give his Relation in the third Page saith If R. H. could have been quiet and let him alone he had not said or done any thing after the said-Dispare at Croton ended Reply By this J. C. would perswade his Reader that R. H. and the Quakers have lost by medling with him and that they have brought this Stuff to their own Head But sure it is the Quakers have not lost but gained Truth prevailing but the poor Unskilful Skirmisher both Rude and Distracted and that by his own Confession hath lost by medling with the Quakers this is very evident to many sober Impartial People I may say to some that once looked upon J. C. to be what he was not viz. a Minister of Christ but having discovered him like a Serpent in the Grass have turned 〈…〉 whom the Quakers both 〈…〉 and Writing have pro◠〈…〉 and Deceiver and this is 〈…〉 him yet this proud Vain boast◠〈…〉 and hardned in Error drowned in 〈◊〉 â—â—ceit which is as a Consumption to him wasting his Reputation amongst many sober Men and spurred on with Envy and Malice against the Truth and the Friends of it he is crying Conquest and Victory like a Man besides himself as well as the Truth a distracted Man Why not distracted in this as well as in his Prayers Would any but either a Foâ— or a Man distracted after he had left the Stage being sufficiently proved before he went a Lyar and Deceiver be so â—dacious and desperately Wicked as to publish to the World that he had over thrown the Quakers But what if a Man should query Hath John Cheyney with running away overthrown the Quakers A Fool might quickly Answer Yes but sure a Wise Man would be more deliberate he would not believe that such a Victory could be obtained by him that fled but rather the contrary not a Conquest to him that perks up and cries Conquest before he begins nor yet he that runs away and cries Victory when he is gone but rather he who having 〈…〉 Encounter and defeated his 〈◊〉 â—nds his Ground when his Adâ—â— fled Now that the Quakers were not overthrown there are some Hundreds of People can witness who were at that Dispute and know it right well who likewise knew that R. H. however it was with J. C. did not forsake the Stage and leave his Opponent thereupon And if I should not have put Pen to Paper I am satisfied there are some Hundreds of People who were there that day would not believe the Relation J. C. hath published of that Dispute but judge him to be a Lyar You for the Truth 's sake and for the sake of many Simple-hearted People who were not there but may take things upon Trust and judge my Silence a Consenting that J. C's Relation is true therefore as briefly as I may without wrong to the Truth I shall examine his Relation being now come to it J. C. p. 3. saith He divided the matter of his Dispute and Charge against the Quakers into 1st Matters of Doctrine 2dly Matters of Practice I think it pertinent to the matter here to insert the Charge I â—…t J. C. upon to prove viz. That the Quakers Religion is against God's Spirit this was the first Branch of one of the seven Changes recited before To prove this Charge J. C. asserted That the Quakers Religion held forth Blasphemy viz. That the Soul of Man is God and to prove it quoted G. F's Great Mystery p. 90 92. Reply I denyed that the Quakers held Man's Soul to be God and renounced that Doctrine as Blasphemy whereof G. F. and the Quakers Religion are clear Now J. Cheyney in his Relation says Having nothing that they could object but only that Fox doth not expressly say that the Soul is God Reply In this J. C. is a Lyar G. F.'s words I owned and said they did admit of no such consequence as that Man's Soul is God But I told him he wrested and perverted G. F's words and meaning as he did the Scriptures G. F. queried of the Priests Is not the Soul coming from God Infinite I affirmed the Breath of Life which God breathed into Man the Life and Spirit which came forth from God the Life of Man's Soul or by which Man became a living Soul was infinite and G. F's words as intended were sound J. C. affirmed There was n othing come forth from God which is infinite and without beginning I replied The Son of God came forth from God yet the Son of God was infinite and without beginning to which J. C. was silent This my Answer was according to Scripture John 8.42 Jesus said I proceeded forth and came from God this was he who said John 17.5 O Father Glorifie thou me with thy own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Verse 24. For thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World John 16.27 28 30. For the Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from the Fathar and am come into the World Again I leave the World and go to the Father by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Again J. C. asserted There was nothing in Man that is infinite I replied The Breath of Life breathed into Man the Spirit of God in Man is Infinite This was according to Scripture Gen. 2.7 And breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and â—hat the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Mat. 10.20 The Spirit of the Father which speaketh in you Mark The Spirit of God was in Men dwelt in them spoke in them so according to the Scriptures God's Spirit which is infinite dwells in Man and speaks in Man even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 So there is something in Man that is Infinite Now Reader is not J. C's assertion There is nothing come forth from God which is infinite and without beginning and that there is nothing in Man which is infinite plainly manifest to be contrary to Scripture Hath not J. C. denied the Son of God who came forth from God to be Infinite and without Beginning Hath he not also denied the Spirit of Trust which proceedeth from the Father to 〈…〉 Infinite and without Beginning 〈…〉 is not J. C. a Lyar against the â—criptures a Lyar against the Son 〈…〉 and a Lyar against the Spirit of Truth And is not this Blasphemy to deny Christ the Son of God who came forth front God and the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father to be Infinite and without Beginning For J. C. said expresly There was nothing came forth from God which 〈…〉 and without Beginning And is not J. C. a Blasphemer in denying the Son of God who came forth from God and the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father to be Infinite and without Beginning Let the Reader judge I have
hath commanded and perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect which was the Command of Christ Lev. 19.2 20.7 Mat. 5.48.1 Pet. 1.16 Would not J. C. have the best of People whilst in this World to Pray Hypocritically Dissemble with God and utter Untruths to him that searcheth the Heart This he confesseth to be his own state and further adds in the same page But either it must be so in part or there will be no praying in this Word And must there either be Hypocritical Praying Dissembling with God and uttering Untruths unto the Searcher of Hearts or no Praying in this World God forbid The Spirit of God prepareth the Morning and Evening Sacrifice which as sweet Incense is accepted of God who heareth his own Spirit The Spirit of God inditeth good Matter not Hypocrisie it teacheth all the Sons of God who are led by it to Pray with it and with Understanding also according to Scripture 1 Cor. 14 15. Therefore J. C's Unbelief as well as Hypocrisie is hereby made manifest who saith Either it must be so in part or there will be no Praying in this World I do believe it is so with J. C. viz. He Prays Hypocritically c. and that it will be so with him and his Generation so long as they resist the Holy Ghost the Holy Spirit of God and that the best of their Performances is Sin according to his confession That Distraction and vile Hypocrisie are and will be in their Prayers even in those they call their Solemn Prayers to God This we saw to be in that Generation which caused us to separate from them that the Lord might receive us But although it be so with J. C. and his Generation yet it is otherwise with the Children of Light the Sons and Daughters of God who walk in the Light of the Lamb having Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ who walking in the Light as he is in the Light have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin Rev. 21.24 1 John 1.3,7 But J. C. who despiseth the Light of Life cannot believe though a Man declare it unto him See Acts 13.41 J. C. in page 19. of Warning to Souls c. boasts of the Testimony of his Conscience That by the Grace of God he hath had his Conversation in the World and that he would not be in the Condition that a Quaker is in any of them all for Ten Thousand Worlds Reply A Pharisaical Boaster indeed J. C. is to the Grace Light and Spirit of God and Christ he is a professed Enemy and that he hath had his Conversation in the World according to it his Practice in wrongfully taking the Quakers Money proves the contrary which as some can testifie when he had got it he said to some of hs Acquaintance Let us Drink it or Spend it for it will never do good It would have done good if J. C. had either not taken it from them or restored it to them again The Grace of God neither led him to take it nor spend it The Light or Grace of God J. C. hath called Diana Dagon a Dumb Idol compared to a Drunken Coach-Man accused it to be guilty of all Heart-sins Tongue-sins Thought-sins and Life-sins charged it with the guilt of All Sins whether in Angels or in Men and in Hell to be its own Tormentor Indeed he hath exceeded all Men that ever I read or heard of in Blasphemy against the Grace Light Life or Spirit of God and Christ And for his saying He would not be in the Condition a Quaker is in any of them all for Ten Thousand Worlds I answer The Time is coming and hasteneth that he would be glad to be in the Condition of the least of them who really are in Unity with the Light viz. the Spirit of Christ which Ten Thousand Worlds cannot purchase for him Now Reader I have gone through his Relation of the Dispute and by way of Examination have given thee an Account That at the Dispute at Arley-Hall in Cheshire I cleared by the Help of God to whose Power I leaned and to whom alone my Soul ascribes the Praise the Quakers and their Religion from J. C's wicked Charges against both and also proved J. C. to be a Lyar a Deceiver and a Hypocrite after which time his spirit was much under for the Power of God was over him and he sought for an opportunity to be gone And it was observed by some that he might think time tedious whilst he stayed and that he might take more thought to get off the Stage than to prove the remaining part of the Charges which were five in number And though he had boastingly said One for one day and another one for another day and I will be for thee also when thou art as liberty yet it plainly appeared that one piece of a day gave him enough for having got the opportunity looked for he forsook the Stage and left me speaking thereupon and since that time would never look me in the Face to make further Proof of his Charges His Preparation to be gone was noted by many of the Auditory before he went and when he turn'd his back on me a Friend said to him Stay and prove thy Charge and one of his Brethren a Priest who had stood with him lifted up his Stick against the Friend and threatned to knock him down if he would not hold his Peace c. By this the Reader may observe in what a spirit they went away I kept speaking after the Priests were gone to the Auditory remaining and some other of my Brethren after me for some time and the Power of God was over all and the Testimony of Truth got room in many Hearts and the Event hath proved That that Day 's service tended to the Honour of Truth which prevailed and was advantagious to many simple-hearted People in those parts who since have turned their Backs on the Priests and enclined their Ears to a better Teacher even the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth which causeth the Priests to rage and some People to cry out as common Fame is They will all turn Quakers Reader I shall observe to thee some of J. C's Lyes and Slanders against the People of God called Quakers out of his Book in which he hath given his Relation of the Dispute which Lyes and Slanders are so gross and wicked that I think no wise Man will believe them Yet for the sake of the Simple-hearted lest any should stumble thereat I shall not only note them down but like wise speak something concerning them John Cheyney page 21. chargeth the Quakers That they teach plain Treason and Rebellion A gross Lye and wicked Slander In the same page That they make void the Fifth Commandment In the same page That they Abolish the Scriptures In page 22. That they do utterly Subvert the Rule of Duty by which
Christian Husbands and Wives are to walk c In the same page That they quite Subvert all the Rules of Duty between Ministers and People c. In the same page That they pluck down Prayer Root and Branch In the same page That by the Quakers Doctrine we may all pray none or pray Curses and Blasphemies In page 22. again That the Quakers Religion doth pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines and Rules of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God c. In page 13. That the Quakers say Every Man may make as good if not a better Bible than this we have In page 17. That the Quakers are guilty of affirming The Light in every Man to be a part of God as a drop of Water fetch'd from the Ocean is part of it In page 23. That there are no People do more Oppose and Subvert the Spirit than the Quakers In the same page That if the Quakers should practise their own Doctrine they would pass all that ever have been before them in Wickedness All these are gross Lyes and wicked Slanders whereof the Quakers and their Religion are clear And that no Lye may remain upon the Truth the Light and Children thereof I add That the Light of Christ within Man wherewith Christ the true Light lighteth every Man is the Life of the Word the Light of Men John 1.4 The Spirit of God given to instruct them Neh. 9.20 Ezek. 36.27 The Manifestation of which Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 Reproves the World of Sin John 15.8 And maketh manifest all things that are reproved Ephes 5.13 For that is the Spirit of Truth which reproveth and convinceth of Sin and the Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Christ for Christ is the Truth John 14.6 And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God for the Son and the Father are One John 10.30 5.18 to 27. One Lord one God and Father of all Ephes 4.5 6. Christ and God is Light John 1.4 9. 8.12 9.5 1 John 1.5 The Lord our God is one Lord Deut. 6.4 God is a Spirit John 4.24 The Lord is that Spirit which giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 17. The changing of Man from Death to Life is by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 I the Lord search the Heart and try the Reins even to give every Man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doing Jer. 17.10 The Spirit saith I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your Works Rev. 2.23 The Spirit searcheth all things 1 Cor. 2.10 Hereby it is evident the Spirit of God is one with God and Christ and so God Infinite Omnipresent who is One Lord and his Name One Zach 14.9 who sees all things there is nothing hid or can be hid from God's Spirit all things being known and seen by the Spirit of God Man's Thoughts are shewed and told by it and whatsoever thing is reproved it sheweth and maketh manifest And that which makes manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Well then the Spirit of Truth is the Light of Christ within Man which makes manifest and sheweth whatsoever thing is reproved by it which declareth to Man the Thoughts of his Heart and giveth to every Man according to his Works which reproveth and convinceth Man of Sin and leads into all Truth in which we called Quakers have believed and walk in even in the Light and Spirit of God and Christ and so witness the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all Sin and the Light and Spirit of Christ leading us on together into all Truth in which blessed Light we have Fellowship with God who is Light and one with another 1 John 1.5.7 And so are of that pure Religion which is undefiled before God and unspotted of the World James 1.27 This blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within leads us to do unto all Men that which is right in the sight of God and all of us that walk in in it walk according to the Precepts Doctrines and Commands of God contained in the Scriptures and witness in measure the fulfilling of what is therein written for our Learning that the Man of God may be Perfect c. And the keeping of the great Commandment which is Love So then this blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within born witness to and walked in by us called Quakers which indeed is both our Rule and Way doth lead and guide us not to oppose God's Spirit for then we should oppose our Rule and Way which is the Spirit of God nor to pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines Precepts and Commands of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God contained in the Scriptures of Truth as J. C. hath slandered us but to live and walk therein and up thereunto and manifest both our Love and Honour to the Spirit of God and Esteem for the Scriptures of Truth in living that Holy Life the Scriptures declare of and the Spirit of God commands which Holy Life lived by us through the Spirit fulfils and justifies the Scriptures of Truth and exalts and glorifies the Spirit of God over all for God alone is worthy for ever and ever Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are led and taught lead them to teach Treason and Rebellion which J. C. most wickedly hath charged the Quakers withal but the Light teacheth and leadeth them to live peaceably and quietly under the Government where they are placed and to seek the good of all Men to Pray for Kings and them which are in Authority that under their Government they might live in all Godliness and Honesty a Quiet and Peaceable Life to Exhort one another to Love and good Works and to teach Fidelity and Obedience to the Governments and Governours appointed by God that both Magistrates and their Governments may be submitted unto and obeyed by all People that there-under live by doing or suffering what cannot for Conscience sake God-ward be done and that whoever may answer the King and his Government in suffering for Conscience God-wards not to seek Revenge nor the Hurt of the King or his Government but to leave Judgment to God alone who disposeth of Kingdoms and Thrones Government and Kings at his pleasure and to Pray to God to perswade the Hearts of Kings to fear him to be Encouragers of Piety and Godliness but to Discourage all Wickedness and to Honour Christ the Lord the true Light over all who purgeth the Conscience from dead Works and fills it with the Mystery of the living Faith that over Conscience Christ may only Rule and Govern whose Right it is that in so doing their Government may be blessed to their Comfort and the Benefit of the People and the Honour and Glory of God who is King of Kings and
Thus But rather strengthen our selves in the Lord that we may according to our Membership be more capable to serve the Lord and his People as we had him and others for Examples it was a Portion of the Lord's Spirit that made him a Worthy in Israel that hath made me at this time thus Testifie of him so that I can say He being Dead yet speaketh God by his goodness grant to raise many such helps in Israel to the dignifying of his Name which this our dear deceased Friend sought Since I have known Truth above twenty Years and observed the Conversation of such as were in Christ before me I have beheld few if any more remote from self-Praise or Exaltation I believe while in this Tabernacle I shall not forget his Advice to me the first opportunity I had with him after I was convinced by him viz. Not to Attribute any thing to Man but give God the Glory and with what Reverence and Gravity these things were expressed his Humility at that time reached the better part in me and I hope will remain as a Nail fastned in a sure Place My Prayer to the Lord is that he may raise many such Ministers in his now Israel to the furtherance of his Name Truth and Holiness and that many may be willing as he was to spend and be spent to go to and fro that Knowledge may be increased What I have already testified of this my Father and Friend for in his Bonds he begat me hath eased my Spirit I loved him dearly in his Life and no less at his Death whose Savour reached to People of all sorts and his Death lamented I was several times with him in his Sickness and was concerned in Mind to go down a little before his Departure so that with many good Friends I was present and saw him put off this outward Tabernacle though to our Sorrow yet in a full perswasion that he died the Death of the Righteous prepared for that future felicity which a numberless Number is following after which neither Hell nor Death Beast or false Prophet shall be able to hinder Amen Amen Although I could further Amplify and Enlarge this my Testimony yet shall desist with Real and Ardent Desires to the Lord that he may order our Conversation aright and that all that names the Name of Jesus may depart from Iniquity and be sanctified to reign with the Righteous World without End Christopher Winn. Penkâ—th near Warrington in Lancashire the 3d of the 3d Month 1697. William Ellis's Testimony concerning dear Friend Roger Haydock I Have much in my Heart concerning our dear Friend Roger Haydock tho' I cannot express to the full what I know of him but however I shall say the less not questioning but that there are Testimonies in the Hearts of many Friends to his Worth and Faithfulness and Service in the Blessed and Holy Truth wherein we have believed and felt the Blessed Effects of our Faith to the great Comfort and Consolation of our Souls It was about twenty one Years the last 3d Month since I was Convinced of the Blessed Truth And though I have since that day had many Instructors in Christ yet I have not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus was I begotten by him through the Gospel and the Operation of the Holy Spirit which did Effectually open a door of Entrance in my Heart as it opened a door of Utterance unto him It was at a Meeting at Bradley near Skipton in Yorkshire where he declared the Day of God which was broken forth in this Age in great Splendor to Enlighten Mankind he spoke many things which reached the States of many in that day alluding from the State of Israel of old who passed through the Sea and saw the wondrous Works which the Lord wrought for their Deliverance yet some forgot him and made themselves Idols of their Jewels and Earings saying These be thy Gods O Israel who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt and then sat down to Eat and Drink and rose to Play With many more precious Words wherewith he did sound forth the glorious Gospel I was abundantly satisfied that day with what I had felt and heard So I took heed unto the Word in my Heart unto which I had been directed by him and it grew and Increased and my Faith Increased and I became according to my small Measure obedient thereunto and my Soul was in love with the Truth and the Followers thereof especially with him who had been the Instrument of publishing the same to me his Feet was indeed beautiful unto me and I could say in Truth Blessed be him that Cometh in the Name of the Lord I saw his Zeal and was sensible of the Sincerity of his Heart and Endeavours in his Life-time to promote to his utmost the great Name of God And when through Providence I came to be more Intimately Acquainted with him I was confirmed in my sense of him and his Love to God and Zeal for the Truth and have in many private Opportunities with him been abundantly satisfied in the sweet Society and Fellowship we have injoyed together and I am fully perswaded that his Root was in the Truth and that he was sensible that the Root bore him and he grew therein and laboured much to bring People to be established upon the Sure Rock Christ Jesus the Root of Life upon which the True Church is Built And I know his Labours in that Respect was great and the Lord saw his Faithfulness and poured out upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and of a sound Mind to promote Good Discipline and Comely Order in his Church that She might be like the True Church of Old which John spoke of under the Similitude of A Woman who was clothed with the Sun and had the Moon under her Feet Which Glory did far Excel the Glory that attended Solomon in his best State for the sake of which the Queen of the South came far and was overcome with the Sight thereof Thus did he Labour and Travel in his Day spending himself that the Church might be adorned with the Comely Attire and Ornaments of the Holy Spirit and that the Name of the Lord Jesus her Head might spread to the Ends of the Earth Blessed be the great God of Heaven and Earth that raised up him and many more who could hold the Sword and be Expert in the War like the Cant. 3.7 8. Threescore Valiant Men of Israel who kept the Bed of Solomon Or like the Judges 20.15 16. Men of Benjamin who could Sling to an Hairs Breadth and not miss The Lord Raise up more such Faithful Labourers in his Vineyard and give them Wisdom and Zeal to Train up those who shall believe in the Truth in sound Discipline as well as in Word and Doctrine that he may Restore unto the Churc◠〈◊〉 1.26 Judges as at the First and 〈◊〉 as at the Beginning that Men may call them The City of
because they speak fully of themselves he ought not to be angry with me for repeating them since he hath caused them to be printed if he be ashamed of them let him call them in and recant and what I have in my custody he shall have freely But to the Matter in order to shew his Hypocrisie Call to Prayer p. 45 46. We all come under Reproof for our Coldness and Deadness in Prayer there is much detestable Hypocrisie and Coldness committed by us in our solemn Prayers to God both in secret in private and in publick Doth not this speak forth it self But hear him further What is this but to mock the Almighty God and to sport with Consuming Fire and dally and play with Everlasting Torment and be in jest and complement with Heaven and Hell and make a light matter of Sin and Eternity What is this but a Profanation of God's Name and going to Hell upon our Knees and a Provoking God to deny us those Mercies which we so faintly beg Why do we pray like canting Beggars like Dreamers and Sleepers Pag. 135. O my God forgive me all my Omission of Prayer all my Coldness Deadness Lukewarmness and Distractions in Prayer Pag. 139. I am distracted in Prayer I am soon weary I come poorly off my Foes are too hard for me Why go I mourning all the Day long when the Comforter which should relieve my Soul is gone from me Pag. 145. It is a great Misery as well as Sin to be Lukewarms in Prayer I Tremble to have my Lukewarm Prayers abhorred by God and spued out of his Mouth and cast in my Face like Dung. If I get to Heaven it must be by this Trade of begging Pag. 143. This Priest Cheyney tells us If he be idle in Prayer he shall have but a ragged tattered Soul Mark he saith I shall not be able to cover or conceal my Wickedness from the World R. H. querieth Whether this be not a Hypocrite indeed who by Distracted Prayers thinks to hide his Wickedness from the World Hear him further Pag. 47. O loitering Souls Vnprofitable and unfruitful Servants all of us to our Heavenly Master Let us be ashamed of our Doings and mend our Prayers lest God spue them out of his Mouth Pag. 131. Hadst thou O my Soul but a right Sense of God thou couldst not but be fervent in Prayer Thou prayest but how Exceeding coldly R. H. The Priest grants he hath not a right Sense of God and that he prays exceeding coldly yet in page 141. he saith But the Lord is with me and shall preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom But mark Reader what follows in the same page But yet my Soul is much sadded and cast down when I consider what Strivings and Fightings there is in my Prayer against it self one part in me would be more Holy and another part contradicteth it and would be as I am and have leave to be Vnholy one side is for God and Heaven and the other side favoureth Earth and is all for the Flesh and grudgeth every painful Sigh for Heaven O how is my Soul tossed between these two Contenders And I am compelled to pray Hypocritically and Dissemble with God and utter Vntruths unto him that searcheth the Hearts and delighteth not but in upright Lips But this is not all though enough to confound this Skirmisher Yet he shuts up himself in Unbelief Hear him But either it must be so in part or there will be no Praying in this World R. H. querieth Must there either be Hypocritical Praying Dissembling with God and uttering Untruths to him that searcheth the Hearts or no Praying in this World God forbid Let this Lying Dissembling Hypocrite's Mouth be stopp'd the Spirit of God inditeth better Matter it teacheth all the Sons of God who are led by it to pray with it and with Undestanding not rude or distracted like Priest Cheyney but to offer to God what God hath prepared for he prepares the Morning and the Evening Sacrifice which as sweet Incense is accepted of him He hears his own Spirit and another spirit he will not hear Hear what he saith to their Congregations Call to Prayer p. 30. O how little of Prayer is there in our Congregations Indeed there is Praying in many Congregations but it is rather a Mocking of God most Vile Hypocrisie so often as the publick Prayers are read and repeated by the Minister and People so often the Name of God is taken in vain exceedingly by many Hypocritical Ministers and People And yet the Priest saith of himself p. 142. I am the most Rude and Vnskilful of all thy Ministers I shall now touch his Confusion and so discover his Blasphemy Call to Prayer p. 16. Prayer is a Holy and Reverend Communion of sinful Dust and Ashes with the great and glorious God Pag. 108. He tells of a Quaker that had so much of Christ's Spirit and Religion Outwardly in Him as to pray Pag. 52. I think there are but few Hypocrites that keep up a constant Course of Prayer and yet I cannot say but there may be some and Many Pag. 145. Tho' Christ be not present upon Earth Corporally and Carnally he is truly present by his Spirit and he dwells in his Saints This latter is for the Quakers Pag. 66. The Priest saith Behold we are lean exceeding lean like blasted Corn there is Husk but no Corn. Pag. 72. Thence it is that we are like raw Flesh unsodden Christians Milk-sops Quakerism Subverted p. 27 28. The Priest saith In every Man since the Fall there is something of God and something of Satan Flesh and Spirit Light and Darkness P. 34. he saith This Light which is something of God by him placed in Opposition to Satan Spirit in Opposition to Flesh is guilty of all Sins of Omission and Commission which the Soul is charged with and guilty of it hath a Hand in all Thought-Sins Tongue-Sins Life-Sins This is the Language of this Blasphemer Hear him further Pag. 21. The worst of Men hath a Light within him and so we say That Jesus Christ is the true Light which enlighteneth every Maâ— that cometh into the World John 1.9 P. 23. He calls this Light within The Quakers Diana Call to Prayer p. 112. The Quakers Dagon In Blasphemy of the true God and Christ once more hear him Quakerism Subverted p. 33. The Light goes down with the Soul into Hell p. 34. The Light within in Hell is turned into a Self-tormenting Light What is this but to say The Light of Christ tormenteth it self in Hell Confusion and Blasphemy But for all this this Skirmishing Priest would not be called a Deceiver Lyar Hypocrite no more would his Generation the Scribes and Pharisees of old Yet he tells us himself Call to Prayer p. 113. I could bring many that could not endure such Ministers as I. No marvel Skirmisher Many see thee to be a Cloud without Water But if this Priest means his own Generation it is
lately been Hearers of the said J. B. Priest of Wareham to which said Meeting also resorted several of the said Priest's Hearers After the Meeting I went that Evening with some Friends to Croton being about a Mile distant from the place where the Meeting was where a Friend late one of J. B's Hearers did acquaint me That J. B. raged sore against the Quakers I replied to the Friend It was the manner of some Priests so to do where Truth spreads and where such as had been their Followers were convinced and turned from them The Friend did farther acquaint me That J. B. railed in his Sermons against the Quakers charging them to be led by the spirit of Antichrist and that it was the spirit of Antichrist they directed People to or words to this purpose and that some who heard him being dissatisfied therewith did afterward speak of it and John Barber being spoken to he did assert it again and challenged to make it out against any Quaker that would meet him before a Congregation of People After I had heard the Friend I spoke something to him as not to mind what the Priest said for I hoped he and the rest who were convinced of the Truth were satisfied the Priest's Charge was false He said He was satisfied but some who had heard of the Priest's Challenge were desirous he should be met Farther adding That if he should not be met he and many others would boast as tho' the Quakers durst not Dispute with them I would have put the thing still from me it being cross to the Inclination of my own Mind and I being engaged for several Days in Truth 's Service which was the occasion of my being in Cheshire at that time though I was not altogether easie concerning it so I left it that Evening not giving the Friend farther answer Next Morning it was upon my Mind and the Friend again spoke of it so it resting pretty much before me I bid the Friend write down what he heard the Priest say which he did and the words were to this effect John Barber saith He hath said it and will say it again That the Light and Spirit the Quakers are led by and direct People to is the spirit of Antichrist and that of any of the Quakers would meet him he would eng age to prove it by Disputation before an Assembly of People The Friend that writ had also heard J. B. repeat and vindicate it When I had read it it was in my Heart to write a few words under it which was to this effect Friend if this be thy Assertion and that thou wilt according to thy Challenge undertake to-prove it by Disputation before an Assembly of People against any Quaker that will meet thee then Subscribe thy Name to it and I do undertake on the behalf of the Light and Spirit the Quakers are led by and direct People unto to meet thee and stand by the Defence of the Truth against thy wicked Charge leaving to my Friend John Low the Bearer hereof with thee to agree of Time and Place To which I subscribed my Name Time and Place was agreed upon betwixt J. B. the Opponent and my Friend J. L. on my behalf who was to be Defendant which was to be at Croton the 20th of that Instant the 4th Month 1676. To which Place appointed came John Barber in order to prove his Charge and to his assistance John Davis Priest of Fradsham and John Cheyney Priest of Burtonwood-Chappel these were Opponents John Cheyney gives some Relation himself of his coming to this Dispute in p. 1 2. of his Warning to Souls how he was in suspense what do he says He sought the Lord determined to go though not without some doubts in his Mind Which gives ground to any wise Man to believe he had not an Answer from God nor a Command to go for if so what needed he to have doubted But when he comes to the place he says He was no ways engaged in the Dispute but came as an Hearer where at present I leave him John Davis was the first of the Three Priests that I heard speak who offered to be a Moderator in the Dispute betwixt John Barber and me When he ceased I had a few words upon my Mind 〈◊〉 speak to the People when I had spoken them J. D. said He hath spoken well Afterwards I read J. B's Charge asserted in to be False and put him upon the Proof thereof J. B. Propounded an Argument for Proof viz. That the Quakers asserted God Man to be in them But failing in Proof he Argued again That the Quakers asserted the Totum Christum or the Whole Christ to be in them and that they denied the Lord that bought them I denied his Proposition That the Quakers asserted the Whole Christ to be in them and asserted his Conclusion to be false saying The Quakers do not deny the Lord that bought them yet I owned that Christ was in us to which J. B. replied Either the Whole Christ or No Christ Such was J. B's Ignorance I shall 〈…〉 some Scriptures which agree with my owning Christ to be in us Col. 1.26 27. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations but 〈◊〉 is made manifest to his Saints To 〈…〉 what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery amongst the Gentiles which 〈◊〉 Christ In You the Hope of Glory 2 Cor. 13.3 Since ye seek is Proof of Christ Speaking In Me which to you ward is not work but mighty In You Vers â— Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is In You except ye be Reprobates John 17.23 I In Them and thâ—â— in me John 14.20 As that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I In You. 1 Pet. 1 11. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was In Them did signifie when it testified before-hand the Suffering of Christ and the Glory that should follow I might add many more Scriptures but these may suffice for the Reader 's Information and Satisfaction if unprejudiced To J. B's Assertion That either the Whole Christ or No Christ was in us I replied That the Whole Christ or No Christ is in us I deny For the Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Christ the Lord how much less then should the Whole Christ be in us Yet unto us God hath given of his Spirit by Measure and the Earnest of his Spirit is in our Hearts And is not this according to Scriptures Col. 1.16 Ephes 3.9 John 1.3 All things both in Heaven and in Earth visible and invisible were created by Jesus Christ for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Rev. 17.14 19.16 1 Tim. 6.15 Behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee 1 Kings 8.27 And is not Christ and God one John 10.30 14.9 10 11.
One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and In You all Bat unto every one of us is given Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ Ephes 4.6 7. Rom. 12.3 2 Cor. 10.13 The Manifestation of the Spirit of God is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 God hath given the Earnest of his Spirit unto us In our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 5.5 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Ephes 4.10 J. D. said I deny that God hath given of his Spirit by Measure I replied Then thou deniest Scripture To which J. D. answered not Now I further add some Scriptures that the Reader may take notice thereof and see J. D's Folly John 3.34 For God giveth not the Spirit by Measure unto him viz. Christ Jesus Col. 1.19 2.9 In him it pleased the Father all Fulness should dwell But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ Ephes 4.7 2 Cor. 10.13 Hereby know we that we dwell In Him and he In Us because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 John 4.13 And of his Fulness have we all received John 1.16 Mark Of Christ's Fulness have we all received of his Spirit he hath given us and Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ Observe We have received but Measurably of Christ's Fulness of his Spirit according to the good Pleasure of God the Giver some of us more other-some less yet of the same Fulness of the same Spirit And though given to us Measurably it is the same with the Fulness it is of the Spirit and whether a larger or lesser Measure or Manifestation of the Fulness of the Spirit be by one or another of us received yet still it remains undivided from the Fulness from the Spirit which is invisible Neither is the Measure Manifestation or Gift of the Spirit of God the Fulness dissected or parted from the Fulness but is really of the Fulness One in us all proceeding from the Fulness One through all and over all abiding in the Fulness and so of the Godhead which cannot be divided into Particles nor cut into Shreds or Pieces for to assert that were Blasphemy Which Assertion our Adversaries have unjustly laboured to force upon us being blinded through Envy and altogether ignorant of the Glorious Mystery Christian Man the Hope of Glory But they have all come short and we are clear from any such Assertion and farther hold forth That God is an Infinite Spirit Omnipresent an Immense God Immensurate yet Measureably doth he manifest himself unto us and gives us to partake of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 And so we are in Christ and Christ dwells in us and walks in us according to the Measure of his Gift given us of his Spirit and we daily grow up in Grace from Stature to Stature from one Degree of Holiness to another a Habitation for God and Christ through the Spirit And is not this according to the Scriptures And is not J. D's Holly as well as J. B's Ignorance discovered Let the Reader judge Then spoke John Cheyney and said Every Man is so far enlightened with the Light and Spirit of Christ as that he is left without excuse This was J. C's grant Which Light and Spirit the Quakers are led by and direct People to This grant or rather assertion of J. C. overthrew J. B. and cleared the Quakers of his false Charge as was noted to the People It being according to the Doctrine the Quakers preach That Christ the true Light lighteth every Man that cometh into the Woâ—â—â— John 1.9 What said J. C Every Man is so far enlightned with the Light and Spirit of Christ as that he is left without excuse In this J. C. said what is true But hath not J. C. by asserting every Man to be enlightned with the Light and Spirit of Christ done more against J. B. I suppose without his leave for this was before he saith He gave him leave to propound an Argument than by the Argument he propounded he was able to do for him I leave the Reader to judge Only adding for his Information That it is the Light and Spirit wherewith Christ lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which the Quakers direct People to This is evident by their Books and Doctrine J. B. asserted this Light and Spirit to be the Spirit of Antichrist J. C. affirmed it to be the Light and Spirit of Christ saying Every Man is so far enlightned with the Light and Spirit of Christ as that he is left without Excuse But J. B. in the closure of this Assertion of J. C's excepted against Heathens being so enlightned So these three Priests all Episcopal Priests differed in Principle amongst themselves J. D. denied the Spirit to be given by Measure J. C. asserted every Man was enlightned with the Light and Spirit of Christ And J. B. denied Heathens who are Men to be so enlightned Again J. D. denied the Light of Christ to be Saving but J. C. and J. B. acknowledged the Light of Christ to be Saving These Contradictions of the Priests were noted down and so kept since the Dispute And upon these Points at the Dispute I told them They were like the Scribes Pharisees and Saducees who differed among themselves yet joyned together against Christ and so they joyned together against us yet differed amongst themselves Therefore said I Go and be Reconciled amongst your selves to which J. D. replied Reflect not I answered What I said is true The Reason which induced me to give this short yet true Relation is To inform the Reader what Arguments J. C. saith we were canvassing about the Light within in which he saith Many Quakers spoke beside R. H. and would make his Reader believe on the other side none spoke but J. B. until J. B. gave him leave to speak when as in the canvassing of this Argument there were J. B. J. D. and J. C. Besides what was spoken by the Standers by on their part as well as that there were some others besides R. H. who spoke on our part To give a Relation of much of what was spoken either by one or other or either sides is not my purpose But since John Cheyney over the Heads of John Barber and John Davis seems to assume a Glory of Conquest to himself concerning that Dispute and would be somebody therefore he never mentions John Davis and only makes mention of Mr. B. as he stiles him that he may shortly tell his Reader what he hath done therefore I thought meet to hint a little of what each of the three aforementioned Priests as well J. C. as the other two said that the Reader may not only hear they spoke but see something of what was spoken by every one of them and I thought in most safe to publish what was
comes to the Father but by him In the same Way and by the same Rule viz. the Spirit in and by which they walked who had not the Scriptures walked they who gave forth the Scriptures not only before they gave forth the Scriptures but afterwards in the same Way and by the same Rule have they walked do and shall they walk who have come do or shall come to live the Life the Scriptures declare of and not one of these who lives the Life the Scriptures testifie of make the Scriptures void as J. C. falsly suggesteth who thereby hath manifested his Ignorance both of the Scriptures and of the Power of God being one of those unlearned who wrests the Scriptures to their own Destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 And for his saying The Scriptures were proved the Rule it is false For the Spirit was proved the Rule and yet the Scriptures not made void J. C. in page 10 11. to prove W. P. and R. H. confute themselves and so saith he down goes the whole Body of Quakerism affirms That Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith Historical and Saving Faith are not opposite where-ever there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same There is the same Law and Rule to wicked Men as to godly Men the same Scripture which breeds Historical Faith breedeth Saving Faith but neither one nor the other without the Spirit of God Reply Now if this Tale he true that Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and that upon this point Down must go the whole Body of Quakerism Then I argue thus He that hath Historical Faith hath Saving Faith if they be one as J. C. says they are and not opposite then there is no difference betwixt a Dead Faith and a Living Faith a Faith without Works and a Faith that hath Works J. C. saith They are not two nor opposite where-ever saith he there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same Is it not as broad as long where-ever then there is Historical Faith there is Saving Faith for saith J. C. They are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and the Rule is one and the same But doth not this contradict the Scripture and give the Apostle James the Lye Who saith Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain Man that Faith without Works is dead James 2.19 20. What saith J. C Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith What is this but to say the Faith of vain and wicked Men and the Belief of Devils and the Faith of God's Elect are not opposite not two Faiths but one Faith J. C's assertion plainly holds forth this Doctrine That there is no difference nor opposition between Historical Faith and Saving Faith Faith without Works and Faith which hath Works Dead Faith and living Faith the Faith of Wicked Men and the Faith of God's Elect. I will not say J. C. is a Ranter in Practice But let the Reader judge whether J. C. be not a Ranter in Principle For J. C. cannot deny but that Devils and wicked Men believe there is a God and that the belief of Devils and wicked Men is not saving and that wicked Men whose Faith is not saving but vain believe the History of the Scriptures Now whether the historical Faith of vain and wicked Men and the saving Faith of God's Elect be not opposite be not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith let Truth in all People judge Likewise observe how grosly J. C. contradicts himself for he says Neither the one nor the other doth the Scriptures breed without the Spirit of God If they be one and another they are two if they be two J. C. gives himself the Lye who before said They were not two but one and he makes God's Spirit the Author of them both And again he saith The Spirit in both concurreth and maketh use of the Scriptures in this he concludes them to be two for J. C. saith In both that is in both Faiths Historical and Saving Again J. C. saith Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths are not opposite Now the Verb are is plural and speaks of more then one So all along though J. C. deny them to be two he concludes them to be two Faiths and wofully contradicts himself and instead of throwing down the whole Body of Quakerism is sadly confounded Historical Faith is one thing the Drunkard Lyar Whoremonger Deceiver may have it or he that hath made shipwrack of that Faith which is saving and of a good Conscience may yet have historical Faith that is he may acknowledge there is a God But Saving Faith is another thing this Faith all Men have not 2 Thess 3.2 but God visits all with his Spirit and Power in order to give saving Faith but many resist the Visitation of God and perish in their Gain saying the Destruction of all such is of themselves and the Lord God is Clear Of historical Faith the History may be a Rule but of saving Faith the Mystery is a Rule The Spirit gives saving Faith and the Spirit is the Rule of it and this will stand over the Head of J. C. and his Ranting Principle And in his bold attempt he hath neither hurt W. P. nor R. H. nor the Quakers but has manifested his Distraction and given himself the Down-fall and his Confusion is laid open that the Reader if unprejudiced may see what an Unskilful Confounded Babylonish Builder J. C. is J. C. saith pag. 15. The Quakers prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures and call their own Writings by this Title The Word of God This was another thing asserted by J. C. at the Dispute to prove the Quakers Religion against the Scriptures Reply I answered at the Dispute and again say The Charge is false the Quakers do not prefer their Writings above the Scriptures of Truth nor call them The Word of God neither did any place in their Books which he read and were owned nor Quotation which he hath given in his Relation prove any such thing I owned and we own and dearly esteem the Scriptures of Truth Friendly Reader This false and malicious Charge of John Cheyney's is lately clearly answered by William Gibson in his before-mentioned Book entituled The Life of God which is the Light and Salvation of Men Exalted which Answer take as followeth By which thou mayest see clearly that the People called Quakers do not prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures Concerning the Holy Scriptures or Bible and concerning the Quakers Books JOhn Cheney in thy 8th and 9th page of thy Premonition to thy Sermons of Hypocrisie thou chargest the People called Quakers That they esteem their Books and Writings to be of Equal Authority with the Scriptures or Bible
Lord of Lords the Almighty God blessed over all for ever and for evermore So then the Quakers ever were and are clear from teaching Rebellion or Treason against the King or his Government And is it not plain their Principle and Practice is to do good unto all Men whether Rulers or Ruled as much as in them lieth And is it not plain that J. C. who thus wickedly slanders and belyes the Quakers is a Man of that spirit who would drink up the Quakers Blood and remove them out of the King's Government if it were but in his Power But Limits are set for the proud Waves and the high Thoughts of the Hypocrites shall perish and they that walk in the Light shall be saved and all their Goings established The Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk by which they are taught and led leads and teaches them to fulfil the fifth Commandment by giving Honour to Parents in the Lord and obeying them in all things that is well-pleasing to the Lord in which they feel the Promise of God Eternal Life and so they make not void the fifth Commandment as J. C. wickedly saith Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk by which they are taught and led teach them to abolish the Scriptures nor subvert the Rule of Duty between Masters and Servants between Husbands and Wives between Parents and Children between Ministers and People as J. C. hath slandered the Quakers But the Light leads and teaches the Quakers to live the Life the Scriptures declare of to the fulfilling of them and to inform Masters and Servants Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Ministers and People of the Rule of their Duty to God and one another by turning their Minds from Darkness to Light that God placing his Fear in their Hearts and ordering them all by his Light and Spirit in their inward Parts they might all know the Rule of their Duty and walk in it one towards another and so exalt it by walking in it and living the Life of it before one another and to exhort them that are turned to the Light to walk in it and do their Duty to God and one another fully that the Life of Love and Purity may shine through them all over all to the Glory of God And therein to wit the Light and Spirit of Christ Masters walking will forbear threatning their Servants and do unto them that which is just and equal knowing their Master is Christ with whom there is no Injustice nor Oppression Servants therein walking will be obedient to their Masters in all things not with Eye-service as Men-pleasers but as the Servants of Christ doing the Will of God in singleness of Heart knowing that of the Lord they shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance Peace with God Husbands therein walking will love their Wives as their own Body for he that loveth his Wife loveth himself Wives therein walking will submit themselves unto their Husbands and to them be subject as it is comely in the Lord And both Husbands and Wives will then live together in Love as they are Heixs together of the Grace of Life 1 Pet. 3.7 Parents therein walking will not provoke their Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Children therein walking will obey their Parents in all things that is well-pleasing to the Lord. Ministers therein walking every one as they have received the Gift from God will minister and speak as the Oracle of God that God in all things may be glorified and be blameless and pure holy Ministers of Christ without Rebuke shining as Lights in the World People therein walking will be at Peace among themselves and patient towards all Men and have the Ministers of Christ in Esteem and Love for their Work 's sake who admonish and labour in the Power of God amongst them and declare the Word of Truth to them over whom they have a Care and Oversight in the Lord being of that Faith which gives Victory over the World the end of whose Conversation is Eternal Life So then in the Light and Spirit of Christ all that believe and walk perform their Duty to God to one another and to all People and honour and exalt the Everlasting Rule in living a Life unspotted of the World and so of God are abundantly blessed Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are taught and led lead and teach them to pluck down Prayer Root and Branch or pray none at all or to pray Curses and Blasphemies as J. C. wickedly slanders them But it viz. the Light leads and teaches the Quakers to pray to God aright to pray in the Holy Ghost for of themselves they know not how to pray as they ought to pray but the Spirit it self maketh request for them according to the Will of God and they do pray to God in Spirit and with an Understanding and God who is Light who is a Spirit hears them and answers their Prayers and is a Father unto them and daily gives them that thing which is convenient and feeds them with the Bread of Life which is their Meat indeed whereby they are strengthned to perform in all things the Will of God and renews their Love and Obedience to God the earnest of whose Spirit is in their Hearts assuring them of an Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ for the full enjoyment and possession of which they daily pray to God in his Spirit to preserve them and keep them worthy to the end that they may fully inherit that Crown of Glory which God in his appointed time will put upon all them that sincerely and fully love him And so Prayer by the Quakers Doctrine and also by their Practice is to God to be put up and offered in the Spirit of God by all that truly fear God and the Rule of that Prayer which God hears and answers is God's Spirit and in the Spirit of God the Rule all that pray to God bless God and speak well of his Name and exalt God the Light the true Light Lord of all over all and finds with God Acceptance and are of God blessed with Eternal Life Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are led and taught lead and teach the Quakers to say Every Man may make as good if not a better Bible than this we have or affirm The Light in every Man to be a part of God as a Drop of Water fetcht from the Ocean is part of it as J. C. falsly accuseth them but the Light leads and teaches Quakers to say The Light in every Man wherewith Christ hath enlightned all Men is the Life of the Word the Spirit of God and Christ proceeding from God of God's Essence not divided from God as a Drop of Water may be from the Ocean For the Essence and God-head cannot be
Days we intend to leave this City and pass to Graves-end where we purpose to take Shipping for Holland having a Concern upon us to visit the Low-Countries c. Things here at London are pretty well William Rogers and his Party are here we had a Meeting with them Yesterday which lasted nigh 12 Hours and about 7 this Morning begins again the Lord's Power was over all Glory to his Name for ever So with my cordial Love once more Saluting you all I am your Faithful Brother Roger Haydock London 28th of the 2d Month 1682. DEar P. H. J. A. C. M. C. J. K. E. K. and all my Beloved Friends in Holland To you all in the Covenant of Light who are Called and Chosen of God to be Heirs of Salvation and Life is the tender Salutation of my Love ever to you who are the Circumcision to whom the Adoption and Covenant appertains who are bound to keep the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus your Circumcision being that of the Heart and of the Ear that you may hear and do the Law of God which is written upon the Tables of your Hearts and be Witnesses of the bringing in of the better Hope which makes perfect as appertaining to the Consciences upon each of you Beloved in God and Christ my Love opens freely my Life greets you often your Remembrance lives with me you are near me in Life and in abiding Love is your Remembrance refreshing to me As a Brother my Heart is open to you the Breathings of my Life are for you that the Circumcised Adopted and Chosen amongst you may keep the Everlasting Covenant God hath made with you that you may not only be the Called but also the Chosen Faithful and True who continue to the end and be saved through the Effects of the Hope brought in which whosoever hath it purifieth himself even as he the Author of the Hope and Salvation is pure For my Beloved Friends we are not ignorant how that many have made their Circumcision Uncircumcision being turned with the Dogg to their vomit and with the Sow that was washed to the wallowing in the Mire and that too too many have broken Covenant with the Lord and cast his divine Law behind their backs being turned from the Grace of God into Lasciviousness and from Truth into a Lye and in the Lasciviousness and Lye have stood up to oppose the Grace and gainsay the Truth their end will be Destruction their Damnation slumbereth not We think it not strange that we meet sometimes with Exercises of this kind to wit Perils amongst false Brethren Satan's Transformings and the falling away of some who are gone out from us For the Apostle speaks of a Falling away that the Son of Perdition should be made manifest and again it 's said They went but from us that they might be made manifest that they were not of us When Eve and Adam fell away from God they died the Death the Devil and Satan was made manifest When Man went or fell from Truth to the Lye the Lyar was made manifest when Judas fell away the Son of Perdition was made manifest And there hath been a falling away from Truth to the Lye from God to the Devil from Christ to Belial and through the falling away is the Lye Devil and Belial made manifest in their Flesh whose Spirits fall away Now as through their falling away the Son of Perdition is made manifest so are they made manifest to us to be Sons of Belial who are in the Gall of Bitterness and Band of Iniquity and from the Gall which they are in bitter Fruits are brought forth by them being Men of corrupt Minds as to the Faith Reprobates And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these Men resist the Truth they are Enemies to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ I doubt not my Friends but that you have had your share of Exercise with some who are gone out from you or from the Truth which is your Life who probably may yet for some time have Assembled with you that they might give you the greater Exercise who themselves being of corrupt Minds have endeavoured to corrupt others and Judas like with a Kiss betray Truth into the Hands of Sinners and draw the weak and unstable into the Snare with them making the Weak to err and turning the Feeble out of the way which is a grief to the Upright-hearted Not but that they see that as Judas's Kiss could not cover his Treachery no more can their Kisses cover their Treachery for of all the Faithful whose Eyes are in their Head Christ they are seen and judged But for the sakes of the Weak and Feeble deluded by them and of the place it gives to the Devil and great occasion to the World to Blaspheme God his Truth and People it hath made sad the Heart which God hath not made sad However my Friends in and through these and all other your Exercises God hath been with you sanctifying Tribulations to you and confounding those that have set themselves against you on the one hand and on the other have they fallen that troubled you To God who is on your side be all the Praise What now remains to us who know the Righteous God pleads our Innocent Cause and that our Righteousness is of the Lord but that each of us who stand take heed lest we fall and that we use all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure before we go hence and be no more seen Let the feeble Knees amongst you be made strong that not one that is halting may be turned out of the way and let the strong of you be more strong You Fathers and Elders that know him that was from the beginning and you young Men and Brethren who are strong who have overcome the wicked One in you the Word of God abiding Being as the Watch-Men in Israel amongst the Circumcision and as Saviours upon Mount Zion unto the hindermost of them who worship God in Spirit And all of you who are Abraham's Children to whom Circumcision was given who was to Circumcise himself the Males in his House his Sons and his Servants bought with his Money Be you all Circumcised and when all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit is done away then keep you Covenant with God whose the Circumcision is who hath given you the answer of a good Conscience For as Circumcision in the Flesh appertained to the First Covenant and they that were Circumcised were bound to keep the Law of the First Tables so Circumcision in the Spirit appertains to the Second Covenant and the Circumcised are bound to keep the Law of the Second Table And those that will lose their Life they through Death shall come to have Life And such are Witnesses that the New Creature avails so that all the Circumcision may have that which avails the New Creature which is Created after God in Righteousness and perfect Holiness for
keep them Clofe Now we desire thee to satisfie us out of the New Testament and give us Chapter and Verse for these things which thee and you practice and let us see where it is written for the Apostle tells you you are not to presume above what is written as thou may'st see in 1 Cor. 4.6 for thou being a Bishop oughtest to satisfie us in a Scripture way And so we thy Prisoners desire thy Epistle and satisfaction from thee by the Scripture of the New Testament For our not paying thee Tithes the Lord knows is not for Covetousness or Rebellion but for Conscience sake to our God knowing that Christ said to his Disciples Freely you have received freely give as thou mayst see in Matth. 10. And what was set before them that they might Eat and if thou or any of thy Ministers if they be Ministers of the Gospel and abide in Christ's Doctrine we will receive them and thee into our Houses and set before you Meat and Drink and you shall freely Eat and Drink of our Carnal Things if you have any Spiritual Things to minister to us And did ever Christ or his Apostles cast any into Prison without Admonishing of them as thou hast done us Let us see where it is written So we leave our Cause with the Lord And as we are thy Prisoners having laid these things before thee whether thou wilt give thy Epistle and shew us Chapter and Verse for thy Practice or if thou canst not be silent Or whether thou wilt continue us or set us at Liberty we leave them with thee and rest satisfied For though in the World we have Tribulation yet in him that overcame the World we have Peace which the World cannot take away in which we rest whose names are Roger Haydock Heskin Fell Prisoners The third Person by them imprisoned and complained against because she had Liberty who by course of Law was released yet a Suit depending and therefore a Sufferer for her Testimony who with us we joyn in what we have writ Her name is Alice Haydock Lancaster Castle the 17th of the 8th Month 1676. A Brief ACCOUNT Of the Life Travels Sufferings and Death of Roger Haydock I Now having before me the Account at large of what Observations my dear Brother Roger Haydock in Manuscript had writ down with his own hand from the time of his Convincement to the day he was visited with Sickness could not omit communiating to all to whom this may come an Abstract thereof to manifest the Soveraignty of that Power Light and Life which made him what he was endued him with Understanding and Zeal and carried him along through his Pilgrimage both at home and abroad by Sea and Land and preserved him from the Depths of one hand from the heights of the other hand in that love which bears all things suffers through all things and reigns over all things In the 9th Month 1667. Roger Haydock was Convinced of the Truth and received it in the Love and Warmth of of it In the 2d Month following he and I being at a Meeting with Friends in Bury in Lancashire upon the 5th day of the said Month were then with five other Friends taken Prisoners and had before Robert Holt called Justice who by Mittimus committed us to the common Goal of Lantaster we Conscienciously refusing to give Bond to appear at the Sessions c. where we remained till the 28th of the 5th Month following and then were released Upon the 22d of the 11th Month 1669. he was apprehended and brought before the Justices at the Quarter Sessions at Manchester and by them for being at three Meetings in Bury fined 15 l. And upon the 12th of the 7th Month 1670. he had the exercise with his Mother and Brethren of Burying our deceased Father In the 9th Month 1671. he had a Concern in the Spirit of Christ to go into Cheshire to visit several of Friends Meetings there and then returned to his place In the 4th Month 1672. he was drawn forth to visit several of the Churches in Yorkshire and returned Afterwards 1672 and 1673. his Service lay sometimes in Yorkshire Lancashire and Cheshire but in Cheshire and Yorshire more particularly The Lord blessed his Service and Travels amongst those Churches for several People were convinced Upon the 3d of the 3d Month 1674. he was apprehended and sent to the common Goal at Lancaster for non-payment of Tithes there remained until the 12th of the 11th Month in the same Year then released In the 5th and 6th Month 1675. he visited several Churches in Cheshire Staffordshire Warwickshire Worcestersheir Herefordshire Shropshire and returned And the 23d of the 6th Month for being at a Meeting in Boulton in Lancashire he was fined 20 l. The 15th of the 7th Month following he was committed Prisoner to the common Goal at Lancaster for non-payment of Tithes by Ralph Bridock Bishop of Chester In the 8th Month following he did go to visit several Churches and returned In the 10th Month following he visited the Churches in Westmorland and returned The 20th of the 4th Month 1676. he had liberty to go into Cheshire where he had a Dispute with Priest Barber and returned In the 6th Month following by the Instigation of the said Bishop he was confined close Prisoner and it lay upon him to write to the said Bishop after which his Bonds were not so strait during the Bishop's Life The 23d of the 11th Month following he had liberty to go into Cheshire where he had a Dispute with John Cheyney Priest at Arley Hall which the Lord blessed with Success for several were Convinced He writ that Year a Book entituled The Skirmisher Confounded And in 1677. another entituled A Hypocrite Vnvailed Or a Blasphemer made manifest In the 9th Month 1677. he was many days under great Exercise and Travel of Spirit but in the end the Lord did reveal his Will unto which he submitted After he returned out of the North from visiting Friends there in the 5th Month 1677. The 13th of the 12th Month 1678. after the Bishop's Death he was releas'd so that he was a Prisoner from the 15th of the 7th Month 1675 to the 13th of the 12th Month 1678. Three Years four Months and twenty nine Days save what Liberty was allowed him which Liberty he greatly improved to the Honour of God who alone shall have the Praise In the same Year he was drawn to visit many of the Churches of Christ in the South to and again to Bristol and so for London and back into the North and so was constant in publishing the Gospel and bearing witness to the Light and Truth within in many places in this Nation bearing also a faithful Testimony against that Spirit which led into the Separation from Truth and the Unity of Friends and those tainted therewith having thereof a clear discerning as many can bear witness The 30th of the 3d Month 1679. he pass'd for London and through several