THE SKIRMISHER DEFEATED AND TRUTH DEFENDED Being an ANSWER to a Pamphlet ENTITULED A Skirmish made upon Quakerism By William Penn. Jam. 3. 13 14 16. Who is a Wise Man and endued with Knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good Conversation his Works with Meekness of Wisdom But if ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts glory not and Lye not against the Truth For where Envying and Strife is there is Confusion and every Evil Work Printed in the Year 1676. THE Skirmisher Defeated AND Truth Defended Being an Answer to a Pamphlet intituled A Skirmish made upon Quakerism OF all the Evils that attend Controversie about Religion there is none more odious and provoking then that of Mistating Principles and giving That under mens Names to the World for their Doctrine and Judgment which they abhor to believe much more to assert and divulge to others And this I hope I may without Offence add That to be Misrepresented hath mostly been the Lot of Truth in all Ages and her peculiar Difficulty and Suffering from the World For no sooner has Almighty God blest Mankind with further Discoveries of his heavenly Will and divine Helps to perform it then some or other and those not a few have iâ—mediately opposed themselves to that Work and the Lovers and Abetters of it nor have those Adversaries been of the Rabble Men of no Letters Education or Pretence to Religion by no means much the contrary the Learned Crew the Clergy that great Corporation of Religion it hath been generally such the Chemarims men of the Black Robe that from a Pretence to greater Knowledge then others an Education in the Studies of Divinity a peculiar Warrant and Mission with the Countenance of Worldly Authority have used their Skill and employed their Abilities to traduce Truth and stigmatize her Followers exposing both to the Fury or Mockery of the World tell me when this fell out otherwise and allow me Scripture Story but to be true and sacred I pretend not now to write an History no not to epitomise that which is already writ nor need I for the Case is evident but because Examples are so ready I will instance in him that said I am the Way the Truth and the Life One while the Scribes and Pharisees took hold of his Nonconformity to their Customs and then he was a Despiser of Moses a Breaker of the Law one that made void the Traditions of the Fathers Another while he was a Mean Fellow but a Carpenter's Son and what Man of Quality would follow him or who would make a Messiah of a Mechanick or a Saviour of so servil an Off-spring But when this would not do then he was a Samaritan and had a Devil and cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils thereby rendring his Person hateful to the Jews that refus'd all Commerce with the Samaritans and his Wonderful Works suspected of a Diabolical Power lest the People should believe in him But this Trick failing and the People believing lest any of Note should be taken with him they â—ling out that he was a very Idiot one that knew not Letters and that none followed him but those that are cursed and know not the Law the Rabble the Vulgar and Illiterate People But when this Stratagem succeeded not to lessen his Reputation and question his Pretences they bruted up and down that for all his pretended Perfection he was a Loose Person a Wine-bibber a Companion of Publicans and Sinners not fit to be the Leader of a Strict Sect nor qualified for so Glorious a Work as that of the Messiah's God still blasting their Designs and the People flocking after him admiring his Doctrine his Authority his Wisdom and his Miracles the Jewish Council of Doctors and Rabbies roundly accuse him of Blasphemy and have the Confidence and Cruelty to seek his Life telling Pilate that They have a Law and by their Law he ought to Dye but Pilate scrupling the Matter and finding their Proofs short faints in their Business which they perceiving with one loud Cry as if it were a Dare to Pilate to deny them their Murderous Ends tell him He is an Enemy to Caesar hoping though Pilate would not concern himself with their Laws and Customs yet that being Caesar's Deputy and Officer he would not suffer any man to live that was a declared Enemy to Caesar's Government and they had their End Nor did his Disciples fair better who were accounted Enemies to the Law Scriptures Seducers Deceivers of the People Pestilent Fellows Sowers of Sedition Turners of the World upside down c. But who were they that made this lamentable Opposition were they litterally Heathens or professedly Infidels no such matter for that might have in some sense extenuated the Crime at least have spoyl'd our Parallel but they were the Offâ—spring of Abraham Great Scripturians to whom pertain'd the Covenants Promises Adoption and if we will take their word for it Children of God in Bondage to none though it s not to be doubted but that they were by Nature Heathens and for all their great Profession Infidels in spirit and great Slaves to Sin and Children of the Evil One all this while Now this has been our Case who are in Reproach called Quakers In the first Place we must honestly and plainly confess before almighty God and all Men that we have been of the common Mass of Mankind and had our Conversation in the times past in the Vanities Pleasures Sports and Lusts of this World living in some respect without God and Christ in the World though under a Profession both of God and Christ as the most Part of Christendom so called do at this Day and in this dead Estate to the living Sense and Enjoyment of God and Christ in our Souls the Lord visited us and by his own convincing and reproving Light Power and Spirit hath he awakned us and brought us to behold him whom we under all our Profession of Religion had more or less grieved and pierced with our vain Thoughts Idle Words and unholy Actions and to Sorrow with true godly Sorrow and be in unfeigned Bitterness as for our first born or our only Child the Lord thus redeeming us through his holy Rebukes and Judgments from an evil Conversation and converting us to himself by his own Righteous Law in our Hearts And when it had pleased God thus to rouse us out of our carnal Security and fire our House of empty Profession about our Ears and open the Books of Conscience and call us to Judgment kindling his holy Terrors in our Hearts because of our past Conversation that had been in the vain and sinful Fashions and Customs of the World calling God our Father and not born of him and Christ Lord and not by his holy Spirit neither had taken up his daily Cross to the slaying of our own Wills and carnal Affections notwithstanding the great Profession that we in Words made of him and
them because they are in the Bible only which runs against the Testimony of Scripture the Consent of Ages and the Writings and Judgment of the most Honest and Learn'd Protestants 2ly As if it were a like Evil Conscientiously to forbear Running Willing and Striving in Matters of Worship without the Spirit 's Conduct and scaredâ—y to plead for the Commission of Murder and Idolatry because Men of such Consciences bogle not at it though that is more then J. F. can prove I mean that they have no Stroak or Remorse 3ly As if we could Worship Preach gather Churches and administer Gospel-Ordinances aright without the Spirit 4ly That he is not convinced by any other Testimony then the Scripture without of any Transgression against God's Law 5ly It supposes that if Men stay'd till the Spirit mov'd they should stay long enough who vainly prate of Praying by the Spirit notwithstanding never considering that the Spirit standeth ready to Reveal it self to their Assistance and Assurance who wait for it and that all the Children of God are led by the Spirit of God which being our Position had it but been weighed by this Adversary he could not methinks be so unjust in his Aggravations 'T is true should we believe as he doth the Spirit is not to be waited for now adayes to lead us or that it is not ready to our Information when we wait for its Discoveries and Leadings our Assertion would look very absurd and loose for it were to let fall all Worship but not upon our own Principle as I said before for first all Worship to God ought to be performed by the Assistance of his holy Spirit for of our selves we can do nothing that is good And secondly God's Spirit is ready to assist instruct and comfort those that wait diligently and patiently for it yea God hath given it to the Rebellious that it may judge them if it do not lead them It is such Protestant Doctrine that I wonder Men should not know their admited Ancestors Faith when they meet it Oh great Degeneration into Hardness Ignorance Lastly There is the same to be said against him that pretends to ground all upon the Scripture that he objects against us who plead for the Conviction of Conscience which the Instance of the Jews Murder of our Lord Jesus Christ unanswerably proves There was a Law that Blasphemers should be put to Death by this Law they apprehended Jesus adjudged and got him to be executed These Men above any Age exalted the Scriptures as the Only Rule Where lyes the Mistake Not in the Scripture but in their blind and envious Application of it Now I ask if the only Way for them to have come to the true Sense and Knowledge of him and escaped that Wicked Murder and the deplorable Consequences of it had not been to have waited upon God for the Conviction Discoveries and Guidance of his holy Spirit since Flesh and Blood and the utmost Wit of Man with the Exactness of the meer Letter of the Scriptures could never give the certain discerning Knowledge and Savour of him unto that Generation whose very Words themselves were Spirit and Life It was by a Divine Touch Sense and Knowledge given from above that he was truly discern'd own'd and follow'd of those that believ'd in him and clear ved to him therefore said Christ No man cometh to me but whom my Father draweth Where was that Drawing but within Again Simon Peter Flesh and Blood hath not revealed what who I am but my Father that is in Heaven So that at last Men must come to this Spiritual Sense in themselves to understand and apply the very Commands of Scripture otherwise not Justice but detestable Murder may under the Name of it be confidently perpetrated Wherefore we Exhort all To have Recourse unto God's Spirit that illuminates certainly and gives to act unblameably by which the Scriptures are only understood as they should be People brought into the Possession of that Life of Righteousness they plentifully declare of Had it not been for this inward Discerning there had been no Ground for the Abolishment of the whole Jewish Service which followed some Years after Christ's Ascension And it is the same Eternal Spirit that is the great Rule and Judge now which God promised more particularly to shed abroad in the latter Dayes and is the great inseparable Priviledge from the New and Everlasting Covenant But to conclude Why should it seem so Heterodox in J. Faldo's Judgment since if Men believe the Scripture upon the Testimony of the Spirit they practise it by the Knowledge and Power of the same How else could Paul have decry'd Jewish Ceremonies or we know what to take and what to leave Or why do we omit any Command therein mentioned They Circumcised therefore must I Circumcise They Baptized must I therefore Baptize with forty more particular Cases wherein nothing can secure any from the Imitation of them set Conviction or Spiritual Discerning aside I will offer two or three Testimonies from approved Men in our Defence William Tindal that ancient faithful Protestant Martyr whom J. Fox that writ the Books of Martyrs calls the English Apostle speaks thus That it is impossible to understand in the Scripture more then a Turk for whosoever or any that hath not the Law of God writ in his Heart to fulfil it Again Without the Spirit it is impossible to understand them John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury in his excellent Book against the Papists writ above One Hundred Years ago says thus to our purpose The Spirit of God is bound neither to Sharpness of Wit nor to abundance of Learning Oftentimes the Unlearned see that thing that the Learned cannot see Christ saith I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Wise and the Politick and hast revealed them unto the Little Ones Therefore Epiphanius saith Only to the Children of the Holy Ghost all the Holy Scriptures are plain and clear Again Flesh and Blood is not able to understand the Holy Will of God without SPECIAL Revelation Therefore Christ gave Thanks unto his Father and likewise opened the Hearts of his Disciples that they might understand the Scriptures Without this special Help and PROMTING of God's Holy Spirit the Word of God is unto the Reader be he never so wise or well learned as the Vision of a sealed Book Now unless Men are bound to do what they do not understand how to do then only are they to do them where they are Revealed or Discovered to them which being by the Spirit only according to their Doctrine the Testimony and Discoveries of the Spirit are requisite to our understanding of the Scriptures which implies and comprehends a Discriminating Knowledge or Certain Discerning of what we should practise from what is not obliging upon us to practise and consequently that we ought not to run head long without such knowledge T.
pretended Minister of the Gospel to have consulted before he had engaged himself upon so strange a Skirmish That this Injury done me may more distinctly appear I shall here set down once more I hope without Offence to the Reader the present Parson's Text not his Sermon that 's too tedious No Command in the Scripture is any further obliging upon any Man then as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience It is Conviction that can only oblige to Obedience When any Man is convinced that what was commanded another is required of him then and not till then he is rightly authorized to perform it I omit to mention his Comment but every Thing that is vicious prophane and diabolical he makes to follow upon those Premises That my Reader may the better see whether my Matter and Design at large merits any such Constructions I chuse to insert and that as the best and briefest Way the 5th Chapter of my Rejoynder to J. Faldo which contains his Charge and Proof my Answer thus pared and patched by J. C. his Reply and my Rejoynder as a more compleat Defence of E. B's and my Assertion against the vile Interpretations of J. Faldo so dexterously followed by J. C. and therefore equally fit for him Here follows the 5th Chapter of my Rejoynder to J. F. containing a Vindication of my Doctrine from any such Evil Consequences as are by I. C. charged upon it with this further Advertisement that the Reader observe that those Lines of Capital Letters are the Passages quoted by I. C. and all the rest of my Answer in the Common Letter with Comma's on the sides herein recited and much more is wilfully omitted by my Adversary also the Reader is desired to consider of the Marginal Notes by which he will be help't to understand the Disingenuity of I. C. against me my Friends and our holy Profession Of Scripture-Commands what are binding and what not Our Adversary's Disingenuity observed BUt however he has fail'd in his last Chapter doubtless he thinks he has done my Business in this he begins like himself Rep. My Charge and Argument in this Chapter is The Quakers affirm the Doctrines Commands Promises holy Examples expressed in Scripture as such not to be at all binding to us such an Argument and so proved by me mark Reader as a Thousand Penns can never invalid it Rejoyn What can there be more conceited then this He must live very lonely and far from Neighbours that proclaims so much Praise to himself and have wonderful Confidence to bid Defiance so vainly to others Reader I beseech thee for the Truth 's sake on whose side soever thou shalt find it to be to examine with all Impartiallity his Charge our Answer his Reply and our Rejoynder If his Honesty Reason and Justice hold any Proportion to his great Confidence we yield But if upon an impartial Consideration he shall be found to clip and pervert our Matter and to shuffle with us in his own once do a poor People Right in giving Judgment against this horrible Injustice The Charge thou hast heard the Proof was this That is no Command of God to me what he commanded to another Did any of the Saints which we read of act by that Command which was to another not having the Command to themselve c. Now before I give my Answer as it was set down in my Book I shall insert his Quotation of my Answer Rep To this saith P. I answer briefly and plainly and he is as good as his word No Commands saith he in the Scripture are any further obliging upon any Man then as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience otherwise men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in a Man Rejoyn He has a notable way of Contracting his Adversary's Answers I will set down what I writ faithfully plainly and briefly Edward Burroughs's Expression may be taken two wayes and both safe enough to the Honour and Credit of the Scripture though not to the Charity or Honesty of J. Faldo Now follows that part he cited NO COMMAND IN THE SCRIPTURE IS ANY FURTHER OBLIGING UPON ANY MAN THEN AS HE FINDS A CONVICTION UPON HIS CONSCIENCE otherwise Men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing Unreasonable in a Man Therefore the Apostle when he wrote to the Church exhorted them not to do those things whereof they were ashamed to shun what was manifested to be Evil and affirms that whatever might be known of God was manifested within for God had shown is unto them SO THAT CONVICTION CAN ONLY OBLIGE TO OBEDIENCE and since what works that Conviction is the manifesting Light universal Grace or quickning Spirit in the Heart of Mankind it follows that the principal Ground for our Faith in the Scriptures and Reason of our Obedience to the holy Precepts therein contained is the Manifestation Conviction and secret drawing of the Light or Spirit of God in the Conscience And thus E B's words are sound and scriptural for the Scriptures are chiefly believed to be true upon Conviction therefore every Practice therein AND WHEN ANY MAN IS CONVINCED THAT WHAT WAS COMMANDED ANOTHER IS REQUIRED OF HIM THEN AND NOT TILL THEN HE IS RIGHTLY AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM IT Again Such Commands either relate to Ordinary or Extraordinary Cases By Ordinary Cases I mean such as chiefly concern Faith and holy Life which are general permanent and indispensible and then I deny his Consequence By Extraordinary Cases I understand Moses 's going to Pharaoh the Prophets several manneres of Appearance to the Kings Priests and People of Israel with other Temporary Commands relating to outward services c. And so we say that what is commanded One Man is not binding as such upon another But when the Lord shall say If thou sinnest thou shalt dye If thou keepest my Commands thou shalt â—ive Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy For your selves KNOW YE NOT how ye ought to follow us c I say these Precepts and Examples are obliging upon all why because they more or less meet with a Conviction In the Consciences of all For I am perswaded none that has a reasonable Soul who has not out-lived his Day but would readily say These are true and weighty Sayings For Faith in God and a holy self-denying Life are necessary both to Temporal Eternal Happiness It was Reader to this sober Answer he slung out his foregoing Rant and makes this following Comment and Reply Viz. says J. Faldo Rep. They are no Commands unless we think so 'T is no sin to break all the Commands in the Bible if our Consciences can be so blind dead or hardened as not to tell us 't is a sin They who thought they did God good service in killing his Servants did not sin in the least because they were not convinced of a Command to the contrary To vindicate
my whole Chapter concerning the Scriptures 'T is a Principle that hath all Iniquity in the Womb of it Who can find Names for such Impious Principles Penâ— hath opposed scorned the Truth vilified its Teachers and Defenders so as scarce never Man did vented the most pernicious Errors told abundance of those things that are known to himself to be False Rejoyn Reader This is all the Justice and Reason I can have from this pretended meek and suffering Nonconforming Parson What would such men do had they as much Power as Anger But I shall leave him with his Pride Passion Is there any thing more clear then that he extends the words of E. Burroughs to Ordinary Cases which were wholely writ about Extraordinary and that he takes no more notice of my Distinction then if there had been none made As if it had been formerly an equal Sin for any not to be Circumcised and to Murder his Father or Prince or that there was the same Conviction universally upon the Consciences of all Men not to wear â—insey Wolsey as to do by others as they would have others do to them That what we say was E. Burroughs's Meaning his own Words undeniably prove One sayes he was sent to baptize and another to preach the Gospel which were particular and extraordinary Commands He clearly shuffles and evades the dint of my Answer would run us within the Borders of Rantism The Question is not Are God's Commands no Commands unless we think so and therefore no sin to break all the Commands in the Bible which is the Comment he bestows upon us but whether this or that especial Injunction to any Particular Person or Persons to this or that peculiar End be warrantably immitable without sufficient Conviction and Commission Must J. F. Baptize because John Baptized or turn Preacher because Peter was one E. B. only denyed Imitation of Ancient Times in Temporary and Shadowy Services and all those Preachings Prayings Ordinances and Churches that have not as Peter Martyr well expresses it the holy Spirit for thâ—ir Root So that instead of his holding a Principle that hath all Iniquity in the Womb of it John Faldo first perverts his words and then to confute them both implyes a Denyal of the holy Spirit to be the only right Leader to the Performance of Gospel prayer Preaching and Ordinances and of gathering of Evangelical Churches and does as good as tell us that Gods Commandments are such to him not because of any Conviction in himself of the Justness of them but from the Testimony of the Scriptures which for all his high Boasts of Christianity is a State far beneath those noble Gentiles who not having an outward Law were a Law unto themselves having the Effect of it written in their Hearts their Conscience hearing witness c. And this we may boldly say That such as ever acted from that inward Sense never thought they did God good Service in Killing his Servants whilst great Admirers of the Letter of the Scriptures and who as concerning this Commandment Thou shalt not Murder thought themselves most unblameable believed They did God good service in killing his Servants Nor can I think it so great a Disgrace to our Cause that we ingenuously profess the Reason why we desire to fear God and keep his Commandments doing unto others as we would have them do unto us not so much to be from the Letter of the Scripture as the Convictions of the Eternal Light and Spirit of God in our Consciences as it ought to be unto John Faldo and Adherents who ground their Obedience upon his the Letter of the Scripture and not upon such internal Convictions What is it but to say They could Lye Swear Steal Kill c. without any Remorse did they not find such Injunctions and Prohibitions upon record A Consequence so detestable yet so natural to their Principles that if this render them not able Guides to the very Confines of Rantism and Atheism I shall gladly ask an Excuse for my Ignorance But that I may lâ—ave nothing undone that may compleat the Satisfaction of every moderate Inquirer I shall further weigh and rejoyn to these words of his They who thought they did God good Service in killing his Servants did not sin in the least because they were not convinced of a Command to the contrary nor the Idolaters in the case of Baal because they thought Baal to be a God indeed Now Reader observe the Evasion This Passage relates not to Men's practising what God commands or our Tenderness in imitating other Saints without Commission for fear we should offer strang Fire which is our Question but their doing that which God never commanded yea which Mankind in all Ages hath adjudged impious and which to be sure his Holy Spirit that E. B. said All men should wait to be convinced assisted and led by in fulfilling God's Commandments never moved any to He unworthily draws a general Conclusion against us from meer particular Premises It seems men are to act without if not against Conviction upon his principle and that it is the same thing with him to commit moral Enormities from an Hardned Heart and to be tender of taking up any external Practice or performing some Religious Duty without the Convictions and Leadings of the Holy Spirit The Apostle said to such as had not as yet so full clearness as others That if any were otherwise minded God would reveal it He did not injoyn them during that Scruple to believe or practise the thing doubted but therefore did Persecutors act inexcusably in their fiery Zeal because their blind Consciences checkt them not Again If Blindness came from Education it is â—though Blindness still and therefore it was basely done of I. Faldo to say in our Names that it is not Sin in the least c. more excusable for in the Dayes of such Ignorance God winks But if it be a Blindness proceeding from long Disobedience and Rebellion against the Convictions and Strivings of the good Spirit of God as his word Hardned implies then I say it is not only very hainous in Gods Sight but those Persons can never be excus'd neither from great Guilt nor the Sense of it in themselves let them or I. F. talk never so much of Conscience Besides the most Essential and Universally Necessary Commands of God were through all Ages confest to both before there was any of those Writings we rightly call the Scriptures of Truth from the Law of Nature as many stile it or rather the Law of God placed in Man's Nature and since where they have never been Therefore whatever particular hardned and seared Consciences may say we have the Consent of Mankind and their own Rebellion and Lewdness against them But the Words of J. Faldo in plain terms import as if 1st Men were not generally convinced of the Righteousness of the Moral Commands of God but that Men keep
to Accuse or Excuse I Conscience be lost it is only in respect of the use thereof as Reason in a Drunkard and not otherwise Conscience is a Thing of a divine Nature and is a thing placed of God in the midst between him and Man as an Arbitrator to give Sentence and to pronounce either with Man or against Man unto God Bish Wilkins's Real Character Definition of Conscience It s a Faculty whereby we apply general Principles to particular Cases being a practical Judgment or Memory relating to Matters of Duty The Opposite to it Unconscionableness Searedness Profligateness c. These Testimonies give great Honour to Conscience as the generallity of Professions give to the Men. By them it appears that Insensibility is not Conscience or Conviction and the Truth is unconscionable implyes that conscionable is reasonable just and good For our Parts we believe that God has placed his Witness in every Soul Heart and Conscience and that all Mankind shall be Accused or Excused by it they that rebel against it to them shall it be a Never-Dying Worm to them that love and obey it an Everlasting Comforter By this hath God awakened and redeemed us from a vain Conversation T is his ancient Light and Spirit that strove with the old World and strive with this To no other Spirit is our Testimony neither Conscience or Conviction then that which is according to the Nature of it And as I can make my Appeal to the Neighbours of I. C. and all other People else-where if ever our Consciences or Convictions have led us to any such detestable Enormities as he charges upon our Doctrines and Principle and if we have not rather had our Conversation among them in all Gentleness Sobriety and Honesty so do I warn all to whom this comes that they judge us not with Unrighteous Judgment nor readily receive the Reports and Suggestions of prejudiced Men against us and our holy Way It s no easie thing to Flesh and Blood for us to live uprightly in the Profession of it meer Outside Historical Faith Large Shews much Talk for Religion will not do the Matter if the Heart remains unsubjected the affections unmortified and no Peace with God sealed to the Soul Depart from me will be the last dismal Sentence Therefore my dear Country-men Grieve not God's Holy Spirit encline your Hearts to his pure Word 't is nigh you as Rom. 10. that you should obey it and do it it will reform and regenerate you it will create all things new from an Hard to a Broken Heart from a Vain to a Contrite Spirit new Affections new Desires new Love new Friendship new Words new Works new Customs and Fashions not like the World's that shall pass away and Vexation of Spirit only remain in lieu of them forever Then shall the Peace of God slow into your Souls as a River and nothing shall ever harm or make you afraid Truly Friends a Vain Worldly Unwatchful Conversation unrepented of be your Profession and Church what 〈◊〉 will will one Day harm and make you afraid for God 〈◊〉 Reward all people according to their Works at that 〈◊〉 Day it will not be Well Talkt or Well Profest but WEâ—â— DONE good and faithful servants Why Because thâ—â— have kept his holy Sayings Remember what Christ Jesus said by whom God will judge the Secrets of all Hearts in the Day of Account that for every Idle Word which Man speaketh shall he give an Account in the Day of Judgment As one that knows the Terrors of the Lord I would perswade all men to turn to the living God For if the Righteous scarcely be saved where shall the Vngodly and Sinner appear for the Kingdom of God stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost and Sinners have nothing to do there Neither think that you are saved by Christ from Wrath and not saved from Sin or that he has saved you from the Guilt though the Nature and Acts of Sin remain no such can walk with God here for they must be translated changed renewed muchless can they enjoy the Lord hereafter Wherefore cast about and see how it is with you hearken while it is to day your faithful Monitor is in your own Bosom and Waits and Knocks to be let into your most inward Affection that he may be your Delight the prime Object of your Love and blessed are they that are not offended in him but believe in him and confess him before all men the Outside Jew despised him then the Outside Christian sleights him now but blessed be God this spiritual Appearance of Christ in the Soul to the Jews the Professors a Stumbling-block to the Greeks the Wise Men Foolishness is unto us who have believed therein the mighty power of God to our Salvation and the worst desire I have for you is That you also may sincerely believe and when Time with you shall be no more receive with all those that in the Self-denying Life of holy Jesus walk and saint not to the End of their Dayes Glory Honour and Eternal Life Amen THE END D. Cave's prim Christ Quak New nick Name for Old Christ pag. 71 72. pag. 34. Ed. Bur. pa. 34 35. pag. 71 72 73. a Ought any man to obey what he does not know and is not Knowledge Conviction I provoke him or any to give me a Scripture for that But more of this anon observe what follows b The Apostle here does plainly exhort them to make their Conviction on their Rule for there was something in them that brought shame over them for their Evil Deeds the true Light and Spirit that makes known what of God is to be known in man c True still for Man can't see without Eyes nor act without Knowledge But the Question is What Conviction this is the words prove that it is by the Light and Spirit of God then the feared Conscience and debancht Mind are I. C. speaketh of plainly excluded here I mention the Conviction and that which works it What Countenance do either give I. C. tos heap those foul and Impiou Consequences upon me d This plain Distinction I made is left out by him that he might the better have his Ends and Conceal the Injustice of his Work c This is a direct Contradiction to his Inference and Allegation who would have me to hold that what is in any Case commanded one Man is not binding upon another when I limit it to Extraordinary Cases and just after say that the Moral Commands of God are obliging upon all How is it then that I deny the Ten Commandments to belong to all Men or that I hold men may Kill Steal c. and not be cullpable O disingenuous man f This Out living their Day plainly shows that I excluded seared Consciences how then do I make a seared Conscience my Rule of Obedience or the readiest Way to Salvation g Is not this the Language of I. C are they not Brethren in Abuse h Is not this a plain Distinction what could be plainer against any such Consequences as I. C. draws and to prove that I understood not what he renders me to have intended Levit. 19. 18 19. i How plentiful are the Evidences of our Innocency and how distinctly nay the Reader see that E. B. writ of Particular Extraordinary Commands k Let me pray the Reader and prevail with him to dwell a while upon this Passage and do an Innocent Man yea an Abused People Justice Does this plead for Rantism Atheism Blasphemy Murder c as I. C. tells us l This is the Tendency of his Doctrine who flyes out upon Conscience and Inward Conviction as if they were the only great Enemies of his Salvation m This notable Clause clears our Sense more particularly and gives a very plain Discovery of our Enemy's Disingenuity We speak of Positive J. F. and I. C. conclude our Argument against all moral Commands these are Ministers of the Gospel all this while if they may be believed Phil. 3. 15. n What sayes my Reader to this Passage and plain Provision made by me against blinded deluded and hardened Minds and Consciences Does this agree well with my present Adversary's swaggering Consequences especially that which makes me to deny sins of wilful Ignorance What Gospel can a Man so qualified be Minister of o This further proves what Conviction as well as what Commands I understood and ought to shame my Adversary if he has any Ingenuity in him for that ill Vse he has made of my words about Conscience and Conviction p What sayes I. C. to this Is the Conscience and Conviction I make so necessary a blind dark scared Conscience Do I leave it there Is that the Language of my Doctrine Is it not a Conscience convinced and taught by God's holy spirit Let what follows and the Three Testimonies be weighed W. Tindal's Works pag. 319. p. 80. B. Jew contr Hard. p. 53â— 534. T. Coll. Works p. 247. p. 8. 9. Joh. 16. 7 8. Chap. 15. 24. Rom. 18. 19. Mic. 6. 8. Joh. 1. 5. 9. Ephe. 5. 12 13. Joh. 3. 20 21. Rom. 10. 2. Acts 18. 22 23. p. 11. W. Perk. Works of Consc p. 512. Heb. 8. p. 8 9 11. p. 9 10. Mic. 6. 8. p. 518. p. 519. Note