believe in Jesus Christ of which number we take our selves to be have the Spirit of Jesus Christ Rom. 8. 9 dwelling in them 1 Cor. 3. 16. Which Spirit is God Acts 10. 3. 5. compared with vers 19 20. and therefore Eternal Dout. 33. 27. and he who gave forth the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 3. 16. But we do not believe that there is any substantial essential or personal union betwixt this Eternal Spirit and such Believers For such Unions would either make the Spirit and Believers some third thing as when soul and body are united a third thing which is neither soul nor body but compounded of both ariseth from it which is called Man or else thee will be a confounding of substance which cannot be for God cannot mix with the Creature And else such Union if it should be Personal as betwixt the two Natures in Christ would make Believers God and equal with Christ and consequently equal with God himself The Consequence of which would be thatsuch Persons would have an Almighty Power which they might put forth in working as many miracles as they please as they may see it make for the Glory of God and that they would be omniscient and know all things and would have the rest of Gods Atributes as Christ had who was God andequal with God and in whom this Personal Union was But this is palpsbly false in reference to Saints and is full of Blasphemy And though we believe that the Spirit of Christ dwels in Saints yet we assert the Spirit of Christ to be distinct from the Saint and the Saints from the Spirit And though he dwells in the Saints yet he acts not in them but as it pleaseth him neither doth he impart Wisdom Power Grace and Glory but as it pleaseth him 1 Cor. 12. 7. to 12. And though there be the same Spirit in all Saints that gave sorth the Scriptures yet all Saints have not the same Inspiration of the Spirit which the Prophets and Apostles had so as they should be able to give forth infallible Truths and immediatly discover the pure and clear will of God as the Prophets and Apostles did Timothy had the Spirit of God yet he must give attendance to Reading 1 Tim. 1. 13. and 2 Tim. 1. 14. 15. He must continue in the things he had learned and had been assured of knowing of whom he had learned them And the holy Scriptures which of a child he had the knowledge of are those Writings to which the Apostle sends him as being able to make him wise to Salvation The Spirit within him did not dictate all things to him but he must have recourse to the Scriptures God dwelt in the Temple but God did not make out all his Glory in the Temple Sometimes there was no Glory at all that was visible and yet God was there and when there was Glory there was not all that might have been And Believers are the Temple of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of God dwels in them but God doth not make out all his glory in them not all the Glory his Wisdom Power Holiness or of the rest of his Attributes For neither is there a capacity in the Crreature to receive it neither doth the Spirit communicate according to the capacity but it is reserved for another time and place and now every Saint is in weakness and infirmity as in Knowledge so in all other Graces 1 Cor. 13. 9. to 13. Querie 2. Whether the Apostles did give a right meaning Concerning the sense of the Scriptures to the Scriptures when they gave them forth or left them to you to give the meaning of them yea or no Answ The Apostles and so all the Penmen of Scriptures in all the Scriptures they gave forth had a meaning and they gave it forth in and with those Scriptures which they gave forth yet not alwayes so plainly that the meaning thereof might be rightly taken up by those that read them unless compared with some other Scriptures which they also have given out which have a plainer sense in them and are helpful to expound them 1 Cor. 2. 13. Christ saith unto the Jews who required a Sign Ioh. 2. 19. Destroy this Temple and in three daies I will raise it up again Christ had a sense in which he meant those words he understood what himself said but the Iews understood it not could not take up the sense but applyed the words to a Material Building But the Evangelist gives the right sense in which Christ intended them and we come to know the right sense not by the signification of the words themselves for more things are signified then one by one word as the word Temple signifieth plainly and properly a material house where God gave his Presence and was worshipped but siguratively and mystically the Body of man in which the Soul dwels In this metaphorical sense Christ meant it But this did not appear to them nor would it have appeared to us by the signification of the word if in another place of Scripture the Evangelist had not given the interpretation Ioh. 2. 21 22. The Apostle Peter tels us 2 Pet. 3. 16. that some things in Paul Epistles were hard to be understood which they which were unlearned and unstable did wrest to their own destruction There was a sense which Paul gave forth in those Seriptures in his Epistles but it was not easie but hard to be understood and so hard that they who were unlearned in the Scriptures not well read therein not well vers'd not well acquainted therewith did wrest them and unstable ones by reason of the difficulty that was in the sense of them did pervert them to their own and others ruin Christ in his Parables that he gave out which are part of Scripture had a meaning But the meaning was so mystical and hidden that the Diseiples could not have found it out if Christ himself in other words had not given the sense and meaning thereof And Moses the Prophets wrote of Christ so darkly obscurely that though themselves knew what they meant in what they wrote Iohn 12. 41 yet others did not the Disciples did not till Christ first expounded unto them the things which Moses and the Prophets wrote of him Luk 24. 26 27. Therefore it is that Christ commmands to search the Scriptures because the meaning lieth deep in many places and is hidden from the common eye yet by searching what Scriptures layd together speak the sense may be gotten out In Answer therefore to the Question the Apostles when they gave out the Scriptures they gave out the sense in some places more darkly in other places more clearly so that the sense and meaning may be taken up at least in all the great Points of Faith if Scriptures be compared with each other And they have not left them to us nor to any others to give the sense of them that is to put any sense of
above the Apostle and able to judge his condition because you say he was not perfect It is a senceless foolish causeless Question because he judged nothing of the Apostles condition but perverted what the Apostle judged of his own condition for it is his own words of himself which are spoken in the above mentioned place not our words of him Not saith he as though I had already apprehended or were already perfect We relate his words And do we exalt our selves in it above him and judge his condition As for his speaking of Wisedom among those who were perfect that proves not his perfection of which the Question runs nor indeed doth it prove any perfection at all which excludes all sin which is that which they drive at in making mention of it There is a comparative perfection which some attain unto which the Apostle intends in that place There are some that are in their way towards it and have made a good progress and are still passing thitherward these are perfect in comparison of the rude wild world and of such who are onely babes in Christ He that can bridle his tongue is a perfect man as James affirms not absolutely perfect for the heart may be unruly though the tongue be restrained but comparatively perfect because there are not many who can do it amongst such perfect ones Paul speaks wisdom but not amongst absolute Perfectists Querie 6. Whether you have the hidden wisdom which God Concerning Christ in Saints in what sense they have him and in what sense not ordained before the World was which the Apostle speaks of yea or no Answ This hidden Wisdom which God ordained before the world was which the Apostle speaks of in 1 Cor. 2. 7. is CHRIST for he is called the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. and he is hidden also for he was in the World and the World knew him not and he came unto his own and his own received him not Joh. 1. 11. 12. For though they said they knew him and whence he was yet Christ told them That they neither knew him nor his Father nor whence he was nor whither he went For though they knew him as he was man yet the Divinity which was vailed in his flâ—sh they saw noâ— neither could see for flesh and blood revealed it not but the Father as Christ told his Disciples and it is clear from the above-mentioned place which he alludes to in this Question that Christ is the person that is called The hidden wisdom which God erdained For the Apostle saith vers 8. Had they known it they would never have crucified the Lord of glory Now if Christ be this hidden Wisdom then the Question runs of Christ whether we have him yea or no Our Answer to it is this What we are will appear in time but if we be Believers we have him for all Believers have him for he dwells in their hearts by faith Eph. 3. 17. For faith receives him Joh. 1. 12. And who ever hath one of the three hath all the three dwelling in him If Saints have the holy Ghost as was granted in the first Question Then they have Christ also nay they could not have the Spirit if they had not Christ for Christ sends him yet it must be understood in a spiritual sense that they have Christ and not in a literal and carnal They have Christ standing in relation to them and they to him as the members have the head because they are united to it and it to them and as branches have the Vine and the Vine the branches because united to one another And they have Christs influence upon them and Christ in those influences And they have the vertue and power of his Spirit put forth in them in such measure as pleaseth him but always in part and not in perfection 1 Cor. 13. 12. and therein they have him But they have not Christ in flesh or the flesh of Christ dwelling in them for that was taken up into Heaven and will be there contained till the restitution of all things But they intend this Question of an higher way of having Christ and they dream that they themselves have him in a higher way and that neither we nor any others but themselves have him in that way They imagine such an having of Christ as the flesh of Christ had God or as the humanity of Christ had the Godhead The flesh of Christ had God in such sort that it was wholy comprehended of God and taken up into oneness of Person with him so as that the infinite power and wisdom and holiness of God was put forth many times in flesh and always when the flesh that is when the humanity acted any thing it was in perfection of compliance with God which was in it and comprehended it Such an having of Christ as this they conceit in reference to themselves that as the Godhead had the flesh so they have the Godhead which supplies with all Wisdom Knowledge Graces of all kindes strength holiness and with every thing so that they neede nothing that is external neither Scripture nor Ordinances or Teachers but Christ whom they have within them is sufficent for all things and unto all purposes and makes them perfect as Christ is as God is Now such an having of Christ as this is we assume not nor dare assume And we declare against it as a Satanical delusion to which God hath left these poor Creatures who have forsaken him They would be as God as Christ the Devil tempts them to it as at first he did our first Parents tells them that they are so and so they cast off his Institutions Ordinances Servants which he sends in his name and him in them Querie 7. Whether you have heard the voice of the liveing Concerning immediate voyces whether there be any such immediate voyces now as of old time to the Prophets and Apostles Or concerning immediate inspiration God of Heaven and Earth or whether you do not take the Prophets words Christs words and the Apostles words and say he saith it when saith the Lord I never spoke to you Answ This Question consists of two parts The former part demands of us Whether we be persons immediately inspired in what we deliver For the voyce which they en quire after is some voyce that immediately comes from God such as came to the Patriarks to Moses to Samuel to all the Prophets to Christ and to all the Apostles The Jews would confess that God spake with Moses and we Christians will acknowledge that God spake both with Moses and with Christ for all Scripture was given by Inspiration of God and holy men of old spake as they were inspired by the holy Ghost And this we assert in reference to the New Testament as well as in reference to the old because God by signs and wonders and with divers Miracles hath given Witness thereunto Now our Answer is That such a voyce
for the Ministery Or if some of them were Apostles qualifications which were to go into all the world to preach the Gospel and did therefore stand in need of tongues yet they were not Pastors and Teachers qualifications which are fixed to certain places and people Such gifts as were then given were testimonials that Christ was received to the Glory of the Father and did sit at his right hand and that all power was given him to Heaven and Earth according as he spake when he was upon the Earth Secondly There might be as forcible an argument fetch against all Christianity if words be taken up in the Letter in which they run as against Ministery Mark 16 17. Those signs shall follow them that believe in my name they shall cast out Devils they shall speak with new tongues and many other things it is said they should do and they did so in the Primitive times very many of them and perhaps all had one extraordinary gift or another as 1 Cor. 12. 7. The man ifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall to one in one kind and to another in another kind And therefore when Paul met with Disciples at Ephesus the first Question that he asked them was whetherthey had received the holy Ghost since they believed As if suchgifts of the holy Ghost had been so connexed to Faith that they could not be separated the one from the other shall we therefore reason from hence that because these signs are not now accompanying those that profels Faith that there are no Believers to be found in these latter Ages We may as rationally and with as much and more colour of Scripture reason after such manner as these persons do against Ministery Besides the Apostle speaks of Ministery which some persons have received Rom. 12. 7. and requires a waiting upon it and he that teacheth must wait upon his teaching and he that exhorteth must wait upon his exhortation Here is not only an outward teaching allowed which the persons who shaped these questions oppose but an outward teaching by office is enjoyned which some others that are no Quakers are ready enough to withstand For if it should be meerly by a gift which some will grant though they deny Office How comes it that the Injunction is to wait upon it For though it be not expresly in the Original yet it is necessarily implyed that there may be sense made of it and how comes an injunction of maintenance Gal. 6. 6. from him that is taught to him that teacheth if teaching be not by Office be not waited upon and made the special work of some persons And how comes the Apostle to raise a living to some persons from their preaching when he saith that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel and saith also that so the Lord hath ordained it 1 Cor. 9. 14. and if persons make it not their office and wait upon it as upon their office if only they preach by vertue of a gift that they have or think that they have and exercise it at their pleasure will the Apostle have such men live upon the Gospel that so preach it Or why doth the Apostle fetch an argument from them that served at the Altar whohad their livelihood thence to prove a living upon the Gospel Preached if such who were to Preach the Gospel were not Ministerially and by office to do it For those who lived upon the things of the Temple and upon the Altar were Priests and Levites and Ministers of the Old-Testament Were all these Directions and Instructions which respect Office Temporary and Transitory Then may the whole Gospel in all the Injunctions and Commandments of it be made a Temporary and a Transitory Gospel Or can any rational person conceive how Preaching is like to be kept up and to be on foot any long time if some persons be not appointed to wait upon it and if it be not laid upon some persons as their work Or what certainty can the people be at concerning supply that way if none be engaged to it And how weakly is Preaching likely to be carried when none attend upon it nor give themselves over unto it The Apostles who had incomparable endowments beyond any who live now did yet give themselves to prayer and to the Ministry of the Word And shall not those who fall greatly below them be much rather wholly devoted to that service when as the work is so weighty if it be carried as it ought to be that it requires the whole of man But I believe these dayes wherein there is such arguing against Ministry and such pleading for the Preaching of gifted men were Prophesied of by Paul 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. where 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. which respects the heaping up of Teachers opened he saith that the time shall come when they will not endure sound Doctrine But after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the Truth and they shall be turned unto fables It is observed that the Greek word that is translated heaping doth import three things 1. An ardent study to acquire many Teachers 2. A rash and heady gathering together of many Teachers without any solid judgement exercised 3. A confused multitude of such as are gathered together imployed And it may be further observed what manner of persons they be that shall heap together Teachers after this manner and what grounds they go upon First They are such who will not endure sound Doctrine Secondly they are such who please their own lusts and fancies in the Teachers whom they heap together to themselves Thirdly They are such who have itching ears who affect to hear many and no one nor a few will serve their turn they hear one and another without being satisfied after the manner of those who have an itch upon them Fourthly They turn away their ears from the Truth and are turned to Fables that is any thing that is new though it be a very fable and have no truth in it is thirsted after by them old truths will not please so well they leave them and turn after these It is also worthy to be considered how Teachers come to be multiplyed that there is such an heap of them why the wantonness loosness and vanity of the spirit of the People which will not endure the strictness of the care and vigilancy of Pastors and Teachers and have also itching ears shall multiply them and pile them up one upon another like an heap the lusts of the people make many Preachers more then any thing else And these persons that are so wanton that they must have many are yet such who will not have some viz such who are solid and preach the Truth For this Text saith they turn away their ears from the Truth where it is solidly held forth and are turned after fables Nothwistanding that there is a
expresly till Christ come 1 Cor. 11. 26. And let all take heed least slighting Seals and gracious Covenants they be hereafter accompted despisers of Gods Grace which will be reckoned amongst the greatest sins Secondly Concerning our outward teaching I have declared already in part the necessity of it It is the ordinary way Concerning outward teaching and Ministery by which a people that are in darkness are brought to light Mat. 4. 13 14. Act. 26. 16 17 18. It is the way and means by which the deep and profound and many most sweet and necessary Truths of Scripture come to be understood Acts 8. 30 31. It is the means which God hath appointed for the bringing of men to Faith Rom. 10. 14 17. It is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1. 16. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who do believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. Upon which accompt it is that the Apostle concludes wo unto himself if he preach not the Gospel of Christ 1 Cor. 9. 16. It is the means of exalting Christ which made the Apostle so much to rejoyce that Christ was preached though from an envious Spirit Phil. 1. 18. And hence it is that God in all times and ages in which he hath had a Church hath had such which have preached and taught the people as James observed in that speech of his in the Councel Act. 15. 21. Moses saith he of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogue every Sabbath-day And must Christ be worse provided for then Moses no Christ himself was a Preacher of himself Luk. 4. 18. Mat. 4. 23. and he gave Commission to his Disciples to preach and sent them into all the World for that purpose Mat. 18. 19. and in them he commissioned others in all Ages to the end of the World for he promised his presence to the end of the world and consequently not to them only which were not to continue so long but to such also who should succeed them impreaching If any one should attempt to make this place invalid by interpreting the words which are translated to the end of the World to be meant only to the end of that Age because of the diversity of the sense that is put upon the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated World and sometimes signifies Age to shew the weakness thereof I shall only give this hint these words together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used for the end of the World in a plain proper sense in many places of Scripture as Mat. 13. 39 40. aâ—d cap 24. 3. Heb 9. 26. and I know not that they are together used in any other sense Secondly It seems to be too gross and wicked to restrain Christs presence to an Age much more the things that are given in charge to be preached and observed vers 20. as if one only Age were to observe Christs Commands for howsoever the Apostles were the Persons that immediately received the Commands and had the Promise yet there is a further scope in Christs words and a clear intimation of the continuation of the work by others who should succeed after they should cease to be For sutable to this is that charge which Paul gives to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 13 14. I give theâ— charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Iesus Christ c. that thou keep this Commandment without spot irrebukably until the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ Was Timothy to continue til the appearing of Jesus Christ or is there not another thing implyed viz. that Timothy should have successors in that work to whom Paul gives the charge as well as to him and lays it upon them to keep the same Commandment And because it is one work Paul speaks to them all as to one man and so did Christ in the Commission above mentioned And Christ ascended up on high and gave gifts to men and he appointed some Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery and for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the falness of Christ Eph. 4. 11 12 13. that is till all Saints come to a State of Perfection so as neither to be subject to errour nor to sin which is not attainable in this World Christ was born in weakness and littleness of stature as other men and he grew up to a perfect man the Apostle alludes to this Saints are growing up whilest they are here in knowledge and in all spiritual Gifts and Graces till nothing be wanting of that proportion which God hath appointed for them which is not in this life And Ministery must last while Saints are in their growing state while any thing is wanting of the measure they must come unto Object But ministerial gifts are not now to be found in the world such which the Ministers of the Gospel had in the Primitive times the Apostles were not to go forth into the world but were to tarry at Ierusalem though they had a Commission to Preach the Gospel in all Nations till they were first endued with power from on high that is till they were annoynted with the holy Ghost as was done at the time of Pentecost as is mentioned Act. 2 1 2 3. c. then had they the Spirit given them and were enriched greatly with gifts by which they were enabled to discharge that service they were called unto so Gal. 3. 5. the person that preached the Gospel had the ministring of the Spirit but now no such gifts therefore no such work ministerial as was then nor any such Officers as Pastors Teachers c. as was then Answ First When the Apostle Paul layeth down the qualification of Bishops or Elders for they are one he mentions many things respecting a good conversation and some other things respecting a right dispensation he must be â—ound in the Faith and setled and established in the Truth and mighty in the Scriptures that he may convince gainsayers and inclinable to communicate what gift he hath by an aptness to teach and he must be good and upright in his life in all things But not one word proceeds from the Apostle of any extraordinary gifts wherewith he is to be endued but a total silence in that point Now if such an anointment had been necessary with such an absolute necessary as that without it there could be no Bishops no Pastors and Elders of any kind at all how comes it that the Apostle omits the mention of so main a thing which is made the principal when he nominates many other things Therefore that anointment which the Apostles had and thole gifts wherewith they were enriched they served for other ends then to qualifie them
Dear friend Christian I have sent you a little book read it without partiality and you may see deceit discovered My wife desires you to present her service to her Master and Mistress and all the children and her love unto you and all the servants We are both well and our child grows fast As for me as I begun with my dear love unto you all so I end For I dare not complement because it is a Custom of the World Farewell A Copy of an answer to the forementioned Letter written in the name of the Church of Duckenfield now meeting in Stopport and sent unto the wife of Richard Waller for the setling and establishing of her in the faith of Christ being a member of the forementioned Church wherein all such Scriptures which were brought to prove an absolute Perfection and Quaking are Interpreted and the true sense given to them and freed from such corrupt fense for which they are alledged Sister Waller YOu are very precious to us though your miscarriage against God and us hath been very great We are apt to hope that the Lord either hath or will convince you of the sin you committed in your unadvised Marriage Which you so selfwilledly carried on against us And when your heart is kindly humbled we know you will give praise to God and justifie us And then we shall conceive as much can see of joy from your repentance as we have done grief from your sin We cannot yet think otherwise but that you do belong to the Lord And if so he will not suffer you to have rest in any evil way you have gone in till he have made you truly sensible and sorrowfull after a Godly manner which if ever you once manifest to us we shall with as much tenderness own you as in any time heretofore For you are very dear to us and our bowels do very much yearn after you Especially since we heard of a Letter which your husband wrote to Duckenfield which some of us have seen by which we discern what deadly poyson he hath sucked in to the undoing of his poor Soul if God be not very mercifull to him and bring him to Repentance And you also through your nearness of Relation to him are exposed to multiplicity of Temptations to forsake the faith of our Lord Jesus and to turn aside to such Satanical delusions which he is carried away with We do conceive hope that as yet the Lord hath kept you by observing one passage of his Letter which holds out your desire that your service may be presented to your Master and Mistress therein owning the relation they stood in to you and you to them which he declares against making it the worlds way and not Gods Our desire and prayer to God for you shall be that he will yet keep you even to the end And who can tell but that the Lord may bring out a great deal of good to your soul by this evil of your Husbands fearfull apostacy which his Letter holds out God may open your eyes thereby to see your sinfull haste which you made in that Marriage He may humble you for rushing upon it against Counsel he may make you to know that he was angry against you by leaving him to such fearful error of way He hath laid a sore affliction upon you by giving up one so near and dear to you to such fearfull Temptations You have offended God through him and now you must be chastned in him Be awakned be awakned and consider the Lords righteous hand in this matter The person whom you have chosen God seems to have forsaken at least for a time he is become the Devils Captive O fear you and repent you least he also forsake you But we hope better of you and our prayer is that you may be setled and established in the truth We foresee that you will be strongly sollicited He that thought himself bound to tempt persons by his Letters at so great a distance what alluring ways will not he take to cause you to forsake your integrity and to turn aside to such fleshly deceits of Satan take heed you be not bewitched with pretences and quotations of Scripture presented in the Letter there lyes the greatest danger The Devil tempted Christ by telling him that it was written and his Instruments will use the same fleights They will put false Glosses upon Scripture while they deny all senses to be put upon Scripture to deceive themselves and others thereby The Apostle Peter saith 2 Pet. 3. 16. that some that are unlearned and unstable do wrest Scripture to their own destruction and he doth warn them lest they being led away by the error of the wicked do fall from their own stedfastness by such means And we also do beseech you to beware of this Snare viz of Scripture abused by misconstructions It is a misconstruction when the construction is made to follow the sound of the words though it be never so much repugnant to other Scripture You know that all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim 3 16. And that holy men spake as they were Inspired by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. Now God is a God of Truth and the Spirit is a Spirit of Truth and cannot speak contrary things nor contradict himself therefore if there be any seeming contradiction in Scripture taken in the Letter of it we must seek after a right sense by which the seeming contradiction may be removed Your husband produceth many Scriptures to prove an absolute perfection without sin And the first Scripture he mentions is Phil. 3. 15. Let us saith Paul speaking of himself and the Philippians as many as be perfect be thus minded He Collects from hence that the Saints here have such a perfection that excludes all sin Alas poor Creature We thought he had been better acquainted with his own heart But he might have looked a little higher in the Chapter upon ver 12. and have discerned that Paul expresly denies Perfection in reference to himself Not as though I were already perfect saith he Was Paul perfect and yet was he not perfect In the Letter there is a contradiction But Paul speaking by the Spirit of God cannot contradict himself therefore we must look after the sense of the word Perfect It is many time taken for sincere 2 Kings 15. 14. Asa took not away the high places that was his failing Yet his heart was perfect In what sense perfect Was it perfect without sin Not so For it was his sin that the high places were not taken away But perfect that is Upright He did not serve God in pretence but in truth They say we must not give the sense of Scripture but must take it in the Letter but that is contrary to the examples of Scripture Those in Nehemiah 8. 8. read in the Book of the Law and gave the sense and it is necessary sometimes to avoid contradiction which is in the Letter to
witness that you are made free from the Law for the Law hath power over a man as long as he lives The Saints that did witness they were made free from the Law by the body of Christ witnessed this quaking and trembling which you with your serpentine wisdom would give senses upon them and despise but he shall not enter into the Kingdom Did not Habbakuks lips tremble and his belly quake And did not the Prophets knees knock together and quake David and Ioh their flesh trembled and so must all proud flesh he laid low and the loftiness of man be brought down and your imaginations and God alone be exalted the power that makes you to quake and tremble is now made manifest which you know not for if you did you would not give so many senses upon the Scripture and the same Power is now made manifest as ever was praised be the Lord for ever As they that saw the outside of the Vision as you speak so you see the outside of the Letter and would flie from them who have the power of the Letter as Daniel had so you see the outside but not the inside as Daniel did if you did you would not utter forth your solly ignorance and weakness the same Christ they do witness to be made manifest that makes proud flesh to tremble and the same operation and death to be brought conformable to Christ they witness but this power working in them as thou sayest thou knowest not and whereof you speak that you know them whom God spake to by Angels and Visions whom he wrought wonders by but only by a history-knowledge by Paper and Ink and there you shew your selves to be lyars for them whom you do accuse which you call Quakers the wonderous Works of the Lord are made manifest among them though that Christ wrought Miracles among the people yet they said he did it by Belzebub the Prince of Devils and thou shewest thy self to be in the same Adulterous Generation that the Scribes and Pharisees were which would have a sign or a wonder but there in none shall be shewed to thee but the sign of Jonas for an adulterous Generation seeks for a sign and there thou art Friends you say there is nothing in all the Scriptures makes out of the people meeting together as concerning trembling did not the Corinthians tremble when Titus came to preach among them and did not the Assemblies that came to Ezra tremble there is nothing in your minds of God born up in your understandings to judge withall so in your'own conceits you are satisfied and doth not the Lord say I will shake all Nations and let all the Inhabitants of the Earth tremble so ye shew forth the ignorance of the form for the power of it you cannot own nor believe where it is operating and working Friends you have uttered forth many lyes and slanders and scandalous speeches lay your hands upon your mouths blush and be a shamed who art in Cains nature murdering the righteous ones in your hearts and spewing forth your venome against a harmless people was it not the practice of the Saints to wait alone upon God for counsel for wisdom for grace and for the Spirit and being guided by the light of God they waited upon God and the Apostle exhorts them that they should take heed to the light within them until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in their hearts and no Prophesie of the Scripture came by the Will of man so it was of no private Interpretation but Holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost this moving you speak not from neither know therefore as dogs fnarle and bite them who are guided by the same Spirit and wait for the same Spirit by which we have unity with them in the same Spirit and you shew your selves to be in the number of them who use their tongues and say he saith when saith the Lord I never spoke to them but you speak a vain divinatition of your own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord gathering your selves together against the Lord and against his annointed but I am satisfied that I see your folly and weakness uttered forth which doth blind many but God is raising up a light which will discover you the Doctrine of God they own but your Doctrine which is of man they deny And if these be your Ordinances which you speak of as sprinkling Infants and telling people of a Sacrament these we deny for God never commanded them and if you draw people to these things which God never commanded you bewitch them for the Galathians were bewitched which were drawn to act these things God had not commanded when the substance was come so you do bewitch them to follow your Traditions from the sight of God within them And as touching Magistrates you are false accusers which the Scripture speaks of which have the form and not the power For all who are brought into the Truth do labour with singleness of heart unto God and not with eye-service and their souls are subject to the power of God and Justice they own and honour in their soul which cuts down filthiness and corruptions which are alive in you which makes you to give forth so many false accusations upon a harmless people who wait for the restoring of the Kingdom and the overturning the World and the Kingdoms of it and the Image of the Devil defaced in man and the Image of God renewed in Righteousness and man brought into his being from whence he was fallen and so you are yet under the dominion of Satan judging truth errour and blasphemy as ever they did which had the form and not the power in whose steps you walk seeing you have uttered forth your folly so and filthiness and call your selves the Church of Christ his Church is not a sinful Church for that you stand up for but his Church which he hath purchased with his blood is without spot or wrinkle or any such and yours is but an imitation therefore slander not the Church of Christ as they which say they are Iews and are not but are Synagogues of Satan and there you are I charge you by the Lord that you read this among all your Churches as you call it and as you will answer it before the Lord for to that in your Conscience do I speak From some Friends in the Truth whom the World calls Quakers in Lancashire Annotations upon this Reply and an Extraction of the unsavory passages contained in it THe greatest part of this Reply contains nothing but reproachfull and villifying expressions and is extremly censorious of us as of persons who have nothing but darkness in us and is self-magnifying as conceiving themselves onely in the light and having themselves and they onely the spirit And some small part of it makes mention of the very self same Scriptures which Richard Wallers Letter doth contain and of some few
to those in whom he is in light in power and grace as he will Therefore neither we nor any others have infallible judgments in all things at all times but we are subject to Errour and in many things we do not apprehend and speak aright of God of Christ of the Spirit of the Saints of our selves of the mysteries of the Gospel which are some of those things which are eternal As God said to Iobs Friends Ye have not spoken of me the things that are right as my Servant Job hath and Iob himself did darken Counsel by words without knowledge when he spake of God Notwithstanding that fallible mind and judgement that is in all men in some things and at some times yet because the Rule that is left men to judge by is an infallible sure and certain Rule which cannot deceive men and because it is a plain Rule in many things and easily understood Prov. 1. 4. and because the principles of Religion and fundamentals of Salvation are so clearly revealed in the Scripture that Babes in Christ may come to the knowledge of them therefore both we and all the Saints may in some things have an infallible judgement and may judge of things eternal with a judgement of Certainty both respecting God Christ Faith Repentance Resurrection of the dead eternal judgment and many other things How else could there be any preaching if persons could not know infallibly that in some things they hold forth they speak the Truth And how could any thing be assuredly believed if the word of Faith in the true sense of it could not infallibly be held forth and judged of And how could any Person be at a certainty concerning his own Salvation And how could any Christian seal the Truth of Christ with his blood if some things could not be judged of with an infallible judgement But whether any person having not the Spirit can have an infallible judgement to judge of things eternal by the knowledge they may get from the Scripture is the drift and scope of the question if I be able to make a judgement of it They think that none can infallibly judge of things of an eternal nature but such who have the Spirit and that we are persons that have not the Spirit and therefore cannot judge of them nor of their way and that they themselves have the Spirit and that judgement belongs to them only both of persons and of things we are but in our first birth and are carnal and know not things of an eternal Nature they are in the second birth and are spiritual and can judge all things and all men for hitherto tends a great part of a large Letter sent unto us from them by which I come to prove them in this question In answer therefore unto this I must distinguish of infallible judgement There is an infallible Judgment which may be made from the Scripture without the Spirit and there 's an infallible judgment which cannot be made from the Scripture without the spirit The Judgment that may be made from the Scripture without the Spirit infallibly respects the Doctrine which the Scripture contains to be received believed by men that they may be saved what they be and what manner of life it is that Persons ought to live that would come to Life eternal these things are clearly and plainly laid down and may easily be taken up by unprejudiced Persons who have unballanced spirits though they have not the spirit Upon this account it is that the Apostle John would not have every Spirit believed but would have the spirits tryed whether they be of God but how must they be tried unless by the Scriptures for every one will pretend the Spirit and there are many false Prophets who have the spirit of delusion and are gone forth into the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. For if the Scripture were not the judge of the Spirit in this case so far as concerns Doctrines and Manners which men have Received and learned whether they be of God or no or whether the spirit of the Devil hath not inspiried them therewith all men living would be put upon desperate uncertainties which is the Spirit that gives our the Truth and which is the spirit of Errour And they would be confounded through the multiplicity of spirits each spirit pretending to Truth and crying down the contrary as Errour Therefore the Scripture alone being of the Spirits inspiring is a light sufficient to shew the Doctrine what it is and the commandment precept what it is to one that will attend unto it without any further inspiration of the Spirit else in vain were the Scriptures at the first inspired But then again there is an infallible Judgement which cannot be made without the Spirit that is whether those Doctrines and Rules of Life which are clearly contained in the Scripture be Doctrines which proceeded from God whether God spake with Moses sent Christ to declare what he hath declared inspired the Apostles in speaking and writing what they have spoken or written or whether all these spake of themselves It is the Spirit of God alone that can give assured satisfaction concerning this The Jews and their Rulers though they saw the Miracles yet they know not Christ to be the Messiah for had they known him they would never have crucified the Lord of glory These are among those invisible things which are revealed unto us by the Spirit as the Apostle tels us 1 Cor. 2. 8 9 10. It is easie for any man that hath his reason and hath not the Spirit by reading the Scripture to conclude that Scripture makes Jesus the Son of Mary to be the Son of God and the Christ But for any man to beleeve it and build upon it as a sure truth of God this is from the Spirit flesh and blood hath not revealed this but the Father which is in Heaven Christ told Peter so Mat. 16 16. The conclusion is That the Scripture is the foundation of an insallible judgement concerning things contained in them and not the Spirit but both Scripture and Spirit must concur to give in the certainty of those things that are there contained that they may become a sure rock to be built upon for no one can say assuredly and by a spirit of Faith that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. Quere 5. Whether you be above the Apostle and able to Concerning perfection what may be granted and what not judge his condition because you say he was not perfect who said he spake wisedom among them that were perfect Answ This Question relates to a passage in our Answer to a Letter of theirs which pleaded for perfection which we had the sight of which fell into their hands and hath occasioned this Question The words of our Answer are these He might have discerned that Paul expressly denies perfection in reference to himself Phil. 3. 12. His Question hence is Are you
whom God spake and that the truth of our Doctrine may be read of all men being engraven upon such Scriptures which we make choyce of and by this means also the idle extravagances of mens wits and fancies which will never convince the conscience throughly are prevented But why is the taking of a Text quarrell'd at when yet it is confessed that Christ took a Text And doth he not therein justifie us What if the Prophets did not yet if Christ did will not his example bear out our practise But these men make light of this pattern detracting and diminishing though they know the danger of it mentioned Revel 22. 19. from the fulness of that Scripture that declares it Luk. 4. 16. to 23. They say that onely Christ read a place but the Evangelist saith That as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read and that then there was a Book delivered to him and when he had opened the Book he found the place that he would read and then closed it again and gave it to the Minister They say that Christ said it was fulfilled and as if this were all they mention no more but the Evangelist saith That the people wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth And these things are obvious from this Text they mention First there were publike places to meet in which were called Synagogues Secondly there were dayes set apart for service to be performed to God in such places which are called Sabbath dayes Thirdly there was a Minister whose work it was to read out of some book of holy Scriptures to the people to instruct them thence Fourthly it is manifest that Christ approved of all this and he liked this way so well that he himself did go and do likewise and did accustom himself to the same course of teaching the people as that which was edifying to them so that it was not once only done that Christ took a Text but oftend one his custome was to read some portion of Scripture and to preach out of it And it is evident that Christ did not onely say This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears but many gracious words proceeded from him tending as must needs be supposed by any man that hath but the use of his reason to clear it up to their capacities how that Scripture in every part of it was fulfilled by opening and unfolding the many branches of so plentiful and large a Text and shewing how all things therein related unto were accomplished in himself which might be a subject of many Moneths discourse as Christ might have followed it But these men object that Christ was anoynted to preach and demand which of us can witness that we are anoynted to preach by the living God Christs anoynting was not by the pouring of any oyl upon his head after the manner of the High Priests anoynting Psal 133. 2. which was but a shadow of a more excellent Unction which Christ had And the Prophet Psal 45. 7. doth but allude thereunto But his anoynting was by the donation of the Spirit and the gifts and graces thereof Ioh. 1. 32 33. ch 3. 34. by which he was enabled to the execution of such Offices and works to which he was called in redeeming a people to God and especially to preach the Gospel which in a very excellent and glorious way he effected Luk. 4. 22. And all the Saints receive the same spirit and gifts and graces every one according to the measure of such a part which they fill up in the body and are Kings and Priests and Prophets to themselves as Scripture calls them But those persons especially whom God calls out to be to the body in place of eyes to guide them and direct them God gives more of his grace and influence to as appears from Eph. 4. 8. He ascended up on high and gave gifts to men viz. such men as he placeth in his Church for the work of the Ministery and for the perfecting of the Saints till the end of the world therefore Christ is not anoynted alone but all whom he calls to the Ministery are anoynted also with the same spirit and gifts and graces onely he hath the preheminence and hath an anoynment above his fellows for he received not the spirit by measure as those who are his Ministers and servants now do Psal 45. 7. Ioh. 3. 34. Querie 12. Tell me why you sing Davids Conditions and Concerning singing of Scripture Psalms the Lawfulness and necessity thereof Experiences in Meeter and when you read them Hats you put on and when you sing them Hats you put off Answ Davids conditions and experiences are many times our own conditions and experiences and then we sing them not as Davids meerly but as our own by a spirit of Faith making application to our selves of what we sing out of David But many times it s otherwise that something of Davids inditing and of his state and containing his experience is the matter of our Psalms which we cannot so fitly apply to our own condition and temper and many stumble at this and are offended but it s from some darkness in themselves for Psalms are for instruction by the very design and scope of of God who dictated them and enjoyns them as the Titles of very many of them shew And the Apostle enjoyns the Saints to teach and admonish themselves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Song and what ever the matter of them be one end or use of them must be instruction to our selves from them as from any other parts of Scripture And the reasons of singing them are such as these 1. God would have us in our meetings to rejoyce in him which is done in singing 2. God would have his word to be familiar to us Col. 3. 16. it must dwell in us and this must be shewed in singing and would have us so much to delight in it and to finde such sweetness in it that we should make our selves spiritually merry with it 3. Because singing is that which raiseth the Spirit refresheth the heart moves the affections very much God would have the Spirits of his people to be raised and refreshed in the deliberate meditation of his Word what ever the subject matter be For therefore it is that the Psalms which David and other Saints compiled to be sing consist of subjects of greatest diversity and variety Some are Historical some Prophetical some are Hortatory some are Precatory others Deprecatory others Laudative or Psalms of prayse and the soul should take pleasure in all and have the heart raised in the meditation of all Do we not observe how a prophane carnal spirit will compile Songs of every kinde of matter and will make it self merry therewith And shall not a spiritual heart sing every thing that is a Psalm and is Divine and Spiritual with an elevated and raised minde Object But why most
what hours were spent in their publike service nor Concerning hours in the publike service whether those hours that were spent were spent together and at one entire meeting without intermission and parting or whether they divided their hours according to the pattern and example which they had in the Offerings and Sacrisiees of the Old Testament which were not at once and together but at discontinued times there was a morning and an evening-Sacrifice which were offered about the third and ninth hours and there was a great expediencie in it that there might be some bodily refreshing betwlxt the times and the necessity of Nature was provided for in it and Sabbath-exercises were distinguished thereby from Fasts and upon this accompt it is equitable that Christian service should be carried for time after such manner but herein Christian Prudence hath the Principal stroke for we do not judge our selves Scripturally obliged to so many hours or so distributed that some should be in the forenoon and some in the afternoon but for conveniencies-sake we practise it yet not precisely keeping to an hour And for hours in Families we Concerning time spent in holy exercises in Families have read how holy men of God have carried it in their milies Abraham commanded his children and his houshold after him and they did keep the way of the Lord Jacob he reformed his Family and purged away the Idols and all the filth from it that they might more purely serve the Lord together Josbua resolved that he and his house would serve the Lord now he could not resolve it in reference to secret worship which each apart was to perform to God but it refers to Family-duties and service which should be on foot amongst them together And David would walk not in his own Person alone but in his house with a perfect heart And there is a Prophesie that respects Families mourning apart which is to be accomplished in the dayes of the Gospel Zach 12. 12. to the end And there is a Promise made where two or three are gathered together suppose in a Family or any other way Christ will be in the midst of them and where Saints are together in a Family the Spirit of God within them will be a Spirit of Prayer within them and will bring them together and there cannot be Family-duties but there must be a time to perform them in and if morning and evening be taken for them it is most congruous First because occasions wilt then best permiso for it will be before the works of these Callibas be begun and it will be afree they are finished Secondly all things are sanctified by prayer and so will their is bours be in the morning and their rest in the evening But where or when doth a good heart dispute against these things a spiritural heart will rather dictate to a Person to apprehend the opportunitigs unto prayer and all other spiritual duties both apart and with others and will practise what was commanded in reference to preaching will pray in season and out of senson at times which conâ—â—eiency makes cheice of and at other times also will put up all manner of prayers and at all times as occasion requites And where Saipts are together they will encourage one another and say come let us joya together and pray and seek the face of God in prayer and in other duties also and in Families especially will this be done Querie 17. Whether you do not seduce the People to araw Concerning the Spirits teaching in what way to expect it And whether the outward must be denyed that the inward may be received them from the anointing within them when as John saith they need no man teach them but as the anointing and the Promise was Eternal Life to him that did abide in the anointing Ans The scope and intent of this Question is to overtura all out ward teaching by men to erect an immediate teaching of the Spirit in the room of it It is to carry men off from Gods outward Ordinances to wait for secret Inspirations of God and indeed it is to subject men to Satanical delusions instead of the Spirits suggestions For that which is insinuated is this viz that the drawing of any people to attend upon any out ward instruction becomes in effect a withdrawing of them from the annointing or from that inward teaching of the Spirit which indeed hath not one syllable of truth in it For John the Baptist did draw the people after him so did Christ so did the Apostles to hear the Word of God which they preached which was an outward word an outward teaching did they withdraw such Persons from the inward teaching from the annointing within them or were they not rather drawn to the annointing within them by attending and giving heed to the outward preaching did not the Spirit of God accompany their outward preaching did not John come in the Spirit and Power of Elias in his outward Ministery and were not many turned from their disobedience to the wisdom of the Just and could this be without the Spirit was there not an admirable power of the Spirit attending both Christs teaching and the Apostles preaching did their outward instruction withdraw the people from the Spirit or did they not rather convey the Spirit to them Is not the Gospel as it is presented to men in an external way said to be the administration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Gal. 2. 5. And were not many annointed with enriching gifts by that Spirit which is the Spirit of the Gospel which comes along with the Gospel preached How then are any seduced by being being brought to the hearing of the Gospel preached or are not they rather seduced who are drawn off from the external Means and Ministery by which the Spirit is given and Faith is wrought to wait for the receiving of the Spirit without any Word to conveigh it to them which Spirit when they have it is not the Spirit of Truth but of Delusion as is confessed by one of their own newly redeemed out of such hellish captivity under which these poor Creatures are held Object But they produce a Scripture which seems to erect and set up one only Teacher which is the Spirit and to throw down and cast under foot all outward Teaching which is performed by men John saith to them he wrote 1 Ioh. 2. 27. That they needed not that any man teach them but as the annointing teacheth them of all things and is Truth Answ First This is not spoken of all men but of those 1 Ioh. 2. 27. Answered viz. ye need that no man teach you but as the anointing teacheth you all things who are come to Christ and had the Spirit that they needed no man to teach them But what must they do that have not the Spirit how must they obtain it if not by the Word of the Gospel which conveys it therefore an outward teaching
is necessary for such Secondly The Apostle seems to speak of such an annointment which they had received which had already taught them by which they should abide in Christ and not be seduced as those words shew Even us it hath taught you you shall abide c. Now indeed the Spirit of God hath taught us of all things in the Scriptures which were of his inspiring whereto if we attend we shall abide in the Truth and not be misled by Seducers and to this teaching of the Spirit in the Scriptures we need not that any teaching of man should be added but as we are taught in them Thirdly The words You need not that any man teach you but as the annointing teacheth you are hyperbolical expressions there is an excess in them as in many places of Scriptute as where it is said If all things should be written which Jesus said and did the whole world would not contain the the Books that would be written The meaning is there would be very many Books written if all should be written And in vers 20 of this very Chapter the Apostle tells them that they knew all things it is an excessive speech for no one knoweth all things but God Christ himself as man knew not all things who yet had the Spirit not according to measure but beyond it the meaning then is they had much knowledge and knew many things and so they needed not that any man teach them that is they knew so much already of the Doctrine of the Gospel that if onely they persevered in that which they knew they might be kept without much teaching it is to be understood in a comparative sense not in an absolute consideration as to exclude all teaching but to exclude much of that teaching which others do require and it respects the abundance of knowledge which they had in comparison of Believers of former times before the Gospel was revealed as from the Prophesie from which these words of John were fetcht appears Jer. 31. 34. They shall teach no more man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord Knowledge should so abound in the dayes of the Gospel that they should not need teaching so much as in the times of the Law For it points at the days of the Gospel after Christ should be revealed of which Christ saith That he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven should be greater then John the Baptist who yet was greater then al the Prophets so exceedingly should Light shine in Gospel-times but that teaching should be absolutely excluded was not the Apostles meaning for though they never did need it less yet they never had it more then in the days of the Apostles and of the Primitive Churches For there were many who were eminently gifted besides Pastors and Teachers who did teach And it is to be observed that the Spirit was never given so plentifully in any Age as in that Age wherein so much outward teaching was so that there is no such measure of reception of the Spirit that can thrust out outward teaching while we are here yea and John himself thought there was need of teaching while he tells them of an unction that they had received and that they knew all things and needed not that any one should teach them for vers 36. he saith These things have I written unto you in reference to them that seduce you that is least you should be carried away from the Truth by them he taught them to stand fast in the Truth they had received Fourthly It holds forth that they were not neither should be Babes which knew nothing themselves were able to judge of nothing themselves but do depend wholly and really upon others to teach them and were led wholly as others guide them in this sense they should not need teaching for there was a light set up in their souls and they had the Spirit of God which is a light and enables them to discern with such clearness that they believe not because others tell them so but because they can look into the Truth themselves Concerning the last words of that question viz. that the Promise was eternal Life to him that did abide in the anointing because there is no such Scripture that saith so and because no course we take in our teaching doth tend as hath been shewed to withdraw from the anointing therefore I shall not insist upon them Querie 18. Whether you do not bewitch the people and draw them from the Spirit of God within them to observe those Sacraments and Ministery maintained and other practises in Church-meetings things which God never commanded to tell the people of a Sacrament and following your outward Teaching who stand praying in the Synagogues and are called of men Masters which Christ dâ—d forbid Mat. 23. And have the chiefest places in the Assemblies Whether these be not called Antichrists which act contrary to the Commands of Christ yea or no Answ In this Question besides the repetition of former things they strike at Sacraments at the teaching and praying of Pastors and Elders for to them they speak in al their questions at the posture of standing in prayer at the places of meeting calling them Synagogues in a derisive way at the Title of Master which is put upon them and charge them with ambition in assuming chiefest places which they say such take I must clear up the truth in all these particulars First Concerning Sacraments there are no Ordinances on foot amongst us which we call by that name though there Concorning Sacraments might be a defence for it but there are Ordinances which others call Sacraments and we call them Seals of the Covenant which are to confirm Faith in the Covenant of God concerning Remission of sin by the blood of Christ and other Grace of the like nature which is vouchsafed in Christ and they are Baptism and the Lords Supper and they are both of them instituted by Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23. and they both point at Christs Death and the shedding of his Blood Rom. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 26. Mat. 26. 28. and they serve to Seal Remission of sins by Christs Blood Act. 22. 16. Mat. 26. 28. and indeed both of them are to put us in remembrance of Christ and that which Christ hath instituted who dares abrogate And those that destroy the Seals therein attempt the destruction of the Covenant for Seals are the ratification of Covenants or at least they do despise Gods grace of condescendency who for the cause of our weakness in belief of his Covenants vouchsafeth to grant us Seals to confirm them And Gods Covenants have never been without Seals and though there hath been change of Seals yet Seals are as old one or other of them and are to last as long as the Covenants and the Lords Supper
further attainments we ingenously confess that no man is ever like to grow up so high as to need no teaching nor are we our selves come up to such a perfection and we think our selves to be but Children in knowledge in comparison of that which we hope to attain unto in heaven nor do we think it any dishonour to us to confess so much especially while we medicate upon the Apostles expression 1 Cor. 13. 12. Now we see through a glass darkly speaking of the time of this life but then we shall see face to face speaking of the time after this life Nor do we find that Christ himself or the Apostles ever bred up persons to such a condition as these men speak of to need none to teach them in their sense Paul bred up Timothy and to a great height he bred him under his Ministery whom he cals Son because he had been with him as a Son yet he exhorts him to meditate upon such things and to give himself wholly unto them that his profiting might appear unto all 1 Tim. 4. 15. And Peter exhorcs those that he wrote to of whom he Iaith that he did ouly put them in remembrance of things and that they knew them already and were established in the present truth that they would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. The Conclusion that they put to all these Questions is this The Church of Christ say they is a pillan and ground of Truth which doth witness the eternal Spirit and if you be the same Church and have the same Spirit answer me these Queries without any consequencies or senses otherwise diny your Eldership and Pastorship and to be no Church of Christ Answ The Church of Christ is the ground and pillar of Truth and doth witnese the truth of all that is contained in the holy Scriptures and more especially that the mysterie of godliness is gteat viz. That God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory And this we assert without any Consequencies or senses many of which if not all you that urge us thus most desperately deny As for your questions we have answered them agreeablyto Scripture and have made such inferences and necessary consequences and have put such senses as cannot be contradicted by any knowing Christian nor indeed by any but those whose design is to destroy all Scripture and utterly to subvert the Faith of the Gospel and to lead men captive after their own delusions and instead of denying a Pastorship and Eldership and our selves to be the Church of Christ we shall pray God to open the eyes of so many of these poor creatures who are thus sold over to delusions that so many of them as belong to Gods Election may be recovered out of the snare of the devil who are led captive for the present after his will A Coppy of a Letter which Richard Waller a Quaker sent to a Gentlemans Family near Stockport in Cheshire in which both he and his wife had been formerly servants Wherein he pleads for an absolute perfection and for Quaking Dear Friends MY dear love in the Lord presents it self unto you all in the power of the truth desiring the Lord to establish you all in the truth it self that you may grow and become faithfull unto the Lord to bring forth much fruit that the Lord in all things may be glorified by you Dear friends I did long stand in opposition against a company of people by the World called Quakers So it pleased the Lord in his time to let me see my condition So that I did plainly see that I had got the Saints words to talk of before I came to witness the Saints condition Now the Scripture saith Jesus Christ was made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil Whosoever can witness Christ manifest in him can witness sin destroyed But he that saith Christ is manifest in him and committeth sin is a lyar For whosoever is born of God sinneth not 1 Job 2. 4. For his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Now the Priests of the World tell us we cannot be perfect here So they leave a hole for Satan here contrary to Scriptures and when will they have him cast out As for me I deny all the Teachers of the World For I can really witness that I have found my Teacher within me which is a mysterie to all the World Now I and the rest that can witness that Christ is made manifest in us we are hated of the World for we disown the Worlds ways Worlds worships and Worlds Customs and they disown us Now the Scriptures saith He that is a friend to the World is an enemy to God The World calls us witches and mad men they did so by Christ they said he was a Devil and they said Paul was mad and Stephen spoke Blasphemy It is just so now as it was then they Jear and say Never any of the Saints Quaked and Trembled Read these Scriptures at your leasure and you may find them lyars Heb. 12. 25 26. Ezra 9. 3 4. Heb. 12. 21. Moses quaked and trembled David trembled Psal 119. 120. Psal 18. 7. Heb. 3. 16. When I heard my belly trembled my lips quivered Jerem. 23. 9. Isa 66. 2. Ezek. 32. 10. Dan. 10. 7. and 11. Daniel Trembled Acts 9. 6. Joel 2. 10. Job 26. 11. Amos 8. 8. Jer. 30. 6 7. Acts 13. 40. 41. See here is a Cloud of Witnesses against them And whereas they deny that perfection is to be attained here they are found lyars See Phil. 3. 15 Let us as many as are perfect be thus minded Col. 1. 28. Col. 4. 12. 2 Tim. 3. 17. Heb. 6. 1. Heb. 10. 14. He. 12. 23. Heb. 13. 21. Jam. 1. 4. Col. 4. 12. Deut. 18. 13. Joh. 17. 21. I in thee and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one I plainly see the Priests taught deceit and we believed them But the Lord hath discovered their deceit to his and he will teach all his himself Oh therefore wait upon the Lord and cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils and mind the light of God in you which discovers deceit and the peace of God be with you all and keep you all in the sense of him staid in your minds that you may be kept in his feare which keepeth the mind clear and pure and open to receive his teachings and to forsake the evil and choose the good and so bring you into obedience and it will suffer you to joyn with nothing but what is of it own nature pure and clear and it will keep you from the evil of the World The Lord cause you all to grow up as trees of Righteousness and stablish your hearts in the living truth that his name in all thing may be glorified