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A40196 The great mistery of the great whore unfolded, and antichrists kingdom revealed unto destruction in answer to many false doctrines and principles which Babylons merchants have traded with, being held forth by the professed ministers, and teachers, and professors in England, Ireland, and Scotland, taken under their owne hands, and from their owne mouths, sent forth by them from time to time, against the despised people of the Lord called Quakers, who are of the seed of that woman, who hath been long fled into wildernes ... in this answer to the multitude of doctrines held forth by the many false sects, which have lost the key of knowledge, and been on foot since the apostles dayes, called Anabaptists, Independents, Presbyters, Ranters, and many others, who out of their own mouths have manifested themselves not to be of a true descent from the true Christian Churches : but it's discovered that they have been all made drunk with the wine of fornication received from the whore which hath sitten upon the beast, after whom the world hath wondred / by George Fox. Fox, George, 1624-1691.; Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662. 1659 (1659) Wing F1832; ESTC R18020 590,130 408

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the spirit and to wait for secret inspiration of God is to subject men to satannicall delusions c. page 40. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who said holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost and they were to wait for the revelation as in Peter and all be in the Satanical delusion that be not in the immediate teachings from the spirit And every one that hath this spirit and the leading of the spirit hath that which is immediate Pr. He saith the Prophets and Apostles drew people to an outward word c. Ans Now is that which lives and endures for ever outward and did not they bring them to Christ the power of God which is the end of words which is immediate Pr. He saith Is not the Gospel an external way c Answ No the Gospel is a living way which is revealed within and is the power of God to salvation Pr. Are not they seduced saith he who are drawn off from the externall means by which the spirit is given and faith wrought to wait for the receiving of the spirit without any word to convey it to them which spirit when they have it is not the spirit of truth but of delusion c. page 41. Ans The spirit and faith is not conveyed to any man without the word and they are seduced that rests in the externall from the eternall and the spirit is not given by external means neither is faith wrought Pr. And he saith They need not any mans teaching them but as the spirit in the Scriptures teaches and they need not that any teachings of man should be added Ans And so by this he hath thrown out himself from being a Pastor and all other Pastors and Teachers and the spirit is not in the Scriptures but in them that gave it forth And the spirit which gave forth the Scriptures which was in the Saints opens the Scriptures again and leads into all truth Pr. And he saith there is an excesse in that Scripture which saith Ye need no man teach you but as the anointing teacheth you Ans And here he makes as if John did not mean as he spake and would make John as false as himself who spoke truth Pr. And he saith the Apostles sayings to the Saints And ye know all things he calls it an excessive speech for no one knows all things but God page 42. Ans So contrary to John and would make him a lyar the Minister of God So he is in the false spirit gone out into the world Contrary to 1 John 2. who knew all things Pr. He saith Outward teaching is the way and meanes whereby the deep and profound and necessary truths of Scripture come to be understood but not immediate page 44. Ans So he hath denyed the spirit to open the Scriptures immediate inspiration by the spirit and its teaching and set up an outward in the room of it Here his spirit is tryed again gone out into the world For salvation is immediate and the means that brings to it and none knows the Scriptures by outward teaching but immediately by the Lord God Pr. And he saith Ministeriall gifts are not now to be found in the world such as the Mininisters of the Gospel had in the Primitive time Ans Therefore no such work ministerial now as was then nor any such officers as P●stors Teachers c. as was then Ans He hath preached himselfe to be one of the false spirits which went forth from the Apostles into the world And yet he saith Christ is with them to the end of the world And yet saith no hearing of his voyce nor seeing him nor handling of him so he hath confuted himself and hath shewed you he hath quenched the spirit among you all Pr. He saith that the Apostle was silent in that point that men must be endued with extraordinary gifts Ans Which the Apostles Epistles prove to the contrary who saith without faith ye cannot please God which is a gift and an extraordinary gift and saith He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his which is an extraordinary gift So you are another Ministry and other Pastors and Teachers and that which is another gift then the Apostle is not the gift of God Pr. He saith How comes the Apostle to raise up a living to some persons for preaching when he saith That they that preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel c. page 48. Ans It was contrary to the Apostle to preach to raise up a living for preaching but saith they were not to preach for filthy lucres sake But they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel that is not as you raising Livings making a trade of the forme and denying the power which is the Gospel Pr. Here he cries out against gifted mens preaching and saith Paul prophecyed against them page 49. and names them to be such as have itching eares Ans As he is gone out from the Apostles and so cries up his imagined gifts his own gifts which the Apostles did not cry against but said every one must minister that had received a gift and thou art one of the itching eares gone out from the Apostles Pr. He saith that their Synagogues commonly called Churches were not ordained for any spiritual uses as for serving God in them c. pa. 51. Ans Which is contrary to all the professed Teachers in the Nations who say they are ordained for the use and service of God and cals them Churches but to this I believe he will call his words back again Pr. And to break Christs command be not of men called Master Ans He calleth it a civil honour Pharisee-like a teacher of the Pharisees And here he hath proved himselfe not to be a guide of the way and the governor of a mans life for that title Master belongs to Christ and not to any man These are his words and the signification which he gives of that title there See page 52. And yet he dare presumptuously take it and plead for it which Christ denyed in the Pharisees and so impudently break Christs command and so hath shewed that he walks out of his Doctrine and is a transgressor and no Minister but an Antichrist Pr. He saith the Apostle never bred up any that they needed no man to teach them pag. 53. Ans And so giveth John the lye who saith Ye need no man to teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you And the Apostle who saith ye need not say every man to his neighbour know the Lord c. and denies the effectual work of the new Covenant But all shall know him from the least to the greatest Hebr. Pr. He saith Paul denies perfection to himselfe Ans Paul did not deny perfection to himself nor others but his work was to the perfecting of the Saints but your work is to keep men from perfection and that hath been the Ministers work since they apostatized from
Christ and the Apostles and the Scriptures are owned by them in scorn called Quakers and the light it speaks of who out of the apostacy are come and so from among the apostates And as for the lyes and slanders in his Book that are not worth mentioning but they shall turn upon his own head whose immodesty hath discovered them Pr. In his Preface to the Reader He saith It is an expression of a darke deluded minde to say that God is not distinguished from the Saints Ans But God and Christ is in the Saints and dwell in them and walk in them and he is a Reprobate and out of the Apostles doctrine Pr He saith We have broken the everlasting Covenant of God Answ Because we own the teaching of God by his spirit and the light which doth enlighten every one that that cometh into the world which is the covenant of God Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the rule of life See page 4. Answ Contrary to Christ who said the spirit should lead them into all truth And they that are the sons of God are led by the spirit of God And the Churches was to hear what the spirit saith for the spirit led them to speak forth Scripture Pr. Again he saith It is a contradiction and a confused sencelesse thing to preach the word of faith in the mouth and in the heart see page 6. Again he saith Most senseless is this profession of Christ in the mouth and believing in him with the heart God that made all things These are his words page 8. Ans It is not a senselesse profession to preach the word of Faith in the heart and in the mouth and to say God will dwell in you and the word is in the heart and in the mouth The word is God and thou art senselesse and fallen in confusion in the contradiction out of the Apostles doctrine and the Apostle saith Christ in you and with the mouth confession is made to salvation Pr. And he calls it a Notion to say that Christ lighteth all and therefore the light is Christ. Ans So here he is kicking and spurning against the light Christ that lighteth every man that cometh into the world which is the Rock the foundation of God the corner-stone which is fallen upon thy head and all be in the notion that be out of it Pr. He scoffs at the Quakers because they say they have the word of God in them Ans Christ his name is called the word of God Pr. He saith God blessing or blasting his owne Word to some according to the different ends intended by himselfe see page 9. Ans Now the Word of God is not blasted God never blasts his own Word but it is they that are blasted that disobey the Word For the Word of God doth its service and accomplisheth the end which it goeth forth for and doth not return in vain And it is the sword of the spirit and that is not blasted It is a hammer and a fire and it lives and doth endure for ever So thou art blasted who saith the Word of God he blasts and art to be cut down by the word of God for thy blasphemy Pr. He saith the Quakers are deceivers because we say that Christ is not in outward observations and formes And John Bunyan saith that he is distinct from the Saints and would have him in the forms c. see page 13. Ans And we say he hath triumphed over the Ordinances and blotted them out and they are not to be touched and the Saints have Christ in them who is the end of outward forms and thou art deceived who thinks to finde the living among the dead and Bunyan is deceived who said he is distinct from the Saints and so you are a company of pittiful Teachers Pr. He saith Every true Christian doth believe that the holy Scriptures alone is to be the object of faith c. page 17. Ans So he hath thrown out God the giver of it and Christ the Author of it for many have the Scriptures and deny Christ the Author of faith and object Pr. He asketh Did you ever read of law and testimony in the heart c see page 18. Ans Yea God saith I will write my law in their hearts The law was in Davids heart the law was in the Apostles heart The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy and that is in the heart See Heb. 8. Rev. Pr. He saith The covenant of God is not to all in the Church of Christ see page 19. Ans Which is contrary to the Scriptures for where the Church is there is the Covenant the head Christ Jesus And God saith I will give him for a covenant to the Gentiles those are the heathen And I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah and these are called the people of God And therefore thou art in the fall in ignorance and a man without understanding and affirms thou dost not know what and silence would become thee better then to publish thy shame in print for they are not in the Church of God that be not in the covenant of God Pr. And he saith The Scriptures is the sure and perfect rule page 20. Ans And the Scripture saith Christ is the Bishop of the soule and God hath all souls in his hand And many have Scriptures but their soules the Bishop of them they know not but they remain in death and the life they want that gave it forth and so are all on heaps about the Scripture one with another and calling them the rule and the spirit And the spirit of God that led them forth to speak forth the Scripture was the rule to the Saints and holy men of God but they that be in the transgression will kill one another about their words and the spirit leads to see them again and brings them into unity with them and God Pr. He saith It is blasphemy to say that Christ is in them as God and man c. see page 23. Ans How are they of his flesh and bone And doth not the Scripture say Christ in you and God will dwell in you and walk in you And are not the Saints of his flesh and of his bone And are they not partakers of the divine nature Pr. He saith It is a fancy to say the eternall word of God is in them see page 26. Ans Thou art in the fancy that the eternal word is not in and witnessed and under the fire and sword and hammer to be hammered down And so art corrected by the Apostle who saith Let the word of God dwell in you richly The ingrafted word which is able to save your souls and immortal word which is immortal Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the only rule of knowing God c. See page 26. Ans Christ saith none knoweth the father but the Son who spoke among them that had the Scripture and so he
call free will c. see page 12. Ans Which light brings out of the will of man into the will of God to him that is not born by the will of man from whence it comes in which light men do his will and know his doctrine So here they are corrected again for the free-will and will-worship is out of the light which is Christ which John speaks of And they that hate the light are out of Christ and are not made free from the wrath to come but they that be in the light are made free from the wrath to come in covenant with God So you that would set up another light then Christ are Antichrist in your own wils for all wil-worship and fained humility is out of the light in the transgression Pr. Here they say that God made a difference where there was none see page 13. Ans And the Apostle said they were all gone astray And God puts a difference between the precious and the vile judgeth righteously and respects no mans person and makes a difference in judgement And they say God checks and chides the wanderings of his people and yet they say God makes a difference where there is none and you are to be checked and chidden Pr. Again they say The children of God are all their life-time found groaning under sin c. page 14. Ans The Apostle tells you plainly He that is borne of God doth not commit sin neither can he because the seed of God remains in him and he keepeth himselfe that the wicked one toucheth him not and they are made free from sin And here the Apostle corrects ye again for those are not groaning under when the wicked one toucheth them not but these reigneth over it Pr. Here they say Who puts men to the light of the eternall word with which they are enlightned withall puts men besides the way of life and puts men besides the way of salvation See page 16. Ans None knows salvation but by the light which comes from the eternall Word nor the way of life which is Christ which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall and so the salvation to the ends of the earth Pr. Here again they say That the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world shuts up the Kingdome of heaven against men and takes away the ministration of the Gospel and d●stroys the ministries of man c. See page 17. Ans None comes into the Kingdom of heaven but who comes into the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world It opens the Kingdom of heaven but it destroys mans ministration and brings in the ministration of God and the Gospell And this light ye call law or works that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which he that believeth in it hath ceased from his owne works as God did from his and comes to the end of the Law Pr. Again they say the Scriptures are the means of faith Answ And so have thrown out Christ the author of it and God the giver and the Scripture is but the declaration of the Saints faith and it saith men had faith before Scripture was as instance Abraham and Enoch Pr. Again they say As for the expected dictating the Scriptures by the spirit to us as to the writers thereof it is groundlesse c. see page 18. Answ So shewing of what spirit you are who with the true spirit are corrected that have the Scriptures dictated to you but not by the same spirit as the Prophets and Apostles had Pr. They say Instruction in the Scriptures is the way of sowing the seed in Children c. Ans And the Scripture saith the seed is the Word and Christ is the seeds-man which was before Scripture was and yet it doth no good except they eat the book and so confute themselves And many had the Scriptures which stood against the seeds-man as you do now and the Devill out of the truth makes a cloak of those things who will not feed upon the Word Pr. So the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world which we say is the Covenant of God they say that is to break down the inclosed Garden see page 20. Ans This is that which confounds Babylon the great and brings it into remembrance with God and brings the great Whore into judgement The Light which is the way into the garden of God breaks down their inclosed garden that from the Apostles have apostatized Pr. They say that the power to justle out the forme is an errour c. see page 24. Answ Which was the Apostles work to bring off the form into the power the substance Christ which was not an errour But you being in the errour keep people into forms out of the power and so not in the Apostles work Pr. Again they here say It is blasphemy to say God is in all c. See page 30. Ans And the Apostle saith God over all and in you all blessed for ever and through all Ephes 4. Pr. They say It is not a transgression though men pray not nor preach not for many dayes weeks and moneths together though necessity is laid upon them c. page 32. Answ Contrary to Christs command who bid them watch and pray And contrary to the Apostles doctrine who said woe be unto him if he did not preach the Gospel So where there comes a woe there is a transgression so likewise where Christs doctrine is denyed and the Apostle which said pray alwayes but without wrath and doubtings and lifting up holy hands and pray for enemies But you pray in the wrath and hands full of blood and persecute friends as your Gaols may witnesse so as Pastor Eaton saith you never heard the voyce of God And Micah said Night is upon Priest and Prophets that divine for money and preach peace to the people if they put into their mouths if not they prepare war against them Such have no answer from God Pr. They say That apparell is for distinction of qualities of persons c. See page 36. Ans That is but in the world for that which distinguisheth persons is the Word the person of Christ from the persons of Adam in the fall and who be in the transgression and who be out of it and who be vessels of honour and dishonour and your wearing of gold and costly apparell it distinguisheth you from the Apostles doctrine And the holy women of old which was honourable it was not the apparell that made them so to be but the hidden man of the heart which was of great price to the Lord which were brought to do the command of God That honour which is in the world for cloaths and respect God will stain which stands in the lust of the eye and the pride of life and the lust of the flesh and there stands the worlds honour in transgression Pr. They say It is most true
without spot before any work done or good whatsoever c. page 3. Ans There is none doth the work of God but who believes and he that believes overcomes the world and his works are wrought in God and he hath the word o● reconciliation in him And by this means of thine all the world is presented perfect to God for he is the offering for the whole world But them that believe are partakers and them that do not believe are condemned Yet I say the Lord helps the unbelief of many who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and men are not presented to God while they do evill and afore they are sanctified and holy Pr. He saith The invisible things of God and the eternall power and glory of God may be known by that of God in every man but not his good pleasure or purpose of grace c. See page 4. Ans Is the glory seen and that known the God-head known the invisible things of God and the eternall power and not the good pleasure of God nor his purpose of grace Doth not the God-head dwell in Christ and his fulnesse bodily And is not Christ the power of God And he that knows God and his glory and eternall power and God-head Doth not he know the Son Consider that For he that hath known the Son hath known the Father also and grace and the purpose of God Pr. He saith Man may know God and his eternall power and God-head and glory and yet know nothing of the mystery of Christ nor can that which thou saith shews these things lead unto the mystery of the knowledge of Christ c. See page 4. Answ Where the eternall power and God-head is known his power his glory and the invisible things of God there is something of Christ known the mystery For there is none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him And he that knows the Father knows the Son Pr. He saith To say that Christ is within man is to worship Angels and not to hold the head Christ c. See page 5. Answ Which none comes to witnesse Christ the head but who witness him in them that the Angels must worship that dyed and suffered at Jerusalem and they that worship him in them worships not the Angels and they that are not worshipping him in them are worshipping Men Devils or Angels Pr. He saith It is a bewitching of the mindes to preach Christ within the Saints c. Answ Did not the Apostle say to the same Colossians of worshipping of Angels not holding the head Did not he preach Christ in them the same Colossians And he told them of intruding into things they never saw Did not he say Christ in you the hope of glory whom we preach warning every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus How dost thou devide the word contrary to the Apostles and Christ Jesus and calls this Doctrine bewitching and thou that preacheth another doctrine contrary to his art accurst Pr. He saith To say the light in every one wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned them withall that comes into the world is the way to Christ and the Father and is the sure word of prophesie which people are to take heed unto He saith this is to deny the person of Christ as the object of faith and the Scriptures as the rule of faith and faith it selfe c. See page 8. Answ In this thou hast shewed thy ignorance for none knows the person of Christ but with the light that comes from him None knows the Mediator none knows the Author of their faith but with the light that comes from Christ And none knows the Scriptures of truth but with the light And Christ is the rule of faith and author of it and giver And many may have Scriptures and not saith so in this thou devides not the word aright uncapable of dividing the word and that is the sure word of prophesie that shines in a dark place which people are to take heed unto till the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts Pr. He saith To say that redemption righteousness is wrought within is to bring Christ down from above out of heaven or raise him from the dead and to make the blood of Christ as another mans c. See page 9. Answ Now Christ is not known to be the justification but as he is known within and redemption out of Adams state in the fall For he that believes hath the witnesse in himselfe and ceaseth from his own works and enters into his rest as God did from his For the world may professe Christ without them but if he be not within them they are reprobates and shall fall short of the justification and redemption if he be not within them And if they have not the Son of God they have not life and many will say Lord but doth not the thing that he commands And one of thy generation of Professors that writ against the Quakers and said That the blood of Christ was corruptible and so it was like the blood of another man and thou saith it is not Now we say that blood which cleanseth from all sin is incorruptible and they that witnesse Christ in them and justification and redemption and need not say who shall raise Christ from the dead or fetch him from above as thou says Pr. He saith Obedience to the spirit within and Christ a worker and a Law-giver in their conscience and a worker of it in their persons but not as a Saviour and what of God is felt or wrought in them that they believe While the unspeakable righteousness opperation of life in Christ reserved with faith liberty joy and peace c. is hid from their eyes c. See page 10. Ans Now can any be obedient to the spirit within and to Christ a worker and a Law-giver and feel the work of God in themselves and believe it and yet the unspeakable righteousness and the operation of life hid in Christ and faith and liberty joy and peace to be hid from their eyes Can a man know all these things and yet not know Christ to be a Saviour here thou art judged and thy knowledg for he that knows these things knows a Saviour and let the righteous judge whose eyes are open how thou divides the word Pr. He saith Faith holds things as true in Christ though hid from sense and feeling c. See page 11. Answ How cometh the just to live then if there be not a feeling in his faith And how cometh he to have the victory then over the world And how doth faith purifie if there be not a feeling And how is it holden then in a pure conscience if there be not a feeling And how cometh he to have accesse to God through faith And doth not the Scripture speak of them that was in the faith felt and handled the
themselves and that 's the partiall and the respecting of persons not the truth it self Pr. He saith If we will but acknowledge their Ministry and Church according to Christ he will write a Recantation page 53. Ans Your Church and your Ministry hath made it selfe manifest not to be agreeing to the Prophets Christ and the Apostles for you say you are not infallible and you say you have not the infallible spirit And you say you never heard the voyce of God immediately from heaven which the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did And how can you be Ministers of the spirit who are not in the infallible spirit but the false spirit gone out into the world but such as are ravened from the spirit of God and onely have the sheeps cloathing and so cannot gather to the Church in God but make the Nations like waters And ye must recant before ever you come into the Ministry of God the Prophets Christ and the Apostles was in and to their Church and to own the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Pr. He saith The wise men of the East came to Christ by a Starre c. page 64. Ans You say the Scripures brings to Christ and the Jewes had the Scriptures and came not to him nor knew him not who was out of the spirit that gave them forth and so are you by your confession and so not come to him Pr. He saith A man is not justified by that which is within him c. page 65. Ans We are justified by faith which is a mystery held in a pure conscience that purifies the heart and this is within And here again thou hast shewed thy spirit to be that that went into the world which was reprobated concerning the faith held in a pure conscience without which men are not justified And so ye are broke into heaps into sects and opinions who are out of this faith which is a mystery held in a pure conscience by which people have accesse unto God through which faith they are justified which you are out of on heaps in which is unity and gives victory over sin which you plead for while you be upon the earth And as for all the rest of thy stuffe in thy Book it will be thy own garment and a heavy load and a burthen thou wilt feel it whose nakednesse might have been covered by thy silence but thy spirit must be tryed I say the Lord forgive thee for a heavy charge is come upon thee and you For in stead of seeking the peace of all men you have made your selves manifest to be neither Ministers nor Fathers nor Elders nor sober Christians but Wolves that tears and rents to pieces Indeed the ragged righteousnesse of men the worlds cloathing which hangs on your backs ye may have but the Elect and the Saints and the Lambs cloathing the righteousnesse of the Saints ye cannot touch but the Lambs are in the fold layd down Magnus Byne his Booke called The Scornfull QUAKERS Answered His PRINCIPLES follow c. Pr. HE saith Beware of false Prophets that come to you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly are ravening wolves Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God because many false spirits are gone out into the world Ans Must thou shew thy ignorance of the Letter So much a man unlike to divide the word aright For Christ saith false prophets should come Antichrists that should be inwardly ravening wolves that had the sheeps cloathing that John saw was come before the Apostles decease which went forth from them which all the world went after them and they could not have deceived the world if the Wolfe had not had the sheeps cloathing upon them So as you may read in the Revelations how they ravened and devoured and drunk the blood of the Martyrs the Saints and the Prophets And so you that are crying to the world they are come but now are the deceivers of the world as you may read Matth. 7. and 1 John 2.4 Revel Chap. 13 14.17 18. and not men dividing the word aright For now from them are people come and coming to Christ the Rock the foundation of God and to that spirit which you ravened from which stands sure before the world was made out of the waters For the Nations are as waters and the false spirits the false Prophets and the mother of Harlots have ruled and with the sheepes cloathing have deceived the Nations but now the Lamb and the Saints shall rule For ye have confessed that ye have not the Infallible spirit as the Prophets Christ and the Apostles had so we say ye are ravened from it that they was in and only have the sheeps cloathing For the Prophets Christ and the Apostles had an infallible spirit which the false Prophets Antichrists Devils and Deceivers was always out of and the mother of harlots and Babylon though they might get the sheeps cloathing Pr. He saith It is filthy blasphemy to say the spirit of Christ that dwells in the Son dwells in man and he must be infallible and he must be perfect and sinlesse and saith Let them alone to their Father the Devill c. See his Epistle to the Reader Answ He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his and who hath the spirit of Christ hath that which is infallible and this is out of the spirit the Devill is in And they that were not in the spirit and are not in the spirit that dwells in the Son though they have all the Scriptures are in the spirit of blasphemy and there thou art that will blaspheme against the Son And the false spirits that be in the world are on heaps about the Sons the Prophets and Apostles words out of the infallible spirit of those that gave them forth who was perfect and sinl●ss● as in Rom. 6. they were made free from sin The Apostle said they were perfect and he spoke wisdome among them that were perfect And this you deny who are ravened from the spirit of God and the one offering which perfects for ever them that are sanctified and so the unsanctified Pr. He saith There is many wayes to Sion Ans There is but one way to God and that is Christ the Light out of the Fall into the Paradise to the tree of Life out of the Condemnation and that is the Light the Covenant of God Now with the light the way to the Father is seen In the first Adam is many wayes fighting about their wayes and destroying one another about their wayes which Christ the light the way to the Father teacheth otherwise to love enemies and to do good to them and to overcome evill with good and heap coales of fire upon their heads which way is but one which you are out of who deny the Light in the many wayes and names horns and heads and images which is the Beasts number who are ravened from the spirit
which since their dayes they have had the reign over the world But now to that which they ravened from and into the truth the Devill abode not in is the Saints com● and the Lamb reigns that is the substance of the Scriptures the end of the Scriptures that hath domin●●● Glory in the highest for ever And as for all the reviles lyes slanders vilifyings hard expressions in thy Book they will fall upon thy selfe and to thee they will be sad and thou shalt feel every one of thy owne words shall be thy burthen and they shall come home unto thee cramed into thee again for thou must eat thy own dung and drink thy own pisse that comes from thee for all that in thy book is but dung in the day of thy Judgement the witnesse in thee shall answer All along thou hast shewed thy ignorance of the spirit that is poured upon all flesh that 's infallible for whosoever prayes or hath a humility or sings and not by the infallible spirit they sing not with the understanding nor pray not with the understanding And under the Judgement of God thou hast brought thy self and all thy generation Thomas Collier his Booke called a Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an Enquiring Christian In it his Principles are as Followeth Pr. HE saith that the Scriptures is the absolute rule of Saints that are endued with the spirit and faith page 7. Answ Such as were endued with the spirit and faith before the written Scripture was they had a rule and they knew the seed and they knew the promises and they knew Christ more then the Pharisees that had the Scriptures nay more the the Apostates since the dayes of the Apostles that have the Scriptures and the Epistles and Revelations For by faith they saw the glory they was in the Foundation they saw Christ the everlasting Covenant and that is the foundation still Christ Jesus him by whom the world was made before it was made and all that have the Scriptures and have not him they can do nothing And that which ruled the Saints before the Scriptures was written is the Saints rule after the Scriptures is written to know the Scriptures what is written and to know God of whom they learned that gave it forth or writ it with that they know to what state and condition it was spoken And the spirit is the record and he that hath all the Scriptures and wants the true record which is the spirit he cannot know all things Pr. And the Scripture is the New Testament of the Saints rule and the rule of Judgement page 10. Answ The Scriptures given forth from the Spirit of God people knowes not to what state they were spoken but as they come into the spirit that gave them forth And besides the Epistles was written to the Saints in several conditions according to their growth and some of them grew higher then others for some of them the day-star was not risen in their hearts and some of them was children of the Day So that still was the rule that led them to give forth the Epistles and revealed to them the states and conditions of the Saints and to ages and to generations and to Nations and the condition the world was in and should come upon it that was the rule and is the rule by which all these words are seen again and there is the record of the Spirit of God And he that hath found the true record the Spirit of God with that he shall know all the Scriptures and is come within the book where all things are written and which writes all things forth the spirit Pr. He saith the Scriptures is that word which makes the Devils to stand in aw and tremble The written word for after generations by which mens souls are brought to Christ pag. 14 15. again that the Scriptures is the sword of the spirit pag. 16. Answ The Pharisees had the Scriptures which Christ said was of the Devil and was swallowed up in his power and they stood against Christ the life the substance The Devil came with Scriptures who is out of the truth to tempt Christ the Word but the Word the substance of Scriptures hammerd down the devil and Pharisees that had got the Scriptures but were out of the life that gave them forth And they have the sword that have the word of God which was before the Scriptures was given forth and they be in that the Devils be out of So if the Devil and wicked men bring Scriptures they hammer them under and redeem the Scriptures out of their ungodly mouthes And the written word brings no soul to Christ the life but who comes to the life that the written words speak of and so it testifies of him the ●i●e that brings them to Christ that gave it forth Pr. God is willing that all should be saved but he worketh not all into a saving condition page 21. He saith it is true there is a spirit and life in the Scriptures pag. 22. Answ The spirit and life is not in the Scriptures but the spirit and life the Scriptures testifies of and the light Christ Jesus the salvation to the ends of the earth doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world with a saving light And the light which every man hath that cometh into the world is saving but many hating the light and not coming to it which hath enlightened them they neglect their salvation and slight their salvation and not believing in it they walk in darkness and come not to the light of life But they that believe in it come to the light of life and abide not in the darkness And the grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men such as turns it into wantonness and walkes despitefully against the spirit of grace ownes it not for their teacher but sets up teachers according to their own lusts so turns against that which brings their salvation and walks despitefully against it and followes their own lusts and tramples upon the Covenant of grace and the blood of the new Covenant And all that see the Bishop of their souls Christ Jesus the Saviour of their souls it is with the light that cometh from him and God wils that all men should be saved Pr. He saith to use Christs name to catch souls when indeed it is but Jugling and to stab him and crucifie him a fresh pag. 42. If Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world c. If this were truth then Christ died in vain and in vain hath Christ spoke of himself saying I am the way the truth the life the light c. pag. 45. Answ Such as do not believe that Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world are such as mentions his name and haters of the light that cometh from him these be in the Jugling state deceivers of souls and people And none sees Christ the one offering but
this people according to the promise And that is Antichrist which keeps people from the light and the false Apostles for that was the true Christ and the true Apostles that bid people believe in the light and walk in the light and brought them to the light within and the true Prophet and Prophets said that he would give him a Covenant to the Gentles and this is the true light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and all that denies this are Antichrists and Deceivers Pr. He saith How beautiful are them that preach the Gospel c. not by the light within And the word of faith cannot be said to be in mens hearts and mouths page 14. And the sure word of prophecy spoken of in Peter is the Scriptures which people must take heed unto as unto a light shining in a dark place and the Saints received the words of the Apostles not as the words of men c. Wherefore the Quakers suppose that God himselfe is their teacher and so erre not knowing the Scriptures page 17. Answ They that preach the Gospel which is the power of God which gives relief to that which was captivated in every creature they are in the light in their own particulars with which they know the glorious Gospel and answer the light in every man that shines in the darknesse and life and immortality there comes to the light through the power which is the Gospel and this is that which is beautifull And the word the Apostle preached of faith was in the heart and in the mouth and is so understood by all the regenerate But by all them that have only the forme and inwardly gone from the spirit knows it not but are of this ignorant they cry how should this be so As the Jewes said how is it that thou maketh us to doubt Yea the Word was it that made them doubt And the sure word of prophecy which people do well to take heed unto as unto a light shining in a dark place mark in the dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts This was it that let them see that no prophecy of Scripture came by the will of man and this lets them see that such as went in Cains Cores and Balaams way which were Preachers of the Forme but wanted the power but lost the holy Ghost and such admired mens persons because of advantage and came to be dead twice pluckt up by the roots which those dead have long reigned layd upon the earth whose carkasses stinks since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy so many may have the Scriptures and quench the prophesie Pr. He saith Christ is not yet so the Word but be himselfe testifies the Scriptures is the Word of God page 21. Answ Christ his name is called the Word of God and the Scriptures are the words of God which Christ the Word of God fulfills in whom the words all ends And such as the light shines in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehends it not they are not like to see the spirit untill they be turned to the light Pr. He saith They erre not knowing the Scripture when they affirme that the only means of faith is the immediate teaching of Christ dwelling in them page 23. Answ Could the Apostle preach Christ untill he was revealed in him who is the Author of every mans faith And the doers of the Law are justified and not the hearers only Pr. The Quakers will not own the Scriptures to be the touch-stone to try the spirits withal page 28. And the Scriptures are not the rule Oh shamefull deceit And George Fox said that he knew Christ come in him page 29. And this is the deceiving of many and this cannot be till first the true faith of his coming be made voyd which these men endeavour to do page 29. Answ The holy men of God before the Scriptures was had a rule and a touchstone and the Pharisees had Scriptures but were out of the life that the holy men was in that gave it forth and wanted the rule and the touch-stone But the Apostles that was in the life and the substance of what they spoke they had the rule and touch-stone And all in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles that are ravened from the spirit of God have had onely the sheeps cloathing but have lost the touchstone and so have destroyed one another about Scriptures the Saints words which was not the work of the spirit that gave it forth And Christ is in you except you be reprobates So reprobates witnesse it not therefore they stand against it and therefore are against them that witnesse it And all the false Christs and the destroyers of the Faith of people are such as draw people from the Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and keeping them from witnessing and receiving Christ in them the substance and the author of their faith and such never knows him come in the flesh nor the spirit And such as witness Christ within them receive the author of their saith and destroy the faith of none And the spirit was the rule of the Saints that led them to give forth Scriptures and it lets them see in all ages who got the forme of godliness who used their tongues who lived in the spirit who erred from the spirit who run when the Lord had never sent them whom the Lord had never spoken to and this was the rule and this was the spirit of discerning and this was the touch-stone to try withal Prin. And they say they owne Christ that suffered meaning the Spirit within page 36. Answ There is none knows Christ nor his suffering but with the spirit of God within for with the spirit of God in the Prophets and the holy men they knew Christ that was to come to suffer with the spirit of God in the Apostles they knew that was the Christ that did suffer with the same spirit of God within people they now come to see him and enjoys him and receive him the same that did suffer which none doth that are out of the spirit And the Pharisees that had Scriptures knew him not who were gone astray from the spirit nor the Gentiles though they had Scriptures Neither doth the Apostates who are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God though they have all the sheeps cloathing know the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world though they be for multitude as the sands on the sea shore nor doth any know it and receive it but who comes to that which they ravened from Pr. He saith That Christ is a distinct being from the Father page 40. They that hold that they are now in the possession of the Kingdome of Christ and that they have eternall life now in possession perverts the right way of the Lord. Page 42. Answ Christ is not distinct from the Father for he and
But your swearing now is not like to the Jewes for they swore by the Lord not swore by the book of the Prophets writings neither did they swear by the Tables in which the Law was writen Neither did the Apostles nor the Saints swear by the Epistles nor Christs words after they were wri●ten and recorded Now this is worse then the Jewes for they were to swear by the Lord from whom the Law came they were to swear by the Lord of whom the Prophets learned and not by the Tables nor by the Prophets words Now the heathen was to swear by Moloch and to swear by Baal and kist Baal and the children of Israel to swear by the Lord not to swear by any Writings or Declarations of the Prophets or Moses Neither do we read that the Saints swore by the Epistles or the Revelations or Matthew Marks Luke or John and kist it For the true Christians that wi●nessed Christ the end of the Prophets the end of Moses a greater then Solomon Him by whom the world was made before it was made before Abraham was which reigns over the house of Joseph and Jacob to whom the Angels must bow saith swear not at all This is my beloved son saith God heare ye him Pr. He saith A believer hath both the rise and furtherance of his faith and evidence from what is written And if the Scripture be a dead letter and the word in the heart be one with the Scripture then that in the heart is dead page 246. Let them tell the world how the Scripture is the Declaration without contradiction and yet the word in the heart page 247. Answ The Scripture as it lies and is in it selfe is a dead letter but as the word is felt in the heart that gave it forth then it is its own words Now to them that be from the Word within the dead mind the dead letter And so the words themselves there gives not life to that but as the words is raised up within as it was in them that gave it forth and that is it which gives life and that sees the Scriptures and the fulfilling of them and then that knows the Scriptures that cannot be broken and in that the words ends the word Christ And that 's it that gives life to all people and saves the soule which the Letter doth not as it is in it selfe without one have that which gave it forth and that is not dead And a believer the author of his Faith is Christ and the giver of it And if he have all that is written and be not in the light Christ who is the author of his Faith he wants the foundation of God that stands sure Christ Jesus that all the Fathers and holy men of God rest in in the faith before any Scripture was written in him stood their faith the foundation of God Israels glory the light of the Gentiles this is that which fulfills all Scriptures and ends the faith the salvation And the Ministers of the Word that comes to fulfil the words those Ministers of the Word they took in hand to set forth in order a Declaration of the things wrought among them which had a perfect understanding from the very first of what Christ both said and did And so this Declaration was given forth to be read believed fulfilled and people to enjoy the thing it speaks of that which the Apostles preached to Jewes and Gentiles the new Covenant the one offering the blood of Jesus Christ him the end of the first Priesthood that Abraham saw and David saw and Moses had the type of the Prophets wrote of Now who enjoyes him that these all spoke of saw and preached they have the end the comfort of the Scriptures And here is the Declaration seen and known and here is the substance possest and here is the words of God and here is the Word of God that fulfills the words which word was before the words in which word the words end and are all sum'd up into Pr. For to say Christ and faith is not to be found in Scriptures He saith I hope no humble Saint will pin his faith upon this c. And they crying up thee and thou to a particular c. pag. 247. Answ Christ was before the Scripture was written and Christ is life not found in a dead letter nor faith and he is the end of the Scriptures and the substance of them and many had the Scriptures and could not finde faith in them nor Christ nor life And Christ told the Pharisees he was the life the Scripture testified of him but they would not come to him that they might have life who is the end and substance of the Scriptures by whom the world was made And as for the words thee and thou and you who are stumbling at it shews they have never learned their Accidence or Bible So short o● the language of the spirit that teacheth to speak sound words that cannot be condemned who are ignorant of the literall knowledge Pr. He saith The Scriptures was breathed forth by the spirit of God but we receive the spirit another way then they did as gave forth the Scriptures and the Scriptures was given forth immediately but thus the Scriptures comes not to us nor the understanding of them We have Books and Canons and printed Translations in the Mother Tongue page 248. Answ All your Books and Canons and if ye have all the Scriptures printed in all the Languages of the world and if ye have not the same immediate inspiration that gave them forth ye understand not the Scriptures And we do believe you that ye have not an immediate inspiration as they had nor do not receive the spirit as they did that gave forth the Scriptures who are ravened from it But who ever knows the Scriptures of truth it is by the same spirit as gave them forth with this and by this is the Scriptures of truth the excellent words known again to what state and condition they were spoken Pr. He saith The spirit is in the Letter or the whole Scripture Page 254. And they that writ forth the Scriptures were imperfectly holy but Gods Word was holy To conclude the spirit is in the Letter and given by it daily experience demonstrates it And they that owns not the spirits dwelling in the letter have lost their faith of the spirits presence and runs to other Gospels and Doctrines the spirit of errour is in all mens Doctrines that have not the spirit in them page 255. Answ The holy men of God that gave forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost but the Apostle said they were holy and we shall believe him before we believe any of you apostate Teachers which say they were not holy And the spirit was in them that gave forth the Scriptures received of God the Father of spirits and dwells in God And they that be from the spirit of God within which gave
are reprobates for Christ is the righteousness of God and the sanctification and the justification of man from the Law and its works who stands between God and man So he is the redemption who Redeemes man out of the fall which he fell into and he doth sanctifie him and he doth justifie him and this is all found within and this not being found within he is reprobate And so none are saved but who witnesseth this within They have the letter the wolves the sheepes cloathing the ravenors inwardly from the Spirit of God and those are them that denyes it within Pr. He saith The spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared as with a hot Iron forbidding to marry and abstaining from divers meats Page 73. Ans Before the Apostles decease he saw these things come up and the spirit speakes this mark it speakes exprestly Now since the Apostles decease the things have been fulfilled the faith hath been departed from the unity among all Christians hath been lost in all Christendom on heapes have they all run destroying one another about the Scriptures Churches Ministry yea for maintenance from the spirit ye have departed to speak so out of the unity of it which is the bond of peace which should have kept peace in all Christendom and all the Professors of Christ it should have kept them in peace and in it is the unity From that ye have ravened you and the Papists and all Sects upon the earth So some forbiding of meats and forbiding to marry whose consciences are feared as with a hot iron The Devils Doctrine speaking lies in hypocrisie and giving heed to seducing spirits you are the spirits that inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God that deny immediate Revelation and hearing the voice of God immediately these are the seducing spirits and keepes all people in the burning and heating lusts from the marriage of the Lamb all the seducing spirits doth that deny Revelation immediate inspiration hearing the voyce of God immediately from heaven now as ever And therefore their fruits declares they are burning one against another destroying one another about their Religion and Ministry their consciences seared as with a hot iron tenderness lost and gone destroying people and casting into prison for their bellies for maintenance for Tythes So ye have got up your Church which was a Mass-house and Tythes and sprinkling Infants who have had the time of compelling others to worship But the day is breaking the light is springing life is rising and glory is appearing your Torment is coming and you can be no longer hid Pr. He saith Beware of false prophets there shall be false prophets among the people which shall bring in damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them bringing upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these resist the Truth but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs was Answ Christ said Antichrist should come false prophets should arise to his Apostles before their decease they saw they was come as Peter and John declares already in the world whereby they knew it was the last time and they went forth from them the Apostles and in the Revelations the whole world went after them that the Nations come to be like waters and the peoples waters and their tongues waters and multitudes waters so many followed their pernicious wayes by whom the way of truth hath been evil spoken of by you and them both And they brought up the damnable Heresie and are as Jannes and Jambres being men of corrupt minds and are Reprobates concerning the faith But they shall proceed no further for now is their folly made manifest and shall be made manifest to all men Doth not the very heathens cry out against Christendom of the hardness of their hearts and of their unrighteous dealings of their actions and causeth the way of truth to be spoken of by you that are called Christians Is not the damnable Heresie among you Are not you run into all heathenish wayes to set up Temples and Tythes and Priests and Schooles and Colledges and never heard the voyce of God as ye confesse as may be seen in this book Is not all this trumpery and trash come up and fables among the Papists and you since the dayes of the Apostles And do not you deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world The grace of God which brings salvation which hath appeared unto all men to bring every man to a teacher And doth any one know the Lord that bought them but who owns the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Doth not all deny the Lord that bought them that doth deny the light Doth any see the Lord and his blood that bought them and purchased them but with the light that cometh from him And are not you all as Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses to have kept the people in Egypt Are not you all denying the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world And was not all them that inwardly ravened got the sheeps cloathing which Christ said should come which the Apostles saw was come went forth from them the whole world went after are not all these in the witchcraft Sorcery Inchantment Negromancy wizards familiar spirits witches that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Hath not Babylon the mother of Harlots Beast false Prophet unclean spirits Dragon and Antichrists and deceivers all these been up since the dayes of the Apostles And the great whore that deceives the Nations drest with the sheepes cloathing and hath not this been the mystery of Iniquity which hath ruled since the dayes of the Apostles That cryes prophesie is ceased and slayes the Prophets and none can keep the commands of God and made War against them that keep the commands of God and calls the Scriptures the testimony and the Law and makes War against them that have the Law in their hearts and the spirit of prophesie and hast not thou manifested thy self to be of this number and of the stock of the great whore that hath drunk the blood of the Saints and Martyrs and the Prophets Pr. Art not thou crying to Magistrates Help stop the mouths of Blasphemers In page 23. And stirring up the zeal of the Magistrates and shewing them the zeal of the Jewes Magistrates how they did tear their clothes off at blasphemers in thy page 31. And saith thou could rejoyce that they would breath such an ayre throughout all the English Quarters and wouldst not that the Quakers should have Countenance from the Magistrates Answ Now thou hast made
of them and being her children and she hath corrupted the Earth with her Fornications and Whoredomes and made Nations and Kingdomes drunk with her cup of idolatry But the Lord God is risen and will plead with her and give her double and the holy Prophets Apostles shal rejoyce over her this is coming to passe and this have I seen from the Lord received it from him thus it came upon me to write THe waters have I seen dry'd up the seat of that great Whore Who hath made all Nations drunk through her enticing power And caused the whole earth she hath her fornication cup to take Whereby Nations have long time err'd on whom she long hath sate But Peoples many are and shall and multitudes all may And Nations be converted all unto another way And tongues they are confounded now and kindreds they must mourn And when this is all finished her whole seat then is torn For these all be the great waters on whom her seat hath been And over whom she hath governd ' like as a stately Queen For ages many by-past gone she hath her Whoredoms play'd And Kingdoms hath bewitched and her power have obey'd But now her miseries are seen her witchcrafts are discover'd And sh● no more shall men deceive for day light is appeared And the Bed woful I have seen of torments great prepar'd Whereon she must be cast and plagues must not be spared But wo to her the cup of wrath is fill'd her to receive And as to others she hath done the same she shall now have And drink she must of that full cup of Gods fierce indignation And then shall all her lovers mourn and make great lamentation And I have seen that City great once populous rich and fair Laid waste and all destroyed and her Merchants dispair Who thorow her have gotten gain themselves for to exalt And from far come to traffique but now they must lament For fire in her is kindled which must her all consume Behold her smoake ascendeth day and night up to Heaven The Antichrist who hath put on and cover'd with sheepes cloathing And long rul'd King on Nations Inwardly ravening Who hath devour'd Gods heritage and had a Kingdom great I have seen him made war against and truth give him defeat Behold the Whore her flesh is burnt her beauty doth now fall She that is all Harlots great Mother whose daughters are Whores all Behold the City great who once made Nations rich and high she 's fallen to the ground and burnt and none more profit her by Behold the Antichrist once great his Kingdom is subduing The Lord alone for ever will rule his Sons Kingdom is coming And the woman that long hath fled into that place of mourning And rested in the wilderness she is again returning And her seed is again springing and shall replenish Nations And the man-childe must come to rule for ever throw gen'rations And when this is all come to pass O then rejoyce and sing Ye Prophets and Apostles all and heavenly children When God hath you avenged upon your enemies all Then is the day of praises for Saints both great and small London the 9. Mo. 1658. By a Servant of Christ Edward Burrough HEar are the Principles of Priests and Professors and Pastors in the Apostacy which have got up since the dayes of the Apostles that in this day are risen against the Lamb and against the Saints which since the dayes of the Apostles the Beast hath had power the false prophet and Mother of Harlots which inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God which hath had the sheepes cloathings and by that mens hath deceived the Nations and got in the Kings of the earth and cloathed them with the out-side whereby the Kings of the Earth and the Beast and false Prophet Dragon Devil Mother of Harlots and the great Whore hath joyned in one together against the Saints then overcame them and cast them into prison and drunk the blood of the Saints and Prophets and martyrs but now shall the Saints and the Lamb have the victory who kills and slayes with the sword which are the words of his mouth agreeble to the Apostles doctrine who wrestle not with flesh and blood now the Beast false prophet and Mother of Harlots Devil and Antichrist that drunk the blood of the Saints that have the sheeps cloathing these are the killers with the sword the slayers with the sword the imprisoners and persecutors which was not the work of the true Apostles true Ministers that kept the faith and patience of Jesus the Martyrs suffered the Saints suffered the Prophets suffered now these was in the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures now the others got the Scriptures Antichrists false prophets Mother of Harlots the Devil the beast and all his names which killed and slew with the sword these are inwardly ravening from the Spirit of God the spirit of the Lamb the spirit of the Apostle who killed and slew with the sword which are the words of his mouth so all these names in the whole Christendom amongst all that are called Christians are got up amongst them since the dayes of the Apostles which be gone out of the life and faith and spirit they were in which they had unity in which was the bond of peace which have had the words but ravened from the life and so are all on heapes about the words and giving one another names so look in whole Christendom and see what abundance of names there be which should be one family and all these names Horns and Crowns and building up and throwing down which is all a mark among them that have had the words but out of the life which now the life is risen which the Apostles lived in which they since the dayes of the Apostles have been out of in many names and heaps in the Apostacy now with the life is all this fathomed and comprehended in which is the unity which life brings people to know God and unity with him and with Scriptures and one with another and all are one here if there be ten thousand times ten thousand And who reads over this book you may read things and see things which you never read nor saw Printed did ever the Lambs worry the wolves and did not the wolves get the sheeps cloathing and ravened after the sheep and Lambs that they might get among them pride and wildeness and pleasure hath swallowed up people teachers and Minsters that if any be sober and still presently he is a Quaker and thus modesty is eaten up A TABLE Shewing in what page the severall principles and answers beginneth SAmuel Eaton his booke called the Quakers confuted Page 1. Iohn Bunyan Rich. Spenceley Iohn Burton Iohn Child their book book called A vindication of a book called some Gospel truths opened pa. 8. Doctor Glissons paper concerning James Parnels death pa. 13. Georg Emmot who calls himselfe a spiritual Quaker converted pa. 14.
every man that cometh into the world is to bring them from the Mediator and to draw men from eying his death resurrection and intercession c. as these men say see page 7. Ans Here they are corrected for none knows these things but who come to the light Christ who hath enlightned them for with the light they see their Mediator and see his death and resurrection And they that come not to the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world may speak of these things but cannot know them the witnesse in the conscience shall answer in all men for the light that shines in the heart gives them the knowledge of them of the Mediator death and resurrection of Christ And they say not every man in the world is enlightned and John saith every man is and so here their spirits are corrected again And I will give him for a covenant to the Gentiles and for a new covenant to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah And they bring these words Christ in you the hope of glory to oppose Johns words Pr. You say none comes to God but by Christ and yet doth not own him that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Ans And so are not like ever to come to him though you may talk of him in words as the Pharisees and Devils did as all the apostate Christians doth now and yet not own his light with it you are all to be condemned Ministers of Satan which are out of the light Pr. And you say Far be it from you to say that Christ is equally God c. See page 8. Ans And the Scriptures saith He is the everlasting Father and his name is called the Emanuel God with us and his name is called the word which is God John 1. Pr. And ye say Whereby man sees the God-head of God but nothing of the mystery of the Father and Christ as Mediator See page 9. Ans Can man see the god-head of God and nothing of the mystery of the Father and Christ the Mediator Doth not he that knows the Son know the Father also And hath not he that hath seen God seen the Son Is not the Son in the Father Here your spirits are corrected For the light that enlightens every man that comes into the world le ts see the one le ts see the other Pr. You say For a man to say the light Christ which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world is pure and justifies them that obey it he justifies that which God condemns c. See page 9. Ans As you say who are with it condemned for the light is that which doth condemn and justifie both and God doth not condemn it for it brings into unity with him and peace and all be condemn'd that be out of it and none be justified but them that be in it Christ that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which is the justification of life to every one that believeth in it and every man receiving the light receives his justification and hating of it receives his condemnation to death Pr. Again Ye conclude the light of Christ is not pure before faith See page 9. Ans So have concluded you seven Joseph Kellet John Pomroy Paul Glisson Christopher Feak John Simpson George Cocken Lawrence Wise that ye never knew Law nor Gospel nor Faith from Christ nor God For the law is light saith Solomon Prov. 6. and that is the Schoolmaster untill faith And the Law of God is pure and the Law is just holy and good and perfect and what is just holy and good is pure And this ye seven have concluded not pure the light in the conscience before faith And the Law is the Light and Schoolmaster untill faith And the Light is given to every man to believe and while ye have the light believe in it And so men have this light before they believe in it and are children And this ye conclude is not pure so goes about to take away that men should believe in they having the Light and then afterwards to believe in it and with that they see the Author of their faith Christ Jesus from whence it comes and so would destroy the foundation of God the Prophets and Apostles which standeth sure and so are yee found in the spirit of errour and corrected knowing neither law nor faith Pr. Again they say the Light which is Christ with which every man is enlightned that cometh into the world withall they say doth not discover the sinne of unbeliefe See page 10. Ans And did not Christ marvell at their unbelief and see and discovered the unbelief of the Jewes of whose Father are ye And doth not Christ the Light which doth enlighten every man withal discover unbelief And doth not the unbelievers hate the light and know the light will reprove them which they should believe in that manifests their sin and yet you say doth not discover unbelief which is their condemnation not believing in it because their deeds be evill hating it Pr. And further ye say That the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world bringeth in a legal righteousnesse c. Ans Doth not the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world bring in the righteousnesse of God and is it not the righteousness of God So it corrects you that be in the legall righteousness and out of Christ which enlightneth nevery man that cometh into the world Pr. Again you say The righteousnesse performed by the grace of Christ the Gospel teacheth to deny it See page 10. Ans Now is there any righteousnesse wrought by the grace of Christ but what is by Christ who is the covenant of grace and the power of God which is the Gospel which lighteth every man that comes into the world Pr. They call it conscience or a natural light c. page 11. Answ Which light was before the word conscience was or a naturall light the Sun Moon and Stars either for all things that was made was made by it The natural light or made light are created lights He made the Sun the Moon and the Stars they were made And here is the naturall lights to the natural eye And the light that every man is enlightned with that cometh into the word was before these were made glorified with the Father before the world began and before the name Conscience was or things was made and then they was named and the light doth exercise the conscience towards God and towards man which light cometh from Christ the Author of faith which is held in the pure conscience who before the world began was glorified with the Father Pr. Again the light which cometh from Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which discovers the evill which will give thee power against it man walking in it and yet brings to the rest to the Father this they
shly nature in people Pr. He saith To say a man is freed from the body of sin while on earth is part of the Papists dung which they have taught you to feed upon c. page 24. Ans Contrary to the Scriptures and the Apostles words who saith they were made free from sin which was before you or the Papists was And contrary to John who bids them try the spirits who saith the false spirits gone out into the world which are you and the Papists he saith he that is borne of God doth not commit sin neither can he because the seed of God remaineth in him 1 John And you are in the P●pists dung spoken of who pleads for sin and thou art contrary to the Apostles and Christ who preached perfection and freedom from sin Pr. Again he saith Christs Kingdome is an Hospital and hath no subjects in it but diseased ones c. see page 24. Ans We read of no such thing in Scripture that Christs Kingdome is an Hospitall and his subjects are diseased ones But they that follow the Lamb in their mouth is no guile nor spot nor fault before the Throne of God and are the elect which God layes no sin too and they are the faithfull and called and chosen that overcome the world and his kingdome stands in power and in righteousnesse and joy in the holy Ghost and is not an Hospitall nor his subjects diseased ones for he heals them and converts them and washeth them and therefore thou art a Lyar and a man that doth not divide the word aright The diseased or such as come unto Christ to be healed them who comes to him he heales them of what infirmity soever it be and cures them and cloaths them in the right minde Therefore thou art co●rected and worthy of correction and all the diseased ones are in your Kingdom physicians of no value Pr. What can keep the soule from the enjoyment of God but sin c. See page 25. Answ It is the unbelief in Christ the Light and the offering and in his blood that keeps from the enjoyment of God who is the way to God which the Light le ts see that The Author of the Book called The Quaking Mountebanke c. His PRINCIPLES followeth His words are seen in the Light and are condemned for the Fire The day is coming that thou whosoever thou art wilt suffer and the witnesse in thy Conscience shall answer Pr. HE saith the Quakers are no Conjurers and yet he calls them Mountebanks in his Libell called The Quaking Mountebank c. see page 5. Answ They have discovered his works and fruits and the Fire is over his head and proves that he hath the Language of a Mountebank by his revilings and raylings which among sober people is not worth mentioning And the Quakers mountain is the house of the Lord established upon the top of all the mountains in the earth And their Rock is Christ which will split all Mountebanks that make war against him in pieces And now it is seen what is risen against the Lamb and the Saints and the mouths of the false Prophets are opened and the Inhabitans of the Earth are drunk and the Beast doth make War against the Lamb and the Saints but the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory And Quakers are not Mountebanks but the Lords children Pr. And this Mountebank calls the Quakers beasts that have the spirit of God in them feeling it c. See page 7. Ans So that it hath discovered his spirit whether he is gone and his words shall be his burthen and the Lord will finde him out though he have not put forth his name And those that know the minde of Christ such he calls Beasts that do know the mind of Christ and so hath discovered himself that he knows it not but the Saints knows the minde of Christ and spirit of Christ and are the sons and daughters of God Pr. Here he maketh the Steeple-house the Arke and calls it the house of God c. See page 9. Ans A place which Papists set up for Masse so he shews his ignorance and prophanenesse against the Saints whose bodies are the Temples of God Pr. And the Mountebank saith that the Quakers are not a kin to the Aegyptians but yet he saith they love darkness rather then light c. page 12. Answ And thus his spirit is rebuked and they that be in Aegypt love not the Light Pr. Again he saith That Learning is the prime ornament of the soule See page 13. Ans And so hath thrown away the power and Christ the Bishop of the soule who is its ornament in which it hath its joy and men with their Learning prison the soule which is immortal Pr. And he saith The Quakers are no Pharisees c. see page 16. Ans And the Priests of Newcastle calls them Pharisees Here is Gog and Magog in battell together against the Lamb and the royall seed called Quakers Witnesse that which cannot be shaken and the royall seed is a-top of their head Pr. He saith The Quakers scorn to creep into houses c. See page 19. Ans Which doth not agree with the rest of his company who say they do creep into houses The Quakers are in the power of God and in the authority of the Lamb above all houses and into houses creep not but are upon the Throne but you that be in the form that deny the power creeps into houses Ellis Bradshaw's Book called The Quakers Whitest Devill His PRINCIPLES as followeth And hath unvailed himselfe in what spirit he is and how he hath gone from the Prophets and Christ and the Apostles fighting against the Rock But the stone is fallen upon his head which will grind him to powder whose words shall be his burthen Pr. HEre he saith We do utterly deny all their ways and doctrines who exclude all teachings of men See page 5. Ans Contrary to the Prophets who bid people to cease from men whose breath was in their nostrils therefore there is a teaching beyond it And who comes to that shall come to hear the Son And the Apostles went to bring people off to the end of the Prophets and off of the Priests and off the ordinances which the Prophets had established in their place and the Lord is come to teach his people himselfe where they need not say know the Lord in the new covenant Pr. He saith The Quakers spirit doth teach them to honour no man c. see page 6. Ans That is a lye for it teacheth them to have all men in esteem and to honour all men in the Lord Yet they are convinced by the Law to be transgressors if they respect mens persons and they are not to hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons as you do And whereas thou saith The spirit of God doth not teach to judge before the time c. See page 6. And others say the
truth cometh to be reproached You are such as turn his grace into wantonnesse as cause the way of truth to be evill spoken of and such shall have a reward according to their works thee and you all Pr. They say The fashions of the world and the Complements are not sin to use them c. See page 45. Ans Which is contrary to the Scriptures which the Ceremonies commanded of God to use them after the substance was come was sin much more the fashions and customes of the world Yea but saith they this brings us in our living and by the other we lose our livelyhood so ye may see what minde is up in choosing And all the zeale in the wills which runs out before the Light guide that is that which the Priests catch at to make their defence withall against the truth But the Lord will reward them according to their works who hath shewed mercy to Toldervy and made him confess in another Book that which formerly the Priests and he had set forth and vilified the truth and so is published to the Nation after the Answer to this Book called The foot out of the Snare Such as deny the fashions of the world which the Priests are in points and ribbons double cuffs and boot-hose-tops and the honour of men which God will stain and be called of men Master Such things as these 8 great Priests justifies and insnares people under them and if any forsake them they will say they are snared and deluded and it is manifest who is their Master and whom they serve that the keeping Christs command is a snare to them and because we cannot call them Master and keep Christs commands therefore they rage who transgresseth his command and then say they are Ministers of him but your fruits are seen and works praysed be the Lord you eight Priests have discovered your selves who are the false spirits gone out into the world from the Apostles and out of Christs command Matth. 23. Where do you read Mr. Paul Mr. Peter and c. And where do you read that Paul and the messengers of Christ were hung about with poynts and double cuffs and boot-hose-tops and ribbons and made such a stir about doffing of hats and thee and thou as the novice Teachers do now that are found in the lusts and fashions of the world which the Apostle declares against and brought to sound words which could not be condemned and to obey the doctrine of Christ not to be called of men Master But you are the transgressors that abide not in Christs Doctrine but are the Antichrists 2 John which the Apostle speaks of that hath reigned from their dayes but now discovered by the spirit praised be the Lord God and they know in their Latine originall it is not proper to say you to a single person and they know to be called of men Master is against the command of Christs in the transgression and so usurping that authority which Christ forbids Thomas Collier his Booke called The Looking-glasse for Quakers His PRINCIPLES followes And as for all his Lies they will be heaped upon his own head and to his owne sorrow Pr. HE calls James Nayler a lyar because he said That by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified See page 2. And he saith It is another righteousnesse because we witnesse the righteousnesse of faith which is in the heart which God is the Author of c. page 3. Answ Now that which we say God and Christ is not the Author of but gathered from the letter is a dead faith and righteousnesse and there is your justification that stands in the unbelieving state and is condemned onely speaking of the Letter as the Jews did of a Christ that is come as they did of a Christ that was to come have not heard his voice nor received faith from him who is the author of it through which men is justified and cometh to have peace with God and this faith is in their hearts Pr. He calls it a hearkning to the voice of Sathan to hearken to the voice within and saith they cry the light within the voice of Christ the true word which he saith is but their own lying fancies at the best c. See page 4. Ans Now to call the light within the word within Christ within the word of faith within which is to be obeyed and done lying fancies at the best here thou may see Collier how thou divides the word not aright and art ignorant of the Scriptures And Christ saith the Spirit of the Father speaks in you is not this all Scripture and if they hearken to this do they not hearken to Scripture and is not the Scripture fulfilled in this And is thy voice all without thee onely in the letter And judges all delusion that hath any speaking within them and so hath judged thy self from the holy men of God one of the dumb Prophets and so contrary to the true Prophets and Apostles Pr. He saith If the very Christ of God be within those that are called Quakers he cannot come down from Heaven c. See same page Ans Here he stands against the promise of Christ that he shall come and dwell in you and walk in you I will come again unto you And he hath revealed his Son in me saith the Apostle And this thou Thomas Collier and John Bunyan is ignorant of plain Scripture the Scripture it declares it and the Apostle said know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates and the Spirit of the Father speaks in you and see how contrary thou art to the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Pr. He saith The Heavenly bodies spoken of in Cor. 15. are the Sun Moon and Stars c. See page 6. Answ Let all people read that Scripture and see if it hold forth that Pr. Again he saith They abuse the Scriptures because they say he that is born of God doth not commit sin c. page 6. Answ When the Scripture is witnessed as it relates and speaks And he abuseth it when he gives private interpretations to it and owns it not as it speaks Pr. Again he saith He that saith he hath no sin deceiveth himself c. page 6. Ans But the Scripture saith If we say we have no sin c. So he perverts the Scripture for it is not he for if he say he he may put it upon Christ who is without sin and upon this account he may charge the Elect whom God lays no sin too and sees no iniquity in Jacob nor transgression in Israel And it is Colliers wicked eye that sees sin in the Elect they that are born of God and thus he abuseth the Scriptures and is not able to divide the word aright and therefore such Spirits is to be kept out of Scriptures with the Spirit that gave forth Scripture For he that is born of God doth not commit sin and there
is a time for men to see they have sin and sinned and a time to confess it and forsake it and their is a time to witness the blood of Christ cleansing from all sin and then a time to witness the birth born of God which doth not commit sin 1 John 4. Chap. Pr. He saith Here is a strange conceit of a person that fills heaven and earth with his presence and dwells in the Saints blindness with a witness c. See page 8. Ans Here thy ignorance hath appeared again for all power in heaven and earth is given to him Christ Jesus who is in them at the right hand of God who is in the Saints dwelling and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world but this to thee is a strange conceit and blindness with a witness Thy witness is blinded with thy conceit which shews thy ignorance of Scripture and thy unskilfulness in the word and doctrine that all things is upheld by his word and his power and that there is no creature but is manifest in his sight For all things that was made was made by him that he might have a name above every name and that to his name should every knee bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God and God will dwell in man and it is he that seeth the heart Pr. He saith Sin is in the Saints c. See page 10. Ans Sin is not in the sanctified but in the unsanctified And he that saith sin is in the Saints he is blinded he is of the Serpent and he and they be in the po●lution themselves which the Saints have escaped and are washed and cleansed and so far as any one is sanctified it is from the sin Pr. He saith That we will not enter into the Kingdom by the Blood of the Covenant that hath been often proved c. See page 10. Ans And Francis Blake did publish it in Print that the Quakers did witness the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin and so thou Prints against us and he prints for us thou Prints that we deny the blood of Jesus and he Prints that we own the blood of Jesus and so ye are devouring the innocent betwixt you and the blood of the seed we own which cleanseth from all sin which doth not you which say sin must be in the Saints but make his blood of none effect which cleanseth from all sin Pr. He saith The Scriptures shall be our judge one day which we call the letter c. See page 11. Answ And the Scripture saith all judgement is committed to the Son and God will judge the world and the Saints and the spiritual man judges all things and thus thou art ignorant of the letter and this shall judge thee at the last Pr. He saith That the Kingdom is not come nor refreshing from the presence of the Lord c. Answ Which shewes they are like unto the Pharisees unconverted gazing here and there and Christ told them the Kingdom was in them And they that are not turned to the light which comes from Christ the refresher whereby refreshing might come so are not come to repentance yet Pr. He saith They that say they have no sin makes God a liar See page 12. Ans Which the Scripture saith no such thing but saith on the contrary the Scripture saith many were made free from sin And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin and they that are Christs have crucified the lusts and all things are become new and they that sin and lie are not in Christ the truth Pr. He saith All that have been are or shall be converted since the Gospel ministration are converted by the Apostles words c. See page 13. Ans So he hath thrown out the spirit that doth regenerate and Christ the way to the Father the word that sanctifieth and Christ the power of God to salvation Who said they would not come to him that they might be converted so if they get all the Apostles words and come not to Christ they are not converted and none are converted by the Apostles words but who comes to the Life that the words come from Pr. And he opposeth and saith It will be the Quakers fall because they say there is no other way to bring people to God but by the light in them c. See page 14. Ans Which is Christ the way to God from whence it comes which is mans condemnation not believing in it and so a saving light For saith God I will give him for a Covenant for a lgiht to the Gentiles that he may be my salvation to the ends of the earth the light shall and all that be not in the light are in the fall out of the Covenant in the unsaved state and knows not their salvation but as the Scripture declareth and so there is death and destruction talking of the same of wisdom and keeping people out of the light Pr. And he saith That Christ is not so the light of the World as he is the light of believers See page 14. Ans Christ is the light to the World as to believers and he that believeth in it shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life he that follows the light and believes in it shall have the light of life and shall not abide in darknesse He that follows not the light but hates it he abides in the darknesse and the light condemns him which the believer walks in and believes in and hath the light of life which light is one and the same which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world believers and unbelievers Pr. He saith That the Scriptures is the rule of the Saints and he saith the spirit is the guide to that rule c. see page 15. Ans And so would have the Scripture to be before the spirit Now the spirit was the Saints rule that led them to speak forth Scriptures and to let them to see to what condition they were spoken too and so by that they came to the law of Faith and they was not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit So in this ye have proved your selves not to be Ministers of the Spirit but of the Letter which the Spirit was before the Letter was Pr. He saith That the time of perfection will be when Christ comes from heaven and not before till then the Saints must be warring waiting groaning and mourning c. See page 20. Ans And David saith he had seen an end of all perfection contrary to Collier And the Apostle saith they should hunger no more nor thirst no more And Christ saith He that eateth his flesh and drinketh his blood shall hunger no more and thirst no more He that believeth is entered into his rest shall hunger no more and thirst no more And the Apostles and Saints witnessed Christ in them and the Kingdome while they were upon earth and
from me to imagine that the spirit of God moved the Apostles to preach when they did onely and not at other times and that they always waited in silence till then c. See same page Answ So he would make it that the Apostles preached when the spirit moved them not and run without the moving of the spirit and so would make them like himselfe And Peter said they spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost And they that are the sons of God are led by the spirit of God And the spirit shall lead them into all truth And the spirit should tell them what they should speak and shew them things to come and that was their guide and rule and thou who speaks and not the spirit moves thee art no Minister of the spirit and sayes far be it from thee to imagine the Apostles preached onely when they were moved and so doth not own the Apostles were the Ministers of the spirit with thy imaginations Pr. And the singing of the Saints in the spirit and grace is not like the ungodly singing without the spirit Ans And saying the grace of God hath not appeared unto all men and all have not the spirit which is contrary to Scripture It saith the grace hath appeared unto all men and I 'le powr out my spirit upon all flesh And the spirit that reproves the world leads the Saints and you that sing Davids quakings and prayers is not in the understanding nor grace but distinct from the Saints which must be turned into howling How can ye give them the Psalms to sing then that have no grace Pr. And the Priests of Scotland say Cursed is he that sayes grace is free These are the Scottish principles c. Answ And yet ye give the Psalms to all to sing and yet ye say all have not grace and all have not the spirit of God and then can they not sing in the grace and sing in the spirit Is there any prudent reason or good understanding without the spirit Pr. He saith We deny the Scripture to be the Word of God Answ The Scriptures are the words of God and Christ is the word in which the words end Pr. And he speaks these detestable words and sayes Is not our tongues oyled with a spirit of confused delusion which is his own c. See page 5. Ans Because we say such as pray or preach it must be by the moving of the spirit of God which they be not in that are in the spirit of delusion Pr. And he is opposing the commands of Christ who said be not of men called Master for ye have one Master even Christ who conquers death and hell And he saith Why may they not be called Master Ans It is his Master that teacheth him to be called of men Master that is gone out of the truth but Christ said be not of men called Master and wo be to them that are Matth. 23. And you are them that are made by the will of man that breaks his commands George Willington's Booke called The Gadding Tribe Reproved A right Title to his condition in his Book who like a wilde Beast is gadding up and down but the Lord rebuke such spirits His PRINCIPLES follow c. Pr. HE himselfe falls a judging others and then he cries Oh man who art thou that judgeth another c. page 9. Answ And doth not see the worke that he is doing himselfe But bids others they should not judge and falls a judging himselfe which is like all the rest of his gadding Tribe and how they run with their horns at the righteous and push at the upright in heart But the Lamb is above them all and the wrath of the Lamb is kindled therefore the Beasts rage who against the Lamb makes war And where judgement is come through into victory he may judge and the hidden things of darkness is brought to light and the counsel of the heart made manifest and the Lord is come and the spirituall man judgeth all things which shews the counsell of his heart is not made manifest nor his hidden things of darknesse brought to light and the Lord is not come to him and so cannot judge And George Willington hath judged before his time with which he is charging others therefore his words shall be his burthen Pr. And his principle is That he is justified by faith alone without good works c. See page 10. Answ What without the faith that works by love hast thou concluded those works the works of Popery which are the works of faith that works by love that gives the victory How dost thou gad now whether art thou gadding now Know faith that works by love is owned and he that believes is ceased from his works as God did from his and hath entered into his rest And faith gives victory overall the Popish murthering spirits and thine both and your works which gives to have accesse to God and their works is wrought in him Pr. He saith Whilst the upstart sect of Quakers do looke after the light within he saith we have a more sure word of prophesie c. and so would make the sure word of prophesie not the lihgt within See page 12. Answ Whose spirit he hath made manifest where it is amongst them that are gone from the Apostle who stands against the light within For they that draw from the anointing within are the seducers and they went forth from the Apostles that went from the anointing within Art not thou and you all gadded and the world from the anointing within you and so seducing one another therefore have you so many heaps of Teachers and arming your selves and making lies your refuge against them that are come to the anointing which you are all gadded from given judgement against your selves who will not have people to own the light Christ Jesus who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and none owns the anointing within who owns not the light which you deny which have apostatized from the Apostles and the Quakers are risen up in the night of apostacy and discovers you all what you are in and what you went from and what hath been lost since the dayes of the Apostles and an Earth-quake is coming upon you that hath not been since the foundation of the world out of which Earth-quake we are come into that which cannot be shaken As the Quakers are not the Gadding tribe but they have the anointing in them and as it shall teach them they shall abide in the Son of God and the Father But it is manifest that thou and the whole world is gadded from the anointing within you which should teach you and so are turned against the Saints and the Lamb And have been the Harlots the mouths of the false Prophets blaspheming God in his Tabernacle and drunk the blood of the Saints and the Martyrs and the Prophets and made war against the Saints to overcome them
that do good that beholds by faith And so what is not of faith is sinne Pr. He saith He is in heavenly places and yet in the shadow of death with the earthly See page 38. Answ He that is in heavenly places is in Christ Jesus a new creature And he that believeth in the light shall not abide in darknesse so comes out of shadows And he that believeth abideth not in the condemnation and so comes out of the shadow of death though they have sate in the shadow of death before belief and comes out of the earth and so hast proved thy self not a true believer which comes out of the shadows and death Pr. He saith To purifie the members as reckoning it our redemption our righteousnesse all such purity is sin blindness and idolatry page 40. Ans And the Apostle calls Christ our redemption and our sanctification and our righteousnesse and so we can truly say Christ is ours and no idolaters And them that cannot say Christ is their sanctification redemption righteousness and mortification is in the idolizing and sin Pr. He saith The way to attain the spirit of Christ is not by waiting on the light within c. see page 52. Answ Christ saith believe in the light that ye way be children of the light and he that is a child of the light cometh to the birth born of the spirit And Christ doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world And as many as received him he gave them power to become the sons of God And none hears faith but who hears the light within which is Christ within who is the Author of it by which the spirit is received Pr. He saith That doctrine or spirit that calls to the Light within doth but build up the worship of the world c. page 53. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who said The light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ Jesus And Christ saith they that worship God must worship him in truth And he is the light and he is the truth that doth enlighteth every man that comes into the world and this throws down all the worship of the world And I say none comes out of the worships of the world and the doctrines of the world but who comes to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightned every man c. that shines in the darkness and the darknesse comprehends it not Pr. He saith To believe in God as in the Light within men redeeming from sin is to deny the witnesse of the Son and have neither Son nor Father c. page 54. Ans Which I say none owns the witnesse of the Son but who owns the Light which comes from the Son with which he is enlightned Nor none knows the Father nor the Son nor receives them but who receives the light which Christ the Son hath enlightned them withall nor knows God to be a Saviour but by the Light within Pr. He saith They that seeke for righteousnesse by obedience to the light within differs nothing from the Jewes but onely in the copies of the Law c. See page 56. Ans None sees the obedience of Christ the second Adam the end of the Law and copies of it but with the Light within which comes from Christ Jesus that brings in righteousness and ends sin and transgression who is the end of the righteous Law with which light man sees the weakness and unprofitableness of it and the types and the shadows of it which Christ is known in the light within who ends it Pr He saith To rest in hope that I am saved from sin and wrath by the blood of Christ the head and while conscience condemns for sin this is to hope against hope c. See page 57. Ans Such as are saved from the wrath by Christ the head and his blood they are saved from their sins And then they that are saved from their sins how can conscience condemn for sin and the wrath come upon them for sin and they that are saved from the wrath they are saved from their sins But where conscience doth condemn for sin there is wrath and he cannot witnesse a cleansing nor salvation wrought out nor saved from sin but is in the false hope and not in the true hope which goes against hope for the true hope is Christ within Pr. Whereas thou speaks of Christs working and giving an example c. page 67. Ans Yet thou and the rest are offended at those people that are called Quakers who say Christ was their example And so ye can allow what ye speak your selves but if another speak the same words it is an offence to you Pr. He saith Such as preach redemption by the light in every man are not of God c. See pag. 70. Ans The redemption of Christ the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And every man that cometh into the world that seeth his redemption it is by the light which he that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world hath enlightned him with which is Christ the Redeemer the Saviour the second Adam the way to the Father who shall make every tongue to confess him to the glory of God but thou that hates the light art condemned Pr. He saith Not the light in every man but the words of the Prophets and Apostles is that which leads to the Lord Jesus c. See Page 82. Ans Many may have the words of the Prophets and the Apostles but none comes to that which leads to the Lord Jesus but who comes into the light and life that the Prophets and Apostles was in which Christ Jesus is the end of who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Therefore every man that cometh into the world must come to the light which Christ hath enlightned him withal before he come to the end of the Prophets and the Apostles Christ Jesus the Lord of life and glory Pr. He saith The Scriptures are the image of Christ and he that seeks for God out of the humanity of Christ he shall lose both God and himself c. See pag. 82. Answ The Scriptures are writings and the writings will not endure for ever and the image of Christ is the image of God And all who be in the life that gave forth Scriptures be in the image of Christ which was afore Scripture was and all that have the Scriptures out of the life that gave them forth they have not the image And he that is out of the truth may have the Scriptures but he is out of the image all are who be out of the truth but who be in the truth be in the image And God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe And who knows the Son knows the Father And he that hath found the Son hath found the Father also And he that seeks after God out of Christ shall
before the Apostles decease they saw them that were false accusers and fierce despisers of them that were good They that had the forme of godlinesse but denyed the power that should be lovers of themselves and covetous and these were crept up before the Apostles decease and since the dayes of the Apostles the world have been after them That both covetous and heady and fierce despisers have rul'd they have been like Jannes and Jambres who withstood Moses when the children of Israel were to come out of Aegypt And so do you that crept up since the Apostles decease who are covetous and high-minded heady fierce despisers of them that are good have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof which are to be turned away from and so keeps people in spirituall Aegypt and Sodome Are ye not all covetous and lovers of your selves And do not you all deny the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Christ the power of God and so keeps people under your teachings all their life time laden with their sins divers lusts while they be upon the earth and the body of it and telling them that there is no perfection here That Ministry that tosseth people up and down with your slights and wiles and windy doctrine and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth which truth is the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Are not ye fierce despisers of them that are good Hath not all the blood which hath been shed since the days of the Apostles of the Martyrs and Saints been by the stock that you are in who are the false spirits erred from the true spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in and gone out into the world from them as ye confesse ye have not the same infallible spirit as the Prophets Christ and the Apostles had and Eaton the Pastor saith And the Indians will not deny the Light nor Turks neither that convinceth them of sin for to the Turks and Indians was the Covenant promised as well as to the Jewes for they are Heathen and thus your ignorance appears of the Scripture of truth and Ministers of God and with them you are judged Pr. Priest Coale saith The light which he is justified by is a created light Page 56. Answ The Scriptures of Truth which the Saints declared and Christ never held forth such a light as was created as justified them for the Saints are justified by Christ the light by whom all things were created Light was not created that was the Saints justification Pr. He saith Who are washed from their sins by the blood of Christ and made Priests unto God and in this sense if they themselves do not once become Priests they will become companions of Devils for ever See page 56. Answ They that become Priests to God and are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ are come out of the Devils power and overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and owns the light to be their justification which thou denies Pr. He tells us of Pauls mediate call and his extraordinary call of it selfe had not been sufficient Answ The Scripture tells us no such thing of Pauls mediate call and Paul declares himselfe take Pauls owne words not of man nor by man but by the will of God and that was sufficient which call you are out of since his dayes by men are ye called Pr. He saith Christ doth not forbid not simply to be called of men Master c. page 62. Ans It was Christs command plainly to his Disciples Be not ye of men called Master for ye have one master even Christ And thus thou stands against Christs doctrine and commands and so a transgressor and an Antichrist Pr. He saith Christs humane nature c. Ans Where doth the Scripture speak of humane the word humane where is it written tell us that we may search for it Now we do not deny that Christ according to the flesh was of Abraham but not the word humane And Christs nature is not humane which is earthly for that is the first Adam Pr. Priest Coals principle He saith His justification is not done within him but without him in the Court of heaven Answ Reprobates may talk of Justification Did not Christ work Justification without them upon the earth for man kinde and brought righteousnesse And where there is Christ made manifest within is not their Justification wrought there from heaven within Where faith is witnessed within doth not that justifie and none knows Justification in truth but where it is wrought within See page 77 78. Pr. Again Priest Coal saith The life that he lives is a created life Ans So thou hast shewed thy selfe a naturall man not spirituall nor a son of God led by the spirit of God nor in the faith and dost not live by faith nor a living in the spirit so hast manifested vain glory Pr. He calls trembling and quaking the shaking of the soule Answ The power of the Lord God cometh to shake down that nature which prisons the soul c. and sets it free And as for all thy other Complaints Reviles Railings and Lies will turn upon thy selfe and they will be hard for thee to bear and thou shalt cry out with Cain when thou and you feel the burthen who are cut of Christs steps who is the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world In the day of thy judgement thou shalt witnesse and the witnesse in thy conscience shall answer Francis Fullwood His Booke called A True Relation of a DISPVTE His Principles follows Pr. HE saith The Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation Again the Son in whom eternall life is is onely found in Scripture and they are they that testifie of him and therefore eternall life is found in Scripture Ans Many had the Scriptures but stood against the Son of God and many may have the Scriptures and not the Son of God The Son of God is not Writings Scriptures signifies writings And many may have the Scriptures and not have the Son of God and so not eternall life For the Devill hath Scripture but hath not eternall life for he that envyeth his brother hath not eternall life abiding in him So who have eternal life they have that which the Scripture speaks of testifies of it testifies of Christ the life of the spirit and so they are the words given forth by the spirit of God and so are to be fulfilled by the same spirit again And the Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus For they were not wise unto salvation who had the spirit without the faith Pr. He saith We attain our Gospell another way then Paul did And it is blasphemy to tell us that what ye deliver is by revelation from heaven c. Answ You have received your Gospell another way then Paul did I do believe who are apostates
by revelation for no man knows Christ but by revelation And all that ever own Christ they must own the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world to be the covenant of God which light men are to believe in which not believing in they are reprobated And thousands and thousands I do believe you who have had the sheeps cloathing upon the back of them and so have covered the Wolfe with it Neither you nor they never knew the revelation of the Son of God and so never know the son of God untill he be revealed and so hath not the knowledge of him The Scriptures testifie of him but they that had the Scriptures knew him not but who was in the light and in the Covenant and so ye have all discovered your selves in the apostacy apostatized from the Apostles spirit and all to be the false spirits gone out into the earth into the world for means for maintenance and so ye are all puft up in your pride and so that makes all your doctrine to be so dry and so barren there being no revelation among you nor no immediate speaking from God and Christ but feeding people with the husk with the outside And have proved your selves here to be but the Wolfe in the sheeps cloathing inwardly ravened from the spirit But with it ye are comprehended and if it had not been so you would never have published your folly to the Nation But the spirit of love and humility and meekness which bears all things comes to be known by the spirit Pr. For people to be led with a light within this is to make the Scriptures uselesse Ans No this lets see the Scriptures in their place and the fulfilling of them which was given forth to be believed practised read and fulfilled not for men to make a trade of them and call people from the Light within with which they should see the Scriptures and none comes into Covenant with God with their hearts and their minds that they need not say one to another know the Lord that they may be always living under mans teaching Pr. How clear say they the Scripture is that faith cometh by hearing and not by minding the light within Answer Doth any man know Christ but by the Light within And is not Christ the Word Can any see without the Light the Word Doth it not make manifest Nay doth it not give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus read 2 Cor. 4.1 from whence faith comes and so faith comes by minding the light within Christ the author of it and brings to look as him and hear him Prin. And Multitudes were converted by those faire Epistles written by the Spirit Answ None are converted but who be in the spirit that gave forth those Epistles though they may have all the Epistles For that hath been the Papists and your convertings who hath had the Epistles by the Epistles out of the life since the dayes of the Apostles and so made proselites Pharisee-like For that baptizeth and that circumciseth for in that is the fellowship and the unity People as I said to you before may get the sheeps cloathing as ye have long time been covered with but inwardly ye have been ravening wolves as your fruits have declared as the Northern part of the nation may make it manifest The witnesse in all your consciences shall answer for me and let you see that your own words are your burden and an heavy cry will come upon you when ye feel it who now are fat and full and fresh and lusty but a day of requiring is coming and inquisition is made for the blood that hath been shed of all the Prophets Martyrs and Saints since the dayes of the Apostles and the prisoning and the persecuting by you and your off-spring got up since the dayes of the Apostles the false spirits that went out into the world that are now standing against the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world So marks that you be inwardly ravened and that you be the Antichrists and the false Prophets you are not like to own the light in every man who are ravened from it and are turned against them that walke in the light and keep the testimony of Jesus Here is the Beast and the false Prophet that makes war against the Saints and overcomes them for a time but the Lamb and the Saints must have the victory And you about Newcastle Ministers and Teachers are like to a heap or dunghil sogged and mudded but come to the witnesse else eternally you will be condemned Pr. They say Blessed are they that heare the Word and keep it which is a word spoken and written not the eternall word It is a notion of the Word of God to call the Word of God a Declaration And the holy Scriptures is able to make men wise unto Salvation to the Law and Testimony Ans To the Law and to the Testimony The law is light saith Solomon And the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy And many may have the Old and New Testament and yet be out of the Light and out of the Testimony as you and so out of the spirit of prophecy For Isaiah had the testimony before Matthew Mark Luke John and the Revelations was written and bid them come to the Law and to the Testimony and you that do not speak according to that rule it is because you hate the light in you And the Scriptures Luke calls them a Declaration who was a Minister of the Word and the Scriptures are the words of God and the words of Christ and so not the Word but the words which the Word Christ fulfills So ye are men not capable nor of a true understanding to divide the word aright nor to speak a word in season to the wearyed but do all lead the halt and lame and blinde out of the way who for so doing must find misery Again they that hear the Word of God they hear that which lives and doth endure for ever and this Word is eternall which lives and doth endure for ever which they have within them and with that they see the words and letters and writings or outward Tables may be broken but still the Word remains That ever the Ministers of Newcastle should say that the Scriptures are able to make men wise unto salvation and leave out faith you are no more made wise then the Pharisees was with the Scriptures without faith The Pharisees were not made wise unto salvation by the Scriptures without the faith neither are you But who are in the faith they are made wise to salvation through the Scriptures and comes to Christ the end of them for it gives to see the Scriptures and in it in the faith is the unity which Scribes and Pharisees and Apostates are out of Pr. That a mediate call since the time of the Apostles and
which is now among the Saints and that Scripture is fulfilled yea in England among the Saints And such as are more then Conquerours they see the end of Wars and that which causeth Wars He that is a Conquerour may be in the War but he that is more then a Conquerour he is in that which takes away the occasion of Wars and is come to that which was before Wars was And he that hath this hope which is Christ he hath that which purifies himselfe even as he is pure and comes to witnesse the Kingdome of God that stands in joy peace and rigteousnesse and so is not always groaning in the earth under the earthly tabernacle while he is upon the earth but comes to know the body of sinne put off made free from the body of sinne And the Saint is not sinfull neither doth the Saints ever allow nor approve of sin he that allows and approves of that is out of the sanctified state Pr. Notwithstanding thy passing the first and second resurrection as thou saith there remains a torment for thee at the last day and woe page 42. Answ They are blessed that have part in the first Resurrection the second Death hath no power over them but are made free from wrath that is to come and are passed from death to life and are translated into the Kingdome of the Son of God and are in unity with the Son of God and the Father both and so thou utterest forth lyes Pr. He saith To declare against such as are called of men Master is a matter of his faith Answ They had not faith that were called of men Master which Christ cryed woe against nor the Jews neither have you who breaks his commands Pr. He saith The Spirit that declares in the Letter keeps me from vanity frees me from the law of sin and condemnation Ans The spirit that was in the Saints that gave forth the Letter did free them from the Law of sin and condemnation and kept them from vanity The spirit is not in the Letter for many may have that and not the spirit and they are in the sinne and vanity and are not freed from the Law of Condemnation none is but who be in the spirit Pr. He saith They are to feed the people who are ordained over a particular place over which the holy Ghost hath made them overseers and they are covetous wretches and worldlings that keeps back their Tythes And no more wages he receives then what the Gospell allows And he is a thief that keeps back the hire from the Labourer and the Lord gives man tythes as a portion in the earth c. See page 57 58 59 60. Ans The holy Ghost made the Apostles overseers of the Church and the Elders But that which hath made you overseers hath been men and the Pope by your Schools and Colledges so thus you deceive the people by telling them the holy Ghost made you overseers For ye say ye have not the same infallible spirit as the Prophets Christ and the Apostles had as witnesse Samuel Eaton in his Book and divers others and Tythes was allotted by God to the Priests and Levites and people in the first Covenant and Priest-hood and they were Robbers that kept it back But Christ is come the everlasting Covenant who ends Tythes and Priest-hood and the first Covenant and blots out the Ordinances Therefore they that be covetous will take them by violence from the people But them that are come to the Gospel allowance freely ye have received freely give What they set before them of that they are to eat preach the Gospel live of the Gospel these triumph and trample upon the first Priest-hood types figures and shadows sees the Priest-hood is changed the Ordinances blotted out the Commandement disannul'd that gave them Do witnesse the one offering for the sin of the whole world and are of the royall Priest-hood Such as these cannot pay tythes covetous and worldlings may do it and take them that are apostatized from the Apostles set up by the Popes authority by which the true seed is opprest who went forth from the Apostles by a usurpt authority under whom you are sheltred for your tythes But now you are seen by them who are come to the Apostles that you went from and judged Pr. He saith The Lord hath given tythes for the maintenance of the Ministery of this Nation Again he saith This light within is turned into utter darknesse page 62. 65. Ans It was the Pope and the apostates from the Apostles since their dayes that hath given Tythes from the spirit that the Apostles was in they are ravened that take them for the Apostles took none their fruits in the Nation declares it which if they will not give the Priests Tythes how they cast them into Prisons Dungeons untill death For Christs maintenance which the Apostles witnessed freely they had received and did give again freely and he that preached the Gospell to live of the Gospell and coveted no mans silver goods nor apparrel But do not ye covet mens silver and goods when ye take treble damages of them and cast them into prison Is not this the work of the Ministry of the Nation Is not the over-flowing scourge of the Almighty gone over you and the Rod and the Lash come upon you all Again the Light within hath led to the light of life and leads to the light of life out of utter darknesse in which thee and thy generation is seen that stands against the light So all you Apostates are whelmed under in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles who are out of the allowance of Christ his wages and maintenance the giving freely which shews they have not received of God but bought and sells yea and after great rates too and so are the Merchants that John speaks of in the Revelations and this cumbers the creation yea Nations Ye bring not the glad tydings to them but burthens them yee are seen and felt Pr. He saith Away with your bodily fleshly litterall trembling and quivering See page 70. Answ Habakkuk his lips quivered Davids flesh trembled Daniel trembled Paul trembled Davids bones quaked and this man the Lord regards that trembles at his Word though cast out by thee and thy generation in this age as was in the dayes of Isaiah So thee and thy generation who saith away with trembling of the flesh and bodily Away with the power of God that throws down that which defiles the flesh so before fl●sh sin is condemned in it and the powers of darkness wrought out of the flesh You must know trembling thou and all thy generation before the Devill be dispossessed out of your earthly Tabernacles you must all know trembling and thou and thy generation have shewed your ignorance of the mighty power of God the salvation that is wrought out with feare and trembling And that power that threw down in all ages the nature that captivated the
Again if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us if we say we have not sinned we make him a lyar page 89. Ans The Saints are in Christ and God and at the dissolving of the earthly or sin they do not bid all the Saints farewell for then they come into unitie with them with the Elect. And John doth shew there was a time to see they had sinned and a time to see they had sin and a time to confesse it and forsake it and a time to witness the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse from all sin a time to witnesse the birth of God born which doth not commit sin and the seed of God remaining in them that the wicked one could not touch them Pr. He saith the Saints are neither in the fulness of the Godhead nor part away with this Blasphemy that saith this is c. page 92. Ans The work of the Ministry was to bring people to the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man to the unity of the faith to the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ and Christ will dwell in the Saints and God will dwell in them and thou saith they have no part of the fulness of the Godhead and John saith of his fulness have we all received in whom dwells the Godhead bodily And ye be all in the Blasphemy that be out of this part of the fulness Pr. He saith the Quakers knowes a man whether he be a Saint or a Divel as soon as they see him or hear him speak or act and they are beyond all our forefathers And the Apostle saith what man knoweth the things of a man saving the spirit of a man that is in him so we are not as Christ in this respect and thou saith thou art as Christ in this present world and no man can be without sin in this house of clay and saith I was shapen in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me and my flesh is sins free-hold c. page 94. 95. Ans Here thou hast shewed that the Quakers have a spirit given to them beyond all the forefathers which we do witness since the days of the Apostles in the apostacy And they can discern who are Saints who are Divels who are apostates without speaking ever a word they that be in the power the life of truth And the natural man knows not the things that be in another man but with the spirit within him may know what is in himself but the spiritual man searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Here thou hast made no distinction betwixt the spiritual and natural And as Christ is so are we in this present world and where Christ is manifest he destroyes the sin in the flesh where they come to be as he is they come to be above clay and mortal and fading and so the flesh comes to be put off which thou calls sins free-hold and the body of it and cometh to be made free from the Law by the body of Christ and this the Saints witnessed while they were on earth And the creature comes into the liberty of the Sons of God And as thou was born in iniquity thou shewes thou was born in the unregeneration there was some sanctified from the womb there is some children clean who are believers he that can receive it let him so thou art an ignorant man not able to divide the word aright nor canst Minister unto the people not knowing the condition they be in unless they tell thee and so apostatized from the Apostles and not Ministers of the spirit that Ministers to the spirit for could not the Apostles Preach and speak to the Jewes and Gentiles unless they come and told them what condition they were in or did all the Jewes and Gentiles come and tell the Apostles what condition they were in before they Preacht to them Pr. He saith the Light in man is imperfect a weak faint light page 97. Again the light in the Gentiles is called a natural light page 88. Ans The light that every man hath that cometh into the world is not an Imperfect light a weak or faint light or natural light but who are weak go from it and faint and hate it and dispiseth it as Esau and run into the earth And who believe in it have the light of life and receives it becomes the Sons of God And the light in the Gentiles which brought them to do the Law was spiritual not natural which the Apostle sets up to be the Circumcision and the Jew inward and throwes out the Jew outward and Circumcision both and this he brings to have the praise of God which the Jewes had not in the outward and this makes the Jew no Jew and their Circumcision no Circumcision and Judged them And all professors upon the earth that be from that that doth the Law in the heart and the Jew inward you be from that who stands against the Light of Christ that doth enlighten c. Pr. He saith If an hypocrite reign his power is of God and Saints are to yield to the power and it must be honoured and have obedience from the Saints Page 101. And so they that call them corrupt Magistrates are the filthy dreamers that Jude speaks of Pag. 102. Answ Such as are turned into corruption and are hypocrites they are gone from the higher power which the soul should be subject to and it s gone over them and so for the Lords sake the Saints cannot be subject to that power but that power that brings down the hypocrisie and the corruptions in Magistrates and as they come to be clothed with the power of God they are able to put a difference betwixt the precious and the vile and that they own those are a praise to them that do well The Jewes of old time could not obey the heathen Magistrates bow to their gods that feared God that lived in the Law of God nor to their Commands nor their power nor authority nor the Apostles could not bow to the Authority of the Jewes to their ordinances their power that held them up which Christ came to put an end to which was held up by Magistrates nor that among the Gentiles held up by Magistrates For Christ was come to reign who had all power in heaven and earth given to him And since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy the Saints cannot now bow to that which the Pope and Kings and Queens set up though they call it a Supream power that commands the things which who be in the power of God that destroyes that which defiles the flesh and the evil speaker and that is the dignity which the Saints own and live in and speakes not evil of but they do that transgresse the Spirit of God and goes from it as Jude speakes of therefore have the Martyrs and Saints and Prophets suffered since the dayes of the
became the Curse and tooke away the Curse who is the sanctification and brings the blessing and redemption by whom and through whom are many entered into the Paradise of God and have the right to the tree of Life And they are not come into this who are yet in the disobedience the unbeliever and lyar and reviler and whoremonger and Adulterer hates the light in the disobedience and cannot touch the tree of life for the sword turns every way upon them And as for all thy hard expressions and reviles in thy Book they come from the Disobedience over which the sword is that keeps it in awe over whom goes the higher power and that cannot touch nor taste of the tree of Life in the Paradice of God in the Ancient of Dayes thou shalt feel my words to be truth Robert Simpson Robert Parnell John Andrews Thomas Ewen Bryan Hanson and Richard Moon In their Book called The Church of Christ in BRISTOL recovering her VAILE Their Principles as followeth Answ It is a true word to you And that you are recovering the vaile more then the life and substance that takes away all vails as your Principles that follows in your Book makes it manifest Pr. YOu say Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devels And also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things and draw many Disciples after them And they went out from us it is manifest they are not of us 1 John 2 c. Ans You have brought these words to shew your ignorance for the Apostles saw such as should depart from the faith and the false Prophets and Antichrists that Christ said should come John saw was come and went forth from them before the Apostles decease And they went forth from the Church and departed from the faith in which faith the Church had unity and this they apostatized from which since the dayes of the Apostles they have had the sheeps cloathing and so got up an imagined Church with a vail on it in the apostacy and these were they that drew Disciples after them which caused the way of truth to be evill spoken of and the seducing spirits and the doctrine of Devills have been up since the dayes of the Apostles which they saw come in before their decease and such went from the faith in which is the unity And thus they be in the enmity destroying one another persecuting one another prisoning one another about Religion and Church Doctrine and Scriptures and Christs and the Prophets and Apostles words which shew they be out of unity with God with the Scriptures and there you are and out of the faith that works by love by which they should heap coals of fire on the heads of all the adversaries And so this is the dawning of the day the ending of the night of apostacy you who be of the skirts of the great Whore are seen as you have manifested by your tale you have told to the world in your Booke who stiles your selves The Church of Christ which is made up by the Letter How want ye the life the Saints lived in that gave forth the Scriptures Oh! ye want the covering of the spirit of the Lord God And now are all your spirits and men departed from the Faith and false Prophets that should inwardly raven that Christ said should come that got the sheeps cloathing but inwardly ravening wolves whose fruits should declare them which John saw was come which went forth from them which led the world after them and the false Apostles and Satans Ministers and messengers which the Apostle saw come up before his decease These since the dayes of the Apostles have been the guides and leaders of the world and Teachers and gatherers of people into Names into Heads into Horns whereby one hath been against another that they have gathered people out of peoples and brought people to a head and not to Christ and yet all have professed themselves Christians So they have had the sheeps cloathing but inwardly ravened from the spirit of God and so have been Wolves cloathed with the sheeps cloathing tearing the Lambs to pieces yea and many Gaots and Beasts too sometimes which the fruits of this hath declared sufficiently since the dayes of the Apostles and in this Nation And these have deceived the world and have been the wrestlers against flesh and blood strikers at the Creature such as have departed from the faith ravened from the spirit went forth from the Apostles had sheeps cloathing such have been the Teachers and gatherers into Sects and Names and Heaps and every one will cry his Church his Church and all against the light which comes from Christ where the Church stands But now he is redeeming and recovering that which hath been lost since the dayes of the Apostles in this night of the Apostacy The light is come the night is gone the Lamb and the Saints are going on conquering and to conquer The Throne of the Lamb is set up and all those false Prophets Beasts Antichrists and mother of Harlots great Whore and Kings of the Earth and the Devill are making War against the Lamb and the Saints Now are all the Antichrists appearing and are in armes and rising against Christ and his light The Lamb is on the white Horse who slayes with his Sword which are the words of his mouth and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory Glory in the highest and rejoyce ye holy Prophets over her Pr. They say The mysticall body may sometimes be subject to distempers and humours and wants page 1. Answ Are you Judges Can you judge of the mysticall body which the Saints are baptized into Is their humours wants and distempers in the body which the Saints are baptized into Is not the wants humours distempers in your body Do you here in this divide the word aright Distinguish things in the ground and speak aright of things and yet ye would not be judged and say Judge not and is not mysticall spirituall Pr. You say The Scriptures are the word of God Answ The Scripture saith it selfe the Word is God Christ whose name is called the Word of God and the Scriptures are words the words of God the words of Christ the Declaration which the Ministers of the Word set forth which words ends in Christ the Word who fulfills them And it is called the Scriptures of Truth which cannot be broken and so ye do not speak as the Church did that gave forth Scripture And the spirit of God was the rule that led them to speak forth the Scriptures which brings to know the right use of them again Pr. They say To call that light in every man Christ is to slight Christs glorious person in heaven and to nullifie it Ans In this have not you shewed your ignorance And to be them that went forth from the Apostles and
the Scriptures the words of God and properly to call Christ his name the Word of God and the Word that became flesh that is proper Scripture And they that had not the Scriptures worshipped God before the Scriptures was written as Abraham and Enoch and others and they attained to eternall life And if people have all the Scriptures and not the Spirit which was before they was given forth they want the standing rule they cannot know the Scriptures they cannot worship God aright they cannot finde eternall life they have not unity with God neither do they worship God aright but who be in the spirit that gave them forth And we do believe you that immediate revelations now by the holy spirit of God revealing things to you im-immediately ye have not and you say it is not the work of Gods spirit now nor the way of God now c. You that have ravened from the spirit of God inwardly have been the Wolves which Christ said should come which John saw was come which the world hath gone after you and yee have burst into Names and Heads Horns and Sects And the power was given to the Beast and the false Prophets and the great Whore hath corrupted the earth All Nations have drunk her cup of fornications and the Kings of the Earth So they have flown to the Kings for help against the Saints and against the Lamb but the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory And so when you have been ravened from the spirit of God it hath not been like yee should attain to immediate Revelation by the spirit of God But now who are come to the Lamb are come to that ye ravened from they witnesse immediate Revelation They are come to that the Apostles was in the spirit of Christ the spirit of God they witnesse immediate Revelation Who are come into the feare of God the things of God is revealed unto them who are come into the spirit of God it reveals to them the deep things of God So you that deny immediate revelation by Gods holy spirit now and discovering things to you immediately you have shewed your spirits to be the false spirits unclean spirits that be in the earth like the Frogs that go out of the mouth of the Beast and the false Prophet which was discovered by John and revealed to John discovered and made manifest which now with the same holy spirit of God are you all apostates revealed and discovered to the children of the Light to the Lambs and the Saints who witnesse the spirit of God which reveales the things of God to them and immediate revelation As ever the false Prophets false Apostles false Teachers in their false prophesies and teachings did who had gotten the form and denyed the power immediate Revelation by Gods holy spirit And was it not they then that cryed to the powers of the earth for help against the Saints in all ages which was discovered and judged by the spirit of God and must go into the fire Pr. He saith The Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation and they are a more sure word of prophecy then any voyce that we can hear from heaven page 6. And we will call them the Word of God whether the Quakers will or no and we are to go to the Law and Testimony page 7. Ans In this ye are contrary to the Ministers of the Word who calls the Scriptures the words of God and Christ the Word and calls the Scriptures a Declaration and a Treatise which Christ the Word came to fulfill And the Law and Testimony which ye say is the Old and New Testament which many may have and yet stand against the Law which is light as saith Solomon and stand against the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy and crucifie them that be in it in the Law and Testimony they that have the Old and New Testament as witnesse the ravening Wolves that have had the sheeps cloathing but inwardly ravened from the spirit which Christ said should come John saw was come went out from the Apostles which since the world have gone after them And many may have the Scripture and stand against the voyce from heaven as the Jewes did him that spoke from heaven which was more sure him that spoke from heaven who was the end of the Scripures and comes to fulfill them And the Scriptures are not able to make wise unto salvation as you say who leave out the Faith but through faith they are Pr. Let the Quakers shew where ever Christ or the Apostles bid people looke to the light within them And the Quakers say they write from the spirit of the Lord and speake from God immediately and infallibly as did the Apostles and doth not this bring them under the curse in the Revelations page 8. And say the Letter is a dead and killing letter these he calls wicked errours And to say the light within is sufficient an old Popish argument Answ The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened withall is the salvation to the ends of the earth and sufficient for he that believes in it shall have the light of life and come to witnesse the Law of God in his minde and in his heart and the new Covenant which he shall not need to say Know the Lord. And the letter of Scripture paper and inke is a dead letter And thou and you all that speak and write and not from God immediately and infallibly as the Apostles did and Prophets and Christ but onely have gotten the words you are all under the Curse in another spirit ravened from the spirit that was in the Apostles onely have had the sheeps cloathing inwardly ravening wolves so deceived the World and the Nations and have been held up by the powers of the world the powers of the earth And the Kings of the earth have drunk the cup of fornication and they were like to maintain that which they have drunk And so power hath been given to the Beast over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and they should make war against the Lamb and the Saints and continue it till the words of God was fulfilled And the Apostles told the Corinthians that light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus And so all people upon the earth that have gotten a knowledge and if the light that shineth in their hearts hath not given it them what they know they know naturally in these things they corrupt themselves And so thou and you that be ignorant of the Apostles doctrine the light that gives people the knowledge and the immediate infallible spirit that the Apostle was in and that the Scriptures was given forth from are and the Pope together in another fallible spirit then the Apostles were in comprehended with the spirit that gave forth Scriptures Pr. And what a dreadful Judgement
is upon them that leave the Scriptures to look to the light within them Page 9. And many deceivers should come into the world that confesse not Christ come in the flesh receive them not into your houses And the man Christ is testified against by the light Pag. 13. and he saith they publikely deny the resurrection of the dead body And he saith Christ in the flesh his sufferings was but an example and a figure Ans Christ ended all figures in suffering and examples and paterns yet he is the Saints patern and example as the Scripture witnesses and there is no other example nor patern to be heeded but Christ alone which they are to learn of but to say he is nothing but a figure for that thou and you all will be judged for he ended all figures and is the resurrection and the life both and thy dead body shall live with my dead body this is Scripture and they that said the resurrection was past in the dayes of the Apostles overthrew the faith of some That which overthrowes the faith denying the resurrection kept the seed in death where it hath been in you all since the dayes of the Apostles for who are of faith are of Abraham of Christ according to the flesh and so if the dead arise not their Preaching is vain and their faith is vain So I say mortal must put on immortality and corruption must put on incorruption the first man was made a living soul the second was made a quickening spirit there is earthly bodies and heavenly bodies and there Is a resurrection of the just and unjust the one to eternal life the other to condemnation And the Judge is the man Christ Jesus to Judge the quick and the dead who both dyed and rose again that he might be God of the dead and the living And the light which every man hath that cometh into the world doth not testifie against Christ And the light doth not bring to deny the Scriptures but to own them And none ownes them aright nor Christ but who are in the light which cometh from him And all that do deny the light that doth enlighten every man c. are the wolves and the false Prophets and Antichrists that have gotten the sheeps cloathing and such cannot be received into the houses of the Saints that are from the light which every man is enlightened withall And none confesseth Christ come in the flesh but who is in the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall And so now is all Professors and teachers upon the earth and Kings of the earth ravened inwardly from the light which Christ enlightened them all withall standing against the light and the Lamb and the Saints that be in it and are not to be received into the houses of the Saints neither to bid them God speed for they be out from God that be out of the Light which Christ the Son hath enlightened them withall Pr. And he saith Christ hath a humane reasonable soul Again Christ the Eternal Son of God distinct from the Father Eternally before he was made flesh his spirit was distinguished from the Father and the Son from Eternitie and not onely when he was manifested by descending on Christ in the likeness of a Dove or by falling upon the Apostles like cloven tongues c. page 17. Answ Christ saith he is in the Father and the Father is in him and he will send them the Spirit of Truth the Comforter that proceeds from the Father and the Son and Christ saith he was glorified with the Father before the world began and yet ye say the Son is distinguished from the Father from Eternity and the Son saith he is in the Father and the Father is in him and you say the spirit is distinguished from the Father and the Son from Eternity and Christ saith it proceeds from him and the Fathers and he is the God and Father of the spirits of all flesh and the substance of all things And is not a humane soul earthly for you say that Christ had a humane soul and is not humane earthly and hath a humane body and is not a humane body an earthly body Is not his body of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh and is not his body a glorified body was not the first man of the earth earthly and had an humane body the second man the Lord from heaven And is not the soul immortal which cometh out from God which is immortal and goes into God again and is not humane or earthly mortal And are there not three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and are not they all one how then are they distinct and three that bear record in earth the spirit the water and the blood which agree in one And Christ saith I and my Father are one and I in the Father and the Father in me and he is in the Saints and so not distinct Pr. He saith it is impudency in the Quakers to deny the word Trinity and three Persons And the Church ever denyed such as denyes the Doctrine of the Trinity Page 18. 19. Ans As for the word Trinity and three Persons we have not read it in the Bible but in the Common-prayer Book or Masse-book which the Pope was the Author of but as for Unity we own and Christ being the brightness of the Fathers glory and the expresse Image of his substance of the Father we own That we own which agrees with the Scriptures and for that which the Scripture speakes not which men speak and teach for Doctrine their own words that the Scriptures speakes not nor teacheth such the Scriptures shut out and we deny Pr. He saith that is the weak ignorant dark and the wicked Sect of the Devil that maintains an equality with God the soul to be one being with God or part of God And saith the Quakers say there is no Scriptures speakes of a humane soul and the soul is taken up into God and God is all in all Answ The Assembly or Synod of Priests put forth a Catechisme and say that the Holy Ghost and the Son is equal with the Father in power and glory and this they put forth that people should learn it what then if any come to witness the Holy Ghost they come to witnes that which is equal in power and glory with the Father what if any come to witness the Son of God revealed in them which he that hath not him hath not life do they not come to witness him who is equal in power and glory with the Father this is your own Catechisme and is it blasphemy to confesse your own words that ye have given people to learn God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul God who hath all souls in his hand And is not this that cometh out from God which is in Gods hand part of God of God and from God and to
is the eight day and so not one in seven And if the Saints-sat in heavenly places with Christ Jesus And if the Saints in heaven must have a glorious body and Christ an humane body which I say is earthly how doth this agree with Scripture that says Christs is a glorious body And is it an earthly body the Saints eats when they eat the flesh of Christ And is not people in their first state in the earthly before they come to witnesse a spiritual body like unto his glorious body How do you divide the word aright and they that have the spirit of Christ their spirits are in heaven and they have unity with the Father Pr. We have no such immediate converse with God now as to see him face to face page 42. Ans We do believe you have not who are gone from the spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in ravened from it since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy and so are not in the counsell of God and are out of his teaching and instruction and so farre off of having fellowship with God for who have fellowship with him comes to see him and you are not of Abrahams seed who saw God face to face but are of the Pharisees stock who never saw his shape John 5. Pr. And you say In the last dayes false Prophets should arise and shew signes and wonders and if it were possible they should deceive the Elect. And the coming of the man of sin is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders c. page 44. Answ Christ said they should come the false Prophets and the Antichrists which John saw were come yea many Antichrists were gone out into the world And the Apostle Paul saw the man of sin before his decease the coming of him with the lying signes and wonders which since the dayes of the Apostles in this night of Apostacy they have rul'd and reign'd the man of sin with his lying signes and wonders and these are not the true signes but lying And when they were ravened from the spirit of God they got the sheeps cloathing inwardly ravening wolves which if it were possible they would deceive the very elect which went forth from the Apostles in the apostacy and since they have deceived the Nations the wolves the inwardly raveners though covered with the sheeps cloathing And here these things have been among you in the apostacy And the Apostates have reigned and rul'd and have had the dominion since the dayes of the Apostles But now with that which ye all have ravened from are ye made manifest and comprehended So this man of sin with his lying signes and wonders who ravened from the spirit of God as the Devill did who went from the Truth is he that compels all his members to plead for the body of sin while they be upon earth and so to keep them out of the faith of Gods Elect that gives the victory over the world And such he cannot deceive nor none of his members that ravened from the spirit of God Pr. He saith The Quakers the despising the fashions of the world contemning the honours and pleasures thereof and their sober carriage and deportment among men and willingnesse to suffer all these he calls wickedness See page 49 50. Answ But it seemeth this practice sobernesse denying the fashions of the world and contemning of honours and pleasures thereof and the sober carriage offends him and the world and the rest of the Priests and Professors and to deny their lusts which they be in Pr. He saith The Devill is not an Adulterer page 51. Answ Did the Devill abide in the Truth And did not he go out of it Are not all that go out of the Truth of him Adulterers who begets his own image and is the foundation of adultery Pr. He saith The light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is a naturall light or law page 56. Ans Which light is the end of the Law Christ Jesus before any naturall light was made or created for all things that was made was made by him and he doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world who is the end of the Law Pr. He saith the light will not bring men to salvation page 56. Answ The light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is Christ the salvation to the ends of the earth Pr. He saith again The light is not sufficient to lead men to salvation page 60. And to witnesse Sanctification within and Justification there is to confound justification and sanctification And grace and justification is a created thing and the sight within is meer darknesse which the Quakers speak of See page 61. Ans The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall comprehends all darknesse and leads out of it and there is no occasion of stumbling in it for as many as receives him to them he gives power to become the sons of God And the light is not darknesse but he that saith the light is darknesse is out of the light in the darknesse And Justification and Sanctification within doth not confound it without but is the same that is within as is without And grace is the gift of God and Sanctification both Christ Jesus who was before any creature was created and the grace comes from the Throne Pr. He saith They are the unstablished people that are running after every way of errour that owns the Quakers in these Nations page 62. Ans In that the Nation will witnesse against thee for them that own the Quakers it 's known that they have been the most knowingest seeking people that have been in the Nations and the most sincerest people and none comes out of errour but who comes to the Quakers light which they follow which is Christ Pr. He saith That Christ hath a humane created soule See page 63. Again and the light in the conscience to be Christ is a false Doctrine And the Quakers seeke to bring people from all other teaching but the light within them page 65. Answ The soule of Christ is witnessed But to say it is humane earthly and created when the Scripture doth not teach us that doctrine we cannot own your words nor believe but deny them And Christ is the light in the conscience which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world who was before any creature was which he that receiveth it comes to him to be his Teacher and feels him reign And every man must come to the Light which Christ hath enlightned them withall c. who is the Covenant of God to feel the Law written in their hearts and in their mindes to bring them off all other Teachers whereby they need not teach one another nor to say Know the Lord. Pr. He saith Men may be called of men Master and it is but a cavill to deny it And they may deny to be called
Father as well as Master c. See page 68. Answ Thou hast in this denyed the doctrine of Christ and slights it who saith be not ye of men called master for yee have all one Master which is Christ and ye are all brethren And thou hast shewed thy selfe out of the Brother-hood and there is a birth to be born which can call no man Father upon earth which thou art ignorant of Pr. He saith There is lawfull respects of persons and it is said God himselfe is the respecter of persons and the Quakers overthrow all authority because they do not respect persons because they deny that page 71. Answ God is not a respecter of persons as saith the Apostle for his Covenant he gives to the Gentiles as well as to the Jewes And the faith of Gods elect is held without the respect of persons and he that respects persons commits sin and transgresseth the Law And so thou divides not the word aright Pr. He saith False Prophets shall arise and damnable heresies and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by which the way of truth shall be evill spoken of Ans The Apostles saw them come up the false Prophets that brought in the damnable heresies that was covetous c. and many followed their wayes And the false Prophets goes from the light that Christ hath enlightned them withall and raveneth from the Spirit and gets the sheeps cloathing and through their covetousnesse makes a trade of that and you are such which causeth the truth to be evil spoken of which are come up manifest since the days of the Apostles Pr. And the Quakers are not to be received into their houses nor bidden God-speed and such as creeps into houses leads silly women captive laden with sin and led away with divers lusts Ans The Apostle saw such as crept into houses and saw such as transgressed the Doctrine of Christ that was not to be received into houses and saw the deceivers that walked after their ungodly lusts before the Apostles decease and such as led people always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth as it is manifest now in the world they are learning 40. 50. or 60. years and yet there is a cry among them that they must have the body of sin while they be upon the earth and live in their sins and none can be without it and this is the height of your doctrine it leads too which is now in the mouths of all people that be under your teaching that teach that Doctrine and yet you will say the work of the Ministry is for the perfecting of the Saints to the edifying of the body of Christ till all come into the unity of the faith unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And this work ye have denyed your selves to be in but such that are as Jannes and Jambres how should it be otherwise that ravened from the spirit of God inwardly that went forth from the Apostles that be covetous that keeps people alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth So you are them that keeps people from the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and keeps them in spiritual Aegypt Sodome and Gomorah where they be always learning having the forme of godlinesse and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth and this to you all will be a sad cup at last And as for all thy lyes and slanders in thy Book which are not worth mentioning they will come sad upon thy selfe one day for the grievous lyes thou hast uttered in it unto the Nation which thousands in the Nation that are not under the name of Quakers knows and sees the contrary to what thou hast published but they will fall upon thy own selfe and be thy own burthen And then thou shalt say when thou feelst thy owne works burn thou hadst better have been silent and not have published forth thy folly and made thy name to stinke and brought thy name upon record who hath made lyes thy refuge but the haile is come and coming that will sweep them away William Thomas called Minister of the Gospell of Vbley His Book called A Vindication of the SCRIPTVRES and MINISTERS His PRINCIPLES followeth Pr. HE saith Christ directs to looke for life in Scriptures because they testifie of him and that the Scriptures are the ground of Faith and the Saints rule And again We are justified by Christ without us and not within us See his Epistle Ans The Scriptures many had and searched them and found not life in them for Christ is the life and if men have all the Scriptures and have not Christ they have not life And so Christ did not say they should have life in Scriptures but he saith they thought to have life there and they testified of him And they would not come to him that they might have life How ignorant art thou of the Scriptures and of Christs words to divide them on this manner And Christ is the Author of the Faith And many if they have Scriptures they have not the ground of faith untill they have Christ the Author of it and God the giver of it which is able to make wise unto salvation through the faith which Christ is the Author of For Enoch and Abel c. had faith before the Scriptures was written and so before thy ground was And the Saints had a rule before the Scriptures was written for the spirit was their rule that led them into all truth and to speak forth Scriptures that is the rule that mortifies circumciseth baptizeth and leads into all truth The Word of God that fulfills Scriptures leads into all truth that is the truth that leads into all truth Now the Scriptures cannot lead into all truth but it testifies of that that doth so And if Christ be not within people they are reprobates And is a reprobate justified And if Christ be within is not the Justification there redemption and Sanctification witnessed Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Pr. He saith We consider how few there be in the Church that belongs to God See his Epistle Answ This is your owne Church which is not the pillar and ground of truth For who be in the Church of Christ the pillar and ground of truth where there is not a spot nor wrinkle nor blemish nor any such thing they are them that belong to God they are living stones built up together a spirituall houshold but this thou art afar off Pr. He saith We willingly acknowledge we are fallible men that may be deceived and to finde infallible Teachers is against experience None pretends infallibility but the Pope See page 9. He saith The Scriptures is the Well and living Fountaine from whence living waters have been drawn this hundred or thousand years page 8. Answ If every one that hath the Scriptures hath
before the Apostacy in the days of the Apostles we say neither Elders nor Ministers was mediate But that which made the elders was the Holy-Ghost to oversee and that which brought them to minister was immediate and so they was Ministers of the spirit and all Elders made by the mediate is carnal earthly and their weapons are earthly and their rule which they over-see withall is earthly Therefore hath your Church broken into so many pieces and they divide and cannot hold together like earth because ye are not in an Immediate spirit And so we do see it is so since the dayes of the Apostles neither your Elders nor your teachers are called Immediately But only have the sheepes cloathing ravened from the spirit of God And so are the wolves tearing one another to pieces about the letter and your apprehensions of it And Timothy which many of you say had not an immediate call and yet thou saith he had the gift of God Doth not that which God gives to men bring to do his will And that which is given from God to man is not that immediate and perfect And we do beleeve you ye do not witness that ye are of his flesh and of his bone that ye have not eaten it nor drunk his blood therefore do you say the Scriptures is the fountain of life and have been this hundreds or thousand years which the Pharisees had Scriptures in their ages and had not life ye have had the Scriptures which ye call the well and fountain of life many hundreds or thousand years yet though you and the Pharisees have all Scriptures except ye do eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood ye have no life in you neither you nor the Pharisees which flesh is our food and blood is our drink which we do believe you this many hundred of years ye have not eaten his flesh nor drank his blood and so are not of his flesh nor of his bone therefore cry ye so much against immediate and infallibility Pr. He saith The holiest man that is is not able to give an infallible Character of another man Pag. 49. we do grant that our Ministers came from Antichrist and past through him And he chargeth people for leaving their callings and say that the Quakers are like to them that flie from the wrath to come Answ We do believe that your Ministers came from Antichrist and through Antichrist for he was the Chanell But the Quakers are neither of you nor of Antichrist nor of the Pope but they are of the Apostles stock and of Abraham and of Christ before the Pope was Antichrist was or you was and so with the spirit of God and the Apostles you are fathomed And the Quakers do witnes they are made free from the wrath to come which the Pharisees did not that fled to John And there thy measure is too short all may see it that be in the light and thy ignorance of the Scriptures thou hast discovered and shewed and thou saith that the holiest man is not able to give an infallible Character of another man hast not thou in this discovered thy self to be no Minister of Christ or of the spirit who cannot give an infallible Character of another man how canst thou minister to his condition how canst thou see where he is how canst thou see them that be turned from the darkness and that be in the darkness and distinguish the one from the other and a holy man from an unholy man that canst not give an infallible Character of any mans state How canst thou know when men be in the spirit and that they are Epistles written in one anothers hearts not with paper and ink but with the spirit of the living God oh a divider of the word aright hath been wanting among you dark ones thou may say right enough your Ministers came from Antichrist and through Antichrist And did not the Saints leave their callings Pr. He saith It is a fancy to witness the righteousness of Christ within us Page 61. and to maintain persecution he brings Ahabs slaying the false Prophets and for the laying on of hands he brings the practice of the Apostles And to stop the liberty of conscience he saith must Saul be permitted to do what he will against Jesus of Nazareth Answ False Prophets are enemies yet they are not to slay them now the Apostles did not wrestle against the flesh and the blood with the false Prophets at you Ministers do now though Saul did before he was Paul and shewed himself of your nature you be now in unconverted And who ever be not in that state to witness Christ in them manifest in their flesh and there condemning sin in the flesh that they may through him become the righteousness of God they be in their fancies And Christ destroyes the ground of all fancy and brings to see where there is no shadow nor changing and brings their conscience into liberty and washeth it and sprinckling it where the Ministery of faith is held in it And your laying on of hands since the apostacy from the Apostles is not as the Apostles who have not an infallible spirit nor are infallible nor called immediately as they were none of them you lay on your hands can receive the Holy Ghost who you your selves are not in the immediate spirit nor infallible nor called immediately So all in the apostacy is from the Apostles hands and calling your folly is made manifest the light hath discovered you at which ye are stumbling and every one is wrestling against the Lamb and the Saints that are wrestling against the Light and such are Antichrists that shall be slain with the sword the words of his mouth and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory Pr. He saith humane learning helpes to understand heavenly things Page 70. Again Christ inlightens men no more wayes but one to wit by a natural light Page 71. And the righteousness within is not that which justifies and we are not freely justified and saved and redeemed that is through that Redemption and righteousness that is within us Page 74. 75. He saith We are justified freely but not by the grace wrought in us Answ By grace ye are saved and that not of your selves is is the gift of God and this in the heart manifested before it be known and possessed And every one that knowes Justification Redemption righteousness and salvation this is all known within us else people be in the first Adam drove from God not come to the second Adam not knowing salvation in the ground Justification in the ground Redemption in the ground If Christ the righteousness of God Redemption Justification and salvation the righteousness be not felt within and found within they are Reprobates And the Reprobates may talk of it without but where that is there is salvation righteousness Redemption Justification c. And Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world him by
whom the world was made before it was made which light people are to believe in which is not natural which gives to see over the nature before the natural was for the natural lights are the Sun the Moon and Stars which may be seen with a visible eye which Christ the light the Covenant of light to Jewes and Gentiles the salvation to the ends of the earth which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world that all men through him might believe Here is God no respector of persons he that believeth in the light shall be saved and he that doth not is condemned And he comes to be a Child of light who believes in the light and now shall the world be reproved for not believing in the light and humane learning is that which is earthly and natural that doth not open the heavenly that which reveales the things of God is the Spirit of God beyond all the worlds wisdom For that you call humane learning and humane soul and humane body is earthly not heavenly nor understands them The earth is below so they that are of the earth and they that is from above speak of the things above and so they that are below measure by the earthly wisdom below and so that which gives to understand the heavenly things is the spirit of God and the spiritual wisdom which is not of man nor from man for saith the Apostle neither knowes any man the things of God but the Spirit of God Pr. And the righteousness of Christ by which we are justified he saith is not within us Again the Lord will poure out his Spirit upon all flesh but that is not meant that all should have the spirit for some have not the spirit as in Jude Page 79. He saith he desires God to lighten with a better light then that which lightens every man c. and to lead them out of these grosse delusions See page 80. Answ You that are not justified by that Christ that suffered without manifested within you shall never know Justification if the Justification be not within you are reprobates And the Lord hath fulfilled his promise by pouring out his spirit upon all flesh Sons and Daughters handmaids old men though they quench it And they in Jude prove they had the spirit which went in Balaams Cores and Cains way but they erred from it where you are in the sensual state in the sects and seeing not the promise of the Father pouring out of the spirit upon all flesh Apostatized out of the life the Apostles was in and the Prophets manifest your selves to the whole world And so you that ownes not the Light Christ Jesus that God sent into the world and gave his only begotten Son into the world which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all through him might believe but thou that desires a better light of God then he to wit Christ shewes thy tempting and Blasphmy For there is no other way to the Father but by Christ the Light of the world that doth enlighten every one c. and he that doth not believe in that light is condemned Pr. He saith And Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that is meant the Church See Post-script Paul and Peter instructed by immediate Revelation which we are not so presumptuous as to expect And he saith Reproaches are cast upon the Ministers because they are not infallible and preach not by immediate inspiration as the Apostles did Post-script Ans You that do not instruct and preach by the same immediate infallible spirit as the Prophets and Apostles was in you be all in an usurped authority out of the spirit run and not sent from God For whom God sends he sends immediately and teacheth he teacheth immediately and they know his infallible spirit And none knows the Scriptures of Truth of you all since the dayes of the Apostles in this night of apostacy but who are in the infallible spirit and immediate which the Prop●ets and Apostles was in which you from it are gone forth and it is presumption in you to teach without it And so you are not reproached nor the Pope that are the false Prophets and Antichrists that Christ said should come and the Apostle John saw was come that inwardly ravened and have gotten the sheeps cloathing have the forme but deny the power who deny infallibility and the immediate call and the immediate Ministry have denyed the power of God and so keeps people alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth in the usurped authority which the Apostles stopt and rebuked before his decease And so you do not see the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which Christ faith I am the light of the world not of Saints onely And saith the Prophet I will give him for a Covenant to the Gentiles not a new Covenant to the house of Israel onely and there he was prophecyed of before John came the greatest Prophet who was born of a woman who said This is the true light that doth enlighten every man c. And when Christ was come he said he was the light of the world And whosoever did believe in him should not abide in darknesse but should have the light of life And so since ye ravened from the spirit of God and have onely had the sheeps cloathing ye have brought people upon heaps and Sects and they that be not in the infallible are they that reproach for they be in the reproachfull spirit which the spirit of God never did which was immediate and infallible which the Prophets Christ and the Apostles were in which alwayes judged the reproachers which was from the infallible spirit Pr. And thou saith To the Law and to the Testimony and how that he gave some Apostles for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministry for the edifying of the body till all come into the unity of the faith to the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man to the measure of the stature and fulnesse of Christ Answ Thou and you all that have denyed infallibility and immediate inspiration and teaching have shut your selves out of the Law and Testimony and the work of the Ministry which is for the perfecting of the body and bringing them to the unity of the faith to the knowledge of the Son of God c. For the Law is light that is infallible and immediate The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy that is infallible and immediate And ye may have the Old and New Testament and say that is the Law and Testimony which the Law and Testimony was before Matthew Marke Luke John the Acts the Epistles and the Revelations was written in the days of Isaiah see Isa 8 chap. And that which perfects the Saints is infallible that gift which was given to the Ministry is infallible and immediate that which
with the light that cometh from him nor none knowes the Saviour Christ Jesus but with the light that cometh from him and that le ts see the body prepared Christ who was the seed of Abraham according to the flesh the one offering that ends all offerings and his blood that is the attonement which is the Saints drink which who drinks it shall live with which their consciences are purged from dead works to serve the living God And none knowes the foundation of God that standeth sure nor feels it nor sees it but with the light which cometh from Christ the foundation which breaks down all other foundations which light that every man is enlightened withall gives him the knowledge of the foundation of God Pr. He saith I do believe that there was never a Saint perfectly free from sin here but they shall have the body of sin and death which will be their burthen to keep them humble Page 52. And it doth not appear that they do attain purification or perfection before the change of the body Answ That which is the true humiliation bears the sin and iniquity which is Christ such as are not brought down with the Judgments for their sinful actings never knew the seed that puts off the body from which all the roots proceed in that is the true humility and the righteousness of Christ and the glory revealed And the Saints witnessed the body of sin and death put off while they were upon the earth and such as was in Christ was new creatures all things become new And the Apostles spoke wisdom among them that was perfect and that was before the change of the body as ye look upon And the work of the Ministery was for the perfecting of the the Saints until they all come into the unity of the faith that gives victory and to the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ This was the Ministers work Not as children tossed up and down with every slight and windy doctrine of men who lie in waite to deceive So ye have tryed the work of your Ministry and brought it to the Light Pr. He saith such a trembling as a way to perfection is to set it in the roome of Christ beside the truth and slight and undervalue the word of God and justifie trembling let all men beware of this trembling page 78. Answ Who ever ownes the word of God that reconciles to the Father and hammers down and brings out of the fall and cuts down and burns up they must know their salvation wrought out with fear and trembling And these ownes the word of God and the words of God the Scriptures and these owns this trembling there is a cloud of witnesses in the Scriptures and none will deny this trembling that ownes the salvation wrought out or to be wrought out but such as be out of the truth and that gets Scriptures being out of the truth and deny the power of God who are with it judged those that have the form but deny the power deny the trembling so they deny the salvation to be wrought out with fear and trembling and none knowes the salvation but them that know trembling And such may say that are the the Devils messengers beware of this power that makes to tremble Pr. He saith the Scripture is truly the Ministry of the spirit to us pag. 67. Answ Those were the Ministers of the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures And those are the Ministers of the Letter that be out of the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and that cannot Minister the spirit Pr. He saith the Scriptures doth not speak of a general Redemption of all from the state of sin and freedom from sin pag. 75. Answ There is a general state and redemption of all and freedom from sin by believing in the one offering the blood of Jesus Christ and unbelief shuts out Pr. He saith mystical Babylon shall fall by the Kings of the earth And many precious Saints shall destroy Babylon with the sword pag. 84. And he saith I cannot apprehend that the Saints shall have the Government of the world pag. 86. And the beast when he ariseth shall give a mark in the right hand c. Answ Christ hath all power in heaven and earth given to him who believe in him and are in his power who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him have the government and are in the government the Lambs government but the unbelievers are out of it And that which slayes mystical Babylon is not the Kings of the earth and the Saints that be on the earth slay not with the carnal sword for they that kill with the sword must perish with the sword here is the faith and patience of the Saints Their weapons are not carnall but spiritual mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds And the Lamb slayes and kills with the sword and takes them the beast and the false prophet and the Devil and casts them alive into the Lake of fire where they shall be tormented for ever that burns with brimstone who kills and slayes with the sword which is the words of his mouth And the Beast hath been long up his marks and his heads and horns with his names but the Lamb and the Saints is trampling him to pieces under and over him getting the victory And the everlasting Gospel is Preaching and the witnesses you are ignorant of but are them that have been the slayers of them Pr. He saith I do not professe my self infallible but I shall freely give my apprehensions pag. 110. to contend earnestly for the faith which is the first unto Justification and services of faith pag. 111. he saith false Christs and false prophets shall come And to the Law and to the testimony c. Answ The Law is light and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie and men may have all the Scriptures of the old and New Testament yet being from the light the spirit of prophesie from the Light and from the spirit they know not the Law and testimony And we do believe thee that thou art not infallible but art onely in the apprehensions and before thou come to contend for the faith and to know that by which the Saints are justified thou must come into the Light that doth enlighten every man c. which lets see Christ the Author of the Faith And false Prophets and Antichrists Christ said should come which should get the sheeps cloathing and say loe Christ is here and loe he is there These Christ said to the Apostles should come which before their decease did come which since their decease the world hath gone after them So every man that cometh into the world being enlightned and having a light from Christ the Saviour of the soule every man being in the Light Christ hath enlightned him withall Every man with the light
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus Pr. The Priests bear rule by their means this is the meanes of the false Prophets saith he If there be a burthen upon paying of Tythes lay it upon God and the Magistrates and not upon me the Pastor Answ Tythes to the similitude Melchisedeck Tythes to the Priest-hood made by the Law of God Christ is come the end of the similitude the end of the Priest-hood and disannuld the commandement that gave Tythes and all his Ministers Pastors and Teachers preached down Tythes and preached up the substance and preached down the Priests that took them and the Law that gave them and the authority and the Magistrates both that held them up And so you that have gotten Tythes since the dayes of the Apostles whose root and ground was by the Papists in the apostacy are such that burthens the Creation and a griefe to all true Christians that be in the life and the power and the spirit that the Apostles was in before the apostacy Now if thou wert a true Minister of Christ if the Magistrate would give thee tythes thou wouldst not take them which is got up since the Apostacy came in them that have got the sheeps cloathing but are ravened from the spirit of God And doth not thou think that the Priests that were obedient to the Faith if they would have turned again to the Jews Magistrates dost thou think they would not have given them tythes And dost thou think that any of them that was obedient to the Faith that they took Tythes after they were converted to Christ and his faith the substance And dost thou think that any that is out of the apostacy now will take Tythes of the Magistrates now if they would give them which were set up since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy I will warrant thee they will dye before they will lose their glory and their Crown And they that preach the Gospell shall live of the Gospell And the Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priest beares rule by his meanes What doth the Priest receive his gifts by the false Prophets means Doth not the people love to have it so And are not you all found fallen into this Ditch that are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God The false spirits gone into the earth for money and for tythes for lucre for means for gifts admiring mens persons because of advantage yet covering your selves with the sheeps cloathing crept up into a Masse-house and calls it a Church and tells people while they be upon the earth they must have corruptions and the body of sin and this is the work of your Ministry So among the Lyars Whoremongers Sorcerers Adulterers inwardly ravened from the spirit of God out of the Kingdome are ye found And as for all the rest of thy rabble and unsavoury expressions in thy Book they are not worth mentioning But in the day of thy judgement thou shalt feel thy owne words thy burthen in the tryall of the Fire thy works will burn Immanuel Bourne who calls himselfe Pastor of 〈◊〉 Church in Ashover in his Book called A Defence of the Scriptures and the holy Spirit speaking in them are these Principles following And Priest Gifford of Bedford his PRINCIPLE Pr. HE saith Christ himselfe sent his hearers to the Scriptures as the chiefe judge of Controversie and of Faith Answ Christ did not put the Scriptures above himselfe he said All judgement was committed to the Son and for judgement he was come into the world And the Pharisees that had the Scriptures they could not judge of Faith nor of controversie nor knew not Christ the Author of the Faith nor none can judge but who be in the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures And the Scriptures was given forth from them that was in the faith of Truth but such as be not in the faith knows not the Scriptures neither is it able to make them wise unto salvation without the Faith For the Pharisees and chief Priests were not though they had Scripture and they judged and condemned the Author of Faith that had Scriptures without the life and so do all that are out of the life still that have the Scriptures judge the Author of the Faith Christ Jesus who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And the holy spirit spake in them that gave forth the Scriptures and so they spoke it forth Now they that be from the spirit of God in their owne particulars speaking there knows not the spirit that spoke in them that spoke them forth but such are they that saith The spirit speakes in the Scriptures Such are the Ministers of the Letter and not of the Spirit that gave it forth And the spirit that gave forth the Scripture is that which judged of all conditions which gave them the spirituall understanding For people have not the spirituall understanding to judge and to discern if they have all the Scriptures unlesse they be in the spirit that gave it forth And so the Scripture it selfe without the spirit that gave it forth cannot be the Judge of Controversie nor of Faith but is a dead Letter in it selfe but the spirit is it that gave forth Scriptures Pr. He saith Christ within is inherent holinesse And George Fox professed equality with God page 20. Answ Christ within is beyond all mens righteousnesse or holinesse for he is the righteousnesse it selfe And the Assembly of Divines gave forth a Catechisme presented to the Parliament for people to learn wherein they say that the Holy Ghost is equall in power and glory with the Father Now every one that cometh to witnesse the Son of God and the holy Ghost that gave forth the Scriptures by your account they witnesse that which is equall in power and glory with God And doth not the Assembly give forth this in their Catechisme that people should learn And is it blasphemy for to come to witnesse this which you have given forth and the minde which was in Christ Yet neverthelesse Georges words was not spoken as yee preach them for his words were spoken beyond all creatures and out of all creatures and he did not say Geo Fox Pr. He saith no natural man that is darkness is bound to look to the light within him to direct him to salvation for it is in vain to look for light in darkness Page 22. Answ The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened withall the salvation to the ends of the earth which no man cometh out of darkness out of his natural state but who doth believe in the light which was Christs Doctrine believe in the light that ye may be the children of the light and he that believeth in it shall not abide in darkness And so they come to see the spending of the night and the light shining out of darkness giving them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
this is of him and from him And all that be from this be in the foolishness and be in the drunken spirit drunkning And all that ever comes into Covenant with God to have Gods Law written in their hearts they must come into the light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned them withall which brings them into him who is the life and knowledge of Christ and there they shall finde their Teacher within them Pr. And he saith To the Law and to the Testimony Answ Many may have the Old and New Testament yet stand against the Law and the Testimony and put the Old and new Testament for it For the Law is light saith Solomon And the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy And many may have the Scriptures and stand against the Light and say prophecy is ceased as the world doth now who are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God and despiseth prophecy and so quencheth the spirit And the light within doth not deny Jesus And none knows him nor owns him but with the light that comes from him And the Pharisees and the Jewes were opposite to Christ that doth en-lighten every man that cometh into the world and was from that of God in their own particulars their eyes closed and their cares stopt as you are now Pr. He saith Take away the Word of the Lord as declared by the pen and then what wisdome is in them Epist He saith If a believer should turne his eye into himselfe to looke for counsell and direction be may be led to walke in the flesh as other Gentiles in the vanities of their minds and follow their abominations Answ There is none upon the earth hears the counsell of God or Christs teaching but who are come to the spirit of God within and to the Light within And all people upon the earth that are led from the vanities of their minds and walking in the flesh they are come to the spirit within and led with it which all the Jewes and Gentiles was astray from while they walked after the vanities of their minds and then crucified the Just And none hears the counsell of God or comes into the faith of Jesus nor the grace of God that brings their salvation but they come to feel it within the grace in their hearts and the word in their hearts and the faith in the heart there 's that which purifi●s And all that be from the light and spirit of God within them they are in the vanity of their own minds in the flesh out of the counsell of God and the wisdome of God which the Saints had and was in before the Scripture was penned or printed And the wisdome of God Christ Jesus them that had the Scriptures stood against the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world as all you do now and never come into it But as ye come into it that doth enlighten every man c. the wisdome of God which none cometh out of the sin and the evill but who come into that And that is not opposite to the Scriptures without but owns it given forth from the life in the wisdome of God Pr. He calls Perfection a Devilish doctrine That the Scripture is the absolute rule and medium of our faith page 2. And Timothy did not receive his furniture and service of the Gospell immediately from the person of Christ And he saith If I had seen Christ as Paul did I might have received the Word in the same manner immediately from the person of Christ Answ Timothy had faith and the gift of God and Christ is the Author of Faith and so that is received immediately whereby hee was made wise unto salvation through faith with which he knew Scripture and so by that he was furnished And we do believe thee and you all that ye have not seen Christ as Paul did nor the Apostles So ye be out of the faith and shew he is not in you neither do you sit with him in heavenly places Who ever receives faith from Christ or knows Christ the power knows immediately which from God thou hast shewed thy selfe a reprobate and under the judgement of it thou art come And the Apostle preached Perfection and Christ bid them be perfect as their heavenly father is perfect and the Saints was to grow to perfection And the work of the Ministry was for the perfecting of the Saints till they all come unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ And thou in this hast denyed the work of the Ministery that calls the Doctrine of perfection a devillish Doctrine And the Scriptures is not the Author nor the meanes of it nor the rule but Christ who gives it and he increaseth it and Faith was before Scripture was given forth And all they that gave forth Scripture had faith from God and they are able to make wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus But them that have the Scripture and deny the light that doth enlighten every man c. and hate it have not faith as the Pharisees had not and so such as the Apostle spoke of which was reprobate concerning the faith before his decease that had got the form of godlinesse are them that say the Scripture is the Medium of Faith and absolute rule but that which rules it and increaseth i● is Christ Pr. He saith Christ his grace brings salvation but not by any such light or power dwelling in them Page 6. Answ The grace of God which brings salvation that teacheth the Saints is in their hearts and stablisheth it That dwels within them which brings salvation is their Teacher the grace of God which brings them every one to say this is the Lord which I have waited for where the everla●ting life runs and fl●ws Pr. He saith Such as cause divisions are to be marked that serves not the Lord Jesus Christ but their owne bellies their lusts will or light within them page 12. Answ The light which doth enlighten every man c. Christ Jesus the second Adam leadeth men from their lusts and wills and serving their own bellies to serve the Lord Jesus Christ from whence it comes For such as serves their own bellies are out of the light in the transgression in the first Adam in their own lusts and wills where thou art among the Apostates deceivablenesse mystery of Iniquity which the Apostle saw was coming in which since the dayes of the Apostles it hath reigned but now with the light discovered and made manifest And such as have served their bellies and serves their bellies which the Apostles saw coming in before their decease are now manifest such as deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which is the salvation to the ends of the earth Are not they casting into prisons and haling before Courts such as will not put into their mouths that they do no work
of Harlots And so they served their bellies when they went from the immediate teaching into the strong delusion as since the dayes of the Apostles it hath discover●d it How are people all on heaps out of the life and spirit and power of God And so all that perish in the deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse they are from the light which Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world withall for none perisheth who be in the Light And the Saints witnessed they were risen with Christ and them that were risen sought the things that were above and not the things upon the earth And they that know the first Resurrection and are in it are blessed the second death hath no power on them and they are a top of Adam and they are in Christ the resurrection and the life And such as be in the first Adam drove from God and loveth to live in the Fall looks not after the first Resurrection neither desire to come into it Pr. He saith The glorious bringing down of the Kingdome and glory is yet to be waited for even by the Disciples all the time of this mortality page 54. All believers are personally from Christ in their mortall bodies and none of the Fathers saw the day of Christ as actually revealed accomplished in their time Ans He that believes is born of God and overcomes the world and abides in the doctrine of Christ and hath the Son and the Father and the spirit of Christ the life of Christ in the mortall flesh And the Kingdome of heaven Christ said was in the Pharisees and the Saints comes to and possesseth the Kingdome And the Kingdome of heaven is within them is in righteousnesse in peace in joy in the holy Ghost and in power and they were changed from glory to glory and they rejoyced with joy unspeakable and full of glory and that was in the Kingdome and this was while they were upon the earth And Enoch and Abraham saw the day of Christ and David saw the betrayer and whose feet should be snared whose eyes should be blinded and whose back should bow down and he saw Judas that betrayed Christ And Isaiah saw the suffering of Christ and how God laid the iniquity upon him And Isaiah saw his name and made his soule an offering for sin And Daniel said the Messiah should be cut off but not for himselfe which the Apostles witnessed fulfilled Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the power of God unto salvation page 59. Answ Many may have the forme but deny the power of God which is the Gospell And the Letter doth not give life neither is it the power of God unto salvation Pr. He saith That Christ is distinct from every one of us and without us in our particular persons page 61. Answ The Apostle said Christ was in them except they were reprobates and they were of his flesh and of his bone and they eate his flesh and drank his blood then it was within them and he is distinct from none but Reprobates who hates the Light Pr. Nor are we to wait for a further Revelation to us to be given forth then the Scriptures For the Word of GOD came not first to the Gentiles immediately but to the Apostles page 77. Answ The Apostles that preached the Word of God it was immediate to whomsoever they preached it for they had received it immediately For the Word it selfe is immediate for it is the savour of death to the death and of life to the life and none knows the Scriptures but by the spirit that doth reveal them So all that witnesse the spirit of God witnesse the Revelation and the revealing of the Scriptures to them by it and the things of God layd up for them that love God which the eye hath not seen which the eye may see the Scriptures outwardly And none knows the Son of God neither knows any man the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveales him And so people may have the Scriptures but not the rev●lation of the Son of God by them For the Pharisees had the Scriptures but not the thing they testified of Pr. He saith The Scriptures are the Word of God and the key of knowledge page 79. and the opening of all things contained in the Scriptures Answ The Scriptures are the words of God and that is his Word who fulfils them Christ Jesus whose name is called the Word of God And that which opens the Scriptures is the spirit that gave them forth that is the key of David who in the light saw more light For the Pharisees who crucified Christ had that which testified of Christ the Scriptures And you that be in the apostacy since the days of the Apostles but ye want the key and have taken away the key of knowledge And all that dwells upon the earth that stops their eares and closeth their eyes against that of God in them that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world wants the key of knowledge Pr. He saith He gives gifts unto men for the work of the Ministery some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ untill all come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man Page 81. Answ And yet he said before Perfection was a devillish Doctrine and a fancy so out of this work and this Ministry thou hast thrown thy self For this work and this Ministery hath been lost since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy but now is appearing in the end of Babylon the knowledge of the Son of God people are coming to and the unity of the faith from among the Apostates who have had the sheeps cloathing but all on heaps about it being ravened from the spirit of God inwardly Among whom the Proclamation hath been in the Steeple-houses and Pulpits in Markets Towns Disputes No perfection no overcoming of sin Perfection is a Doctrine of Devils a devillish Doctrine and a fancy c. And this hath been proclaimed among the Apostates in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles by the Beasts authority under Satans power the deceiver of the Nations where the mother of Harlots is But I will reward her double and shall take the Devill and with him the Beast and false Prophet and cast them alive into the fire Rejoyce ye holy Prophets over her and Saints who are come into the unity of the Faith and to a perfect man and to the knowledge of the Son of God And the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to them that dwell upon the earth and God shall be feared and glory given to him And none comes to the knowledge of the Son of God the salvation to the ends of the earth the Covenant of Jewes and Gentiles untill they come into the light which Christ doth enlighten every one withall that
cometh into the world that gives him the knowledg of the Son of God of the author of his faith and the taste of his fulness and to become a perfect man Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the meanes whereby the righteousnesse is revealed from faith to faith page 82. Answ The Pharisees had the Scriptures read every Sabbath and the form of godlinesse denyed the power and was reprobate concerning the Faith and the righteousnesse of Christ Jesus And God it is that reveals the faith and gives the faith and the righteousnesse and many have the words and yet not it who hath it hath the word in their hearts and the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and seeth God the original of all good and the Scriptures cannot reveal it but they testifie of it and all must come into the spirit before they know revelation or know the Scriptures either Pr. He saith New Jerusalem is not come down from heaven and be will make all things new not hath made page 83. He saith The body is dead because of sin yet there is a remainder of the old man in the members page 84. Answ Where the body is dead because of sin and that put off by the Circumcision of the spirit If the root be holy the branches are holy also and such comes to glorifie the Lord in their bodies and soules which are the Lords who hath redeemed them out of the sin So they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts and all things are become new And the new Jerusalem is witnessed come down from heaven among the Saints for who witnesseth Christ and know Christ knows the Tabernacle of God and knows the new Jerusalem and knows the place where there is no curse And many knows their Mother now and that which had led captive is gone and going into captivity Pr. He saith The Apostles gave the last and full revelation of the Gospell to all Nations And Timothy learned Doctrine mediately and since none may expect to receive so immediately as Paul did but all mediately page 88 89. Again God now gives and teacheth mediately and spiritually by the testimony of him mediately page 90. It is a little necessary to shew the vanity of their pretence of immediate revelation from Gods spirit page 91. Answ All them be in a pretence and in vanity that are from the immediate revelation of the spirit of God And if all people have all Pauls Declaration and if they have it not immediately revealed to them by the spirit of God as Paul had they have not the comfort of Pauls words neither have they the comfort of the revelations And John saith the everlasting Gospell must be preached to them that dwell upon the earth since the apostacy from the Apostles mark that And that which Timothy preached who was in the faith the gift of God and spoke his word and divided it aright it was immediate But since the dayes of the Apostles hath the immediate been lost and I know yee cannot expect it in the state ye all stand in inwardly ravened from the spirit of God and truth But now is the Saints come to that which ye ravened from and the Apostles were in who witnessed the immediate teachings of God and Gods teaching is immediate and the testimony of Jesus is immediate which is the spirit of prophecy but many have that which testifies of him and be from the immediate spirit as was in them that gave forth the Scriptures And all upon the earth that be from the immediate spirit of God as was in them as gave forth Scriptures and their Ministry be but mediate and they be but in the mediate they are all Ministers but of the Letter made by man and what they have it is but from man and not from God immediately Such have nothing but the sheeps cloathing and inwardly ravened from the spirit of God in them And here is Babylon the mother of Harlots and the Beast and his names but over all have they victory that be in the immediate in that which the Apostles was in and answer that in them all which they ravened from Pr. He saith Even now in the dayes of their adversity while the person of the Lord the fountaine of their teaching for whom they waite is personally absent from them Page 92. Answ All they that hate the light sees not Christ the fountain of teaching and these be them that inwardly ravened Such have their teachers in corners and are in the dayes of adversity and eate not the flesh of Christ nor drink his blood and are not of his flesh and bone and receives not his spirit But all who wait in the Light which Christ Jesus hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withall Every man that cometh into the world with which light he hath enlightned them their eyes shall see their Teacher that cannot be removed into a corner Salvation they shall see and dayes of adversity shall end and his guiding they shall know and come to be in unity with Christ and eate his flesh and drink his blood and be of his flesh and bone which thousands do witnesse this and the Prophet raised up the end of the Prophets and they that heare him not are to be cut off And none lifts up the Son of God but who be in the Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world and that brings him to understand the Scriptures and the substance of them Pr. He saith The grace of God that brings salvation it is a fancy to say it is stirred up in them but is a thing wrought in another for them And to say the Word of the Lord is within and the spirit within is mens following their own brain and visions of their own hearts And he saith whereas they imagine of a light within them all that knows God shewes the light in them to be darknesse it selfe See Post-script Answ All that knows God owns the Light within them to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus which light shines in their hearts And all that knows God owns the Light that doth ●●lighten every man that cometh into the world Christ Jesus and believes in the Lig●● and hath the witnesse in themselves And all that be from the Light within them be in the darknesse and stumbles which have been in this night of the apostacy from the Apostles Doctrine And all Gog and Magog and the Beast and false Prophets and the Kings of the Earth are making war against the Light that doth enlighten every man c. but the Light shall get the victory And all that be from the Word of God within in their hearts and their mouths though they speak of the Scriptures without yet they use their tongues and follow their own dreams and visions of their own hearts and brains and be from the Word of God that lives and abides
and endures for ever And all that ever witnesse the grace of God that brings salvation they feel it in their hearts stablishing of them and seasoning of their words and knows the throne of grace from which it cometh And this doth not deny what Christ hath done but owns him all along from the foundation of the world and what he wrought and what he did and what he said for us And all upon the earth that have the Scriptures and are out of the spirit that gave them forth they are all in a confusion here and on heaps about words And the Word of God within and spirit within it leads people from following their own dreams and following fancies of their own brains which all have done many hundreds of yeares past in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles And as for all thy lyes and confusion in thy Books they will be thy own burthen and the witnsse in thy conscience will answer in the day of thy judgement thou shalt feel a smart work thou hast to go through who art now in the pack and body of confusion buryed under the body of iniquity But thy folly is discovered sufficiently to the Nation and thy spirit is now tryed who art one of the heads risen up against the Lamb in his day and his Light but it is thy condemnation Matthew Caffinn In his Booke called The Deceiving QUAKER Discovered His Principles are as followeth c. Pr. HE saith Nothing will cure the soule but the knowledge of salvation which is made known by outward meanes because the will of the Lord in order to soules peace and rest was discovered by outward meanes page 4. Answ The Pharisees had outward meanes Reading praying and expounding and yet knew not the soules comfort and peace For Christ bid them come unto him that their soules might have r●st all that was weary and heavy laden So if people have all the Scriptures upon the earth hearing and praying and all the outward meanes and be not in the power which is the Gospell which is immediate not outward they have not their souls comfort and rest And if they be not in the life that gave forth the Scriptures for the soule is in the hand of God and Christ the Bishop of it and the Minister of the spirit watcheth for it and they that hearkned what the Spirit said their souls lived and this was not outward But when men stop their ears and close their eyes to that of God in them as the Jewes did and all the inwardly raveners false Prophets and Antichrists in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles such hearken not diligently and their soules live not And all such as deny the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world seeth not Christ the Bishop of their souls nor their salvation Pr. And he saith The Quakers cry wait upon the light within you and this is another report then that of the Scriptures And he saith I do not finde where it is spoke that God spoke in this people pag. 5. And t●● Apostle which was to go to preach to all Nations did not turne the people to a teacher within t●em to teach them all things And the Apostle affirmes that they was to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God c. and not their teacher within them page 8. Answ It was the Lord that spoke in his Prophets by their mouths and in his Son and they were the mouth of the Lord. And where God dwels in his people he speaks And the Apostles were to go into all Nations to preach the Gospel and preached the Covenant of God which who came into it the thing they preached the Law written in their hearts needed not any man to teach them nor needed not to teach one another saying Know the Lord as it had been in the first Covenant people had been taught to know the Lord and the Priests lips was to preserve the peoples knowledge But who are come into the Covenant of God Christ Jesus the second Covenant they are come into the treasury of wisdome and knowledge And the Apostles told the Saints that the light which shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and this is not another report then the Scriptures but this is the Scriptures report And John told the Saints that the anointing which abideth in them would teach them all things and the word was in their hearts and in their mouths to obey it and do it and this was the Ministers work and to the hearing of Faith which Christ is the author of whereby they receive the spirit And the Apostle brought the people to their Teacher within them which is the Light and turned people from the darknesse to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God which light shining in their hearts it gives them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God c. See 2 Cor. 4. Chap. Now light shines in the darknesse they being turned from the darknesse to the light it gives knowledge So such come from under the power of Sathan unto God for while they be in the darknesse they be under the power of Sathan and nothing gives nor makes manifest the knowledge of the Saviour but the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which shines in the darknesse and they being turned from the darknesse and from the power of Sathan such the God of the world cannot blinde But they in whom this light shines and they in the darknesse the God of the World blindes and the light of the glorious Gospel they do not know Pr. Saith Antichrist If you will believe in the Light within you it will lead you to Christ To wait upon the teacher within there will be such an eternall light that will make known all things page 9. And the Quakers exhort all ignorant people in the world to depend upon a light within them Wherefore be counselled not to be carried away with strange doctrines page 11. Answ The light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is not a strange Doctrine the light to the Gentiles the teacher of the Gentiles the salvation to the ends of the earth the new Covenant to the house of Israel and Judah And this was a strange Doctrine to the Jewes and to the Gentiles though to them is had been promised So this light shines in the darkness and the darknesse not comprehending it such are ungodly wicked men and they must be turned from the darknesse to the light before they come to retain God in their knowledge or come to that which must give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus And all that come to witness their Teacher within Christ are possessors of the Prophet Christ Jesus raised up the teacher of
forth the Scriptures are such as follows their own spirits and useth their tongues and gets the good words the sheeps cloathing deceives the hearts of the simple and tels them the Spirit is in the Letter which never did none of the experienced Saints say the spirit dwelt in the Letter But did conclude the spirit dwelt in their hearts the faith in their hearts the light in their hearts the word in their hearts the anointing within them God dwelt within them Christ within them the Law in their hearts the witnesse within them the ingrafted word that saved their soules the gift within the hidden man in the heart strength in the inward man the holy Ghost moved them the spirit of the Father spoke in them this led them to speak forth Scriptures And these never said the spirit was in the Letter as all the filthy dreamers say who are in the sensuall separation from the spirit of God and in Cains Cores and Balaams way turning the grace of God into wantonnesse ravened from the spirit of God inwardly but wolves in sheeps cloathing These are such as have got the good words but deceives the hearts of the simple makes a trade of them tells people the Spirit is in the Letter and that is them that ravened from the spirit of God in their own particulars and so they deceive people and keep them from the spirit of God in their particulars But the spirit that gave forth Scriptures is witnessed by which that is known they cannot deceive any longer who are reprobates concerning the faith which crept into houses before the Apostles decease which have kept people always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth led away with divers lusts So have kept people in spirituall Aegypt and Sodome and Gomorrah and have been guarded with Magistrates and powers of the earth all over the world But now is the Light breaking forth and shining that ye are all discovered And so they have set up other Gospels and lost the Faith that tels people the Spirit is in the Letter when the spirit and the faith was in them that gave it forth and is to be in all them that knows it again and knows God the giver of it Pr. He saith He that is borne of the Spirit is borne of the holy Word written page 257. Answ He that is borne of the spirit is borne of that which gave forth the Scriptures of the Word which was before the Scriptures was given forth which lets them see the end of the words so cometh to dwell in God of whom they learned that gave forth Scriptures Pr. He saith If setting the Scripture in the heart of every man be nothing else but telling people they have a light of conscience within them and stirring up that light which every man hath that cometh into the world They delude poor people who never heard that light called Scripture before page 257. Answ Them that never heard the Scripture outwardly the light that every man hath that cometh into the world being turned to it with that they will see Christ with that they will know Scripture with that they will be led out of all delusion come into covenant with God with which they will come to worship God in the spirit and serve him and that is more then conscience Pr. He saith The light which John speaks of which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is a dim light and it is a piece of the mystery of Iniquity as subtile as any Antichrist to say that the light shines in the darknesse and shineth out of darknesse the light of Christ for salvation page 261 262. He saith Christ in you the light in every man is a poor base beggerly scrap Page 264. Answ And the lig●t which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is Christ the substance the righteousnesse of God and not beggerly but all the beggarly they be out of the light and it is not dim but all be in the dim that be out of him the Light that with which he hath enlightned them And all be in the mystery of iniquity and are Antichrists that seeth not the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world where it shines and where it shineth out of the darknesse This the true Ministers who be in the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures Ministers of Christ within witnessed and saw And John was not antichrist nor Paul who said Light shined in darknesse and who said light shined out of darknesse and who said this was the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world Now ye are all ignorant of the Prophets before John who said I will give him for a Covenant for a light unto the Gentiles and a new Covenant to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah mark here was every man and John the greatest Prophet born of a woman saith this is the true light that lighteth every one c. Christ Jesus him by whom the world was made before it was made in whom is life and the life was the light of men and the light shined in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not Pr. The law written in every mans heart doth not condemn all sin nor the branches of it not originall sin nor unbelief pag. 266. He saith To say that every man in his first state is naturall and every man in his first state is as a beast is a contradiction And I every where deny the naturall light of every man but I deny the highest degree of light to be here attainable And the Saints light is not to be seen while we are under the Sun And he saith he knows he is more brutish then a man and hath not the knowledge of the holy pag. 272. And the light that shineth in the Scriptures I professe my selfe to know nothing the least degree of it is above the highest degree of the light that every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withal pag. 273. Answ The light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withall was before degre●s and ends degrees and is not natural for it was before the naturall was made or created and this bears not witnesse against the naturall the Sun Moon and Stars but ownes them in their places And the light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withall which comes from Christ the Son they not believing in it it is their condemnation And that which doth make manifest sin is light and doth reprove is light yea all sin branches and roots and originall and unbelief that which doth make it manifest is light and where this light is that makes all this manifest there is the law in the heart and new Covenant written the law and the spirit of life that makes free from the law of sin and death And the light which every man is enlightned withall they
believing and receiving it they come into covenant with God they come to know the Law of God in their hearts that is the law of God in their hearts the light which doth enlighten every man c. And every man is in his first state in the transgression many are worse then Beasts and brutish and what they know they know naturally as bruit beasts And thee and all of you who are ravened from the spirit of God inwardly what ye have known it hath been naturall as bruit beasts for ye are gone from the Spirit that should give ye to know and understand and so that is no contradiction And we do believe thee who looks for the light in the letter of Scripture thou art brutish and saith the light of Scripture is higher in the least degree then the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Alack for thee the light which doth enlighten every man c. was before Scripture was given forth And the Saints that do receive the light that doth enlighten every one c. receives Christ the perfect light and doth receive God and Christ the substance the end of degrees And thou shalt never see the Saints light while thou art looking at the Letter from the life within which was in them that gave it forth and the light shined in the hearts of them that gave forth the Scriptures Pr. He saith The Scripture light that is a standing rule for our faith and there is present light in it to guide men to salvation and so are not immediate revelations and teachings And the knowledge of Christ and eternall life is given forth in the letter page 283. Answ They that had Scriptures knew not salvation and they knew not the rule being erred from the spirit of God And none knows salvation but by the immediate teaching and revelation of Christ Jesus the Son of God the salvation And if men have all the Scriptures given forth from God they themselves are not able to make men wise unto salvation without faith which Christ is the Author of who is the substance of what the Scripture speaks of and so they are not able of themselves to guide men to salvation Neither are they a rule of faith but Christ is the Author of Faith and the Spirit is the rule that gave them forth and all that have them and is not in the Immediate knows them not neither the Gospell And none knows eternall life nor Christ which is the Autho● of life and faith which was before Scripture was by the Scriptures but as they come into the life that they was in that gave them forth And there is the life found Christ found Christ seen him by whom the world was made before it was made for the life was in them that gave forth the Scriptures by which they knew God and eternall life and Christ the Saviour Abraham the Prophet and Moses So the life must be in all now before they know Scriptures or Christ or God Pr. He saith If the letter declares of Christs fulfilling then we should need to know no more of Christ then what for substance is in the Scriptures then there is no need of immediate teachings page 284. He saith new Apostles and doctrine discovered of a righteousnesse within them and that is their justification And this is as the ring-leaders of the Jewes among the Galatians page 286. And the salvation which is to be wrought out with fear and trembling is not the same as made Moses and David Habakkuk and Paul tremble page 287. Answ The power of God is one which threw down Paul shook Habakkuk and Moses and David whereby these all came to know Christ which power who cometh into it and into the infinitenesse of it which raiseth up the seed which is Christ whereby the salvation is known and wrought out with feare and trembling And when ye all come to know this power that works out the salvation with fear and trembling your reproaches will be laid aside for reproaching of such whose salvation is wrought out with feare and trembling And righteousnesse within and sanctification within is a new Doctrine to you that are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God since the dayes of the Apostles and so from the spirit of faith from the hearing of faith which they that drew the people to the Circumcision without went from the hearing of faith within by which they should be justified So they that are come to the hearing of faith they are come to the justification and sanctification within and looks not to the Circumcision and Baptisme without So this is an old doctrine and not new but to you Apostates And though the Scriptures declares of Christs fulnesse and if people have all the Scriptures that speaks and declares of his fulnesse which you say you need know then no more of Christ then what for substance is in the Scriptures and so no need of immediate teachings we believe you But none knows the fulness of Christ but who comes into the immediate teachings Your mouths may be full of Scripture and use your tongues about the ●aints words and running up and down and the Lord never sent you saying Thus saith the Lord in Chap. and Verse And it is sufficient that the Scripture speaks of his fulnesse yet I say you nor none upon the earth never knew his fulnesse but as ye come to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightned you withal in every one of your own particulars though ye may have all the Scriptures for they that knew the fulnesse of Christ and they that gave forth the Scriptures had the spirit of God in them So must every one that knows it and them again Pr. He saith If the Scriptures be a rule for thee and thou then it is a rule for respect to superiours And keeping on the hat shewes the pride of the heart and a lying spirit He saith they have not a growth of Perfection in this life but a pressing on page 290. And he saith the Prophets took Texts and raised motives And he saith he that believes not our poynts from Scripture shall be damned that hee must tell him from Christ page 299. Answ Who are standing up against thee and thou and the Hat shewes the pride of their hearts and be out of the humility looking for an earthly honour which before the honour is the humility Nay the Scripture is not a rule for the respecting of persons neither is the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ they that do are out of the faith and are convinced by the Law to be transgressors and committers of sin and so out of the Law and Faith that respects persons And David he saw the end of all that perfection so he was past the growth of it when he saw it end And the Scriptures and Christ you know not who are not come into the immediate teachings nor have no need of that who saith the Scripture it is
thy self manifest that thou hast not the spiritual weapons And thou maist well deny immediate Revelations was it not in all ages such as pretended themselves to be Ministers that had not the life that gave forth Scriptures that called to the Magistrates to stop the mouthes of Blasphemers was not the mouth of the Priests against Christ to the Rulers at the Counsell And against the Apostles and against the Prophets And is it your mouth now to your Magistrates in the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles But do you think that the Magistrates will let you get a top of their backs and gallop upon them to be their executioners If ye be Ministers that have the Spirit of God stop the mouthes of the gain-sayers for never did the Apostles nor the true Church wrestle against flesh and blood But they struck at the power that captivated the Creatures to the intent that the Creatures might come into the Libertie of the Sons of God But thy fruits hath stunck about thee and your fruits how Barbarously the Saints have been used among you and true Christians in the spirit and so them that make War against the Saints are such that inwardly ravened from the spirit and so got the sheepes cloathing and turned against them that had the Spirit of God ravened from the Spirit of God inwardly lost the spiritual weapons and had onely the sheepes cloathing and that would not carry them out in the time of need and so was fain to flie to Magistrates to the carnal weapons and so by this means in all ages the righteous have been slain by them that had the Scriptures but from the spirit that gave them forth and all the Saints upon the earth have been slain by them that have been from that of God in their own particulars which now that is awakened by which men come to be turned unto God And so you now that do deny the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world that preach men should have sin while they be upon earth and the body of it and imperfection are such as have led people captive all their life times with the form of godliness without the power And keepes people in spiritual Egypt Sodom and Gomorah in filthyness and darkness where Christ was crucified by them whose ears were stopt to that of God in them and that was spiritual Egypt And so are all you that be inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God in your own particulars yet having a form of godliness denying the power you are from that of God ravened inwardly Ye are like to be reprobated concerning the faith ye are not like to lead people to the knowledge of the truth but like to keep them in the divers lusts laden with their sins and alwayes learning never able to come to the knowledge of truth there is all the witchcraft and sorcery and inchantments and familiar spirits and such doth deny the light which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world And as for all thy lies and all thy slanders and reviles they will be thy own clothing and wear thy own garments thou must and they will cover thee in darkness in the day of thy judgement when thy works are tried with fire the witness in thy conscience shall answer I am a friend to thy soul And thy shame and folly and wickedness thou hast published to the Nation which all sober people see thy folly and thy silence had been better to have Preached thee a sober man But novices and fools must utter their folly And the Truth is gone over ye and thou shalt feel it one day when thou and thy works are tryed with the fire And Eternally shalt thou witnesse ●●ey are Judged and condemned Edward Boules who calls himself a Teacher of the Gospel at Yorke in his Book he calls The duty and danger of Swearing opened as he saith in a Sermon preached at Yorke the day of swearing the LORD MAYOR This is the Title of his Book which he directs to Stephen Watson Lord Major the Aldermen and Common Councel of that Citie whose work is to teach them to break the commands of Christ throughout his Book in that which he calls a SERMON Pr. FIrst he sayes Christ brought down the rigteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees and how that the Pharisees wrests the Scriptures or made the Scriptures to bend to their own righteousnesse Answ This is your own condition and the Papists who cannot own the Scriptures as they speak but you will make the Scriptures bend to your own wills and wrests them as the Pharisees did and as you and the Papists do Christs words who sayes Swear not at all and you say swear How now Edward Bouls who makes the Scriptures bend now Thou teaches men should swear and Christ said Ye shall not swear at all and so art an Antichrist and against the Doctrine of Christ and teachest thy own tradition for doctrine and makes the commandement of Christ of none effect He that 's against the doctrine of Christ is an Antichrist and so the Papists and Protestants and Pharisees all are found swearers out of Christs Doctrine that sayes swear not at all and yet in your pride will make a trade of his words and a talking of his words to get money by Pr. Thou sayes Christ came not to destroy the Law and it hath deceived some to say Swear not at all The Scriptures must not be taken in generall termes for Paul said he became all things to all men And Christ and our Saviour his intent is this that we should not swear as we were wont to do for the word Generall not at all must be interpreted so that you see it is the scope and circumstance of this place that this Swear not at all be interpreted vain and unnecessary customes and abuse of swearing among the Jewes and it is not unlawfull to swear but to all men not onely a liberty but in just cases a duty of swearing and part of divine worship not Ceremoniall or Mutable there 's no shadow or type in it An Oath is for confirmation and the end of strife it gives the last peale to all differences and gives a great honour to God and is the proper end of worship and consequently a great honour Answ They are deceived that breaks Christs commands for when he says swear not at all He sayes in all your communication let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is contrary is evill So he layeth down no other Doctrine that men should practice then not to swear at all but yea yea and nay nay them that goes any further go into the evill whatsoever is more is evill So minde these 3 things and the Apostle becoming all to all men yet not without the Law of Christ Mark the Law Christ which was Swear not at all so still that 's agreeable to Christs words the Scripture is taken generall and Christ
as obeyed Christs doctrine for he tells them the danger lest ye fall into condemnation Let all your communication be yea yea and nay nay what ever is more is evill Not by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath Now there was true and false and prophane whatsoever was comprehended in these words Not by any but keep to yea and nay in all your communications Now tell the Apostle he doth not mean as he speaks give him the lye pervert his words and Christs words who sayes swear not at all and sayes he meanes profane oaths And Christ brought the people off the true Oath which was in the old time that was performed to the Lord a profane oath was not performed to the Lord that 's not meant of that but that as was sworn by him Christ sayes now Swear not at all and so they that break the oath break the covenant the true oath and so they that swear now do not own the new covenant which ends the true oath and covenant in the old time The profane oaths they were judged by them that lived in the first covenant and they did not type out any thing but a true oath did which ended controversies among men which the oath Christ ends which is the peace between God and man and reconciles them to God and one another These be true brethren true christians that 's come to yea and nay in their communications and cannot swear by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath lest they come into the evill but yea and nay in all their communications lest they come into condemnation So you that teach men to swear have brought them into the evill and a great out-cry to break the commands of Christ and under condemnation He that teacheth them to swear any oath whatsoever cast behind your backs the commands of Christ and doctrine of the Apostles And the Apostle that bid the Saints keep to yea and nay in all their communications and swear not at all said if yee will have any more take two or three Witnesses And for all thy other confusion and thy perverting and wresting of Scriptures to bring people into the condemnation and evill to swear is not worthy the mentioning and will but come upon thy selfe in the day of thy condemnation and judgement thee and all upon the Earth that are departed from the Apostles shall witnesse how ye have transgressed the commands of Christ and teach people to transgresse them and to sin have hath brought them into the evill and condemnation So repent and while ye and time prize it Samuel Hammond In his Book called The Quakers House built on the Sands A very fit Title for himselfe and the rest of his PRIESTS These are some of his Principles following Pr. YOung men and women having some convictions and awakenings of the Law and have followed the light of an awakened conscience and sit down before they have closed with Christ and there be not a distinction between the righteousness imputed upon the account of the blood of Christ and the righteousness inherent wrought in us by his spirit and this inherent righteousness they confound the attainments brought forth by the Light in every man not being able to distinguish the working of Satan Answ Inherent righteousnesse is a word of thy own and the Papists inventing and thou art a man that cannot distinguish between the workings of Christ and the workings of Satan For the light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall which brings men and women to know the Law and the convictions of it it brings them to the end of the Law Christ and to see that appear that cannot be shaken and the Righteousnesse imputed to a believer that is within felt For he that believes hath the witnesse in himselfe and feels it there and the blood of Christ is felt within justifying and cleansing the conscience from dead works And the righteousnesse of Faith is found within and that righteousnesse which is wrought within is found within and no man sees this but with the light which Christ hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world withall and this Light is that which confounds all thy attainments for Christs righteousness and his blood and spirit are all one which justifies and sanctifies Pr. They dream of a perfection to obey the light within and this is delusion they are not able to distinguish between justified freely by grace which is the favour of God upon the account of Christs satisfaction and the grace that wrought by Christs spirit in the soul that natural light within being improved they call grace the work of God upon the soul leads into Covenant of works then it is no other then to tread in the Papists steps so this is delusion and the ground of their delusion is their not distinguishing between saving light given forth by Christ in conversion and the light of conscience that every man hath Answ None come to the perfection out of the delusion but who comes to the light within and followes that it gives him the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ the Covenant of grace is one that which was wrought without is within in the soul for Christ in you c and he is the Covenant of grace of light of life and of peace and none knowes him without nor Justification by grace but who knowes it in the heart and it is the one and the same thing it is not another grace nor another Covenant nor another Christ but the the same Christ in you the Saints are in his spirit and in his mind and are of his flesh and of his bone And thou who art so full of thy delusions Art out of this and thou alwayes have been in the dreams and never knowes perfection till thou come to the light within And Gods work in the soul leads to the end of the Covenant of works who works all in us and for us as sayes the Apostle who works faith grace commands the light to shine out of darkness shines in the heart to give the knowledge of the Son and so thou art in the delusion and the Papists doctrine that knowes not this within but calls it the Covenant of works dost not thou tread in their steps and have crept up in their great Masse-houses and the light given forth by Christ in conversion and the light in the conscience is one and it is not natural it was before natural was it exerciseth the conscience towards God and towards man in them that love it but in them that hate it they are not converted but they live in the many wayes out of the one way to God for he that 's the Covenant of light is the Covenant of grace and thus thou art blinding people with many things Pr. The owning not the imputation of Christ as the matter and formal cause of Justifications is damnable doctrine
not capable of such a rest Answ In the sixe dayes thou was to do that which was just and that which the Law commanded which was justice and to do to all men as thou wouldst be done to Not to covet steale bear false witnesse nor kill the seventh day was the rest that signified Christ Jesus the end of the Law the rest If any man can receive this let him And the Sabbath-day that all servants strangers cattell son and daughter might rest upon it the seventh day the signe the shadow which Christ the body ends was a figure and a signe and a shadow of the restauration of the Creation to the rest whereby the Gospel might again be preached to every creature under heaven This is a touch of the thing more might be said in it The Sabbath was everlasting to the state wherein it was and Circumcision was everlasting to the state wherein it was through their generations and it was in the first covenant shadows types and figures but the body is Christ that came to do the will of God which ends them all and sanctifies man and brings him to rest and peace with God before dayes was Pr. And thou saith J. E. was instructed in the Old Testament which is able to make wise unto salvation through faith therefore be instant in season and out of season Now the onely morall season the Scriptures enjoynes us is the seventh-day sabbath never changed till the little horne arose And the holy spirit in the Apostles highly approves us in our fulfilling the Royall Law which as to the season of worship is none other then the seventh day-sabbath Answ They who are made able and wise to salvation they know the Scriptures through the faith they see the substance of them Christ Jesus and they see while Moses was read the vail was upon their hearts ' for the Sabbath was the signe type and circumcision and this was in Moses and this was the signe read the shadow was read the type was read and the figure read the vail over the heart Now as the seed Christ the body comes to be known the signe the shadow the type is ended the body is known that doth the will of God that brings people to the rest So who knows the Scripture that is able to make wise unto salvation mark that word through the faith that is in Christ Jesus they have salvation which are able to make wise unto salvation that testifies of it and so Christ the seed the body takes off the vaile of mens hearts that ends the types figures and shadows And such as come to know the fulfilling of the royall Law according to Scriptures he comes to the body Christ in which the Law ends to every one that believes and so they as be in dayes Sabbaths which Moses speaks of was a signe and Ezekiel and the Apostle said was a shadow they be not yet come to the body which is Christ that was before any dayes was who is the sanctification and rest of his people and who are in him that is the truth worships God in the truth and in the spirit which never changes but shadows signes of a thing is not the thing that 's signed too for signes and shadows will change but the spirit and truth doth not change in that is God worshipped Pr. And thou saith It cannot be that horne except he change your times also and that he had no time to change but the seventh-day-sabbath and the Sabbath is perpetuall a rule of righteousness Answ Christ made all things new he ends the Law and brings it in the heart he ends the Covenant and changes things as was in the old time changing circumcision offerings Priests and ends the Sabbath which was perpetuall to the Jewes in that generation among the types as the Covenant was and Circumcision and the Law was a rule of righteousnesse for them but Christ who is the end of the Law comes to redeem them that are under the Law and ends their covenant and ends their shadows and changes those times him by whom time was made and so thou that knows not the time in his hands shews thou art not in the time that are in his hands and so not of the body of Christ Pr. And vvhereas thou saith No other time but simply the seventh part must from week to week be devoted to Gods worship for whensoever the seventh part of time is altered the morality must be destroyed Answ They worshipped God that said the body vvas Christ and the Sabbath day vvas a shadovv of good things to come and so they that vvorship God must vvorship him in spirit and in truth and in that vvhich all figures and shadovvs and signes doth end in the spirit and truth before they vvas and not one day in seven a signification of rest sanctification the Lords signe he gave to the people in transgression Before transgression ye do not read it was to men given as a command to the first Adam but of the earth earthly But who comes to the second Adam the Lord from heaven he by whom the world was made comes into that that all types figures shadows ends and so doth not destroy nothing of the Law but comes to that which ends it Pr. And thou saves It 's a great stumbling block as to believers in Christ because Christians violated the Sabbath Answ Christ is the body that ends the shadows and the signes and fulfills the Law him who was before the world was made in him are the Christians the body that ends the shadows and the signes in whom the vayl is come off of their hearts and so Christ did not break the Law but fulfilled it and in him that fulfills it the Saints met who met together in him and gathers together in him Who is the body they are the members he is the head who is the Church in whom he is in the mids of Pr. And thou saith So that to produce the world of wonder manifest it is that night was the beginning of time Answ That 's false the beginning of time was God and Christ and times and se●sons are in his hands and God is Light read that who can Pr. And thou saith Thou supposest it will not be questioned in Moses time Answ This was while Moses was read while the body was not come Christ Jesus that ends the signe the shadow the type and blots out the Ordinances and Commandements that held them up from which vaile the Apostle brought the People to the body Christ Jesus where no shadow was nor changing Now dayes are changing but Christ doth not change which is the body And you that hold up the signe the shadow the type the figure you hold up the dead and come not to Christ the life the body the Sanctification it selfe before dayes was by whom they was made Pr. And thou sayst The unthankfull Christian ought to sanctifie the Sabbath Answ Here thou brings them into dayes
sight and he is in the Saints and they eate his flesh and sit with him in heavenly places Pr. They say They are deceived that thinke to obtain salvation by the conviction of the Law which they call Christ page 37. 39. Ans Christ is the end of the Law and who follow him are not deceived but comes to witnesse the Law of life and him revealed in them and they are deceived that calls the Law without by Christ that doth convict and gives it that name But who followes Christ the end of the Law hath the righteousness of God revealed in them from saith to faith which the just lives by and Christ revealed in them as the Apostle witnessed whereby they have eternal life Pr. And they say the Quakers would obtain salvation by the obedience of Christ the Law which gives the knowledge of sin Answ The Quakers obedience is Christ Gods righteousness the end of the Law which makes them free from the Law of sin and death Christ the seed the second Adam Pr. They say Now every man that cometh into the world receives a light from Christ as he is God which light is conscience and this will shew a man that there is a God and discover the eternal God which some falsly cals Christ Answ Christ saith I am the light of the world and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world as saith John and doth not say that its conscience for the light was before conscience was which shewes thy ignorance Not knowing what conscience is for conscience was since the world but light was before the world was made and he that evil doth hates the light and so conscience is seared and so light condemnes and the light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened with is Gods Covenant to Jewes and Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth so you have given Christ a new name that cals him conscience contrary to Scripture and is conscience eternal that may be seared and will that shew that which is eternal will conscience blot out sin and transgr●ssion Christ will Gods Covenant that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which light believing in it they serve Christ the Author of their faith which faith is a mystery held in a pure conscience Pr. And they say that every man hath not the spirit of Christ and he brings Jude to prove it Answ That proves that they had it but went from it and the spirit that leads the disciples reproves the world Pr. John Burton saith John Bunian is furnished with spiritual gifts which gifts the Ministers of Christ must have whether learned or unlearned as to humane and John Bunians preaching he saith is not by humane art yet he saith Christ is humane Ans The Scripture hath ne●ther taught John Burton nor John Bunian this Language To say this knowledge is not humane and yet to affirm Christ is humane is to say thy knowledge is not from Christ but we shall try his gifts whether they be from God and whether or no he divids the word aright and whether they be agreeable to the Scripture which fils up his book with mentioning the word humane twenty times over which humane is from the earth to say Christ is humane thy knowledge is from the ground earthy and he hath no Scripture for it he saith that the soul is immortal Pr. And he saith it is the Devil to keep people to live and die in their sins and he that cryes free grace through the death of the man Christ Jesus that sinners doth attain to eternal life and deny his own righteousness this he saith is a notion and saith he is empty of sanctified grace Answ The grace that comes from Christ it seasons the heart and the words are sanctified and this is not a notion but all be in the notion that speak of the thing and be out of the grace and salvation and you that believe people must have sin whilst they are upon the earth are them that keepes people in their sins and so hath judged thy self to be the Minister of sin as thou maist read the fruits in thy own book Pr. John Bunian saith he that confesseth Christ come in the flesh and was crucified taken from the Crosse and risen he that believes this is not Antichrist Answ The Pope and all the prophane people in Christendom called Christians will confesse this in the form without them and they that denies the power for Christ is the power of God and that I say is Antichrist he that hath not Christ in him is a reprobate and so would make thy self and all Professors the Pope and all hirelings not to be Antichrist and are all on heapes one amongst another that 's a mark of Antichrist though they may have all in the form Christ and the Prophets words which denyes the power yet confesse Christ without he that denyes the power denyes Christ and so he is Antichrist who denyes the light which Christ hath enlightened him withall Prin. Man at his coming into the world he hath conscience but he hath not the spirit of Christ Answ Man at his coming into the world hath a light from Christ him by whom the world was made which is more then conscience but he that hates the light abids in darkness and so is not like to receive the spirit but is reproved with it Pr. They say them that are carried away by the convictions of conscience are misinformed by the devil Answ This light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world which he cals conscience teaching and misinforming by the devill is the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that through it they might believe and is not conscience and he that believes hath the witness in himself and that all might hear the Son and confesse him to the glory of God and therefore are enlightened who was glorified with the Father before the world began and Christ bids them believe in the light which believing in hath the light of life but he that believes not is condemned already and them that hate the light are them that are informed by the devil Pr. Now they say he converts a new birth perswading them it is wrought by following the light and this he sayes is like Baals Priests Answ That 's contrary to Christ who saith I am the light and he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life he that believes in the light shall become a childe of the light and this is far above Baals Priests and all that hates it hates Christ and these are Baals Priests that hate the light Pr. And they say that the spirit of Christ convinceth of sin and yet they say all hath it not and yet it shall convince and reprove the world Answ Now it s one thing to be reproved and another thing to receive that which doth reprove
but hear you have laid aside the Holy Ghost how knew they before they gave it forth hear thou hast denyed Revelation of the spirit for though a man has all the writings yet he knowes nothing of God but by the the Spirit of God nor sanctification nor justification which is Christ and the light which comes from him Pr. You say You are fallen into the last times prophesied of by Christ and you are to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints Answ The faith delivered once to the Saints ye are out of in respecting persons and are Apostates from it and the last times which Christ spoke of should come which John saw was come when the false prophets which Christ prophesied of was come which went forth from the Apostles which since their days the world went after them and now from them is the Lord God bringing his people to the rock of ages into the faith they are out of Pr. Foolish man would have his righteousness in himself Answ Every one that hath Christ hath the righteousness of God wrought in him and none owneth the righteousness of Christ but who owneth the light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world and they are foolish that know not this and the righteousness of faith in them Pr. It is blasphemy they say and colourable pretences to witness an infallible spirit in them Answ The spirit that leads the Saints into all truth is infalliable and that shall reprove the world and he that hath the spirit of Christ hath that which is infalible and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his but are in the colourable pretences Pr. They say The Scriptures is the quick and powerful word Answ Many may have the Scriptures and the form and deny the power and the Scriptures are words of God and the word is God and this word is in the heart which led them to speak forth Scripture And many Scriptures they bring to oppose the Doctrine of Christ who saith be not ye called of men Master for ye have one Master even Christ to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confesse to the glory of God will men receive worship when Angels would not receive it but bad them worship God Pr. They say They rail and cavil at the lawful maintenance that God hath ordained for them Answ God hath suffered the beast to make havock and spoil the Saints goods but where doth God ordain that you should take Tythes and treble damages Easter reckonings and Mid-summer dues and that you should sue men at the Law and cast them in prison till death where did God command this they that Preach the Gospel should live on the Gospel and they bring glad tidings to people and this is not glad tidings to cast into prison till death and hale up and down to Courts and Sessions for outward maintenance if these men bring glad tidings let the spiritual judge or whether they do not make their folly manifest to all men that can but read the Scripture Pr. They say Such as trust in their own inherent righteousness compasse Sea and Land to make prosolytes Answ It was so in the dayes of the Pharisees it hath been so since the dayes of the Apostles since the beast and the false prophet got up who deny the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Gods righteousness Christ and such as denyed the light had the form and such gather people into the form of Moses the Prophets Christ and the Apostles words establishing their own righteousness and denying the righteousness of God the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world and all you that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world hath troden the blood of the Covenant under foot and you tell us of humane and inherent righteousness which the Scripture tels us no such words and as for all the rest of the lies in the book we let them go home again upon their own heads and every word shal be their own burthen and that in your conscience shall witness and the Scriptures are owned by the Quakers and denyed by you but owned for your own ends that deny the light A BOOK Entitled The Quakers Cause But no name is found in it but is a Book of darkness railing and lies is come to light and because some who leave father and mother and wife therefore he rages who is out of the Light and Doctrine of Christ And the Principles are as followeth Pr. SUch as forsakes husband and wife to do the will of God this he cals a breaking of relations Ans And thus ignorantly speaks evil of those things he knowes not Thus ignorant of the command of Christ and the Scriptures but hath shewed himself to be a member of the world and not of Christ who saith he that doth not forsake father and mother wife and children is not worthy of me Pr. He saith Because he saith thou to God it doth not follow that he should say thou to his earthly father to speak to God as he doth to man Answ Now minde what proud flesh would have of whom thou hast learnt to speak you to an earthly man or to a particular person which the Scripture hath taught no such Language nor the accidence that which teacheth thee to give more to man then to God is the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God teaches to speak righteously and when there is but one not to say as of many and so there is thou to one and you to many And so here is the form of sound words that cannot be condemned now you may see where your Original stands which cannot endure the form of sound words Prin. He saith To be justified by grace which is Christ in them this is a kind of Popery Answ Contrary to Scripture and the Apostles Doctrine Before the Pope was and them either which saith Christ was in them who are justified by faith and faith was in the heart and justified in the spirit and who witnesse the spirit the spirit of grace and by grace ye are saved and that which saves justifies and being justified by grace and thou that art of the Pope and in the Apostacy denies this Pr. To say Christ is within is never to mention Christ without Answ There 's none knowes Christ within but he knowes him without the same yesterday to day and for ever and there 's none knowes him but they know him within revealed of the Father which is beyond flesh and blood Pr. And he sayes To run upon new birth self-denial light within Christ within man if this be not a kinde of Popery and a fair gate for Rome he is deceived Answ Light within Christ within new birth self denial is out of your works and Romes which was the Doctrine that the Apostles held forth and the Saints witnessed Christ within
and worldly lusts and it will bring to worship God These things among others are the scope of the lying murtherer and bids them believe not every spirit but try them whether they be of God or no for many false Prophets are gon● out into the world Answ The false Prophets and Antichrists came up which Christ said should come came up in the dayes of the Apostles before their decease and went forth from them into the world which since the world went after them and they had the sheeps cloathing but ravened from the spirit and so broken into sects and heaps one amongst another which made war against the Saints and overcame them but then again the Beast and false Prophets and the Kings of the earth the Devill and the Dragon should make war against the Lamb and the Saints but the Lamb and the Saints should get the victory over the Beast and the false Prophets Devil and Dragon and the everlasting Gospel should be preached to them that dwell upon the earth So it is not a strange thing to us that the whole world should be standing against the light and against the Saints and the Lamb but their garments they cannot touch and so wickednesse hath budded forth into a rod but he is brought forth to rule the Nations with a rod of iron which was dead and is alive And ye discern not the times like Prarisees and the light which leads men from the world their lusts and taking Gods name in vain and all ungodlinesse You never came into this the Devil never came into this nor none comes into it but who be in that which the Devill is out of Nor none sees the salvation which is to the ends of the earth but who be in the light that John bore testimony of the witnesse in thy conscience shall answer it and condemn thee for thy hard speeches and the light by which all things was made which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world it is the end of the Law and before a naturall Light was and changes men from their naturall estate believing in it into the Covenant of life and peace with God I say the Law of God that came by Moses is above conscience much more Christ the end of the Law that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world the righteousnesse of God And the Devill is out of piety and purity who is the lying murtherer and never brought people to the light within who himselfe is out of it and he cannot disguise himself nor thee neither from the children of Light Prin. And the light simply considered makes not any thing that is done good or evill A. Did not Christ the light testifie against the world that their works was evil and doth not the light make manifest evill And is not he that hates the light reproved and so with it condemned And doth not the Scripture say the Law is light And doth not that make evill of that which is evill and own that which is good and judge it Nay and doth it not grieve the spirit of God Them that act contrary to the Lord did not God bring evill upon them that did evill Is there any evill in the City and I have not done it Though it was evill to them yet it was justice for they went from that of God in them first And doth not Christ the light distinguish between the good and the evill And doth not Christ make that which is good to be good and that which is evil to be evil Pr. He saith The law of faith did not make voyd the law of works but established it Answ That 's contrary to the Apostle that said the Law was changed and the first Covenant was to decay So with it their outward works whereby the Law of faith came in which works by love where the boaster is excluded and the Law of life witnessed and there comes the living in the spirit which makes free from the Law of sin and death Pr. He saith Neither the new man nor the renewed man is endued with the principle of light and life according to the image of him that created him Answ In this thy ignorance of the Saints conditions thou hast shewed for they was in the image of God of him that created them and they was not in the flesh but in the spirit And the Apostle tells them that they was renewed and the light that shined in their hearts was to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus And the Saints had put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created them And he that believes hath the light of life and if they have not the spirit of Christ they are none of his And God will dwell in man and walke in man and Christ in them the brightnesse of the Fathers glory the expresse image of his substance Pr. The naturall man retains not the things of the new Covenant Ans That is while naturall men are from the light and that of God in them there is that in the naturall man hearkning to that which will bring him to do the thing contained in the Law which shall be justified before the Professors of the Law and not doers of it which is one with that ye professors acts contrary to But no man can know the things of God save with the spirit of God So naturall mans eyes is in that which is naturall from that which is spirituall but there is that in the naturall man which answers the Law of God which is spirituall though he be sold under sin and as he comes to see the seed Christ he shall see the end of all that A naturall mans estate and the Law of sin and death by the faith in Christ and ther 's our justification and life though the other things are owned where they were in their place Pr. Man is not able to discern the things of God till he be born again Answ And the Scripture speaks of discerning the eternall power and God-head and that was a thing of the spirit of God And the Apostle saith not that they were born again and yet I say that none knows the things of God but the spirit of God and that which may be known of God is manifest in them which God hath shewed unto them for that of God in them was of his spirit who is the God of the spirits of all flesh which brings them to discern his eternal power and God-head Pr. He saith That the light by which all things was made which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is not the powerful word of faith Answ Is not the word Christ the Author of Faith by which all things were made and created Is not that the powerful word of faith Is not he the Author of it which faith that comes from him gives victory over the world And is
the glory of God And the Law was in their hearts and the Word was within them and the annointing and such had the gifts for the worke of the Ministery for perfecting the Saints for the edifying the body of Christ till they all come to the knowledge of the glory of God and to a perfect man in Christ Jesus Pr. He saith Christ is without his Saints in respect of his bodily presence Answ How then are they of his flesh and of his bone and eate his flesh and drink his blood And how have the Saints his minde and spirit and he with them and they with him and sit with him in heavenly places and he is the head of the Church how then is he absent Ye poor Apostates from him who feels not Christ with you but he is with the Saints and they feel him Pr. He saith Salvation and faith are the gifts of God distinct from Christ Answ They are all of him and from him and with him And how is he the Author of Faith in whom it ends from whence it comes Pr. He saith The light which discovers sin and iniquity in mans heart is not Christ the light the door Ans The first Adam was the door where all sin and transgression entered Christ the second Adam the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world saith I am the door the way the life which finisheth sin and transgression and brings in everlasting righteousnesse and the way of life out of death which Light discovers sin Pr. He saith To call Christ the light the gift the door the way is to take the Gardiner for Christ as Mary did Answ Christ the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world we do not put him for the Gardiner We know him and as many as receives him he gives them power to become the sons of God and this thou sayest is not used power but prerogative authority and thus thou art wresting Scripture So thou should have been more meek and low in thy heart and then thou wouldst have bridled thy tongue and so have learned of Christ and so come to the light the sure foundation out of the errour of thy wayes and have kept in the footsteps of the flock and if thy tongue had been shorter and thy bridle streigher then wouldst not thou have mixt the Covenant of God with mans spirit and have compared it to the Law of works which Christ the light which doth enlighten every one that comes into the world is the end of And mans spirit in the Fall is polluted and his body but as the light is believed in and the minde changed his spirit is sanctified and his body and so comes to be a childe of the Light and his spirit witnesseth with our spirits that we are the Sons of God And none owns the Door Mediator the Life the Way but with the light which Christ doth enlighten every man that comes into the world withal which light is the door the way and the life Ellis Bradshaw His Booke called The Quakers quaking Principles which he directs to the PROTECTOR His Principles are as Followeth Pr. HE saith That Christ who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world by an immediate illumination not the Elect themselves to bring them to salvation Answ Doth not Christ say I am the way the truth and the life And he is the Door and no man cometh to the Father but by him and learn of him This is my beloved Son heare ye him saith God And is not he the new Covenant in the heart by which men need not say Know the Lord And there is no other name by which men can be saved but by the name of Christ who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all through him might believe And he that believes in the light abides not in darknesse but hath the light of life and they that believe not in it but hates its the light is their condemnation and the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world is the salvation though men neglect it which the Elect walk in which condemns the unbeliever which is immediate and no man sees salvation but who comes to the light Pr. He saith The Word that was made flesh is visible and the Word is the Letter and they never received the spirit of life from it and that 's the Quakers errour Ans Such as had the Scriptures which was the words of God to them in old time and the ordinances the Apostle calls carnall which the Jewes stuck in and would not come to him that they might have life not to Christ And so if men have all the Scriptures and have not Christ they have not life For the Devill he may have the Scripture and hath he life therefore And the power of God Christ his name is called the Word of God The Word of God lives and endures for ever and the Spirit is not in the Letter and the Letter is not the Word which was made flesh and they be in the errour that thinks so for the Word is invisible Pr. Paul adviseth not onely to the Light within but is bidding them bring his cloak books and parchment and give attendance to reading Answ The Apostle did tell the Saints that the light that shined in their hearts might give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and bids them walk in the light And Christ bids them believe in the light and they should not walke in darknesse and there is no other name under Heaven by which men can be saved but by the name of Christ And the Scriptures none sees the substance of them nor the fulfilling of them but who walks in the Light whom God speaks to by his Son who is the end of the Prophets and there is the true reading and knowing of all books and p●rchments which none knows the Scripture but by the light which comes from Christ in whom they end Pr. And again thou sayst there is more words then one Ans God is the Word and the Scriptures of Truth are his words which Christ fulfills Pr. He saith They have fellowship with the Father but not in the like measure of the gifts of grace the Apostle had Answ Then you are not like none of you to understand the Apostles words nor to be judges of them but as you do come into the like measure and gifts as they was in else you will not be able to judge of their conditions nor know their words Pr. He saith There is no man justified through the faith in Christ that owns the Scriptures to be but a dead letter But that ownes them to be the Word of God in which there is spirit and spirituall life as words of eternall life Answ The spirit and the life is not in the Scriptures but was in them that gave it forth and many have the Scripture and not the
spirit of life The Devill may get Scripture and therefore hath he spirit and life who is out of it This is like the Pharisees that thought they had had life in the Scriptures but would not come to Christ the life which the Scripture testified of and the Scriptures are words of God but many have the words and deny the Word it selfe and none are justified that hath the Scriptures and out of the life that gave them forth Pr. He saith It 's a sottish Doctrine to direct people onely to the Light within and what an absurd thing it is to tell our children of the Light within their conscience and to bid them obey and follow it that light and word that 's in their hearts and mouths and so fully neglect the teaching of the Scriptures Answ Is not this Souls zeal kicking against the pricks who had Scripture And this is not the neglecting to teach the Scriptures nor the Apostles doctrine to bring people and children to the Light within and the word in their hearts and mouths to obey and do it which was the Apostles doctrine and they are sottish that be out of it and they were them that made Proselytes that brought not people to the word within nor to the light within but from it Pr. He saith The Apostle thought to do many things against the Church and thought he ought to do so and the light within did not inform his conscience Answ Did not Christ say it was hard for him to kick against that that prickt him and was not that within him that pricked him Pr. And thou sayst thou art too ignorant of the ways of God and witnessing the meaning of his spirit Ans We do believe thee therefore you had better have been silent and have hearkned to the Light within thee and the Word within thee and the word of faith and wisdome which none hears the word of faith but who comes to the light within Pr. Thou sayest thou art too much troubled with carnall thoughts and vain imaginations and addicted to the world Answ Those dictates are not like to own the light within word within It is not a strange thing that thy spirit should stand against the Apostles doctrine that is light within Cor. 2.4 Pr. Thou sayst It is a disparaging the Scriptures to direct people to the light within rather then the Scriptures to direct them to eternall life Ans The Scriptures many may have and be from the light and spirit of God that was in them that gave it forth which none hath eternall life but who comes to the light within and the spirit that was in them that gave forth the Scriptures and to you this is the word of the Lord. Pr. Thou sayst The light within is grosse darknesse and what darknesse and blindnesse is there where the Scriptures are not minded and known Ans The Apostle who did direct to the light within did not call that grosse darknesse nor blindnesse but turned people from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God And Abraham and Enoch was not in grosse darknesse and ignorance who had not the Scripture to minde which was in the spirit and faith as they were in that gave forth the Scripture who comes to witnesse the same spirit as was in them that gave forth the Scriptures they shall come to witnesse the Covenant of God written in their hearts and shall not need say Know the Lord and cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils and they that comes into this owns the Scripture without and be in Abrahams faith Pr. He saith The elect may be deceived and fall from their own stedfastness for a time and come under the death and power of Satan Answ The elect seed is in the grave which it is not possible to deceive and the elect shall be brought from under all the deceivers and death and bonds and the gates of Hell they shall come over and on top of them although the seed hath been in captivity and it is not possible to deceive the Elect it is the world that is deceived that which hath led captive shall go into captivity Eve and the first Adam may be brought into transgression but Christ the second Adam the seed in you all you must know which is that which bruiseth the Serpents head and the ground of all deceiving and so the Elect may lye under for a time and suffer but the election shall obtain and not him that wills nor him that runs but come over to the crown of honour and glory Pr. He saith Satan deceives men into bringing them to a self-denying posture Answ It is not the Devill that brings men to be humble and to deny themselves that which teacheth self-denyall is Christ that which keeps out of self-denyall is the Devill for that he went into himselfe out of the truth Pr. He sayes They can never be clear of a degree of blasphemy that hath the spirit of God in them and speaks against Ministery Magistrates and Ordinances and bid people listen to the light within them and to the spirits teaching and that they are all taught of God Answ They that witnessed the spirit and light within were taught of God and were moved of the Lord to declare both against Ministers Magistrates and Ordinances that stood against Christ the power of God and these were called blasphemers which were not the Scripture declares it but owned the power that ended all changeable things which upon all the heads of the transgressors and blasphemers came which power was a praise to them that did well Pr. He saith That Scripture may be bought and sold they say and it doth not profit but the Light within is of an eternall nature an infallible guide So obeying it they shall be sure of perfection and eternall life Now he saith those that say so are the poor ignorant and unstable soules Answ Cannot yee buy and sell the Scriptures and your Sermons and Prayers And can any have the comfort of the Scriptures and an infallible guide perfection and eternall life and the soule established and come out of ignorance but who comes into the light and spirit of God within that gave forth the Scriptures with which they came to know God the Father of spirits of whom they learned that gave forth the Scriptures and so come into the spirit and the bond of peace and unity with the Scriptures with God and one with another And the sp●rit of God doth not bring men to dislike of Scriptures nor Ministers of Christ But to see what estate and condition they were spoken forth too Pr. Thou sayest The measure of Christ must be so that you ought to lay downe your lives for the brethren and love one another much more to lay downe your estates Answ When was there a Priest in the Nation that did lay downe his estate for the love of Christ or his brethren but he had a selfish principle in another thing Or
hearers are ashamed of you and will not justifie your practices and so yee have shewed your consciences who take the tenths that you are not exercised with the light neither be in the mystery of the Faith which gives to see the end of all changeable things And are not you begging with your Petitions for more maintenannce with your Petitions flying up and down for Glebe-lands and Augmentations to the powers of the earth and sending for Writs summoning up to the Courts people that you do no work for and this hath been the end of your fruits Pr. He that scorns to make use of the labours of men for his improvement in the things of God shewes himselfe proud If there be occasion to make use of humane Authors which we offer to our Hearers Answ Humane Authors are from the earth from the fallible nature to mixe and mingle that with that which is received from God he shews that he hath not discerning and makes that not sufficient which he hath received from God and this is contrary to the Apostles what the Saints of the Lord had delivered they did not mixe it with mens enticing words of wisdome neither did they speak it in the words which mans wisdome taught but which the holy Ghost did teach them Therefore this is to teach from mens labours or humane Authors for mens Labours and the humane authors invented come out of that nature which prisons the seed of God and so that is not agreeable to that which is received from God but every ones words there shall be his burthen and so humane authors are not to be mixed with the word of God for the word is pure nothing is to be added to or taken from it he that doth shall be proved a lyer and the higher power is not humane nor fallible Pr. Paul and Pe●er were instructed by an immediate revelation which we are not so presumptuous to expect or to make the Ap stles condition our condition humane learning wil not acquaint us with the mind of God yet being sanctified it is a great assistance to that end Ans Are not ye in the presumption usurp authority to preach or to teach that have not the immediate revelation as the Apostles had but have got their words and usurps the authority and are out of their power is not this usurping Are not all who be not of the power in the words of the Apostles such as are to be turned away from by the command of the Apostle And are not all who be of God and in the power the life that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles were in the immediate revelation of God Can any know the Scriptures or the truth given forth from the spirit of truth learned of God the Father of truth but by the immediate revelation which is the spirit of God which reveales the things of God And thou speakest of study and prayer can any dvide the word aright or pray aright but in the spirit and where that is is not there immediate revelation from God and this thou calls presumption to be in the revelation as the Apostles were in which it is presumption to meddle with their words and not to be in the condition they were in that is persumption and to usurp athority and so ye are them that are got up since the daies of the Apostles ravening inwardly from the spirit of God that they were in have sheeps cloathing which Christ said should come Iohn saw was come went forth form them which since the daies of the Apostles the world have gone after you all but who have their names written in the book of life before the foundation of the world keep Jesus testimony And humane learning doth not help in the way and things of God as it is in it self but as the spirit doth open through all things and beyond all things and comprehends all Languages and sees before languages were that is it that ministers to the spirits in prison and that is not called humane learning which sees over languages and beyond languages and comes to have power over tongues languages and speeches and sees before they were Pr. Costome hath made it the civility of our language to say you to one and not to say thou to a Superiour except it be a Familier It is no great fault to respect mens persons and the Scripture onely makes men wise to salvation And it is a pernitious error in placing justification and salvation in righteousnesse within Ans That the righteousnesse of Christ might be fulfiled in us and where Christ is within there is sanctification and there is justification there is salvation known for there is no salvation known nor felt without but first it is found within Faith evidenceth it the spirit witni●sing the spirit comes to witnesse it the light sees it this is within And so they that have these words of righteousnesse of sanctification of Justification without not within are in the error none knows them without but first they know them within and you to a superiour and Thou to a familiar Is not God the Superiour the supream and dost thou say You to God dost thou esteem man higher in a place beyond God is not this ambition and pride and presumption and foolishnesse must thou not come to be judged here and be humbled for your miscariages and Thou to a familiar a person of low degree canst thou speak more familiarly to God then to man Thou to him and You to man is this righteous and sound speech that cannot be condemned Dost thou not in this shew that thou never learned the Accidence or Bible he that respects persons commits sin dost thou respect the poor and the rich in thy words and is by the law reproved to be a transgressor and is out of the faith that is held without respect of persons And as for the rest of all thy lies and hard expressions in thy Book they shall come upon thy self and to thee be a heavie burthen And the day hastens upon thee apace to the witness of God in thy conscience I speak which will let thee see that it had been better for thee if thou had never opened thy mouth then to have opened thy nakedness to the Nation and this is not the way to convert souls to rail for railing never converted any but brought them into a form out of the power and so encreased knowledge which was their sorrow R. Sherlock His Principles as followeth Pr. HE saith They do not attain the knowledge and understanding of the Gospel by the same means as the Apostles did saith he we Preach the same Gospel as the Apostles preached but do not attain to the knowledge and understanding of this Gospel by the same means Answ That which the Apostles received they received from God so ye receiving it not by the same means have received it from men and not from God Pr. He saith
faith and such as lived in the faith and such as quenched the spirit and despised prophesie and such as despised the holy One and slaughtered the seed of God and such cast the law of God behinde their backs this was the spirit and the Word of God which was the rule that led them to discern and savour to try and taste and handle this was the touch-stone and this was the rule and this brought them to the knowledge of God and they that had the Scriptures had not the knowledge of God without this nor the prophesie as the Pharisees that had Scriptures yet knew not Christ Pr. To the Law and to the Testmony Answ Yea as we say to the Law and to the testimony the Law is the light the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy but it is tryed in this our day the Letter is the Light amongst the Ministers of the Letter against the light and they say prophesie is ceased and so puts the Old and New Testament for it and brings Isai 8. for the Law and testimony which was before Matthew Mark Luke and John but this is that their ignorance may appear Prin. And likewise he saith There is not a just man upon the earth and sinneth not Answ Read the words above in the 12. verse be not just over much neither make thy self overwise now mark this just this wise man upon the earth which doth good and sinneth not that was the estate of the Law which Christ is the end of who is a greater then Solomon who is the just and righteousness it self and makes men free from sin Pr. I do not affirm that any man can have salvation by vertue of his obedience and thus you put out the eye of poor souls and bids them hearken to a light within them Answ The eye of the soul is the Light which cometh from Christ the Bishop of it and he that believeth is saved and there is his obedience and he that doth not is condemned already and he hath the promise of life and salvation that believes in the Light Pr. He saith the Commission of Christ holds to the end of the world who gave some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of the body of Christ till all come to the faith and knowledge of the Son of God and to a perfect man in measure and Stature and fulness of Christ Answ Have you not all denyed this work Pastures Teachers Prophets perfecting of the Saints and bringing to a perfect man saying that none must be perfect while they be upon earth and to the unity of the faith which both you and your teachers be all of heapes about it and that none must witness the measure and stature and fulnesse of Christ and the knowledge of the Son of God that none must have him revealed have you not denyed Revelation how have you been in this work tossing people to and fro like chaff and carrying them about with every wind of Doctrine and that is your wind that is not perfect that is not in the spirit that gave forth Scriptures and there lodgeth all mens subtility cunning and craft within lying and waiting to deceive this doctrine was coming up before the Apostles decease which since in the world hath reigned which all the heapes of Profession in all Christendom discovers it how people are tossed to and fro and changed about and every one stands against perfection and overcoming sin while they be upon earth so throwing themselves out of the work that the Ministers of Christ were in so from it Apostated and hath denyed the Ministers work which is the perfecting and you cry no perfection Pr. He saith They call breaking of bread carnal faith comes by hearing of the Scriptures and it is the way to teach men to Christ to convince and convert souls how should we know sin to be sin or righteousness to be righteousness but by Scripture Scripture hath been a fit rule to walk by and guide into truth and peace Answ Breaking of outward bread is not spiritual for the Papists they say it is spiritual and you say it is not carnal what differs Priests and Baptists from Papists and you say it is not as other bread is and thus you deceive people and make them believe a lie and the Pharisees had Scriptures and knew not the way of truth and peace nor was not guided in it neither any upon the earth Except they be in the life that gave it forth and the Pharisees had Scriptures read every day among them and hearing not the word that they heard that was in them that gave forth Scriptures they heard not the word of faith and the word of faith they have not neither hath any upon the earth for faith comes by hearing the word the word Preached not by hearing the Letter he that hath the Word of God may speak it dayly for they were Ministers of the Letter which begot people into a form and they were more ten fold the children of the Devil then they were before there was any Profession after they were got into Profession and all upon the earth do not know righteousness to be righteousness but as they have the life that gave forth Scriptures for the Pharisees chief Priests and Jewes had the Scriptures and read them every Sabbath day among them and they knew not righteousness to be righteousness Jesus Christ the righteousness of God neither did they know sin to be sin for they crucified the Lord of life they denyed the light the Covenant of God the Covenant of light the Jewes whic● had Scriptures so none doth know sin to be sin but as they do by the light which comes from the Lord Jesus Christ that makes it manifest and Abraham and Enoch knew sin before Scripture was Pr. Again he saith Try their own hearts by Scriptures Ans● They that tryed their hearts it was by the spirit of the Lord that searcheth them which led them to speak forth scriptures for before Scriptures were given forth there was that in the heart to try it which led all holy men of God to speake forth scriptures if all men upon earth had the scriptures and have not that which gave it forth they have not that which will try the heart for the Pharisees had the scriptures and they could not try their own hearts and so they turned against the light as the world do now that have the scriptures for that is it which brings to stand approved of God and tries their hearts with it Pr. He saith the overseers of the Church are visible An. That which doth oversee and maketh to be overseers was the holy Ghost before the Apostles deceased which was invisible but since the dayes of the Apostles men have made officers by the letter such are visible therefore have all men come into divers formes out of the unity and have lost the bond of peace Pr.
Christ within them here is two for if it be not the same Christ that ended all types and figures and shadowes If it be not him that is within they have not the possession the substance nor the comfort of the true Christ but who hath not Christ the end of the tipes shadowes figures in them they are among Ante-christs and false Christs and they that have the forme of godlinesse can confesse a Christ without them and notwithin them Pr. Again he saith The Saints have a glorious light within them but imperfect and it is an error to say they have an infallable light within them that they must follow which wil shew them all things and to Judge of Scripture that it must be fulfilled in them and these are them that are brought up in darke places of the earth that are as Sauls that goe to the witch and not to the Law and testomeny Ans None comes to the Law and to the testimony though they have the old and new Testament but who comes to the light in them for the Law is the light and who comes to the spirit within them which is the spirit of prophesy all that goe from this they goe into darke places of the earth and such are they that goe into the pathes of Sau l to such spirits that goe from the light within them and the spirit that is the testimony of Jesus and the light and the glorious light of the Saints which they are inlightened withall is Christ which is perfect and they are changed from glory to glory and so the light which thou saist the saints are in and yet not perfect and yet glorious minde thy words consider thy measure thy Judgement the infallible light which every one that comes into the world is inlightened withall is the leader of the people and the light they are to follow and it is the way to the Father out of the way from the Father that is in the first Adam in the transgression which light is Christ the second Adam that every man that comes into the world is inlightned withall and they who follow this and believe in it and walketh in it abideth not in darkenesse but have the light of life and the light within and the spirit of God within that gave forth the scripture is the tryall of the scripture of truth for men without that may wrest the words and wrong translate them so the light within the spirit of God is the Judge of the scriptures and knowes scripture which gave it forth and is the rule and ruled and led them to speak them forth and is the rule that leades them again to open them again and to lead into all truth as saith Christ Pr. He saith That which they set up above the scriptures is heathenish and the scriptures is the ground of Faith without it faith cannot act and faith hath no bottom to rest upon but scripture and scripture is more then faith the sure word of Prophesy the balme of the conscience it satisfies doubts heales wounds discerns the thoughts Ans The Pharisees and the chief Priests they were not healed except they came to Christ they found no rest for their soules though they had the scripture yet they came not to Christ the light which was before the scripture was given forth The Pharisees had the scriptures they had not faith stood against the author and the ground of it Christ so they had not faith the Pharisees had the scriptures but it was Christ and God that shewed them their thoughts so the scripture knew not their thoughts but who are in the spirit that gave forth the scriptures it is that which shewes mens thoughts Enock Abraham had faith and had not scripture all are heathens that are not in the light which was before scripture was written though they have all the scripture and the holy men of God acted in the faith in obedience to it before the scripture was given forth and they were all in the faith that gave forth the scripture and they did not act as from the scripture but from the spirit of whom they had learned who is the author of faith which the Just lives by and God and Christ the substance of the scripture Pr. And the scripture is an infallible rule of worship Ans The Jews and Pharisees they had the scripture and the Apostates since the daies of the Apostles they have had the scriptures been out of the life that gave it forth they want the rule which is the spirit in which God the father of spirits is worshipped that was the rule which all the holy men of God was led by to give forth scripture in which they worshipped God for the Pharisees had the scriptures not the spirit which gave them forth that worshipped they did not know what they wanted the rule the spirit of God that was in them that gave forth the scriptures in which they should have worshipped God so saw not the substance the ground of faith and author of faith Christ Jesus Pr. They will not put off their hat● they write thee and thou one to another they will not say master Ans The honour of the hat the putting of it off is an earthy honour of the earthly Adam in the fall in the transgression which Christ the second Adam the Lord from heaven not of the earthly comes to redeem man out of the sin and transgre●sion receives it not he will none of it but have the honour that comes from above cometh to stain that honour below and sees it a marke of an earthly honour of Adam in the transgression and not of the second the heavenly and as for thee and Thou you to a number and Thou to a singular who stumbles at this shews they have neither learned Accidence nor Bible so short of the spirit that spoke the sound words that connot be condemned and speaks proper which is the plant of renown and as for being called of men Master which Christ saith be not you ye have one master even Christ you are all brethren they be in the error that slight his commands and tramples them underfeet and hypocrits that after they have trampled his commands under foot and after makes a profession of his words Thomas Leadger thou professeth thou esteemes the scripture highly above ordinances above Angels and is not this scripture which saith be ye not called of men Master and Christs command yet thou denyes scripture and tramplest them under thy feet Pr. The scripture is the lanthorne of obedience and it directs men to Jesus and he cals the scripture the word of God the sum of truth and they could not have knowne there had been a Christ or a mediator or grace or glory or worship or father or spirit or light but as it is declared in scripture Ans I do believe you who are got up since the daies of the Apostles in the Apostacie inwardly ravening
from the spirit of God you had not known there had been a father or spirit or grace or worsh●p if the scripture had not declared it but they that had not scripture had faith had the Ho●y Ghost had the Father knew the Father knew Christ knew the spirit they that had the scripture the Pharisees knew not the father knew not the holy Ghost nor the Redeemer but resisted as it was in Steven knew not father nor Christ the author of it knew not him that was borne of the spirit Now they that had the scriptures knew all these things that had the spirit that gave them forth they that had the scriptures and not the spirit knew not these things they that had the spirit of error that were in heaps about the saints words now they had the scriptures the Pharisees walked in darkenesse had not Davids Lanthorne to their feet and so could not see Christ as David did saith the Apostle their table was their trap there they struck David that had the life that gave forth the scriptures who had the lanthorne to his feet and had not they a lanthorne before the scripture was written Abraham Enoch what led them all to give forth scripture are not all they that have the scripture and out of that that they was in that gave them forth out of the light and out of the Lant-horne and they had a rule of obedience before the scripture was given forth the word of God that lives and abides and endures for ever that is the word of faith in which the scripture the words of God ends And man had the scripture and knew not Christ that was from the life that they were in that gave forth the scripture Pr. The Gospell is the scripture Answ Many may have the Scripture and deny the power of God which is the Gospel many had the Scripture and the form and stood against the Son of truth Christ Jesus the power of God the Gospel And as for thy other lies and slanders which are not worth mentioning which comes from thy drunken spirit when the spirit is awakened that suffers by it thou shalt feel every word of thy own thy burthen and thou that doth set the Scriptures above Christ and God and the spirit art a heathen THOMAS LEADGERS Antiquakers Assertions His Principles in it as followeth Pr. HE saith The Divine nature is without mixture of sin but it doth not destroy wholly the sinful nature that is in us and the being of sin dieth not until the body die and sin hath been in us to humble us Answ Sin is that which doth not humble but lifts up That which humbles people which brings down the sin Is the humilitie which bears the sin and iniquity which is Christ And the Saints were made free from sin while they were upon the earth and had the body of sin put off And the Divine nature they which have received it knoweth it and have escaped the pollutions that is in the world and the lust of it and so the Divine nature destroyes sin in its being Prin. Again he saith The Scripture is a quickening spirit the wisdom of God the power of God unto salvation the words of the blessed Scriptures every Line of it I have had saith he the righteousness of God revealed in my soul I have had the love of God the grace of Christ the Communion of the Holy Ghost manifest in me but I trample upon all attainments the highest as dung Answ Many had the Scriptures and stood against the wisdom of God and stood against the power of God yea killed and persecuted the Lord of glory of life They that had the dead Letter without the life and many got the form and denyed the power and denyed the quickening spirit and the Spirit of Christ doth not bring to trample upon attainments not the love of Christ nor the righteousness of Christ the love of Christ the grace of Christ the righteousness of Christ this was never esteemed on as the dung trampled upon as the dung such as was transgressors was as dung and they trampled upon the love of Christ the righteousness of Christ but who comes into this tramples upon their own notion Pr. He saith again that perfection is a golden dream and the Scriptures is the word of God Answ Perfection is over all dreams be they never so golden and it ends them all and is above them all and Christs name is called the word of God and the Scriptures are the words of God which Christ the word of God by which all things were made came to fulfill A Book called A serious review of some PRINCLES of the QUAKERS Pr. NO man hath reason to say that the spiritual substance is in the creature the Divine Essence is subject to change as is the soul of man and every one is enlightened that comes into the world by the light of Christ and this he cals a natural light and that some persons are come up out of the fall is an errour I do not own a perfection without sin and it is an errour to say there is any perfection without sin Answ All erring is in the fall and that which is come up out of the fall is come out of the errour into the second Adam where no errour is which many witness for all errour is in the first Adam in the fall and in him that tempted And the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world by which the world was made which was before the world was made by which all things was made and created in whom is life and this life is the light of men which men being in the light which they be enlightened withall they coming by the light to him from whence the light doth come they come into the perfection out of sin for all sin and imperfection is in the first Adam in the earth And perfection is in the second Adam Christ Jesus who bruiiseth the Serpents head the Author of imperfection And who be in him are in a perfection without sin and there is no sin in the perfection nor any errour in the perfection of Christ and all who be in the unreasonableness are ●gnorant of the spiritual su●stance and power of God and Holy Ghost the spirit of truth the Spirit of Christ the nature that dwels in the Saints which all this is substance and not shadow and the Divine power and the power of the Lord God and G●d doth not change nor his spirit nor the soul nor his power so read thy self God doth not change in his being neither doth that which comes from him that which he hath in his hand and in his power Pr. H● saith That which is imperfect can be reconciled to God and that they are poor blind creatures that say the light doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and needeth no light and discovery to help and the Scripture doth no where call Christ
the sleights of men which is in reference to false Prophets of which this Land is now full You say That a man cannot be made free from sin and cannot keep the Commandements of God perfectly Answ Are not you in the tossing too and fro and tossing people too and fro And are not you the false Prophets which Christ said should come which John said was come and the world hath been after you who tells the people that they cannot keep the commandements perfectly Contrary to John who saith he that loves God keeps the commandements of God And the Beast made war against them that kept the Commandements of God and herein is the love of God perfect Pr. You tell people of a Sacrament a Creed and three persons Answ Which the Scripture tells no such thing But the Common-prayer-book doth and so you do not teach the form of sound words in your Catechim Pr. Out of the Scriptures we may learn the knowledge of the true God Answ That which gives the knowledge of the true God is the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures for the Pharisees that had the Scriptures knew not God Pr. The state of man in this life is three-fold Creation Corruption Regeneration Answ In Regeneration the life is changed out of that life which is in the Fall So Regeneration and Corruption is not one in the new life Pr. A man by his own power cannot get into regeneration for they are dead in sins and trespasses Answ Some are sanctified from the womb and some children are holy so all are not dead in sins and trespasses for they that are so are but unbelievers Pr. All men have not salvation by Christ and there are many that have no share in salvation purchased by Christ Ans This is contrary to Scripture which saith that he is the offering for the sins of the whole world and the Saviour of all men and especially of those that believe And they that turns the grace of God into wantonnesse denies their salvation and they which hate the light which enlightens every man that cometh into the world hates their salvation to the ends of the earth Pr. The Scripture is the Word and God is in his Word and God in the Scripture offers Christ God in his Word offers Christ which you call Scriptures Answ The Scriptures of truth are the words of God and Christ the Word comes to fulfill them and God was in them that gave forth the Scriptures and Christ was in them who gave forth scriptures and the Scriptures testifie of him and the Scripture doth not say that God is in the dead Letter Paper and Inke but his power ye are ignorant of and errs not knowing Scriptures and the Scriptures are not God Pr. You say That God works inwardly by his spirit and outwardly by his Word and our faith is summed up in the Apostles creed Answ Christ is the Author of the Faith and the Apostle doth not tell us of a Creed the spirit and the word are one and they are inwardly known sanctifying Pr. The rule of Christian obedience is the Law of God Ans That which is the end of the Law is a Christians life and rule who comes to the obedience of faith in which they please God and are justified which no flesh by the works of the Law is justified Pr. Brethren be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde No man is able to keep the commandements of God we break them daily in thought word and deed in the best of our duties we are unprofitable servants Ans Here is your confusion layd open them that were perfect had a new minde and their deeds wrought in God and their thoughts were changed that witnessed repentance and they kept the commands of God and their fruits are of the spirit and of faith which are not unprofitable But your works and fruits who are out of the faith and out of the spirit of God are unprofitable who breaks the Commandements but they that love God keep his Commandements Pr. Christians must attend upon Gods Ordinances and Sacraments to know their duty toward their neighbour which Sacraments are the seal and the covenant Answ The Apostles tell us of no such signes sacraments nor such words but that which fulfils Law is the Son of God which brings him to do his duty towards God and towards his neighbour which is Christ Pr. There are two Sacraments and the Covenant of grace is to all that believe and receive Christ and the two Sacraments are Baptisme and the L●rds Supper which are visible signes Ans The Scripture doth not any where call them visible signes nor sacraments and the Covenant of grace is to all whether they believe or not believe receive or not receive and the Scripture doth not call Baptisme and the Lords supper Sacraments Pr. Because Infants of the Jewes were circumcised therefore are children baptized Christ hath ordained this Sacrament as bread and wine and the Sacrament is the food of the soul Answ This is a Popish doctrine that which feeds the soul is immortall and that is the souls food which findes rest in Christ the bread of life the food for the soule And the Scriptures doth not tell us that the bread and wine is a Sacrament and the Scripture doth not tell us that Circumcision was outwardly a type of Baptisme outwardly but of the inward and you bring a Scripture which is the 23. of Luke and the 43. vers and saith that it saith that the souls of the wicked are cast into Hell which that Scripture speaks no such thing Pr. We are not to seek for happiness in this life Answ The Saints were and are made partakers of the heavenly riches and of Christs fulness and of his unspeakable joy and full of glory in Christs Kingdom which is in them who are upon the earth and for the rest of your lies and confusions is not worth answering Richard Baxter His Principles in that which he cals one sheet for the Ministers which is two sheets in whose mouth is found a lie as in his Title Page is to be seen His Principles in it as followeth Pr. THat we are hated of all men for the Name of Christ who are but Ministers who gave some Pastors Teachers appointed for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to a perfect man To Disciple Nations Baptize and Teach them so cut down the Ministers the Pillars and the buildings will fall Answ In the steps of the Ministers of Christ you are not found but in the steps of the Scribes end Pharisees called of men Masters in the chiefest seats of Assembles in your long robes uppermost Roomes at Feasts causing the Ministers of Christ to be haled out of your Synagogues and thrust out and haled and persecuted and prisoned which are in the generation of the Serpents that should fulfill Christs words Mat. 23.
Perfection in the creature is Christ who destroys the Devill and his works and bindes the strong man and spoyls his goods and takes the possession of it to himselfe and the creature is a perfect creature out of transgression He that is borne of God doth not commit sin being the seed of God remains in him and that is the doctrine of Perfection in the creature and Christ makes all things new and thou that cannot witnesse any thing made new art in the old things crying up imperfection and that is perfect that brings men to confesse their sin and that is in the creature Thomas Hodges Rector in Oxfordshire Batchellor in Divinity saith Pr. THat the holy Ghost speaks in the Scriptures Ans Here all may see his ignorance whether this man be fit to be a Rector who is thus corrected with the Scriptures which saith that the holy Ghost moved in them that gave forth Scriptures which led them into all truth and did not say the holy Ghost moved in the Scriptures but said the letter was dead and did not give life And thus he Rects into darknesse in telling the people the holy Ghost is in Scripture when the Scripture never gave forth that speech but said it was in them that gave it forth for many may have the Scriptures and want the holy Ghost as the Pharisees Pr. To the Law and to the Testimony and thou shalt not make to thy selfe any graven Image that is in heaven or in earth Answ I say to the Law and to the Testimony before Matthew Marke Luke John Epistles and the Revelations were written The law is light the testimony of Jesus the spirit of prophecy as in the dayes Isaiah the 8. And you have told the people that it is Old and New Testament which the new was not written in his dayes in the dayes of Isaiah And why do you make likenesses of things in heaven and in earth and hang up in your houses and signes yet thou saith we should not make them for it is a breach of Gods command Of whom have you learned to make all these Images of things in heaven and things in the earth since the dayes of the Apostles but of them that went forth from the Apostles of whom ye are of the Popes tribe Richard Heath Priest in Shrewsbury His Principles as follows Pr. THat the drawing people to a light within them you draw them from God t themselves from the instruction of the spirit Answ Here thou art an unlike Minister to the Apostle who brought people to a light within them Cor. 2.4 and told them that the light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And so none comes to the knowledge of the spirit but such as comes to the light within and from themselves though they have the Scriptures as the Jewes had Pr. If we Ministers should send people from all other lights to the light within them they should then turne them from light to darknesse from God to the power of Sathan Answ None comes to God but who comes to the light within from the power of Satan and darknesse And God will dwell in man and walk in man and make his abode who is light and the end of all other lights before they were And yee that turnes people from the light turnes people into darknesse the power of Satan and there keeps people under his dominion from the light Christ Jesus that hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world with which they might see their Saviour Daniel Gaudry Priest of great Billing in Northamptonshire His Principles as followeth Pr. THat the Saints are partly sinfull and failing in their best works and subject to continuall lustings one against another Answ The life of the Saints is Christ not sinfull at all and they are ceased from their own works and are true believers and the works of faith are not sinfull nor the works of the spirit which the Saints are led withal and they come into Christ in whom they have peace and not lust one against another but live in the spirit in which there is unity in which is the bond of peace and the lusting one against another is in the transgression of the spirit of God So who be in Christ be in peace and who be in the world be in trouble in wars but who be in Christ be in him who was before Wars was inward or outward of whom thou art ignorant Pr. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin the guilt of it instantly and perfectly from the stain and power of it gradually Answ Where sin is there the guilt of it is felt at that instant but whoever feels the sin shall feel the guilt of it and the blood of the seed cleanseth it makes free from that which the Law takes hold of And the blood of the seed it cleanseth from sin the power and stain of it and then the guilt is gone of it and where this is known the seed that destroys death and him that hath the power of it which is the Devill the fulnesse is known which is above degrees that which degrees ends in Pr. It is the tang of Popery that a man may fall from saving grace Answ The grace of God that appeared to all men which brings salvation is saving and such thee and many Papists turns into lasciviousnesse and wantonnesse That which brings salvation is saving So you are turned to be murderers of one another about Scriptures which was not the practice of them who lived soberly righteously and godly who deny the worldly lusts and ungodlinesse but their hearts were established in grace which was their Teacher but you and Papists that live wildely and ungodly unrighteously in the lusts of the world that from the grace and the saving grace are fallen your fruits your actions daily declares and shews it and so you be talkers of grace which is turned into wantonness among you and the Papists both your unseasoned hearts and words makes it appear Pr. We shall not see Christ as he is till he comes to judgement then and not before we shall see him And then he adds Every man that hath this hope purifies himselfe which also argues that he is not pure and perfect but onely in hope Answ You where you are sees him not nor know him not as he is we do believe you but the Saints the true Church whom he is the head of whom he is in the midst and in whom he is And Christ told his Disciples they had known him and they knew the Son and had the Son and they had the Father also and he that had not had not life And they had handled and seen and hope in it selfe is pure and that is it which purifies man and makes him pure as God is pure The hope now is pure in it selfe a distinct thing and that is to make man
pure as God is pure Pr. God may justly require his due of man though man cannot give it Answ God requires no more of man then he gives Pr. That the Quakers sends men to the light within them to be perfected which is no better then darknesse Answ Thou that sendest men to any thing but not to the light within them thou keepest them out from Perfection in utter darknesse And none comes out of utter darkness to perfection but by the light within them and so growing up in the light they grow up in that which is perfect and so in the fulnesse which is Christ which is the perfection of God Pr. Christ saves his people from the guilt of their sins here in the state of justification The state of the best Saints here are imperfect Answ Who are justified are saved from the guilt of sin and who commits sin feels the guilt and cannot say they are justified in the committing of it for he that saves sanctifies redeems and destroys the Devill and his works and death where he hath power where he keeps up his authority And if the best Saints here are imperfect then they are not brought out of Adams state in the transgression for a Saint is one that is sanctified and one that is redeemed and one that comes to know the works of the Devill destroyed and washed and cleansed and sanctified through the name of the Lord and that which justifieth takes away sin and it's guilt both For as it is written he shall save his people from their sins and from the guilt and from the wretched state Pr. Surely they cannot be perfect here or hereafter in equality but onely in quality Ans Christ makes no distinction in his words but saith Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is and be ye mercifull as he is And as he is so are we And that which is perfect and mercifull as he is perfect and mercifull is in equality with the same thing which is of God and from him Pr. The Saints they were come to the spirits of just men made perfect but not on earth Answ The just mens spirits that led them to give forth Scriptures was the spirit of God and that was perfect and was while they were upon earth the Saints were come to which was Christ the end of all words and so to God the Judge of all the Earth Philip Taverner called Preacher of the word in his Book called The QVAKERS Rounds These are his Principles as followeth Pr. WE distinguish between the Essential word and the declarative word we own Christ to be the Essential and the Scripture to be the Letter Answ The Scripture tells us that Christ is the word the Scriptures of truth that was given forth from the spirit of truth were the words of God in whom they end in Christ the word and you talk of a declarative word and the Scripture you call a History and you call it a Creed and you call it a Catologue and these Titles and names you have given to the Scripture of truth the words of God which as I said before was the Scripture of truth the words of God given forth from the spirit of God which ends in Christ and doth not speak of a declarative word but you in your nicity Prin. There is a two-fold comming of the Gospel the one in word the other in power Answ The blind people here thou wouldst make believe that the word was not the power which the word and the power is one for Christ the word and Christ the power of God his name is called the power of God and he that Ministers the word Ministers the power of God and the Gospel Pr. The Saints that stood upon mount Sion that followed the Lamb those Saints that was without guil before the throne of God is to be understood in the justification and not in sanctification that is spoken of in the Revelations 14. Answ Here thou hast manifested thy self to be an accuser of the Brethren who are justified and said to be without fault now who are justified are sanctified and are justified it was said in their mouths was no guile they were not defiled and now these that have no guile and are justified and were not defiled with women such are sanctified so that thou Judgest of things that are too mighty for thee and medles with things that are two weighty and brings Judgement upon thy own head whose measure is measured and weights are tryed and thou art of them that art found too light Prin. He that is born of God sins not after the same sort as them that are of the Devil Answ He that commits sin is the servant of sin and he that commits sin is of the Devil and he that is born of God doth not commit sin for he cannot because he is born of God born of that nature which cannot sin and those who doth sin is of the Devil is of the same nature of their father but he that is born of God doth no● commit sin at no rate for he is of the same nature of his father Pr. As John saith as he is so are we in this present world that Scripture saith he cannot be so in the latitude of it Answ I believe you for from the men of your generation it was not given forth but them that are the Sons of God understands it as it is and believes it as it speakes Pr. Christ was holy from his conception so are not we saith he but we are sanctified in time Christ was holy and so are not we for there still remains the in dwelling of sin in us Ans And some was sanctified from the womb and some children was holy that were born of the believers Christ in the male and in the female is as he was in his eternal generation and is the same and remains and is the sanctification sanctifies the unsanctified Sons of Adam in the transgression and who hath that without and not within are hypocrites and Christ changeth them and makes them like himself Pr. That the Saints are compleat in point of justification and not in sanctification Ans They that are not compleat in sanctification they are not compleat in justification for they are one they that are compleat in the one are compleat in the other and so farre as a man is sanctified so far is he justified and no farther for the same that sanctifies a man justifies him for the same that is his sanctification is his justification and his wisdome is his redemption he that knows one of them knows all he that doth not feel one of them feels none of them at all for they are all one Pr. Faith justifies onely instrumentally neither doth it justifie instrumentally as a worke wrought in us by the spirit Answ The man is blinde he is angry there and fretting himself about things that are too weighty for him about things that he knows not For faith is the
gift of God which purifies the heart which brings people to have accesse to God In that and by that which purifies men men are justified and in that 's vertue by the hearing of that men receive the spirit so that this is confusion and contrary to the Scripture and confuted by it for ye are justified through faith and by the spirit and that instrumentally from God in which men please him and without which they cannot therefore that is instrumentall and in that they have victory and in that they have unity one with another and in it have accesse to God But saith he faith doth not justifie instrumentally by any vertue that is in it any more then is in love Love and faith is one without faith there is not love Love is the fruit of faith flows from it without it there is not unity and without faith there is no victory and without victory there 's no love and it justifies and is wrought by the spirit Pr. A perfect conformity to the Law of God wrote in the strength and power of grace the spirit working all in us and for us and all this is no more then the righteousnesse of the Law Answ That 's the end of the Law that brings to the righteousnesse of the Law and to a perfect conformity to it and fulfills it that 's the seed Christ in the male and in the female by whom grace comes by Jesus Christ which brings to live in the righteousnesse of it which is the righteousnesse of faith by which the spirit is received which works all in people and for them who ends the Law The BROWNISTS Principles Pr. THey never heard Gods voyce from heaven nor see his shape And yet they affirme they have the same power and spirit that the Apostles had though much below and yet they have the Word abiding in them Answ You that never heard the voyce of God nor see his shape you have not seen him who is a spirit nor his power nor his Word abiding in you for who hath the spirit of God and the power of God and the Word of God abiding in them with the spirit of God with the power of God sees Gods shape and who hath Gods Word abiding in them hears the voyce of God for God is the Word and God will dwell in them and walk in them Pr. That they are brought to the Church that is in God the pillar and ground of truth where there 's neither spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing Ans And yet you never heard the voyce of God and how can you be brought to the Church that is in God and never heard the voyce of God for none comes to the Son but through the drawings of the Father and none knows the drawings of the Father but they heard his voyce The Jewes that came not to the Son Christ told them they had not known the voyce of God and none come to him but whom the Father draweth Pr. We do not look for any such thing as revelation from heaven or speaking as they are moved or waiting for the power as the Apostles did we say we do not looke for any such thing Answ This shews that you have not received the grace for the grace comes by revelation and you have not received the Son for the Son comes by revelation Nor you have not known the Father whom the Son reveales You are not come to the holy Ghost whom the Saints witnessed that led them to speak forth Scriptures which no prophesie of the Scriptures came by the will of man so you are among those men that have the Scriptures in their wills and wants the thing that the Scriptures were given forth by that is the holy Ghost for holy men of God were moved to speak them forth who learned them of God and spoke them forth as the spirit gave them utterance Therefore how can ye say that you are come to the Church in God and waits neither for the power nor revelation as the Saints did and were in for if you have all the Scriptures and have not that you have not revelation and have not the holy Ghost for the Scriptures are not known but by revelation and they are revealed by the spirit that gave them forth And though men have all the Scriptures yet the Son is not known but by revelation of the Father Pr. The Scripture is the Gospell the Scripture is the Light the Scripture is the Word Ans The Scriptures are the words of God given forth from the spirit of God learned from him The Gospel is the power of God the Scripture declares it A man may have the forme and deny the power and so deny the Gospel Christ is the light of the world the life and the light of men by whom the world was made and many have the Scriptures but denies the light the life and power of it Christ Jesus who is the life and power and the authority of them Pr. That they knew no law of God against praying and preaching by an hour-glasse and that the Apostles did performe the Ordinances of God at set times and Daniel and David prayed customarily and how this can be said to be will worship and to be seen of men we shall leave it to the Lord. Answ The Lord judgeth it to be will-worship that which limits the holy one to an hour-glass and the spirit of the Lord that taught the Saints to pray never limitted it selfe to an hour-glasse so you by an hour-glasse pray and preach as the Papists with their beads so that that limits the Lord to a set time those are traditions and vain customes of the heathen and traditions of men which alwayes the spirit limitted which spirit gave freedome to the just in every one which said quench it not nor limit it but knock down vain customes and traditions of men which was set up by men which had quenched the spirit in themselves and would limit the holy one in others and such were alwayes judged of the Lord and them that had his spirit to be Idolaters and in the will-worship and not in the spirit which are got up since the dayes of the Apostles John Turners Principle Pr. THat light which convinceth a man of sin was a wicked conscience Ans The wicked conscience doth not convince of sin then Satan were divided against Satan That which doth convince of sin is not wicked nor sin but the spirit of God the light of Christ Jesus that convinceth of sin and the Elect hath faith where faith is there is obedience The Ranters Principles Pr. CHrist without comes to destroy Christ within Ans Christ is but one and it is the devill that he destroyes and his works the Anti-Christ and not the true Christ the seed in male and female and it is the false Christ he destroyes in the male and female and he comes to end the types and figures and shadowes that people might live in him the
Prophets Abraham and Davids words and the Jewes had Scriptures but stood against the way to God Christ Jesus the light as all you doe that stand against the light And Abraham and Abel and Enoch had the way to God before the scripture was written and Christ Jesus is the way to God Christ saith I am the way to the Jewes who had scriptures Pr. That there is no perfection to be attained to while people live upon earth A Then by thy doctrine Christ is not attained to while man lives which is contrary to the Apostles and Christs own doctrine who said I in you and you in me and Christ in you the hope of glory and then none abides in the Vine by thy account which is Christ and none bears fruit to the glory of God who abides not in the Vine and who abides in the Vine abides in the perfection of God and thou art contrary to the Ministers of Christ whose work was for the perfecting of the saints Pr. That Justification and Sanctification differs Answ Justification and Sanctification is one for Christ who is the justification and sanctification is one and it is thou that differs from him Pr. That the word of faith in the heart spoken of in the 10●h of the Romans is the Scriptures Answ The Apostle doth not say so for many had the scriptures and were under the Law and knew not the word of faith the gift of God Pr. He said the Scripture leads into all truth Ans This is contrary to Scripture for the Scripture saith the spirit of truth shall lead you into all truth this is the promise of Christ and Christs words And Abraham had his leader and Enoch to Christ and to God before the Scripture was given forth Oh that ever men should be set up to be Teachers that are so blind concerning the Scriptures and receive so many thousand pounds a year for teaching And the Jewes had scriptures and were not led into all truth as you Christians are now therefore are you all in heaps about them wanting the spirit to lead you into all the truths of them Pr. He said That Christ and the Father and the holy Ghost are not one but they are three therefore distinct Answ This is the denying of Christs doctrine who saith I and my Father are one and the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and he was conceived by the holy Ghost and they are all one and not distinct but one in unity that which comes out from him leads the Saints into all truth that ever was given forth from the spirit of truth and so up unto God the father of truth and so goes back again from whence it came Pr. It is blasphemy to say the Son is one with the Father and not distinct from him Answ The Father and the Son are one the Son is in the Father and the Father in the Son so that which is in him is not distinct from him and they blaspheme that say the Son is not in the Father and deny Christs doctrine Pr. He said The Father is a distinct incommunicable being from the Son and the Son a distinct incommunicable being from the Father and the holy Ghost a distinct incommunicable being from the Son Ans The Son is one and in unity with the Father and not distinct but equall and thought it not robbery The holy Ghost is in unity with the Son and the Father which proceed from them and they are one in unity and not distinct Thy doctrine is drosse and you Priests are not fit to judge in such things as they are they are too weighty and too heavy for you Pr. He affirmed That the Scripture is the power of God and that the Scripture is the Gospell Answ The power of God leads them to speak forth the Scriptures and the power of God is Christ and the power of God endures for ever but Scripture is writing and doth not and the Gospel is the power of God saith the Scriptures and doth not say that the Scripture is the Gospel for many had that and witnessed not the glad tidings and so thou art here distinct from the Ministers of the Gospell and art not a Minister of it the power of God but puts writings for it which power of God was before writings were Pr. He affirmed That the Father was the Creator and not God Answ This is contrary to the Scripture For in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth the Father and God is one the maker of all things for God the Father that made the world saith the Apostle Gal. 4.6 One God and father of all Pr. He said That Christ was not his rule but the Scripture was his rule Ans I do believe thee that Christ is not thy rule so life is not thy rule wisdome is not thy rule truth is not thy rule and so Christ not being thy rule thou art ignorant of Scriptures and knows them not for he who is the substance of the scriptures is not thy rule so thou knowest them not neither art subject to them Pr. He saith That God justifieth them that are not sanctified Answ He that is justified is sanctified for he that justifieth sanctifieth Pr. And another Priest saith That Christ was not the resurrection of the body Ans Christ is the resurrection and the life and the Saviour of the body who brings the creature into the liberty of the Sons of God The Priests of Lancashire their Principles PRiest Jacus the foreman of them said the letter and the spirit were inseparable Answ Contrary to the Apostle 2 Cor. The letter kills and the spirit gives life And we are Ministers not of the letter but of the spirit so the spirit that ends the letter was before the letter was and men may have letter and not the spirit and deny the Ministers thereof And the Apostle said they were one anothers Epistles written in one anothers hearts and not with paper and ink but with the spirit of the living God so you are contrary to the Ministers of Christ and if every one which hath the letter have the spirit what need you teach your teachings are at an end for the spirit will open to you the scriptures The Professors Principles at Westmerland Edward Briggs the leader of them said Pr. IT was heresie and deceiving the people to bid people believe in the power of God Ans Then they must not believe in Christ who is the power of God and it is not heresie nor deceiving of people to bid them believe in the power of God which is Christ and they are in the heresie and deceiving state that do not believe in the power of God and deceiving people and keeps them all in heaps under the power of the Devil and so to believe in that which is the cause of peoples destroying and persecuting one another Pr. And others of the Professors said That God had no hand in working out
paper and ink that is not infallible nor the scripture is not the ground of Faith but Christ who was before scripture was written that the scripture tells you so and saith God is Divine and the scriptures are the words of God which Christ the word ends who is the author of the faith and Abraham and Enoch had a rule and had faith before scripture was written and the spirit is the rule that leads people into all truth so saith Christ and you that put the letter for the ground of your faith your rule paper and ink that will come to dust it is humane as you call it and give it that which the scripture doth not And as for your creed that you have learned of your Father the Pope the scriptures tells you not that nor doth not teach you the word humane neither so you and the Papists hath creeped into the Apostles words but be out of the life who are proud and covetouss Pr. That its Heresie to say there is an other Rule of Faith then the scripture if any are proved to teach any doctrine contrary to Scriptures the Ministers and pastors do their parts to correct and restrain them Ans You by your judgement have judged your selves to be corrected by the Ministers and pastors and are to be corrected by the true Pastors and to be restrained by your own judgement who hath taught contrary to the scriptures for the scriptures saith Christ is the author of Faith and Faith is the gift of God and you say scripture is the rule of it and Abraham and Enoch and Abell will tell you they had Faith before they had the scripture which you say is your rule so have you not thrown out the true rule of Faith and the giver of it and put up the words in the place so are ye not corrected here by the true pastor Christ the author of faith and Faith the gift of God did not say scriptures was the ground of it but bid looke to Jesus the author of it and the Apostles did not turn them to the ministers to correct them that did oppose them or did not believe them nor receive them as they spoke or as went from them And all they be in the heresie that have not Christ the author of their Faith which was before the the scripture was given forth though they have all the scriptures and be not in the life of them that gave it forth in which was the unity and therefore you being out of this faith and unity and from the author of it put the letter for the rule be all on heaps about the Saints words being out of the life that they had that spoke forth the scriptures and then after was written and printed and so ye Wolves in sheeps cloathing put that for your rule of your dead Faith and have no other and are killing and mangling one another about it and so death and destruction talks of the fame of the scriptures and knowes not the author of Faith nor that there had been a Faith had not the scripture declared it the Priests confesse it Pr. We deny not to teach people young ministers to stop the mouthes of slandrous adversaries to cure jealousies of distempred minds we all are ready in every Protestant Church to give men a full account of our faith in plaine confession but with this protestation that onely that the holy scriptures is the rule of faith if any thing in our confession be found disagreeable to that rule we are ready when we understand so much to disowne it and to Correct it Ans How do you stop their mouthes in haling them before Magistrates and casting them in prisons is this your stopping is not this your worke let the Goales witnesse the houses of correction witnesse how you have stopped their mouths and convinced gain-sayers now that which is truth and speakes plainly to you ye call that adversaries or slanderers Now it is not a slander to call a Lamb a Lamb a Dog a Dog or Swine Swine But to say a Lamb is a Swine a Dog is a Sheep that is a lye or a Wolfe is a Sheep though he hath got on a sheeps cloathing on him and is covered with them and therefore would be called a sheep that he may deceive and would not be called a Wolfe though his fruits declare it His reviling devouring having sheeps cloathing casting into Prison and yet is offended if ye call him not a sheep or a Minister of the Gospel of Christ Nay the truth the Lambs the Sheep cannot do so but they must speak the truth to you and though you do devour them and tear them they will not tear you again And though you Wolves have on the sheeps cloathing which cast into prison because they will not feed you Did ever the Lambs do so the Ministers of Christ Were not they fed in his pasture followed him and knew his voyce and did not want But how have you cured the jealousies and diseased mindes all this while Yee have wounded them made them sick and filled them full of jealousies therefore are the people broken into heaps and sects that 's the fruit of jealousies one of another And how have you been ready you called Teachers apostatized from the Apostles to render to every Protestant Church a full account of your faith in plain confession when many hundreds have been moved of the Lord God to come in those places called Churches and asked you a question cry take him away Mngistrate to prison with him he hath broken the Law neighbours and this hath shewed your faithlesnesse And many have been moved to come to the Steeple-house and look the Priest in the face and he hath cryed take him away I cannot go forward I cannot speak as long as he stands there and here you have shewed your faithlesness again wanting the weapons the shield of faith But you say again they must own the holy Scriptures to be the rule of faith So then not Christ not God the Author What rule might Abraham and Abel and Enoch own was not God the author of their faith And is he not the same now Had not the Pharisees the Scriptures had not they the rule that stood against Christ the Faiths Author and the rule which the Saints looked at Are not they that are of faith of the faith of Abraham which was before Scripture was written Is the Scripture the ground of these Nay the ground of this is that which was before Scripture was written and they were in the faith that stood in God that gave it forth and the Scriptures and so here you be corrected by the Scriptures and your Churches both For all may speak one by one in the true Church but this authority you have thrown down who are such as preach for the fleece and the filthy lucre and gain from their Quarters called of men Masters suing for Tythes going to Law about earthly things which did
breast-prophesie and yet thou sayest the Apostle doth not exclude heart-prophesie And thus thou with new names and thy words darkens counsell and knowledge but the children of light with truth sees thee Pr. The Father Word and spirit is to justifie the word Trinity not to make the holy Spirit and the Saints one person Answ The word Trinity is not in the scripture but in your old Fathers book the Canon book the Pope and the Father Son and Spirit are one and the Saints are in the spirit and who are joyned to the Lord are one spirit And the Scripture doth not tell us of three persons but as I said before the old Cannon book of thy Fathers the great Apostate the Pope Pr. The light that Adam was qualified with before the Fall which every man hath a sparke of since the fall was and is given from the Creation by things that are made Answ The light Adam had before the Fall did not come by the Creation nor by the things that are made If it were given from the Creation it comes by nature This word is contrary to Scripture for God made man in his image and placed him over all the creatures and gave him an understanding capable of his Law and to know dominion but when man lost his dommion he transgressed his Law and that light that he had before the fall was of God from him that made all things Pr. The Scripture is the meanes of regeneration If the blinde lead the blinde what will follow it is proof sufficient against absolute perfection in this life as Adam and the Angels Answ The Scriptures them that had them and out of the life that gave them forth were the blinde and what followed then And though Adam and the Angels fell who is in Christ the perfection of God he shall never fall as also saith the Apostle Pr. He saith It is ignorance that saith the light that makes manifest sinne condemns sin Answ That which makes manifest a mans sinne and he hates it that condemns him And he is ignorant that sees not Christs doctrine and believes not in it Pr. To deny that sinne dwelleth or remaineth in all the Saints upon earth hath been the Quakers doctrine the consequence whereof is to disclaim all godly sorrow for sin dwelling in them Answ It is the Quakers Doctrine to deny all sinne dwelling in the Saints upon the earth and to know Christ who destroys the Devill the author of all sin and the Saints comes to witnesse their joy and pleasures for evermore over their sin and the body of it put off and a Kingdome which stands in joy and peace in the holy Ghost and the godly sorrow before they come to this and they do know victory over their sin and Christ he had the godly sorrow who had no sin and that many of the Saints knows Pr. His Word is not his spirit Ans The Word and the Spirit are one which was before the written words were declared forth in which word they all end given forth by the spirit of God and the Word lives and abides and endures for ever and that is spirituall And so the mystery of Iniquity is found in thy Doctrine who art blinde and reads blindly not with the spirit which was in them that gave gave forth Scriptures And so thou art found a false Prophet in the steps of the Pharisees one of the Masters that Christ sets the woe on their heads who art ravening with the sheeps cloathing upon thy back to deceive but now the Lambs and the Sheep have discovered thee who is got up since the dayes of the Apostles into their words not into their life with that judged And whereas thou art offended because Edward Burrough speaks Chapter and Verse the spirit that gave forth Scriptures will lead to speak it all over again without offence but to the evill doers Pr. And if your teacher cannot but be publique how will you finde him in so private a place as your beds Answ The spirit that leads to speake forth publiquely or to minister to themselves and others the same is a private Teacher to them on their beds as he did David whom the Lord instructed in the night season And that which the Minister of the Spirit doth minister unto is a private Teacher to every particular in his owne particular And the annoynting which abideth in people John saith was their Teacher and they need no man to teach them but as it did teach them and they should continue in the Son of God and the Father And here was publique teaching and private which thou blind canst not see And as for all thy lyes and heap of confusion shall upon thy head stand which thou wouldst blinde people withall For the Son is risen and the mist is gone and going in the day of thy judgement the witnesse in thy conscience shall answer Philip Taverner of West Drayton in the County of Middlesex his Principles as follows in a Reply to to a Book to Edward Burrough whom he in scorn calls QVAKER Pr. WHo art thou that judgest another mans servant such who Lord it over the faith and consciences of their brethren a spirit wholly disowned by the Apostle Not that we have dominion over your faith and in this sin is that of Christ to be understood Call no man your Father upon earth neither be you called of men Master that is have no mens persons in admiration as to count them your Oracles in the things of faith Ans Such as serve the man of sin are to be judged that are the servants of sin that hath been servant to the man of sin We judge that man servant both and such as are spoken of in the Romans to judge another mans servant in the truth standing and falling to his Master every one in his measure such we do not judge but every one shall stand or fall to his Master who are scrupling about meates and drinkes and dayes that the life is leading them through such things and you that be called of men Master it s a great Oracle amongst the people so counted and you do both Lord it over mens faiths and consciences both therefore hath so much blood been shed through you and so many cast into prison by you who are Lording it over mens faiths and consciences Pharisee-like called of men Master who would have dominion over the Apostles faith as you who are called of men Master would have dominion over the Saints faith who are admiring mens persons because of advantage to help you And this people see since the dayes of the Apostles how you and the Papist have Lorded it over mens faiths your Jayles inquisition and prisons may witnes it how you would Lord it over mens faith and conscience that cannot give you Tythes you will cast them into prison are you not here Lording it over mens faiths doth not your practices shew it and so another spirit then the Apostles that
who comes to the Kingdom of heaven in them comes to be perfect yea to a perfect man and that is above any degree and thus thou art blind and ignorant of that wich the Scriptures declare Pr. Thou wouldst have it proved that they are false prophets that declare the true Prophets words Answ They that make Merchandice of the true Prophets words were the beast false prophets and great Whore but they that speak freely as they had received was the true Prophets and true Apostles and such in all ages was distinct each from other known by the spirit of the Lord who had received from the Lord what they spoke and declared freely and who had got the Saints words and had not received them from the Lord but spake them forth for money these were distinct one from another A Paper I have received the Title of it is A form of sound words containing the first Principles of the Oracles of God framed for the use and benefit of the Inhabitants of two adjacent Parishes in the County of NOTTINGHAM Their principles in it as followeth Pr. WHen for the time you ought to be Teachers you have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles Answ How can you teach the first Principle of pure Religion when you deny the light that Christ hath enlighten every man that comes into the world withall And this may whole England witness and so your Doctrines that you have taught them and commandments are such as perisheth being not men sent of God so have not profited the people at all Pr. And you say False teachers this age is too full of and that you may henceforth be no more children tossed two and fro and you intreat to except a word from us your Ministers for what profiteth a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul Answ Who hath tossed people more up and down then you and carried them about with your windy doctrines and so the multitudes of the false teachers the world have been too full of you since the dayes of the Apostles who is more for gaining the whole world then you that calls your selves Ministers hath not and doth not your fruits declare it to the whole Nation in prisons there lies your fruits for where may people see the Priests fruits but in prisons And how your Congregations be all on heapes when any comes in the Name of the Lord amongst them and hath shewed that your Exhortation hath not profited the People at all Pr. We intreat you to take heed of that dangerous deceit in hoping to be saved by your own works or in any thing in our selves Answ He that believes hath ceased from his own works so not sayed by them and he that believes is saved and this belief is within him in Christ And the ingrafted word is able to save the soul and Christ the Saviour revealed and manifested within Pr. Out of the holy Scriptures Old and New Testament which it the word of God we may learn the true knowledge of God Answ The Jewes had Scriptures and did not know God nor Christ nor did not know themselves And the Scriptures is not the word but the words of God and so you teach Parishes and your children to lie as you may read in Exodus God spake all these words and said And whosoever shall add to these words Revelations and Christ saith my words And would you make people believe the Scriptures were but a word when they say they are words And Christ is the word as in the Revelation And so that which brings to the knowledge of God is the spirit And the Son reveals him Christ Jesus who is the light which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world and every man that comes into the world receiving the light Christ will reveal the Father to him Pr. There is three persons Father Son and Holy Ghost And we intreat you to take heed of the natural Popish conceit Answ The word three persons is the natural Popish conceit which is out of thy Father the Popes Canon-books where thou hast learned it but Father Son and Holy Ghost that is sound Scripture but thou canst not take it as it speakes but thou must add three persons to it so brings the plague upon thee Pr. There is many that have share in that salvation purchased by Christ Answ Christ was the offering for the sin of the whole world And he gave his body for the life of the whole world And he came a light into the world and doth enlighten every man that comes into the world he that dyed for the sin of the whole world was an offering for the sin of the world that all through this light might believe And so many are condemned for not believing that which they should believe in condemns them Pr. God works faith in us inwardly by his spirit and outwardly by his word Answ Here thou goest about to make the spirit and the word not one is not the word spiritual and Christ called the word who is the Author of the faith which mystery of it is held in a pure conscience and is not this word of faith in the heart Pr. The whole word of God in general is summed up in the Apostles Creed Answ Where hast thou been for the word Creed but out of the Masse-book and Popes Canon-book not out of the Apostles Epistles And the Apostles Epistles declares of the word and the Saints writings and saith it was in the beginning and saith the Letter kills for the Jewes had Letter and did not find the word in it but stood against it and you have the Letter the Apostles words but you do not find the word in it it speakes of the word the word was in the beginning and in the heart before the words Pr. Brethren be perfect be of good comfort no man can be made free from sin in this life Gods children have sin in them Answ The Devils doctrine is that men shall not be perfect while they are upon earth and all his Ministers but you that say they must be perfect and yet must have sin that makes them unperfect And the children of God that was born of God did not commit sin neither could they because the seed of God remained in them and they were made free from sin and had put off the body of sin as in Romans the 6. and John the 3. Pr. No man is able to keep the commands of God perfectly we break them dayly in thought word and deed And in all our best duties we are unprofitable servants Ans Here you shew that you do not love God for who loves God keepes his Commandments and love fulfills them and all your best duties and deeds be but unprofitable servants in that we do believe you So your Preaching is unprofitable praying unprofitable so you judge your selves out of your own mouths singing instructing praying all is unprofitable and they are
the slothful servants who are Reprobates to every good work but the Saints that prayed Preached sung in the spirit such was profitable that loved God and kept his Commandments which you that do not love God do not keep his Commandments So your fruits are unprofitable that keeps not the Commandments of God And there is your mark that you do not love him Pr. The Law is a rule for a believers life we must attend unto the Sacraments Answ Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness sake unto everyone that doth believe so Christ is the rule who ends the Law to believers And thy Sacraments must go again to the Common-Prayer Book to the Masse-book the Scripture doth not teach us those words as Sacrament and Creed but the old Masse-book thou art running to it and so leaving the Scriptures So thou art judged with the life of God Pr. Who are ordained lawfully or called to the Ministry Ans Your ordination and call is by men contrary to the Apostles and Christ who saith not by man nor of man and Christ saith pray to the Father that he may send labourers into the vineyard and such you persecute And thou saiest there is two Sacraments in the Gospell which the Apostles tells us of no such thing but the Pope in his Masse-book Pr. We may not learne for to seek for happinesse in this life these words I command thee this day shall be in thy heart to teach thy children and to talke of them in thy house Ans These words hath spoken long in your hearts therefore have you led the world in wickednesse but the children of God findes happinesse in this life being changed from the old in this life for they find God and they finde Christ and find rest for their soules And who is in Christ is a new creature and such hath happinesse Pr. This forme of sound words taken out of the best and soundest Catechismes that we could meet withall and our mouth is opened boldly Ans This is your forme of unsound words and if this be the best stuff you can find out of your best Catechismes it is pittifull durty darke stuff and you had better have kept your mouth shut If this be your Catechismes they are for the fire the children of light who are come into the light comprehends and sees the Cathchismes and you both and you are to be Catechised and if you will but read over the Priests and professors Catechisme you may learn some thing out of it This is a ralation of some perticulars and principles affirmed by some of the Priests of Bishop-rick at a publike dispute in Branspirth Castle upon the 21. day of the 7th moneth 1658. Pr. JOsias Dorker affirmed that immediate Revelation or inspiration is not to be expected in these daies Ans Then you are from the spirit that saith so which the spirit of God doth reveale you are them that have ravened the false prophets and ante-christ that inwardly ravened from the spirit of God having the sheeps cloathing in the darknesse the King of the bottomlesse pit hath been your king for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is not known but by revelation for none knowes the Son but the father and he to whom he doth reveale him that showes that you be out of the feare of God for where the feare of God is God reveales his secrets but the feare God is now witnessed and the Son of God is now witnessed and revelations is now witnessed in our daies as it was in the Apostles but not amongst you who have inwardly ravened from the spirit of God which hath Apostatized from the Apostles Pr. That it is needlesse and also diabolicall that is to say divilish to expect any such thing now Ans And so you be in the diabolicall divilish that expects not that now which was in the daies of the Apostles and be out of the feare of God and the spirit which doth reveale and the Son you know not which said to them the Pharisees that knew him not they were of the devill and so he is known by revelation Pr. That they had the scripture and the Gospell as he confessed not from God but from men Ans You know not the scriptures nor no man upon the earth but as from God and the spirit as they did that gave them forth who learned them of God and so who knowes scripture must know revelation and the Gospell for they are known not but by the spirit which gave them forth Pr. That the Bible was the Gospel Ans The Gospell is the power of God which was before the scripture was written preached to Abraham many may have the Bible but the power of God the Gospell glad tydings which is to the salvation of every one that believes and the scripture is a testification of the Gospell of the glad tydings and it is not called the power of God and Christ is called the power of God and the Gospell and many had scripture but would not come to Christ the power of God and so not to the Gospell Pr. That the flesh of Christ is not in them Ans The saints eate his flesh and they that eate his flesh hath it within them Pr. That Christ had and hath a carnall body Ans And Christs body is not carnall but spirituall the first man was of the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from heaven heavenly and is a glorious body and the saints are made like unto his glorious body therefore the first state is carnall the second glorious so there is a naturall body and there is a spirituall body Pr. That Christ is now in heaven with a carnall body Ans Carnall indeed is death saith scripture and it saith that corruption must put on incorruption mortall immortality so Christs body that is in heaven is a glorious body a and not carnall nor of the flesh corruptible Pr. That Christ hath a carnall humane body united to his divinity Ans And carnall humane is from the ground humane earthly the first Adams body and Christ was not from the ground let all people read what thou saist but he was from heaven his flesh came down from above his flesh which was the meat his flesh came downe from heaven Pr. That Timothy retained his ministry not from God but from Paul Ans Timothy did retain his ministry from God and knew the gift that which he did retain from Paul was not as man but Timothy was in the faith which Christ was the author of and he had the gift which every good and perfect gift comes from God and this was not by man nor of man Pr. That there it as much difference between a body and a spirit as there is between light and darknesse Ans Christs body is spirituall and that which is spirituall does not differ from the spirit and so there is a spirituall body and there is a naturall body and there is a
Matthew Markell and the rest of the Priests present with him did Excommunicate those people called Quakers in the pr●●ence of many witnesses and he required his hearers to say Amen to every particul●r sentence JOHN HVMES Priest Pr. THey who have not the Scriptures knowes not the Attributes of God by the light of nature but the Scriptures declare the great mystery of the three persons in Trinity which they who want the Scriptures knowes not Answ Thy Principle is a lie and who had not the Scriptures knew God and Christ as Abraham and Enoch and the Scripture doth not declare of the three persons nor of the Trinity and the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God Pr. That the Scriptures reveal the great mystery of Election the great works of the Creation and the work of Redemption Answ There thou hast set up the Scripture in stead of God and before God and the Son for it is God that doth reveal to babes and sucklings Mat. 11.25 and God did reveal by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 and God shall reveal Phil. 3.15 and the things of God are hid from the wise and prudent Mat. 11.25 that have the Scriptures the Jews had the Scriptures and God reveals his secrets to the Prophets his servants Amos 3.7 no man knows the Father saving to whom the Son shall reveal him Mat. 11.17 now the Son reveals and the Father reveals and the things of God are revealed by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 the Jewes had the Scriptures and knew not the Son 1 Cor. 2.8 nor the Father as in John nor the things of God by a natural light as they call it the Iews had the Scriptures and did not know the Election Isa 24. because they were from the Spirit So it is God that reveals the Son and Redemption and Election and not the Scripture the Scripture was given forth from them that had the Revelation from God Pr. That we and the Papists and Jesuites and Priests do agree all together that the Scripture is the word of God that liveth and endureth for ever Ans I do believe that you and the Papists and Jesuits agree all in one but ye did not agree with the Apostles and Ministers of the word for the Ministers of the word calls the Scripture a Declaration as ye may read Luke 1. and ye do not agree with them that set forth the Acts that called it a Treatise Acts 1. likewise ye do not agree with some of your own who say the Scriptures signifies writings and writings will not endure for ever so ye are Babylon and do not agree with Christ and ye do not agree with Iohn Rev. 22. who saith the words nor with Moses nor God who spake all these words Exod. 20. In the beginning was the word and the word is God and the word liveth and abideth for ever but the Scripture is words and the Scripture cannot be broken John Nasmith Priest of Hambleton his Principles Pr. THat the soul of man is a reasonable sinful substance Ans How can that which is sinful be reasonable and if that which is unsinful be reasonable and sinful be reasonable both then they are one in unity The Lord will take the soul for an offering for sin doth the Lord take that which is sinfull for an offering Isai 53. see how thou and the Prophet agrees here But what is that soul that the wicked is not able to kill is it not that which God hath in his hand and this is a lie to say that which is reasonable is sinful of one that puts light for darkness God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul who hath all souls in his hand and the soul is immortal and Christ the Bishop of it is immortal and God hath it in his hand which goeth against him that doth evil whose hand is immortal but man transgressing the commands of God the soul lies in death so Christ is the Bishop of the souls so they that came to know Christ their souls rejoyced in God their Saviour Luke 1. Pr. That the evil Spirits are both sinfull and reasonable Answ This is a lie for reasonable is not sinful and unreasonable is sinful 2 Thes 3. they have not the faith and if the evil Spirit be reasonable and the good reasonable they are both one who then is unreasonable If the evil Spirit be reasonable thou puts no difference between the precious and the vile thou hast the Mark of a blinde guide and a false Prophet in thy forehead Pr. That one of them Quakers is worse then the Devil This is a lie with his strange wonder for there is nothing worse then the Devil whose children you are for when he speaks a lie he speaks of himself and he is the Father of it Henry Foreside Priest of Lingiah in Dunbarton-shire His Doctrine and PRINCIPLES Pr. THat God commands all every where to repent to the end that they should not have it to say but they were warned but not that he would give them grace to repent Ans Here thou makes God that he does not intend that he speaks and so thou would make him unrighteous though the Lord commands all men every where to repent Acts 17.30 who hath made all Nations of men of one blood to dwell upon the Earth and all being concluded under sin and unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 3.9 For both Jews and Gentiles all were under sin and none of them did good no not one And Gods intent is that when he calls men to repentance they should repent when he calls them and many did repent and you are not fit men to be Ministers of Christ or God Now if God command all men every where to Repent and as thou sayst does not intend they should Repent thou and you go about to make God unjust First the Lord he desireth not the death of a sinner but that he should turn from his wickedness and live Exod. 33.11 Now in the turning from his wickedness he lives but in going on in his wickedness he dies so Repentance was Preached from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 6.1 and Christ came to call sinners to Repentance not the righteous for the whole needs not the Physitian but the sick Mat. 9.12 13. And as for saying God did not intend to give them grace though he calls them to repentance That is a lie and unrighteous doctrine for the grace of God hath appeared to all men which brings Salvation Titus 2.11 and so as he calls them to repentance he gives them grace that grace which brings salvation which men are justified by so it is saving grace that brings salvation and teacheth to deny ungodlinesse Now they that live ungodly turns the grace of God into wantonnes Jud. 4. and these are the wells without water in Cains way Balaams way Cores way Jud. 11. speaks the high words in hypocrisie and these are