being but a Person without us which may be ascribed to any Man or Woman that is but a finite mortal Creature which as it was not Scripture Language I did esteem it too low and mean an Epethite to ascribe to an Infinite and omnipresent God but does this deny either God or Christ to be in Heaven above or confine God only in the Hearts of his People No sure and I was very Conscientious and Tender of the Glory and Dignity of God and Christ therein as thinking T. Hicks and his Brethren would never preach People into the Knowledge of the true God or Jesus Christ by telling them That God and his dear Son Christ Jesus is a Person without them howbeit I am not so pertinacious in my Objection but if they 'l bring me Plain Scripture that calls the Infinite God a Person without them let it be in any true Translation of Holy Scripture and I 'le acquiesce for I am not willing to be under any Mistake Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Figura substantiae ejus Figure of his Substance 't is not Image of his Person nor the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in conspectu Christi as some have it others in persona Christi 2 Cor. 2.9 which proves not the Phrase God-Man a Person without thee to be a Scripture Phrase Whereas G. F. said He that hath not this Christ that was Risen and Crucified within is a Reprobate Great Mystery f. 206. Here E. P. leaves out the Words Risen and and proceeds viz. I think here is a bare-faced Piece of Blasphemy and down-right denying the Lord Christ. What was that the False Christ that dyed at Jerusalem without the Gates of Jerusalem Ay saith George Fox if there be any other Christ than he that was Crucified within he is the False Christ p. 28. quoting G.F. his Mystery p. 206. And then E. P. Falsly and Absurdly Discants upon the Words Crucified within whereby he saith is meant within that Man the Son of Mary not the Man that was Crucified was Christ p. 28. None but one blinded with Envy would ever have thus Charged G. F. or the Quakers with such horrible falshoods and Forgery G. F. gives no such Answer as Ay to the Question Before he owns no other Christ than him that was Crucified and Dyed at Jerusalem and the same Christ to be within as the Apostles did G. Fox's own Words clear him herein even in the very Book and Page cited by E. P. viz. Great Mystery p. 206. where G. F. saith If Christ that was Crucified be not within and Christ that 's Risen be not within I say that you all are Reprobates And this is not opposite to Jesus Christ without that Dyed at Jerusalem but the SAME And the Apostles Preach'd Christ that was Crucified within and not another him that was Raised from the Dead was Risen that Lord Jesus Christ within it was HE that was manifest IN the Saints that was and is and not another c. Now let all Impartial Readers Judge how clear G. F. and we are from the Blasphemies before-charged as both that of denying the Lord Christ or esteeming him the false Christ that Dyed at Jerusalem Oh! Edward Paye William Allcott and Henry Loader and those of your Congregation who approv'd of your said Pamphlet containing such Horrid Abominable Lyes Perversions Slanders and Forgeries as these against G. F. and us Be ye all horribly ashamed thereof and repent before it be too late Your following Charge deduced from the foregoing is of the same kind and as wickedly False and Pernicious viz. Christ that was Born of the Virgin was Crucified upon the Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem that was in all Points tempted like as we are yet without Sin This they i. e. the Quakers will not allow to be the True Christ or God's Christ which is a most horrid Lye elswhere detected Is not this a plain denying of the Lord that bought them Antichrist in Spirit p. 28 29. See also Mr. Penn's Sandy Foundation p. 25.30 To say God should Condemn and Punish his Innocent Son that he having satisfied for our Sins we may be justified by the Imputation of his perfect Righteousness p. 40. Here E. P. after Justified thou hast left out whilst unsanctified and so hast wickedly perverted and altered the Sense of his Words and belyed us and him shamefully in what follows Why should the Quakers be such Grand Deluders as so plainly pretend to believe it and say he i. e. Christ dyed for your Sins and rose again for your Justification when ibid. p. 16. Mr. Penn saith That the Consequences of SUCH a Doctrine are both Irreligious and Irrational and why should they believe Justification by Christ's Righteousness p. 40 41. This Charge appears as notoriously false in Fact as any of the Rest. I have strictly perused the Places quoted in W. P's Sandy Foundation p. 16 c. And I find no such Thing as the Doctrine of Christ's Dying for our Sins and Rising again for our Justification charg'd with Consequences either Irreligious or Irrational But the Doctrine That God inflicted the Penalty of Infinite Wrath and Vengeance on his dear Son Jesus Christ and that for Sins past present and to come he hath wholly born and paid it to satisfie the offended infinite Justice c. ibid. p. 16. 'T was the Consequences of this Doctrine and also that of the Justification of the Wicked or Impure Persons before Sanctification That W. P. deemed Irreligious and Irrational ibid. p. 16 22 24 to 31. And dare E. P. or his Associates own and stand by these Doctrines as Religious and Rational which W. P. opposed Though Christ Dyed for all Men suffered for the Sins of the whole World it was not under the Penalty of his Father's Infinite Wrath and Vengeance but as a Sacrifice of a sweet-smelling Savour to God He Rose again for our Justification but not to Justifie us in Sin or without True Faith and Real Sanctification by his Spirit in us Why should the Quakers be Angry as they have been for calling G. F. the King of the Quakers since he is as really so on their Account as Christ is the King of Christians p. 45. We do in our Consciences Testifie against this Charge as a great and false Scandal upon us the People called Quakers Jesus Christ being our King and Law-giver G. F. was never so accounted by us but a Servant of Christ and true Subject in Christ's Kingdom and Instrumental for the Good of many in his Day and Time But read p. 6 7. Saul 's Errand to Damascus And George Fox takes the Name to himself saying He is the Eternal Judge of Quick and Dead p. 46. This False Charge is again recited by E. P. in his other Pamphlet Raylings p. 35. and a Defence thereof therein attempted by him but to no purpose for as was told him it is notoriously False in Fact And instead
to the Civil Governments Belief and Acceptance thereof thereby contradicting and consequently affronting the Government in its Belief and Charity towards us and to set Subjects at Variance and to raise Persecution against us again instead of being humbly thankful for their and our present Liberties The very Nature and Tendency of these their Bitter Lying Invectives being to bring Persecution upon us as a People not to be given any Credit unto in our Solemn Profession before Authority 3. When we have solemnly and sincerely declared to the Government That we believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are given by Divine Inspiration two or three Anabaptists so called divulge the contrary to the World in Print c. Unto which E. P. replies viz. to all which I answer 1. We did not know till our Book was published that you had professed this as your Faith before the Parliament The more Shame for you to be so precipitant in your Unjust and Censorious Attempts to the Contrary your Ignorance herein will not excuse your Rashness much less your Falshood in charging us as a People i. e. the Quakers in general with being great Enemies to Vilifyers and Contemners of the Holy Scriptures and now their chief Guides as E. P. terms them and our former Writings directly to oppose and evidently to contradict this Confession of Faith p. 3 4. which is our believing the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration Now I challenge E. Paye and his Abettors W. Allcot and H. L. 1. To produce plain Proof That the People called Quakers do Vilifie the Holy Scriptures This is Matter of Fact charged What Vilifying Terms or Characters hath that People put upon the Holy Scriptures We do in good Conscience still deny the Charge 2. What Expressions of Contempt hath that People put upon the Holy Scriptures it being contrary to our Consciences and Intentions either to Contemn or Vilifie them The Matter of Fact charged ought directly to be proved against us as a People or else retracted and for ever condemned 3. What former Writings of ours or our Ministers do directly Oppose and Contradict this our Profession That we believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by Divine Inspiration Where do we the said People or our Ministers declare That the Holy Scriptures were not given by Divine Inspiration or only given by Human Tradition We demand plain Proof of the Indictment or Matters herein charged against us and by us denied E. P. proceeds viz. 2. We must the more admire your Presumptuous Confidence herein that you should so affront the Government except you had at the same Time renounced your former Writings that so evidently contradict it p. 3 4. Both which are still to prove being sincerely denyed by us Our Confidence in what we professed to the Government was from an honest and good Confidence in the Truth of what we professed and not to affront but to answer and satisfie the Government in what was required of us as Christians and under a Christian Profession and therein to be allow'd our just Liberties both as Men and Christians as the Parliament then desired we might approve our selves which Christian Reputation you seek to deprive us of and like Persecuting Incendiaries falsly charge us with affronting the Government in our Profession which God knows was both Sincere and Christian both with respect to the Eternal Deity and the Holy Scriptures E. P. Which way could the Quakers expect to escape being defamed or discredited Why it 's like they did suppose That the Honourable Assembly of Parliament had Matters of greater Moment in Hand than to compare their former Writings with their new Faith So that if we had not concerned our selves to peep into their Writings and compare them with their newly-professed Faith and published this to the World namely That the Quakers former Writings and their late Profession of Faith are as really alike as an Apple to an Oyster and agree as directly as Light and Darkness it had not been known p. 7. Thus far E. P. 'T is very rare to find such a Piece of Presumptuous Proud and Fallacious Insinuation as this implying not only that we dissembled a Profession of our Belief in Words before the Parliament as directly contrary to our former Writing as Light is to Darkness but that the Parliament was drawn into a Mistake or deceived concerning us by such Dissimulation Wherefore to undeceive them and the World concerning us these Adversaries to make themselves wiser than the whole Parliament and every Member thereof have peeped into our former Writings to find out Matter to Defame and Discredit us in our Christian Profession before the Parliament Herein they have acted like Peepers in the Dark but they have peeped to little purpose for a Dark Lying Spirit has attended their Peeping as is clearly in this and our other short Treatise made manifest And that E. P. has but peeped indeed into some of our former Writings and not seriously or honestly read them with due Observation is apparent in his manifold Perversions Mincings and Curtalizings Concerning Primitive Errors and Corrupt Principles in Point of Faith unduly charged upon the Quakers p. 8 9. To the first I answer We never denyed the Scriptures to contain the Words and True Sayings of God whereas Christ is the Word his Name is called the Word of God Rev. 19.9 13. Exod. 20.1 But that they are the Rule that is the only Rule of Faith Life and Practice as he terms them p. 8 17 33. In that we cannot so call them he must excuse us herein until he produce us Plain Scripture that SO calls them though the Holy Scriptures be a Rule of Doctrine subordinate to that Spirit from whence they first came But seeing it is an Article of his Faith That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith c. He had need to produce plain Scripture that SO saith otherwise his Failure therein will be an Indication That the Scriptures are not the only Rule of his Faith because there wants Scripture Proof of this great Article of his Faith and then where 's his Faith 2. Truly I never knew the Quakers affirm the Scriptures to be of NO Use in order to the true Knowledg of God but that the Holy Scriptures are very useful with the help of the Spirit of God 3. I never knew the Quakers hold it a Sin much less of Idolatry to take the Practices of the Saints Recorded Commanded and Continuing Commands in Force in the Scriptures for our Examples and Rules because the Spirit of Truth which is our chief Guide and Rule does not lead to Reject but to Own and Follow its own Precepts and Commands which are in Force in Scripture 4. I have not known it asserted by our Friends That whatever is commanded in Scripture is no Duty to us except we receive the Command by immediate Inspiration as
by a Mediate or Immediate Inspiration or Revelation p. 21. And what follows If by neither of these ways we can resolve him then not to pretend to Immediate Inspiration And yet he himself pretends to Mediate or more Common Gifts of the Spirit and then confusedly tells of the use of these more immediate or common Gifts p. 19 20. And yet by these his pretended more immediate or common Gifts of the Spirit or rather mediate Gifts in his sense I presume he cannot resolve himself his Two Questions before nor can he upon his own Principle either resolve them or be resolved them either by any mediate or immediate Gifts For the immediate he has disclaimed he needs it not he says but pretends the Scriptures to be the Only Rule of Faith By what Rule then should he be resolved what those or any of those other things were that are not written John 20.25 Therefore he has insincerely and temptingly imposed unlearned Questions and Propositions which he does not believe can be resolved to his conviction or satisfaction and thereupon has past unjust Judgment against our having immediate Inspiration yet in contradiction to himself tells us of common and more immediate Gifts and Graces of the Spirit and of the use of these more immediate or common Gifts to help our Infirmities p. 19 20. Altho I presume he would be loath to have his own Judgment and Condemnation against us return'd upon himself on the same condition For 't is certain he that has not the Spirit of Christ is none of his And what are these more immediate Gifts and Graces of the Spirit he pretends to the use of seeing he and his Brethren pretend not to immediate or extraordinary Inspirations p. 19 20. There 's another Contradiction in the Case to prove their Call to Baptize People in Water He saith they have a sufficient Call for it from the Commission of Christ our Great Prophet who is to be heard in all things Matth. 28. Mark 16. and the frequent Examples of his Apostles c. So that we need not immediate Inspirations for our Call or Authority herein p. 21. Ans. Which is to tell us you may take upon you to be Preachers and Baptizers in Water without being inspired by Christ because he gave a Commission to his Disciples to teach all Nations baptizing them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost But 1. This is no proof that you are called by Christ to either 2. Here 's no Water mention'd in the Commission 3. And to baptize into that Name is a work of the Spirit attending a living and spiritual Ministry given and authorized by Christ himself which this proves not yours to be no more than that the false Prophets were true and truly commissionated because they said thus saith the Lord when yet God never spoke to them no more than Christ hath spoke to you to Preach and Baptize with Water when as you do both without his immediate Inspiration Commission or Spirit and consequently you do not hear him in all things 4. Neither does it follow that you hear Christ because you Preach and Baptize People in Water by imitation of others whom he sent to Preach and Convert People by his Spirit whereby they did Minister 5. You might as well argue that because Peter James John and Paul c. were Apostles and Ministers of Christ therefore we Edward Paye and William Allcott c. are Ministers of Christ. 6. If Reading Christ's Commission to his Disciples Mat. 28. Mar. 16. be sufficient authority for persons to turn Preachers and then to tell People they hear Christ because they read his said Commission and presume to take it upon them without immediate Inspiration from him why may not the Priests of England c. be his Ministers as well as you and why do you dissent from them Thus we see how you have proved your Call and Authority for what you pretend even as well as any sensual Impostors blind Guides and Deceivers may On Rom. 10.6.7 8. E. P. saith neither did the holy Apostle understand the Word here to be Christ p. 22. Ans. How does he answer the Questions then which the Righteousness of Faith gives answer to Say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ from above Or who descend into the Deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is near thee c. Is this all one as to say the Scripture is near thee even in thy Mouth and Heart Or was the Enquiry after the Scripture Who shall ascend or descend to fetch me the Scriptures No sure Was not the antecedent Question of Christ And surely none can savingly believe with the Heart and in true Faith confess with the Mouth that God hath raised Christ from the dead so as to be saved but by that Living Word of Faith in the Heart which works a true and living Faith therein and therefore that Word of Faith which begets and works this Faith is Christ in Spirit who is the Author of this Faith otherwise the Questions who shall fetch Christ c. are not answered For where with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth maketh Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 he must needs first feel that Living Word of Faith in his Heart to work that Faith in him which produceth that Righteousness in Man which attends Salvation 'T is true that I did complain of E. P.'s injurious way of Writing in accusing us with giving better or higher Titles to our own Books than to the Holy Scripture instancing that of H. Smith's Book where E. P. gave these words only for the Title A True and Everlasting Rule being but the first words of the Title and leaving out the next following in the same Sentence viz. From God discovered This I did deem very disingenuous Now to extenuate and excuse the Offence he asks me Does those Words from God discovered added to The True and Everlasting Rule diminish the Heighth of the Title p. 23. Answ. Yes as the first Part was only by E. P. attributed to the Book contrary to the Design of the Title and Matter contained in the Book to which the Title had plain reference as taken together entirely that True and Everlasting Rule from God discovered being the Holy Spirit the Eternal Light and Manifestation of Christ within or what may be known of God being manifest in Man plainly testified unto in the said Book as that True and Everlasting Rule that was from God discovered so the Perversion and Abuse is plain I think E. P. might have spared his Labour of giving the Reader a Breviate of what he Ironically calls The Sweet Convincing Language the Quakers use to treat their Antagonists withal unless his own Language had been sweeter and more convincing than it is and less Partial and Abusive in his Accusations as to Matter
of Fact wherein he is still general against the Quakers as if they all treated their Antagonists of all Sorts with such sharp Language as some have treated a few and how far they merited severe Treatment from our Friend concerned he does not know The Instances of the Quakers Treatment E. P. gives are upon T. Lawson E. Burroughs W. Penn and G. Whitehead but chiefly on E. B. who in Scorn he terms Famous p. 25. for using the Words Reprobate Child of Darkness Diviner Antichrist Beast Blind Pharisee Hypocrite Sottish c. These with other Words of like import he has pick'd up among Matters of Controversie which though the Language be sharp 't is not unscriptural both Prophets of God and Ministers of Christ yea Christ himself did sometime use the like against Wicked Men who really were such in Spirit and Practice especially against Envious Persecutors Deceivers Hypocrites c. In his accusing E. B. hereupon with sentencing a Man to Wo and Condemnation for ever for asking some sober Questions p. 26. Herein he apparently wrongs E. B. for 't was not only for the Questions that he censured him though they were not sincere nor consistent clear Questions but as knowing that Adversary to be in Strife and Envy as he declares f. 31 32. denounces severe Judgment 1. Absolutely upon the Envious Persecuting Spirit of the Beast in him 2. Conditionally upon the Envious Person leaving him room for Repentance Exhorting him To Own and Obey the Light in his Conscience that he might know that Obedience of Christ which reconciles to God and that by the same Light he might see his Evil Deeds and be led up to Christ from whence the Light comes thus E. Burroughs f. 30 31 33. Whence it evidently appears He did not absolutely condemn the Man for ever but the Beast in him the evil envious Spirit and Works of it in him and this can be no just Occasion for E. Paye or W. Allcott to accuse the People called Quakers with having Affinity with the Muggletonians in their execrable Imprecations Curses c. as they falsly declare in their Antichrist in Spirit p. 9. For the Muggletonians have absolutely Cursed and Damned Persons for opposing them only allowing them no condition of Repentance or of owning or obeying the Light of Christ in them to lead them up to him as E. B. did neither does any Just Ground appear from his Words as justly distinguished before to deduce any such Rude Censorious and Reviling Question as E. Paye and W. Allcott c. have done in their Antichrist in Spirit p. 34 35. Their Reviling yet mistaken Question follows ☞ viz. Could the Devil himself have been more Vile and prodigiously Arrogant to take upon him to Determine a Man's endless Condition When it was not the Endless Condition of the Man but of the Evil Spirit in him the Beast in him that E. B. absolutely excludes from God for ever but conditionally declares Judgment upon the envius Man warning him To own and obey the Light of Christ in his Conscience that so he might find Repentance otherwise Destruction would be his Portion This Distinction I observe and clearly find in E. B's said Answer to Bennit The Matter justly considered is much like as if a Son of Thunder stirred up in Zeal for Truth should severely Judge and Condemn the Evil Lying Envious Spirit of the Beast and false Prophet in E. P. and his Abettors and unto that Lying Spirit in them declare viz. Thou Envious Lying Persecuting Beast thou Foul Wicked Spirit thou Malicious Devil and Father of Lyes and Lyars thou Author of all Mischief and Discord thou Troubler of the Creation thou Reproacher of God's Heritage thou that hast opened thy Mouth in Blasphemy against God his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven thou art utterly cast down and condemned for ever and to the Pit thou must return c. And you in whom this Lying Envious Spirit has so violently appeared against the People of God to Defame and Reproach them and their Christian Profession You and your Lyes and Perversions are condemned with the Light of Truth and you 'll come to Shame and Contempt for the same and utterly perish if you do not repent this is more than a Supposition 't is a real Warning to you the Lake which is the Second Death is and will be the Portion of all Lyars and therefore I exhort you in love to your poor Souls Return Own and Obey the Light of Christ in your Consciences that will shew you your Evil Deeds your Hypocrisies your Falshood and Envy and lead you to repent of the same that you may find Mercy and Pardon in Christ if your Day be not over the Spirit of Truth the Saints Comforter is the World's Reprover and Judge also of the Prince thereof Christ's Ministers who were led by this Spirit did not wrestle against Flesh and Blood but against Principalities and Powers and Rulers of the Darkness of the World against Spiritual Wickedness in High Places Eph. 6. These testified against Evil Spirits and Wickedness it self both in Root and Branches The great Degeneracy hath been such in the World that a Generation of Men have turned Beasts the Persecuting Envious Spirit of the Beast has made them Beasts Bulls Dogs Foxes Swine Wolves Devourers Destroyers of others the Old Serpent has made them Serpents Vipers Children of the Devil c. These being Characters in Scripture put upon Wicked Men And it is no hard Matter to shew E. P. and his Brethren as severe Judgment and sharp Language given in Scripture to Envious Wicked Persons as E. Burroughs gave to his Envious Antagonist before-mentioned and which I am persuaded is as justly applicable to our present Malicious Adversaries as to those to whom first directed by the Spirit of true Judgment in the Servants of God and Christ as Ps. 52. observe E. P. c. 1. Thy Tongue deviseth Mischief like a sharp Razor working deceitfully thou lovest Evil more than Good and Lying rather than to speak Righteousness Selah Thou lovest all devouring Words O thou Deceitful Tongue God shall likewise destroy thee for ever He shall take thee away and pluck thee out of thy Dwelling place and root thee out of the Land of the Living Selah v. 2 3 4 5. 2. And Isa. 56.10 His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb Dogs c. v. 11. Yea they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough they are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his Quarter as the Covetous Persecuting Priests used to do and 't is well if some of you be clear thereof And 3. Ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell Matt. 23.33 O Generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come Matt. 3.7 4. Read also the Epistle of Jude v. 10. But these speak evil of those things which