the 1 Cor 6 11 as his instancing the Dogs returning to Rent not the Swine when as the Swine are not onely known to trample under foot but also to rent and tear and here he would divide the spirit of God from the name of Jesus when as his name and spirit are one his name is called the word of God and the Father the Word and the Spirit are one Rev 19 13 1 Joh 5 7 And where doth he prove that Justified by the Spirit which he ignorantly calls the third Person in the Trinity is not the work of Grace here he would divide the Grace of God from the Spirit was there ever such confusion for the Saints were Justified freely by his Grace which was one with the Spirit Priest pag 16. For the Apostle assents the holinesse of mans nature as a work of the Spirit conforming it to the Law to be the meritorious cause of our freedome from sin Answ And yet he hath denyed Good works of obedience to be a deserving cause of Justification see his confusion what is not Justification a freedome from sin See Act 13 39 And where doth he prove that the holinesse of mans nature is a meritorious cause of freedome from sin seeing it is the same Spirit which frees man from sinne and brings him and his nature into conformity to the Law of Righteousnesse through its Sanctifying and Justifying him from the transgression of the Law Thomas Danson saith pag. 17. from Rom. 8.4 5. It imports the end for which God sent Christ that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us not in our own persons but in Christ his righteousnesse Imputed to us as if it had been inherent in our selves Answ Here again he hath perverted the Scripture by his false meaning as if the Apostle had meant quite another thing then he spoke when as if the Apostle had not meant the Righteousnesse of the Law fulfilled in their own persons he would not have said fulfilled in us neither would he have counted Christs righteousness Inherent in themselves if he had not counted it in them as this Priest doth and the Apostle needed not speak of the Righteousness of the Law being to be fulfilled in Christ as if it had not been fulfilled in Christ but that it might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8.4 so away with these false meanings this Priest hath given And to S. Fishers speaking of degrees among believers as in 1 Joh. 2.13 14. This Priest Danson saith I suppose that you mean that some of these have a mixture of sin with their Grace Answ This is a false supposition for the Grace of God which the Saints have is pure and not mixed with sin for the mixture of sin is in that which goeth from the Grace Thomas Danson saith pag. 18. to S. F. you maintained that our Justification was by personal fulfilling of the Law and now you Grant some persons to be Justified who never did fulfil it personally Answ In both these sentences he hath wronged S. Fisher for that which he vindicated was what the Apostle witnessed that was the Righteousness of the Law being fulfilled by the spirit in the persons of believers without which work of the spirit in them they were not Justified Thomas Danson pag. 19. saith And Conscience in the Saints being but in part cleansed as a witnesse it testifies falsehood to them also in that their estate is bad when it is good Answ See the folly and confusion this man is in who would lay fals-hood and badnesse to the charge of the Saints Consciences and their good estate as one that calls good evil Isa 5.20 but the Consciences of the Saints witnessed truth to them and not falshood for they witnessed Sanctification throughout in body soul and spirit 1 Thess 5.23 and holinesse perfected in the fear of God Thomas Danson saith pag. 21. As Christ was made sin for us so are we the Righteousnesse of God in him but the former was by Imputation not Inherence and therefore so the other Answ This proves nothing against being Justified by Christs Righteousnesse within but rather against him that hath perverted that Scripture 2 Cor 5 21 for if our being made the Righteousnesse of God in Christ be but like Christs being made sinne for us as this Priest Imagins then he might as well say that we shall have no Righteousness of Christ in us neither must we do Righteousnesse at all for Christ was made sin for us who knew no sin neither can he sin that we might be made the Righteousnesse of God in him in whom their is no sin so that men are not made the Righteousnesse of God in Christ while in their sinnes but as they are translated into Christ through death being baptized into the death of Christ by putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh for Gods Righteousnesse is pure without sin and so are the believers made his Righteousnesse See Rom 6 4 5 6 7 Col 2 11 12 1 Joh 3 5 6. Priest And to prove two Righteousnesses of Christ this said Priest saith do you think that the Righteousnesse which the Apostle calls his own was not Christs Answ See this mans ignorance of Christ's Righteousnesse which the Apostle desired to have and not his owne Phil 3 9 Now he that counts the Apostles own Righteousnesse which he denyed to have Christs Righteousness he might as well say that the Apostle desired not to have Christ's Righteousnesse which is but one but herein his folly is discovered And whereas at our dispute Thomas Danson denyed that the Saints were Justified by that Christ that was in them now to excuse his matter he saith he will Answer me more punctually and his Answer is Priest pag. 22. The Scripture by Christ within us understands not the person of Christ but his operations the cause is put for the effect by a Metynomy Compare Collos 1.26 Christ in you with Ephes 3.17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and therefore it followes not that we make two Christs Answ To deny that the Saints were Justified by that Christ within is to Preach two Christs seeing he hath owned that Christ is in them And to say that the Scripture by Christ within us understands his operations what darknesse is this where did ever the Apostle say that the operations or works of Christ are Christ or put a Metonymy upon his words as thou hast done who falsly hast called that a word too hard for my Capacity And Faith Repentance Regeneration are opperated or wrought by Christ but doth the Scripture say that Repentance is Christ or Regeneration is Christ this Priest hath made it appear that he neither rightly knowes Christ nor his workes who discernes not the one from the other And again he hath confuted himself the Priest in pag. 23. he saith The Scripture speaks of two Christs Christ Personal and Christ
THE VOICE of WISDOME UTTERED Forth against Antichrists folly and deceits and the freeness of Gods Love to the Creature and the effects of his Righteousnesse in his people truly discovered 1 Concerning the Light of Christ within 2 Of Perfection in this Life 3 Of Justification how it is known 4 Of the Scriptures and the use of them And this is in Answer to a Book falsly Titled The Quakers folly made manifest to all men Given forth by Tho. Danson a Priest at Sandwich in Kent who having begun his Book with a Lye he hath added to it many false Principles and Doctrines in his Book touching these things aforesaid which Principles are generally held forth by the Priests in England But are here plainly confuted and the cause of the Innocent whom he hath falsly accused cleared according to the Scriptures of Truth By a Friend to them that Regard true Instruction and a witness of Christs Righteousnesse George Whitehead Behold he travelleth with Iniquity and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falshood he made a pit and digged it and is fallen into the ditch which he made Psal 7.14 15. LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. Reader IN the fear of the Lord according to the movings of his Spirit it was upon me to give forth this following Treatise as being occasioned by reason of Th. Dansons imperfect and confused Relation Title the Quakers folly made manifest to all men which he hath given forth chiefly against Sam. Fisher Geo. Whitehead and Richard Hubberthorn touching three Disputations which they had with the said Priest about certaine weighty matters of Religion about which now to clear himself of his false doctrines and confusions he was manifest in at the disputes he hath further both wronged them and the truth sometimes in laying down things in their names which they never spoke and oftentimes diminishing from their words and making false constructions of them as also he hath added to his former false doctrins absurdities self contradictions both in his said Relation and in a pretended Answer he hath given to R. Hubberthorns Book titled The Difference of that call of God to the Ministry c. And besides this Priest hath wrested several Scriptures by his false meanings and interpretations and therein is the said Priests principles concerning the light within perfection and justification which generally are maintained by the Priests of England answered and clearly confuted by the truth and the innocent cleared from the lyes and false aspersions published by the said Thomas Danson in his said Relation and Answer And this my answer is given forth for the truth sake in love to the simple hearted that they may be instructed and their doubts resolved which being read in simplicity with a single eye towards God and his way something may be added to the readers understanding and here he may see that the pitt which the wicked hath digged for others he is fallen into himself Prov. 26 27. Eccles 10 8. And Reader I advise thee let no secret prejudice nor envy lodge in thy heart against us but mind the gift of God in thee which brings out of strife and hard thoughts into the meekness and lowlines of mind and then thou may the better understand the truth and see the difference betwixt us who witnesse of the life of Christ in us and the Priests and Professors of the world who are out of Christs life and then try all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5 21 G. W. THE VOICE OF WISDOME AND TRUTH Uttered c. THe Wisdome and discerning which the Lord God hath revealed by his Spirit in his people called Quakers standeth over all the folly of the World and over all the subtilty and deceits of the Wisemen and Merchants of Babylon who by their subtilty and deceits have perverted the simple and made Merchandise of souls as these Priests do who have been fighting with their Inventions against us and the Truth which we are raised up to vindicate by the power and spirit which hath discovered unto us their deceits and subtilty and whereby we have overcome them hitherto when they have made war against us both in words and writings because that greater is he that is in us who maketh war for us then he that is in the world ruling in these false Teachers and where we are here charged with folly That shall lye upon his and their heads who have falsely charged us therewith as those that are guilty as the proud covetous heady high-mindedmen and the fierce despisers were whom the Apostle charged with these things 2 Tim. 3.9 And we see that these proud and covetous Priests their folly is so far already made manifest that they can proceed no further in their subtilty against the Truth then they have done but their folly will be manifest for I finde that this Priest Tho. Danson hath brought no stronger Arguments against what we profess then many of his Brethren in iniquity have done heretofore but in many things the very same onely he hath added more to his and their iniquities in spreading his false Doctrines and false Accusations abroad and in laying down several things in our Names which were never held forth by us called Quakers But blessed be the Lord our God who hath indued us with power wisdome from on high that such subtil Foxes cannot hide themselves in all their holes and dens from that eye which the Lord hath opened in us and which he is opening in many thousands who shall see the shame and nakedness of these who have caused people to erre in the times of ignorance and darkness which the Lord God is redeeming his people out of into his marvellous light and wisdome which all they shall have right unto who are mindful of his appearance in his light and power who hearken to his counsel as those that are willing to be led by him And now to thee Tho. Danson who falsly hast called thy self a Minister of the Gospel as hereafter will appear and who hath laid false things to the charge of the Innocent as is also here made manifest Where in thy Epistle to the Reader thou sayest Hadst thou considered the likelihood of the Quakers Printing which would necessitate thine thou thinkst thou shouldst have waved any discourse with them but Repentance is now too late c. So then it appears thou wast not willing to have thy deeds brought to light nor thy Doctrines to publike view but wast afraid to be made manifest as many of thy Brethren have been and are and it appears then that what thou hast done in thy disputing with us is to be repented of but now Repentance is too late as thou confessest and thou sayest Thou chose rather to out-word us which is the reason why thy Answers are oftentimes so large and laxe So here thou hast resolved in thy own will to out-word us but thy
is perfect and the Apostles preached perfection and wisdom among them that were perfect and preached to present every man perfect and said be Perfect be of one minde see Matth 5 48 1 Cor 2 6 2 Cor 13 11 Colos 1 28 And Paul denyed not the State of the Resurrection as this Priest hath accused him for he said if ye be risen with Christ minde those things which are above And Paul denyed not freedome from sin as he hath accused him for Paul said Now being made free from sin and become the servants to God Rom 6 18 22 And in that Phil 3 15 he saith Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded And that of Job 9 20 21 proves not that Job was not without fin when God had delivered him out of that Affliction wherein he said If I say I am perfect my mouth shall prove me perverse though I were perfect yet would I not know my soul I would despise my life But after this Job was Girded up in the power of God and his Righteousness and Innocency did shine with the Lord and he was perfect and feared God And the Saints witnessed Christs appearance in them without fin unto Salvation for they were saved from sin by Christ and John speaking of Christ said as he is so are we in this world 1 Joh. 4 17 So they did not put cleansing from sin nor perfection a farre off as these Priests do who are Ignorant of that birth which is born of God which whosoever is born of sinneth not neither can the wicked one touch him so then he hath not power to lead him into sin because he is born of God and is kept by the power of God 1 Joh 3 9 chap 5 18 which before that state of freedom be witnessed there is a time of Pain in travel and of suffering in Temptations and Tryals which these blinde Guides not seeing would lay sin to the charge of Gods Elect who is born of God and hath overcome the wicked one so away with the Priests false meanings which are for sin and Imperfection in this life for they are quite against the Tenour of the Scriptures T. Danson saith p. 12. A Beleevers person with his works are accepted with God though his works be not perfect Answ Here he would have the beleevers like the Priests who sin in the best of their performances as they confess but to confute his error herein I say the beleevers works are wrought in God and God hath wrought all their works in them Isai 26.12 So these works of God which true beleevers witness are perfect and the beleevers have ceased from their own works which were imperfect and are come into Gods works which are perfect Thomas Danson saith p. 13. Let me hear what answer you can give to that Scripture which hath run much in my minde against this Doctrine There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7.20 We say indeed that no such just man as Solomon speaks of is to be found on earth but in heaven Answ The Conversation of the Saints is in Heaven Eph. 2.6 Phil. 3.20 and they are redeemed from the earth and from the vanity where Solomon saw all things in the dayes of his vanity in which state all were sinners and there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness Eccles 7.15 but there is a just man that walketh in his Integrity Prov. 20.7 And he that doth righteousness is righteous even as Christ is righteous 1 John 3.7 Thomas Danson We are one body with them in Heaven and have the same title with them in possession p. 14. and 38. Answ This confutes his former words for they that are one body with them in Heaven are Members of the body of Christ which is perfect and its members compleat Col. 2.10 Eph. 3.15 to the end III. Concerning Justification WHereas S. Fisher spoke of our good Works as they are wrought in the Spirit being a meritorious or deserving cause of Justification this Priest hath made much adoe about it to prove that S. F. is a rank Papist and to prove it he the Priest saith Our good works are but imperfectly good and Isai 64.6 All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Answ Samuel Fisher never affirmed that imperfect works and the righteousness which is as filthy rags doe deserve Justification as this Priest hath wronged him and the truth but good works which are the fulfilling of the Law which is wrought in us by Christ as he hath wrought all our works in us and all his works are perfect these are discerning Justification for they are justified as being ordained of God Ephes 2.10 and seest thou how Faith wrought with his works and by works was Faith made perfect Jam. 2.22 And this Priest hath in page 15. confessed That good works which are the fulfilling of the Law deserve salvation and that the desert of obedience arises from the dignity of the Subject by which it is performed So then this makes for what S. F. declared for here it appears then that obedience to God is deserving and upon true obedience there is promises given And further I say that without the Spirit and power of Christ to lead the creature there is no obedience that can be performed either deserving or acceptable to the Lord God so that still these works which are deserving a promise of God are the works of Christ Jesus in us and through us so his spirit and power which is the cause of these works is that which justifieth in them And page 16. Where Justification within by the Spirit of God was proved by 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God To this the Priest hath given his meanings to prove that we are not justified by the Spirit or righteousness of Christ within in these words Viz. Priest I might say that perhaps the clause should be referred to sanctification as if the order of the words had been but ye are sanctified by the Spirit of our God and he brings his transposition for it from Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy to dogs neither cast your pearls before swine least they trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you where saith he turn again and rent you is to be joyned to the dogs or else justified by the Spirit may be meant of the Spirits application I mean the third Person in the Trinity not of the work of grace whereof we are the subject Answ Here you may see how he hath given two meanings to one place and what folly hath proceeded from a Teacher as in his instancing Doggs and Swine for his matter of Justification as he did at the dispute with us speaking of Justification being Referred to the name of the Lord not to the spirit from
false Ministry Priest My words were that the Gospel is an external light as that of the sun Answ That also is false for the Gospel is the power of God which is invisible Rom 1 16 20 and not external as the light of the Sun for that is created but the Gospel is Eternal Priest That I denied that the Saints were justified by that Christ that was in them To which he replies to Rich. Hub. Thou lovest lying rather then to speake righteousness Psal 52.3 Ans Rich. Hub. hath not belyed thee at all for when I asked thee whether the Saints were justified by that Christ that was in them yea or nay thou answeredst no as many heard thee so seek not to blind people with covering thy errors as now thou wouldst in pretending that it is but one and the same Christ that justifies and sanctifies wherein thou hast flatly confuted thy self for if it be the same Christ that justifies and sanctifies then it s but one and the same righteousness which effecteth both these in and for the Saints And see how again thou hast contradicted thy self in owning but one Christ when in page 23. thou hast plainly affirmed two Christs Christ personal and Christ mystical and so hast shewed thy self to be of Antichrist for the Saints preached but one Christ which was in them their hope and he it is whose fulness is thorow all filling all things so he that preacheth another Gospel or Christ then the Saints preached let him be accursed Gal. 1.9 Priest The righteousness which God works in us is but finite as well as other effects p. 39. Ans And yet this said Priest in p. 37. hath owned that the righteousness whereof Christ is the subject and that whereof he is the efficient are of one species or kinde see his confusion then I say the righteousness which God effects in us is not finite but infinite for Christ is Gods righteousness and Christ is formed in us Gal. 4.19 and so that righteousness which God works in us by his Spirit it s of the same kind and nature with that which worketh it for the Saints are made partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 which this Priest being ignorant of he confutes himself and such would divide the justifying righteousness from being in the Saints and would make that righteousness in them but finite when as Christ his infinite righteousness and the Saints are in one another in one Covenant and he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are one Heb. 2.11 and whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever Eccles 3.14 then Gods righteousness in us is not finite but infinite In page 40 and 41. the Priest saith I affirmed and do among those that hear the Gospel salvation is offered to more then to whom it is intended I should rather think our preaching is to more purpose because we know not who are elected for the ignorance of that gives us a ground to hope well of any man Ans Here people may see the Priests Ignorance concerning Salvation and how their hope is grounded upon their Ignorance but Christ is Gods salvation to the ends of the earth offered to all men with an intent that they might beleeve and be saved and for them that are condemned it is not because Salvation was not intended of God for them but because that when Salvation was offered and intended to them they beleeved not in it as a promise of entring into Gods rest may be left unto a people and yet they not enter into the rest because of their unbelief Heb. 4. And men are not condemned for want of having a saving light given them or because God hath afore purposed their destruction and thereupon deprived them of saving grace as the Priests imagine but this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather then the light John 3.19 And Christ came not to condemn the world but to save the world so that these Priests who are ignorant of the elect and have their hope of any mans welfare grounded upon that Ignorance their hope is a false and a blind hope for how can they hope well of any man when they know not who are elected and do not beleeve that salvation is intended as free for all men so herein have the Priests largely made manifest their blindness and their blind hope and their preaching and praying for people to be of none effect for if salvation be not free or not intended for all to what purpose is the Priests bidding all their Hearers lay hold upon Christ and putting them all into a hope for that which they say was never intended for many of them but herein is their ignorance and blind hope which they strive to beget people into plainly manifested for the true hope is not grounded upon Ignorance but in that spirit whereby the precious is discerned from the vile and the sheep known from the goats by the true Shepherds and Ministers Priest That the Spirit was not wont to be effectual without the Letter or that he wrought upon the souls of men in and by the Letter of the Word and I gave you that instance Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Ans He might as well have said That the Apostle Pauls Ministry was not wont to be effectual as to say That the Spirit was not not wont to be effectual without the Letter for Paul was not a Minister of the Letter or Writing but of the Spirit or of the thing declared of 2 Cor. 3 6. and as for that of Rom 10 17 that hearing comes by the Word of God that is against this said Priests principle for there is a difference between the Word and the Letter The Word liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet 1 23. so doth not the Letter and the Spirit was wont to be effectual among the Saints Patriarcks and Prophets before the Letter was written or given forth and the Spirit or Word was effectual among the Gentiles who had not the Law or Letter of it outwardly so how Ignorant these Priests are of the Spirits efficacy all that know it may easily judge and how would they ever convince the Turks or Heathens of Christ with their preaching if the Spirit be not effectual without the Letter Priest That the works of Christ in some respect are not perfect I spake these words in reference to sanctification which I affirmed to be imperfect in this life p. 44. Ans Here he hath falsely charged the works of Christ with imperfection for all the works of God are perfect And by one offering God hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 10 14 And Christ perfecteth the work of sanctification in them that beleeve as Christ said Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and
thou in me that they may be made perfect in one see John 17.17 21 22 23 and the Apostle witnessed to a sanctification throughout in body soul and spirit 2 Cor. 7 1 1 Thes 5 23 and Christ is come throughly to purge the floor so that his work of Sanctification is not imperfect as this Priest hath falsely affirmed but perfect Priest Not every gift of God is perfect page 44 Ans Here hath the Spirit of Antichrist appeared which hath not only accused the Saints and the work of Christ with imperfection in this life but hath so accused some gift of God with not being perfect when as every good and perfect gift comes from God Jam. 1.17 Then what gift of God is it that he esteems not perfect Pr. The Gospel gives life upon imperfect obedience Answ And yet before he denyed our good works of obedience to be a deserving cause of Justification when now were his words owned for truth then imperfect obedience is so farre deserving that the Gospel gives life upon it where 's the ranck Papist now but here also he is in Errour for the Gospel gives life upon believing in the light which is the work of God and the work of God is perfect saith Christ He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live Pr. To prove Tho. Rumseys false doctrin which was That we preach a doctrine of Devils in saying that men may be free from sin in this life this Priest saith David was not free from the being of sinne but a sad instance of the power of it in real Saints and yet he was a pattern to New-Testament Saints Zech. 12.8 Answ That Scripture Zechariah 12.8 doth prove both Tho. Rumseys and Thomas Dansons doctrines false for the words of that Scripture are these In that day shall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them So then if David was made a pattern to New Testament-Saints and the house of David be as God yea as the Angel of the Lord then was David and the New-Testament Saints freed from sin for in God is no sin and then real Saints had not the power of sin remaining in them as Tho. Rumsey and Tho. Danson hath accused them to their own shame in counting that a Doctrine of Devils which was the Saints Doctrine who witnessed a washing from all filthiness Ezek. 36.25 And Paul witnessed to a freedom from sin Rom. 6.18 22. and for calling this Doctrine a doctrine of devils God will call Tho. Rumsey and Tho. Danson to an account and they will never be clear from the guilt of their blasphemy herein without Repentance and I beleeve that all people that fear the Lord that see this will see their doctrine to be a doctrine of Devils in their pleading for sin and counting that to be a doctrine of Devils which they that were of God owned and which all must come to witness who ever come to be saved for there is no unclean thing must enter into Christs Kingdom therefore people must either expect freedom from sin in this life or never for it was the unbeleevers that died in their sins John 8.21.24 and there is no hope in the grave but as the tree falls so it lyes and every one shall be rewarded according to their deeds done in the body and the soul that sinneth it shall die but blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for their works shall follow them and they that die in Christ die in him in whom there is no sin And now Tho. Danson whereas thou hast made much ado in thy lying Narrative about a man that accused a Minister for saying that Sam. Fisher had received a Pension from the Pope at Rome and thy cavil is about the mans being mistaken concerning the Minister To which I say if thou wert not a man that rejoycest in iniquity thou wouldst never have so far rejoyced in that mans weakness as to publish that thing again since the man confessed his mistake and weakness in laying it upon the wrong party which if thou wouldst as well confess thy Errors as he did his there were the better hope of thee that thou wouldst forsake thy errors and lies and thine and thy hearers lightness and prophaneness was plainly then made appear to your shame And whereas thou confessest That it was the Minister of Staple Viz. Mr. Robert Wilkinson as thou callest him that so accused Samuel Fisher behinde his back with receiving a Pension from the Pope and thou goest about to maintain this accusation against Samuel Fisher in thy saying it s as probably true c. Now that accusation against Sam. Fisher do I return back again upon thee and that Priest of Staple as an invented lye and a slander of your own and God will judge you for it and Samuel Fisher and all who know his innocency and freedome from having any fellowship with the Pope or his corrupt ways may witness against thee and the Priest of Staple to be lyers and slanderers in this thing mentioned so to be in the work of your Father the Devil And here it is evident thou hast shot in the Devils bow as I told thee before according to thy own words and in the latter end of thy matter thou tellest a Story to move the Reader to laughter as thou sayest yea thou hast largely manifested thy folly and thy light spirit who would move people to madness Eccles 2.2 And that thou art one of the false Prophets who by their lyes and lightness made the people light and vain and where thou hast several times spoken to us as if we were put to silence or our mouths stopt at the dispute with thee it appears herein thou wouldst make people beleeve as if thou put us to silence with thy Arguments but thou mayest remember it was otherwise for several times when I or Richard Hubberthorn should have spoken the Magistrates and others of thy hearers made such a howling and a hideous noise whose iniquities thou partookst of in joyning in thy lightness with them that we could not be heard speak and other times with thy lightness thou stirred up lightness in them and at the first days dispute with thee when I began to answer thee after Sam. Fisher had spoken to thee thou offeredst to go away several times because I spoke And at the latter days dispute when thou wast ensnared whilst I spoke to thee some of the Magistrates threatned to break up the meeting if I would not lay down the Dispute and let another take it Priest And whereas thou accusest Samuel Fisher with being silent and thereupon interpretest his silence to be consent to the horrid Arrian blasphemy Answ The same false accusing Spirit in this Priest would have accused Christ with being guilty of blasphemy when he was silent
and opened not his mouth before his accusers the Jews and chief Priests And as for the rest of Tho. Dansons torn confused language and several more lyes and false accusations in his Book and Narrative which I could further make manifest I let them pass as things not worth answering but to be trampled under feet by them that are in the light which discovers all such blind Watchmen and Shepherds that cannot understand whose nakedness and shame the Lord God is discovering to the simple-hearted and if Thomas Danson or any of his brethren in iniquity proceed to broach their lyes confusion and slanders against the truth or against us who own it as in his pride and enmity he hath done in his confused Book they may truly expect that the Truth will further make manifest their folly and deceit And now that they that desire any further to see more of Thomas Dansons Doctrines which he affirmed at the Disputes with us to the matter of which Doctrines this foregoing Treatise contains an Answer and which are Answered and Confuted in Richard Hubberthornes book Titled The difference of that Call of God to the Ministry c. they may see and consider his false doctrines as followeth and see how unfit he is to be counted a Minister of Christ and how unlikely he is to convert any to Christ while he preacheth such Doctrines 1. Priest Tho. Danson Affirmed That it is non-sence to say that a man is made a Minister by the gift of grace 2. That he pretends to no infallibility in Ministry 3. That every individual man was not inlightned by Christ 4. That the Gospel is an external light and not invisible 5. That Christ being the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world as John said 1 John 2.2 is meant onely the world of believers 6. That they must reconcile the Scriptures to themselves 7. That the law of the Spirit of life in Christ was not the law of the Spirit in the Saints 8. That there were two Righteousnesses of Christ the one without the Saints to justifie them and the other within the Saints that did sanctifie them 9. That the Saints were not justified by that Christ within them and since that he hath affirmed two Christs Christ personal and Christ Mystical 10. That David when he was guilty of adultery and murther was not in a condemned estate but in a justified estate 11. And concerning them in Heb. 12. who were come unto the spirits of just men made perfect the said Priest said it was meant that they were in Heaven and not upon earth 12. That that which fitted men for the inheritance among the Saints did not entitle them to the inheritance 13. That we cannot contain an infinite Righteousnesse in us 14. That God offers salvation to all men but he intends it but to a few 15. That a Minister of the Gospel doth not know who are elected 16. That the sword of the Spirit is Ineffectuall without the Letter 17. That there was no Scripture written but what is extant and in the Bible 18. That the Letter doth ante-cede and go before the Spirit in all that walked in the Spirit 19. That Christ chose a Devil to be one of his Ministers c. 20. That the Spirit of God may accompany a Ministery and the Minister not have the Spirit And several other such like false Doctrines did the said Priest affirme which the true Ministers never did which manifests his want of the Spirit of truth and the infallibility of it so that all that know the spirit of truth may see him to be fallible And indeed it s no marvel that England hath so long been in darknesse and people have long wanted satisfaction to their souls seeing their Teachers are such as feed themselves and not the flock and take money and hire of the people for their preaching contrary to the example of the true Ministers and not onely so but they preach such false doctrines as this Priest hath done for hire and truly long may the people be destroyed for want of knowledge while they follow such Shepherds as cannot understand the things pertaining to Salvation for they being such as rebel against the light not abideing in the path of it nor knowing the way of it Job 24.13 they contend against its being in the rebellious And they being such covetous men as have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin they plead for sinne againsts Christs justifying Righteousnesse and perfection made manifest in the Saints on earth 2 Pet. 2.14 And so they being ignorant of Gods Righteousnesse and his works in his people which are perfect they go about to establish Imperfection and so many are alwayes learning among them and loaden with sinnes and iniquities and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth nor know freedome from the sinne which doth burthen their souls so long as they look for help among such miserable Comforters as these Shepherds are that plead for sinne and Imperfection in this Life But now is the Lord manifesting his glory and causing his light to break forth as the morning that the darkness may be expel'd the clouds of ignorance removed from off the understandings of many that they may be delivered from the mouths of such Shepherds as have made a prey upon them and escape out of the snares And now is the star risen in Jacob and the seed coming forth that shall smite the false Prophets and Diviners and rule over the Nations And they that come forth from among this perverse generation of the wicked and wait upon the Lord for his life to arise and rule shall see the salvation of our God who is the God of our salvation who pleadeth our Cause indueth us with wisdome and fighteth for us to him be glory for ever and ever Let all flesh fear before him and the spirits of all flesh submit to him and every tongue confesse to his glory who is abasing the pride of man and staining the glory of all flesh that he himself may raigne and his own Seed may have the preheminence and raign over Babylon and over all her confused crew whose habitation is in darknesse and confusion though they joyn hand in hand in warre against the Truth the Lamb shall overcome them and overthrow their habitation Blessed are they that wait and with patience follow the Lamb through the warre for they shall raign with him in Glory and shine in his Kingdome for ever and ever Amen Allelujah G. W. THE END