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A78608 The deceived, and deceiving Quakers discovered. Their damnable heresies, horrid blasphemies, mockings, railings, unparallel'd deceit, and dishonestly laid open. In the discovery of which, is made known the pure use of the holy scriptures (which by them is denyed) the true Christ, and how he justifies, his second coming proved not to be already (as the Quaker affirms) also the resurrection from the dead, and the eternal judgement, and several other particulars that saints are required to be stedfast in. / Set forth especially for the good of those that are called out of the world, into the primitive order of the Gospel, but may be usefull for all people. By Matthew Caffyn a servant of the Lord, related to the Church of Christ near Horsham in Sussex, being an eye, and ear-witnesse. As wee have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, whereby we cannot but know that this is the last of the last time. Antichrist made known. Or, The Romish vvhore of Babylon proved not to bee the Antichrist, or man of sin, in seven particulars. 1 Who is this great whore of Babylon, and where her chief seat hath been, and is. 2 Her fall, and the means how and by whom. 3 What is the spirit of Antichrist, and who hath that spirit. 4 That the Antichrist will bee a single person. 5 The manner of his rising, and when. ... 7 Lastly, his fall, when, and by whom. By William Jeffery servant of the Church of Christ. Entered into the register book, kept by the Company of Stationers. Caffyn, Matthew, 1628-1714.; Jeffery, William, 1616-1693. Antichrist made known. 1656 (1656) Wing C206; Wing J522; Thomason E873_2; ESTC R206563 72,973 85

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the words of men but AS IT IS IN TRUTH the word of God 1 Thes 2.13 wherefore the Quaker supposing that God himself in men is their Teacher only erres not knowing the Scriptures for Israel was willing to be taught yet said they let not God speak with us but speak thou with us Moses and we will hear Exod. 20.19 and in this they well said saith God Deut. 5.28 Most true it is that no man can come to the Father but by the Son who offered up himself to death that we might have life by whose stripes we are healed without his blood there is no remission Heb. 9.22 by him also we have access unto the Father who at his right hand makes intercession for us and so he becomes our righteousnesse our sanctification and this Gospel was witnessed first by Christ himself but since saith the Apostles we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God those that were thus wrought upon through their ministry are said to be the called of Jesus Christ Rom. 1.6 Act. 28.23 and so is made good the words of Jude 3. contend earnestly for that Faith which was ONCE delivered to the Saints Object By this saith Lawson we set the Scriptures in the room of the Father and Son and so saith he deny both Father and Son Answ Many are the shifts of men to race out of the World that esteem of the Scriptures which indeed is but due being accounted by the Apostles HOLY Scriptures in respect of their use Rom. 1.2 whereby is made known the will of Christ in which we walk indeavouring through his grace the honour of the Father and Son which cannot be a denying of the Father and Son but he that hath his eyes closed will say so it is said the Scripture is profitable for teaching correction and instruction in Righteousness and that there ought to be attendance given to the reading of it yet most surely neither Paul that spoke it nor Timothy to whom it was spoken denyed either Father or Son nor pulled off the Crown from Christs head putting it upon the Scriptures as saith Lawson we do yet say no more than they did he most surely is worthy of the Crown that dyed to bring forth a word of salvation for men and that strengthens us by his Spirit to walk up accordingly from whom the Apostles removed it not yet said to men WE pray you in Christs STEAD 2 Cor. 5.20 yea and that from the Scriptures perswading men from morning till evening Act. 28.23 Aaron was to hearken unto Moses who was to put words into his mouth and therein to be unto him in STEAD of God Exod. 4.16 yet neither he nor the Apostles robbed God of his honour he being the original of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Rom. 11.36 Oh how great are the self-exaltations of these men how doth their arrogancy appear while they so mightily indeavour to destroy mens faith of the Scriptures as being adiscovery of the Lords will and yet in the mean while furnish the Nations almost in every corner with THEIR SCRIPTURES which is writings calling them a DISCOVERY of several particulars which they publish to men as the will of the Lord as witnesseth Deusburys book which he calls a discovery of mans return to his first estate with a discovery of Mystery Babylon Martha Simmons also speaks something in discovery of the nakednesse of all professions c. Farnworth also hath writ that the Truth might be cleared and the ignorance both of Priest and people might be discovered What! O friends may men know from their writings and yet not from the holy writings which were written for that very end that the CERTAINTY of the Lords will might be known Luk. 1.3 4. and that men MIGHT beleeve Joh. 20.31 God forbid Object Also I deny the Spirit saith Lawson in his book in saying that by the Scriptures is made known or revealed the will of Christ because the Spirit searches all things yea the deep things of God Answ There is indeed such words spoken by Paul 1 Cor. 2.10 but Lawson waiting so much upon the darkness within him hath wrested the Scripture and so himself is found unlearned 2 Pet. 2.16 though he hath talked so much of the tongue of the learned for the Apostle in the words before saith that eye hath not seen nor ear heard c. the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God saith Paul hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit that is them things which God hath prepared for those that love him wherefore he saith vers 12. that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God wherefore most plainly will it appear to him that searches that the Apostle THERE speaks not of the Spirits revealing the duty of man but rather of the great glory and reward that is the portion of them that walk up in their duty though it is not to be denyed but rather witnessed by experienced souls that the Spirit doth teach them manisesting and laying open particularly the corruption of the heart which is but in general heads signified in Scripture and not only so but also mortifies the same Rom. 8.13 and also beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God verse 16. 〈◊〉 so are we sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Ephes 1.13 moreover by the Spirit is revealed and clearly made known those particulars which are obscurely signified in the Scripture Ephes 3.5 6. which things together with the revelations of the future glory the naturall man receives not for they are foolishness unto him wherefore he is required in the first place to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and then is he under the promise of the holy Spirit Act 2.38 through which he may discern these things for they are spiritually discerned Object The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall but by reason of darkness it is not comprehended Answ Christ the true Light speaks otherwise saying that the World CANNOT RECEIVE the Spirit wherefore though the Spirit be a Teacher as aforesaid yet it is to be considered that the promise thereof so as to dwell in men is to such as yeeld obedience to that self-denying Doctrin of repentance and are not ashamed of those ordinances that belong to penitent men wherefore saith the Apostles God hath given the Spirit to them that OBEY him Act. 5.32 and those that say God hath given him also to disobedient men as a dweller in them doth make the Apostles words of no effect if the Spirit dwel in every unbeleeving man what meaneth Paul when he asked the Disciples whether they had received the Spirit SINCE they beleeved moreover when they signified their ignorance saying we have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Spirit Paul did not as we find tell them that they were mistaken
shewing them that the Spirit was in them but by reason of darkness they comprehended it not but rather questions their faith Act. 19.2 3. shewing plainly that faith is to precede the receiving of the Spirit as an indweller wherefore saith Paul after ye beleeved ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Ephes 2.13 all which being considered may shew us the Quakers mis-understanding of Pauls words in 1 Cor. 12.7 who speaking before unto the Church concerning the diversities of the gifts of the Spirit said unto them considered as a Church such as were sanctified in Christ that the end of the manifestation of the Spirit given to every man was to profit withall but him the World cannot receive John 14.17 Another shift of those men to put by the true intention of writing the Scriptures is to tell people that they are not the Word of God and their reason is because Christ is called the Word which may not be denyed but yet Christ is not so the Word but that himself testifies the Scriptures to be the Word of God for saith he to the Pharisees Moses said honour thy Father and thy Mother but ye suffer a man no more to do ought for his Father or his Mother and thus ye make the Word of God of no effect Mar. 7.12 13. Mat. 15.6 that is plainly the Scriptures which saith honour thy Father and thy Mother God said to Moses that he would raise up a Prophet unto Israel and that he would put his words into his mouth Deut. 18.18 unto this Christ bears record saying I speak not of my self but the Father gave mee commandement what I should speak now judge ye I pray whether any of Christs hearers might have said and well said that the words which he spake was not the Word of God if they might not then the Scriptures being a presentation of what Christ did do and teach Act. 1.1 may properly be said to be the Word of God even so it appears Paul Sylvanus and Timotheus understood it who writing unto the Saints testified that they had heard of them and RECEIVED OF THEM how they ought to walk yet they received it not as the word of men but as it is in Truth saith the Apostles the Word of God 1. Thes 2.13.4.1 or the word of Truth which Timothy was rightly to divide 2 Tim. 2.15 but Christ is not divided or a word of faith because it testifies of Righteousness no otherwise attainable but by faith yet not but that Christ is the author of Faith he being that pure sacrifice that makes reconciliation for sins through Faith in him which the Scripture speaks of and so it still remains that through the Scriptures is made known the will of Christ yea the CERTAINTY thereof Luke 1.3 4. it being evidently his will that his saying should be set forth in writings as they are as will appear by severall counsels and cautions of Christ the danger whereof he well knew would not happen in the dayes of his then Disciples and so had been uselesse had he not intended that what he spake unto them should be recorded for the benefit of after generations Mat. 24. Mar. 13. Luk. 21. wherefore diligently observe what is written and give attendance to the reading thereof and I beseech you in the fear of the Lord that ye slight them not no not in the least least the judgements of God break out upon you I mean hardnesse of heart to beleeve lyes Oh remember how the anger of the Lord was kindled against Jehoiakim King of Judah when hee burnt the Scripture that was sent unto him that hee might know the Lords will and turn unto him Jerem. 36.23.30 31. whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for OUR LEARNING Rom. 15.4 let us learn let us learn The Quaker also denyeth that the Ministers of Christ indued with the Spirit of Christ ought to minister or preach from the Scriptures as appears in Lawsons book called the untaught Teacher pa. 2.3 Undoubtedly this will seem strange because in their preaching and also in their books they commonly speak of Scripture but friends there lyes a winding Serpent in that grass for from it they speak not though OF it but from that which they call Light within them which they wait upon as their ONLY TEACHER the teachings of which they witness forth and least iniquity should appear as iniquity nakedly they pervert the plain Scriptures into mysterious meanings and frames them up one way or other to that which their Light speaks within them and SO speak much of the Scriptures thus is it a MYSTERY OF INIQUITY yea though it be altogether against the plain Scripture yet will they follow the dictates of the darkness within them and that herein I abuse them not I present unto you one revelation of their Teacher that is concerning the Scripture which testifies that a woman is not permitted to speak in the Church by way of teaching though permitted in other cases by which say they is meant the wisdome of the flesh either in man or woman which revelation Farnworth thought worthy of the press and so published it yea I have been told by them that that woman which is forbidden thus to speak was within mee and spake in mee this say they proceeds from the Light but woe unto them that puts darkness for Light Isa 5.20 All that hath been already said serves for the proof of this which by them is denyed for the Light which they speak of within being tryed and found darkness and the Scriptures that which makes known the will of Christ it must neéds follow as a safe practice for the spirituall man to minister from the Scriptures since we find it also agreeable with the practice of the Apostles who at their first publick preaching after Christs ascention directed the people to the Scriptures yea a great part of that which Peter preached Act. 2. consisted of repetitions of the Prophets words which was to them and is to us in Scripture yea as matter of proof of what he spoke when he had asserted that Christ was risen from the dead he adds this reason verse 25. FOR DAVID SPEAKETH concerning him c. yea very much Scripture doth he there relate and then expounds them vers 29 30 31. and reasons from them verse 34. and this became effectual whereas if Peter had been altogether instructed by a Teacher within him and owned no other than the same Teacher within his hearers must have been the only means to convince them of their sins but it is otherwise recorded vers 37. when they heard THIS that is Peters preaching from the Scriptures they were pricked in heart and also the only thing through which they might be added to the Saints but it is otherwise said even that they which gladly received HIS WORD were baptized and the same day there was added unto them about three thousand souls verse 41. to this agrees also the manner of Pauls preaching
of nature and in many the spirit of errour their light being become darknesse being delivered up to strong delusion to beleeve lyes thinking they have Christ in them when it is a spirit of errour and so pervert the sense of the Scriptures declaring the anointing and the anointed to be all one teaching up the Spirit of Christ apart from the body of Christ to be the Christ or rather the spirit of errour in them to be the Christ come in their flesh and so in a very deceivable secret way deny Christ come in the flesh in saying he is the Christ that is within them which is an evill spirit so applying the Scriptures that speak of the Spirit of Christ dwelling in men to be that evill spirit in them so declaring that Spirit of errour in them apart from the body or flesh of Christ to bee the Christ and so deny Christ come in the flesh but note well what the Scripture of truth saith they declare that Jesus the Christ was slain Act. 2.22 23. chap. 3. 5. chap. 4.10 in chap. 5 30. Peter who was ful● of the Holy Ghost saith the God of our Fathers hath raised up Jesus whom ye SLEW and HANGED on a tree and Paul saith to the Corinth 1 Cor. 15.3 4. first of all I delivered unto you that which I received how that CHRIST DYED FOR OVR SINS according to the Scriptures and that he was BVRIED and that he AROSE the third day according to the Scriptures so it is plain that the Spirit apart from the body or flesh of Christ is not the Christ And therefore again note what Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediatour BETWEEN God and man which is the MAN Christ Jesus and Heb. 10.10 sheweth that the Hebrews were sanctified by the offering of the BODY of Jesus Christ verse 19 20. seeing therefore Brethren that by the BLOOD of Jesus we may be bold to enter into the holy places by the new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is his FLESH So that Jesus that was baptized of John in the River Jordan was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows Mat. 3.13 16. Psal 45.7 so Jesus the Saviour is the anointed of God for he gave him not the Spirit by measure Joh. 3.34 and so the Spirit of the Lord resteth and abideth upon the MAN Christ Jesus Isa 11.2 Jo. 1.32 so then the Spirit of God or of Christ apart from the BODY of Christ is not the Christ Therefore most abominable is that which men say that that which is in them is Christ when it is a spirit of errour and so men may see how through this mystery of iniquity men come to say they are Christ for consider if the spirit in some man be the Christ what hindreth him to say hee is Christ and therefore some one presumes to say hee is Christ let no man mistake mee for I say that the Spirit of God doth dwell in the Saints and that Christ doth dwell in their hearts by faith but note that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 so the just live by faith and look for the Son of God from Heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus that delivereth us from the wrath to come but to return so as to shew yet further who hath the spirit of Antichrist and they are such as race out the Ordinances of Christ which came in being when Christ came in the flesh and so declare Christ come in the flesh dead and risen again as baptism of water and breaking of bread which doth declare the Lords death till he comes 1 Cor. 11.26 Rom 6.3 4. Col. 2.12 now there are a sort of men which say to know or acknowledge Christ in the practice of those Ordinances is formall and fleshly and low and carnal and so reject the Counsel of God and will not be baptized and so not walking up in the Ordinances that did come in being when Christ came in the flesh and do so excellently declare him come in the flesh and are to continue unti●l Christ come from Heaven and change our vile bodies and make them like his most glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. I say those that do slight and reject those ordinances and say they are formall and will not practice them have the spirit of Antichrist and do deny Christ come in the flesh because they will not practice those ordinances that declare Christ come in the flesh yea more fully than the Whore for shee hath a shew and so a remembrance of those Ordinances though she have changed the subject and the manner as aforesaid but THESE root out the very being of them and so deny Christ come in the flesh and so are discovered to have the spirit of Antichrist also those that have been inlightened and have beleeved the Resurrection of the body and also the eternal Judgement and then come to question it and deny it and say the Judgement day is come have the spirit of Antichrist for Christ being put to death in the flesh and rising again from the dead so bringeth in the Resurrection of the bodyes of all men and then cometh in the eternal Judgement according to that in Act. 17.30 31. hee hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousnesse by that MAN whom he hath appointed whereof he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead so as by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all bee made alive but every man in his own order the first fruits is Christ afterwards they that are of Christ at his comming 1 Cor. 15.21 22 23. so Christ being come in the flesh the MAN Christ Saviour dyed and rose again and so comes in the Resurrection and no otherwise therefore they that deny the Resurrection of the body deny Christ come in the flesh and so have the spirit of Antichrist and therefore John writing to the Saints warning them that they take heed of the Antichristian spirit that they be not deceived exhorteth them thus let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Joh. 2.24 read also for this purpose the whole chapter Now that which they heard from the beginning was the beginning Word of Christ according to that of Paul 1 Cor. 15.3 4. which he delivered first of all to the Corinthians that Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scripture c. and the first principles of the word of God which is the principles of the Doctrin of Christ to wit repentance from dead works and of faith toward God the Doctrin of Baptismes and laying on of hands
and of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgement Heb. 5.12 chap. 6.1 2. now these principles of the teachings of Christ came in being by and through Christ being manifest in flesh his death and Resurrection as hath been shewed before therefore whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrin of Christ hath not God for he denyes Christ come in the flesh and so hee hath the spirit of Antichrist 2 Joh. 6.7 8 9 10 11 and so having in part declared what is the spirit of Antichrist and who hath that spirit I come now to the fourth thing which is that the Antichrist will bee a single person And for the proof of this first consider how the Antichrist is set out in Scripture in the singular number not in the plural as the MAN of sin 2 Thes 2.3 not men and Isa 14.16 is this the MAN that made the earth to tremble and did shake the Kingdomes the SON of the morning and SON of Perdition not Sons the vile person not persons Dan. 11.21 Isa 14.12 there fell a great Star from Heaven Rev. 8.10 chap. 9.1 not Stars Obj. This in Isa 14. was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel of Chaldee Answer That cannot be for after this power that is there spoken of is faln the whole World is at rest and is quiet they sing for joy yea the Firre-trees rejoyce at thee and the Cedars of Lebanon saying Since thou art layd down no feller is come up against us vers 7 8. now the World did not injoy such a rest as is there spoken of so as that no Feller came up against the people of God no more for since the time of Nebuchadnezzar and that Monarchies fall there hath come up many fellers or destroyers of the Jews and the beleeving Gentiles as is clear that Antiochus and the Romans against the Jews and the Whore of Babylon against the Christians and again the Apostle in 2 Thoss 2. takes up the same words in substance and applies them to the Man of Sin which is the Antichrist therefore that in Isaiah cannot be fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar for this compare Isa 14.13 14. with 2 Thess 2.4 though he might be a type of Antichrist 2 It appears that the Antichrist will bee but one man though many have his Spirit because it will suit best with his way of delusion for he will pretend he is the very Christ and will cause fire to come down from heaven on earth in the sight of men Rev. 13.13 and so he will indeavour to imitate Christ in all things for as the Lord Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that OBEY not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ so the Antichrist will make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men so he will endeavour to make all the Scriptures that speak of Christs coming and of his reign to meet upon him SO his coming will be after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thess 2. 9 10. so as there is the MAN Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God which came in his Fathers Name Mat. 16.16 Joh. 5.43 without sin 1 Pet. 2.22 so there will be the MAN of Sin the Antichrist which will come in his own name and profess to be the Christ but will be directly an enemy against Christ and his people And so I come to the Fifth thing which is the manner of Antichrists rising and by what means for the clearing up of this First consider that the Gospel and the way thereof is to be purely preached and the Ordinances rightly administred and so the Angel is to fly in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People Rev. 14.6 and so the Gospel being preached to the Nations and the Ordinances administred in the good old way according to the Scriptures men come to be inlightned as many are in these Nations where the Kingly power is fallen that did support the Whore and would not give Liberty of Conscience so I say as the Gospel comes to be ministred in the old way thereof men come to bee inlightned the power of the Whore falleth and men slighting and rejecting the truth and also many of them that do receive and obey the truth fall and depart from the Faith and so receiving not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God doth and will send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lye 2 Thess 2.10 11. and so are given up to the Spirit of Antichrist and so as the Apostle Paul sheweth that the day of Christs coming shall not come except there come a falling away first and that Man of Sin be revealed the Son of perdition 2 Thess 1.7.8 chap. 2 3. and so the Spirit speaking expresly that in latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrins of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared with a hot Iron forbidding to marry c. as in 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. and the Apostle Peter writing to the ●aints in his Second Epist chap. 2.1 2. sheweth that there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious wicked ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of and chap. 3.3 4. he saith that there should bee Scoffers walking after their own lusts saving Where is the promise of his coming c and so men transgressing and abiding not in the Doctrin of Christ fall from the faith of the Gospel and so the Spirit of God departeth from them and an evil spirit is sent unto them which is the spirit of Antichrist so out from them that thus fall away and go out from the Church 1 Joh. 2.19 and so separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit as Jude hath it verse 19. and also from them that have been enlightened and have neglected to walk up in truth and so reject the Counsel of God as the Pharisees and Lawyers did Luk. 7.30 so I say from them that so fall away and neglect to hear and obey the Gospel from them ariseth the Antichrist or man of sin Again the sixth head of the Roman Monarchy which is the Imperiall or kingly power hath and doth by the guidance of the Pope and the Nationall Ministry which rides upon the beast as hath been shewed alwaies persecuted men for their consciences and so hath let and hindred the Gospel from being preached and the Ordinances from being rightly administred and so the
THE Deceived and deceiving Quakers DISCOVERED Their damnable Heresies horrid blasphemies mockings railings unparallel'd Deceit and Dishonesty laid open In the discovery of which is made known the pure use of the holy Scriptures which by them is denyed the true Christ and how he justifies his second coming proved not to be already as the Quaker affirms Also the Resurrection from the dead and the Eternal JUDGMENT and several other particulars that Saints are required to be stedfast in Set forth especially for the good of those that are called out of the World into the primitive order of the Gospel but may be usefull for all people By Matthew Caffyn a servant of the Lord related to the Church of Christ near Horsham in Suffex being an eye and ear-witnesse As wee have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we cannot but know that this is the last of the last time Antichrist made known OR The Romish VVhore of Babylon proved not to bee the Antichrist or Man of Sin In seven particulars 1 Who is this great Whore of Babylon and where her chief Seat hath been and is 2 Her Fall and the means how and by whom 3 What is the spirit of Antichrist and who hath that spirit 4 That the Antichrist will bee a single person 5 The manner of his rising and when 6 Some of the great things hee will do 7 Lastly His Fall when and by whom By William Jeffery Servant of the Church of Christ. Entred into the Register book kept by the Company of Stationers LONDON Printed by R. I. for Francis Smith and are to bee sold at his shop in Flying-horse-Court in Fleet street neer Chansery-Lane 1656. To the Reader REader take notice that the hour is comming and now is that Satan in a more than ordinary manner doth transform himself into an Angel of Light and shape his Ministers into the similitudes of Ministers of Righteousnesse that so he may not only take faster hold of those that are already under his dominion and blind their minds lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ should in the purity thereof shine unto them but also that hee may if possible deceive the very Elect and cause them that have escaped the pollutions of the World to bee again intangled therein and overcome Therefore those exhortations so often repeated in the Scripture to take heed watch and pray c. are of great necessity by all Saints to bee in a speciall manner regarded for that Satan will endeavour to deceive such is most certain And it is as certain that the most likely way and means that he hath to effect this his design must bee by fair shewes of holinesse and excellent pretences of Piety which is figured out in Scripture under the name of Sheeps cloathing with which Christ saith the false Prophets which are Satans Ministers shall bee attired Therefore t is possible that a Christian-like outside may bee in some but a cover for an Antichristian spirit And that Satan should thus delude his Servants into such a conversation that savoreth of sobriety self-deny all and a transformity from the World in very many things which are very eminent characters of Christianity I say that the Devil should delude some into a shew of such things is no more to bee admired at than his acting forth himself in the Magicians of Egypt to work miracles much like to those which God shewed by his servant Moses Yea the Apostle testifies that in his dayes some did make resistance to the truth after this manner 2 Tim. 3.8 and of some also that were deluded into a voluntary humility and such things as he confesseth to have a shew of wisdome in wil-worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh Now t is a kind of self-denyall to neglect the body and not to satisfie the desires of the flesh And also to abstain from meats which God hath created to bee received with thanksgiving as he saith 1 Tim. 4. ● 2 3. that some should do who yet were such as had departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits and Doctrins of Devils And thus Satan by transforming his servants into such shews doth make them the more fit to advance his deceiving design amongst the sons of men for hereby hee doth not only deceive them but also furnish them with ability to be DECEITFULL WORKERS to prevail upon others 2 Cor. 11.13 And of this sort are those people now called QVAKERS whose deceitfull and hereticall wayes in part are in this little volume presented before thee in answer to a book intituled An untaught teacher witnessed against lest thou shouldest by their subtle insinuations and fair pretences of self-deny all c. so far let out thy affections towards them as not to try them in other things which being throughly searched out will prove them to bee those deceivers which yee have heard should come in the last dayes of whose deceit O reader bee thou aware and consider that the deceiver cannot put away his brass mony but by mixing it among good silver whereby men may if not circumspect bee unawares deceived Wherefore bee CIRCV MSPECT and stable in all thy wayes And if through reading and due consideration of this ensuing treatise thou shalt bee the better fitted to discern truth from error CHRIST from ANTICHRIST and so through grace be the better enabled to stand fast the aim of mee herein is accomplished who am An unworthy servant of Christ desirous of the eternal wel-fare of thy soul MATTHEW CAFFYN The Damnable Heresies of the Quakers Discovered CHristian Friends it doth not a little concern the People of God at this time to walk circumspectly having their Lights burning as wise Virgins that they may be the approved of the Lord and so the preserved of the Lord in these last days wherein the evil is great justly may we be blamed as others have been by the Lord if we discern not this time which is and much more will be full of peril yea such a time of trouble as never was since there was a Nation Dan. 12.1 in which the Mystery of Iniquity that did in measure work in the Apostles days shall be finished and the Man of Sin revealed the Son of Perdition which then was let even till our days by the power of the Kings of the earth which withstood the liberty of mens Consciences 2 Thess 2.6 7 8. but now the Lord hath removed it in this our Nation and so we have praised be the Lord enjoyed much Liberty and Freedom by means whereof the Gospel of Jesus hath been and yet is declared among the Sons of Men whereby divers have been fully convinced of the Truth of Christ some of which have denied themselves and become obedient and other some have put from them the words of everlasting life yea notwithstanding all the goodness of God together with his
the Quaker cryeth who hath waited upon the light within the light within another report wherefore another Spirit Though we may not deny but that through the report of the Prophets they were inlightened within from whence they were to act so faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God now the Quaker may not say that word is Christ the light within because Paul affirms that in order to that Faith which comes by hearing their sound went into all the earth and THEIR words unto the ENDS of the world Rom. 10.18 now THEIR cannot be ascribed to one Preacher singly therefore is not such a light within which is but one and if the Quaker slight this he is more inexcusable than other men since he hath so far searched as to find that you relates not to a single person also by this saying of Paul we may consider that the Gentiles also were inlightened by the Gospel-preaching Prophets who sometimes were to go unto the Heathen to minister unto them as witnesseth Jonahs going to Nineveh and most evident it is that there were some proselited out of every Nation under Heaven to the way of the Lord which the Jews professed Act. 2.5 yet the Jew had a priviledge in this but where much is given much is required moreover if we look yet farther back I say as I said before that there is not to be found such an admonition no not from the very beginning as that men should wholly depend upon a teacher within this I find Judg. 7.14 that Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied of the Lords comming WITH he saith not in ten thousand of his Saints as the Quaker pleads Noah also is said to be a Preacher of Righteousnesse 2 Pet. 2.5 and through his obedience in preparing the ark hee is said thereby to condemn the world Heb. 11.7 also it appears that the Lord shewed his wrath and made his power known upon Pharaoh and his mighty Hoast that his name through that memorable act might be declared throughout all the earth Exod. 9.16 also we find that God did speak unto Moses out of a cloudy pillar which descended in the sight of the people unto Abraham he spake by an Angel from Heaven and the common expression in Scripture to signify the way of Gods speaking is this the Lord said unto Abraham unto Isaac unto Moses but I find not where it is said that God did speak in his people his whole will and counsel as the Quaker affirms Object That which may bee known of God is manifest in man saith Lawson Answ As Paul informs us that which may be known of God is manifest in or to man saith the Notes so also he informs us how it comes there and by that we find him to have a spirit differing from Lawsons for Paul tells us that God hath shewed it unto man by the things that are made whereby is clearly understood his eternall power and God-head from the Creation for day unto day night unto night it sheweth knowledge Psal 19.2 and so is man without excuse Rom. 1.20 that is in respect of knowing there is a God all which shews that there is not such a light within as he speaks of because mans inexcusablenesse is ascribed to his neglect of due respect to outward means wherefore Lawson that talks so much of the tongue of the learned is found unlearned himself by wresting the Scriptures Consider also I pray you from the dayes of John the baptist hither wards and you shall find all the Scriptures unanimously contradict this Principle of theirs John is said to be a burning and a shining light being appointed of God to GIVE KNOWLEDGE of salvation unto his people Luk. 1.77 and to prepare his wayes before the Lord which had been uselesse had the people a knowledge of all his wayes by an internal light yea John himself though none greater than he born of women depended not upon such a light thereby to know all things for he sent two of his Disciples to Christ to know whether he were the Christ that should come or that they should look for another having a sign given him before that on whomsoever he saw the Spirit descending and remaining was the baptiser with the Spirit John 1.33 and this depending upon outward discoveries Christ-himself established by sending back a message consisting only of externals the blind receiving sight the lame walking the lepers cleansed c. which the two Discipies saw and heard these things Christ returned for Johns satisfaction Mat. 11.5 in the dayes of John Christ testified that he was the light of the World not the Spirit in him only but HE as he was the son of man the intended Sacrifice of God for to dye for the life of the World HE thus considered went from place to place preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome informing persons particularly of their duties Mat. 5.6.7 chap. not commending them to a Teacher within neither John the preparer of his way when the publicans and souldiers came to him and asked him what they should do but taught them their duties Luk. 3.11 12 13. and as Christ personally taught his Disciples and the people so also he confirmed what he declared by outward miracles which many seeing beleeved on him John 11.45 and others which heard and saw such works done by him which no other man did and beleeved not Christ pronounceth inexcusable having no cloak for their sin John 15.22 24. being such as John admires at John 12.37 saying THOUGH he had done so many miracles before them YET they beleeved not on him Some Christ said were cleansed by what hee as the son of man said unto them John 15.3 other some were without excuse subject to the Judgement because they received not his words which he spake unto them John 12.48 what less oh friends can these things import than that the words of Christ thus considered did work convincements within men of the truth considering that the rejecting thereof rendred them inexcusable if a light within in their sense be the only Revealer then John had no cause to admire in reference to the many miracles but rather in respect of the Light being rejected which Christ set up within them without such outward manifestations nay indeed he had no cause to admire at them more than others all having as they say a Light within leading in all the wayes of God but most evident it is that Christ hath otherwise appointed to make known the Gospel as appears by his similitude about the sower who saith Christ went FORTH to sow Mat. 13.3 went OUT to sow Mar. 4.3 contradicting the Quaker who saith the sower is dwelling in all godly and ungodly though the Sower be said to be the SON OF MAN Matth. 13.37 wherefore when Christ sent his twelve Apostles to the lost sheep of Israel he said that it should be more tollerable for Sodom in the day of Judgement than for that City that should not receive
THEIR WORDS Mat. 10.14 yea when his very Disciples were blameable in respect of their ignorance he charges it not for neglecting a Teacher within but saith Oh fools and slow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have spoken and to make them wise he expounded the Scriptures to them Luk. 24.25 27. upbraiding their unbeleef also because they beleeved not THEM he saith not Light within but them which had seen him after he was risen Mar. 16.14 now when Christ was to ascend he authorized his Servants to go and teach all Nations to observe all things which he had commanded them marke not to turn them to a Teacher within but to teach them all things who accordingly went and testified that God did beseech people by them and that they in Christs STEAD prayed persons to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.20 yea declaring the whole counsel of God the summe of which is that Christ sent his Servants to teach all things which he had commanded them they accordingly taught his whole counsel Act. 20.27 yet saith the Quaker the Light in every man is the ONLY Teacher Judge yee that are wise Moreover 't is said that the Church of the Thessalonians received of the Apostles how to walk and to please God yet not as the words of men but as it is in truth the Word of God 1 Thes 4.1 2 13. and these were the elect of God 1 Thes 1.4 yet not thought by the Apostle capable by any Light within them in an ordinary way to comprehend all things relating to their faith wherefore he prayed night and day EXCEEDINGLY that he might see their faces and PERFECT that which was lacking in their faith 1 Thes 3.10 also Paul writing to the Saints at Rome Rom. 1.11 said that he longed to see them to impart some spirituall gift that they might be established now if Paul had been of the Quakers spirit he need not so exceedingly desired to see them or to write unto them upon that account because their alone Teacher and leader towards perfection was alwaies in them needless I say except it had been to exhort them to keep close to their Teacher within but neither this do we find was their aim in writing neither was it their aim in desiring to see them but that they might be established perfected in their faith through what they delivered considering that as the Apostles gave the Churches to know and understand so also they directed them to wait upon the Lord who gives the increase that by him they might be enabled to walk up according to what they knew through their ministry their ministry I say because it agrees with the Scriptures which testifies that by them was made manifest the savour of his knowledge in every place 2 Cor. 2.14 and saith Paul if OUR Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost who are blinded lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine UNTO them not from a Teacher within but from the Apostles who plainly affirms that they were to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus God having first shined in their hearts 2 Cor. 4.3 4 6. that is in the hearts of Paul and Timothy who sent that Epistle who were enlightened yea both of them through outward teachings Paul in an extraordinary manner by the Lord Jesus was changed in his mind to beleeve in him which makes him say that the Gospel was not taught him by man but by the revelation of Jesus who saith Luke appeared UNTO him and spake UNTO him a Light shining round ABOUT him from HEAVEN Act. 9.3 4 17. and by him was he commanded to go into Dam●scus and there he should be told of all things which were appointed for him to do Act. 2● 10 not by a Light within him but by Ananias a certain Disciple vers 12 14 15 16. thus Paul being instructed went forth preaching the Gospel through which Timothy was enlightned in the Truth and so commonly called by Paul his SON in the Faith 1 Tim 1.2 even as Onesimus was whom Paul BEGOT in his bonds Phile. 10. by all this we may learn that the Ministers of Christ were by their ministry to make known the Lords will yea moreover the Churches of old were to mark the walkings of the Apostles as an ENSAMPLE to them Paul commanding them to do those things which they had both learned and received and heard and seen in him Phil. 3.17.4.9 and to this purpose agrees also his words to Timothy give attendance to reading 1 Tim. 4.13 wherefore false and erronious is that spirit which bids men give attendance to a Light within as their ONLY Teacher Wherefore hold fast the counsel of the Spirit of God and give attendance unto reading the Scriptures being by a good argument provoked thereunto even that they are able to make us wise unto salvation through Faith in Christ 2 Tim. 3.15 for even unbeleeving men are required by Christ to search the Scriptures wherein they thought they had eternal life but they were mistaken wherefore search saith he for they testify of mee John 5.39 plainly shewing that the Testimony of Scripture was to rectify their understandings which if they had beleeved they would have beleeved mee saith Christ FOR HE WROTE OF MEE verse 46. but saith Antichrist if ye would beleeve in the Light within as your only Teacher then ye should be led by it up to Christ Mark ye I pray the great difference betwixt the Doctrin of Christ and the Doctrin of the Quakers who make void the Commandement of Christ by their extolling an internal Light as the only Teacher which is their OWN tradition it being tryed and compared with the Spirit of Light indeed which dwelt in the Apostles as you may further learn ●rom what Pauls Spirit led him unto concerning his Son Timothy 1 Tim. 3 14 15. unto whom he hoped to go shortly but if he tarried long that he might KNOW how to behave himself in the house of God he WROTE an Epistle unto him and therein he did not counsel him to wait upon a Teacher within as is the substance of the Quakers Epistles but particularly informed him of his duty as will appear to him that reads the Scripture with due respect thereunto now if there be such an internall Light that makes known all things judge I pray you what ground Paul had to question Timothys knowing those things in his absence considering also how eminent in grace T●mothy was even so disposed unto the work of the Lord as that Paul had NO man like-minded Phil. 2 2● you even he was to read Paul Epistle which was Scripture and for that end tha● 〈◊〉 ●i●ht kn●●● h●w he ought to walk in the house of the Lord. O●●● 〈…〉 now to re●● the Scriptures that wee may know 〈…〉 our selves God forbid God forbid 〈…〉 peoples ignorance to their not knowing 〈…〉 erre not knowing the Scriptures nor th●
Scriptures that Jesus was Christ is said MIGHTLY TO CONVINCE the Jews to which agrees Pauls direction to Timothy about Bishops signifying therein that he must be one able by SOUND DOCTRIN both to exhort and CONVINCE the gainsayers Tit. 1.1.9 according to which agrees the relation of the people dwelling at Jerusalem Act. 2.37 WHEN THEY HEARD THIS to with Peters powerfull preaching by the Spirit out of the Scriptures they were pricked at the heart thus was he a sower that went forth and went OUT to sow good seed into the hearts of men Luk. 8.5 but according to the sense of the Quaker the sower dwels in the ground the wicked world oh horrible confusion but it may be the Quaker will take some advantage because it is said a sower and not sowers but the wise will consider that there is no room in the least for an advantage against what here or elsewhere hath been said for by the parable of one lost sheep or one lost peece of silver Christ justifies his practice in companying with many Publicans and sinners Luk 15.1 2 4 8 therefore it follows not that Christ himself in men is the sower only though all is from him originally for the Apostles said 1 Cor. 9.11 WE have sown unto you spiritual things which they did in Christs STEAD 2 Cor. 5.20 Object Christ saith when the Spirit is come he shall reprove the World of sin of Righteousnesse and of judgement Joh. 16.8 Answ It is to bee observed that hee doth not say when hee is come in the World but having before verse 7. shewed the expediency of his going away said if I depart I will send him unto YOU that was his Disciples and when he is come that is to you for the World saith Christ CANNOT RECEIVE HIM Joh. 14.17 he shall reprove the World of sin by which Spirit when the Disciples had received it they went forth with all boldnesse and utterance plainly declaring the word of Truth perswading men OUT OF THE LAW OF MOSES AND OUT OF THE PROPHETS which was in Scripture from morning till evening Act. 28.23 with such power and wisdome as that the adversaries were not able to resist the Spirit by which THEY spake Act. 6.10 wherefore notwithstanding this objection I have not so learned Christ as to beleeve that the wicked hath this Spirit of promise dwelling in them when as Christ saith they CANNOT receive it what God may do by his Spirit for men at certain times especially where other means are wanting I here speak not against but against this conception of theirs viz. that the holy Spirit of God DWELS in all UNHOLY persons of the World as that which alone convinceth them of sin and of Righteousness Moreover saith Paul Rom. 3.20 by the Law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN yea that Law by the deeds of which no flesh shall be justified whereby the Apostle prevents the Quakers objection concerning his spirituall Law by which alone he saies men shall be justified and also saith Rom. 7.7 that he had not known sin but by the Law for saith he I had not known lust except the Law had said thou shalt not covet which Law he saith verse 6. they then were delivered from and verse 4. dead to James also being of the same Spirit told the Saints that in case they had respect to persons they would be by the Law the tenor of which was thou shalt not commit adultery thou shalt not kill CONVINCED as transgressors Jam. 2.9 10 11. yet saith Lawson the outward Law doth not convince man of sin and his reason is because Paul said that he was once alive without the Law not considering that persons in their childish and youthfull dayes which are vanity Eccles 11.10 may properly be said to bee without the Law though nurtured by them that have the Law whike they live in lusts coveting after every pleasant object of the eye not understanding the things of God but when the commandement comes to their understandings capable to comprehend such things then sin is revived and they dye and so remains till remission of sin is assured to them now in reference to those Gentiles that have not the written Law Paul saith that they HAVING NOT THE LAW marke that are a Law unto themselves which never was said to them or of them that had the written Law that is concerning such things as is held forth in the Law of Moses which saith the man that doth those things shall live by then Rom. 10.5 but the things relating to Faith in Christ we find was made known UNTO men by outward discoveries but something to this hath been already said The Quaker saith that the Scriptures are not a touchstone to try Spirits withall as saith Lawson in his book pa. 14. The summe of all concerning the Quakers esteem of the Scriptures is thus THEY OWN IT NOT A RULE WHEREBY THE WILL OF CHRIST MAY BE KNOWN NEITHER THAT WHICH SAINTS endued with the Spirit ARE TO PREACH FROM NEITHER THAT WHICH CONVINCETH OF SIN NEITHER THE TOUCHSTONE TO TRY SPIRITS WITHALL yet will they say that they own all the Scriptures from the beginning of Genesis unto the end of the Revelations but oh their shamefull deceit Now this last particular must needs be found short of truth because the Scriptures are found to be the rule now that which is the rule must needs be the tryer or touchstone to manifest unruly persons though it be true that there is a gift of the Spirit which discerns the unsound man yea by very slender appearances yet hereby is he not so to bee tryed as to be openly published and judged till some evident disobedience to the written Law and so by their fruits we must know them not he that saith Lord Lord or Light Light shall enter into the Kingdome but he that doth the will of the Father whose will is signified in the Scripture moreover when Christ had informed his Disciples of false Prophets and false Christs together with their works and sayings which should come hee said unto them take heed behold I have FORETOLD YOU ALL THINGS Mar. 13.23 ye that fear God consider how inexcusable we shall be found if when Christ hath so exprest his kindnesse in foretelling the danger and prescribing the manner of its appearance that we might escape it it I say we shall not take heed thereunto comparing the workings and sayings of men with this written Prophecy and so try the Spirits thereby have we not good ground to beleeve that these men are evilly disposed in that they refuse to come to the rule to be tryed what is not that to try men withall now which Christ will judge and try and judge men by in the last day the word that I have spoken saith Christ shall judge him in the last day Joh. 12.48 which word is witnessed to us in the Scripture but Lawson supposes this day to be now which is to try every mans work wherein the righteous
is to be discerned from the wicked according to that Mal. 3.17 18.1 Cor. 3.13 and therefore saith hee not the Scriptures but alass the more he endeavours to avoid the tryal thereby the more thereby he is manifested for by this he is found unlearned though he hath so much spoken of the tongue of the learned by wresting the Scriptures for the Prophet there speaks of a day wherein all that are proud and all that DO wickedly shall be destroyed leaving neither root nor branch Mal. 4.1 which the opened eyes sees clearly is not now of which day Paul speaks in that place instanced by Lawson wherefore he saith the day SHALL declare it from whence these men conclude that that day then did and now doth but Paul had the Spirit of Truth whom we find even as a dying man expecting a Crown of Righteousness which saith he the Lord SHALL give mee at THAT DAY 2 Tim. 4.6 8. wherefore let us prize the Law and Testimony to which if men speak not according it is because they have no Light in them though they may speak much of Light The Quaker saith that Christ is already come the Second time and George Fox affirmed in plain words before many witnesses that hee knew him come within him and he looked for him to come NO OTHERWISE and James Parnel affirmeth that they that confess not Christ come in THEIR flesh are the Antichrist and also affirmeth that by preaching of a Christ in heaven the Devil gets his work done on earth as appears in his Book called Satans Design discovered p. 19.25 This being well considered is the ready way to fulfill that which is written concerning those that shall come saying I am Christ deceiving many before the comming of Christ indeed which cannot be till first the true Faith of his comming be made void which these men indeavour to do by saying that the comming of the Spirit which Christ said he would send was that second comming of Christ which the Scripture so much speaks of but evidently it appears otherwise because the Spirit by Christ is called ANOTHER COMFORTER John 14.16 which saith he will not come except I go away but if I depart I will send him unto you John 16. 7. plainly shewing that the Spiritis the comforter of the Lords people in Christs personal absence for when Christ spake of his own comming he said on this wise I will come again yea as the SON OF MAN Matth 24.37 John 14.3 but speaking of the Spirit saies I will send HIM unto you which when the Apostles had received they went forth testifying the Lord Jesus not come within them but as Peter said whom the HEAVEN must reveive till the times of restitution of all things Act. 3.21 yet at this time had Peter the Spirit but lest there should be room for the Quakers to say that that Heaven was within them consider also the relation of Stephen who stedfastly looking UP into Heaven saw the HEAVENS OPENED and the SON OF MAN standing on the right hand of God yet was he FILLED with the Spirit but his wisdome was to distinguish between him sent and the sender and in this Faith he DYED and a long season afterwards we find Peter remaining the same confidently affirming that Christ was gone into Heaven 1 Pet. 3.22 signifying to the Elders that when the chief Shepheard SHALL APPEAR ye saith he shall receive a Crown of glory 1 Pet. 5.4 to which agrees the Faith of Paul and Timotheus also who looked for the Saviour Christ FROM HEAVEN Phil. 3.20 what from the fleshly hearts of men judge ye that are wise these also at that time had the Spirit to which agrees also the Faith of the Apostle John who said when he SHALL appear we shall be like him 1 John 3.2 yet then it was the Spirit appeared unto him the Church of the Thessalonians was of the same Faith waiting for Christ FROM HEAVEN 1 Thes 1.10 yet then were they the Elect of God vers 4. the Corinthians also being inriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge comming behind in no gift yet were waiting for the comming of Christ 1 Cor. 1.5 7. the Church of Thiatyra was to hold fast that which they already had till he come Rev. 2.25 judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come 1 Cor 4.5 yet saith Thomas Laucock where is the promise of his comming is he asleep but Peter tells such scoffers that the Lord is not slack concerning his promise but is long-suffering towards men not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3.9 wherefore be patient UNTO THE COMMING of the Lord Jam. 5.7 for this is the true Grace wherein we stand even that which brings salvation for saith Paul the Grace of God that bringeth salvation teacheth us to live godil●y in this world and to LOOK FOR the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ Titus 2.11 12 13. Object The Saints waiting for the comming of Christ was but for a greater measure of Christ Answ That which is spoken elsewhere concerning their denyal of the Lord Jesus will shew the emptiness of this objection yet consider Christ was not taken up into Heaven by measures and at times but while he blessed them he was parted from them Luk. 24.51 and he shall SO COME IN LIKE MANNER as the Disciples did SEE him go into Heaven Act. 1.11 wherefore the usual expression in Scripture is the COMMING not COMMINGS of Christ where it is spoken of him since his ascension wherefore saith Paul to the Saints be ye not soon shaken in mind or troubled neither by Spirit nor by Word nor by Letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand for that day shall not come except there be a falling away first c. 2 Thes 2.2 3. yet saith the Quaker it was in a great measure come but thereby he is found to be led by that Spirit which then troubled the Saints pretending the day of Christ to be before it was to be which Paul afterwards calls a mystery of iniquity then working verse 7. by this also he makes void the use of Christs parables concerning his comming which himself sets out by a man taking a far journey giving authority to his servants Mar. 13.34 who after a long time commeth and reckoneth with them Mat. 25.19 in what manner he is capable to come judge ye and remember that Christ saith HE IS AS A MAN as abovesaid that is in respect of his suddain comming at a time wherefore he saith watch and pray for ye know not when the TIME is Mar. ●3 33 moreover consider that Peter even when hee was ready to DYE witnessed not the day of the Lord come but saith the day of the Lord WILL ●OME 2 Pet. 3.10 1.14 in like manner Paul when he was r●ady to DYE said that there was laid UP for him a Crown of Righteousness which saith he the Lord SHALL give mee at THAT DAY and not only to mee
to which saith Peter yee were redeemed with the precious bloud of Christ as of a LAMBE without blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 and without SHEDDING of bloud is no remission Heb. 9.22 even the bloud of his CROSS Col. 1.20 now consider I pray you whether he be not of that numb●r which counts the bloud of the Covenant an UN HOLY THING that shall deny the effect of this bloud and tells us of bloud in a mystery Oh remember that iniquity appears in a mystery for what is there required of us by the Lord that may not upon this account be made voyd at mans pleasure though never so plain Did the Apostles preach up Justification by the Bloud of Christ and yet is Justification by another thing which they in the least speak not of God forbid moreover how full are the Scriptures of expressions that signifies to us reconciliation by the death of Christ yea the death of the CROSS Ph●l 2.8 yet even this also is perverted into a mystery by these men who imagines that Christ never dyed but this Serpent lyeth hid in the Grass and is not easily to be seen but the Grass withereth and the Man of Sin shall be revealed the Son of perdition and this mystery springs from an opinion that the spirit suffering within that Person of Jesus was the Christ and so readily you shall hear them say that they own him who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate meaning the spirit within him Moreover they will say that they own him who suffered upon Mount Calvary meaning the spirit within him which spirit they say is now within their bodies of flesh now judge yee how fair a foundation hereby is laid for those sayings to bee built upon which was foretold should be said by many that should arise saying I AM CHRIST which must be before the end which when ever it is let us remember that the Christ indeed hath charged us saying BELEEVE THEM NOT. Now that the fleshly Body of Christ as it was by him offered up to death even the death of the Cross relates to the salvation of the Beleever as effected through that is further evident because the Apostles who well knew what Christ was testified to the Jews that they had by wicked hands crucified and slain the Lord Jesus Acts 2.23 and betrayed and murthered the just one saith Stephen Acts 7.52 whom they slew and hanged on a tree saith Peter Acts 10.39 and this was charged upon them for their wicked act towards the person of Jesus of Nazareth without them and not for murthering of Christ within them as it is very likely the deceived soul would have it because the Apostle in his charge declares that when they had fulfilled all that was written of him they took him whom they had slain DOWN FROM THE TREE and laid him in a SEPVLCHRE Act. 13.28 29. whom God raised with whom the Apostles ate and drank after his resurrection Act. 10.41 even him whom the Jews slew and hanged on a tree verse 39. Now we cannot but know that it was a fleshly substantiall body of Christ that they slew murthered and crucified upon the tree and in so doing the Apostles unanimously affirm that they slew Jesus which in English is SAVIOUR and yet doth hee not through it save God forbid that we should thus deny the Lord that bought us for HE that the Jews thus slew and hanged on a tree with whom the Apostles ate and drank after hee rose from the dead HE saith Peter commanded us to preach and to testifie that it is HE marke which was ordained of God to bee the Judge of quick and dead and to HIM saith Peter give all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10.39 41 42 43. yea the Angel of God descending from Heaven bears witnesse to this truth who said to the holy women that came to the Sepulchre Jesus that is the Saviour is not here he is risen behold the place where they laid HIM Mar. 16.6 where the LORD LAY Matth. 28.6 yet will the Quaker slight this body but thereby he is found to have a differing Spirit from that which the Apostles had and so a false Spirit for they handling this body with their hands in the relation thereof said that which we have seen with our eyes and looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life 1 John 1.1 and saith Peter God hath made that SAME JESUS whom yee have crucified both LORD AND CHRIST Act. 2.36 and the Quaker denying this is Antichrist for he that confesseth not Jesus Christ come in the flesh is Antichrist saith John 1 Joh. 4.3 now by what hath been said t is evident that the Quaker confesses him not come in flesh all the Apostles did so as through the breaking of it and blood-sheding of it to effect mans salvation but the body that doth this we know not what it is saith Lawson yea so slender a respect have they to his body of flesh that they deny the glorification of it and so its ascension into Heaven and so now say they hath it not and this they manifest by saying Christ is already come the second time and looking for him to come no otherwise and moreover these men makes void the ordinance of the Lords supper which was instituted to hold forth by a resemblance the breaking of the body of Christ and the shedding of his blood which was shed for the remission of sins this I say they totally dis-own as a carnal thing by which they show their low esteem of that which is signified by it having conceived to themselves a body and blood in a mystery that sets free from sin which we find not according to the Law and Testimony therefore it proceeds from darknesse Object This is saith the Quaker a knowing Christ after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 Answ The diligent Scripture-searching soul may find that the knowing of Christ reconciling men in the body of his flesh through death Col. 1.22 and his being now glorified therein is not a knowing Christ after the flesh for equally as the Apostles knew not Christ after the flesh so they knew not the Saints after the flesh but them they could not know as not having bodies of flesh neither as not to practice with their bodies through the Spirit for themselves required the same people to glorifie God both in their body and in their Spirit which saith the Apostle are Gods 1 Cor. 6.20 which bodies being sown in the earth they testified should be raised again glorified so that by this the Apostles did not in the least slight the fleshly body of Christ nor the effects wrought for the sons of men by his being put to death in the flesh but having spoken at large before in the third chapter concerning the ministration of the Law as done away and of the present being of the more glorious ministration of the Gospel concludes as to that saying that henceforth we know no man after the flesh yea
though we have known Christ after the flesh that is had esteem of him in reference to the fleshly birth-priviledged seed of whom he came as concerning the flesh Rom. 9.5 thus the Apostles knew Christ no more out rather as HE was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holine●e by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 and that Pauls intention in slighting the knowing after the flesh is after this manner is further evident Phil. 3.3 4. where he speaking of himself saith that if any man might trust in the flesh or have confidence in the flesh he might much more and his reasons are because he was circumcised the eight day of the stock of Israel of the Tribe of Benjamin c. vers 5. which plainly shews how men were known after the flesh in the old ministration which is now made void by the comming in of a more glorious ministration Object The flesh profiteth nothing saith Christ from whence t is likely the Quaker will object Answ Consider we find the Apostle Peter being one of them that Christ spake these words unto testifying that Christ hath once suffered for sins that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 now did not he even HE understand Christ though filled with his Spirit which was to guide them into all truth judge ye and withall consider the occasion of these words of Christ John 6.63 which was a proposed question by Christ himself as appears verse 62. what will ye say if ye shall see the son of man ascend up where he was before the flesh saith Christ profiteth nothing that is in reference to his personall tarryance with his Disciples for t is saith he the Spirit that quickneth which will not come unto you except I go away wherefore Christ perswadeth them that it was expedient for him to go away Joh. 16.7 that is to ascend up where he was before but as himself saith he must FIRST suffer many things Luk. 17.25 yea and it behoved him thus to suffer Luk. 24.46 and what doth this profit nothing God forbid for herein is the love of God manifested in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us who at that time said to his Disciples that he gave HIS FLESH for the life of the World verse 51. that whosoever eat thereof and drink his blood that is as himself saith beleeveth on mee shall never hunger nor thirst verse 35. whosoever therefore loves him not let him be saith Paul Anathema Maranatha This may serve also to discover the unlearnednesse of Lawson who cannot confess that Christ is a distinct being from the Father though hee say John 14.28 my Father is greater than I unto whom he prayed lifting up his eyes unto Heaven John 17.1 who is now a MEDIATOR between God and men even the MAN Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 now if Christ be not distinctly considered then how is he a mediator for Paul saith a mediator is not of one but God is one Gal. 3.20 wherefore by this the Quaker is but the more revealed what he is for consider the Spirit now dwelling in their flesh is also the Father and Son in their account and they look for him to come NO OTHERWISE as said George Fox before many witnesses the truth in Christ I speak and lye not and so are they found to be the ANTICHRIST that the Apostle speaks of denying the Father and the Son 1 John 2.22 in whose fear let us live not TOUCHING THE UNCLEAN THING The Quaker saying as aforesaid also saith and indeed cannot but say that Christ ascended not into Heaven with that body which God raised from the dead and glorified and Thomas Laucock being several times asked by mee where that Heaven was that Christ ascended up into and now was in he answered clapping his hands upon his breast saying WITHIN MEE WITHIN MEE Him whom the Jews crucified on the tree and slew God raised from the dead Act. 10.39 40. who being raised bid his Disciples behold his hands and feet bidding them also to handle him saying a Spirit had not flesh and bones as ye see mee have HEE that was raised again and THUS spake to his Disciples Luk. 24.39 HE led them out as far as to Bethany and HE lift up his hands and blessed him verse 50. and while HE blessed them 〈◊〉 ●●s parted from them and carried UP INTO HEAVEN 〈◊〉 51. and this is made good also by the Testimony of Stephen who said that hee saw the Heavens opened and the SON OF MAN standing on the right hand of God even Jesus whom God raised saith Paul from the dead 1 Thes 1.10 yea confirmed with his own Testimony Rev. 1.18 I am hee that liveth and WAS DEAD and behold I live for evermore wherefore I say as Peter said LET ALL KNOW ASSUREDLY that God hath made the SAME JESUS whom the Jews CRUCIFIED both LORD and CHRIST Act. 2.36 but if any be so obstinate and ignorant as to beleeve that Heaven is within these mens mortall and corruptible bodyes and that Christ whom the Jews crucified is now dwelling therein as his throne and there is a mediator between God and men let him bee let him bee ignorant still that which is said in the former particular manages this truth also The Quaker saith that some of them are already come unto the END OF FAITH this Thomas Lawson John Slee gave mee in writing which thing I denying they thought it advantagious to their cause to publish it Laws book pag. 10. This their affirmation gives us to understand what glory if I may say glory it is they expect and own and moreover by this we may most clearly discern their denyall of the resurrection for otherwise they cannot say with any pretence that they are NOW at the end of Faith wherefore our confidence towards God concerning a resurrection is alone sufficient to manifest the emptiness of this saying of theirs which they would establish from Pauls expression to Timothy ch 1.9 Who hath saved us c. but how according to his own purpose and grace given us saith Paul in CHRIST JESUS who is our life and when he shall appear THEN shall we appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 for unto them that LOOK for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb. 9.28 in which day all tears shall be wiped awa● 〈◊〉 but Timothy who among others is said there to be saved was in 〈◊〉 even to tears wherefore Paul had a great desire to see him 〈◊〉 mindfull of his TEARS verse 4. in that day also all 〈◊〉 ●●ous and misery shall be done away but Timothy is exhorted 〈…〉 of afflictions and to endure hardnesse verse 8.2 3. more● 〈…〉 Paul the Scripture is able to make thee not hath made thee wise unto salvation c. yea and that which is more plain verse 5. Timothy is said to have
Scriptures which before the strong delusion seised upon them would have shewen them that the Lord cometh with not in but WITH ten thousand of his Saints to excute judgement Jud. 14.15 this Paul and Timotheus looked for yet men of high degrees of Christianity saying We must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ but saith the Quaker we HAVE appeared another Doctrin O Friends wherefore another spirit but unto us that look for the Lord Jesus from Heaven who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 unto us I say a little may suffice for the manifestation of this errour The Quaker also beleeves that sin is NOT the cause of mans body returning to the dust as Tho. Lawson Tho. Laucock affirmed Strange yea very strange is this saying considered nakedly by it self but considering that it comes from a spirit that denies the Resurrection of the Body it is not so strange yet nevertheless the errour thereof is not thereby lessened Errour I say for when Adam by eating had sinned God said unto him BECAUSE thou hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou return unto the ground for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return and to this agrees the words of the Apostle Rom. 5.12 As by one man sin entred into the Word and death BY SIN and so Death passed upon all not such a Spiritual death as the Quaker would have because in Christ all shall be made alive from it 1 Cor. 15.21 22. hee having through his appearance in the likeness of sinful flesh condemned sin in the flesh which is the sting of that death which brings into the Grave the bodies of men vers 55 56. thus by sin comes the death of the body and not only so for those many Curses as eating our bread in sorrow in the sweat of our faces women bringing forth Children in sorrow even these attends the bodies of men and women by reason of sin even BECAUSE thou hast eaten saith God shewing that God at first in his threat upon the transgression of his Law intended punishment upon the body that which did eat and in eating sinned dyed and so DEATH BY SIN saith the Apostle The Quaker also slights and denies Baptism in Water calling it a low Carnal thing This is signified by Naylor in his Book called A Salutation to the Seed of God Pag. 33 34. pleading that it may be now taken away by them they seeing it to be abused without any Scripture warrant they having as they say that Spirit within them which gave it forth This also they will say proceeds from the Light but not so indeed for Christ the true Light was not ashamed thereof but was obedient even to Baptism in water Matth. 3.16 also said that whosoever is ashamed of him and his words of him hee also will be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father wherefore look to yourselves that yee be not beguiled of your faith in this so plain a Commandement and for your stedfastness therein I do here represent unto you Three considerations as reminding you of the ground for Baptism in Water First remember that John testifies that he was sent from the Lord to Baptise with Water Joh. 1.33 and in preaching Repentance and Baptism for the remission of sins he is said to be a preparer of the way of the LORD Mar. 1.2.3.4 in which Ministration he was very famous so that all the people went out unto him to be baptized but when Christ went forth preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome then the fame of John decreased and all went out unto him as most famous John 3.26 at the hearing of which John in all humility said hee must increase but I must decrease verse 30. Secondly Remember also that the Lord Jesus in plain words gave it forth by commandement saying to his Disciples Matth. 28.19 go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father c. that is baptizing them in water as undenyable appears in that the DISCIPLES were to administer it marke that they could not they did not baptize with the Spirit but saith John speaking of Christ he that commeth after mee whose shoes I am not worthy to bear HE shall baptize you with the holy Spirit Mat. 3.11 which saith Peter GOD hath given to them that obey him Act. 5.32 the glory of this ministration the Lord hath reserved unto himself and hath no where given it to man Thirdly Remember also that as baptisme in water in Johns time was with other things a preparation of the way of the Lord and afterwards established by the speciall command of the Lord himself so also after his ascension was it confirmed by an Angel from the Lord who well knowing his message bid Cornelius send for Peter and he saith the Angel shall tell thee what thou oughtest he saith not what he might do as an indifferent thing but what thou OUGHTEST to do Act. 10.5 6. who then he was come and had seen the goodnesse of God said who can forbid WATER that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we making their receiving the holy Spirit a great argument why they should be baptized with water yet will men use the same argument why they need not be baptized with water alass alass what will the poor soules answer when God riseth up Job 31.14 these even the Spirit-baptized people Peter commands to be baptized verse 47 48. wherefore whatever men say this being submitted unto from an inward principle of love to him that first loved us is not a carnal thing but to be held fast remember that Jesus is the same yesterday to day and for ever Object Paul said that Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the Gospel Answ Christ also said labour NOT for the meat that perissieth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life Joh. 6.27 what did he hereby make void moderate working surely nay for Paul having his Spirit said if any would not work neither should he eat but rather that men should not make it their SPECIALL labour as the Jews did verse 26. after the things for the present bodily subsistance so Pauls ESPECIALL work was not to baptize that is personally to administer baptisme but to preach the Gospel to which belongs baptisme unlesse we should beleeve that he preached one Doctrin and Peter another but that is incredible but credible it is that they did not alwaies personally administer it and so it was that Paul had baptized but few of the Corinthians for which he gave God thanks not from a low esteem thereto but because they thereby had no show to say that he baptized in his own name as they were apt to say 1 Cor. 1.12 14 15.
espoused Christ the Lord and so came to change the Ordinances and yet she pretends to be the Spouse of Christ and so hath a shew of all the Ordinances or the names of them for Beleevers Baptism she hath Infants baptism or sprinkling and for laying on of hands she hath Confirmation or Bishopping but the Presbyters have left this out and in this they are neerer Antichrist than the Lord Bishops and for breaking of Bread or the Lords Suppor that is in Part ministred to the People or Parish and so to the wrong subject being not penitent nor Baptised persons and instead of the true Call of her Ministry she hath a Human way as hath been shewed which is not mentioned in Scripture and so Tithes and forced maintenance instead of that which is to be by free gift and instead of singing with the spirit and with the understanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. they have singing in Rime in a Carnal formal way many together without understanding the Psalms being collected into English Meeter by Thomas Sternhold John Hopkins and others and so she hath a glorious Show and a golden Cup and through the Popes Supremacy and the Peter-pence and Prayer to Saints and false Doctrin of Purgatory and such like trumpery the Clergy is very rich and proud and covetous and so all may see the way of the Whore which is National Generational Fleshly Carnal Human after mens Traditions making voyd the Commandements of God through her Traditions thus she goeth a whoring after her own inventions and so you have a brief discovery of the Whore of Babylon which is the Mother of abominations of the earth and is drunken with the blood of Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17 5 6. and that is and will be the cause of her Fall and that brings mee to the second thing even the Fall of this Whore of Babylon and the manner how and by whom And for the clearing up of this First Consider that this woman sits upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of the names of Blasphemy which had seven heads and ten horns Reve. 17.3 now note that five of them heads or Kings were faln when John wrote the Revelation and the sixt was then in being vers 9 10. now this woman the Harlot was to sit upon the sixt head and hath so done a long time and so the beast that had seven heads carrieth her and beareth her up for the Magistrates have supported her all along understand also that the sixth head of the beast hath reigned ever since the writing of the Revelation but now is partly strong and partly broken and that the sixt head is not fallen is plain if you note well for the seventh head when he cometh he must continue a short space now that head of the Roman Monarchy which is in being hath coutinued long even from before the birth of Christ and this the Scripture clea●eth Rev. 17.10 five are fallen and one is and another is not yet come and when hee cometque hee must continue a short space the power of the Pope and his Clergy cannot be the seventh head for that hath continued long Secondly The Whore cannot bee any of the heads of the beast because she sits upon and is carried by the beast that hath seven heads and ten horns So she causeth the beast to serve her and maketh the beasts and the Kings of the earth slaves to her to do her will so then the sixth head of the Roman power is not fallen though it be in part and the seventh head is now arising which will take away the sixth and doth will and must give some liberty to preach the Gospel and to administer the Ordinances in the old way thereof and so the Lord God will bring things to passe for not one jot or tittle of his word shall fall and so in the rising and reign of the seventh head and of the ten horns the Angel shall flye in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation and kindred and tongue and people saying with a loud voice fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgement is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth the Sea and the fountains of waters Rev. 14.6 7. so the Gospel and the way thereof being preached the Nations will bee enlightened and so God will put it into the hearts of the ten horns or Kings to hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.12 16. so through the preaching of the Gospel in the pure way thereof the great Whore of Babylon falleth and so the hour of her Judgement is come and to this agreeth that in Rev. 14.6 7 8. which sheweth that after the Gospel is preached to the Nations then shall follow another Angel saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great City for she made all Nations to drink of the Wine of the wrath of her fornication verse 8. much more might bee spoken to this but let this suffice as touching what the Whore is and her fall the manner how and by whom In the next place note diligently what the spirit of Antichrist is and who have that spirit now John in his first Epistle chap. 4. and verse 3. doth declare what the spirit of Antichrist is namely every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that he should come and even now already is in the World Also understand that John did not intend simply the Heathen that never did beleeve nor the unbeleeving Jews which never did acknowledge Christ come in the flesh but those have the spirit of Antichrist that went out from the Churth of Christ chap. 2.18 19. John sheweth them that it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby wee know that it is the last time THEY WENT OUT FROM US c. so that the spirit of Antichrist is that spirit that is found in them that have been enlightened and have known the truth and go out from the Church of Christ and in a mystery deny Christ come in the flesh and so Paul speaking of the Antichrist or man of sin 2 Thes 2.7 saith the MYSTERY of iniquity doth already work c. and Peter speaking to the Saints saith in his second Epistle 2.1 there shall be false teachers among you who PRIVILY shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying THE LORD THAT BOUGHT THEM and bring upon themselves swift destruction So the spirit of Antichrist denies Christ come in the flesh secretly and they that have this spirit say Christ is come in their flesh and so say the light within them is Christ when at the best it is but the light
Queen the Mother of Harlots And abominations of the earth The Antichrist is set out thus A Man of Sin The man that did shake Kingdoms The Son of the Morning The Son of Perdition 2 The Sixth Head of the Roman Beast carryeth the Harlot but the Antichrist the Man of Sin is the eighth and last Beast as hath been shewed 3 The Whore confesseth Christ come in the Flesh and hath a shew and remembrance of his Ordinances though shee have changed the subject and the manner but the Antichrist denies Christ come in the Flesh and his Ordinances that declare him come in the Flesh as it hath been shewed 4. The Woman the Harlot and her Members that do worship according to her Traditions and inventions have space given them to repent and many do repent but they that do worship the Beast the Antichrist or receive his Mark in their right hand or in their fore-head they cannot repent they must drink of the wine of the Wrath of God c. as it is Revel 14.9 10. and also in chap. 16. they repented not of their deeds vers 11. note that the first Vial is poured out upon the earth and the men that had the mark of the Beast and worshipped his Image are plagued therefore none of the Vials are poured out until the Antichrist reigneth vers 1 2. 5. The Ten Horns hate the Whore and destroy her and make her desolate Rev. 17.16 but the Antichrist is taken alive when the Lord cometh and punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord in a Lake of fire 2 Thes 1.9 and Rev. 19.20 And so to draw to a conclusion I do desire all men to take heed to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles for they are able to make men wise unto Salvation and if men speak not according to the Law and Testament it is because they have no light in them Isa 8.20 O give heed to the most sure word of the Prophets as unto a light shining in a dark place until the Day of Christ dawn and the day star arise in your hearts noting diligently all things that are spoken of that must come to pass for when the signs concerning Christs coming are come to pass the day of Christs personal appearing will dawn Secondly Is there such a spirit of delusion among men wherein is a mystery of iniquity then let all take heed that they seek the Lord while he may be found and to kiss the Son least he be angry and yee perish in the way O do not neglect to read and know and search the Scriptures and walk up in that you do know bee not deceived God will not be mocked what a man soweth that shall he reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. Thirdly Is it so that God doth and will give up men to a spirit of delusion that they should beleeve a Lye that they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness then be exhorted from hence to forsake all unrighteous ways in conversation and all whorish inventions of men in point of Worship for if Moses Law be abolished which was given to him by the Lord let no man think that he shall be excused if he worship according to mens inventions Fourthly Let all the Saints consider and lay to heart what hath been spoken and search the Scriptures that they may be informed what is to come to pass and so according to Christs exhortation in Luke 21.36 watch yee therefore and pray always that yee may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man O give all diligence to adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love let these things be in you and abound give diligence to make your calling and election sure be not weary of well-doing for you shall reap in due time if you faint not grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever So be it FINIS
long-sufferance and long patience towards them have not received the love of the Truth that they might be saved for which cause God hath sent a strong delusion that they as considered opposing Grace might beleeve a Lye and so be damned 2 Thess 2.10 11. wherefore in the fear of the Lord God who thus judgeth let us grow and abound in pure love unto the Lord and his Truth that we may stand in these last perilous days wherein Satan will work not only with power but with all Power Signs and lying Wonders not only with deceit but with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 2 Thess 2.9 10. O then let us be watchful and with all care awake to righteousness putting on the whole Armour of God that we may be able to withstand all the wiles of the Devil for the time is come wherein we must wrastle against the Powers of Darkness and Spiritual wickedness which is crept into Sheeps cloathing having such fair pretences as that those that are not in some measure acquainted with their double-meaning expressions cannot suddenly finde out the iniquity of the Mystery Wherefore I concluded it necessary having some experience of the deceitful pernicious ways of the people called Quakers to signifie to all what I have been an ear and eye-witness of concerning them whom we see many follow whereby we hear the way of Truth is evil spoken of and the professours thereof slandered and falsly accused but this is that the Scripture might be fulfilled which testifies of the coming of the Wicked one before the coming of the Just one the Lord Jesus Mat. 24.24 2 Thess 2.3 4. who shall destroy him with the brightness of his coming vers 8. The Quaker saith That there is such a light in every man which they say is a measure of Christ that leads and guides into all the ways of God without the Scripture or any outward Teachings and saith Nayler is the ONLY revealer of the Gospel as appears in his Book called Satans design discovered pag. 32. Let us minde the Law and Testimony for if they do not herein speak according to it it is because they have no light in them True it is that there is such a knowledge or light in man considered with the continual voyce of the Heavens Psal 19. as to know that there is a God and in measure also what is just and good according to that he was first Created in and so in measure evil when he walks contrary to this light and to this was added in the days of Moses the written Law which remains to us shewing to us as it did to them things that are MORE EXCELLENT being instructed out of the Law Rom. 2.18 sin also appearing by it exceeding sinful Rom. 7.13 for had not the Law said Thou shalt not covet Paul signifieth that he had not known lust to be sin Rom. 7.7 wherefore he concludes that the Jew had great advantage and profit above the Gentile and chiefly because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.1 2. now the Gentiles having not the Law were indeed a Law unto themselves saith Paul but to the Jews that had the written Law hee saith no such thing but saith Moses THIS BOOK of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein Josh 1.8 wherefore it follows that the Gentiles considered HAVING NOT THE LAW mark were a Law unto themselves that is in reference to such things as were contained in the written Law of Moses by the deeds of which the Apostle afterwards saith No flesh shall be justified in his sight Rom. 3.20.10.5 it being weak through the flesh Rom. 8.3 that is man being by the Fall under manifold Curses is often overcome and acts contrary to his knowledge from the Law while his Nature still inclines to its first ease pleasure and delight and so by the Law he is condemned for by it is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 wherefore no righteousness no Soul-peace by it for he that DOTH these things shall live by them saith the Law the Soul is wounded and nothing will cure it but the knowledge of remission of sins which is made known by outward means wherefore it was said of John that he should go before the face of the Lord to give knowledge of Salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins Luke 1.77 which was to be preached by the Commandement of Christ to all Nations by the APOSTLES Luke 24.47 yea at the beginning was it made known by outward discoveries for it is recorded of Abel that hee was righteous by faith now saith the Apostle there is but one faith and this comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.16 17 18. which people in Primitive times heard as spoken UNTO them divers ways and so whoever of the Gentiles that sought for glory honour and immortality having faith therein by hearing and in the mean while patiently continued in doing well according to the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2.7 they so beleeving were excused in themselves but if otherwise accused for so and no otherwise Israel that had the written Law could be excused by it for by the deeds thereof no flesh shall bee justified wherefore God at sundry times in divers manners spake unto the Fathers BY THE PROPHETS the way of Justification Heb. 1.1 Wherefore saith the Prophet should yee not hear the words which the Lord hath cryed by the former Prophets Zach. 7.7 if ye will not heat the words of my servants the Prophets then will I make this house as Shiloh Jer. 26.4 5 6. shewing plainly that God did not as by himself dwelling in all men speak to them his whole counsel but unto them by his Prophets and Judgements are threatned upon the not hearing of their words not upon the slighting of such a light within and besides Faith is said to come through their words Rom. 10.16 17 18. no where is it said no not by any of the Prophets that God required men to wait altogether upon such a light within yet saith Nayler that is the ONLY revealer of the Gospel 't is plain the Prophets had another spirit for Jeremiah bids the people stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and you shall find rest for your souls Jer. 16.16 now if the good way and all the way were within them why were they to ask for it and to enquire standing in the wayes and not rather to stand still silent waiting upon the light within the wise must needs judge the reason was because the will of the Lord in order to soul-peace and rest was discovered by outward means wherefore incline your ear and come unto mee hear and your soul shall live Isa 55.3 which when Israel neglected Isaiah complains saying Who hath beleeved OUR report