareth but the Light within eveâ—â— is the Christ And against this Faith you may be sure it being 〈◊〉 the Gates of Hell will never prevail for Satan will never fight against it Mary And this is my Testimony for the Lord to thee and all who 〈◊〉 with thee in this Work Answ This Lord thou testifiest for is only the Light of Nature 〈◊〉 thy Testimony therefore is not the Testimony of the Saints in the Revelations viz. The Testimony of Jesus For thou art not in the Faith 〈◊〉 Jesus of Nazareth Mary Cease striving against the Lord in his people Answ Our striving is for the Lord Jesus and that the Light of Nature is not the Lord in his people as you say And so you Rob Christ of his Glory Cease you from opposing the Lord Jesus whose Person is without his people Calling him the great Idol Mary And Repent of your Evil else you and your work will fall together Answ Do thou Repent poor Woman and do thy first works Go to God as a poor sinner in Confession of thy sin as thou hast somtime been taught neither say nor think as I fear thou dost through Pride that thou art Rich increased in Goods standâ—st in 〈◊〉 of nothing When-as thou art blind and miserable and wretched 〈◊〉 naked We see this to be thy state and Counsel thee to buy Eye salve to see thy Poverty and thy nakedness Rayment which is imputed Righteousness here despised by you that thou mayest be cloathed and thâ— thou be not found naked in the day of Christ I Counsel thee with Mary Love the Lord Jesus his Person despise him not fit at his feet and learn the sound Knowledg of him Crucified This is the one thing needful Knowing this assuredly that if you do not Repent and turn from your Errors that though you in confidence say as that Lucifer King of Babylon Isa 14. We will ascend into Heaven We will Exalt our Throne above the Stars of God we will ascend above the heights of the Clouds We will be like the most high yet shall ye be brought down to Hell to the sides of the Pit Luke 19.27 But those mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me 1 Cor. 16.22 If any Man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him 〈◊〉 Anathema Maranatha Isa 50.11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks Walk in the Light of your fire and in the Sparks thâ— you have kindled This shall ye have of mine hand ye shall ly down in sâ—â—row John 8.24 For if ye believe not that I am he ye shall dy in your 〈◊〉 Here followeth the Titles Phrases Epithets given to and used of the Light that every Man hath by W. Baily in his Pamphlet PAg. 24. Stone of Stumbling Rock of Offence Pag. 30. The Tree of Life The Light of Christ Jesus Spirit of Truth Leads into all Truth The Comforter ibid. The Grace of God which Paul declared of Titus 2. which taught them to deny all ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously Godly c. The Name given under Heaven by which and by no other Men are to be saved The Deliverer Counseller that brings forth all Goodness Righteousness and Truth Pag. 32. That which casts out Devils a Consuming Fire Obedience Service and Worship required of the Lord to it This is all implyed in that pag. I would not in the least wrong thee Let the Reader Judg. Pag. 33. Parag. 2. The Fruit of this Tree heals the Nations and stills the raging Sea of folly and wickedness ibid. Christs Glorious Kingdom brought to pass this way by attendance to this Light Pag. 34. Parag. 3. Christ Jesus the Son of God manifested to destroy the works of the Devil All power in Heaven and Earth given to it The Deliverer that comes out of Zion to turn Iniquity from Jacob. Parag. 3. Christ in them to whom all Angels must bow Pag. 40. The right way of the Lord. Pag. 41. The true Light All other Lights being false Lights ibid. The Instructions of the Lord the Yoke of Christ Pag. 42. The Day Star arising in the heart the bright and Morning-Star The Light which is to be believed in Pag. 43. The Blood that cleanseth and purgeth all evil that which redeemeth the Cup of blessing God that walks and dwells in us the Spirit that speaks to the Churches Pag. 44. The Armour of Light He that sits upon the Throne And the Lamb who is getting the Victory over the Beast and Image c. Pag. 45. The strong Lord that Judgeth The New Jerusalem that 〈◊〉 down from above the Holy City Parag. 2. Whose Light is like a Jasper clear as Christal The Glory of God that shakes the Earth Parag. 3. Heavenly places in Christ Jesus The Power of God The Dominion of it is witnessed over Death Hell and the Gates of it Dreadful presence He prays to it at length and gives praises to it in this pag. 45. Parag. 4. WILL. HAWORTH A farther faithful and sober Account of the Experiences of William Dimsdel now dwelling at Ware in Hartford-Shire The Person whose heart God eminently turned from the Principles of the Quakers to embrace the Christian-Religion Being a Defence of his present Faith and Principles against the Railings and false Accusations of his Adversaries W. Baily and S. Crisp Quakers Wherein you may see the Distinct clear sound Knowledg that the Spirit of God hath taught him in the Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness for Justification With many profitable Answers to Objections And what the several gross Errors of the Quakers are wherein he was once Captivated but Christ delivered him HAving viewed the Book entituled Rebellion Rebuked and that part chiefly relating to me written by Wills Baily and S. Crisâ— I could not but think it reasonable that I should write something in my own defence Seeing there are so many things contrary to my Spirit not only concerning my Faith but Life and Conversation also Seeing I find these words as a Caution to the World pag. 50. viz. Had not Men need to take heed how they believe him in his words how they must him in his Actions or how they have to do with him It 's but reasonable I say that I should write something for the â—â—â—ing of my self and I will do it in as plain and meek a manner as I can according to the ability God hath given me I cannot Sir forget the words of your Friend which tarried with me after your Departure whose
unskilful Pilot that undertakes to Steer the Ship and yet runs it upon Rocks and Quick sands So this teacheth the things contained in the Law and yet destroyeth the Gospel missing of the way of Obedience out of Love to God There is no Doctrine under Heaven begetteth this Love to God like the Doctrine of the forgiveness of all sin in the Blood of Jesus Christ But is there then a difference betwixt this Light in every Man reproving for sin and the Light of the Spirit in their Teachings and Operations Yea very much if I had Words to express my self though I am 〈◊〉 Condemned person by a Jury of eleven and though it be accounted 〈◊〉 Divination of my own Brain it matters not VVhat is the difference 1. The Light of the Spirit esteemeth reckoneth or prizeth the Personal-Obedience of Christ 1600. years ago viz. his keeping of the Law in every point He having fulfilled the Law in our Nature that knew no sin of his own as the only Righteousness by which we are justified before God Rom. 5.19 And makes the Soul gladly receive it and imbrace it in all humbleness of Spirit this Person and his Personal-Obedience as the greatest Treasure in Heaven and Earth and causeth the Soul in all thankfulness to walk in Obedience before and to the Lord. But the Common Light looks for a Righteousness within to be justifyed by the Righteousness in which Man liveth and consequently the Righteousness of the Law 2. The Spirit begetteth an esteem of the Sufferings of Christ the Sacrifice of his Body as the only means by which we are freed from the wrath of God due to our sins he being made a Curse for us Heb. 10.12 13 14. Isa 53.5 Gal. 3.13 But the Common-Light counteth it a Doctrine tending to Loosness as may be seen pag. 35. and 50. of the Book called Rebellion Rebuked And I my self did once so esteem it but now no such thing 3. The Spirit makes us esteem the Cross of Christ and the carrying forth the Person of Christ through it and the penalty of the Law and raising him to Life again and exalting him into Glory to be a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5.31 to be the Power of God to Salvation to as many as thankfully receive it and embrace it But the Common-Light esteemeth that power and dread in the Conscience which restraineth Man from sin binding Man to obey for Life and Salvation to be the power of God to Salvation And in many more things there is a difference in their teachings and directions Nay I scarce know one Gospel-Truth but this Common-Light contradicteth yet the Teachers of this Light come with the words of this Glorious Gospel So that word is true which hath comforted me many a time and may comfort others viz. If it were possible the very Elect should be deceived But notwithstanding all the subtilty of Satan it 's not possible But farther the Spirit causeth a higher Repentance than the Common-Light Such a Repentance such a Change in the Will that the Saints even loath their own Bodies they are as it were weary of them because of the Corruption that dwelleth in them though the power of it be broken that it doth not Rule and Reign over them Not because they would be justifyed by a Righteousness wherein they would live as Paul Witnesseth 1 Cor. 4.4 But that they might glorify God more in their Generation that they might be for the praise of his Name that hath redeemed them But the Common-Light worketh a Change in the Life and Conversation to merit Eternal Life by and to get into the Love and Favour of God So that there is not so clear a Love nor so free a Will to walk in the Commandements of the Lord as is in the Gospel-Repentance wrought by the Spirit As may plainly appear by what VVilliam Baily saith in the 35. pag. of his Book viz. If so be the Father hath poured out all his wrath upon his Son there is no need to fear miscarriages And again he saith If so the Devil may play what Cards he will Now whoever tasted of the Gospel that would make this use of it but did count it as their only happiness There is difference in the Motives and Arguments to move to a Holy Life between these two Lights My experience in this hath been as a second Pillar which the Lord hath made use of to uphold my Spirit for some time And comparing my experience with John 16.14 15. I have been relieved and perhaps it may be a relief to others if with me now they view the three Distinctions in those words v. 14. He shall Glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you 1. I considered who that was that should be glorified Whom I conceive is Jesus born of the Virgin Mary the Mediator or middle-Person betwixt God and Man having the Nature of both that he might accomplish the work that he had to do and that he might hear and defend his people when they cry unto him seeing he was touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4.15 But is now Exalted in the Heavens in that very Body which he took of the Virgin Acts 5.31 Heb. 4.14 This is he that was to be Glorified For he doth not point them unto that within him or within every Man but to his Person v. 16. speaking of his departing a little while after signifying his Death which filled them with sorrow 1. Who that was that should receive of his which is plain the Spirit of Truth the Comforter whom he said he would send v. 7. in his personal absence Whose office is to take of Christ's things and shew them to his people For though the Spirit be the same in Essence yet it hindereth not but they may be are two in Office and Personality The Spirit thus taketh of Christ's Righteousness Sufferings the Travel of his Soul to redeem his people and sheweth them unto his people The 3d. thing To whom these things were to be shewed They were the eleven chiefly there mentioned But surely as well to all his people in all Ages and Generations For none seeth them but by the Spirit as it pleaseth God to reveal them to us And this Spirit he giveth to all his people Now Jesus Christ being born of a Woman was made under the Law Gal. 4.4 who in all things did fulfil the Law in all respects and at all times in all cases and conditions So that he knew â—s sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth 2 Cor. 5.21 By which Obedience Righteousness and Holiness of Christ we are made Righteous Rom. 5.19 Therefore he is called by the Prophet The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 A Saviour and a Deliverer Now the Comforter taketh of these things and sheweth them unto us When we see our miserable and wretched Condition under the Wrath of God and our inability to keep the Law of God And this is the Language of