deniable by such as own the Divine Truths contained in those Writings Nor is the dint of this to be avoided by saying That these Promises were only to the Apostles and no body denies them to have had all this for if we are to walk as having them for our Examples we are to have the like Sufficiency and Guide Nor does Christ leave the matter there for in his most solemn Prayer to his Father he thus speaks Neither Pray I for these alone but for all them that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they all may be one in us which how it is possible for those who then believed and us of after Generations to be without being born of and baptized and drunk into the same one Eternal Spirit I know not to believe neither can any man that gives himself the use of his own Understanding Thirteenth Rom. 8. 1 9 14. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit but you are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God 1. If to be brought and kept out of Condemnation men must walk according to the Leadings and Guidings of the Spirit of God and that it is a state unto which Christian men should come then are they not without God's Infallible Spirit to lead and direct them in what Way they ought to walk and consequently the contrary Opinion is perniciously false since such must needs live ever under Condemnation who are so far from walking after the Leadings of God's unerring Spirit that they deny men to have any such thing Again 2. If to have the Spirit of Christ dwelling that is ruling in us be to live no more after the Flesh and not to have that infallible Spirit of Christ ruling in us be to be none of Christ's then both Christian men should not be without Christ's Spirit dwelling in them and such as are without that Spirit are none of Christ's But we plainly see that the Apostle asserts That every man that walks not after the Flesh has that Spirit dwelling in him and is guided thereby and that such as have not the holy Spirit of Christ are none of Christ's therefore it follows That Christian men are led by an Infallible Spirit But 3. If as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God as saith the Apostle then both God's Children are led by an Infallible Spirit and such as are not we utterly deny to have any part or portion in Him notwithstanding their Praying Preaching Writing Reading and Disputing but the plain unaltered words of Scripture testifie that both God has given his good Spirit to lead men into that holy Life Nature and Conversation by which they truly become his Image and Children and that such and we may say only such are his own begotten Children and Heirs of Eternal Glory Fourteenth 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 12 14 15. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit teacheth all things yea the deep things of God For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the Things of God know no man but the Spirit of God Now we have received not the spirit of this World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the Things that are freely given to us of God But the Natural man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are Foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discâ—â—ued But he that is Spiritual judgeth or discerneth all things yet he himself is judged or discerned of no man Methinks the bare recital of these pathetical Sayings of the holy Ghost on the matter in controversie might be sufficient Proof for the affirmative of the Question did not our Adversary under all his Pretences of honouring the Scriptures either implicitly deny them their just Authority or by false Glosses disguise and pervert them to his sinister Perswasions and so I proceed as before to offer my Arguments upon them 1. If the Blessed Things which God hath prepared for them that love him are not revealable but by his Spirit and were then thereby revealed as says the Scripture quoted and contex then since there were those at that time who loved God and that there be many now who love God it will Naturally follow That both than and now the Things that God has laid up for such both then were and now are revealed by His Eternal Spirit and consequently God's People are not without a familiar Communion with the Holy Spirit of God 2. If the spirit of a man or humane intelligent spirit be that by which man comes to an understanding of those things that strictly and properly concern him in an humane capacity and that the Spirit of God is that only by which man comes to know the Things of God because the Things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God then it is utterly Impossible for our Adversary himself or any else to obtain the Knowledge of the things of God or His Kingdom but by the pure unmixt Revelation of God's Eternal Spirit from all the Comprehensions Conceivings or Imaginations of mans utmost strength or science For as saith the Apostle the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 3. If the Knowledge of those things that are fecely given of God is only to be had from the Revelation of his holy Spirit then since in every Age from the most primitive Times it has behoved every Christian man to understand those Good and Heavenly Things it follows That it has behoved them and still does all to wait for the Knowledge and Injoyment of those Blessed Advantages which only are revealed by the Eternal Spirit And is not that Science infallible which the Spirit of this World ever was and will be a Stranger too under all its disguised Shews of Religious Worship with which it has deceitfully adorned it self in a way of Scorn of and Opposition to the most Spiritual Appearances of God making good the Apostle's saying For they are but Foolishness unto them To conclude 4. If the Spiritual Man or that Man in whom dwelleth the Spirit of God and who is led by it discerneth and judgeth all things and is not judged or cannot be seen or discerned he being in the Light and the natural man in the dark then is or should God's Holy Spirit be the right Judge Leader and Guide of all because it alone gives true Discerning sound Judgment and leads in the Path of Life Eternal for it searcheth the deep
things of God which all Natural Understanding can never fathom because they are Spiritually to be discerned Fifteenth 1 Cor. 6. 19. What Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own The Apostle treating of the great nearness that every Believer stands in to the Lord and that Blessed Union which the Dispensation of the Gospel brings to by the putting away the Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and the Answer of a good Conscience before God in winding up this subject he thus smartly and as if his Query were enough to clear up all that he had to say to them as to their Duty and his Exhortation What know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you From whence I draw this Argument If Believers be the Temple in which the Holy Ghost dwells as evidently speaks the Scripture then are they not left without an Infalible Spirit as Judge Rule and Guide to repair to but it is apparent to sence that the holy Ghost is by the Apostle affirmed to inhabit or take up his abode in believers therefore they must needs be attended with an iufallible Spirit and for what if not the End before-mentioned Sixteenth 1 Cor. 12 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit By which Divine Sence of the Apostle we cannot but allow that if they were both baptized by one Spirit into one Body and made to drink into the same Spirit that the Saints were not without an Infallible Spirit since such Baptizing and Drinking do emphatically imply the whole Work of the Spirit in their Regeneration and their daily Union with and intimate Enjoyment of it the whole course of their lives And certainly If by that Eternal Spirit they were baptized ito that one Body Christ It was as impossible for them as Members thereof to live without the Life Vertue and Spirit of Christ Jesus their Head as for any natural Body to live without the same Life Blood Heat and Motion which belongs to its Head And how this man can be esteemed a good Christian who would render Christ Jesus the Head of a Fallible Body by divesting Christians of an Infallible Spirit I leave to Persons of better Judgment more Honesty and greater Moderation then himself to judge Seventeenth 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. This whole Chapter is an admirable account of the Super-Excellency of the Gospel Administration of Life to that of the Law how far it did transcend it as to all spiritual Knowledge Priviledge and Enjoyment which I desire the Reader seriously to read as well as to consider what is offered from the Verse cited If a Christian's Change into God's Image from Glory to Glory be the Work of the Eternal Spirit in men it follows necessarily That Christians can no more be without the Discoveries Leadings and Orderings of God's Spirit then they can be his Children without his Image since whatever they think say or do in reference to Religion should bear a near Relation to that resemblance of God which above all things they ought to act correspondently with but we see how very expresly and profoundly the Apostle describes the exceeding Blessedness of the New Covenant namely A being changed into the Image of God from Glory to Glory not by our own Notions or Comprehensions from the strength of our natural Reason or any Book without us but by the Spirit of the Lord operating in us therefore God's Children are not without an infallible Spirit unless he should deny God's Spirit to be such which methinks I cannot believe him to do Gal. 3. 3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect in the Flesh If Christians are both to begin and end in the Spirit or if a Christian throughout the whole course of his Life from the first step or measure to the fulness and perfection of his stature is to be informed regulated and guided by the infallible Spirit of God as the Apostle's Reproof of the Galatians for their declining to be ordered thereby evidently proves then Christians ought to begin and end in the Strength Knowledge Wisdom and Guidance of an Infallible Spirit aud consequently that Doctrine which denies such an Unerring Spirit to be the Judge Rule and Guide of Christians is Antichristian Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts If God sends forth his Spirit into the Hearts of his Children then are they not without an Infallible Spirit but the express Letter of the Scripture affirms it and consequently our Adversary's Reflection upon us for making it part of our Belief is unsound and condemnable Gal. 5. 16 18. This I say then Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh They that walk by the Spirit must first have it and next be led by it but the Apostle exhorted the Church so to walk therefore the Church had and Christians have the Spirit and should walk in or by it that is according to the Motions Leadings and Rule of â—it Eph. 1. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him If the Heavenly Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of God be through the Spirit then as without Revelation there is no Knowledge of God so without the Spirit there is no divine Wisdom and Revelation And if the Church was attended with that Wisdom and Revelation then with that Spirit from whence they came and consequently Christ's Church is not without that Eternal Vnerring Spirit as saith the Apostle in the 5th Chapter Be not Drunk with Wine wherein is Excess but be filled with the Spirit which signifies the Apostles mind to be quite another thing from the Judgment of our Adversary who thinks All men ought to be empty of it esteeming such as are filled therewith as the Jews did Paul Drunk with New Wine 1 Thes 15 19. Quench not the Spirit If those could not quench the Spirit who had it not then those to whom he gave that Caution had the Spirit consequently the Primitive Churches were not without an Vnerring Spirit because they were not without the Spirit of God which is Unerring 1 John 2. 27. But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him If the Judge of Truth
from Falshood the Rule of what ought to be received and embraced and the Guide of Life be the Anointing which none denies that I know of to be the Spirit of God then both the only way to be taught all things necessary to be believed and performed is the Anointing and that Anointing is in Believers respectively but the Scripture so asserts And consequently the right Christian is not without that Infallible Spirit to teach and lead him into all Truth 1 John 3. 24. And he that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us If the Union betwixt Christ and his Children be that they dwell in him and he in them and that they thereby know it by the Spirit that he hath given them which implies that they had the Unerring Spirit of Christ then true Believers are not without Christ and his Spirit dwelling in them to Guide Rule and Instruct them in all things necessary to Eternal Life and Salvation He that denyes the first denyes the Scripture and he that rejects the second Proposition had as good deny that Day is an Effect of Light Jude 19 20. These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost c. If such as have not the Spirit are sensual then because the true Children of God are not sensual it follows that they have the Spirit and that those who have it not are not the Children of God because such are sensual This the Apostle further manifests to be his mind because leaving the sensualists he addresses himself to the Sanctified of God exhorting them To build up one another on their most holy Faith Praying in the Holy Ghost which shews that they performed their Worship to God in the Motion of the Eternal Spirit and consequently they could not be destitute of an Unerring Spirit in what concerned them either towards God or Men. Thus have I briefly run through the Scriptures of Truth and doubt not but I have made it appear That God has afforded his People in all Ages such a measure of his Eternal Spirit as hath been sufficient to Inform Rule and Guide them infallibly in and about those things which are absolutely necessary to be known or done unto Eternal Life It remains That I evidence the Truth of my Assertion by Reason also which I shall endeavour with what convenient brevity I can That Christian Men have an Infallible Principle to Judge Rule and Guide them I prove by REASON First I Shall take it for granted That no man whom either Education or Conviction gives to believe there is a God can be so unreasonable as to tâ—ink That any man may be farther able to understand what this God is and his Divine Pleasure concerning him then the same is discovered to him by some external or internal Operation from the same infinite Beeing this then must either be by the visible Creation or that invisible Taste or Rellish the Soul has by vertue of the divine Touches Influences and Discoveries that the Almighty Invisible God is pleased to approach his Creatures by as the next clearest way to communicate unto them the knowledge of himself Secondly And as I know not any who professeth Religion that makes the least scruple of this so how is it possible that such Discoveries as God himself is pleased to make should be fallible or subject to any Defect in themselves for were that admitted as must be upon the Principles of our Adversary then must we conclude an Imperfect Knowledge nay an uncertain not to say Erronious Knowledge of and Faith in God to be from God's own defective Manifestations of himself which however truly deduced from his Positions is a most Vnworthy and False Reflection upon the Mercy and Goodness of God Thirdly There is an absolute necessity That what it is convenient for man to know should be certainly and infallibly discovered to him because of that great Corruption Idolatry and Superstition which through that misty and uncertain Prospect they say man has of the Divine Will he may be subject to fall into and like the vain Worshippers of old conceit an Ape Serpent or Crockedell to be a Deity or some other Beeings or Fancies though less gross yet too gross for a Christian man Fourthly Upon our Adversary's Principles there can be no assured Ground of Comfort for when a man shall think he hath workt out his Salvation in the Way he Conceives most acceptable with God perhaps he hath followed an Erronious Judgment and Unsubject Affection and when Repentance may be too late he is to be fob'd off with such an Award as this You had no Infallible Knowledge and having lived in an Erronious sense of your own you must inherit the Displeasure that follows thereby making well or ill believing or doing a meer Lottery or doing of things by Chance and not from any certain knowledge in themselves of what God required of them A Conceit worthy to be disdained by every sober man Fifthly And were I as our Adversary I would never beat my Brain about what is true or false since upon his Principles when Truth meets me I know her not from Error and after I should have writ Volums I am as certain of the Truth of what I oppose as of what I assert so that the Quakers may be in the right for ought he knows nor have they any certain grounds from him on which to alter or believe the contrary Sixthly Nor does this Opinion of our Adversary that there is no such thing as man's being now led by an infallible Spirit end there for it rendereth the Almighty more injust then the worst of men since first he seems to offer men the clearest Discoveries of so much of his Will as he requires them to live conformable unto yet means nothing less by leaving Mankind to labour under the perplexity of an uncertain Knowledge And secondly Concludes him notwithstanding under the greatest certainty of eternal Punishment Methinks then If these things seem unreasonable though the genuine Effects of a fallible Guide our Adversary should by this time think it fit to allow us 1. That God cannot be known but by the Discoveries he makes of himself through his Eternal Power and Spirit unto Mankind 2. That though such Discoveries may be imperfect in Degree yet not in kind 3. That such Revelation Discovery or Instruction is infallibly true and that there is nothing wanting on God's part to accommodate man with a Spiritual Certain Infallible Discovery and Knowledge of Almighty God his Creator and therefore man has to rectifie and assist his fallible Judgement an Vnerring Certain Infallible Spirit Power or Principle which as man listens unto it and follows it his Vnderstanding becomes illuminated his Reason purified and a sound Judgment restored and in all things is
he made a fit Tabernacle for the Glorious God to live in Thus is he King of Saints and will he be King of Nations who is God over all Heaven and Earth blessed forever Amen There be two Objections which I fore-see may be made by some to the way I have taken to prove That a Christians Judge Rule and Guide is the Unerring Spirit of God whom I shall endeavour to answer Obj. 1. Though you have said a great deal to prove that Christians should have an Infallible Spirit in general yet you prove nothing distinctly but confound a Judge Rule and Guide together To which I answer Answ 1. That to me there is no more difference then essentially there can be in the Wisdom Justice and Holiness of God which are but so many words that agree to express the Perfection of one and the same Beeing and so that as the one cannot be without the other but the same Eternal Godhead is all and that in all for he is truly Wise in being Just and both in being Holy and back again they are so interwoven that the one goes not without the other thus it is in being a Judge Rule and Guide for that which gives me a right Sense or Judgment of Truth from Error is as well to me a Rule what I should believe or dis-believe and a Guide what I should practice or not practice as at first it was my Judge of what was Truth from what was Error So that the same Informing Convincing Spirit is that Ruling and Guiding Spirit and not a dristinct Spirit or medium by which such as are convinced through the Illumination and Reproof of it are to be ruled and guided in all they believe and practice about Matters relating to God and his Worship Obj. 2. But at this rate you utterly contemn and seclude the Scriptures as having no Part nor Portion in being a Judge Rule or Guide to Christians Answ 2. By no means for though we acknowledge it to be our Principle That the Eternal Spirit who in several Generations hath revealed a great part of the things contained in the Scriptures to be superior to these Writings yet far be it from us forever to deny the absolute necessity of our Conformity to such weighty Christian Truths and Principles as are therein expressed and urged upon the Churches as what are indispensable to eternal Salvation So that we plead not that the Spirit of God should be a Judge Rule and Guide contrary to the Truth declared in Scripture nor yet exclusive of the Scripture but as the holy men of old time were ordered ruled and guided by that Eternal Spirit in reference to those weighty things which the Prophets and Apostles were moved to exhort those of that time to press after so that it is impossible for men now to come into a right Christian-frame and keep therein but by the Spirit 's being their Judge Rule and Guide as he was to the Ancients who trusted in God and obtained a good Report In short The Scripture is much like the shaddow of the true Rule which may give us some ground to guess what the Rule it self is as a Card or Map of a Country how it lies yet not be the very Place it self and in this respect it may be a kind of secondary Rule carrying with it a Testimonial Confirmation that what we are led by is the TRUE SPIRIT because the People of God in old time enjoyed the same as the Eternal Spirit first of all confirms the Divine Authority of the Scriptures unquestionably to us That they are a Declaration of the Will and Pleasure of Almighty God to the Sons of Men in several Ages of the World He that is so inward with a Prince as to know viva voce what his mind is heeds not so much the same when he meets it in Print because in Print as because he has received a more living Touch and sensible Impression from the Prince himself to whose Secrets he is privy And this the Scriptures teach us to believe is a right Christian's State and Priviledge for said the Apostle We have the Mind of Christ and the Secrets of God are with them that fear Him and guide me by thy Counsel and bring me to thy Glory To Conclude The Scriptures we own and the Divine Truths therein contained we reverence and esteem as the Mind and Will of God to men and we believe that they ought to be conformed to according to the true intent of the Holy Spirit therein and we know that all good People will respect them read them believe and endeavour to fulfil or obey them And those who trade neither Ministerially or Controversally with them and are out of that Cleansed Holy and Self-denying State they testifie of and believe it not attainable the Plagues therein declared of shall be their Portion forever I Know that AUTHORIâ—Iâ—â— are of no great force with him but since I writer more one of an expectation of benefit to others on whom this Libel has taken any hold perhaps it may not be unseasonable to subjoyn a few and the rather since we have not only the suffrage of some who are called Socinians whom he pretends to follow but thereby we may justly take occasion to detect him of contradiction to their Sentements whilst one of them 1. Then first Upon that remarkable Place in John where Christ promised to send his holy Spirit Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. Those two famous Commentators I mean so accounted by the Romanists Tolletus and Maldonatus and the last very frequently and with great Respect commemorated and quoted by Crellius one of the most redoubted of the Scoinian Party Tollet thus He shall when he is come manifest all those things which ye are not able to bear and to discover to you all that Doctrine that is fit for my Church to believe and practice He shall teach you the compleat Truth and to this end God gives it to the Faithful and to his Church that in Doctrine Life and Government she may inerrably be guided Maldonat Shall lead you into all Truth that is sayes he Discover unto them and to the Church of God all that Truth which is convenient or fit for them to know concerning Salvation Thus says Cyrill Theophil August and Beda too Beza tells us That Protestants believe God to have given his Spirit not only to his Apostles but to his Church that by her Testimony the World may be convinced of Sin that many Consciences may be compelled to confess that they have sinned in not believing on him c. Dr Hammond thus But when the Holy Ghost comes whose Title is the Spirit of Truth he shall instruct you what is to be done which he shall reveal to you And I will ask my Father and he shall send you the Holy Ghost to Interceed Exhort and Comfort and when he is come
pressed thereby as a Cart is with Sheaves and that since the Foundation of the World 4thly He quotes G. F. thus The Promise is to the Seed the Seed is Christ and Christ is all and in all To which he sayes The Apostle has it thus And when all things shall be subdued unto Him then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him that God not Christ may be all in all He could not have doâ—â— greater Injury to the Holy Spirit 's words then to put Christ for God It will not be hard to clear this Mistake in our Adversary and that to his great Shame For who will think him fit to mannage Controversies that is ignorant in the very letter of the Scripture It is evident that he denies Christ to be all and in all and that G. F's so asserting him to be is the Cause of his Cavil at him Now hear what the Apostle sayes in the matter Col. 3. 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Vncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is All and in All And if Christ be All and in All and he that is All and in All be the True and Living God then because Christ is All and in All Christ is the true and Living God Now who has done the Injury G. F. to the Holy Writ or this obstinate and peevish Adversary to Christ Jesus the only Lord of Glory 5thly His next Socinian Clash at G. F's Citation of Scripture is in the same Page with the former and it is at his saying God is the Word instead of the Word was God adding That though the Word was made Flesh or was Flesh yet no considerate man will say that Flesh is the Word A great deal of do for fear Christ should be God but from this notable Distinction of his we are not without a Relief If the Word was God and the Word be God then God must needs be the Word that is If he that is called God be the same Being with him that is called the Word then God may as well be called the Word as the Word may be called God for instance If Christ and Jesus agree equally to one and the same Being what is the difference betwixt saying Jesus was Christ or Christ was Jesus Certainly we may justly say of him what he in a way of Reflection sayes of G. F. Methinks he is more Nice then Wise And for his Instance about the Word 's being made Flesh that is sayes he was Flesh I deny his Paraphrase for it is neither properly to be read was made Flesh nor was Flesh but rather The Word took Flesh and pitcht his Tent or Tabernacle in us Thus Clarius and almost all agree It to import a more Spiritual signification so Erasmus and Grotius especially and for the Ancients they were positive Ireneus Justinus Tertullianus Origen c. but above the rest Tertullian adv Praxeam but this is not so very material to the Point However if the very Word had become very Flesh I mean visible to Carnal Eyes it would not be inconsiderate in any man to say then Flesh is or was the Word and if our Adversary understood himself he would perceive that there would be only a Transposition of words and no material Alteration For that which is now Flesh or as the Hebrews have it Man is the Word as that which is God is also the Word But enough for this only we may observe by the way that the Man is not so hearty an Enemy to Transubstantiation as he would have us believe pag. 44. who can think the Word was properly made Flesh 6thly His Objection against G. F. for joyning Christ with God saying His Father and He are greater then all is Irreverent and Frivolous For who dares deny it and what abuse is it to Scripture Sure I am his saying so and that without any Reason shews him to be a man of Unreasonable Confidence 7thly He is angry that when G. F. mentions this Passage To whom every Knee must bow and Tongue confess to the Glory of God that he adds not Father I could not have believed that any man who loves Seriousness should bestow his Time so idlely Is this the earnest and deep Study â—e talkt of by which he hopes to obtain Divine Knowledge But sayes he Why did he not add the term Father to God nor insert that Jesus Christ is Lord But the truth of this Scripture consists not with their Doctrine that the Father and Son are one I confess it is somewhat hard to understand what he would be at but let it suffice that he who is called God is called Lord above an Hundred times therefore one to which Christ Himself bears Record I and my Father are one my Father worketh hitherto and I work for whatsoever things he doth those doth the Son To us a Child is born to us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon His Shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Councellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace the same Power Spirit Light Life Wisdom and Being forever 8thly His next Antichristian Cavil is at G. F's making the Holy Spirit as well to proceed from the Son as from the Father The Scripture runeth thus But when the Comforter is come the Spirit of Truth whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceeds from the Father He shall testifie of Me But sayes he according to G. F. thus Christ is in the Father and the Father in Him and He will send them the Comforter that proceeds from the Father and the Son and for this quotes an Epistle writ by G. F. and J. S. and prefixt to G. W's Book of the Divinity of Christ It is past my skill to understand the Difference unless it be this That the Spirit he makes to proceed as well from the Son as from the Father and so it doth if I understand Scripture for the place it self saith it But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father which shews that not only God but Christ also sends forth the Holy Spirit into the Faithful Also But if I depart I will send Him unto you He shall not speak of Himself but whatsoever He shall hear He shall glorifie me and shall shew it unto you And when he had said this Peace be unto you my Father hath sent me even so send I you He breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost In short If the Holy Spirit be sent by Christ and received of Christ and is breathed on His by Christ then the Spirit must needs proceed or come from Christ and consequently what G. F. said is sound and Scriptural and our Adversary's Clamours are Vain and Envious For whilst he quotes G. F's calling upon Vincent Danson and
grateful is the lowest degree of Reason to us wheresoever we find it that we can no more deny it or occasionally refuse our selves the use of it then the greatest since its being so does not unreason it or render it no Reason in it self though confessedly a less degree of Reason nor is it possible that the meanest Appearance of Reason can withstand the greatest since Reason alwayes acknowledgeth and owneth her self in what Degree soever she meets It is not Stature that makes a Man nor Magnitude a Tree or Stone but the Nature and Property of each And truly we are well contented with our weak Reason as he is pleased to call it we know it to be God's Light Grace and Spirit of Truth that since we gave our Minds intirely to be governed and exercised by it We have found that Mortification of Sin and Corruption that Renewing of Heavenly Divine Life that holy Courage and Patience and it has brought us to so good an Vnderstanding of the Mysteries of God's Eternal Kingdom and Assurance as we are faithful to the same of Everlasting Blessedness that 't is beyond the power of the ratling of these Leaves of Charge and Reproach to scare us from our Standing or beget the least Question in us concerning the certainty of this Pure Unchangeable Way of God in which we walk but is invisible to his vulterous Eye who so disdainfully writes against it I had some hopes he had done with Personal Contest at least against the Body but I find him still in his Reflections For whilst you look upon your selves as led by an infallible Spirit though it be indeed nothing but the Fancy of G. Fox or some other of your Teachers you must needs reject the clearest Light that God hath given to Men 〈◊〉 Angels when it opposes your Sentments Though he could scarce say any thing of us more disingenious and scurrilous rendring us such deluded Sots and very Iddeots as to captivate our own Understandings if he can think we had ever any to the Dreams and Fancies of a few illiterate men under an Apprehension of being led not by them but an Infalible Spirit Yet since in this one Expression lies wrapt up if not his great undervalue of an Infallible Spirit at least his Disbelief of any such thing as the Guide of men and his unworthy Reflection upon us in crediting any such Doctrine I am more then ordinarily engag'd to state and vindicate that one most necessary Doctrine viz. Whether God's holy and Infallible Spirit be the proper Rule of Faith Judge of Controversies and Guide of a Christian Life or any other thing this I reckon as the main Hing on which all turns and I now make it my Post by which in God's Strength I am resolved to stand firm in its Defence and that by Scripture and Reason hoping whatever uncharitable Thoughts he entertains of us that he is not so devoid of all sense of either as that they may not be used with advantage to him under his present Ignorance and Presumption 'T is true this deserves an intire Discourse of it self as that which above all other Subjects disputed on in the whole World deserves mans most weighty Consideration and if the Lord make way it may be by some or other more distinctly and at large hanâ—llâ—d another time in a perticular Tract however I shall state and briefly defend the Question I hope to present satisfaction The Question Stated Whether God's Holy and Unerring Spirit for I am so Charitable as to think he believes God's Spirit to be so is or should be the proper Judge of Truth Rule of Faith and Guide of Life among men especially under the Administration of the Blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ or not I affirm it and proceed to prove it both by Scripture and Reason First Gen. 6. 3. And the Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man for that he also is Flesh yet his dayes shall be an Hundred and Twenty Years c. If God's Unerring Spirit has been wont to strive with men either to convince them of and convert them from the Evil of their Thoughts words and Deeds or else to provoke them yet more fully to do the Will of God so as to press on from one degree of Glory to another then Men have had an Unerring Spirit to be their Teacher and Judge and Rule and Guide of that Truth concerning that Faith and in that most holy Way which leads to Eternal Life But the Scripture proves the first Proposition That God's Spirit has frequently strove with men and for the Ends before-mentioned and consequently they have not been without an Holy Vnerring Spirit to Teach Judge Regulate and Guide them Secondly Neh. 9. 19 20. Yet thou in thy manifold Mercies forsookest them not in the Wilderness the Pillar of the Cloud departed not from them by Day to lead them in the Way neither the Pillar of Fire by Night to shew them Light and the Way wherein they should go Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them c. If under the Dispensation of the Law God gave his good Spirit to instruct his People which is to say that it should teach them rule them and guide them in whatever was necessary for them to know or do otherwise God's Spirit would have been lame and defective in his holy Instruction which far be it from any sober man to affirm then will it follow that much more should the same Eternal Spirit be poured out under the glorious Dispensation of the Gospel But all that acknowledge the Divine Authority of the Scriptures must confess to God's Goodness to his People in the outward Wilderness in the free Gift of his Eternal Spirit therefore the Eternal Spirit was and is the Teacher Judge Rule and Guide of his People now besides that state was but figurative of the Mystical Travel of the true Church in the dayes of the Gospel and how is God so propitious now as then if he be not as a Pillar of Cloud by Day and of Fire by Night I mean Spiritually and Invisibly so to illuminate his People concerning the way he would have them to walk in Thirdly Job 32. 8. Prov. 2. 6. But there is a Spirit in man and the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth them Vnderstanding For the Lord giveth Wisdom out of his Mouth cometh Knowledge and Vnderstanding If the Spirit in man be not of man as the foregoing words shew and therefore is that divine Spirit by and from which comes the Inspiration of the Almighty and if the Understanding he mostly intended be of Divine and Eternal Matters as the whole Subject treated on in the preceeding and following Chapters as well as that in which the words are manifests then is it not from the strength of mans Reason Memory or utmost Creaturely Ability that his Knowledge of Religious and Heavenly Things comes but from the Revelation and Discovery of the
weighty Scripture containing the very Work of Regeneration and sine qua non or that only certain Means Condition and Requisit without which there can be no obtaining of Eternal Life and Salvation requires our best notice and consideration in order to which I shall divide the place into these two Heads and briefly raise my Argument thereon 1. Christ's most positive exclusion of all from any Portion in God's Kingdom who were not born again in answer to Nicodemus his carnal Conceit of the impossibility of an old mans entring a second time into his Mothers Womb. 2. That the Birth which all such as would inhererit God's Kingdom should be Witnesses of was and is the Birth of Water and the Spirit upon which I thus proceed to argue If none can Inherit God's Holy Kingdom but those who are regenerated of Water and the Spirit then none can inherit God's Holy Kingdom but such as are cleansed by Water and taught led and guided by God's Holy Spirit The first none can deny that own the Scripture it being but a part of the very verse quoted the second I evidently prove thus If Water and Spirit be the only operative to Regeneration and Regeneration the alone Way to the Kingdom of God then can no man inherit God's Kingdom that is not regenerated neither can any man be regenerated that is not washed by the Water of Life begotten work't formed inspired and acted by that Eternal Spirit to Newness of Life That to be begotten is to be principally guided and acted by that by which any is so begotten I prove No man can live move sensate or act but from the original Heat Life Motion and Action of that which did beget him because the Nature of that which begets being conveyed to the begotten truly renders him begotten or else there were no such thing but every regenerate man is the Begotten of the Eternal Spirit so far as concerns his Renovation or Regeneration therefore every such regenerated man was and is led motion'd and acted by that Eternal Spirit which begot him and consequently the Saints which are the regenerated are not left destitute of an infallible Teacher Judge Rule and Guide amongst them In short We look upon being born of Water and the Spirit to be Our being cleansed from all filthiness and quickened informed ruled and guided by the most pure and perfect Dictates and Operations of God's Eternal Spirit And how a Regenerated man can be made or continue such without the daily Guidance of that Infallible Spirit and the Scriptures kept clear from the Reflection of Contradiction if not gross Error is a Riddle too hard for me to explain and a Task I may without Presumption say too great for our trifling Antagonist to perform Twelfthly John 14. 16 17 18 20. 16. 13. And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever Even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth Him not neither knoweth Him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you at that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Again Howbeit when he the Spirit of Truth is come be will guide you into all Truth Upon these Divine Passages thus particularly exprest by the Holy Ghost I offer these short Arguments 1. If the Spirit of Truth or most infallible Spirit be God's Gift to his Servants in Gospel times to abide with them forever then are they accompanied with an infallible Spirit but we see the plain Text proves that God gives his Spirit of Truth to his Servants that they might be assisted in all their Wants and therefore they are not without such an infallible Spirit And our Adversary is more to blame to reflect upon the Guidance of an infallible Spirit which is so consonant with the express Letter of a multitude of Scripture Passages then we are because we credit G. F. upon Conviction And if he tells us That unless we believe what our Eyes see of Contradictions as he pretends by him collected out of G. F's Book that he will not believe whatever we shall say or affirm we may on much better Grounds conclude never to believe what he asserts and wholy to decline writing or speaking to him to use his own words if hereafter he will dare to continue in the belief of so Anti-scriptural and Anti-gospel an Apprehension as that there is no infallible Spirit to guide men in the Way of Salvation which is as express and evident from many naked Texts of Scripture as that God is Truth else never did any Writing more delude Mankind because none could be more particular and plain in the Promise and allowance of it But let God and his written Will be true and our Vnspiritual Adversary in his confest Fallible Judgment of us a very Lyar. 2. If the not seeing and knowing of the Spirit of Truth be the Reason rendred by our Lord Jesus why the World receives it not then may we most justly infer that they never saw it neither know it but are of the World who cannot receive it but write against it in reference to its greatest Office viz. Of being the Saints Teacher Leader and Comforter And indeed because the Spirit is not some visible elementary thing that may be seen by their outward Eyes and be comprehended by their dark confused and disputative Brains which is contrary to the Decree and Way of God's manifesting of his Will from the conviction of the least sin to the enjoyment of the highest Glory therefore they dis-regard it as contemptible and dis-believe it as incredible 3. If the Ground of the Saints Knowledge of that Infallible Spirit be the Spirit 's inhabiting them for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you then were they not without that Spirit and consequently they were attended with an infallible Guide within them 4. If the Lord Jesus would not leave them comfortless but though visibly with-drawn yet in a more Spiritual and Invisible manner would come to them again and that at that day they should know that He was in his Father they in Him and He in them Then were his Servants not destitute of an infallible Judge Leader and Guide because they had Him that was the Way Truth and Life to whom all Power and Judgment were committed 5. If both the Spirit of Truth was promised to come and when come to guide into all Truth that is to say that whateve they scrupled were ignorant in or ought to know and practicer with what they were oblieged to reject and testifie against should be by that Eternal Spirit discovered unto them then undoubtedly they were not without an infallible Spirit to Judge Regulate and Guide them in all that concerned Faith Worship and Conversation but the first Proposition is purely Scriptural and therefore the consequent not
he shall abide with you that is all that shall suceed you in the Faith forever As in his Comment on the 28th Chapter of Matthew upon these words I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the World And though I shall now shortly part with you yet I will by sending the Spirit upon you to lead you into all Truth and by my perpetual Presence and Assistance afforded you and by that Authority that I have received of my Father and now commit unto you John 20. 21 22. continue with you and your Successors unto the End of the World Now if we read that Scripture he quotes as an Interpretation of what he understands by Christ's being with them and their Successors to the end of the World we shall find it to be this Then said Jesus to them again Peace be unto you As my Father hath sent me even so send I you And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost What can be fuller then that in his apprehension not only the Apostles but their Successors in the Faith were to have continued unto them the perpetual Presence and Assistance of the Holy Ghost And sayes no mean Protestant upon the Place and very truly It is by the Spirit only that men who do not profit under outward means will be enabled to profit who when he cometh reveals Truths clearly and bears them in with Life and Power upon the Heart and doth renew mens spirits to embrace and submit to them And on the 14th Chapter thus The Spirit of God in Believers is not only a Comforter to apply and bear in the Consolations of God purchased by Christ upon their Hearts but is their Advocate also who pleads their Cause with God by furnishing them with Prayers and Groans that cannot be uttered I shall now produce the sense of several Persons so great in the Socinian way conformable to what has been asserted concerning the Holy Spirit that one would think our Adversary ought to be concluded by it And the first shall be Socinus himself who in his explication of the 1st verse of the 8th Chapter to the Romans speaks in short thus Neque enim jam carni sed spiritui obsequuntur spiritus namque vitalis imperium cui et ego omnes qui Christi sunt subduntur nos a jugo peccati mortis assernit For neither do they now follow or live after the Flesh but the Spirit for the Power of the living Spirit to which both I and all who are Christ's are subdued hath freed us from the Yoak of Sin and Death Slichtingius who in his Comment upon the Passage already mentioned especially that part He shall lead you into all Truth gives us his mind thus Quando autem veniet ille nempe Paracletus spiritus ille veritatis ducet vos nempe interna illuminatione in omnem veritatem nempe ad salutem aeternam pertinentem ita ut omnia sciatis intelligatis quae vera sunt ad salutem pertinent That is When the Paraclet to wit the Spirit of Truth shall come by his internal Illumination or inward Enlightening he will lead into all Truth and to the Knowledge and Vnderstanding of all those things which are true and necessary and do pertain to Eternal Life Now since all are concerned in the End namely Eternal Life methinks it is most reasonable that all should be in a share in the means to it I mean the Teachings and Guidings of that Vnerring Spirit Thus much for this place I will instance one place more and the thoughts of these men upon it I mean this last cited and one not less Famous in the same way Crellius in his Comment upon the Romans Chap. 8. vers 14 15. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God for ye have not received the spirit of Bondage c. sayes Etenim quotquot spiritui illi divino se regendos tradunt ejusque ductum sequuntur quemadmodum sane faciunt ij qui ejus ope carnis opera in se perimunt eque non admittunt illi Dei ipsius sunt Filij qui quemadmodum jam naturae ipsius sunt quodammodo participes ejusque similes Ita etiam vicissim a 〈◊〉 â—iliorum loco habentur ab eoque sunt adoptâ—ti in Filiorum jus adsâ—iti Eos autem qui a Deo instar Filiorum diliguntur vitae sempiternae fore participes quanquam per se unicuique videtur patere mox tamen planum faciam Certainly then our Adversary if he hath any regard for Crellius will not oppose himself to the necessity of Christians being accompanied by an infallible Spirit when this Author plainly tells us That without that Spirit of God and the Operation of it to a Regeneration of Soul there is no being a true Child of God and Heir to the possession of Glory as he further speaks upon the 17th verse Slichtingius gives us the same Interpretation differing only in the Expression sayes he Probant illos victuros esse si spiritu actiones corporis mortificent Again Spiritu Dei agi ferri impelli regi spiritu actiones corporis perimere They prove themselves to be Conquerors if by the Spirit they mortifie the Deeds of the Body Again To be acted led moved perswaded governed ruled and directed and to overthrow and destroy the Works of the Flesh by the Spirit of God this is to be a true Child of God Crellius is most express upon the 12th verse of the 2d chapter of Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians Sed spiritum qui est ex Deo id est qui ex Deo proficiscitur seu derivatur in homines ideoque Dei Spiritus merito vocatur But the Spirit which is of God that is which proceedeth from God or is derived from God into men it is therefore deservedly called the Spirit of God Crellius upon that remarkable Passage of the same Apostle and in the same Chapter But the spiritual man judgeth all things c. speaks thus Opponit animali homini spiritualem Spiritualis autem homo ille est qui non soluâ— spiritu Dei praeditus est sed etiam ejus ductum sequitur a spiritu ipso totus pendet Sayes he The Apostle opposeth the Spiritual to the Natural man that is the spiritual man who is not only endued with God's Spirit but is also under the Spirit 's Conduct and wholy depends upon it What man speaks more pathetically for inspiration then Crellius doth in whom out Adversary pretends to believe Nor is Slichtingius much behind him who on the same place gives us his mind thus Spiritualis autem id est homo divino spiritu non tantum praeditus sed illi etiam totus deditus But the Spiritual man that is saith he not only the man who is adorned and over-seen as by his good Angel by the holy Spirit but who
is also rendered or yielded forever to his Government Dijudicat quidem omnia id est omnia quae dicuntur cognoscit qualia sint an divina sint an prophana de omnibus judicandi habet facultatem Judgeth all things that is sayes Slichtingius He measureth and knoweth all things that are spoken of what sort soever they may be whether they be Divine or Prophane because he has the Faculty or Gift of right Judgment concerning all things Thus far Slichtingius concerning this place I shall mention one more of this kind and then I shall conclude Crellius upon that passage to the Gallatians God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts further observes Quia in cordibus hominum vim suam exerat Again Spiritus istius operationis est ut nos ex paterno Dei in nos amore certos reddat filialem erga eum fiduciam nobis ingeneret What can we desire beyond this against our Adversary in this Point to prove that the primitive Socinians as they are called believed God to have given and still to give his good Spirit unto Believers as without which they could not neither can be Children of God It is God's displaying his Power in the Hearts of men and it is by the Operation of his Spirit that he makes us acquainted with his Fatherly Love to us who begets in us a filial or Son-like Faithfulness towards him for us Slichtingius on that notable Saying of the Apostle John in his first Epistle and second Chapter But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you commenteth Unctio pro eo quo facta est unctio id est prooleo coelesti qui spiritus est sanctus Again Hic enim erat spiritus istius sancti effectus qui eo fine dabatur ut esset internus doctor veritatis in omnem deduceret veritatem Again Unctio id est spiritus sanctus vos de omnibus docet nempe ad salutem pertinentibus In English thus Vnotion stands for Heavenly Oyl that is the Holy Ghost or Spirit And to this End was the Holy Spirit given that it might become an internal Doctor or Teacher of Truth and lead into all Truth Again The Unction is the Holy Ghost which teaches you all things to wit what pertains to Eternal Salvation Certainly either our Adversary ought to relinquish his great Opinion of these men or else conclude that Enthusiasm or spiritual Motions Revelations Teachings Rulings and Guidings are not things absurd fantastical or inconsistant with Christianity but most agreeable with and suitable to the Nature of it as that without which no man can possibly be a right Christian But neither is Crellius of this mind in his Commentaries only where the weight of Scripture tends him to these Interpretations but in his Book of One God the Father he frequently takes occasion to declare himself I think most plainly I wish he had been as sound and clear in his Understanding of all other Points The Holy Spirit is the Power or Efficacy of God namely that we may explain it which proceedeth from God and issuing unto men doth sanctifie and Consecrate them and produce various and admirable Effects in them which Power and Efficacy of God they are wont to call Divine Inspiration Again That the Holy spirit is given to men by God and that men obtain receive and have him from God by Prayers as numberless places of the holy Scripture shew out of which it is sufficient to have looked into but these few Luke 11. 13. John 7. 39. 14. 16 17. a place by me quoted to the same purpose Acts 5. 32. 15. 8. Cor. 6. 19. By the Holy Spirit in these places is understood Some Divine and Holy Inspiration or some Power flowing from God which is as it were breathed into man Again The Holy Spirit iâ— properly given unto men and not Metonymically nor Metolepsically that is the Gift of the holy Ghost is simply and plainly to be taken as exprest which signification sayes Crellius was not unknown even to the Gentiles themselves although in the mean time they did most grievously 〈◊〉 in the thing taking a false Inspiration for a true one a Davilish for a Divine It would be tedious to instance a fourth part of what he argumentatively writes on this only I will produce a few of those Scriptures which he so understands and applies 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Ephes 1. 14. here a Pledge and Earnest are mentioned Neâ—â— sayes he all those places where the Holy Spirit is said to be poured out on men as Isae 44. 3. Joel by us cited chap. 2. 28 29. Zachariah 12. 10. Tit. 3. 6. where sayes he men are said to be baptized in or with it again agree to it that of Christ who in John inviting men to the participation of so excellent a Gift thus saith If any man thirst let him come to me and drink Understand it sayes Crellius of that Living Water which it is manifest is the Holy Spirit Let those places be added says he in which Christ himself is said to be anointed or others are signified to be anointed with the Holy Spirit John 7. 37. Isa 61. 1. Luke 4. 18. Acts 8. 38. Heb. 1. 9. Psal 51. 8. 2 Cor. 1. 1 John 2. 20 21 27. He proceeds to several Arguments upon divers other Scripture-Heads as all Scriptures touching divine Participation not quenching the Spirit the Holy Spirit being sent The Spirit searcheth all things c. But above all I shall conclude his whole Discourse with this one Expression viz. In this we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us his Spirit which we have expressed is both perfect and plainly expresseth the thing given and such indeed as may demonstrate most clearly that God dwells in us in some most singular and divine manner and we in him and that there is a most streight Bond of Love and Conjunction betwixt us and him for how could we be more streightly joyned with him or he with us then when he hath imparted to us of his Holy Spirit Curcellius shall conclude these Testimonies Nec enim desinent fideles esse Templum spiritus sancti nimirum quia Deus in ipsis per spiritum suum habitaret That is Neither do the Faithful cease to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost why because God by his Spirit dwells in them Thus much for the first part of this Discourse I shall now apply my self to the Second which concerns a Vindication of George Fox and his Citation of Scripture from the Reproach and Unworthy dealing of our Adversary A VINDICATION OF George Fox And the TRUTH by him Vindicated Particularly his Quotation of Scripture from the Calumny and Cavil of this LIBELLER WE shall say nothing here of the Disingenuity of the Man
But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the Thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel whose Goings forth have been from of Old from Everlasting the Hebrews phrase it from the dayes of Eternity Mich. 5. 2. Observ 4. Where we have and for but Ephratah not quoted though thou be little for thou art the least among the Princes for among the Thousands out forth and shall come a Governour that shall Râ—le my People Israel we have for shall he come unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel whose Going forth have been from of Old from Everlasting For it is written in the Law of Moses Thou shalt not muzzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn 1 Cor. 9. 9. Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox when he treadeth out the Corn Deut. 25. 4. Observ 5. In this Passage we also have an addition and alteration the Mouth of the Ox for the Ox and that treadeth for when he treadeth c. which though all one in sence yet had been matter of Crime enough against G. F. had he but made the same alteration Of this man's Seed that is David the Son of Jesse hath God according to his Promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Jesus Acts 13. 22. And there shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots Isa 11. 1. Observ 6. The great Difference of which I mean as to expression one would think might sufficiently justifie G. F. and I believe will in the Judgment of all such as reverence the Scriptures of Truth for I don't see that there be four words alike yet the sence one Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory Oh Death where is thy Sting Oh Gravâ— where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15. He will swallow up Death in Victory Isa 25. 8. Oh Death I will be thy Plagues Oh Grave I will be thy Destruction Hos 13. 14. Observ 7. The alteration here is manifest also Death is swallowed up for He will swallow up Death and Oh Death where is thy sting for Oh Death I will be thy Plagues c. We shall conclude with one more out of the Epistle to the Hebrews But unto the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is forever and ever a Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdom Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for forever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a Right Scepter thou lovest Righteousness Psal 45. 6 7. Observ 8. Here we have A Scepter of Righteousness iâ— the Scepter of thy Kingdom for The Scepter of thy Kingdom is a Right Scepter Thus beside many more places past over for brevity sake have I made it evidently appear that G. F. cannot be accused by any that would not accuse Christ Jesus and his Apostles themselves as to Mis-citation of Scriptures if their not Citing of these express words may be justly so reputed which though I utterly reject it yet since our Adversary hath made it a Crime so capital in G. F. it may not be â—â—seasonable to offer That he doth inevitably conclude Christ Jesus and his Apostles under the same Fault which how suitable soever it may be to his Religion we have more Godly Fear and Reverence upon our spirits then to so much as admit of any the least Detraction from them any where and least of all would our Understandings let us in this Occasion But what if we were unable to render those obvious Reasons already offered Would it follow that G. F. must necessarily be condemned as a Perverter of Scripture and as having censured others for that wherein he is as inexcusable himself By no means For it is granted on all hands that what most of all aggravates the Blame of any Dispuâ—â—nt is erring from or falling short of or contradicting his own avow'd Principles This was the Case of the Priests G. F. disputed against but not his They say That the Scriptures or Writings of the Holy Men of God as they are transmitted to us with every Point Iota or parcel of them are such a Sufficient Infallible Perspicuous and Constant Rule as that God hath not left or given unto men any thing more clear certain c. But G. F. and we who are called Quakers although we heartily acknowledge the Scripture so given forth to be a Declaration of the Mind of God so far as it pleased him to discover it and that men ought to believe read obey and fulfil them as the Ancients did yet that the Eternal Spirit is by way of Excellency the Rule and Guide of Christians who convinceth the World of Sin reproves for and redeems from it into the perfect Liberty of the Sons of God as received and obeyed And this only gives the Knowledge of the Truth of the Scriptures and brings into those States of which the Scriptures are but a Godly Narrative And that this Infallible Living Divine Spirit is therefore the most Certain and Unerring Rule above and beyond the meer Letter which hath been and is subject to any Miscarriages Wherefore G. F. had good Reason to put the Priests upon Scripture Proof and that so critically as that they might not foyst in any Doctrines upon Abstruse and disputable Consequences of their own drawing but grounded on express Texts of Scripture For if they defended the Scriptures in every Iota to be the very Word of God and only standing Rule of Faith Worship and Conversation under the Gospel it was but reasonable in him to tye them to their own Rule whilst on the contrary G. F. not believing them to be that alone most excellent standing Rule of Christians however he might otherwise esteem them as rightly believing That not a Law engraven on Tables of Stone much less writ on Paper but an invisible Spiritual Law of Life writ in the Hearts and Consciences of Men and Women was and is the Great Living Infallible and Perpetual Gospel-Rule he was not confined to the very express Words and Points thereof as his Rule So that there is not there cannot be the same Reason for reproving G. F. of what they are most deserving of severe censure Nay G. F. is very excusable in what they by their own Principle are condemnable And therefore he cannot be upon the same terms with them For it would be to say that because I obliege a man with strictness to his own Rule therefore I am an Impostor if I do not as precisely square my self by the same which is to beg more then becomes a Modest Man to ask or a Reasonable Man to grant for it is the very thing controverted Whether that Light Life Power and Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures at several times on several Occasions be that only Infallible Rule of Christians or the Letter so subject to variety of Corruptions Additions Diminutions c.
THE Spirit of Truth VINDICATED Against That of Error Envy Unseasonably Manifested In a late Malicious LIBEL Intituled The Spirit of the Quakers Tryed c. By a Friend to Righteousness and Peace W. P. Ever Learning and never able to come to the Knowlege of the Truth But Evil Men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3. 7 13. But unto you that fear my Name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with Healing in his Wings And ye shall tread down the Wicked for they shall be Ashes under the Soles of your Feet Mal. 4. 2 3. Printed in the Year 1672. To the Impartial READER I Have at last with some Difficulty obtained a small Respit from more serious Affairs to the Examination of a late Discourse intituled The Spirit of the Quakers tryed according to the Discovery it hath made of it self in thei◠great Prophet and Patriarch George Fox c. And whilst I was willing to inform my self of the Design and Temper of the Author by a very careful perusal of his Book at least expecting something that might pretend to claim a Reputation in Controversie excelling all other of our Adversaries who never struck higher then at our Doctrines whilst this man ventures to tell the World what Spirits we are of I find him in reallity filled with nothing but disingenious Reflection empty Stories and unprofitable Cavils about a few Scriptures he mostly confesseth that but one of us hath mis-cited either in reference to a disorderly Quotation of the words or an unsuitable Application of them The Judgment I then made of the Man and still continue in is this Had he not wonderfully lov'd being some body in Print he needed not to have given himself or other People the trouble of so many unserviceable Sheets nor a small trifling Solicitor for their kind reception in the World the toil of so much Insinuation even to Nautiating But I design not to be long and theresore shall briefly contract my Exceptions against the Author to the Reader into these four Particulars 1. Then He hath behaved himself the most unjust of any that ever yet undertook to write against us which so ill becomes a man that would reform others that it rather insenseth all worthy minds and is Reason enough to beget a Jealousie both of the Truth of his Cause and his own Honesty For who truly Just would draw a general Charge from a particular Failing in case it were so And what good Christian would stigmatize an entire Body for the Defects of any individual Member He finds fault with George Fox and to be revenged of him bespatters a whole Society so that if I should grant him all he would have against that Person whom I doubt not to defend from his base Abuse yet why he should place his Infirmities suppose them such to our account cannot be resolv'd me by any that is not willing to suffer for other mens Faults George Fox he thinks has mis-cited a Scripture Ergo He is an Imposter and the Quakers a pack of Hereticks It is after this lofty manner of Disputing he undertakes our Overthrow but if this be good arguing the man is Orthodox with a witness and deserves the Chair Nemine Contradicente 2. My second Exception is That if he had been provock't to any hard Thoughts against George Fox from the perusal of his Book it had been handsome and well-becoming a Christian to have visited that so much mistaken Person in his account and have endeavoured either a better understanding of him or his better Information in the Scripture and not at a juncture when he might understand him to be at so great a distance as America to exhibit an angry Charge against him in England But his generosity here is much like to his Reason elsewhere 3. But why above all times of the World does the man chuse the present season to shower down his Displeasure against us just when we should make the best of an unexpected Tolleration to the Refreshment of our afflicted Minds and Bodies by the late Persecutions that have been What! Is he angry that we have Liberty or does he think that none deserve it but himself I wonder what Testimony there had been or how few to have receiv'd a Liberty of Conscience if the Quakers had squar'd their Carriage in the Storm according to his sorded creeping into Holes and Corners or else to publick places of Protection And if he tells us that he had no mind to add to our Troubles he deals deceitfully for as it is almost impossible for him to write against us but he must expresly or implicitly contradict the avow'd Principles of the Church by his scattered Seeds of Socinianism so knowing the Danger that would ensue such undertakings as well as the difficulty of Printing his Self-safety and not Charity to us was the Hindrance 4. And Lastly 〈◊〉 why was he ashamed of his Name I cannot but make his own words good by such an Inquiry without concluding him a Prophet and great Reason there is that we should ask him a Reason for it if we may lawfully ask that which his whole Discourse seems to character him a Stranger to for since he tells us That he declines all wayes of Controversie with us but that of matter of Fact however able we may be to clear our selves from such Indictments yet our ignorance of his Name deprives us of that scope we might otherwise have for producing perhaps as large a Catalogue of Doctrinal Mistakes in what he himself or those to whom he adheres have writ as he hath of Verbal ones out of any Writings belonging to the People called Quakers And though he seems to excuse the absence of his Name by that Occasion he pretends we take to abuse our Adversaries Yet the truest Reason is a Consciousness of a disingenious and unjustifiable Practice in himself perhaps he also was afraid of such Truth as may be seasonably told of him to the discrediting of his Enterprize But till he had been so served by us it had become him not to have reproach't us in the vindication of other men in whose Opinions he will by no means allow himself to be concern'd otherwise then to explode them for Heretical Thus the Man 's for any Game he cares not whom he defends if he can but have his End upon the Party he designs to mischief sometimes he will be a Church-man against a Non-conformist and back again sometimes either against a Quaker then for him against them both and lastly a Socinian against them all His seeming Labours against us for common Principles being but a plowing our Backs with their Heifers for the promotion of his Biddlean or Socinian Cause which Owl-light way of stabbing men or deceiving People under the Livery of every Perswasion whilst for none of them is very remote from being either Christian or Manly nor will the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth bless or
in writing against a particular Person to prove a Charge against a People having already pointed at it in another place but shall fall to the Charge it self which I will faithfully lay down in his own words and the rather since it is one main part of his Proof against G. F. that he is an Impostor because he renders not the very words of Scripture though words importing the same sense Pag. 3. If you will but allow us competent Witnesses to prove that G. Fox killed a man supposing we have seen him at noon-day thrust him through the Heart with a Sword or if you will grant that we can read English and know that A. B. is not C. O. then upon these Concessions we will undertake to prove that G. Fox is a false Prophet a Lyar or Imposter This Reader is the Charge And dost thou not think it is rarely drawn up Well may I say rarely for I dare say it is the first of the sort that is extant in the World I must confess I am at a stand what he intends with his suppository Introduction to it for I as little understand what the man means by allowing Vs Competent Witness when the Vs are to see the thing done as he can pretend Difficulty in the obscurest Passage in G. Fox's Writings for either he should have said If you will but allow Vs to be competent Witnesses supposing we have seen him at Noon-day c. or if as by him already Phrais'd viz. If you will but allow Us competent Witnesses leaving out to be then say I it should be supposing They and not We have seen him at Noon-day c. for as exprest they are competent Witnesses But if this be so trivial as that our time might have been better spent and our Charity have over lookt it as a slip of the Mans Pen or in the Compositors Setting Methinks he was as lavish of his Time as penurious in his Charity that without any Just Provocation he should trouble the world with an entiâ—e Book containing little else but a Collection of such slender at most omissions enlarg'd with his own malicious Comments Well but it is now time that we should see this wonderful discovery he has made of George Fox and that so plain as killing a man at noon-day which unhandsom Comparison is no mean Instance of his own vexed base and murdering Spirit or as his Mathematical Demonstration that A. B. is not C. O. for which peculiar and easie way of well-expressing of a Charge we remain his Debtors To prove this Charge the only thing we want for of false Accusers and Accusations we have enough he thus goes about it to use his own words If G. Fox in matters of concernment not only to mens Bodies and Estates but also to their Souls and eternal Estates affirm that to be true which to your own Eyes is manifestly false or that to be false which is true Again If G. F. doth belye not an ordinary Person a mortal Man or Prince but God Almightâ— our Lord Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost Moreover If he deal thus through Design and Purposâ—â— then he is what I have said viz. a false Prophet Lyar and Impostor with a Witness This is but Petitio Principii or a meer begging of the question nothing is more proved here then in the Charge it self nay it is but the Repetition of the Charge expressed in other tearms Yet to it so expressed I return in short thus much First I deny that George Fox his affirming things to be true which are false and false which are true to be obvious to our Eyes or Sences for we can see no such thing And since we are so to see them in order to the Conclusion it follows that he is no false Prophet Lyar or Impostor by his own Rule But Secondly I utterly deny that George Fox so affirming or asserting supposing as our Adversary says of him renders him either a false Prophet or Impostor since he only is a false Prophet that either runs to instruct or teach a People and not sent of God but speaks other mens words not his own Visions or who prophesies such things to come as never come to pass but happen quite contrary in neither of which acceptations is George Fox proved a false Prophet therefore none The like may be urged to clear him from Imposture since he only is an Impostor that assumes to himself the Dignity of an extraordinary Ambassador from God and proves a Cheat as Simon Magus among the Samaritans and Romans Mahomet among the Turks and the late Jew in Italy So that if George Fox had singly affirm'd that to be true which were false it prov'd him no False Prophet or Impostor And therefore our Adversary shews himself a raw Disputant and meer Novice in the sound framing of an Argument For what man that understands an Horse from a Cow would thus argue If G. Fox in matters of concernment not only to mens Bodies and Estates then in matters of concernment in part to mens Bodies and Estates affirm that to be true which is false he is a false Prophet and Impostor He might as well have said if George Fox affirms he gave ten pound for an Horse when he gave but five then G. Fox is a false-Prophet and Impostor with a witness But I think it will not hurt us to let him have to himself the whole Reputation of this kind of proving to Peoples sences the Truth of his Charge who had he not been void of all Sence himself and Reason too would never have suffer'd so much weakness and untruth to pass the Press without Correction Nay though he could make it appear which neither his wickedness nor prejudice will ever be able to do that G. Fox has designedly and on purpose belyed the Almighty God the Lord Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost as he chargeth him to have done Yet still I affirm that he could not properly strictly be tearmd a false Prophet or Impostor though all but such would justly conclude him as wicked as our Adversary is malicious for might not a deboist fellow that mocks at God and Godliness when he kills lyes or commits Adultery say in his defence as the Apostle did on â—more serious account in another case that his Spirit was 〈◊〉 to have avoided such things but the Flesh was 〈…〉 not he which did those things but sin in him hereby 〈◊〉 the holy Ghost which in the Apostle intended quite 〈◊〉 thing Yet I hope none in their wits would count such a fellow a false Prophet or Impostor though very impious and prophane And that there are too many who from Nathan's words to David in the case of Vriah's Wife and from the liberty taken by some of the Ancients have interpreted and concluded that their boundless Lusts are by Scripture irreprehensible thereby making at first sight the holy Ghost an accessory to their licentious practices who was the Author of the truth
therein contained which is belying him with a Witness I suppose our Adversaries Observation in the World cannot but give him to understand Yet how we can properly Character such Libidinoso's or inordinate Persons false Prophets or Impostors is left with the ingeneous Reader to consider I hope by this time the Way he takes to prove George Fox what he wickedly sayes him to be is evidently detected of Insufficiency and that upon his own positions George Fox can not be concluded either an Impostor or false Prophet I shall now make it appear that he is as well mistaken in the proof of the Truth of his Charge as in the way he took to state it and that no man in that compass could well have manifested more Weakness Folly Malice and Untruth as well in desending of his own as in opposing our Principles then this our Adversary we have in hand To follow him into every Absurdity would not only be more then he deserves at our hands or any mans that loves time better then to lose it But it would needlesly swell the Discourse beyond both my Intention and the Service it is designed to I shall therefore contract and divide his exceptions to George Fox's quotation of Scriptures into these three sorts 1. Such as may refer to Doctrinal Difference I mean wherein he opposeth us 2. Such as refer to his Socinian Interpretation of the Scriptures wherein Christ's Divinity is asserted where we oppose him 3. Such as are meerly trivial in which there can be no pretence for accusing George Fox of any alteration as to what himself judges generally to be the sence of the places only perhaps a transposing of the words or the using of a word of equal force but not the same no wayes detracting or varying from the mind of the Scriptures But that a man should make fifty Cavils and faithless number doctrinal or to any solid purpose befits no man that loves to be profitably employed but it therefore suits him that is so over-run with the Lazy as I am really perswaded he busies not himself in one serviceable Work in a week together only sits upon his own Saturnal Dreams till he has with difficulty hatcht them into some seeming consistency and then they are to slutter abroad upon his paper wings scarce good enough for waist to the shop which traffiques in such kind of ware till persecution comes with the Scorch of which they are wont to singe and wrap up like a Scrole But enough of this Now for his Doctrinal Exceptions He begins with what we confess to Gods Glory to be our beginning and stumbles at it as much as did the Jews of old I mean Christ Jesus the great Son of Righteousness and Light of the invisible and spiritual World by Which the invisible Souls and Spirits of men come to obtain the saving Knowledge of God and what is required from them in order to their eternal Salvation What can we expect then but Darkness from him that seeketh to disparage the Light But let us hear him The first Scripture which I shall pitch upon as misrecited in his Language that is George Fox's perverted and corrupted shall be that in John 1. 9. he cites it almost as often wrong as right The Scripture runs thus in our translation That was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World A long Porch where 's the House says he in the Greek it is coming not that cometh and so it may refer to light as well as man But George Fox hath it thus John said Every man that cometh into the World is enlightned and several sayings of the like tendency But now hath he observed that Exactness which he requires in others may there be no Difference between lighteth and enlighteth must every man of necessity he enlightned because the Light lighteth him Wonderful Distinction Certainly this man sets up for a new Class of Criticks I wonder into what Labyrinth he hath travell'd for this notable gloss a body would think he had left his Wits if ever he had any behind in exchange But I answer I look upon it as conceited and presumptious for any man to undertake what he cannot prove and not less base to affirm a man mis-cites perverts and corrupts Scripture when he renders the genuine sense of it And this I briefly prove If I grant to this Pseudo-linguist that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Participle and not a Verb as our English renders it what then must it needs follow that it refers to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Has he made no better use of his Greek Grammar 'T is strange that any man so mean in that Tongue should undertake to thwart the current of all indifferent Translators whom he sticks not to make use of at other times I have taken a view of the most and best Editions both of Greek Syriack Arabick Aethiopick and Latine I could at present find besides several other Languages amongst others a Gothick and Anglo Saxonick Testament which I suppose I understand as much as he doth Greek or thereabouts which I shall also produce for satisfaction The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was the true Light which enlighteth every man coming into the World The Syriack Version has it Omnem venientem in mundum All coming into the World Which sayes Drusius is sufficient The Arabick hath it thus That was the true Light which enlightens every man making coming to begin the next verse which I suppose was a Mistake in the Version of it however it gives no force to our Adversary since he is said to enlighten all men before his coming or being come into the World is mention'd by the Evangelist in him was Life and that Life was the Light of men he was the of men In the Aethiopick Version we find it thus And he is the Light of Righteousness which enlightens all men coming into the World Which Luther renders thus Erat lux vera quae illuminat omnen hominem venientem in hunc mundum Luther He was the true Light which enlightens every man that comes into the World Which Erasmus renders thus Erat lux illa lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in mundum Erasmus That Light was the true Light which enlightneth every man that comes into the World Which Beza renders thus Hic erat lux illa vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in Mundum Beza This was that true Light which enlightens every man that comes into the World Montanus thus Erat lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum Montanus He was the true Light which enlightens every man that comes into this World The Italian Version thus La vera Luce era quellach illumina ogni huomo che viene all mondo Italian The true Light was that which enlightens all men which come into the World The Spanish thus Aquella
that he was not antecedent to that work that he never enlightned the Fathers and holy men of old with a sufficient measure of that same Divine Light which without measure appeared in him and far greater then before to the Sons of men I appeal to any modest intelligent man if this be not Ingratitude nay Sacriledge in the highest degree Certainly therefore it can be no Injury to the Scripture if we say That He who enlightned the Patriarchs and Prophets of old hath in a more excellent manner and suitable to the Spirituality of his own Divine Nature revealed himself in this Gospel administration the which may aptly be compared to a well-built Temple which has been of old begun but left to these latter daies of Christ's more eminent manifestation to superstruct compleat adorn and sit for him the eternal Light of Life and Righteousness to be worshipped in so that there is a great Difference as Grotius in other words doth well observe between the Beginning of an administration and of the Author of it That might be the Beginning of those large Discoveries but not the Light that gave them and consequently notwithstanding John should have intended a Divine Creation yet it will not necessarily follow that the Light which is that Creator was not in beeing antecedently to that Divine Creation and so God both by pre-existence and omnipotency But I shall say no more of this I mean the transposition of the Participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till our Adversary sayes more to the contrary if we may then think it worth our notice But it may be fit to observe that the man shows a waveâ—ing in his own Judgment which is not only manifest from his saying It may as well be referred to Light as Man but in a manâ—script to a Friend of ours he affirmed it to be unreasonable to refer coming to Man and not to the true Light All we can say is this that though it show him to be unsettled in his own thoughts yet he was willing to be a little more modest in print then in his manuscript For his Distinction between Lighteth and Enlightneth I confess my self troubled not at his great Skill but â—olly It shows he would say something if he could tell what and to use a familiar Proverb The poor man will be playing at small game rather then stand out Then let 's to the Word since he would be thought a Critick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we read in Greek in the Latin illuminat and should in the English enlightneth the defect is not in the Original nor Latin versions but our English only I perceive whether it be Original or Translation which makes most for him that is the Infallible Text till it happens to contradict him and then if in the Original the Word is foisted in or thus to be transposed or rendred if in any of the versions then it is not so in the Original it is lamely rendred and the like But this Callenge I make to the man that if he can find one version in three and three to one that 's odds which reâ—dres it different from what we understand by it I shall acknowledge him a Critick and our selves ignorant in words All the Greek Coppies and Latin Translations I ever saw or heard of import no other thing then Illumination or Enlightning All that I have hitherto mentioned so give it us quae illuminat omnem hominem c. That this is the constant use of the Word throughout both the Old and New Testament so called is evident It is said of Jonathan that after he had tasted a little of that honey into which he put his rod his eyes were enlightned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia illuminati sunt oculi mei See saith Jonathan I pray you how mine eyes have been enlightned The Chaldee version hath it illuxerunt oculi mei how my eyes shined The Syriack thus my eyes have received light The Arabick thus quomodo illustrata est acies mea how is my Eye-sight clear'd but the Septuagint expresseth it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 behold how my eyes have seen which in a mystical sense is the same now for that eternal Light or Word of Life is that Honey out of that true Rock and Milk that the Prophet exhorted the Jews to buy without money and without price And who taste of that in faith receive that blessed effect namely true illumination Thus Job To bring his Soul from the pit that is from darkness death and sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad lucendum in luce viventium to be enlightned with the light of the living The Chaldee has it after this manner that my Soul may shine by the Light of the Living The Syriack and Arabick that is may see the Light of Life Job 33. 30. and upon v. 28. which speaks to the same purpose sayes Vatablus De luce illa coeleâ—â—â— intelligit fruetur Dei conspectu Which is He means by that heavenâ—â— Light he shall enjoy the presence of God Likewise David most emphatically useth the same Verb and that to our purpose undeâ—â—â—bly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quoniam tu illuminabis lucernam meam Deus meuâ— illuminabit tenebrositatem meam For thou wilt light my Candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness The Chaldee has it thus because thou wilt enlighten the Candle of Israel which was put out in the captivity for thou art the Author of the Light of Israel The Lord my God will bring me out of Darkness into Light A notable addition at least explanation of the place yet this is in the Chaldee version The Syriack Aethiopick and Septuagiâ—t are the same the Arabick differs only in tenses thou dost enlighten for wilt enlighten and he hath enlightned my darkness for he will enlighten my darkness And if the spirit of man be the Candle of the Lord and that God only can light it then certainly since man's spirit is within him it is not more unsound nor any more violating of Scripture sence to say that God enlightens then that he lightens every man within by communicating of his own Light to man's Spirit which receiving it becomes lighted by it to all right Knowledge and good Works Further if David's darkness was within him in his Soul and understanding as certainly he meant it so when he spake of it then must that Light which was to shine there shine in David's Soul and understanding And what false Doctrine or English it is or perversion of Scripture to say that man is then enlightned let sober people judge It is thus exprest in the Greek Copies of the New Testament also and the Latin Versions of them witness the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. illuminatos oculos cordis vestri Beza has it in his Copy and version 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illuminatis oculis mentis vestrae The Syriack has it that the eyes of your
They were Brethren as being of the same Blood and Fathers as Elders of the Tribes under that particular Constitution Besides both his own and if Married his Wifes Fathers and Grand-Fathers might be then living and either of the Council or concurring with it In short We therefore refuse the style of Master and are very cautious of being in the least lavish in Titles of Worldly Honour because We with Lamentation behold through the Illumination of God's blessed Light the Spoil Cruelty and manifold Evils that Proud Flattering Honour-seeking and Honour-giving Spirit has made amongst the Sons of men who to compass unjust Dominion hath sacrific'd the Blood Wealth and Peace of Nations to its ambitious aims and esteem'd it no small accession to the Magnificâ—nce of its exploits that almost in all Ages she hath led the Rights Properties and Persons too of Millions as Captives in Triumph after her and through the Gulf of Rapine and Blood laneâ—t into the vast Ocean of unlimited Power What Impiety is there in the World that may not in some sence be resolved into that of Pride or Covetousness after Honour as its proper Center Mens over-value of themselves and their Displeasure against such as have not the like thoughts of them beget Revenge which taking its opportunity breaks forth into Blood and Murder O! let men learn to dread the Living God and fear all their dayes before him and that will sweep the mind of these vain thoughts and bring it from such exalted conceits and its insatiable Thirst after Honour and will establish it in the Humility and Lovely Plainness of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which is of great Price in the Sight of the Almighty God which because the World is not adorned with but doth both seek and give wordly Honour and Personal Respect whilst perhaps such entertain deadly Hatred against each other and resolve one anothers Ruin for outward Ends we are constrained by the Meek and Lowly Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord to testifie against the World's Vain Honours and to hold forth an Example to them what they must all expect to come to before they can receive that Honour which is from God And this is that Honest Reason why We of this Age do with Elihu say We know not how to give flattering Titles for in so doing our Maker would soon take us away Thus much in Answer to his Cavills whose Emptiness might have been enough to sound out their own indesert of any but for the sake of the Honest-Hearted I have said some thing enough for the place and occasion If any desire further Satisfaction they may please to peruse a Book entituled No Cross No Crown and the Serious Apology for the Principles and Practices of the People called Quakers pag. 139 140 141 142. which with several others sufficiently vindicate both our Principle and Practice in this particular as also others of the same Nature and tendency His fourth Fling at us is about Womens Sâ—aking in the Church in which point he would seem to Triumph not a little over G. F. Let your Women keep Silence in the Churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak bnt they are commanded to be under Obedience as also saith the Law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at home for it is a shame for Women to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. Here if the Apostle sayes he doth not command Silence to Women by Sex in those cases wherein he allows men by Sex to speak I understand nothing that is written But G. F. pag. 380. sayes Now the Woman here hath an Husband to ask and not usurp Authority over the Man but Christ in the Male as in the Female who redeems from under the Law and makes free from the Law that man may speak c. Now if we may take Liberty to expound the Scripture thus it will be a Nose of wax that may be turned which way we please Besides it seems to be built upon a misreading of Husband for Husbands because Christ who is but One is made the Husbands that must be asked at home So one of your Authors saith But what Husbands have Widdows to learn of but Christ And was not Christ the Husband of Philip's four Daughters and may not they that learn of their Husbands speak then But before I go any further it may be observed how very slight his return is to G. F's Sense of the place and especially that though he quotes another Friends Query on the matter he never offers to give it any Answer and I am really perswaded he was confounded by it However why is it so abusive of the Scripture to say that which the Scripture saith it self Are not the Spirits of Believers properly the Lambs Bride as being the â—â—ue Church to which he is a Bridegroom and â—f which he is the Head Methinks he must never have read or at least have forgot what he read in the Scriptures of Truth who denies this If so then why is it Improper or Abusive as he calls it to say that when Mens Spirits of themselves especially in the unlearned State speak it is that Woman which is forbidden to speak of her self since the Context saith that though they may all speak one by one yet it is if any thing be revealed to them which because that cannot be without Christ reveal it whom the Father hath ordained to be his eternal Word by which to declare to man the invisible things of his Kingdom it follows that it is Christ the Bridegroom and Husband of his People who by his Power speaks through his People to the Edification of his Body And as the Woman is the Weaker Vessel so is Man in comparison of Christ and therefore may not unfitly be accounted a Woman from his comparative imbecillity So that as Christ Presides or Governs in the Assemblies of his People it may be rather said the Man thâ—â— is the Bridegroom and Husband of his People speaks in them and by them then they themselves who without him are but as the Strength of a Woman and it being her place to yield to the Soveraignity of her Lord and Husband to whom is ordained the Rule she ought to receive the Law from his mouth who is the everlasting High-Priest and Prophet of his People But now suppose I should yield it to him that the Apostle chiefly intended the Words in a Literal Sense and not so mystically as we have already discours'd will it therefore be untrue mystically by no means it is frequent to find both a mystical and literal Sense in the same passage as when the Evangelist alludes to Isaiah's Prophecy Chap. 5. 3. proving it to be fulfilled by Christ's bodily Cures which is true in that Sense yet hath one more inward and mystical But to be short I utterly deny from the Literal Text that Women are prohibited to preach singly as Women or of that Sex
new Men after his own Image in which sense the Image of Christ is by him renewed and created in right Believers and they made new Creatures by bearing his Image His next Perversion of Scripture is that in John which he saith G. F. often useth and alwayes abuseth as he remembers I doubt his Memory much but let 's hear it And now O Father Glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Thus the Scripture but G. F. thus Christ who was Glorified with the Father before the World began On which read his Comment You will say perhaps his words and Christ's are the same in sense but doth God give G. F. his Infallible Spirit to correct his Son Christ's words Sottish Ignorance and Enmity with a witness What Is every Variation of a Word or Syllable a Wrong done to the Meaning of Scripture And did ever Christ his Apostles or any sober Man living chide or reprove a Person if through Defect of Memory or for Brevity or in a way of Paraphrase he did leave out or put in or change a Word not in the least perverting the Sense so uncharitable a Person I know not ever to have heard of fitter to be severely reproved then answer'd and to whom Silence had been the best Confutation had it not been more for the sake of others then his To dare to conclude a Man a Lyar Imposter False-Prophet and I know not what more because he expresses the same matter with a small Variation in the Words But I shall say more of this else-where He proceeds Nay doth not G. F. take his Phrase in a Divers Sense from what Christ intended by his for sayes He it is manifest that Jesus prayed now to be glorified with the Glory wherewith He was not then glorified but God was glorious before the World was therefore Jesus intends by the Glory He had with the Father before the World was the Glory He had given him in Decree before the world was The Clinch is Foolish and his Consequence False and pernicious For what if Christ was not then glorified must it therefore follow that He was not in being much less glorified before the World was Can He be so great a Stranger to the Apostles Doctrine delivered in his Epistle to the Philippians where we find him first Equal with God as being in his very Form or Essence next making Himself of no Reputation then appearing in the Fashion or Likeness of Men and lastly that He humbled Himself and became Obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross which shews that he was in an exalted and glorified Estate before He humbled Himself else how was He humbled And it is peece of Sacriledge and Ingratitude I almost tremble to think on that because He was pleased to descend in the Likeness of men in order to the Salvation of Mankind in which Our Adversary may also have his share if He unfeignedly repent he should unworthily robb Him of all Pre-existence in the Form of God whilst He Himself thought it no Robbery to be Equal with God So that though in his humbled Estate and Fashion of a Man He could not properly be said to be glorified and therefore prayed to be so yet it is no right Consequence that therefore He never was before For that would be to say because an Earthly Prince may for a certain time debase himself and take upon him the Condition of an Inferior Person for some great Benefit that He thereby designes to do his Country if after having effected it He desires to be received again into that Glory and Splendor he enjoyed before that therefore he never had any before only in Decree If this would be both False and absurd the other is much more This is the great Mystery of the Socinians indeed the Rock on which they split they do not distinguish betwixt the Form of God and Likeness of Men that which came into the World to do the Will of God and the Body He took in which to perform it Nor does this Scripture at all make for his Opinion for Jesus was not yet Glorified since it might as well have been said He has not yet dyed the Death of the Cross neither is Risen and Ascended which was the Period of that state unto which He had from the Form of God Humbled Himself even to the being of no Reputation which he thus expresseth himself I have Glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work thou gavest me to do And in another place thus I came forth from the Father and am come into the World Again I leave the World and go to the Father where is the same Reason that we should believe he was with the Father before he came into the World as that he did come into the World and afterwards go to the Father again else why is it again going to the Father But now let me ask him if he can be so brazen'd as to think that God allows him not only to correct his Son Christ's words but the very substance of his Prayer Was it so great a Crime in his account for G. F. to say who was Glorified before the World began instead of Glorifie thou me with thy own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was And is it no wayes reprovable in him instead of the last clause to turn it thus Glorifie thou me â—â—th thy own self with the Glory which I had with thee not actually but in degree only before the World began That ever any man should undertake to Correct others in that which doth not deserve it whilst the Beam is in his own Eye and is himself most guilty My Soul blesseth God that our Religion is above these slight Shifts and pittiful starting Holes I would tâ—ll the man in his own words of us though more seriously That he whom G. F. and all of us call Christ by way of Excellency was in the Sense aforementioned glorified before the World began and if what he calls Christ was not it is to us a Proof that he was not that True Christ which both appeared to the Fathers of old for the Rock followed them and that Rock was Christ and in the fashion of a Man in these latter Times humbling himself to the Death of the Cross Thus much in the clearing of this place 3dly He is very angry with G. F. that he makes Christ speak these words by the Prophet Amos Behold I am pressed under you as a Cart is pressed with Sheaves which sayes he belongs to the Lord or Jehovah Grant it Does it not therefore belong unto Christ who is God over all Blessed forever that said Before Abraham was I am But he gives us no reason to the contrary and till he does let this suffice That as Christ has been a Lamb slain through Sin and Iniquity so also has he been
Head then Flesh nay it can better dispâ—nse with the loss of much Flesh and many Bones then the Head for if that be absent the Body quickly dyes Christ is the Head Root and Life of his Church without which she can never live one Comfortable Day Besides it contradicts positive Scripture I will not leave you Comfortless I will come to you I will be with you to the End of the World because I live you live also He that is with you shall be in you c. Fifteenth G. F. and the Apostle said The deep Things of God was revealed by the Spirit of God But the Apostle saith our Adversary speaketh not so But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep Things of God Let all Sober People judge whether this man does not groundlesly cavil at us For if God reveals his deep Things by his Spirit then does the Spirit give unto us the Revelation of the deep Things of God Could he blush he might be ashamed to shew himself such a frivolous Busi-body Sixteenth G. F. And so who is in Christ is a New Creature old things pass away Our Adversary The Apostle thus Therefore if any be in Christ he is a New Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become New 2 Cor. 15. 17. The Apostle speaks of the New Creation as done G. F. as a thing doing but with great Patience for a little would be tired I Answer Where old things are done away and all things become new there the New Creation is done But in such as he that believes the Church of Christ to be spotted wrinkled c all things are far from being made new since old things are not past away and in such there can be no New Creation as yet Seventeenth G. F. For it is the savour of Death to the Death and Life to the Life The Apostle saith our Adversary thus To the one the savour of Death unto Death to the other the savour of Life unto Life Thus that he may be true to his Way he undertakes the Confutation of G. F. and Proof of him to be an Impostor the Difference betwixt the Apostle's saying and G. F's citation is imputting the before Death and Life which is the same in Sence and Intention But again Eighteenth The Scripture quoted by our Adversary thus Of this sort are they which CREEP into Houses and lead captive silly Women laden with Sins and led away with divers Lusts ever learning but never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth But G. F saith Of such as have got the words c. who are Reprohates concerning the Faith which crept into Houses before the Apostles decease which have kept alwayes learning and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth 〈◊〉 led away with divers Lusts Very well and what 's the Error or Perversion here Why the Apostle does not attribute to these False Teachers that they kept People alwayes learning but they led captive such as were so And what then therefore is it not true in the sence in which G. F. quotes it What wrong is there done to the Text or such Teachers either For who knows not that false Teachers do keep People alwayes learning but never bring them to the Knowledge of the Truth And certainly they cannot be false Teachers that are not led away of divers Lusts therefore they are both led away of divers Lusts and they lead others too But it is worth our notice That he who has so frequently and with such Derision reflected upon G. F's Syntax and false English is so far from being unblamable himself as to make that Elegant Apostle guilty for in the Epistle it is They which Creep in his Quotation They which CREEPS But we delight not to spend our time so unprofitably such are his Contests about the Hebrew Greek and Latine being set over Christ's Head by his Crucifiers for he would have it written as said in the Scriptures and G. F. sayes Set atop of Christ that is over His Head and true it is what he observes That all Languages have crucified Him and those that have been most Learned have been furthest from the Kingdom that is resembled to little Children I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Wife and Prudent and revealed them unto Babes Nineteenth G. F. sayes the Gospel is preached in every Creature Our Adversary sayes was preacht to every Ceature and both are true for in time past it Was and now I hope he will not deny but it Is. In every Creature or To every Creature may be the same For when the Gospel of Repentance and Faith in God are by his Light and Spirit secretly revealed and declared in eveey Heart doubtless 't is also to the Heart as well as in it And though there may be outward Preaching of the Gospel yet that which is Effectual comes from the Spirit and Power of the Gospel and reacheth into the Innermost Parts and the same Spirit gives there the true Discerning and Sense and makes the Effectual Application thereof so that his Carping there is like all the rest Malicious and Troublesom But he hath something to the same Purpose XX. Again G. F. If Christ be not within People they are Reprobates The Apostle and Translators say Know you not your own selves that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates 2 Cor. 15. 5. as if in you could admit of no other Sense but within you Let us see if the Words of Christ will alwayes admit that Sense Mat. 20. 26 27. But it shall not be so within you but whosoever will be Great within you let him be your Minister c. thus far our Adversary But certainly the Man can't think that because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may sometimes signifie among that therefore in all cases it must do so for let us read the verse cited so Know you not your own selves that Christ Jesus is among you except ye be Reprobates This in his Opinion of Christ's Residence would be most false Besides if it should be read within you it might be understood thus within your Precinct Company or Society and the Sense very good still However it shews he hath but little to do who shall employ his time in correcting within you for in you since whatever is in any thing is within that in which it is or else I know nothing But he tells us that G. F. is guilty of the like fault in relation to John 2. 27. where the Apostle speaketh of the Anointing which abides in you but he thus the Apostles brought the Saints to the Anointing within them To which I say that He is Guilty of the like Fault of Fooling as before For a School-Boy would be whipt for so much Ignorance and Ill-spent Time He might have learn't
either in its Original or the numerous Translations that are in the World whereof so scarcely two agree We say not the Letter but the Life it self is the Evangâ—lical Rule they say not any such Divine Life oâ— Spirit by any Internal Discoveries or Operations but the bare single Letter or Scriptures containing so many express Words Points c. are that only Gospelâ—Rule Wherefore to make G. F. as condemnable as the Priâ—â—ts they must first prove him to hold the same Principle that they do which because he does not he is not liable to the same Reproof with them Indeed to none at all Where let it be further considered That they affirm the Scriptures to be their Rule wholâ— excluding the Spirit of God And we believe the Eternal Spirit to be our Rule not excluding the Serious Use of Scriptures suitable to that Saying They that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and I will write my Law in their Hearts and put my Fear in their Inward Parts The Scriptures testifie of me but ye will not come unto me that ye may have Life But before I conclude this Subject I must needs tell the Man that he hath not only taken as well a New as Insufficient Way to prove G. F. an Impostor c. but he has equally manifested his Ignorance and Want of Candout in what he has done For who is there that ever understood the Laws of Translation that would revile a Man for giving the same Sense in Words as forceable though not the very same Or Who would count a Man an Impostor False Prophet c. because of a meer Verbal Alteration in a Sentence where the Matter remains intire and unviolated Certain I am that the best Translators in the World have endeavoured to make their Authors speak their matter in the Phrase and propriety of that Language into which they have been rendered which had been utterly impossible if they had been turned Verbatim and after the genuine Phrase and mode of their Original Tongues Such Versions being like the wrong side of the Cloath or reading Words backward Let our Adversary inform himself after what manner all the Classick Authors Great Philosophers and Famous Historians are made French by the Criticks of that Tongue in their New Academy at Paris Nor is Our Country wholely-void of Instances as the Translation of Thusidides Polybius Justinus Caesars Comentaries Quintus Curtius Livius Seneca Tacitus Homer Virgil Ovid Lucan Council of Trent Campanella Du-Plessy Grotius Bâ—colini Malvetzy St Amour and fourty more peeces in which I dare affirm that neither Verbs Nouns Pronouns Participles Gerunds Adjectives Conjunctives Copulates Subjunctives Prepositions Adverbs Tenses Cases Numbers c. are so much as considered in their Translation but only how the Matter so exprest in its Original Tongue may be most aptly rendered into Our own If then this Scope is both practised by and allowed to all Translators I would fain know why it should be so Criminal in G. F. to have given the Scope and whole tendency of Scripture Texts in other Words then what are in our conmon Translations But certainly this shows that rank Enmity which lodgeth in the Man's Mind and is to me a plain Demonstration of his implacable Malice that like the Black Jaundies has so over-run him as I fear it will almost be impossible that he should ever recover to any tolerable moderation though We could desire he might come to a Sight and Sense of his Folly Ignorance and Bitterness against us and not longer continue to kick against the pricks in himself nor to endeavour however he miss his aim to gore the sides of an Innocent People with his False Glosses and Calumnious Accusations for certainly the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth will effectually judge for these things by whose eternal Power and Spirit and for whose Cause on Earth we are what we are at this very day And though the Contradiction of Abstinate sinfull men be truely burthensom on their account and this continual toil of Controversy very unpleasant to our selves yet for the alone sake of Gods unchangeable Truth and Heavenly Way to Life Eternal we do cheerfully overlook our own Trouble Weight and Exercise counting it our duty and therein our Satisfaction to be at all times ready for the Service of it let what will ensue And be it known to all the World that as our Religion stands not in the Doctrines Meanings Preachings or Notions of mens devising or deducting from the Scriptures themselves but in the Living Quicking Power of the Eternal God which plainly discovers Sin and wounds deeply for it and as obeyed ransoms the Soul from Death Hell and the Grave to serve the Living Lord God in his New Living and Spiritual Way So do we proclaim it to the Nations that all Religions short of this are but the Form without the Power and make up but that Whâ—re with her golden Cup which has bewitched Tongues and Kindreds and People She that has a name to Live as the Lambs Bride true Church c. whilst indeed She is but that great Harlot that has committed all manner of Abomination with whole Kingdoms under the specious shew of Religion wherefore every one of you to whom this Book comes search and examine in the Dread and Fear of Almighty God how it stands with thee Hast thou ever been prickt to the Heart and repented with that Repentance which sorrows for Sin past and turns from Sin to come which is never to be repented of And dost thou feel the Living Powerfull Workings of Gods Power and Spirit in thy Heart regenerating thee without which thou canst not be a Child of God and Heir of Glory I say O Man unless thou comest to know the work of thy Souls Redemption from the Pit and Deliverance of thy mind from the Snares and Temptations of the Devil begun in thy self by which to live to God and to have the Testimony of his Eternal Spirit in thy Conscience that thou hast turned at the Reproof of Instruction and hast felt the Blood of Cleansing and art now walking on in the strait and narrow Way of Life and Righteousness which â—rucifies the Earthly Mind thy Praying Preaching Observations and whole Religion are vain and will prove all of none effect in the Day when the Lord God Eternal shall make strict Inquisition and Search after what Fruits have been by every one brought forth Wherefore be ye all awakened to the Fear of the Lord and mind diligently that Blessed Light which shines in your Hearts and is able to give unto you the Knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ which is the true Knowledge and Wisdom that come from above that make Wise to Life Eternal for the Wisdom that is from below may study carp contend about Scriptures and Religion and from thence frame and imagine how those thingâ—s are workt that are mention'd therein and I know doth but can never give
Purposes afore-mentioned is the very Badge Condition and Mark of the New and Last Covenant 3. It seems to be the means under the Gospel by which God causes his Children to keep his Statutes c. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them To conclude to speak strictly If in the dayes of the second Covenant which began from Christ's visible Appearance God put his Spirit within his People as saith the Apostle to the Hebrews and that it was thereby he did and doth cause them to walk in his Statutes and keep his Judgments then God's Children are not without an Infallible Teacher and Leader in the Things that appertain to their Eternal Salvation But we plainly see and read from the very Letter of the Scriptures that God gives his Spirit or Light within to Judge Lead and Guide and consequently the opposit Doctrine is both false and very pernicious I might further argue thus That if God's Unerring Spirit only enables men to walk in his Statutes and keep his Judgments to do them then since all are required to walk therein none are exempted from a sufficient measure of that Vnerring Spirit in order to it Much might be argued hereon but this shall suffice Ninthly Joel 2. 28 29. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your Old Men shall dream Dreams your Young Men shall see Visions And also upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit That this is generally believed and frequently quoted as a Proof of Gospel-Times is well known to most who are inquisitive after Matters of Religion and how hard it bears upon the Anti-spiritual Opinion of our cavelling Adversary though very evident yet we shall further proceed to shew 1. Here is God's Royal Engagement to effuse or pour forth of his blessed Spirit in the dayes of the New Covenant 2. Here is on whom it is to be poured forth exprest in two words ALL FLESH in more words Young and Old Men and Women Masters Mistresses and Servants Mark the Universality of God's Mercy and Grace Now from hence I argue If God's Unerring Spirit be to be poured out on all under the New Covenant and that this is the time thereof then has God poured out of his Vnerring Spirit as aforesaid that the Spirit is to be poured out under the Administration of the Gospel the Text proves that this is the Time he himself confesses pag. 1 12 13 45. therefore the Conclusion is undeniable viz. That God has poured forth of his Holy and Unerring Spirit Again If the Spirit of God is that without which none can obtain Prophesie and Vision and that Prophesie and Vision are Christian-Church Gifts then since the Church of Christ is not to be without Prophesies and Vision to the End of the World it follows she cannot be without an infallible Spirit to the end of the World Or thus If without having the Spirit none can have Prophesie and Vision and that Prophesie and Vision are both to be and to continue in Christ's Church universally then it will naturally follow that she cannot be without that Vnerring Spirit and that such as are cannot in that state be Members of the true Church then consequently Hereticks as concerning the true Faith Tenthly Hag. 2. 5. According to the Word that I Covenanted with you when yee came out of Egypt so my Spirit remaineth among you fear not This place doth very emphatically prove my Assertion concerning the Judgship and Guidance of God's Spirit two things seem clear 1. That it was a part of God's Old Covenant to wit That his Spirit should remain amongst them 2. That the Spirit 's so remaining was to some eminent Service for said the Lord Fear not as much as to say don't faint in your Minds concerning the Work you have to do neither be ye filled with Doubts or Scruples who shall inform us who direct us or we want a Leader in this difficult matter some one to remove our Objections and Fears and to preside or be as Judge among us how to order and regulate us to the doing of the Service expected from us for thus saith the Lord My Spirit remains among you fear not He is sufficient for you He shall teach and counsel you repair to Him advise with him and you shall be supplied with all things necessary for you Don't rebel against my Good Spirit and you are safe it shall be well with you In short If it was a Condition of the Old Covenant That God should accompany his then Children with the Assistance and Presence of his good Spirit and accordingly he testified by his Prophet That his holy Spirit remained among them then much more reasonable it is to believe that the Presence of that Eternal Spirit should continually accompany his Children under the New and Last Testament The first part the Place proves the second is made good by the plain import of the following Prophetick verses where he saith I will shake all Nations and the Desire of all Nations shall come And I will fill this House with Glory and the Glory of this latter House shall be greater then of the former saith the Lord of Hosts How then can it possibly be That God's Evangelical House and Tabernacle should be a dry empty barren erronious man alwayes enquiring but never come to the infallible Knowledge of the only True God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent whom to know by the Revelation of the Eternal Spirit is Life Everlasting Nay who so great who so pernicious Enemies to the transcendent Glory of the latter House and Temple of God as the cavelling Anti-spiritual Men of our Age who are so angry with those that own a Conviction Faith and Worship grounded upon an Infallible Inspiration that their Rage leads them because they feel it not to the utter denying of any such things but I will assure them they shall yet grope in the dark till they come into the daily obedience of the Light and there rest contented to know only as they experience and not from a ravening comprehending Brain that would in its unregenerated state grasp at the clear Mysteries of the Kingdom into which fleshly Comprehensions and Notions can never enter but all must be as unlearned from their first Birth Education and traditional read Knowledge as he is unmanned that is again become a little Child before the Secrets of God's Work come to be made known therefore said our Lord Jesus Christ I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Prudent and revealed them unto Babes Eleaventhly John 3. 5. Jesus answered Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God This most
others for plain Scripture and would suggest because doth proceed is mentioned instead of is sent that he himself is Unscriptural He omits to tell the World what it was G. F. made that Demand for viz. to prove Three Distinct and Separate Persons in the Godhead Now whether there is the same Reason for the one as for the other I leave to all sober Men to judge yea to our Adversary himself if he dare be just 9thly His last Socinian Objection to G. F's Citation and Application of Scripture is this That whereas the Scripture sayes For this End Christ both dyed and rose and revived that He might be Lord both of the Dead and Living He sayes That he might be God both of the Dead and Living Also where the Scripture sayes Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly G. F. has it Let the Word of God dwell richly in you By all which it is easie to observe how averse he is from allowing Christ the least share in an Eternal Divinity making it his Business to abstract from every Scripture that may in the least Favour such a thing and imperiously rant it over us in the abusivest termes as Impostor Lyar False Prophet Forger void of all Reason with abundance of the like Complexion the proper Language of Brutish Malice and not a True Disciple But let us answer to his Objection If Christ be God over all as saith the Apostle then why not God both of the Dead and of the Living as well as Lord both of the Dead and Living and likewise why not let the Word of God as well as let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly for if the Word of Christ be the Word of God and if God be the Lord and the Lord God then why not God in both places as well as Lord First I am well assur'd that God is called Judge of Quick and Dead and if so then because Christ is Lord of Quick and Dead Christ the Lord is God of both Quick and Dead unless there be more Lords of the Living and the Dead then the One Almighty God and Lord of Heaven and Earth Besides methinks this Critick might have consider'd that it is not expresly in the Greek that He might be Lord but that he might Raign over the Dead and the Living so saith the Arabick but the Aethiopick has it That he might judge both the Dead and the Living In short Christ is called both God Lord and Judge and since there is but one only True God Lord and Judge of right Christians we therefore believe Christ to be that only True God Lord and Judge of both Quick and Dead And here let me caution the Man of his eager Opposition to Christ's Divinity since supposing it should not be true there can be no Detraction and if it should prove true as he may one day know he will be guilty of robbing Christ of that for which he thought it no robbery himself to be equal with God that is to be the only true God Himself A Summary Consideration of such Scripture Citations as he trivially Objects against not so much about Matter of Doctrine as in Point of imperfect Quotation and Transposition of Words GEorge Fox in answer to a Priest thus Contrary to John's Doctrine and Christ's who saith The Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the World is the true Light that man through the Light might believe Our Adversary answers That it is through Him that is John Baptist Now granting it to be so yet John was no more Instrumental then as by the Light fitted to be so as Erasmus well said and others Whatsoever Light John had he received it from Christ the Fountain of Life So that still the Light was that Medium or Instrument Besides he does not positively charge G. F. with referring those words to that Verse and to be sure that is no Doctrinal Mistake since most true in it self Secondly His next Criticism is this whereas the Scripture runs thus For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ He brings in G. F. citing it thus The Light which shined in their Hearts to give the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Again Which was the Work of the true Apostles to bring People to the Light within that shined in their Hearts to give c. Again he sayes The Light that which gives the Knowledge But sayes he if he had recited it right it would then have appeared not only that God was the Giver but also that it is the Light of Knowledge and created for God caused Light to shine out of Darkness by creating it Gen. 1. 3 4. Thus far this impertinent Man To all which I say that first he obtrudes an arrant Lye upon our very Senses to say that G. F. has not rightly cited it for so much as he did cite For God caused the Light to shine where in their Hearts So sayes G. F. But for what to give of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ And doth not G. F. say the same Wretched Scribler How Idle how Frivolous and how very Troublesom is he with his Ridiculous Remarks Secondly that the Knowledge comes by the Light all but such Bats as himself must needs see For why did God give his outward Light if not to give external Sight and Discerning And to what purpose did He cause his Invisible Spiritual Light to shine if not to give an Internal Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Besides God himself is Light He is that Great Supernatural Sun that shines throughout the Intellectual World offering unto Men the Knowledge of his Divine Glory and that in the Face of Jesus Christ This is our Message aâ— it was the true Messengers of Old And who talk of the Creation of this Light because it gives Knowledge may as well say God who was the Fountain of it was created too because He gives Knowledge I would have him give us one Scripture that therefore calls the Light created because it gives Divine Knowledge or if he can but one Reason who fools himself and would others with the Conceit that he is a great Master of it For what grosser Darkness can be then to assert the Creation of the hight upon that very Account for which we ought most truly to believe it Spiritual and Eternal But enough for this Thirdly G. F. saith But the Word is nigh thee in thy Heart Deut. 30. Moses saith our Adversary sayes But the Word is very nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou maystâ— do it Where observe that the only Difference lies in leaving out in his Mouth though it be imply'd for where it is in the Heart it will be in the Mouth But