Thing are the proper Subjects of this Righteousness as being now made meet to be Partakers of it Col. 1. 12. And we further testifie that the Historical or bare Belief or Knowledge of this Righteousness from the Letter only by the assent to the Truth thereof from the Natural Understanding is not sufficient or enough to make this Righteousness really or truly theirs but as the Father of the Returned Prodigal said to his Servants viz. Bring forth the best Robe and put it on him So this Righteousness must become ours by that Living Faith which purifies the Heart God the Father by his Spirit putting it on us and making it ours according to 1 Cor. 1. 30. But ye are of him in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness c. Concerning the Blood of this Jesus of Nazareth c. VVe believe and testifie That his Blood exceeds not only the Blood of Bulls and Goats but the Blood of the Best Man or Men that ever was or shall be in the VVorld And we do in the Sight of God really own the Blood of the Son of Man both according to the History and in the Mystery as we do his Cross both as shed for us and to be drunk by us both as bespeaking Remission of Sin past through Faith in it and as sprinkling the Conscience of True Believers and cleansing them from all Sin Therefore it is called The Precious Blood of Christ as being of an Incorruptible Nature 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. and is therefore said to speak better Things then the Blood of Abel being by way of Emphasis called The Blood of his Dear Son c. and is also called a Price Ye are bought with a Price 1 Cor. 6. 20. by all which it is manifest to be of infinite value both in the Account of God and all those that know it by being VVitnesses of its Vertue sprinkling their Hearts from an Evil Conscience Hebr. 10. 22. But because we testifie that it s not the Notion or bare Historical and Litteral Belief of those things that justifie or make us really free from that VVrath which comes upon every Soul of Man that doth Evil whether Jew or Gentile Professor or Prophane but only the Life and Vertue of this Blood received into the Heart by that Living Faith which Christ alone is the Author of Therefore are we branded with sleighting the Blood of the Man Christ c. though we testifie our Esteem thereof both in the History and in the Mystery and that without the Life and Vertue of this Blood there is no Remission Concerning Justification by the Blood of this Jesus of Nazareth c. I touched at it before and do further testifie That as without Blood there is no Remission neâ—ther can any Blood or Offering besides the precious Blood of Jâ—suâ— Christ â—emit any Man's Sins or make an Attonement for him although he would offer up his belâ—ved Isaâ—â— for it yet God dotâ— try every true Child of Abraham inwaâ—dly as he did Abraham â—â—wardly before he shews unto him this Sacrifice of his own providing And because we testifie according to Holy Scripture and Grounded Experience that true experimental Justification or Acquitment from all Sin and Unrighteousness is witnessed by believing and walking in the Light as God is in the Light as it is writâ—en 1 Joh 1. 7. If we walk in the Light as he â—s in the Light we 〈◊〉 Fâ—llâ—wship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son clenses â—â— from all Vnrighteousness and being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through Jesus Christ And true Justifying Faith is said to purifie the Heart by removing Vnrighteousness and plucking up those Plants which God's Right-Hâ—â—d â—ver planted Acts 15. 9. Mat. 17. 20. Luke 17. 6. and is called the Evâ—â—â—nce and Substance Hebr. 11. 1. and Christ is said to â—â—â—ll in the Heart by Faith because the true and living Faith reâ—llizeth good things to the Soul as the Eye doth by Union with its Object to the Body Faith being the Instrument by which the Life and Vertue of the Blood of Christ that justifies is received or sucked into the Soul that is justified and thereby perfects forever those that are â—anctified whose Eye being alwayes fixed single on that which clenâ—eth their whole Body must needs be full of Light and Glory J. C. Rebellion Rebuked IN AN ANSWER TO A Scandalous Pamphlet ENTITLED The Quaker Converted to Christianity c. AS concerning this Young-man whom William Haworth calls The Quaker Converted and giveth his Book that Title VVe would have all Moderate People to judge by what follows whether he was such a one as he hath stiled him For he hath affirmed in his Epistle to that little Pamphlet That he was fully of their Way Faith Spirit and Principle And that he went farther then most of them towards that they call Perfection And that he is now able to engage any Quaker in England in Discourse Making a very great Boast with much Joy as if he had taken some great Prize or obtained a great Victory as may be seen in his foresaid Epistle Now here followeth the Young-man's own words by which ye may perceive how far he was a Quaker and see if W. H. doth yet understand what they and their Perfection is and when did he hear them call that Perfection which this Young-man had attained to viz. p. 7. And when I thought of going to the Quakers these things which I did not like among them kept me back having not Ground in my self for to do them of which Silent Meetings was the chief Putting off my Hat was another For when I met with one Friend or other if I saluted him with my Hat I knew not that I did offend God any more then if I did not Now there were some things which the Quakers did that I was not convinced of And concluded He coulâ— not agree with them in all things pag. 4. And pag. 1. I went several times as other Boyes dâ—d only this I was taken off from having Dâ—light in Sports and Pastimes quickly after my going mark that and at that timâ— I was of that â—â—am of Spirit that I was ready to assâ—nt to every thing the Quakers did whether I had Ground for it or not pag. 2. Here ye may read and understanâ— this Young Men's Perfection in the Quakers Way and comâ—are it with Willâ—â—m Haworth's Affirmation as aforesaid and then let all Sober and Rational People judge if this Young-man was fâ—lly of thâ—ir Way Spirit Faith and Principle and wâ—nt farther towards that they call Perfection then most of thâ—m as he hath affirmed pag. 1. First Whether it be the Quakers way Faith Spirit and Principle to dislike Silent Meetings as this Young-man did which kept him back mark that 2dly Whether it be the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle to Salute their Friends or any other with putting off their Hats as this
which more may be written by another Hand towards the End of this Book as also a further Account from Hartford where he dwells concerning him which I would have the Reader take good notice of And in that he saith The Light by which the Heathens did the things contained in the Law Rom. 2. which shewed the Work of the Law written in their hearts is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ he is found a Denyer of the Scriptures John 1. 9. and Tit. 2. For if every Man that cometh into the World be lighted with the Light of Christ then the Heathens and all other Men were lighted And if the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men then it appeared to the Heathens for they were Men and came into the World And herein W. D. thou contradicts thy Companion and great Adorer of thee W. H. who calls it the Deity Godhead as aforesaid and the Godhead is the same Spirit or Life and Light which was in Christ Jesus as it is written Col. 2. 9. which is Grace and Truth John 1. 16. 17. So then it was the Light Spirit Grace and Truth which was in Christ Jesus That appeared to the Barbarous or Heathen People by his Confession And so now let this Tree be judged of by its Fruits according to the Young man 's own Saying and let us see what kind of Fruits it bears for I have read That Men do not gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figs of Thistles and that A Good Tree cannot bring forth Evil Fruit neither can a Corrupt Tree bring forth Good Fruit Mat. 7. Luke 6. 43 44. So by this true Rule let all who reads and tastes of these Fruits judge of this Tree the Light First pag. 7. It assented to the Words of Christ and his Apostles 2dly It Convinced him of Sin and Reproved him and called to him when he was going or thinking to Steal and it kept him from obeying that Temptation about the Herrings though he loved them and had a brave Oportunity to steal or slip one into his Pocket 3dly It caused him to be of Few Words and kept him from Lying or telling of Lyes 4thly It delivered him from Sinning outwardly and from doing any Wrong to his Neighbour 5thly It gave him Strength or Power to do that which was Good Just and Right in the Sight of God and Man 6thly It convinced him of one Sin or Evil one day and delivered him from it and another day another Evil and he had Power over it 7thly He had Joy Peace Quietness of Spirit and Comfort in Obedience to it Reply Now whence or from what kind of Tree cometh these Blessed Fruits and Effects if not from the Tree of Life Or who is the Author of or from what Spirit comes this Light if it be not the Light of Christ Jesus Is it not the Spirit of Truth that convinceth of Sin and keeps from Lying and Stealing and wronging of Neighbours and leads into all Truth to do that which is Good and Just and Right in the Sight of God and Man And was not that their Comforter who were lead and guided by it Did it not give them Joy and Peace and Comfort when they were obedient to it Read and understand Or who gives Peace to his People besides him And is it not the same Grace of God which Paul declared of Tit. 2. which taught them to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly and Righteously Then did it not teach them to deny Lying and Stealing and Wronging their Neighbours and to do as they would be done by according to Christ's Doctrine Or is there any other Spirit or Light which can deliver from Sin and give Power over it but what is of Christ Jesus Is it not written of him That there is no other Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved or delivered And is he not called the Deliverer and Counseller who is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World Read the Scriptures and consider these things Acts 4. Isa 59. John 1. 9 Is it not the Light of Christ that makes Sin manifest Eph. 5. And doth not the Apostle say in that same place vers 8 9. The Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodness Righteousness and Truth So judge of this Tree by its Fruits if it be not all Goodness Righteousness and Truth which it brings forth And doth not W. H. say It is the Spirit that maketh known Sin which is not seen before Mark Then whensoever any one seeth Sin it is the Spirit that makes it known for it is not seen before And that it was the Godhead in which the Barbarous People saw c. Acts 28. And yet how Enviously he Clamours against the Quakers in his confused dark Mind calling their Spirit Delusion and their Doctrine Antichristian like the Foolish Clamerous-tongued Woman Solomon speaks of whose Feet are without pulling down her own House How do you think your Babel will now stand when ye thus throw up and pull down your own Work and Revile us for the same Truth you acknowledge in Words like the Hypocrites of old who said They had one Father even God and yet called Christ Jesus Deceiver and Blasphemer and judged him worthy of Death because he acknowledged himself to be the Son of God who was truly so John 19. 7. So read your Spirit and Way which is not like Christ Within nor Without though thou sayest you have both but the contrary appears in thee And ye are more like the Mad-Man Prov. 26. who cast Fire-brands Arrows and Death at you know not what comparing the Light of Christ to Pharoah or Egypt and Light of Nature Contemning and Undervaluing it as if it were not of God but what ye know not like the Jews one while A Good Man and then Nay but he Deceiveth the people So you one while it s the Deity and then Nay it s Not the Light of the Spirit of Christ but the Light of Nature Thus are you confounded about that which delivers from Sin and Temptations from Lying Stealing and doing Wrong and keeps out of Evil and gives Power over it and convinceth of Sin and reproveth for Sin and which gives Strength to do that which is Good Just and Right in the Sight of God and Man and Joy and Peace in it Take heed of the Sin against the Holy Ghost for it is near when that which casts out Devils is called Belzebub Your Reproaching of us is little to us but beware how you sport your selves with a Consuming Fire and be you Warned in time for your own Souls sake And consider your Confusion and Darkness Whether the Lord requireth Obedience Service or Worship to any other Light or Spirit of Christians but his own or what Tree or Plant would the Heavenly Father have to grow but what is of his own planting as it is written Every Plant which my Heavenly Father hath
rely upon the Inward Instructions of the Lord when thou prayedst in that confused Manner as aforesaid consider it And did ever any wholy rely upon the inward Instructions of the Lord and their Hope perish bring one Example for this or else conclude thou hast blasphemed against the Lord and belyed him and his People in all Ages as thou hast And in p. 19. thou sayst Thou hadst Peace of Conscience by the powerful Work of God without thee Is this like Scripture-Language Surely thou hast got a peace and out of thy Trouble the wrong Way if it be so and into much more Trouble must thou come then ever before thou canst have true Peace with God The Lord hath spoken it For thy Flight was in the Winter as I told thee and thou hast fled the Cross and slipt thy Neck from under the Yoak of Christ Jesus which W. H. calls the Burthen Yoâ—kâ—â— which is so indeed to all the Rebellious whose Tongues are at Liberty to lye and Slander as he hath done But did not the Saints and People of God in all Ages witness their Salvation and Peace of Conscience by the powerful Work of God within them Did not God work in them when their Salvation was wrought out with Fear and Trembling And did they not say God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ And we have this Treasure in earthen Vessells 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Of which much more might be spoken We deny not the Work of God and Christ without as some have imagined but do also know as our Brethren did that no man knows the Things and Works of God which are spiritually discerned but by the Spirit of God and it s the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead that dwells in his People which quickens their mortal Bodies And they never cryed up wholy without as you do but preached Christ in them after they had testified of his Appearance and Work without as you may read Rom. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. And Christ Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven within People Luke 17. 20. And the true Worship of the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth Joh. 4. And said What if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh that profits nothing when they cryed how can this Man give us his Flesh to eat whose Minds were wholy without like many of you John 6. And said Peter 2 Epist Ch. 1. v. 19. We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie to which ye do well to take heed as unto a Light that shines in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts And Jesus is the bright and Morning-Star as ye may read Revel 22. 16. And Jesus Christ bid People believe in the Light that they might become the Children of the Light Joh. 6. 62. and so do we And he said He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches And the same Jesus said He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life And said the Apostle 1 John 1. 7. But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin So they were to drink his Blood and that was it by which they were cleansed from Sin and had Eternal Life and if they drank it was it not then within them Read and understand for People have drunk Iniquity as an Ox drinks Water which hath defiled them as Christ Jesus said Mat. 15. 18 19. For out of the Heart proceeds evil Thoughts Murthers Adulteries Fornications Thefts false VVitness Blasphemies and these Things defile a man and Mark 7. 21 22 23. For from within out of the Heart of Men proceed evil Thoughts Adulteries Fornications Thefts Covetousness Wickedness Deceit Laciviousness an Evil Eye Blasphemy Pride Foolishness All these evil Things come from within and defile the Man Now must not these Evil Things be purged out according to that Saying of Paul 2 Tim. 2. 21. If a Man purge himself from these he shall be a Vessel unto Honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every Good Work Is any fit for the Master's Use but who is purged and sanctified as aforesaid or prepared to every good Work till the Evil Works are laid aside purged out and forsaken Or can People serve both these Masters For he that committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin as it is written John 8. 34. 1 John 3. 8. Now how or by what must these Evil Things which defiles People be purged out seeing they are within them Must not the Antidote be taken inwardly to expel the Poyson that works within to the corrupting and endangering the Ruin of the Body What is it then must cleanse the Inward Man of Corruption and Defilement but the precious Blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without Spot and Blemish Did not that Redeem People formerly from their Vain Conversations 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Rev. 5. 9 10. And did they not drink it and bless the Lord and called it The Cup of Blessing But this is a Mystery hid from the Fleshly Birth all that are in the dark Imaginations of their own Brains as the Spiritual Birth was hid from Nicodemus who came by Night And did not God say I will dwell IN them and walk IN them c 2 Cor. 6. And does not the Scripture say By Mercy and Truth Iniquity is purged Prov. 16. And did not the Son of God the Truth and the Light of the World walk in the midst of the Golden Candle-sticks And did he not say He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And is not God a Spirit and his Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth And is not the Spirit within and the Truth required in the Inward Parts And is not God Light Read and understand you that cry wholely without you you that clamour against the Light and Work of God within for we confess Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh as it is written 1 Joh. 4 c. And so we are not of Antichrist as William Haworth doth falsly charge us in his Epistle to that Pamphlet aforesaid titled The Quaker Converted which is a Lye uttered in the very opening of his Mouth against us for which the Lord will plead with him For the Young-man whom he hath thus vainly boasted of was no Quaker as I have before shewed to any Unprejudiced Eye and by his own Confession but a poor tossed unstable bewildred Lad as may be seen who went to prove Religions with he knew not what as in the 3d page of his Book may be read and
Rebellion Rebuked IN AN ANSWER TO A Scandalous Pamphlet ENTITLED The Quaker Converted to Christianity c. WRITTEN By one WILLIAM HAWORTH an Independent-Preacher in HARTFORD-SHIRE AND WILLIAM DIMSDALE a Young-man in the Town of HARTFORD a Professor and a Hearer of the said W. H. By the Friends of Truth who wish its Prosperity in True Love to the Souls of all People John Crook William Bayly They are of those that Rebel against the Light they know not the Wayes thereof nor abide in the Path thereof Job 24. 13. Printed in the Year 1673. William Haworth WHen I call to mind how I have seen thee some time since exercised in thy Spirit I cannot but admire the Fruit now brought forth after those weary Travels yet no other then what I lookt for in case thou abodest not in the Judgment which began to take hold of thy Fleshly Part the Father of Spirits then began in measure to work in thee but his Furnace proving so hot and there being so much Fewel in thee the Bryars and Thorns mustering up themselves in Battel against his Righteous Appearance as a Consuming Fire unto them all here thou escapedst fleeing for thy Self ish and Fleshly Life and thereby became unworthy of his Gospel and that Life and Immortallity that otherwise might have been brought to Light and manifest in and unto thee how far the Fleshly Reasonings about an outward Maintenance for thy self and Family influenced thy mind to retard and hinder this Inward Work of God by his Grace in and upon thee let his Witness in thy Conscience speak as also how the deadly Wound on thy Corruptible Part by the Sword of his Spirit came to be healed and thou that once was so low should now be climb'd up so high and thou that was once so broken and shattered should now become so whole and Righteous and thou which once spake so respectfully of the Light and Spirit within both publickly and privately should now become such an Enemy to it and Opposer of it Surely it is because thou hast broken his Banes and cast his Cords from thee by imagining a vain thing That thou shalt be saved without having the King of Zion to Rule in and over thee that came meek and low riding on that Wild Ass's Colt on which Man never rods Oh! how is thy Goard withered and thy Anger kindled because thy Will is crossed by the Lord and thou canst not accomplish thy own Ends by God's Wayes and Methods of proceeding against thee concluding that those Wayes are not Good nor those Dealings of his Righteous with his People because thy self could not measure them nor thy fleshly â—â—ll indure to be restrain'd by them taking thy Measures from thy own Conceivings of holy Scriptures weighing them in the false Ballance of thy natural Wisdom and Vnderstanding by which way the Apostacy first entred and doth still continue in and over all that have declined from and entertained distrustful Thoughts of the Light of Christ within which thy Epistle to the Book entituled the Quaker Converted is every where fraighted withal of which for thy own sake I am sorry having had Conference with thee and true Love in my Heart springing towards thee when thou wert little in thy own Eyes thou mayst remember how tender I was towards thee and I know the Good and Honesty in thee in that Day answered to my Love until my last Discourse with thee at Hartford where thou as well as others exceeded those Bounds of Coolness and Meekness which before in measure I found in thee the Cause of which I would have thee search out in thy self and possibly thou mayst find Interest and Reputation which thy Hearers had no small share with thee in that Heat and Distemper upon thy Mind at that time since which thou hast not only grown worse and worse towards the People of God called Quakers but also in thy own inward Condition having changed that wonted Gravity and Solidity in thy Deportment into a light vain lofty confident and presumptuous Carriage which divers have observed in thee and this thy Epistle abundantly proves to which I shall now Reply more particularly desiring that what I have written may be taken in true Love to thy immortal Soul as God bears me witness I intend it But if thou wilt yet more count me thy Enemy because I tell thee the Truth I shall commit the open Decision of the matter to him that judgeth Righteously and remain A Lover of the Immortal Souls of all Men John Crook A REPLY TO THY EPISTLE c. WHat thou meanest by the Church of Christ at Hartford whom thou call'st Well-beloved in the Lord I know not except those the Young-man pag. 6. of his Book calls most of them A Loose Wanton and Proud People that Adorn their Bodies more then their Souls At the very Entrance thou discover'st thy spirit to be fill'd with the sower Leaven of the Pharisees saying In this Relation which follows you may see some of the Quakers Rotten Opinions c. Answer In common Understanding then their Opinions must once have been Sound but now are decay'd Thy following words taste of the same Leaven still like those Pharisees that said Christ was a Sinner when he had opened the Blind Man's Eyes let God have the Glory so say'st thou Let Christ have the Glory for bringing the Young-man amongst you Again thy words are None of those that went out from you were properly of you had received the Gospel that you believe no it is not possible for any to receive it truly and forsake it Answ What that Gospel is which you believe it concerns you to search that it be not another Gospel Gal. 1. 6. then the Apostles preached for there were those that perverted the True Gospel and turned it up-side down and wrested their Sayings to their own Destruction and others departed from that Faith which Paul exhorts Timothy to hold fast 1 Tim. 1. 19. And is not the Gospel call'd the Power of God Rom. 1. 16. and the being led away by Sin and Lust a Departure from or Denyal of the Power as 2 Pet. 3. 17. where the Apostle exhors the Beloved that knew the Truth of the Gospel to beware lest they also should be led away with the Error of the Wicked The Young-man was fully of the Quakers Way Spirit Faith and Principle Answ Thy Mistake also in this is very gross as may appear by the Answer to the Young-man's Book in this Particular Thou say'st The Young-man was an Honest Quaker true to his Perswasion as Luther said of himself before his Conversion c. Answ Then what are they either Converted from or to that are not true to their Perswasion Examine thy self and thy People whether you in all things are true to your Perswasion If nay then you are not yet come so far as the Honest Quaker by thy own Confession Thou sayest The little time he hath had for Proficiency in
the Knowledge of the Gospel might discourage thee from making his Book publick c. Answ I wonder at it seeing thou saidst before that it is not possible for any to receive it truly and forsake it which if he hath not done thou speakest unadvisedly with thy Lips in saying It s an Experience which the Lord in rich Mercy gave him whom thou also callest Dear Elect Child and sayst Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this to him but our Father which is in Heaven But how can he that thus Contradicteth himself agree with the Truth in others Again Oh! that every one of you my dear Brethren and every one in Hartford had the Knowledge of Christ thus distinctly formed in you till which thing be the Soul of him to whom Christ hath committed you as his Charge shall Travel in Birth and be in Pain Blessing God that his poor Labours have not altogether been in vain as to this matter Answ What is that Travel and Labour worth that brings not to the distinct Knowledge of Christ And what a Church is that and what a Pastor is he and how can they be Dear Brethren in Truth in whom the dictinct Knowledge of Christ is not yet formed Thou sayst That thy daily Prayers to Christ is that we all meaning thy Brethren in the Ministry may be made able Ministers of the New Testament Answ Then it seems you are not yet so by thy own Confession therefore be silent till you are made so Thou sayest You have but Law and Gospel to preach Answ Where in all the New Testament dost thou find the Apostles preaching the Law and saying They were sent to preach the Law But a Dispensation of the Gospel was committed to them and they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter or Law but of the Spirit But why dost thou divide between Law and Gospel as if they were not one in their End and Nature saying The Law for the Conviction of Sin c. and yet thou call'st it Spiritual Answ The Spirit is said to Convince or Reprove the Unbelieving World John 16. 8. Jude 15. saith He shall Convince all that are Vngodly of all their Vngodly Deeds c. Again The Law is said to be perfect converting the Soul and making Wise the Simple Psalm 17. 7. So that Law and Spirit are frequently used as Terms that signifie the same thing and if thou Experimentally knewest the Spirituallity of the Law thou wouldst not go about to divide them or quarrel with us about them But hence hath risen the Mistakes of many viz. because they have found several Names or Terms in Scripture therefore concluded they must needs intend several things while it is frequent in Scripture to intend one and the same thing under several Names as Father Son and Spirit have several Names given to them yet one in Nature or Beeing several Ministrations divers Operations c. and yet all by one and the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12. We know the Spirituallity of the Law in the Apostle's Sense is the inward Convictions of the Spirit manifesting also God's holy Will and Commandments requiring perfect Obedience thereunto which man finding himself unable to do then the Sword or Law of the Spirit slayes him and he dyes being made willing so to do by God's Power or Law within though Self and Flesh cryes out to escape here thou fledst and savedst thy Life But into this Death thou must come if ever thou enterest into God's Kingdom the Talking of it will not serve in this State the Dead hear the Voice of the Son of God and live and his own Arm being then revealed raiseth up this Dead Man when no Eye so much as pittied him his Condition being so hid and unknown to all living in his former Estate then he gives Thanks from the very inward of his Soul to God through Jesus Christ crying out now as in a holy Triumph That there is no Condemnation now to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after thâ— Spirit Rom. 8. 1 2. where that Ransomed Captive renders the Reason of his Joy viz. because the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death Mark How he attributes that to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which before he ascribed to Jesus Christ as having an inward Sense and Feeling both of his Saviour and the Salvation come to his poor Soul thereby Thou either Ignorantly or Enviously if not both affirmest That whoever hath tasted that the Lord is Gracious never takes up with the Quakers Christ Oh! that the Gospel were studied by us more and preached by us more Answ The Quakers Christ is the Lord 's Christ as is shewed before the same that deliver'd Paul from his wretched State And if thou hadst understood what thou saidst immediately before concerning the Blood of Christ which thou call'st as Oyl poured into the Gashes of Conscience thou wouldst not have spoken thus sleightingly if not blasphemously of the Quakers Christ For all the Tasters and Feelers inwardly know him to be God's own Arm revealed when no Eye else pitties them But thou with many more have the outward words concerning these things yet are inwardly and experimentally Strangers to the Life and Vertue of them in your own Hearts and Consciences which Knowledge the Quakers account with the Apostle to be the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Oh vain man Dost thou think by thy Fleshly Study and preaching from the same to Advance the True Christ Nay but Man and Self instead of Christ and his Righteousness For the Gospel is a Mystery and the true Preaching of it Foolishness to all that Perish and the Things of it are the Heavenly Things themselves searched out only by the Spirit of God for they are too deep for Man's Will Study or Wisdom to find out Therefore cease from thy own Study and wait in the Silence of all Fleâ—â— for the pouring forth of the Spirit which only can open the Mysteries of Christ and his Righteousness and shew them unto thee Thou say'st We are to conceive of God according as the Scriptures set him forth to us Answ But the Scriptures contrariwise condemn all Man's Conceivings saying Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what God hath laid up for them that love him The Scriptures are true as God means them not as Man by his Conceivings interprets them and the Understanding of every True Disciple must be opened by Christ before he can rightly know them as 't is written He opened their Vnderstandings that they might undâ—rstand the Scriptures for until then they are a sealed Book both to the Learned and Unlearned Isaiah 29. 11 12. Thou utter'st many words about the Confession of Sin as if the Quakers were against the Confession of Sins to God
Christ was it the Light of the Spirit of Christ yea or nay Answ Nay if I may judge of the Tree by the Fruit. Quest What Light is it then Answ The same wâ—th that which the Heathens had by Nature Sixteen Hundrâ—d Years since Rom. 2. 14. Reply Now let the Reader give Judgment concerning this Tree according to the Fruits thereof which he himself hath tasted as by his own Confession In pag. 7. As I went on I met with a Passage Ephes 5 Foolish Talking and Gesting and Mat. 12. 36. Ye shall give an Account for every Idle Word and the Light in me asseâ—ted to it that I ought not to do so and when I was reproved for it I was obedient and by Obedience was delivered from such Sins from whence I became of few words And in pag. 18. Quest Was there not a Power when I obeyed the Light Reproving me for Sin which did deliver me from Sinning and gave me strength to do that which was Good and Right and Just before God and Man Answ Yes there was a Power which did deliver me from sinning outwardly or doing any wrong to my Neighbour or telling Lyes but chused rather to suffer Anger then to do it It bore me up when I was hissed at for what I did c. And in pag. 3 4. I will insert one Remarkable Passage which I did when I was about Nineteen or Twenty Years of Age which is this viz. I being sâ—nt to the Shop for Herrings and had them dâ—livered unto me I did dislike some of them and being sent to the Barrel alone to change some of them I being a great Lover of them it rose in me What a Brave Oportunity I had to slip One into my Pocket for my self This was the Temptation On the other hand came the Light Reproving of me in this manner I must not do this thing Why If it should be known it would be a Dishonour to my Name and I should be ashamed to look any Body in the Face And if it were not known to Men yet God would know it and he would punish me if I sinned against him Through which Means I did obey that which did Reprove and touched none but what was my due And I went home Rejoycing with my self in this manner How happy was my Condition now beyond what it had been if I had diâ—obeyed the Reproof And how Good was the Lord to me in calling to me when I was tempted to do that Evil So was I convinced of one Evil one day and was delivered from it and another day another Evil and had Power over it and I had Joy and Peace in it Rep. And yet he compares this Blessed Light which hath done all this Good for him to the Egyptians which grievously and wickedly Oppressed and Afflicted the Children of Israel on whom the Lord sent his Plagues beâ—â—â—â— of their Cruelty which they exercised upon his People as may be seen in pag. 18. and yet confesseth he had Joy and Peace and Comfort and Quietness of Spirit under these Task-masters which the poor Israelites had not but cryed to the Lord as may be read Exod. 3. and so no fit but a wicked and unrighteous Comparison which the Lord will one day judge him for when his Blind Eye is opened And again in pag. 19. Quest Do I despise that Light Knowledge or Conscience which reproveth Man for Sin in him and judge it not to be Obeyed Answ No I believe it is the Duty of every one to walk in the Commandments of the Law of God aâ—d to keep a Conscience void of Offence according as it is written Holding Faith in a Pure Conscience hoping to be found in the same my self Quest For what End do I dâ—sire to be found in Obedience to this Light Answ Because it is my Duty to God not for Life but from a Principle of Lifâ— c. And â—illâ—am Haworth calls the same Light the Deity in his Epistle to the aforesaid Pamphlet And saith It s the Spirit maketh known Sin when â—t cometh which is not seen before as the shining of the Sun through a Crack into a Dark Room pag. 6. And in the Epistle saith again It s the Light of Nature Rom. 1. So let all People who have any Understanding or Skill to judge of a Tree by tâ—e Fruit take good notice of the Fruits and Effects of this Tree The Light which convinceth Man of Sin in him and alâ—o to consider the Confusions and Contradictions of these Blind Men who one while call it the Spirit and the Deity that is the Godhead and saith It maketh known Sin which is not seen before and saith It s my Duty to God to obey it and desires to obey it from a Principle of Life and how good was the Lord in calling to me So it s the Call of the Lord when tempted to forsake Evil and delivers from it and gives Power and Strength to do that which is Good Just and Right in the Sight of God and Men and gives Peace and Joy and Comfort as aforesaid And then again saith of the very same thing Nay it s not the Light of the Spirit of Christ if I may judge of the Tree by the Fruit. But its the Light of Nature and the same the Heathens had by Nature and the Egyptian-Task-masters and Bondage of Egypt pag. 18. So now put all their Jumble together and you will read their Blind Mad Work thus viz. It is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ that Convinceth of Sin p. 15. It is the Spirit that maketh known Sin which is not seen before p. 6. No it is the Light of Nature the Heathens had it by Nature and it s the Egyptian-Tasks and the Bondage of Cruel Pharoah No but it is the Godhead that the barbarous people saw by when they apprehended Paul to be a Murderer when the Viper fastened on his Hand Acts 28. 4. Do I despise this Light of Nature this Cruuel Pharoah this Light which is not of the Spirit of Christ No For what End do I desire to Obey this Egyptian-Task-master this Light of Nature this Spirit which is Not of Christ Because it s my Duty to God not for Life but from a Principle of Life Had not I a Power over Sin and Deliverance out of it and Strength to do that which was Good and Just and Right in the Sight of God and Man and Joy and Peace and Comfort and Quietness of Spirit when I obeyed this Pharoah this Light of Nature which is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ Yes I had a Joy and Peace in it and it was the Call of the Lord to me So compare this Heap of Confusion with the State of Israel in Egypt Exod. 3. and see what Joy and Peace and Comfort and Quietness of Spirit they had there which this Lad compares the Pure Light of the Son of God unto who knows not what he saith nor whereof he affirms of
Wo from the Lord God to every one that settles therein For I testifie in the Name of Jehovah that made the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in them That the True Name of this CANAAN is SODOM and EGYPT and that our Lord is daily Crucified therein And now William Dimsdale if there be a Day for thee to Repent in Repent of this thy great Wickedness in calling Christ Pharoah and his holy Burdens the Egyptian-Tasks and those Tastes of Comfort which thou hast felt to Encourage thee in thy Obedience to be like the Peace with the Egyptians when the Tale of Brick was delivered Oh Miserable Man if thou Perish thy Blood is upon thine own Head God never Required any thing of thee by his Light that was Unreasonable never to make Brick and find Straw but he gave thee a Measure of his Grace in which thou foundst Power to deliver thee and hadst thou kept Faithful to it thou hadst known Salvation by it But now thou hast cast off Christ's Yoak and Burden and endeavourest to betray him into the Hands of the Priests and Pharisees Oh Repent and Pray if it be possible that this thy Wickedness may be forgiven thee for if not the Weightof it will sink thee into Everlasting Misery S. Crisp AN ACCOUNT FROM HARTFORD HAving taken notice of a late Pamphlet set forth one part by William Haworth and the other part by W. D. the Title thereof A Quaker Converted to Christianity and that it was in Hartford We whose Names are under written being Inhabitants of the said Place could not but admire that such a thing should be in that Place and we wholely Strangers to it And One so Eminent as W. H. doth describe him that he need not fear to Encounter any Quaker in England in Discourse This set some of us on Enquiring who it should be upon which Enquiry it was found to be One who had been Apprentice and now is Servant to one Thomas Grigson of Hartford who by Trade is a Weaver and with his Wife hath belonged to our Meeting these many years They being asked concerning their Man Whether he was in any wise accounted a Quaker say They know nothing that be was ever so much as Convinced of that Blessed Truth owned by the Quakers so as to be in Society with them or Conformable to their Testimony And further They know not that he was ever looked upon by any Person whatsoever to be a Quaker in the least but only that he behaved himself soberly towards them And further his Master and Dame with whom he lived sayes He might come to the Meetings many years ago among the Boys somtimes but so that they never understood that he had any Convincement upon his Mind And so they with us do think strange that any Man or Men dare be so Impudent as to set forth in Print a thing so notoriously False and in it further to affirm That He to wit the said W. D. was fully of their Way Spirit Faith and Principle meaning the Quakers Now do but mind what the Lad saith of himself in his Part of the Pamphlet p. 7. First As to Silent Meetings he was not satisfied 2dly That he used to salute his Friends and others with Pulling off his Hat How now William Haworth Was this to be Fully of our Way Spirit Faith and Principle one with us Let them that know us judge For he that comes not to know a Benefit in Silent Meeting knows little of the Quakers Faith or Principle although we appoint none with the Limitation before-hand as to be Silent Meetings but if any have any thing to speak from the Lord is as much at Liberty as at other times But however a Benefit we know by them though no Words be spoken we whose Minds are gathered Inwards * Hab. 2. 1 2 3. James 5. 7. Acts 3. 19. to wait upon the Lord in the Silence of all Flesh or Fleshly Thoughts and to have an inward Ear open to hear what the Spirit saith and have and do blessed be the Lord often at such Meetings feel the Times of Refreshing which come from his Presence And here is the True Worship known which is in Spirit and in Truth and such the Lord seeks to worship him And so the Intent of the True Ministry * Acts 26. 17 18. is to direct the Minds of Men and Women to God's Spirit manifest in their Hearts and there to worship and not as W. H. saith That those Gifts and Vertues wrought by the Spirit of God in our Minds are a Man 's own Righteousness to wit that which Paul calls his own Phil. 3. 9. but the Righteousness of meer man which is as Gross a Contradiction and Corrupt Doctrine as if he should tell us That Paul in his desiring to be found in Christ not having his own Righteousness which was of the Law desired to be found in Christ not having those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our Minds Oh wonderful Darkness but this is answer'd else-where And then as to the World They can know a Quaker by his not pulling off his Hat which this Lad by his own Confession used to do Now William Haworth where is this Great Goliah Quaker that was thus Converted and yet was never known by us nor by the World to be a Quaker But rather then W. H. will want a Prodigy or a Wonder to the World he will call him a Quaker No doubt William thou deservest the Right-hand of Fellowship of Tho. Hicks for he only forges a silly Quaker and then makes him speak what he pleases but thou hast Converted a Quaker O Wonder if this had been true William the next time thou writest things of this kind lay them a little closer together and remember the old Proverb That it is Old Men and far Travellers that Lye without Controle So far we were willing to let the World know the Truth of the Matter believing that at times something of God hath been stirring both in William Haworth and the Young-Man which we desire they may Return to and Repent before it be too late We have subscribed our Names as followeth William Faireman Thoman Grigson Thomas Chalkley Henry Sweeting Nathaniel Gerrard Abraham Rutt Richard Martin Richard Thomas Edward Plumsted Henry Stout Nicholas Lucas AH William Haworth what is become of that Tenderness that once was upon thy Heart Then wast thou little in thy own Eyes then didst thou confess to the Truth and the Quakers were Honest People in thy Account How well had it been for thee if thou hadst grown in that Tenderness But it is just with the Lord that all who Rebel against the Light of his Son should be Hardned It would be well for thee to consider where thou art and what thou art doing for doubtless thou art now found fighting against the Lord and his Glorious Work which he hath begun in the Earth but it is all in vain and to no purpose for it will Prosper And if thou canst stop the Sun in its Course and set Bounds and Limits to the Sea then mayst thou accomplish thy Desire For the Lord hath Blessed us yea and we shall be Blessed and there is no Inchantment against us And thy Printing Books and spreading them and Preaching so much against the Quakers and Villifying them as thou dost doth but manifest that Spirit of Envy and Bitterness which is not of God and so is a Diâ—advantage to thy self and will be turned unto Advantage to us and all sober People and such as are of an Honest Upright Heart will soon discover thee For what is the Chaff to the Wheat And although thy Understanding be so darkened that thou canst not see the Dawning of the Day of God yet 't is not in thy Power to shut the Eyes of others from seeing the Glory of it nor to stop their Ears from hearing and knowing the True Shepherd's Voice from the Voice of the Stranger It is too late for thee to begin thy VVork at this time of the Day for the Son of God is come and hath given us an Understanding to know him that is True and many are in him and do know the Elect Seed born that cannot be Deceived And thy terming the Quakers Spirit to be Delusion and their Doctrine Antichristian these words if ever thy Eyes come to be opened will be a Burden too heavy for thee to bear For it is no less then Reviling the Light of the Son of God which he hath given for a Leader to his People to lead out of all Evil into all Truth and those who have followed the Lord fully and faithfully therein have found Life and Salvation according to that Promise He shall save his People from their Sins not in their Sins and of this there are Thousands of Living VVitnesses And therefore come down out of that high and lofty spirit and bow unto that which convinceth thee of Sin for all that will not bow thereunto will be broken thereby There is not an easier way unto Life for thee then there was for us and yet we have no Cause to complain of a Burdensom Yoak or that the Lord is a Hard Master for the Yoak of Christ is easie and his Burden is light And do not flatter thy self with vain Hopes of our Fall for the Eyes that look for that will perish in their Holes for we are built upon the Rock of Ages and though the Storms of Affliction beat on the one hand and the Raging Sea which casts up Mire and Dirt on the other yet shall we stand for our Foundation is unmovable and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against us And this is my Testimony for the Lord to thee and all who joyn with thee in this VVork Cease striving against the Lord in his People and Repent of your Evil else you and your VVork will fall together For no Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper Mary Stout ERRATA PAge 3. line 22. for banes read â—ands Page 4. line 13. for which read with P. 31. L. 38. for ontrary r. contrary P. 37. L. 31. for Babe r. Babel P. 39. L. 14. for withou twith r. without with P. 41. L. 36. for Burthen r. Burthensom And where any other Faults or Defects are escaped the Press the Unbyassed Reader is desired to Correct them according to the Sense of the Matter and none to impute them to the Authors THE END