there was Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron Exod. 15. 20. And there was Deborah a Prophetess the Wife of Lapidoth she judged Israel Judg. 4. 4. And the good King Josiah sent unto Huldah the Prophetess the Wife of Shalum to inquire of the Lord for him and the People 2 Kings 22. 13 14. And there was the Prophetess Noadiah Nehem. 6. 14. And the Lord spake by his Prophet Joel and said I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie Joel 2. 28. Mark Sons and Daughters shall prophesie And in Christ's Days there was one Ama a Prophetess Luk 2. 36. And the Woman of Samaria was a publick Preacher for when she had received some understanding of Christ she went her way into the Ciâ—y and saith unto the Men Come see a Man which told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ Then they went out of the City and came 〈…〉 Iob â—4 28 30. Now observe this Woman laboured to bring People unto Christ and many believed her Testimony and came unto him And now we may say that the Work of the Gospel-Ministers is to bring People unto Christ And again we may see that Jesus Christ was pleased to make use of a Woman Mary Magdalen first to preach his Resurrection for he said unto her Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God And Mary Magdalen went and told the Disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her John 20. 17 18. Mark Christ sent this Woman to declare these things unto his Disciples and the Apostle Paul was so far from denying Womens Praying or Prophecying that he signifies how they ought to Pray or Prophecy for he saith Every Woman that Prayeth or Prophesieth with her Head uncovered dishonoureth her Head 1 Cor. 11. 15. And Philip had four Daughters Virgins which did Prophesie Acts 21. 8 9. And the Apostle writing to the Phillipians saith I intreat thee also true Yoke-fellow help those Women which laboured with me in the Gospel Phil. 4. 3. Mark those Women laboured with him in the Gospel But now if any should say that Prophecying is not Preaching we shall answer thus That the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19. 10. Qu. 15. What Warrant the People called Quakers have in the Scriptures for their Silent Meetings Answ The same they have for waiting on God until indued with Power from on High and until required of him to Speak or Preach and in the mean time to be silent at the presence of God Yet we limit not our Meetings before-hand to Silence or Preaching but submit them to what God shall require We do greatly admire the Ignorance of many People professing themselves Christians and Ministers of Christ for the Prophecy of the Prophet it is on this wise All thy Children shall be Taught of the Lord and great shall be the Peace of thy Children Isa 54. 13. And again it is said I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit Chap. 48. 17. And the Prophet farther said Yet shall not thy Teacher be removed into a Corner any more but thine Eyes shall see thy Teacher and thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee saying This is the Way walk ye in it when ye turn to the Right Hand and when ye turn to the Left Chap. 30. 20 21. And now we do desire all People to consider how it is that the Lord doth teach his People himself if not by his Spirit And if by his Spirit then where And how must People be taught by him if not in the secret of their own Hearts and in the stillness and quietness of their Minds for David saith Wait on the Lord be of good Courage and he shall strengthen thine Heart Psal 27. 14. And again he saith Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him Chap. 37. 7. And the Wise man saith Wait on the Lord and he shall save thee Prov. 20. 22. And Isaiah saith That they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Isa 40. 31. And many other places might be Instanced And now how must People wait upon the Lord if not in Silence for Solomon saith That there is a Time to keep Silent and a Time to Speak Eccles 3. 7. Now it were well if all did know this time to keep silent and so wait upon the Lord in Silence for the Lord speaking by the Prophet Isaiah saith Keep Silence before me O Islands and let the People Renew their Strength Isa 41. 1. And again it is written The Lord is in his holy Temple let all the Earth keep Silence before him Hab. 2. 20. And it is farther written Be Silent O all Flesh be fore the Lord for he is raised up out of his Holy Habitation Zach. 2. 13. So now all Flesh ought to keep Silent before the Lord and wait upon him for the Teaching of his holy Spirit in their own Hearts that so they may come to know God and his Mind and Will for we live in the New Covenant Dispensation spoken of in Jer. 31. 31 32 33 34. Heb. 8. 8 9 10 11. where the Lord saith They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. And now we say it is good for all to be inwardly gathered and wait in Silence for the Teachings of the Lord for there his Appearance is according to the Apostle's Testimony for he saith That which may be known of God is manifest within Rom. 1. 19. And the same Apostle saith That the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lust we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Tit. 2. 11 12. Mark the Grace of God was the Apostle's Teacher And now forasmuch as that Grace that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men we would have all to mind the Teachings of it And the Apostle John saith The Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye 1 John 2. 27. Mark John saith that the Anointing abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you Well then as People meet together in true Silence in the stillness and quietness of there Minds to wait upon the Lord although there may be no Words spoken as outwardly yet there is a sufficient Teacher near unto them to teach them the Way of the Lord that so they may find Peace and Acceptance with him Glory be
days hence Acts 1. 5. And we do believe that this Baptism is alone needful unto Salvation to wit the Baptism of the Holy Ghost seeing the Baptism is but one that is necessary as is proved before And this is the Baptism that the Apostle Paul spake of when he said By one Spirit are we all Baptized in to one Body 1 Cor. 12. 13. Mark Christ said Ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost And the Apostle Paul said By one Spirit are we all Baptized Now this was no Water-Baptism for it was done by the Spirit of God and not with Water by Man And the Apostle further said As many of you as have been Baptized unto Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. Now they that have put on Christ are in Christ And if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. And now that which we do desire of People every where is that they will turn in their minds unto the gift of Gods Spirit in their own Hearts and wait to be made a new by it Qu. 20. Whether the Lord's Supper as to its Administration and Participation be not a Duty still incumbent upon Christians in these Days that is whether Persons ought not to take Real Bread and eat it and Real Wine and drink it in Remembrance of the Death of Christ Jesus Answ Not incumbent in the Type or Figure but in the Substance or Antitype Antiquery 1. Where proves the Queriest that the Lord's Supper in this Gospel-day consists of eating outward Bread or drinking outward Wine 2. What was really the Lords Supper in the Figure and what in the Substance or Mystery 3. Were not the outward Bread and Cup typical or figurative of the Spiritual Meat and Drink 4. What Commemoration of him or his Death by outward Sign is comparable to his own inward Spiritual coming and appearance See the first Epistle of John Chap 5. 20 But we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an Vnderstanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true This is the true God and Eternal Life and we are Witnesses of his Second coming without Sin unto Salvation and we eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by which we have Life John 6. 56 57 As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me But the Jews it is said strove among themselves saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat The Apostle Paul tells us There were them that did eat and drink unworthily not discerning the Lord's Body and what that Body was some did eat Must not the Lord's Body be discerned by true Believers Rev. 3. 20. Christ saith Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any one hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and Sup with him and he with me And this Supper is not outward And the Lord said by his Prophet He would make unto all People in his holy Mountain a Feast of fat things And the Apostle Paul saith in Cor. 10. 14 15 16 17. Wherefore my dearly Beloved flee from Idolatry I speak as to Wise men judge ye what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ For we being many are one Bread and one Body For we are partakers of that one Bread and the Bread of God is he that comes down from Heaven and gives Life to the World This was the Saints Food in all Ages But of this Spiritual Food and Communion thâ—u art ignorant who art ignorant of the Light in which the Saints fellowship was and is and such as walk in it have and do know the Blood of Christ cleansing them from all Sin so that the Substance being witnessed to such here is no need of outward Signs to put them in Remembrance and this the Apostle Paul laboured to know the Power of his Death and the Vertue of his Resurrection Qu. 21. Whether any of the Sons or Daughters of Adam are able to attain to a Sinless Perfection in this Life Answ Yea by the Power of Christ and not of themselves The Work of the Ministry is for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4. 11 12 13. And although we say as the Scriptures testifie It is attainable yet not without great Diligence and Watchfulness to the Power of God And the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 writing to the Saints saith Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation which is prepared to be shewed in the last Times The Power of God is greater to keep out of Sin then the power of Satan to lead into Sin So said Christ Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World But this Perfection spoken of admits of degrees and a growth as a Child when born if compleat in all its Parts and Members is said to be a perfect Child so it is in the new Birth he that is born of the Spirit and lives up to the Manifestations of it may be said to be perfect in kind and yet there may be a growth still John writes to Little Children whose Sins were forgiven them for his Names sake as also he writes to Young Men because they had overcome the Wicked One and to Fathers because they had know him that was from the beginning And the Apostle preacht Wisdom among them that are perfect but not the Wisdom of this World which denyeth it But God Christ and the Apostles exhort unto it Job was said to be a perfect man And Paul was crucified to the World and the World to him and Christ lived in him And the Life saith he I now live is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me And he had faught a good Fight finished his Course and kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me said he a Crown of Righteousness Qu. 22. Whether the Quakers expect to be saved with a Christ within them or a Christ without them Answ This is an Unlearned and Unscriptural Question They profess not two Christs but the one very Christ of God within them and without them according to holy Scriptures That Christ we expect Salvation by is both within and without as hath been sufficiently expressed how he suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust and he died and rose again that he might be Lord of quick and dead and that those that live might not live unto themselve but unto him that died for them
Gospel Truths SCRIPTURALLY ASSERTED IN ANSWER TO Joseph Hallett's Twenty Seven QUERIES Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 39. 40. Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart and you shall find Rest unto your Souls Matth. 11. 28 29. By John Gannacliff and Joseph Nott. Printed and Sold by T. Sowle at the Crooked-Billet in Holywell Lane in Shoreditch 1692. Gospel Truths Scripturally asserted c. The PREFACE NOw by this the Reader may know that we lately received twenty seven Queries with Josph Halletts Name to them Preacher amongst the Presbyterians in Exon who in his Introduction saith That these kind of People commonly called Quakers are said to hold many pernitious and dangerous Doctrines no way agreeable to the Truth as 't is taught by Jesus Now we shall answer thus That those that say these afore-mentioned things of us cannot prove them for they are not true for we hold nothing contrary to the Truth for our Doctrine is neither pernitious nor dangerous but according to the holy Scriptures of Truth as it may farther appear in the Answers to the afore-mentioned Queries The Queriest seems not Ingenious nor Charitable in prejudicially pre-supposing that doubtful ambiguous prevaricating shuffling absurd and cloudy Expressions or Answers may be given to his Questions which becomes not one pretending to Query for Information but gives us occasion to question Whether he 'l ingeniously accept our plain and sincere Answers though therein we are truly Conscientious towards God Query 1 st I would desire them to resolve me what the Light within is of which they talk and write so much and that they would give me a plain Description of it Answer THis Light within of which we talk and write so much is Heavenly and Divine for it is the Light of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour as may be proved by the holy Scriptures of Truth for the Lord speaking by the Prophet Isaiah of Christ saith I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thine Hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles Isa 42. 6. And in Chap. 49. 6. the Lord speaks by the same Prophet again of Christ and saith I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth And Simeon that Just and devout Man took the Child Jesus up in his Arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all People a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel Luk. 2. 25 27 28 29 30 31 32. And Jesus Christ bears Testimony of himself saying I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life John 8. 12. And the Apostle John bears Testimony of Christ and saith In him was Life and the Life was the Light of mâ—n and the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not There was a Man sent from God whose Name was John the same came for a Witness to bear Witness of the Light that all men through him might believe mark he was not that Light to wit John but was sent to bear Witness of that Light that was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 4 5 6 7 8 9. And the Apostle Paul spake of this Light and said God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Well then This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are Evil John 3. 19. And now indeed we may say we do greatly admire at the Ignorance of Joseph Hallett concerning the Light seeing he is a pretended Minister of Christ But let him pretend to what he will he appears to be a Minister of Antichrist and of those that rebel against the Light and know not the Ways thereof nor abide in the Paths thereof Job 24. 13. Query 2. Do the Quakers believe that there are Three in One or that there is a Trinity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost and that these three are but one God in Essence and Nature Answ We do most certainly believe as it is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth That there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 John 5. 7. And Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer saith I and my Father are one John 10. 30. And this we most certainly believe Query 3. Whether they esteem the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the written Word Will or Mind of God and to be the only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners Or whether the Light within be a higher or superiour Rule to which we must more especially attend in all matters of Doctrine Worship and Conversation Answ We esteem the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration to contain Words of God and a True Declaration of the Will and Mind of God and of the Word and only Rule of Faith and Worship c. and therefore the holy Spirit divine Inspiration and Light as preferred to and higher than the Scriptures or Writings Anti-Query 1. Where do the holy Scriptures call themselves the written Word Will or Mind of God 2. How can they be or contain his Will or Mind which is essential to himself 3. Where do the holy Scriptures so call themselves the Only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners 4. They who so hold and cannot prove the affâ—rmative by Scriptures is not their Faith greatly defective as to this great Article of their Faith namely in their believing that the Scriptures are the Only Rule of there Faith and yet cannot prove they are so by plain Scriptures 5. What mean the Words Only Rulâ— of Faith c. Do they not either mean Only by way of Emmence or higher or superiour to all other or only as the sole Rule exclusive of all other which to affirm of Scriptures is to exclude the Spirit 6. But if the holy Spirit be included in the Only Rule of Faith how can it be properly or truly said of the Scriptures that they are the only Rule of Faith and yet have no Scripture that saith they are so Now this we do
really believe that the Scriptures the Old and New Testament were written by the Holy Men of God as they were moved thereunto by the Holy Ghost And we do believe whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. And we do believe That the Scriptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus mark through Faith which is in Christ Jesus And in this the Scripture is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all Good Works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Now here we may see that it is through Faith in Christ Jesus that the Scriptures are profitable unto us But we do not remember that the Scriptures in any place do say they are the Written Word Will and Mind of God or the Only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners and therefore we do desire Joseph Hallett or any other man to prove it by Scripture if they can But this we do find that Jesus Christ is called the Word of God in several places in the holy Scriptures for John saith In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1. 1 2 3. Now here it is plain that the Apostle called Christ the Word of God for it cannot be reasonably supposed or said that the Scriptures were in the beginning with God or that the Scripture was God or that all things were made by them for what we understand Moses did write the first five Books which was many hundred Years after the beginning So that it is plain that Christ is the Word of God by whom the Worlds were framed Heb. 11. 3. So now we would not have any to be ignorant of this That by the Word of God the Heavens were of Old and the Earth standing out of the Water and in the Water 2 Pet. 3. 5. And John hath written in the Revelations of this Word of God for he saith I saw Heaven opened and behold a White Horse and he that sate upon him was called Faithful and True and in Righteousness he doth Judge and make War his Eyes were as a Flame of Fire and on his Head were many Crowns and he had a Name written that no man knew but he himself and he was cloathed with a Vesture dâ—pt in Blood and his Name is called the Word of God Rev. 19. 11 12 13. And this is The Word of God which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart Heb. 4. 12. Now this Word of God is nigh unto People even in the Mouth and in the Heart Rom. 10. 8. And this Word of God to wit Christ Jesus doth declare the Mind and Will of God and is the only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners For if we say that these afore-mentioned things are things of God then the Apostle saith The things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God And he farther saith Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God 1 Cor. 2. 11 12. Now if any would know the Will and Mind of God they must turn in their Minds unto the gift of God's Spirit in their own Hearts For that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed unto them Rom. 1. 19. And again the Apostle saith It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Now concerning Faith Christ saith When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith on Earth Luk. 18. 8 Now it is written that Faith cometh by hearing and heariâ—g by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. Christ is the Word of God and he is the Author and Finisher of our Faith it is undeniable for the Apostle saith Looking unto Jesus thâ— Author and Finisher of our Faith Heb. 12. 2. And concerning Worship Christ saith The Hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him And he further saith God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4. 23 24. We desire the Reader to take notice of this for it is a weighty thing to be a Worshipper of God and it must be performed by the assistance of God's Spirit for Christ saith in plain words Without me ye can do nothing John 15. 5. And the Apostle Paul saith As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 14. And we say if Sons then true Worshippers The Apostles were come unto the Spiritual Worship for the Apostle Paul saith We are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3. 3. Now concerning Manners we find it thus written that Evil Communications corrupt good Manners 1 Cor. 15. 33. Therefore if any be willing to know good Manners then let them take the Apostle's advice in the next Verse where he saith Awake to Righteousness and sin not Now it is the holy Ghost that teacheth People Good Manners for Christ saith He shall teach them all things and bring all things to your Remembrance John 14. 26. And now concerning the Light within it doth manifest unto the Sons and Daughters of men their States and Conditions and by it Thoughts Words and Actions are tryed and by the Light of Jesus we come to understand these things which are written in the holy Scriptures of Truth and therefore it is a higher and superiour Rule unto which we ought more especially to attend it being according to Scripture for Christ saith While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light These things spake Jesus John 12. 36. And it is written That every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved But he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 20 21. Mark it is the Light that discovereth and maketh manifest as it is walked in it is an undeniable Truth for it is evidently set forth by the Apostle Paul for he saith All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ephes 5. 13. And observe John's Testimony of the Light and the