ONE Warning more TO THE BAPTISTS BEFORE Their Day be wholly spent and the Night cover them in which no man can work for God which the Lord moved me to write or else I should have been silent for ever With a short Answer to a Book of Matthew Caffin's one of their Teachers in Horsham in Sussex Intituled Faith in Gods Promises the Saints best Weapons With many Queries also for them to Answer Also my desire is that all that read it would send it to them that they may see how they are degenerated from their first Love and are now fighting against the Light of the Day that did formerly shine more clear in their Hearts then now it doth being shadowed over with that which must perish and come to an end Written by one that hath sat under those shadows with them but hath now found the day in which all shadows fly away HUMPHERY WOLRICH In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God then was there no shadow of death or covering over the Life LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson at the Sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins Le Grand 1661. Where are the wise LEt them be confounded for ever and vexed by a foolish people all the disputers of the world where are they let their mouths be stopped for evermore let Christ speak and his Eternal Spirit as in the dayes past and him that spake in all his Prophets who is the same yesterday and for ever let him speak and all keep silence even him whose words are Spirit and Life which the fleshly mind and carnal mind that can neither hear nor perceive the things that he speaks be silent before the Lord for ever and all blind guides that are setting up the shadow instead of the substance and things that are seen with a carnal and visible eye above those things that are eternal everlasting and are not seen but with another eye nor heard but onely with the ear that can hear what the Spirit saith let this be a warning and a charge from the Lord to you all that ye stop your mouths in the dust for ever let the wife be mad and the disputer and the contradictious blasphemer's tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth for ever the eye is open that runs thorow the earth and the hand is stretched out against you all that is everlasting and ye are weighed in an even ballance and found as light as a thing of nought you and all your wisdom is comprehended as in a span and your Mountain will the Lord thresh with the new threshing instrument and lay it waste for ever There is a way that the Vulturous eye hath not seen and a path that the fierce Lions whelp hath not trodden in a way of Holinesse is it for ever it is the same that changeth not for ever known is it to the righteous and the redeemed walk in it for ever and the ransomed of the Lord from generation to generation Now are the Dogs angry for want of the Childrens bread and the Swine that are feeding on the busks would devour the pearl and are fighting against them that have found it and cannot feed them therewith now are their mouths filled with lyes and slanders and their tongues set on fire of hell the poyson of Asps is in their hearts the way of Truth they have not known there is no fear of God before their eyes therefore is the Lord God the Almighty God risen against all fighters swearers lyars and he will dash to pieces their Idols and all that rise up against him the Lord hath spoken it righteousness shall Reign and Truth shall be established in the earth and Christ the corner Stone rejected of the Builders abhored of the Nations and despised of men will he set a top of all he that hath been rejected shall be exalted on high and break down all Images and confound all likenesses the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it he will turn all but his own glory into shame and take the Sons of Nimrod that hunted mightily before the Lord in their own net and all the Children of Babylon in the work of their own hands will he confound he will exalt the Life and Power and darken all shadows and break the forms with the brightnesse of his rising and rent the Vail and destroy the Covering that hath covered the Mercy Seat for I have seen the place of Righteousness and Transgression is there and Sathan is exalted and the abomination sitteth as God in his Temple where he ought not also I have seen the place of Justice and Iniquity hath been there this have I seen in the everlasting day in which all shadows fly away which is dawned in the Hearts of his Chosen in whom he is become a Leader and an Instructer in all Righteousnesse as in the dayes of old a Saviour and a Redeemer as in the Generations past This is the Lord who saith I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour he is become a hiding place indeed a shelter and a hiding place to the weary a covering that is not too narrow is his Spirit become therefore are the children of old Adam onely with the Name of Christ covering themselves with the shadow instead of the substance and cloathing themselves with their fig-leave forms having lost the image of him who is the Substance Life Virtue and Goodnesse of all shadows the end and the Finisher of them all the first and the last who was and is from everlasting to everlasting the Substance of all Virtue Life and Goodnesse of all to his people in all ages was he the same and changed not he was is is to come to all that know him the Rock of Ages and the Christ in the Wildernesse which followed them he is a Teacher Leader and Guide to his People for ever he is a Horn of Salvation for ever he is the beginner and the end of all that is good the Author and Finisher of the Faith of his people in all Generations in this Generation is he the same and in his people doth he fulfil the Righteousnesse of the Law as in the Generations past Rom. 8.4 Mark in us all ye that are speaking of Justification by a Christ a far off who ye never saw and of Faith in his Promises whom ye never heard but are yet dead in your sins Now do ye rage and fill your mouths with venome because Babylon is falling and your kingdom departing Now do you cast out your flouds of wickednesse to drownd the Man-child that will rule you all and vex you in his sore displeasure mark the Child is born the Sun is known that in the dayes of the Prophets was born and given unto them Abraham saw his day and rejoyced and heard his voice and was glad this is he and he doth not change though to blind man he appears not the same and all
the Prophets and Righteous men heard his voice and he wrought all their works in them for them and saved his people from their sins took away the shadowand destroyed death and ransomed them from the power of the grave and did such works in them for them as never man ever did is not this the very Christ yea this is he and besides him there is no Saviour neither do I look for another he opens the blind eye and the deaf ear he causeth to hear he makes the dumb to speak and the lame to walk he opens the heart to discipline and commandeth man to depart from iniquity he saith and it cometh to passe as ever the Winds and the Sea doth he rebuke and still the proud Waves thereof as in the Generations past this is the Lords doing and in my eyes very marvellous this is his Name and his Memorial the Lord our Righteousnesse throughout all Generations this is he that saith I am the Lord and change not that is my Name and besides me there is no Saviour let all Disputers of this World be confounded before him whose way is everlasting that sitteth upon the Flouds and walketh on the Sea as on dry land and the waters sink not under him that turneth the darknesse into light and the day light into the shadow of death let all the wise to do evil and oppose him be made mad for ever and let them not find an arm to help them that cannot see the Arm of Gods Salvation but are comparing the Holy One of Israel the Immanuel to and with themselves and likening the invisible and incorruptible Redeemer of the invisible and immortal soul unto corruptible man that are setting up the letter instead of the eternal quickening Spirit that giveth life that sees not a difference betwixt the flesh that profiteth not and the flesh that is the life and if I say the Saviour of the World I lie not between the word that doth wash cleanse and purifie the Hearts of the Saints and was like a hammer and a fire in Jeremiah and in all the Prophets and is the same and changes not in all Generations which word they heard and believed in it and therefore spake and the Word that the Apostles did feel taste hear and handle which was in the beginning with God and was God and this is the Saviour of the World and besides him there is not another but ye being blind cannot perceive him that took Flesh upon him and had a Body prepared to do the will of him that set him if thou hast an ear to hear or an eye to perceive this is he that descended and the same that ascended far above all Heavens into the bosom of the Father and sitteth on the right hand on the Majesty on high and is glorified with the same Glory that he had with the Father before the world began this is a mystery if thou canst receive it thou art happy But may not I say as once was said to the men of Galilee Why stand ye gazing Why are you seeking the Living among the Dead Is not he the Resurrection And is there any life in any other Is not this he that is the eternal and everlasting day in which ye ought to walk And out of the Bosom of the Father did he not proceed and was one with him who saith This is my beloved Son hear Him And the Holy Ghost did appear in the likenesse of a Dove yet was not a Dove so say I and my sayings are faithful and true Christ the Saviour of the World came in the likenesse of sinful flesh and took upon him the form of a Servant yet was he not sinful flesh but the eternal Son of God which was begotten of the Spirit and is Spirit there is a Spiritual Body and there is a natural Body there is a corruptible and there is an incorruptible Body but this is a mystery to the World in a few words time would fail me to declare his Generation to the uttermost I may say that which I have seen of him Oh the depth and heighth length and breadth of his unsearchable riches and wisdom and how in all generations he hath been to his people an infinite treasure a boundlesse fountain and an everlasting stream of goodnesse life vertue peace and pure satisfaction in all generations who was before all the Authour Creator and Maker of all in whom was Life and he is not changed but in him is life eternal peace everlasting and satisfaction eternally and his life runs through all discerns and beholds all and shines in the darknesse and none can flee from him neither is there any darknesse nor shadow of death where the worker of iniquity can hide himself from his dreadful hand that it should not find him out though man being in the first birth and born blind and a transgressor from his mothers womb doth not see nor comprehend the Light that hath enlightned him though it shine in his heart and doth convince all and reprove all of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches that they have wickedly spoken against the Lord yea and it will condemn thee Matthew Caffin for all thy ungod like and unchristian-like lyes and slanders cast upon the people whom the Lord hath blessed and chosen for his peculiar treasure even thee in whom the Father of lyes ruleth and his works are wrought in thy wicked heart out of which cometh slanders and lyes abundantly and them thou dost invent thy self and calst them the Quakers errors when thou hast done whose foundation and principle thou knowest not but speakest evil of that wch thou art a stranger unto though thou talkest of faith of being a Christian indeed which thou sayst few do attain unto yet art thou one of the vain disputers of the world like Cain art wounding and shooting thy arrows against the innocent and like Ishmael art scorning the Lords people saying the Quakers saith turn to the light within this was Pauls Commission and the Quakers work which in this world they have to do this was the Prophets work and Johns message to turn people from darknesse to the light and from the Power of Satan to God Act. 26.18 and 1 John 5. and Paul saith it was the Light that shone in the heart which must give them the knowledge of the glory of God and John said the anointing which was in them that was truth and nolye taught them all things and with this anointing or unction they were to try the false Spirits though thou scornest at the Quakers because their message is to turn people to the light and though it be true that the light within was sufficient and it is the same and changeth not to all the Fathers which died in the faith to save them from all sin and redeem them out of all tribulation and in which Light they walked with God who is the Fountain and Father of Lights and they were
his Scepter known and his dwelling place is become great in Israel eternal God King of Kings and Lord of Lords is his Name thoughout all Generations Kings shall hear of him and submit themselves Princes shall be turned aside by the brightnesse of his rising who is the Resurrection and the life who comprehends the Heavens and the Earth with a span and layes up the Sea as in store houses this is our God the living and true God which you Baptists are fighting against What was Pauls the Saints Weapons I querie of you Baptists and what was his Armour which he and the Saints put on was it not the Lord Jesus Christ the Light who is called a Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit Is it not the Word of God which is Light unto which word Paul did commit the Saints and told them it was able to keep them from falling Or do you imagine the Letter to be the Armour of Righteousnesse which I say doth but only declare of them Is your faith begotten by the Preaching of the dead letter which the Jews thought to have eternal Life in or by the Preaching of the Gospel which is the eternal Word of God which was Preached to Abraham and which was and is and is to come a Preacher of Righteousnesse in all Generations and which the Apostle saith Was Preached to every Creature under Heaven where the Scripture is not known nor heard of but this light which you Baptists trample on I say all have so heard so as to be convinced thereby though not saved because they have not obeyed but as the Apostle saith so say I by the same Spirit and Faith Faith comes by hearing and hearing by this Word of God the Jews had not this Word and Faith and therefore fought against the Life as ye do but the Light within they could not indure no more then you but hated it Therefore said Christ Ye shall die in your sins except ye believe that I am he the Light is the eye in which Abraham saw his day and by which I will guide my people saith the Lord What is that eye that must be made blind and that hand that must be cut off Is it not the eye that sees not the Son and therefore is not satisfied And was not this eye in Herod which is the eye of the Adulterour and hunteth for the pretious Life And was not this life in Esau who missed the Blessing and in Nimrod and in all the Children of confusion who are hunting mightily before the Lord without the Spirit who is the Lord and should lead you by the Fountains of living Water and feed you with the Living Bread of Heaven which Living Bread you are seeking among the Graves and Tombs dead forms carnal Ordinances which I say with J. Fuce makes nothing perfect but Christ the better Hope who doth thorowly walk and reform change and translate out of death into Life out of darknesse into Light out of Satans power and kingdom into Gods Power and Kingdom as the Saints were and is not this the same state that Adam was created in who was the Son of God before either Types Shadows Vails Coverings Death or Grave Hell or the Bottomless Pit were What is your Water Baptism Is it not a figure which gives not the answer of a good Conscience What is your Bread Wine and Ordinances which ye like the Jews so much cry up having lost the Spirit which the true Jew they that had the one Baptism into the one spirit and the new wine in the Fathers Kingdom and the living Bread which came down from Heaven had MATTHEW CAFFIN For the Truths sake and simâ—â—â—â— an open enemy to it and hatest the Light and canst not abide that it should be so much Preached I shal answer to those things charged against us in thy book so far as they are our words and not thy own with wicked inventions cast upon us by thy venemous tongue And as for our Principle it is the Way the Truth and the Life and it is clear and innocent in it self though its image and beauty hath been more mared by such as thou who like the Jews are crying up the Ordinances of the Lord which makes the comers thereunto no more perfect then theirs did then by any Professors besides in the Nation and it will clear it self should we be silent and spew such as thou art out of its mouth 1. The first thing thou chargest the Quakers with is That they say the eternal Spirit of Light and Power is the Saviour of the world Ans This is owned and not denyed but that I or any of the Quakers deny the man Christ Jesus is not our Principle but thy own lie cast upon us and my words do not agree with thine but with the Scripture and Christs words John 5. where he saith Ye have neither heard his voice nor seen his shape at any time Now if thou sayst this was not spoken of Christ but the Father I say it was spoken of both for they are one if thou couldst but believe the Scripture or own the Light John 14. I am in the Father and the Father in me the words that I speak I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doth the work blessed is the eye that sees him it is satisfied vers 8. Philip said unto him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth mark Philip a hearer with the outward ear but being dull of hearing and dim sighted at the present he was unsatisfied though he had seen and heard with the outward ear vers 9. Jesus said unto him have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me Phillip he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also but thou sayest the eyes of all in the Synagogue saw him and were fastned on him and thou supposest the Quakers have no shew of Scripture to prove that they which crucified him had any other eyes here thy malice hath transported thee beyond thy own rule the Scripture saith expresly The Vail was over their Hearts and they had outward eyes and saw him and said he was the Carpenters Son but Christ said they were blind leaders of the blind mark the Light which he bids them believe in whilst they had it is the eye and that they had eyes and saw not ears and heard not and hearts but understood not Mark 8.18 Ezek. 12.2 Jer. 5.21 Therefore what eye did Paul open or what ear was he sent to unstop and what prisoner was that which he was sent to proclaim liberty unto and what was that house and prison he was to bring him out of what did he minister and what did he minister to was he not a Minister of Christ after his own eye was opened and Christ revealed which before was vailed in him did he not minister to the Spirit in prison Answer if thou canst and sow the seed of eternal
life read John 8 47. was not this the cause they could not hear Christ because they were of the Devil for saith Jesus He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God then said the Jews say we not well thou art a Samaritane and hast a Devil is not this thy mind concerning my words in my Book because I say the carnal eye and ear did never see nor hear the voice of the Son of God vers 43. why do ye not understand my speech even because they cannot hear my words 2. Thou sayest George Fox said the flesh of Christ is a figure and Joseph Fuce saith the Baptists make flesh their arm Answ The words of George Fox as thou sayest is in his Book I never read them there nor ever heard him speak the words but this I say there is a flesh that profiteth not yea and a vail too which was a figure of him that was to come as saith the Scripture Rom. 5.14 and I witnesse the words of Joseph Fuce true who hath been a Teacher amongst you my self that all such as thou art make flesh their arm who art an enemy to the light which is the arm and power of God to Salvation 3. Thou sayest Humphry Smith in his Book saith Christ is come and this by thee is counted a great errour I say the same and much more the Kingdom is come and the Righteousnesse thereof glory is come and we are come into it Righteousnesse is rained down from Heaven Truth is springed up in the earth Salvation is come and we sit in Heaven with Christ yet do not I say or deny but there is a further weight of glory and the increase of this kingdom and glory hath no end neither do I deny but Christ is yet to come the second time the Kingdom and the Righteousnesse thereof is yet to come to all such dark sots as thou art although the seed the light is come into thee already to thy condemnation 4. Thou goes on slandering Humphery Smiths Book intituled The everlasting Rule and sayest in the face of men and Devils he affirms that there is no other rule way means or name by which man shall ever come to walk with God but by that which is manifest of God in him My heart is one with Humphery Smith in these words and in the face of the Devil and against him and all such men as take his part I affirm the same that he which was the Light in whom all the Patriarchs and Fathers walked with God before the Scriptures which is thou sayest thy rule and guide was written is the Saviour of the world and changes not his Spirit a perfect guide and instructer in all the wayes of Righteousnesse and besides him I do not look for another yet the Scriptures I own which are things too high for thee who art an enemy to him that giveth life Now I shall come a little to take notice of the form of thy own words which begins in the 59. page of thy Book where thou hast drawn up scornfully many words in thy own form and replyes an answer thy self and sayest Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker this thou dost not speak so as to own it for Truth or the Light and its teaching sufficient but as if it were a doctrine contrary to what God Angels Prophets and Apostles taught therefore I shall prove thee exceeding blind concerning the Scriptures to all who are not filled with envy as thou art thou sayest God spake by the Prophets and all should hear the words that were cryed by the words of the former Prophets and not to the Light within as saith the Quaker Again thou sayest Iohn sent two of his Disciples unto Jesus saying Art thou he that shall come or do we look for another but thou sayest the true Light turned him to outward means for his satisfaction which outward means neither I nor any of the Quakers deny if the Light within lead thereunto Again thou speaks of Iohn and the people and Souldiers that came unto him saying Master what shall we do and thou mocking sayest turn to the Light within says the Quaker but sayest thou Iohn who had another Spirit then the Light within saith let him that hath two coats impart to him that hath none exact no more then that which is appointed do violence to no man neither accuse any man falsly but be content with your wages and so thou wouldst make a great difference and divide between the Light of Christ in the Quakers and the Light and Spirit that spake in all the Prophets or as if the Light of Christ within the Prophets now adayes did teach to deny the words that were spoken by the same Christ and Light in the former Prophets doth not the Light within I appeal to the simple amongst the Baptists which convinceth you of sin in your bed-chambers whether it doth not teach to do righteously and impart a coat to him that hath none or if thou hast bread to feed the hungry and to do to thy neighbour yea and unto all men as thou wouldst have them to do unto thee and whether the whole Law and the Prophets be not contained in these things and whether they which were without the Scripture and outward Law had not the Law which is Light as Solomon saith Prov 6.23 written in their hearts by which nature they did the things spoken of in the outward Law and whether this be to deny the Scripture or contrary to the words of the former Prophets or the Apostles to turn people to the Light of Christ within which doth fulfill the Scriptures and is the end of both the Law and the Prophets answer these things or confesse them true Again thou goest on in thy former manner saying a certain young man came to Christ and said what shall I do that I may have eternal life and the Jews came and demanded what shall we do that we might work the works of God and then again mocking sayest turn to the Light within says the Quaker but sayest thou as if Christ were of another mind then that they should turn to the Light within keep the Commandements and sell that which thou hast and give to the poor and also to the Jews he said this is the work of God that ye believe in him whom the Father hath sent that thou sayest wast Christ himself that talked with them but was not in them Answ My answer is nay Christ was not in them so as he was in the Saints to justifie them but the Devil and darknesse was in them which had blinded the pure eye which did convince them in their Consciences many times as thou thy self hast been convinced that never man spake as he spake neither were the words which he spake the words of one that had a Devil as they said he had And further I say that Christs whole Doctrine and the
translated from death to life before ever the Scriptures were written which thou sayest is the rule to walk by though the Scriptures do not say any such thing but another that the Sons of God were both ruled and led by the Spirit of God and though we do say and testifie these things as the faithful and true sayings of God and as John did bear witnesse of him so do we that he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world yet those things as thou hast wickedly and maliciously laid them down as our principles were never spoken nor owned by us neither do we slight the Scriptures at all but own them as they are and ought to be owned yet Christ the light the bright and the morning Star that is the same and changes not but spake in all the Prophets the eternal arm and power of the Father to Salvation we say is not changed but is able to save now without the Scriptures as before they were written so this is not to make void the Scriptures at all which do declare what was the Judge of the Spirits and Saints rule in all ages their guide and what was the wisdom and power of God to the salvation of their souls and as the Prophets and holy men found them to be in themselves and as this Spirit did inspire them and gave them utterance so they spake of him as his People do in the same spirit in this age now this is onely to set Christ the Eternal Son of God above all visible things and the chief corner stone in his place where it ought to be and therefore the builders of Babylon and children of confusion which are setting him at nought and cannot see the hidden treasure which is bread indeed nor look any further then the things that are earthly in whom the treasure and life is hid and are feeding upon the husks and shadows with the Swine are now condemning them that have been in those carnal Ordinances and washings but could never find the pearl in them where it was not to be found but now having found him that is living which is not among those dead things but onely to be found in Spirit we leave those things behind us and go on to perfection and look no longer at the things that are seen which are temporal but at those things that are not seen but in that Light which is eternal which whilst we look at and believe in we have strong consolation and confidence in him that is our hope and purifies our hearts as he doth arise he doth also condemn fin in the heart and destroy the Devils work where it hath been wrought which is yet standing in thy heart and in the hearts of all Lyars and false accusers who are speaking evil of those things they understand not but as a natural bruit beasts wherein they defile themselves as thou hast done it doth finish sin in us and makes an end of transgression and brings in and us into his everlasting righteousnesse which is by faith in his bloud but the blind will be blind still and cannot see any bloud but that which doth not wash the heart nor sprinkle the Conscience from dead works nor know any nor believe in any Resurrection but that which doth not give the answer of a good Conscience towards God I say if thou canst receive it and believe in him who is the Resurrection thou mayest but if otherwise thou shouldst dye in thy sins and pine away in thy transgressions and then Christ is not risen to thy advantage but condemnation if thou art yet in thy sins Therefore thou Hypocrite who art hipt from the Light and climbed above the door of the sheep who is the incorruptible and eternal Light and he onely it is that gives an entrance into the Kingdom that is incorruptible eternal and fadeth not away But many have been setting up another Saviour then he that saves his people from their sins and therefore have his Servants been imagining of a kingdom power and glory that is of this fading world and therefore instead of hearkning to the light and innocent Lamb which faith My Kingdom is not of this world if it were my Servants would fight therefore such who have rejected the word of the Lord which word is Light as thou dost and scornest the Quakers for walking in it they have betaken themselves to carnal weapons and gone from the Spiritual weapon which is the Light and have sought for a Kingdom that is of this world and so in their imaginations have set up both a visible Saviour and Kingdom Therefore try thy self whether thou art in that faith which the just lives by and purifie the heart that comes to see the pure God if not thou art but a reprobate concerning the faith that is a mystery held in a pure Conscience which was once delivered or given to the Saints neither shalt thou ever have the witnesse in thy self of thy rejoycing as many that have been in thy dark and blind condition never had until they were turned to the Light in their Consciences but now can through mercy and grace that is powred out upon his off-spring testifie to his glory and praise everlastingly be it given to him alone who doth the work in us and for us that in the same place where it hath been said unto us ye are not my people there are we called the Children of the living God at this may the Serpent catch that is cursed of the Lord but own it if thou canst it is thy condemnation in that state thou art in eternally thou shalt witnesse it true except thou repentest A little I shall reason with thee concerning thy principle what some of thy brethren which thou and they have affirmed in dispute First thou say est the eternal Spirit is not the Saviour of the world but the man Christ Jesus that dyed and was a body which the Apostles handled outwardly Answ Did not Christ say who is that Spiritual Rock who saved Abraham and the Fathers before that body was into thy hands Father I commend my Spirit and then did he not give up the Ghost and dyed and when the eternal Spirit did ascend to the Father was not the body dead without the Spirit and lay in the Sepulchre until the same Spirit and power of the Father raised it again is your confidence in the flesh or in the Spirit and power that quickned the dead do ye believe the Scriptures are true which say he ever liveth and is the same yesterday to day and for ever I in the Father and the Father in me or do ye believe there was no Saviour before he was born in Bethlehem who was it then in whom Abraham believed or who did the Prophet speak of when he saith unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given or what dost thou in thy dark mind imagine the Prophet meaneth when he saith his name shall
be called wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Isa 9.6 and what was the Hypocrites and Pharisees angry with Christ for as thou art with us was it not because he said he was the son of God and before Abraham Thou sayest Christ is not come the second time to you or to any upon the earth My answer is Did not the Saints know Christ after the flesh some time and said they desired to know him so no more what dost thou imagine his second appearance to be was it not without sin unto salvation and did not they witnesse this that he was in them and they in him which saved their souls from sin and were they not kept perfect and pure by the anointing and power which thou wrangleft against so that the wicked one touched them not dost thou know what salvation is or the image and state is in which man was created which thou fightest against and sayest none can come into in this life if this be not it which the Saints did witnesse in whom he was glorified with the same glory he had with the Father before the world began and whether they were not come to it which said as sin hath abounded so grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ did much more abound Also ye say Christ was never crucified but once My answer is Christ was crucified at Jerusalem but what private interpretation wilt thou give to these Scriptures Gal. 3.1 whether such fools as thou and the Galatians were who were gone from the Spirit and doth not Paul say Jesus Christ was evidently crucified amongst them were they not such as turned against the Light which had enlightned them who were become a spiritual Sodom did not these crucifie to themselves afresh and put him to open shame Heb 6.6 Though thou sayest the eternal Spirit hath no bloud I say it is because thou never sawst it nor witnessed the bloud of the everlasting Covenant to sprinkle thy Conscience therefore dost thou thus deny it and tread it under thy feet Again ye affirm that neither Peter nor Paul Abraham Isaac nor Jacob were redeemed out of the curse neither were they in the Kingdom of God My answer to you is God is not the God of the dead but of the living and such as were lively stones did say they sate in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Eph. 1.3 Eph. 2.6 And Peter saith an entrance was ministred abundantly into the kingdom of Jesus Christ and Paul saith he was wrapped up into the third heavens but thou that art in the Kingdom of darknesse wilt tread upon this as thou sayest thou dost upon the Quakers principle for which cause thy self shall be trodden in the wine-presse of Gods wrath Again ye deny that Christ is a Spirit To which I say God is a Spirit and that which is born of him is Spirit and I query of thee what Christ thou ownest whether he that enlightneth every man or another and what body was that which thou sayest ascended and now sitteth at the right hand on the Majesty on high was it he that first descended and came out from God or another seeing the Scripture saith if thou wilt not deny it or say in thy dark mind who art a Teacher as Nicodemus who was a Ruler in Israel concerning regeneration and the way of the Spirit how can these things be when Christ told him a man must be born again he was as blind yet I dare not say so wicked as thou for he came to Jesus by night he said can a man that is old enter into his mothers womb and be born again if this be not thy state send me an answer and tell me if thou be able who was that spoken of John 1.10 He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not he came to his own and they received him not but as many as did receive him received power to become the sons of God which were born not of the corruptible but of the incorruptible seed neither were they born of the will of the flesh Mark nor as thou art but of God and the immortal seed which liveth and abideth for ever Again I ask thee who was that which descended and what is it seeing the Scripture saith Eph. 4.10 he that descended is the same that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things dost thou believe that the Jews did not look upon Christ who had eyes and saw him not to be as very a blasphemer as thou judges the Quakers John 3.13 no man hath ascended up to Heaven but he that came down from Heaven mark was not this a strange word to them and will it not be as strange to thee had not thy Father taught thee to wrest the words of truth to thy own destruction even the Son of man which is in Heaven was not the Saviour of the world without Father without Mother without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life was not this the Son of God who is King of Righteousnesse and after that King of Peace Heb. 6.3 and had not the body which the Jews nailed to the Crosse a beginning or was it from all eternity and was that visible body and form which he took upon him was that the form and image of the invisible God and was that the first born in every Creature and were all things made by that visible body and was that body before all things and do all things consist by it or hath Christ two Bodies seeing the Scripture saith Christ is not divided and though there be many Members and Branches yet is there but one Body or Vine Again you Baptists say Its Blasphemy to say all that which was spoken by Christ Mat. 2.24 was fulfilled in that Generation might not thou as well and as truly call Christ a Blasphemer as thy Brethren the unbelieving Jews did as to charge the Quakers with Blasphemy for speaking the very same thing and witnessing it to be true which he did speak Mat. 24.34 Verily verily I say unto you this Generation shall not passe until all these things be fulfilled Heaven and Earth shall passe away but my words shall not pass away can thy earthly heart believe this nay nay the world by wisdom knows not it no nor the Angels of Heaven but he to whom the Angels must bow knoweth it right well our God is risen of a certain Truth he will do a work in this Generation a marvelous work and a Wonder even the God of the despised Quakers shall work and who shall let him he will triumph over Palestine over Edom and Amaleck will he cast his shooe Moab shall be his wash-pot the humble shall hear thereof and be glad Kings shall melt away Princes shall be as a thing of naught he will exalt his horn his strength is as the strength of a Unicorn in the house of David is
he is an example and wilt thou look for another Christ then he that dyed at Jerusalem because Humphery Smith sayes He looks for no other are you Baptists angry at this he that looks for another I must tell you it is that Antichrist 1. Query Whether that was not the Light within that the Pharisees stop their ears to and closed their eyes if it was not what was it 2. Are not all eyes stopt and all ears closed till they come to the Light within and all in the ungenerate and impenitent state till they come to the Light within 3. Is not the Light within the eye that beholds God and Christ 4. And can any see God or Christ without the Light within or can they see him with a Natural eye who is a Spirit 5. And is it not the Spiritual eye by which Christ is beheld and is not that within Or is there any fellowship or Vnity amongst any people that is of God but they must c me to the Light within Answer these-Queries all you Baptists who oppose the Light within or else for ever let your mouths be stopt 6. Could any one ever hear God Christ Prophets Apostles or Angels if it was not with the Light within which gave to understand their words 7. Or can any come to the knowledge of the Truth or to Repentance Faith or the Gifts of God or come to Worship God in the Spirit and Truth if they do not come to the Light within 8. Or can any know Christ to be the Son of God and the Saviour and know his Resurrection and his Blood and him to be the offering who remains in the Heavens and restors all things and by what he does restore if it be not by the Light of Christ within 9. And do not the Baptists stick in Bread Water and Wine instead of the substance 10. Is this a time for you to brawl and to jangle and wrangle about outward things could the prodigal fill his belly with the husks Did not he leave the husks when he came to the Fathers house Was not this parable spoken to the Jews who lived in outward things And may not this be spoken to you who live in outward things warnglers and fighters about them in the field and comes not to the Fathers House Did not Cain k ll his brother in the field and is not the field the World Friend in the fourtieth page of thy book thou charges the Quakers to be in a very great error because they say The Eternal Spirit in man is the Saviour of the World and to contradict this thou puts a difference between Christ and the Comforter in this sence I have said there is a difference as in his several Administrations and as he oppeâ—â—ts in one to condemnation and is near in another to justification in this sence there is a difference when he Ministers wrath and his everlasting burnings against the wicked and when he Ministers Peace Joy and everlasting assurance to those that love his Light and have followed it in the way of its Righteous Judgements so I say there is a difference when God who is pure Love pure Peace in himself hath to do and deal with man who is joyned to the Seed of Esau and Cain which is reprobated this was alwayes hated by the Lord and to the froward and perverse Geneâ—â—â—â—on God did alwayes shew himself froward though God changes not neither is he froward though he shew himself so and stands with his Right arm as an Adversarie to the wicked Psal 18.26 With the Pure thou wilt shew thy self Pure with the Merciful thou wilt shew thy self Merciful with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright but with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward vers 25. and so though there be diversities of administrations yet is there but one Lord who is the same and changeth not Thou sayest also The eternal Spirit which dwelt in the Man Christ Jesus which after the Apostles received in them is called another Comforter and that by Christ himself which would not come unto the Apostles unlesse as thou sayest the true Christ went away and so thou wouldst fain prove that the Comforters which afterware dwelt in the Apostles was not the true Christ and for proof her of thou 〈…〉