and holiness and by our own good conversation 1 Pet. 2.15 put to silence the scandals of malicious the ignorance of foolish men that God wil give repentance free pardon in Christ to all our Adversaries who complain of us as contentious because though after long sufferings we seeke in a just and lawfull way to recover our due and just Rights which they unjustly detaine from us desiring if it be the will of God that they may obtaine salvation in the Lord Jesus and be delivered from wrath to come and that one day they may enjoy a happy and peaceable communion with us in glory and to conclude daily powring out my soule to God That the Lord the great Protector of Sion will be pleased to preserve his Highness and Honourable Councell and you my Honourable Lords and the rest of the Honourable Judges Justices Magistrates and other Worthies who are Actors for Piety and Peace to Gods glory and the benefit of these Nations together with this whole Common wealth in Truth Unity and Peace long to continue Most humbly subscribing my selfe Your Honours daily Oratour at the Throne of Grace Immanuel Bourne Pastor of the Church in Ashover London Feb. 26. 1655. A Defence of the Scriptures and of the Holy Spirit of God speaking in them as the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith c. In a Disputation at Chesterfield in the County of Darby Jan. 3. 1654. FIrst when the Ministers came to the Church or Meeting House-yard Iames Nayler was there with his company but seemed unwilling to goe into the Church or Church-House yet at last went into the lower end and stood there But when Mr Billingsley Minister of Chesterfield began with praier to God for a blessing upon the meeting Nayler and his fellowes went forth againe pretending some plot might be against them But after praier assurance given there was none they came in againe Secondly Mr John Billingsley began to read the Questions But after Nayler read them in the Paper sent to him as I take it and then began to read his Answer in writing and when he had read his Answer to the first Question it was desired that that Question and his Answer to that might be first Argued and so the rest afterwards in order Question 1 The first Question was Whether the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures bee the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith Mr Bourne shewed Nayler the Bible and asked him if he would owne that as Gods word he answered part of it or to that effect First For the state of the Question By the Spirit was meant the Spirit of God 1 Iohn 5.7 the third Person in Trinity one with the Father and the Sonne Secondly by the Scriptures the Canonicall books of the Old and New Testament Thirdly By the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures that voice or speaking forth of Gods Spirit recorded in Scripture which is there now to be found so whether the holy Scriptures or Spirit in them be judg This state was not so fully opened by reason of disturbance even in the entrance Nayler endeavouring to avoid this Question Naylers Answer Nayler in his Answer owned the Spirit that did speake in the holy men who gave forth the holy Scriptures to be Judge and said that Spirit was Judge before the Letter was written and all Controversies were judged by that Spirit but hee did not owne that Spirit that doth now speak in the Scriptures Hee said hee granted the Spirit was Judge and would have avoided the Question Mr Bournes Reply But Mr Bourne pressed to go on with the Question and affirmed it was one thing to say the Spirit that did speake in the holy men that gave out the Scriptures was Judge and another to say the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures was Judge or that the holy Scripture was Judge Therefore pressed to go on with the Question and began as I remember with this Reason Mr Bourns 1 Argument Whatsoever was and is the speaking forth of the Holy Ghost himselfe that was and is the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith but the holy Scriptures are the speaking forth of the holy Spirit himselfe therefore they are the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith The first proposition was not denied and the second was proved Acts 1.16 the Scripture which the holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake concerning Judas Here it is evident what Scriptures David writ or spake by writing that the Holy Ghost spake Therefore the holy Scripture is the speaking forth of the Holy Ghost and so judge of Controversies The same again witnessed by the Spirit Acts 28.25 wel spake the Holy Ghost by the mouth of Isaias the Prophet saying c. Here you see the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the Apostle Paul to speak by the mouth of Isaias and that Scripture which Isaiah writ was the speaking forth of the Holy Ghost and so the supreme Judge of Controversies c. Naylers Answer Nayler gave no direct answer but he wrangled and said he did owne the Spirit to be Judge but not the written word or to that effect and that the Spirit did speak not in the dead but in the living which was as I did understand him not in the dead letter of the Scripture but in living men and vapoured as if he had said much but yet would have avoided the Question as needlesse to be further disputed on since he did yield the Spirit to be Judge although he denyed that the Spirit speaking in Scripture was the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith But Mr Bourn went on to press another Argument Mr Bourns 2 Argument Whatsoever Christ himselfe did appeale unto as to a chiefe Judge and send his hearers unto as to a chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith that is and ought to be esteem'd the chief Judge of Controversies of Faith But Christ himselfe appealed to the Scriptures and sent his hearers to the Scriptures as to the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith therefore the holy Scriptures are the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith The first not denyed the second witnessed by the Spirit in John 5.39 in that great controversie of Faith whether Christ were the Sonne of God or equall with God Christ appeales to the Scriptures Search the Scriptures for in them you thinke to have eternall life and they are they that testifie of me therefore the Scriptures are the chiefe Judge Naylers Answer Nayler did not give any answer to satisfie the Argument but said still the Spirit was the Judge not the written word and cried out liar liar hold thy peace the Spirit is Judge not the written word Mr Bourne bad him yield the Question since Christ himselfe appealed to the Scriptures But he cried out and one of his fellow Quakers away lyar the Spirit is Judge Mr Bourn replied The Spirit is Judge but not the Spirit speaking in any man but the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures and pressed
horsemen thereof Thus you see titles of honour Lord Master Father are both given and received by holy men and this without any reproofe or check of the Spirit of God recorded in the Scriptures concerning any of these examples therefore sure it was and is lawfull to give and receive titles of respect and honour to call or be called Lord or Master or Father according to every ones place and dignity All these places of Scripture were not then alledged Naylers Answer And James Nayler by his loud clamour hindred the pressing and application of those places that were alledged as much as he could and cried out that was in the Law but now in the Gospell Christ forbids to call any man Master or to be called of men Masters or Father and alledged that of our Saviour Mat. 23. But be not ye called Rabbi for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren and call no man your Father upon earth for one is your Father which is in heaven And hence Nayler would infer That now in time of the Gospell it was not lawfull tocall any man Master or to be called of men Master or Father upon earth Mr Bournes Reply Then I replied and bad Nayler read the context in the verses before and if his eies were open he might see the mind of Christ that it was not absolutely to forbid his hearers to call any man Master or Father but to forbid the ambitious seeking of honor and the ambitious love of honour which was in the Scribes and Pharisees This you may finde is that that he reproveth in them in the 6 and 7 verfes They love saith Christ the uppermost rooms at Feasts and the chiefe seats in the Synagogues and greetings in the Markets and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi And this ambitious pride and love of honour from men Christ reproveth in the Pharisees and this he forbiddeth his disciples but be not ye called Rabbi for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren he would not have his Apostles to seeke superiority and power one over another in a proud ambitious manner Diotrephes-like to love to have the preheminence as 3 John 9. the Evangelist doth witnesle Diotrephes did Yet our Saviour Christ here doth not simply and absolutely forbid all giving or receiving of honour or of calling or being called of men Master or Father or Lord or Lady or the like Yet it is certaine our Saviour Christ doth forbid so to call Master or Father as to make any man the Master or Father of our Faith instead of Christ or that any man should be called Master or Father so as to take the honour of chiefe Master or Father or Teacher to himselfe which is due to Christ This is that which Christ forbiddeth and this is that which the Apostle Paul forbiddeth the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. Now this I say saith the Apostle that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ One said he was Pauls Disciple another he was Apollos another he was Christs But what saith the Apostle is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you Thus they made Paul the Master or Father of their faith And this the Apostle Paul reproveth here And this Christ our Saviour reproveth and forbiddeth Mat. 23. And Christ doth forbid to give that divine honour which is due to God and Christ that God-man our Saviour to any man in the world but hee doth not forbid to give or receive civill honour and respect one to another according to each mans place and dignity or so to be called of men Master or Father or the like To this effect was the Answer given but more close and briefe then now I give it But Nayler instead of any better Answer cried out lyar lyar hold thy peace for shame doth not Christ plainly forbid to call Father or Master and made a great clamorous noise and bid siâ— downe for shame for shame Mr Bourns Reply Then Mr Bourn called to Nayler and bid him leave his loud shamelesse out cries and hearken to an Argument to prove the Exposition to be truth and according to the mind of Christ which was to this effect Argument 2 Whatsoever Christ himselfe or the Spirit of Christ in the Apostles of Christ doth approve of elsewhere in thenew Testament as lawfull to be done that Christ himselfe doth not forbid in that place Mat. 23. But Christ himselfe and the Spirit of Christ in the Apostles doth elsewhere approve of the calling of men Masters and Fathers and of giving other titles of respect and honour to men Therefore Christ in that place Mat. 23. did not forbid to call any man Master or Father as James Nayler pretendeth The first proposition is witnessed to be clear because Christ is truth yea the way the truth and the life and he is no way contrary to himselfe For Jesus Christ is yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 13. Therefore Christ doth not forbid that here Mat. 23. which he alloweth elsewhere And for the second proposition that Christ and his spirit in the Apostles doth approve and allow fit titles of honour to bee given to men as is agreeable to their conditions in their severall places This will bee evident if you read rightly consider that of the Evangelist Marke 7. Where Christ is witnessed to repeat the Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother and in the next verse Christ himselfe giveth the name of Father and Mother to the parents of the man of whom he spake to the Pharisees And saith Christ ye suffer him no more to do ought for his Father and Mother Now Christ certainly would not have named Father and Mother nor have approved of those titles and that relation if it had not been lawfull And the same also doth the Spirit of Christ in the Apostle Paul in divers places read Eph. 6. Col. 3. Col. 4. and you may finde he giveth the titles of Father and Master Honour thy father and mother and fathers provoke not your children and masters give unto your servants that which is just and equall knowing that ye also have a master in heaven And the Apostle Peter to the same effect 1 Pet 2. Honour all men love the brother-hood feare God honour the King the supreme magistrate by whatsoever title he be called And servants be subject to your masters with all feare not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward so that here are earthly fathers and masters as well as God and Christ is our father and master in heaven And therefore it is evident that our Saviour Christ in that place Mat. 23. did not simply and absolutely forbid to call or to bee called master or father for if he had he would not have approved it himselfe nor would the Apostles of Christ who had the Spirit of Christ have done it as we have proved they did to
unto death of which St John witnesseth There is a sinne unto death I say not that thou shouldest pray for it 1 John 5.16 Now for thy twenty Quaeries Nayler which thou sentest and addest towards the end I have in part answered them already in what I have writ and part of them are such Questions against which St Paul speaketh as tending not to edification of those who are weak in the faith Rom. 14.1 2. but rather to their distraction if not destruction therefore more fit to be silenced and buried in darknesse then to be revived or brought to light Secondly some are hypocriticall like that of Herod to the wise men Mat. 2.7 8. Thirdly some are curious Questions to satisfie curious busie minds such as thou art which being answered will not profit to godlinesse or edification contrary to the rule 1 Cor. 14.26 Fourthly some of them are tempting captious Questions like those of the Pharisees thy Fathers to Christ our Saviour which he either answereth by Questions to his adversaries againe or else wisely rejects or avoids to escape their treacherous designes against him as Mat. 21.23 24 c. Mat. 22.16 17 18 c. Fifthly some are foolish and unlearned Questions which gender strifes not love or any benefit to soules and which the Apostle directs Timothy to avoid 2 Tim. 2.23 and giveth the same command to Titus because saith he they are unprofitable and vaine Tit. 3.9 And I had rather follow St Pauls counsell then satisfie thy folly It is the counsell of the wise man in some such cases to be silent Prov. 26.4 Yet if thou wilt have an answer to thy twenty Quaeries and to thy challenge and brags lest thou be wise in thy own conceit or any of thy generation Prov. 26.5 know that all or most of them or those that are fit to be replyed unto they are sufficiently answered by divers religious learned men Ministers of the Gospell and others If any desire to see First let them read learned Mr Baxter's answer to the sixteen Quaeries The Worcester petition dâ—fended printed 1653. upon the Wostershire Petition to which is added seventeen Counter-Quaeries not yet answered by thee and thy fellowes that I have seen 2. Read Mr Baxters Quakers Catechism The Quakers confuted printed 1654. and the Quakers Questions answered there printed 1655. 3. Read godly Mr Eaton in his book called the Quakers confuted being an answer to nineteen quaeries of thy companions in which your weaknesse and erroneous wickednesse is discovered and the truth vindicated 4. Read that book called the Perfect Pharisee The Perfect Pharisee printed 1654. in which by way of position and proofe your wandring quaeries are learnedly and religiously answered by those five godly Ministers nere New Castle 5. Mr Fowler c printed 1655. Read solid and accute Mr Fowler 's book called Satan at Noon Day of the severall sorts of Quakers and Familists And there you may see the matter of these familisticall quaeries answered and errors confuted to their sorrow if they had grace to be sensible 6. The mystery of ungodlinesse printed 1653. Read judicious and zealous Mr Farmer of Bristol in his book entituled the Mystery of Godlinesse and ungodlinesse in which the Questionist ungodlinesse is there discovered to their shame 7. Reverend and succinct Mr Sherlock's answer to twenty seven of the Quakers wild Questions Mr Sherlock printed 1654. and his learned discourse of the Spirit annexed which might stay these erring wandring spirits from their false pretences to the spirit of Christ 8 Read that profitable book A brief relation printed 1653. of that observant Author called A Briefe Relation of the Irreligion of the Northern Quakers wherein their horrid principles and practises doctrines and manners are exposed to the view of every intelligent Reader and the Quakers Sauls errand to Damascus in which are said to be an hundred lies replied unto 9. Antichrist in man printed 1655. Witness that booke entituled Antichrist in man the Quakers Idoll by Mr Joshua Milner a servant of Christ in the Gospell in which is an answer and confutation of some of the Quakers dangerous and damnable doctrines 10. Mr Prins Quakers unmasked printed 1656. witnesse godly and learned Mr William Prinne Esquire detecting these Quakers to bee but the spawne of the Romish Frogs Jesuites and Franciscan Fryars sent from Rome to seduce poore soules in this English Nation with his reply to John Audlands rayling paper by which and what I have proved in my Answer and Arguments upon the Questions before which were Disputed any Christians seeing eye may see that James Nayler and his wandring fellow Quakers are but poor pedlers for the Priests of Rome and the Jesuits servants carrying up and downe the Nation their packs of errours and bags of paper-quaeries invented and hatched in Antichrists and the devils warehouse which they offer at every door or place where they come like braided baused rotten wares to deceive and couzen poor soules and to disturbe the peace and quiet of the Nation that this common enemy may more easily wheele us about to Rome and Romish Tyranny and so bring us to confusion from the highest to the lowest from which God of his mercy protect us And for Ministers maintenance Gen. 14.20 Gen. 28.22 Lev. 27.30 31. Numb 18.21 Deut. 10.8 9. Mal 3 8 9. Mat. 23 23. 1 Cor. 9 13.14 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 7.8 Printed for Mr Iohn Wright in the Old Bayly 1646. Mr Deacons discovery printed 1656. read Dr Carleton Dr Tillesley Dr Slater Sir Henry Spelman Sir James Sempel Mr William Prin Esquire my owne sixt book I have printed called a light from Christ leading unto Christ and divers others who have sufficiently proved Tythes not only lawfull but due by divine Right to Christ and the Ministers of Christ in the Gospell and that the taking them away without due redemption is that sinne of sacriledge Last of all for I let passe others Read Mr John Deacon a solid and sharp Questionist Replyant and Demandant In his publike discovery of a secret deceit or the man of sin unmasked and Satan transformed into the resemblance of an Angell of light in that Sect or Society commonly called Quakers in which you have nineteen quaeries sent to the Quakers Speaker at the bull and mouth neer Aldersgate and miserably answered by James Nayler whom he calleth justly the grand fomentor of heresie and replyed unto by Mr Deacon and fourteen more returned by Nayler and fully answered by Mr Deacon and foure and twenty more proposed by Mr Deacon which nor James Nayler nor any of his fellow Quakers I believe can truly and plainly answer but they must denie the holy Scriptures or forsake their owne false erronious and hereticall principles And thus I have said enough to direct James Nayler and all his deceived deluding Antichristian pharisaicall company of Quakers where they may finde Answers to their so much bragged of quaeries It would be happy for them if they could leave their errours and enquire after the knowledge of Christ that they may be taught by him Eph. 4.20 21. as the truth is in Jesus which I desire I may pray for And now dear soules if any of you that belong to Jesus Christ have been drawn away with the errour of these wicked perfect pharisees as they are rightly called return againe to your first Husband Christ your Saviour Hos 2.7 you will finde it will be better with you so then now it is and fly the society of these deluding equivocating Antichristian Quakers who speak sometimes of the Scriptures but deny them to be the word of God and make use of them in shew but not in sincerity and truth Who pretend to a Christ within them but deny the merits of Christs blood and righteousnesse of Christ imputed to beleevers for Justification and salvation Some who proudly boast George Fox Iames Nayler c. proved before Read their books and where doe you read of asking forgivenesse of sin for Christs sake they are equall with God and as holy just and good as God that they are perfect and without sinne and therefore ask no forgiveness of sins at Gods hand for Christs merits sake casting away both the Article of Faith in which we profess we believe remission of sinnes and that petition of the Lords prayer in which our Saviour teacheth us to pray Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Yea they endeavour to draw poore soules from Christs publike Ordinances and to forsake the plain straite way to Heaven Mat. 7. like cheating thieves draw them into by waies Mat. 7.14 that they may-more securely rob and spoil them of the rich treasure of the Gospell and blessed way to glory Seek then my friends to Christ who is the wisedome of the Father Prov. 8. Col. 2.3 for wisedome and power to depart from the tents of these wicked men Numb 16.16 and to turne againe unto the Lord that ye perish not in their Apostacy from Christ And for you my honoured pretious soules and well beloved in the Lord Jesus who by strength from Christ have withstood the temptations of these deluding Quakers and are established in the Faith of Christ Watch still and beware ye be not drawn away with the errour of the wicked and fall from your owne stedfastnesse and labour in the use of all good means publike in the congregations of the saints private in your families and secret in your closets by the power of Christ and assistance of the Spirit of holiness John 15.5 Phil. 4.13 to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.17 18. To whom with God the Father and God the blessed Spirit be glory both now and for ever Amen Immanuel Bourne FINIS
evidence the second proposition Mr Bourne did shew a book the Title of it was concerning a threefold Antichrist or to that effect The same in effect by Richard Tarnworth in his discovery of Faith or rather of infidelity page 13. This was set out by some Quaker and in page the 13. in the very leafe in which beginneth a Letter of James Naylers to severall friends about Wakefield when Nayler was prisoner at Appleby There is Printed this false accusation of the Ministers in England as of Errour because they say the books of Matthew Marke Luke and John are the Gospell or containe the glad tidings of salvation through Jesus Christ therefore the Quakers are not fit to be the chiefe Judges of Controversies of Faith Naylers Answer Nayler answered hee did owne that Letter writ to his friends about Wakefield and said the books of Matthew Marke Luke and John were not the Gospell but Christ was the Gospell Mr Bourns Reply Mr Bourne went on to prove that the books of Matthew Marke Luke and John were the Gospell by this Argument Whatsoever book the Spirit of God by the mouth of the Evangelist Marke calleth the Gospell that is the Gospel but the Spirit of God by the mouth of the Evangelist Marke calleth the book of Marke the Gospell therefore that book of Marke is the Gospell The first proposition is unquestionable The second is witnessed Marke 1.1 Marke 1.1 The beginning of the Gospell of Jesus Christ the Sonne of God as it is written in the Prophets Observe first That the Evangelist affirmeth that the Gospel was written in the Prophets Secondly that he calleth the beginning of that book the beginning of the Gospell not that the Gospell was not before for the Gospell was preached to Adam and Eve in Paradise after the Fall Gen. 3.15 But the seed of the woman shall break the serpents head but that it was the beginning of that book of the Gospell of that history of Christ and declaration of salvation by Christ Jesus For what is the Gospell but good newes or good tidings of a Saviour as that Angell speaketh Luke 2.10 And good tidings of Christ is not Christ himselfe and so the Gospell is not Christ himselfe but good newes of salvation by Christ This is the book of Marke the Gospell and thus are the books of Matthew Luke and John the Gospell and the Quaker denying this and accusing the Ministers of Christ as of Errour for affirming it this assertion is plainely proved that the Spirit in the Quaker is a Spirit of Errour lying and false accusation and so not fit to be the Judge of Controversies of Faith Naylers Reply Nayler had nothing to answer but lyar lyar hold thy tongue and sit downe for Christ is the Gospell the books of Matthew Marke Luke and John are not the Gospell Mr Bournes Argument Mr Bourne began to presse another Argument out of a booke of one Nicolas Cowlings Nicol. Cowling his word to 52 London Ministers p. 15 c. A word to the 52 London Ministers pages 15 16. whereing he blasphemously compareth Christ that dyed at Jerusalem to a woodden leg Let me be bold saith he to impart unto you my former experience in the mystery of Christ I thought a long while a faith in Christ that died at Jerusalem was the top gallant of a Christian but since it doth appeare I Answer There was a twofold Faith in the person of Christ 1. Erring of an outward Redemption from Roman tyranny of which Luke 24 21. Acts 1.16 2. True Faith of an eternall Redemption from sinne c. and purchase of liternall happinesse for his people in Heaven of which Mat. 1.21 Iohn 1.29 6 47 14 1 2 3. The Erring faith died with Christ but the true faith in Christs person did not dye as the Blasphemer imagineth c. that faith the Disciples had in the person of Christ died with him c. therefore it is Christ in the mystery that will save A woodden legge saith he that is tyed on may do some service but it is the legge naturall that is usefull for all occasions Thus doth this blasphemer make Christ our Saviour that died for us at Jerusalem but as a woodden legge But it is not that Christ that died at Jerusalem mighty to save not only by the work of sanctification in us by his Spirit through Faith to purifie our hearts but by the worke of justification by his blood and merits of his death and passion by which he hath made our peace even by the blood of his crosse and righteousnesse imputed to us for our justification before God as by our holinesse and good workes we are declared to be justified before men For God made him to be sinne for us who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him But this Spirit in this deceived Quaker or Erring Sectary who glories in his perfection and disgracefully calleth Christ that died at Jerusalem a woodden legge it is an Erring spirit and therefore not fit to be judge of Controversies of Faith Naylers Answer James Nayler would give no Answer to this but said he would not answer for any but himselfe Yet certainly James Nayler needed not then to have disowned that or denied to answer for it is nothing but what he himselfe did owne before Read the Perfect Pharisee p. 8. position 5. as appeares by that expression of his in a Letter sent by him to one in Lancashire That he that expected to be saved by him that died at Jerusalem should be deceived This witnessed by those reverend Divines who writ that book called the Perfect Pharisee And it seemeth it is their common opinion as may appeare by that speech of another Quaker neer Bristoll who said he was not such a foole as to hope to be saved by Jesus Christ that died at Jerusalem sixteen hundred yeares agoe Mr Farmer in his mystery of godlinesse and ungodlinesse witnessed by Reverend Mr Farmer a Reverend Minister in Bristol This spirit in the Quaker cannot be the chiefe Judge of Controversies of Faith Mr Billingsleys Argument Then Mr John Billingsley to prove that the Spirit in the Quakers and in James Nayler in particular was a lying scandalizing Spirit and so not fit to be Judge of Controversies of Faith brought an Argument to this purpose That Spirit whatsoever that did or doth affirm that Bul-baiting swearing cursing and such like are the fruits of John Billingsley's Ministrie that is a lying scandalizing Spirit but the Spirit that is in thee James Nayler or thou thy selfe James Nayler diddest affirme that Bul-baiting swearing cursing and such like is or are the fruits of John Billingsley's Ministery therefore thy Spirit is a lying scandalizing Spirit and so not fit to be Judge of Controversies of Faith For the first proposition I John Billingsley doe appeale to all the Congregations which have heard me preach in Chesterfield or else where
Nayler answered that he himselfe was as holy just and good as God himselfe And this Mr Baldwâ—nson did offer to depose to Colonell Briggs who is a man fearing God and of eminent trust in the Common-wealth and what is this but presumptuous blasphemy both in Fox and Nayler so proudly to boast of their owne perfection and that not by the imputed righteousness of Christ for that they deny but by their own inherent holiness which they pretend to be Christ within them and yet so basely to manifest themselves notorious lyars The briefe volation of the irreligion of the Northern Quakâ—rs wherein their h … d principles and practises doctrines and manners are discovered read page 24 25. As in that Pamphlet called Saul's Errand to Damascus in which there are a hundred untruths as may be proved by a hundred witnesses testified in that booke called A Briefe Relation of the irreligion of the Northern Quakers page 24. Many of them saith that Author will be as ready to say and unsay any thing as if lying were a vertue and they make no conscience saith he of raising false reports against those especially who doe any way oppose them and he goeth on further Thus wholly by lies lying doctrines lying wonders lying reports they endeavour to build up the Kingdome of the Father of lyes amongst us Thus farre and further that reverend Author I might add many more of their errours lies and abominable blasphemies But these are sufficient to witnesse the Spirit in James Nayler and divers of his fellow Quakers to be a Spirit of Errour and Blasphemy and therefore not fit to be chiefe Judges of Controversies of Faith Other their Errours and Blasphemies are so abominable that I hold them fitter to be buried in silence then to rake them up out of the Devils dung-hill to be an odious noisom stinke and offence to the people of God Now for Naylers answer and his crosse interrogatories upon this and other Questions I have answered them fully in every particular which with my Reply to his Quaeries and discoveries of many of his abominable lies increased in my written hand prepared for the Presse to above threescore sheets of paper which I have ready by me the which I was resolved by Gods grace to have printed in Defence of Christ the Gospell and the faithfull Gospel-Ministers of Christ in England and their maintenance But comming to London I finde these things so sufficiently answered and truth so sully satisfied against the Quakers and their errours by so many godly and learned Divines that I conceive to add more is but to cast water into the sea and therefore I have thought good to print only these few sheets and to let the rest of my labours rest unprinted untill God shall give me a further call unto that worke I now therefore proceed to the third Question Disputed 3 Question Disputed Whether every man be bound to looke to the light within him as sufficient for his ditection to attaine salvation This we denyed The state of the Question The sence of the Question is Whether every man and woman in the world have a sufficient light within them for their direction to attaine eternall life so as he or shee needeth not to looke to the outward light of the written word of God or to the light of the Gospell revealed in the holy Scriptures or to any outward teaching by man whatsoever although it be agreeable to the Scripture of truth This in effect was the opinion of Nayler as it is of divers of his fellow Quakers witness Nayler himselfe in his answer in writing sent to us the day after the Dispute and since printed The light of Christ saith hee which hath enlightned every man that commeth into the world is ourlight and to that is every one bound to look for direction to attaine Salvation and that he affirmeth as sufficient or to that effect And the same did Nayler affirm before in his discourse with Mr Will. Cole at Kendall See the Perfect Pharisee the subscription to the Epistle and pages 17.18 Richard Tarnworth p. 51. c To whom he said that every man in the world had a light within him sufficient to guide them to salvation and this he extended to the Indians that never heard the Gospell witnesse that booke called the Perfect Pharisee written by those five Reverend Ministers nere New Castle named before And thus James Nayler and divers others of his fellow Quakers in other Pamphlets which for brevity sake I omit Mr Bournes Argument But I did prove the contrary by this Argument No man whosoever is darknesse is bound to looke to the light within him as sufficient to direct him to attaine Salvation but every naturall man is darknesse therefore no naturall man is bound to looke to the light within him as sufficient for his direction to attaine salvation and so not every man that commeth into the world The first proposition is evident because it is in vaine to look for light in darknesse And the second proposition is witnessed by the Apostle Paul Eph. 5.8 Ye were once darknesse saith he to the Ephesians but now ye are light in the Lord. In the state of nature corrupted by Adams Fall they were darknesse having their understandings darkened through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindnesse of their minds And what light then had these within them sufficient to direct them to Salvation or what sufficient light hath any naturall man in the world and therefore all are not bound to looke to the light within them as sufficient for their direction to attaine Salvation Naylers Answer All Naylers answer was it is false it is false lyar lyar all are enlightned and have a light within them sufficient to direct them to Salvation or to that effect Mr Billingsley's Argument And after some wranglings by Nayler Mr Billingsley called to Nayler to heare an Argument and gave this or to this effect None of those to whom Paul was sent to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan to God had a light within them to which they were bound to looke as sufficient to direct them to attaine Salvation But there were some Gentiles to whom Paul was sent to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan to God therefore some Gentiles had not a light within them to which they could looke as sufficient to direct them to attaine Salvation and so not every man in the world The first proposition is manifest because if those Gentiles had a light within them sufficient to direct them to attaine Salvation then what needed the Lord to have sent blessed Paul through so many dangers to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan to God And for the second the Evangelist Luke doth witnesse it Acts 26.17 18. Acts 26. Delivering thee from the Gentiles to whom I send thee to turne them from
darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God And thus againe it is evident that all have not a light within them sufficient to direct them to salvation and therefore are not bound to looke to that as a sufficient light which is weak and insufficient as the light of every naturall man is Nailers Answer To which Argument Nayler gave his common Answer crying out aloud as before lyar lyar all have a light within them to which they ought to looke as sufficient to direct them to Salvation Iohn Buntings Argument Upon which Iohn Bunting of Ashover named before an understanding Christian sitting neer Nayler Replyed to him Dead men have no light in them but every naturall man is a dead man dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 2 3. â—s witnesseth the Apostle Eph. 2. and what light is there then in a naturall dead man sufficient to direct him to attaine salvation Naylers Answer Nayler Answered not to the Argument concerning naturall mens blindness but said Christ had enlightned all men Iohn 1.9 and alledged that place Iohn 1.9 He is that light that lightens every man that commeth into the world and thence he would inferre every man is enlightned and hath a light within him sufficient to direct him to attaine Salvation or to that purpose so neer as I could remember Mr Bournes Answer to this Scipture alledged A first light Unto this Scripture I did then answer to this effect by distinguishing of light and said there was a two-fold light The first the light of nature the remnant of that created light of the knowledge of God in man by which men might know so much of God by the Creatures Rom. 1.19 20. as may make them without excuse Rom. 1.19 And which is a sparke of light naturally in every mans conscience Rom. 2.14 15. Rom. 2. And with this light Christ the Creator God equall with God the Father by whom this light and all things were made he doth enlighten every man that commeth into the world that is into this habitable world in which we dwell and all that are borne into this world in their right mind and senses Christ doth enlighten with this naturall light But this light of nature since the Fall is so darkned that although it may be sufficient in some respects to make men without excuse Rom. 1.20 yet it is not sufficient to reveale Christ or to give sufficient direction to attaine Salvation by Christ Jesus as that light which revealeth Christ in the Gospell Againe there is a second light and this is the light of speciall grace given outwardly by the preaching of the Word and inwardly by the Spirit of God by which a soule is enlightned with such a speciall light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as he owneth 2 Cor. 4 6 7. and by faith embraceth Christ Rom. 5. not only as a Justifier by his blood and merits but a Sanctifier by his Spirit and grace in the soule and so a perfect Saviour both from sinne here and from wrath to come hereafter as due to sinne And this in ward light of speciall grace every man to whom God hath given it is bound to look unto it in a speciall manner yet not so as to neglect the outward light of the Gospell revealed in the holy Scriptures for the getting of more light because we know here but in part 1 Cor. 13 9 10 11 12. and therefore should waite for more light of grace untill we come to enjoy a perfection of light in glory Because this speciall light of grace held forth in the Gospell is not given to all for all do not know the mystery of the Gospell nor is it given unto all witnesse our Saviour Mat. 13.11 To you it is given saith he to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of God but to others it is not given And the Evangelist John himselfe in the same Chapter Iohn 1.9 10 11 c. in which he affirmeth that Christ is the true light that lightneth every man that commeth into the world in the very next verse he affirmeth that Christ was in the world and the world did not know him yea he came to his owne and his owne received him not But if all in the world had this speciall light of grace within them they would have known Christ Iohn 18.35 yea if all his owne people the people of the Jewes his owne Nation had received this speciall light of grace they would have received Christ But many of them were in blindnesse yea darknesse it selfe and did not know Christ for had they knowne him they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory witnesse the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.7 8. Thâ—â— answer was delivered logically in more briefe termes but to the same effect and more fully and largely expressed now for weak brethrens sakes that they may more easily understand Naylers deceits in his answer who gave that more largely also in his written paper then at the Disputation for that was commonly very short It is false it is false and lyar lyar And this was Naylers Reply to this Distinction of light given by me It is false lyar hold thy peace and sit downe there is but one light that lightens every man that commeth into the world and in a vapouring manner doubled it againe there is but one light which lightneth every man that commeth into the world M. Maudâ—slâ—y Mr Maudsley as I remember Minister of Dronfield sitting neer Nayler asked him what world he did meane Nayler Question Nayler answered there is but one world and that is the world of men he was asked againe whether he himselfe was in the world or out of the world Answer to which Nayler answered that he was out of the world unto which Answer some one replyed it were well if thou wast out of the world that thou mightest not spread thy errours as thou dost in the world Nayler wrangled still about the world and said there was but one world and that was the world of men which were all enlightned Then one that was neer Nayler asked Nayler what world that was into which Christ came Iohn 16.28 when he came out from his Father and which he left when he went to his Father againe And Nayler shufied and would have avoided the Question upon which there fell out a wrangling and other passages impertinent to the Question in hand which for brevity I omit here and shall remember them in my Animadversions upon Naylers false Relation Mr Bourne Whiles they were wrangling Mr Bourne did call to Nayler to leave wrangling and hearken to another Argument to prove that all men had not a light within them sufficient to direct them to attaine salvation and was giving forth an Argument Mr Moors Argument But Mr Moor Minister of Brampton stept in and gave this Argument or to this effect If there be some men that
resurrection After which it was demanded what Kingdome Christ did speake of Acts 1. Reply of another to Nayler But some one neer Nayler Replied Acts 9.5 17. 1 Cor. 9.1 1 Cor. 15.7 8. that Christ was seen after his Ascension For he was seen of Paul as Paul himselfe doth testifie Am not I an Apostle have I not seen the Lord And last of all he was seen of me as one born out of due time c. Iames Naylers Answer Nayler answered Christ was seene but he was seen invisibly Reply To which one Replyed that was a Bull or a sencelesse Answer for whatsoever is seen must be seen visibly in what manner soever it is seene whether by the eie of the body or by faith the eie of the soule If we see him that is invisible as Moses did yet he is visibly seen with those eies Heb. 11.27 by which we doe see him either in Grace or Glory Nayler Yet Nayler still persisted in his confidence that some thing might be seen invisibly and continued his railing and reviling phrases liars liars or to that effect 4 Question Disputed The time was farre spent and Mr Bourn called to another Question and that was taken which was the last that was proposed and the last that was disputed This was whether it bee lawfull to call any man Master or Father upon earth The sense and meaning of the Question was whether it be lawfull to give any honour or titles of honour to men to Father or Master to Magistrate or Minister to Lords or Ladies or the like The occasion was in part the Qakers crying out against the Ministers of Christ because they are called of men Masters and in part the proud uncivill unchristian behaviour of some Quakers towards their naturall parents and ordinary masters some towards civill Magistrates honourable Judges and Justices of peace before whom being called they have some of them in my sight kept on their hats in a contemptuous manner and denied any outward honour or civill respect to be given unto them Iames Nayler in his answer to this Question in his false Relation yea Nayler himselfe in his written Answer calleth us the Ministers of Christ Antichrist because we are called of men Masters And Richard Farnworth another rayling Quaker R. Farnworths discovery of Faith and divers papers page 2.3 and their common practice of refusing to give any outward respect to Magistrates not only Fox and Nayler but their seduced proselytes witnesse daily But Mr Bourne brought an Argument to prove it lawful to call or be called Master or Father and to give civill honour and titles of honour and respect to men according to their place and dignity to this effect Mr Bournes Argument Whatsoever titles of honour or respect the holy Patriarchs or Prophets or Apostles or other faithfull men have given unto or received from each other which are no where forbidden in the Scripture or written word of God those are lawfull for Christians now to give unto or to receive from each other But these titles of honour or respect as Father and Master and Lord and Lady and the like they have been given and received by the Patriarchs and Prophets Apostles and other holy faithfull men and are no where forbidden in the Scripture or written word of God Therefore the same titles or names of Father and Master Lord and Lady and the like may lawfully be given and received by Christians in these daies or in this age of the world First proposition I conceive will not be denyed except by such as will not be tried by the holy Scriptures And for the minor or second proposition we shall make that evident by an induction from singular or particular examples of godly men recorded in holy writ First if you read Gen. 23.6 You may finde Example 1 that when Abraham came to the children of Heth to ge◠a burying place for Sarah his wife shee being then dead hee spake to the children of Heth and bowed downe himselfe to the people of the land to give unto them not any divine religious worship which is due to God but civill honour due to men and three times is Abraham there called Lord by that people and faithfull Abraham taketh that title to himselfe without any reproofe of them for giving that title to him or any refusing of that title given him which he would not have done if it had not been lawfull to have received any such honour nor would he have bowed downe himselfe to the people of the land if it had been sinne to have done so For Abraham was a knowing faithfull man believing in Christ the Messiah to come and rejoicing to see Christs day witnesse our Saviour John 8. Iohn 8.56 〈◊〉 Againe read Gen. 24. When Abraham sent his religious servant to provide a wife for his sonne Isaac Gen. 24.27 his servant putteth up his prayer to God O Lord God of my Master Abraham send me good speed this day and shew kindnesse to my Master Abraham And hee calleth Abraham Master sixteen or seventeen times in that Chapter which certainly he would not have done if it had not been lawfull to call Master Thirdly Gen. 32.18 read Gen. 32. And you may finde that Jacob calleth his brother Esau Lord in that direction of his to his servants whom he sent before with a gift to his brother When you meet my brother Esau saith he and he shall aske you whose are these Cattell you shall answer it is a present sent to my Lord Esau and he cals Esau Lord foure times in that Chapter Fourthly 1 Kin 18.7 8. read 1 Kin. 18. When religious Obadiah who did feare the Lord from his youth met Elijah the Prophet he calleth Elijah Lord. Art not thou my Lord Elijah And verse the 8. The Prophet calleth wicked Ahab Obadiahs Lord For thus speaketh hee to Obadiah Go tell thy Lord behold Elijah is here Thus doth that good Prophet not only suffer himselfe to bee called Lord but calleth wicked King Ahab Obadiahs Lord which he would not have done if it had not been lawfull and if it were lawfull to call prophane Esau Lord and wicked Ahab Lord wherefore is it not lawfull to call Master or Father or to give honourable titles to men now unto whom they doe belong both by naturall and civill respects witnessed by the practice of the Saints holy men in several ages of the world For fifthly if you read 2 Kin. 2. Did not the children of the Prophets at Bethel call Elijah Elishas Master Knowest thou not that the Lord will take away thy Master from thy head to day And againe another company of the Prophets at Jericho verse 5. Knowest thou not that the Lord will take away thy Master from thy head to day And in the same Chapter verse 12. When Elijah was taken up into heaven in a fiery Chariot Elisha cryeth out my Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the