not be well accepted if wee justifie our selves in such poore degrees and measures of love both to God and men 3. For hee requireth fruit suitable to his tillage as is easie to prove the moralitie of such duties from the nature of love as it may be I shall the Lord assisting mee 4. But without all controversie in such cases as abovesaid to give more then a tenth yea if need require to sell all that wee have and give it to the poore or if called to it even to lay downe our lives for the brethren which is the most of all yet it is nothing too much under Gospell-dispensations for it was never so plainely and properly required of the Jewish Nation for it is commanded even by Christ and by his holy Apostles And suitable promises both of treasure in heaven and a supply on earth both to us and ours that wee shall not want nor have lacke of any thing As in the primitive times it was really exemplified They trusted God and obeyed his word and even made all things common and his promise was made good so that there was none that lacked And this in all likelihood will be so againe when the hearts of the fathers are turned to the children and the hearts of the children unto their fathers Which is as much to say as when the Spirit of God in the Ministrie of his Word taketh a kindly Impression in the hearts of his people so as to naturalize them to himselfe and the Ministers and people one to another so as to make them one as God is one yea like the primitive Church Of one heart and of one minde For then they proove and exemplifie the naturallnesse of the Law For then onely and not till then nor but onely with such who are so joyned can it ever be expected nor will it ever be suitable to have all things common nor could it else be expected that none should lacke and be neglected And without all question wee ought to be one as God is one as Christ hath prayed for us and as it may therefore certainly be expected for all his prayers were effectuall And therefore wee ought to endeavour after this unitie in the spirit which is the bond of all true peace and amitie And so often as wee pray that the kingdome of God might come with power that is to say that the Spirit of God might Rule in our hearts so often we pray that the kingdome of God might come so with power to all his people and that wee might be one as God is one and that wee might be one in him see John 17.21 ver 22 23. Nay if it cannot be denyed but that not onely our goods but even our lives and all should be readie at hand to be offred up in behalfe of our brethren and for the glory of God in witnesse to his truth if wee are called too it And if the love of Christ and the love of the brethren should be so ardent in us as to make us willing even to part with our lives in such a case How much rather should it easily induce us to part with our goods and that not onely a tenth but all that we have For as the Apostle John affirmeth Hereby perceive wee the love of God because hee hath laid downe his life for us And wee ought to lay downe our lives for the brethren But whoso hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowells of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him My little children let us not love in word nor in tongue onely but in deed and in truth Even so I also conclude this infallible resolve from the same ground Resolve That whoever hee be that hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowells of compassion from him There is no signe of the love of God in that man But much more when they shutt their bowells from supplying the wants of their faithfull Ministers who teach them in the Word who come unto them in the name of the Lord and bring them glad tydings good newes a rich treasure precious promises blessings from on high Christs owne Embassage representing his person delivering his message and blessing them also in the name of God and the Lord Jesus Christ yea in the name of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth Surely I say it and that without all peradventure that neither the love of God nor the love of Christ nor the love of the brethren nor of his faithfull Embassadors dwelleth in that man Rea For if a man loveth not his brother whom hee hath seene how can hee love God whom hee hath not seene yea the Invisible God whom never man saw neither can see but onely in spirit through an eye of faith save onely in man who is his Image when once perfectly renewed And whom wee ought to love and respect and honour accordingly as wee see his Image repaired in him yea though never so poore and despisable in the world and in the worlds account And therefore to make it cleare that these dutyes of Communication and distribution are morall duties required in the morall Law of God and that they are not Ceremoniall abrogable Lawes but must abide till all be fullfilled Take these further grounds 1. They were not onely Commanded in Horeb but by Christ himselfe and by his holy Apostles see 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandement that wee should beleeve on the name of his Sonne Jesus Christ and love one another as hee gave us Commandement Now the measure of that love which Christ hath Commanded is not a little and so away but the measure is Even as Christ hath loved us But without all controversie if the measure must be so as Christ hath loved us Then it will ingage us if occasion require even to lay downe our lives for the brethren But if it will ingage us to lay downe our lives Then much more our estates as hath been said not onely some but all if need so require for the glory of God and the good of the brethren and for the furtherance of the Gospell Resolve And therefore there needeth no stinting as in the time of the Law to a tenth part For where they are taught of God to love one another with that measure as they ought it will naturally ingage them so as they cannot be satisfied with giving a tenth nor any part at all if need so require but they will part with all and their lives to boote for the name of Christ and rather than any should lacke that belongs to him And though a tenth was sufficient in the time of the Law yet I cannot finde in all the new Testament any ground at all to build our faith That a tenth is sufficient in the dayes of the Gospell nor any stint at all under all that wee have if wee finde it needfull for the
ministred by the hearing of faith preached as wel as sometimes immediatly both which administrations I own as true But I come now to his other main Tenent which chiefly tendeth to the disparagement of the Scriptures and which chiefly ingageth men to oppose him in it as a work of Sathan And why should not I whiles I am in the world what in me lieth indeavour to destroy the works of the devil see 1 Joh 3.8 He saith further in his Book against Baxter speaking of the Apostles that they did never say the letter was the Word And in his 7th Querie in the end of his Book he enquireth whether the word of God can be changed or can it admit of several meanings as to one particular thing A I Answer that James Naylor may wrest the Scriptures to his own destruction and he is not so infallible but he may misunderstand the genuine meaning 2 Pet. 3.16 2. He enquireth whether it be visible or invisible A I answer the Word was made flesh and dwelt on earth and is now visible in Heaven and yet is here invisibly in spirit in the hearts of his people but how the word was made flesh James Naylor understandeth not 3. He enquireth is there any word but one or whether was that word before the letter and shal be when the letter is turned to dust A. To which I answer that Christ the essential word is but one we own but one Christ who shal remain when the Quakers have burnt their Bibles if they wil burn them as some of them have said it were all one to them if the Bibles were all burnt Foster by name hath so exprest himself and they say they are all of one mind then such esteem they have all of the sacred scriptures which we account of as not only the word of men but the word of God as so I shal make to appear that it is not blasphemy as they most wickedly assert but our bounden duty to own and call it the word of God and that it is blasphemy in them to deny it and cal it carnal and a dead letter And the Lord assisting I shal prove 1. That there is not only one but many words yea words of God so taken in scripture 2. That what God hath spoken is his word 3. That whatever Christ hath spoken who is the essentia word is also the word of God 4. That all scriptures given by inspiration of God and all expressions of men unto which they are moved by the Holy Ghost are the words of God and that it is not they that speak but the spirit of their Father that speaketh in them 5. That every word of God is pure and also true by whomsoever spoken but nor such lies as these of the Quakers but they are the words of another spirit then the spirit of God as I trust in God to make it manifest as so I ought And before I begin for fuller satisfaction how they account of the scriptures take notice that I find it in a little Book called The holy Scriptures clearing it self from scandals or an Answer to a Book written by Richard Farnworth who is commonly called a Quaker written by Thomas Polard who had opposed them by argum nt in a publick way Which Thomas Polard saith that they cal the scripture carnal and a dead letter and say it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from the scripture is but brain knowledg And I find in a Book of Naylors against one Thomas Moore how he answereth this to wit being asked by Moore whether the writing of the Prophets and Apostles be a dead letter He answereth that without the spirit it is nor can any without that spirit that gave them forth understand them or know the voices of Prophets or Apostles aledging Luk 24.45 Act 13.27 A 1. But where doth the scripture or the spirit of God cal the scripture a dead letter or carnal and that it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from it is but brain knowledg A 2. Where is it said in scripture that the spirit of God and the scripture are seperated The words that Christ hath spoken they are spirit and they are life and Moses said unto the people set your hearts unto all the words that I testifie unto you this day which ye shal command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law for it is not a vain thing for you for it is your life and through this thing yee shall prolong your daies Deut 32.46 47. And again the law is spiritual faith saith the Apostle I am carnal Rom 7. and Prov 2. My sonn if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou incline thine ear to wisdom and apply thine heart unto understanding if thou seekest for her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God see v 1 2 3 4 5. See also Pro 3.1 2. My sonn forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandements For length of daies and long life and peace shal they add to thee see also ch 4.1 2 3 4. Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live And ver 13. Take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Consider I say whether the wisdome of God so pathetically expressing her self to us if possible to perswade us to attend and hearken to the words of his mouth and to keep his Commandements and instructions and treasure them in our hearts as words of life to our souls and marrow to our bones as in another place and that for this end we should teach them to our Children as I might be large upon any of these Texts But whether I say doth the wisdome of God account the scripture as a dead letter let all wise men judg and whether they have not in them more spirit of life and power then the words and writings of James Naylor and whether they ought not rather to be observed and beleeved and trusted in for eternal life Now it is evident that the directions of James Naylor as a way to be infallibly guided and to attaine unto life and peace and rest for our souls is one thing and these directions are another his directions are to attend and hearken to that spirit and light within though it be a question whether it be the spirit of God or a lying spirit and a question whether there be at all any light within but grosse darkness and he that is in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth til he be enlightned by the Word and Spirit But he that hateth his Brother is in darkness until this present time it were wisdom therefore for James Naylor himself to try his spirii and light by the Law and
one that cometh into the world with what light they have of understanding and rationalitie And who knoweth not that Jesus Christ is in us except wee be Reprobates by his blessed Spirit in lesser or greater measure And who knoweth not that the word is nigh us even in our heart and in our mouth to wit the essentiall word which is Christ by his blessed Spirit if wee be his Elect And who knowath not that the ministration of the Spirit is not by the workes of the Law by which no flesh can be justified but by the hearing of faith preached because the letter of the Law killeth spiritually but the Spirit giveth life through faith and love which are in Christ Jesus And who knoweth not that God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth or not accept it But hee will be worshipped with the body also And who knoweth not that men should sing with the Spirit and with the understanding But what singing or praising of God is that which is not with the mouth I never heard such nor shall doe I thinke unlesse I heare the Angells which have not any proper mouthes And what Church is that which is in the heart our bodyes indeed are the Temples of the holy Ghost and I reade of the Church of the first-borne written in heaven but are these the Churches of the Saints spoken of in Scripture which yet some of them had their failings And who knoweth not that all that are without God and his Righteousnesse are in the world and strangers as yet to the Covenant of grace And who will not deny that faith and worship which God denyes And who knoweth not that those who have an unction from the holy One and know all things have no need that any man should teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them of all things see 1 John 2.20.27 But those who have this unction will not follow James Naylor nor his crooked and perverse doctrines for those that goe out from us are not of us see vers 19. For a stranger will they not follow for they know not the voyce of strangers Joh 10.5 But James Naylor is sent with strong delusiens to some that they might beleeve a lye that they all may be damned that receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse Qu But how is hee sent may wee Imagine Ans Not properly of God nor by his Spirit but Satan hath got commission to be a lying spirit in his mouth and in the mouthes of all his complices as hee was in the mouth of all Ahabs Prophets to deceive those who receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse If hee had a paire of hornes of Iron such as Zedekiah the sonne of Chenana made that hee might bring them to Fox and tell him that with those hee should push downe all the Ministers of God till hee had destroyed them It is very likely that Fox would beleeve him yet so doth not any Micaiah any true Prophet of the Lord though James Naylor himselfe hath prophesied so much concerning all the Ministers of God in England and elsewhere yea even all the generation of them who ever they be that will not receive and beleeve his lyes Which truly are so palpably grosse that I verily beleeve that not one Minister that is sent of God in all the world will owne for truthes though hee shuffle them up never so closely amongst the truthes of God as in that art hee is extreame cunning and it is no marvaile if that old lying spirit hath skill to teach him and be in his mouth for hee hath long used that very art and of all the arts that hee hath yet learned it is the most deceivable and therefore he hath used it longest hee deceived Eve with it when shee was pure from sinne and perfectly wise no marvaile then if hee deceive so many now that are laden with sinne and lead with divers lusts and not so wise as shee But I hope it is his last and cheifest Refuge I cannot but rejoyce to see him play this carde to transsorme himselfe into an Angell of light and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousnesse I hope it will be to his losse in the end If the Ranters doctrine would have taken amongst us hee would never have owned so many truthes and good things but that not taking hee was glad to transforme himselfe and his Ministers in new suits of apparrell not all out of course but finer wooll and smoothly woven and drest yet the designe and doctrines against the Scriptures being not owned as the word of God and in respect of disowning the teachings of men as utterly needlesse they being taught of God as they say to love one another They are just the same which the Ranters used Their designe being clearely the same with the Ranters to wit to preach downe all preachings and teachings of men though never so holy and spirituall teachings And why forsooth but because there is a promise that they shall be all taught of God using the very same Scripture-grounds which the Quakers doe and quite perverting them for the same use as the Ranters did which any spirituall understanding knoweth for certaine that they were never given forth by the holy Ghost for any such ends or uses but quite the contrary which were easie to demonstrate if it were needfull But let mee fall to question James Naylor a little as hee hath done us First Where the Scripture giveth any such directories for attaining unto life and power c. To wit That wee should onely give heed to that light within us and utterly desert all teachings of men save onely of themselves who onely direct us unto that light though it be but darknesse in comparison of what wee may learne from Scripture and from men likewise who teach us from thence by the Spirit of God Secondly Where doth the Scripture tell us that hee that is the light of the world and that inlighteneth every one that comuteth into the world doth inlighten all sufficiently and so as to guide them insallibly or that hee inlighteneth all alike and that immediately without the knowledge of the Scriptures or the teachings of men so as that they need not to teach one another saying know the Lord because all doe know him from the greatest of them even to the least of them Is the case so now that all know him what need is there then of the teachings of James Naylor and his complices if their light within them be sufficient it can teach them all that hee doth and all that he knoweth and how to eye it onely and to looke within for light and to desert and despise the teachings of men as so he doth and what else doth hee teach which is not taught by men from sacred Scripture and with more spirit and power then hee teacheth any thing and farre more rationally and convincingly in
observe that lying spirit then ruling in them and to love and obey and follow his motions and instigations and to looke no further but to obey the light there in their consciences whiles they make no conscience of any sinne but follow the lusts of their flesh and of their minde being by nature children of wrath even as others see Ephes 1.4 2.1 2 3. What is it else but to advise them to obey Satan and let him keep his hold whiles he hath it And what better way to perswade them to it can either Satan or the Quakers devise then to keepe them from searching the Scriptures or getting knowledge thereby to discerne of spirits and so then to perswade them that it is no other but the Spirit of God that worketh in them and giveth them light And what more politicke way can Satan devise to make them so beleeve then to moove and incline them to forsake their grosse sinnes and carry themselves in an humble selfe-denying posture like holy men for such who have been educated where the Scripture is read and the Gospell preached hee can hardly deceive them any other wayes to make them beleeve that hee is not Satan but the Spirit of Christ But when hee hath once done that hee can rule at pleasure and act them at pleasure in all other respects and puffe them up with spirituall pride and imperiousnesse and disdaine of others and to thinke themselves the onely spirited men above all others after Satan hath wrought a change in them and made them a little more active and spiritfull then formerly they were in their dead condition But then what ever lyes hee findeth most usefull for maintaining his kingdome hee easily perswadeth them they are truths of God and inspired into them by the Spirit of God which they thinke is in them For if ever hee get them up to that conceite of themselves that they are infallibly guided by the Spirit of God which is indeed infallible then they never care nor regard at all what the Scripture witnesseth nor what any man saith by way of contradiction to what they hold But are ready to cry out against them as blasphemers and resisters of the Spirit that doe but in meeknesse and wisdome from Scripture-grounds oppose their doctrines and wayes and blasphemies which they hold and maintaine being most implacably malicious against any that oppose them and call them but as they are a seduced people turned after Satan blasphemously reproaching the Ministers of God and all his Saints that approve not their doctrines and workes and wayes As hath been shewed before And how cleare a blasphemie is it to father such wicked assertions on the Spirit of God and to professe themselves mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God when if the Scripture be true it is certainly true that they are wicked lyes and therefore must needs proceed from the father of lyes and not from God And that they are lyes and that dangerous and blasphemous is clearely prooved already and I hope satisfactorily to any rationall apprehension Object But it will be said against all this that without all question there is something in these men more then ordinary and more then was in them before for they are so spirited for acting in their way and to maintaine their doctrines and principles and are found to be so quaint and wittie more then what they were or had before that it is cleare they are acted by some spirit or other which they are perswaded is the Spirit of God as appeares by their boldnesse and confidence and comming to the light and their zeale and selfe-deniall which for the most part is evident in them And therefore how can this be from any false or lying spirit which maketh them so bold and confident and that to come to the light that their deeds might be made manifest that they are wrought in God And they are so expert in Scripture as few Christians are like them and that as they thinke by inspiration from God they having not been so before but dull and uncapable and such as could learne nothing of that nature but were utterly non-proficients in the Schoole of Christianitie and knew nothing at all but were as deafe or dead men under spirituall ministrations And therefore how can this change come and how come they by this Renovation and this Spirit and zeale and boldnesse and confidence thus above ordinary And to plead for so many good things and sharply rebuke and reprove so many evill things Is it possible that this spirit should not be of God but a deluding spirit how can this be or come to passe I answer That it can be no other but a deluding spirit the which as I conceive they obtaine by such meanes and proceedings as I shall name and I desire they would search their owne hearts whether it be not so with them that so if they be deluded they might forsake and renounce that deluding spirit and so deliver themselves out of the snares of the Devill that are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure And first let them but examine themselves whether they were not of those that had heard the Scriptures read and opened and the truthes of God held forth by and from them which now they owne and witnesse too But whether they were not then of those that received not those truthes in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse And if so whether there be not cause of jealousie least God hath purposely sent them strong delusions for that very cause And secondly whether they were not first wrought up to an implacable malignitie against the Ministers in generall and against the most part of professors in so much as they did speake evill and gave forth reproachfull language against them calling them hirelings and Priests of Ball and covetous and carnall and such like language as they give them now which wee doe account as a degree of blaphemie for hee that speaketh evill of the Ministers of Christ speaketh evill of him And what is blasphemy but speaking evill of God or Christ or of his word or wayes or ordinances or people But if so and that they received that spirit within them upon acting according to such principles which they can never cleare from a degree of blasphemie May they not well be jealous that God hath delivered them up to the power of Satan to be spirited and guided and acted by him at his will and pleasure And is it not very likely that it is thus with them and that their blasphemies are the cause why they are so deluded with a false spirit in stead of the Spirit of God And is it not just with God thus to give them up that receive not his truth in love And how certaine is it that they never received the truth in love that love not the Messengers and Ministers of it but can so easily and bitterly Revile and Reproach them and not them onely but all
the Saints and servants of God almost over all the world accounting them all but Litteralists as hath been shewed in part and is easily demonstrated from divers of their books those of themselves onely excepted And is it not alwayes so with Satan in his trading with Witches that before hee granteth them a familiar spirit to be their servant hee ever ingageth them under a degree of blasphemie as to speake evill of God or Christ and of his holy Spirit and it may be to renounce and curse them in a fearefull manner And then hee knoweth that he hath them sure as quite from under the protection of God and so ingageth them in covenant and league with himselfe in a mutuall way for hee knoweth his libertie and commission from God and that hee is chained within such bounds and limitts that hee cannot passe For till the Lord hath delivered them up to his power and government hee cannot act them at his will and pleasure And hee well knoweth that hee must bring them under some degree of blasphemie or such a measure of sinne as will provoke the Lord to deliver them up to his will and pleasure else hee cannot doe them the least harme at all much lesse can he use them as Instruments for his owne service and to make them his slaves and vassalls to doe his drudgery and act for him in things that concerne his kingdome yea and such things likewise as hee could no wayes effect without their assistance as I might instance in many examples that I have read in Histories concerning divers Witches how it was with them in that case by their owne confessions to which Histories I shall referre the Reader But in my apprehension the case is just the same with these deluded people called Quakers For they being a people that beleeved not the truth so as to receive it in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse see 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Though they heard the Word both read and preached and that with authoritie and power yet it did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith And so could not possibly worke them up to receive it in love because they having pleasure in unrighteousnesse the word was unto them unsavourie yea the savour of death unto death and therefore put away from them and not beleeved and embraced as they ought to have done In so much that not loving and receiving the word of truth they could not love and receive the Ministers and Messengers of it in regard they brought no glad tidings of peace unto them whiles they loved unrighteousnesse Upon which occasion of advantage Satan sent forth his Ministers first the prophane Ranters perswading them to forsake the teachings of men and to liften to that light within in their consciences for they were all taught of God to love one another and that light within was the teaching of the Spirit and that of men was but carnall nor the Scripture it selfe was but carnall and a dead letter and the Bible might be burnt and bought and sold and might be read all their life without any profit or benefit to their soules whereas that light and spirit within them was of an eternall nature and an infallible guide so that obeying that light they could not erre but should be sure of perfection and of eternall life Now these poore ignorant unstable soules finding it true that they had not received any great benefit nor life and comfort by the word and ministrations of men in any other way or ordinance of so long time They immediately embraced and received their doctrine and so fell in with them to despise all ordinances and ministrations of men and even the Scripture it selfe and fell to reviling them and calling them carnall and hirelings and traders with the Word and such as looked onely for gaine from their quarter and such like language as is notoriously knowne But then their spirit within taught and lead them to such prophanenesse and excessive open wickednesse as to commit adultery and fornication and to father the same on the Spirit of God as moved by him which was outragious blasphemy such horrid impietie that no man almost that ever knew what belonged unto common civilitie could for shame owne them or their wayes or doctrine but cryed out shame against them But Satan perceiving his doctrine and kingdome to decay by reason of this excesse of wickednesse Hee put his Ministers into another garbe and also some little refined his doctrine in some inferiour points provided alwayes that his maine might stand to wit against the Scriptures and the teachings of men and ordinances c. and that they should onely listen to that light and spirit within For this they still preach and father blasphemously on the Spirit of God But then for much of outward prophanenesse they cry out against as much as possible and as if they were indeed the Ministers of Christ and plead extreamely for perfection professing themselves to have already attained it And Satan hath so farre moulded them as to make some shew of holinesse and of humilitie and righteousnesse in externall things and hath so farre deluded them as that some of them thinke and are fully perswaded that they are perfect and free from sinne and that it is certaine that it is no other but the spirit of God that hath so moulded them and that dwelleth in them and acteth and mooveth them so that what ever they are taught or mooved unto by that Spirit they dare not disobey nor cannot beleeve that it is not true or just c. Nay though an Angell from he even should teach them contrary in so much that they are bold and consident in the maintenance of their doctrines and ceremonies and wayes as if they were certainly witnessed by the Spirit of God as is publicity knowne And so being deluded themselves they are the more powerfull to delude others for Satan acteth them at pleasure and they are spirited by him to preach and pray and promulgate his doctrine in all places where they come and that with life and power even subverting whole houses and beguiling many unstable soules First By working them up to a dislike of the Ministers and then of all ordinances and then of the Scriptures as all but carnall and dead and vaine and unprofitable unto them as is easie to doe with those who never loved them And then they bring them one step further to wit to reproach and despise them and speake evill of them which is a degree of blasphemy And then they are left to the power of Satan by the Justice of God and so are spirited by him and familiarly taught by a spirit within and acted and mooved at his will and pleasure and yet doe confidently beleeve it is the Spirit of God that sometimes speaketh with an audible voyce and they obey accordingly And thus poore soules they are led blindfold with the strongest and strangest delusions that ever
it is not forbidden in Scripture and where there is no Law there is no transgression But the reason was because it was the customarie language in those dayes the which then to have aborated from had been offensive as the contrary is now And then againe hee telleth them that it is Improper to use the word you to a single person and they stand much upon the proprietie of the language thee and thou and thinke themselves wise and all others fooles that use any other Yet in case when they speake to more then one they use the word you and doe allow it as orthodox in their Religion Now if they will grant us this wee shall need no more to warrant our practise Rea For wee say with Solomon Eccle 4.10 Woe to him that is alone for when hee falleth hee hath not a second to lift him up And so also our blessed Saviour said of himselfe I am not alone but I and the Father that sent mee Joh 8.16 And I am one that beare witnesse of my selfe and the Father that sent mee beareth witnesse of mee vers 18. And in another place I and my Father are one Now the Quakers beleeve and are very confident and boast much of it that the eternall Spirit of God which was in Christ Jesus is in them also and if so then they are not alone but God is with them as hee was with Christ in some measure And as Christ said to his Apostles It is not you that speake but the Spirit of your Father speaketh in you And the truth is If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Now then if they be not alone they are not meerely single persons And therefore may properly use the word you one to another which yet they doe not And suppose that others who have not the Spirit of Christ ' have the spirit of Satan in them as the Quakers say that wee have Then yet such are not alone nor properly single but the word you may be properly used to such also and therefore if they sticke but upon proprietie of language if they will get a dispensation from their spirit to use it to us wee have a dispensation from that Spirit by which wee are acted to use it to them And I also beleeve that as Christ could truely say I and my Father are one So also may some of them say properly and truely I and my father are one For some men are as properly one with the Devill as Christ was with God and are as properly guided and acted by him and therefore are not alone in that respect but are two persons united so together as that they are properly one in one sence and properly two in another And therefore the word you nor the word thee or thou is Improper language to be spoken to any that is so spirited So that the proprietie of our language being cleared If they cannot finde it forbidden in Scripture wee have not onely a dispensation to use it but doe account it our dutie in regard it is the Custome of our Country least wee should offend For wee must give no offence neither to Jew nor Gentile neither to the Church of God And it is such grosse incivilitie and such an angerie kinde of language that any stranger would beleeve that wee are ready to fight them And so in stead of provoking one another unto love and to good workes wee are more likely to provoke them unto hatred and wrath and to doe us some injurie in regard wee give them such disgracefull language And by that meanes in stead of As much as in us lyeth to have peace with all men wee should bring it about to have peace with no man And that for no cause but to please the adversarie the accuser of the brethren and his complices the Quakers whom hee enslaveth and befooleth in these and such like things 6. And againe their spirit teacheth them not to put off their hatts nor bow their bodies in reverence or respect to any man at all in what place or Relation soever hee be nor in way of curtesie when they meete with friends neither to drinke one to another in a modest and moderate way for this they call worshipping of men and drinking one to another they say is to provoke them to excesse c. the which wee deny for they are not alwayes used for such ends But the spirit of God teacheth us so clearely to the contrary that wee need not to plead the custome of the Country to excuse us in these for they are all included under this command of the Apostle to wit Bee yee courteous and tender-hearted towards all men And it were easie to proove that bowing of the body was the customarie reverence in old time But I need not I shall rather aske them what courtesie at all they shew to any man upon any occasion And that taking off the hatt is a proper Reverend duty to those whom wee honour and doe and ought to reverence is easie to proove And wee are commanded to honour all men So that if wee know them to be dutyes either of love or honour wee are bound to use them Nay if they be proper expressions of love or honour and that wee have any spirit of love or honour in us it will naturally ingage us to use such expressions one to another if wee were not so commanded But there is doubtlesse some men in these last dayes are without naturall affections accoring as was prophesied 2 Tim 3.3 And those like bruit beasts made to be taken and to be destroyed 2 Pet 2.12 From such it is not to be expected no more then love for they should but dissemble if they should make a shew of what they have not And it were better to be without then to be deceived by their outward shews And therefore by my consent they shall never be perswaded to use them at all till their cordiall love and respects ingage them sincerely to it which can never be till they love us better And wee may not expect any love from them whiles they are acted and guided by our old adversarie the enemy of mankinde who hateth any thing in us that in the least resembleth the Image of God And wherefore is it required that wee should honour all men but because there is at least some Remnant of the Image of God excistent in them For man is the Image and the glory of God as I might shew at large but I have been too long about so cleare a point yet this further I shall make bold to assert namely That where the Spirit of God dwelleth there is also the Spirit of love for it is but the same For God is love And where there is love it will act curteously and tender-heartedly and that towards all men And doe but marke the Quakers how many of those fruits of the Spirit of God Gal 5.22 23. you can finde in them