False Doctrines Errors or Popery we have only his Ipse dixit or Say so no Proof but what will make against himself as one Guilty of Popery both in Spirit and Principle a Persecutor and therefore Popish if not a Papist A Spightful Incendiary against an Innocent People who has acted the part of a Popish Incendiary Pr. Pag. 2. My Design is only to remedy that Flatus or windy Spirit that troubles them Answ We own no such Physicians as he who is thus possest with a Scornful Spirit and Diabolical Flatus or Inspiration of Satan which cannot trouble nor hurt us as we attend on God in his Divine Breath or Spirit of Life given us Pr. Let not the Quakers nor any others believe that by Answering Books according to their Folly I do write one Syllable against the holy Ghost or that I have scoffed the Quakers as being the Servants of God I know very well Pietas non Patitur Ludum pag. 2. Answ It appears he is Conscious to himself of Scoffing the Quakers however and the Spirit by which they are led but not as being Servants of God or as led by his Spirit How then As Poor Deluded Quakers led by an Erronious Spirit Is this his Kindness of Love to Undeceive us or his Pity towards us thus to Scoff and Scorn as he has frequently and most shamefully done against us O Insolency How has he answered what he says that Pietas non patitur Ludum Godliness admits not of Sporting with it is not to be played with and therefore the Impiety of this Mocking Agent about Religious Matters and about the Spirit is the Greater The Proverb he here makes use of is like that Ludere cum sacris Sanctis miscere profana which the Pious and Serious minded could never allow of Pr. Their silly Quakerism Their Praters by their Followers are fondly doted on p. 2. Answ He Mocks on still Rails and Reviles but Reasons not as a man of any Piety or Religion Pr. Ibid. Mahomet's Pigeon and the Quakers Spirit are both alike Answ This Comparison only suits an Atheist and a Scornful Fleshly Mind that 's void of the true Spirit 's Guidance which the Quakers believe and own Pr. p. 3. I look for hard measure from my Neighbour Quakers for this Kindness of Love to undeceive them Answ He may very well expect some dislike from his Neighbour Quakers for his Scoffing and Railing against them and shewing his Malicious Persecuting Spirit while he most Falsly and Hypocritically pretends Kindness of Love to Undeceive them Pr. Ibid. I have already been sufficiently without any just Cause black marked by them a Judas a Persecutor of God's People a black Devil a Porter of Hell c. Answ If his Neighbours know him to be a Persecutor yet he will not own that 't is the People of God he persecutes he can easily equivocate here and say 'T is the Deluded Quakers that I have appeared against and not Gods People but if he persecute or use them hardly where is his Pity and his Kindness of Love to the poor Deluded Quakers as he deems them But if any has compared him to a Judas a black Devil a Porter of Hell doubtless 't was not without some great Cause the concern'd Persons can give account and remind him Pr. Ibid. I am not in the least induced to retaliate Answ To retaliate what Ill Language or black Marks and such he has plentifully retaliated O Gross Hypocrisie Pr. Ibid. The Readers Patience will be sore put to it to read such Impertinent Rude Ignorant Blasphemous Corrupt stuff Answ Such stuff has this Adversary frequently uttered as will further appear to his great shame Pr. p. 5. Is it not high time for the King 's Sacred Majesty to arise and Judge Answ Here he smells of a Popish Persecuting Spirit that would incense the King against us but 't is an Implicite Reflection upon the King as if he knew not his time when and what to judge without the Priests Instigation § II. Pr. Ibid. W. P 's false Spirit doth put him upon writing in good Earnest against Christ God-man a Distinct Person without us Answ This man's Lying Spirit hath put him upon a Slander against W. Penn who hath not written against Christ as God-man without us but demanded Scripture only for the Terms Distinct Person without us which yet he has not produced Take W. P 's own Explication in the Case viz. 'T is granted Christ is a Distinct Being from the Saints we never said that Christ was not as well without us as within us we never set any Limitations to Christ's Presence This our Adversary has quoted and yet renders W.P. as denying the thing intended i.e. Christ God-man which is a gross abuse Pr. p. 5. The Quakers Light within is not of God for it prompts them to write dishonourably of God the Son Answ Our Light within is Christ's Light we own no other and it cannot prompt us to any such thing against himself Pr. p. 6. The Quaker ushers in his Pestilent Discourse with some Truth concerning the Scriptures which serves as a Blind for Fools Answ Pestilent Discourse is a Slander charg'd upon us but not proved The Truth of the Scriptures we have always desired through God's Assistance sincerely to improve in Principle and Practice in Obedience to the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth and enables both to the Understanding Belief and Practice of those Truths recorded in Scripture Pr. Ibid. That the Spirit of Truth doth alone give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of Faith and Practice this is the Real Quakers Vpstart Rotten Doctrine this Quaking Dotage is not yet Thirty Years old This is the Real Quakers Golden Image before which all if they are so silly should fall down and Worship Answ First True discerning is a Gift of the Spirit of Truth whether of Spirits or States Secondly Every one that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3.21 And Christ saith Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light And therefore Christ's Light within ought to be the Rule of Faith and Practice 't is the Convincing and Discovering Rule and Guide And this is no Rotten Doctrine no Quaking Dotage or Golden Image as this Dark Priest both Scornfully and Blasphemously words it to his great shame like a Dark Rebel against the Light who knows not the ways of it because he hath not abode in the Paths of it Pr. p. 7. That this Quaking Fondling the Light within them may be set up for the Rule of Faith and Practice Answ There is no true Faith and Practice without divine Illumination enlightning the Eyes of the Understanding how ever he scoff and abuse the Light within His Envy is so great against the Quakers that he will not so much as assent to the Divine Principle of Light in man which flowes
from the Life in the Eternal Word In him was Life and the Life was the Light of men § 3. Pr. Ibid. W. P's best Reason assisted with his Light within is Fondly at work to prove that the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave forth the Scriptures Answ Seeing he deridingly opposeth this we must take him as believing or speaking the contrary viz. That not the Light and Spirit of Truth within but the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave them forth Gross Ignorance as if the Scriptures were the Primary Dictater and Revealer of Scriptures and not the Light and Spirit of God within Contrary to plain Scripture Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God Surely the Scriptures could not be the Rule before they were but the Holy Spirit was both the Mover Rule and Guide in giving them forth Pr. Ibid. Its matter of Lamentation that the Quakers false Light and their lying Spirit do counterfeit the true Light and holy Spirit to decry the Scriptures from being the Rule of Faith and Life Answ It s matter of Lamentation that such blind Guides as this should keep People in Darkness from the true Light and holy Spirit under pretence of the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith and Life Which though this be a main Article of his Faith yet for this very Point he has not produc'd any plain Scripture that saith the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Life Which if he cannot produce such proof for they are not that only Rule but rather a Rule or Instruction subordinate to the true Light and holy Spirit as directing to it Pr. p. 8. Surely this Quakers Light within burnt dim in his Socket the Light within is no such Infallible Teacher as the Quakers brag of like the Papists infallible Judge it s not without its gross Mistakes Answ See how again he blasphemously scoffs against the Light within in his Comparing it with the Papists pretended Infallible Judge wherein he is grosly mistaken but so is not that Divine Light of Christ within which we profess believe and own In him was Life and that Life was the Light of men Though men may Err yet this Light cannot § 4. Pr. Ibid. The real Quaker is for Go teach baptizing with the holy Ghost and with Fire If this be not to turn People from Light to Darkness from God to the Power of Satan let the sober-minded Reader judge Answ The true Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel in Spirit and Power wherewith Christs Ministers were and are endued was for the Conversion and turning People from Darkness to Light and from Satans Power to the Power of God which does no whit fall short of a Spiritual Baptism or dipping into the Name Power and Life of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Go teach baptizing them into the Name c. was a Commission by divine Power and Authority and in the same was fulfilled by Christs presence with his Ministers Lo I am with you alway even unto the End said he and therefore it was by virtue of Christ's Presence with them that they were made Instrumental in baptizing with the Spirit And this was not to turn them from Light to Darkness as most ignorantly is alledged by this Priest Pr. Pag. 9. Surely W. Penn was as Oxford to Lick Glass-Windows Answ A scornful Detraction which shews the Pride of the Priest's Heart Pr. Ibid. It is the Judgment of a real Quaker that Water-Baptism is none of Christ's Institutions and that Paul was of the same mind which is a most gross mistake Answ No Mistake at all that Christ sent not Paul to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel as he himself expresly saith 1 Cor. 1. And this he gave as his most general Reason why he Baptized no more of them than he did And surely his Commission was not short of the rest of the Apostles Wherefore Water-Baptism was not included in it § V. Pr Ibid. That the real Quaker confesseth himself guilty of a base Doctrine viz. That â—ustification by that Righteousness which Christ fulfilled WHOLLY without us is a Sin pleasing Notion Answ No such Confession of Guilt by the Real Quaker who confesseth to Christ's Righteousness both without and within as 't is received by Faith unto Justification or making men Righteous for he cannot own that men can truly be reckoned Righteous or Just while they have none of Christ's Righteousness within them or while his Image is not at all renewed in them nor they in any Degree sanctified None are justified without living Faith in Christ Jesus Therefore none are justified in an unsanctified State so not wholly without them especially if Christ's living Faith be the instrumental Cause of our Justification or Causa sine qua non without which there 's no real Justification he that believes not is condemned already though Christ who is the Author of Faith be the Principal Cause of Good to us Pr. Ibid. The Papists call it a Putative Righteousness This Justification by Christ's Righteousness imputed by Faith which is a comfortable Doctrine is basely murthered betwixt these two Thieves Answ He has here maliciously as well as basely slandered us called Quakers in his Comparison for we never denyed Christ's Righteousness as imputed or reckoned to us by Faith taken in the Real Scripture Sense But some Professors reckoning of it to men in an Unbelieving Unconverted and Unsanctified State or when no Good is wrought in them in which State I suppose he dare not directly say Men are justified for without Faith its impossible to please God and yet he says little or no less if he tell us that men are justified and acquitted before God by a Righteousness of Câ—aist WHOLLY without them for that leaves no room for Christ's Righteousness to have any place within them for their Justification And is not this a Sin-pleasing Notion I would ask what that Righteousness that Christ fulfilled wholly without them was Did it not consist in his Obedience to the Father and fulfilled in his Sufferings and Death If this then has compleated Justification wholly without men then it must be compleated for all Mankind for whom he dyed And he dyed for all men tasted Death for every man for the whole World What then are all men yea the whole World that lies in Sin compleatly justified by this Priest's Doctrine they must if it be effected wholly without them See now what Sin-pleasing Work our Adversary's run into whereas Christ dyed for our Sins and rose again for our Justification Therefore 't was not wholly accomplished by his Death Pr. pag. 10. We are accounted Righteous before God ONLY for the Merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith That we are JUSTIFIED by Faith only is a most wholsome Doctrine Answ Here he joyns Faith to the Merit of our Lord in the Matter of Imputation but then says We are justified by Faith
pag. 30. In this Quaking Primmer here is a base Charge drawn against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England Here these Quakers have fired their Beacon that the Youth of this Church may have timely notice to beware of their best Soul-Friends Here the silly Sheep are slightly counselled against their Keepers that the Quaking Wolves may the better prey upon them Answ Here the Priest rages and rails but defends not himself and his Brethren from the Charge of such being Deceivers as preach for Money and Tythes and who being in Transgression not able to lead others out of it only he sayes 'T is a base Charge against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England as if he had told us all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England do preach for Money and Tythes and then cryes out Quaking Wolves as if that were enough to clear him and his Brethren and to be a deadly Blow to the Quakers Who is it cannot see such Impertinency Malice and Railery He tells us They are God's Priests and Ambassadours by whom God doth beseech his Rebel-Subjects to be reconcited but proves it not we have only his Say-so He should have proved his own and their Call to the Ministry We deny that they are immediately called of God either to be his Priests Embassadours or Mouth How should they be so Called that deny Immediate Teaching and Inspiration and especially such who scoff at the Light within and the Spirit 's Teaching as this Adversary doth And for a mediate Call I deny that they have it from the holy Apostles or primitive Church of Christ in their dayes Pr. pag. 31. Here little Children are taught to look upon all Teaching Priests as so many Deceivers as those Hirelings that preach for Money and Tythes which is a Lying Slander Answ No this is mis-stated for they are taught to look upon all such as preach for Money and Tythes to be Deceivers Hirelings c. Pr. Ibid. According to the baseness of these Quaking Lines its a shame for the King 's sacred Majesty the Defender of the true Faith that such base Priests should be owned by him Answ Here for a shelter he would make the King a Patronizer of the Priests Cause how Base soever any of them are in Preaching for Hire and Cruel in Persecuting and Imprisoning People for Tythes he thinks he argues stoutly in their Defence to tell us The King 's sacred Majesty owns them when alas his Majesty knows not a tenth part of their Baseness and Cruelty who are guilty of persecuting his peaceable Subjects for their Bellies and filthy Lucre. And rather than not have their Covetous Ends answered they 'l throw a Man in Goal for the Value of a Tythe-Pig they are so cruel and hard-hearted many of them that they value a few Tythe-Piggs more than they do Mens Liberties or Lives I am perswaded such Priests will bring no Honour to the King Pr. Ibid. Devilish Lessons that the Scripture is not the Word of God Answ No where doth the Scripture call it self the Word but in the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God c. and his Name is called The Word of God John 1. Rev. 19.13 Yet what the Scriptures call themselves we call them so and own them to be Pr. pag. 32. To say that God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are Three Persons but One God this is to speak we know not what c. Ibid. To say with the Church of England In the Vnity of this Godhead there be Three Persons of One Sâ—â—sâ—ance Power and Eternity the Father the Son and H. Ghost is in this Quaker 's Account the Doctrine of the World Answ That in the Unity of the Godhead there 's Father Son and Holy Spirit of One Substance Power and Eternity we do own and confess according to the Scripture but that these are Three distinct or separate Persons as some have called them we have no Scripture Proof for these Terms Why does not this man bring us plain Scripture-Proof in this Case seeing he professes it to be his only Rule of Faith Has he not given here great Advantage to the Papists to tell him that the Church is his Rule and not the Scripture in this great Article of his and their Faith Pr. pag. 33. To prepare little Children to slight them i. e. the Scriptures as being unable to bring them to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth according to these Quaking Lines St. Paul was mistaken when he said that the Scripture was profitable for Doctrine Answ 'T is no preparing any to sleight the Scriptures to testifie of Christ his Light and Spirit of Truth as being the Way to know God whom no man knows but by the Son 's revealing him And God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus This is not said of the Scriptures though as given by Inspiration of God they are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Instruction that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnisht unto every good Work Herein Paul was not mistaken for the Man of God is Divinely Inspired unto the right Understanding and Use of the Scriptures Therefore this Inspiration is the Ground of Divine Knowledge The Scriptures are profitable by the help of this through the Blessing of God hereby have we found Profit and Comfort in reading the Scriptures which no man can without the BLESSING of GOD by his Spirit Pr. Ibid. To Exalt the Quakers Idol the Light within little Children are here taught to slight the holy Scriptures as a Duâ—â— Book Answ Here is both horrid Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within and a gross Lye that little Children are so taught to slight the holy Scriptures for they are told in the very words cited by this Priest That the Scriptures of Truth do declare of God Christ and the Spirit of Truth and this is not to slight the Scriptures thus to own their Testimony on the behalf of God his Christ and the holy Spirit The holy Scriptures may be made instrumental for our Profit and Confirmation through the Divine and Gracious Assistance of the holy Spirit but not of themselves or without it His Comparison between Popish Catechisms and ours and his telling us of Papal Quakers that make their Followers two-fold more the Children of Hell are both False Infamous and Slanderous and nothing like any rational Proof urged by him but a continued persisting in his Abusive Railery and Reviling for which the Lord rebuke him § X V. The Priest's next Quarrel and Railery is against William Smith's two Treatises Primmer and Catechism Pr. pag. 33. Both Primmer and Catechism are the fittest for Smithfield to receive the Hang-man's Imprimatur Answ This same Envious Spirit that is still finding Work for the Hang-man to
Answ Here the Priest makes an Objection against all the King's Subjects which he himself cannot Answer but only askes If it be not rare Quaking stuff He argues neither as a Christian nor like a rational or sober Man as if he would bear us down from a Practice or Custom among many of the King's Subjects and thereupon Argue That because many of the Kings Subjects Swear by a Law of Man therefore Christ's prohibition is thereby abolisht and Whatsoever is more than Yea Yea Nay Nay comes not of the Evil one it s but Quaking stuff to say as Christ says that it so cometh of Evil or of the Evil one as the Priest himself has given the Interpretation of Christ's words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And yet opposeth and derides the thing where conscientiously obeyed by us not with Disrespect to King or Government but with respect to Christs Command not to Swear Pr. Ibid. St. Paul might have known this new Light Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths where Strife was if this be not Abominable Doctrine delivered by this Quaker let the wise Readers â—udge Answ What knows he but Paul knew this Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths among his Followers the true Christians He does not say that an Oath for Confirmation is an End of Strife among Christians but among MEN and such Men were the Jews under the Law that were in the Strife which was the occasion of Oaths and Swearing And however where Strife and the Nature of it is removed and ended by Christ Jesus there need no Swearing to end it among such Men aâ—d Christians But that Solemn Oaths as he calls them are as bad now as Vain Oaths are none of our words but the Priests unnatural Inferrence for there is a difference between an Oath taken solemnly though under a misguided Conscience or Judgement Oaths used vainly and frequently by Prophane Persons who therein often sin against manifest Conviction of Conscience Yet that Swearing was lawful under the old Dispensation but unlawful now as is inferr'd upon us I grant and this the Priest has not removed he has made more Objections for us in this case than he either doth or is able to Answer And seeing he has handled the point so very shallowly against us I refer him and the Reader to a Book Entituled The Case of the Quakers concerning Oaths Defended as Evangolical and another Book more large and full Entituled A Treatise of Oaths wherein both by Scripture Reason Authorities of many Authors our Case is defended in our not Swearing § XX. Qr. p. 46 57. If thou observest a Day observe it to the Lord The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun and called it Sunday Pr. p. 57. When the King and Parliament made the late Act for the better Observation of the Lord's Day then they did nothing but make a Law to establish Will-Worship according to this Quaker Answ We do not Reflect upon King or Parliament for making such an Act nor judge their Intention or Design to be to establish Will-Worship therein Here the Priest still persists in his old Course of Hectoring to incense the Powers against us which is no Rational Argument nor Christian Confutation but still shews that his Religion and Worship have their Dependence upon men He is for that Way Method and Religion that is the uppermost imposed by the Magistrate and that 's his chief Argument But what 's this to Confute our Friend's saying The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun And dare he deny this or say that the Name Sunday Munday Tuesday Wednesday c. did not spring from the Heathen in Relation to their Gods whom they Worshipped And did not the Primitive Christians call that the first day of the Week which you professed Christians call Sunday after the Heathens Example And in our Meeting on the First Day of the Week as the Primitive Christians did we do not superstitiously observe the Day or place an Esteem or Sanctity upon that day simply consider'd more than others but observe it to the Lord. The Apostle did not impose the Observation of Days upon the Primitive Christians nor were they to judge one another in that matter One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord c. see Rom. 14.4 5 6. Pr. p. 58. Doth not this Quaker's Ignorance in effect count all holy Dayes Apostatical Are not these the Festival Days c P. 59. Real Quakers do not observe holy dayes as this Church appoints Answ The Real Quaker owns the Apostle's Doctrine Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an holy Day or of the New Moon or Sabboth Days which are a Shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Certainly Christ is the Substance and End of the Shadow But this Priest is now for Festival Days and Holy Days as the Church appoints Observe how like a Church-man of Rome he here talks as if he were directly steering his Course to Rome The Church is his Rule here and not Christ nor the Scriptures he is for Festivals and Holy Days as the Church commands that is He is for the Observation of Saints and Angels Days and doubtless for Mass-Days too which if he would have us observe he should plainly tell us whence the Observation of such dayes sprung and whether they are not enjoyned in the Mass-Book and from Rome Pr. Ibid. Whither do the Quakers come when they are gotten over the Observation of Days for my part I cannot tell Answ Seeing he cannot tell whither we are or do come he should have let us alone and not revil'd nor abus'd us as men in such deep Ignorance because we can neither keep up the Names of Heathen Gods in Dayes nor Popishly observe Festival Days Holy Days Mass Days c. So here I must leave him in this point with his Face towards Rome not towards Zion nor New Jerusalem § XXI The Priest's next Quarrel is against James Parnel on the Collection of his Writings He is offended to hear That they are given forth from the Spirit of the Lord or that James Parnel should be counted a Servant of God as in the Title of the said Collection and therefore proceeds as followeth Pr. Ibid. This Quaking holy Man of God was in the Quakers Account no less inspired by the holy Ghost than the holy Pen-men of Scripture Answ We make no such Comparison of his being inspired yet though we do not equalize him with those holy Pen-men he was in some degree inspired by the same holy Spirit and bore a Faithful Testimony in his Day and in his Suffering against the Corruptions of those Times both of the then Persecuting Priests Rulers and People Pr. Ibid. The Quakers are
this Papal Quaker Answ This is False again for whilst we own a Life and Living by the Faith of the Son of God how can we disown his Righteousness that is made our's by Faith When 't is made ours we partake of it though it was without us in him before it was in us by him § XII Pr. Ibid. In this Quaking Account of Justification what hath this Quaker said more which the Council of Trent hath not determined to his hand viz. Council Trid. Cap. 3. Sess 6. Cum ea renascentia per meritu passionis ejus gratia qua justifiunt illis tribuatur Which he thus Englisheth Together with the New Birth through the Merit of Christ's Passion Grace whereby they are made Righteous is imparted to them Cap. 7. Sess 6. Justificatio est Sanctificatio Renovatio interioris hominis per voluntariam susceptionem gratiae As he interprets Justification is both the Sanctification and Renovation of the inward man by Grace received He should have said By the willing or free receiving of Grace Answ And what does our Adversary infer from hence but that Quakers and Papists agree together in the point of Justification by inherent Righteousness And yet he cannot deny but the Merit of Christ's Passion is confest to in the point But it seems he would not have the New Birth concern'd in the case or that Grace that makes us Righteous should be imparted to us and so included and joyned with the Merit of Christ's Passion in this great point of Justification or that Justification should be both the Sanctification and Renovation of the inward man by Grace received If these be not offensive to him why does he clamour against the Quaker for agreeing with the Council of Trent in this point as if his citing the Council of Trent having determin'd a point to the Quakers hand or which Quakers own though they never received it themselves and which he himself does not at all consute were enough to knock down the Quakers at one Blow Whence it follows that where the Council of Trent grants the Merit of Christ's Passion which the Papists place mens first Justification upon without Works Christ's Merit or deserving herein must be opposed because the Council of Trent and Papists hold it Is not this learned Logick Thus our Adversary has attempted to knock down the Quaker because the Council of Trent and Papists hold divers Errors but Papists render their own good Works after the first Justification strictly meritorious of Heaven which the Quakers do not therefore we must not hold any Truths which they intermix among their Errors but be branded derided for Papists Papal Quakers such kind of arguing savours more of an Atheistical Spirit than of a Christian And such measure have we from our Adversary But his main Design is to oppose the Saints being made Righteous by Grace imparted to them through Christ and to impose upon us a Justification or rather his false Imputation thereof without either Sanctification or Renovation of the inward man by Grace received seeing he has espoused the Cause of such as affirm Justification and Redemption of men while no good is wrought in them and that these are fulfilled or compleated WHOLLY WITHOUT THEM And yet to his own Confutation has granted that Righteousness must be imparted and retain'd in his 10th page but here because the Council of Trent has confest unto the New Birth and that the Grace that makes Righteous must be imparted to them rendring the Merit of Christ's Passion as a means thereof which is an Undeniable Truth I must be revil'd as a Papal Quaker and this Inherent Righteousness in the New Birth though wrought by the Grace of God opposed as to our Justification Thus my Adversary has not only Absurdly argued against me but Atheistically set himself against the Work of Christ inward by invalidating of it reckoning Persons justified Wholly without which must be whilst they are wholly Unjust and Poluted within or when no good is wrought in them else what does all his Quarrel against us amount to But he sillily goes on in his Comparison between Quaker and Papist as followeth Pr. Ibid. They do both disclaim the works of the Law before Grace received Ibid. Works not done in Christ the Seed do not justifie says the Canting Quaker Ibid. Justification is the Sanctifying of the inner man by Grace received say the Papists Ibid. The Righteousness by Faith is when the Law is performed in us by the Works of the Spirit saith the Quaker Ibid. By Grace received in the New Birth are we made Righteous say the Papists Thus the Light within which guides the Quaker to Scribble concerning Justification is nothing else but TRENT POPERY infused into them by subtil Popish Priests Answ We have nothing but his Comparison and Reviling here for Confutation The matter is answered before I would ask this man First If he does not disclaim the Works of the Law before Grace received Secondly If works not done in Christ do Justifie or render any Just If he says No why does he Scoff and Cry out Canting Quaker so saying they do not Thirdly Whether any do partake of the Righteousness by Faith without Christ's fulfilling the Righteousness of the Law in them according to Rom. 8.4 For it s them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit to whom there is no Condemnation and In whom the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled And this does not make void Christ's Passion or Suffering for man and fulfilling the Law in his Person without us for therein he was not only a Perfect Pattern of Righteousness but also came to condemn sin in the flesh and by his Sacrifice to make an Attonement and Pacification to stop the Wrath and suspend the severe Execution of the Law which man had incurred and to make way for Remission to us that we might be the more engaged to him to follow him in Spirit and come under the New Covenant terms But the Priest concludes with a notorious Falshood about what we write of Justification as being infused by Popish Priests This is a Wicked Slander for the work of the New Birth Being made inwardly Righteous by Grace received in Christ the sanctifying renewing the inner man by the holy Spirit these we never learned of the Popish Priests nor ever were we discipled by them but by the blessed operation of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ through Faith in his Name according to the Testimony of himself holy Apostles most plainly intimated in these Scriptures Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.3 5. And If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me said Christ to Peter John 13.8 And According to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration c. Tit. 3.5 6.
has not told us very likely 't is by some severe means as Hanging the Quakers and Burning their Books this Priest hath Malice enough for both as if that would prevail more to the safety of Souls from Error then all the Priests Preaching or Arguments 'T is evident how little Interest they have in mens Consciences But then this course would honour the Quakers with Martyrdom and raise greater enquiry after their Religion and then it will be time for Persecuting Clergy-men to be silent Pr. Ibid. Books not so dangerous as this is have been burnt by the hand of the common Hangman Answ He smels still strong of the old Where 's Cup Envy and Persecution But the Impartial Readers will see that his Book is more fit for such Execution 't is so filled with Scorn and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ Jesus within Pr. Ibid. The Author is gone to his Judge so this Book deserves a black mark for his sake and its Pestilent Doctrine Answ Malicious and Blind Presumption thus finally to condemn the Author as he has the Book as if he were infallibly sure that he is gone to utter Damnation But see his Ignorance and Falshood in his proofs Pr. Ibid. This Quaking Primmer begins with a Lye to corrupt Children's Minds the Light within which is no express Scripture phrase is indeed a meer Fancy the Real Quaker's Idol Answ Gross Ignorance and Blasphemy the Light within is no Fancy nor Idol 't is the Light of Christ within God's inshining in our Hearts that we profess that mens Minds may be turned from Darkness that 's within them to the Light of Christ within That God hath shined in our Hearts is express Scripture Pr. p. 28. It s false Doctrine to make the Light within to be the Teacher of the Fear of God Answ The Light of Christ within teacheth to depart from Evil and to do good to speak and practise Truth and therefore the Fear of God is taught by it Pr. Ibid. In this Quaking Primmer little Children are taught to take heed to the Light within them that the Scripture the more sure Word of Prophecy may not be regarded by them as their Guide or Rule of their Lives Answ The more sure Word of Prophecy mentioned 2 Pet. 1.19 is explained in the same place what it is Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto A LIGHT that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your Hearts And therefore it is a Light of Christ within which directs and guides unto his inward Appearance who is the bright and morning Star It could not be the Scriptures of the Prophets that was intended by this more sure Word for they could not be more sure than that Voice which Peter James and John heard from the Excellent Glory when they were with Christ in the Mount Nor yet more sure than the Apostles Testimony Wherein then lies the Comparison but in that Divine Word or Light of the Son of God being more general and more near to them than that Voice though both true This Word doth shine in many dark Hearts that never heard that Voice Pr. pag. 29. Gross Popery here is Deliverance from Condemnation not by Faith in Christ's Merits but by obeying the Light within their worst Guide Answ Here is gross Ignorance and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within still Christ did not oppose his own Merit Deserving or Dignity by exhorting his Hearers to believe in the Light that they might become Children of the Light and if we walk in the Light as he i. e. God is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 and this in relation to the Divine Light for God is Light vers 5. Therefore this Light within is that whereby men may know the Benefit of Christ's Blood and Merit But this Priest has here branded Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies herein with gross Popery Pr. Ibid. Quakerism serves as a Stepping-stone for Popery in this Church and Kingdom Answ If Papists had not greater Hopes of making many of you Clergy-men swallow down Popery for Preferments and Self-ends than they have of the Quakers they would not be so confident in their Attempts 'T is easie for them to suppose that a Temporizing Clergy man whose Conscience is benumbed either by Avarice or Covenant-breaking is a fit Agent to introduce Popery gradually under some hidden Disguise or Cloak as this Adversary can cry up the Church of England and cry down Popery while he looks and steers his course directly towards Rome both in his Rage against dissenting Protestants and asserting divers Popish Doctrines Ibid. Qr. Primmer p. 13 14. Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus believe them not that turn you from the Light for they are not the Ministers of Christ Pr. answers Here you may observe how this Quaking Primmer is mainly designed to foist these new Vessels by this bad Liquor put into them Other Teachers whether Arch-Bishops or Bishops Priests or Deacons are but Deceivers no Ministers of Christ to whom little Children are here taught not to hearken nor believe them Answ How plain is it here that by his making the Application to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Priestsor Deacons he has granted them to be such Teachers as keep Persons from the Light of Christ Jesus and turn them from the Light for such are they that little Children are taught not to hearken to nor believe viz Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus c. Pr. pag. 30. Abominable False Doctrine that the holy Scriptures are not the Way to know the Truth Ibid. God's Ministers teach that the Scriptures are the way to know the Truth Answ Christ saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life and the Spirit of Truth shall guide you into all Truth Where do the Scriptures say They are the Way Surely they are not Christ nor the Spirit but testifie of both which is no decrying of the holy Scriptures to allow the Spirit the Preference Pr. Ibid. These Quakers are strangely fond of the Light within so as to cry down the Light of God's own Word This Quaking Dotage Answ No Fondness nor Dotage in crying up the Light of God's living Word within which is nigh in the Heart which is not to cry down the Scripture as is falsly supposed I have hid thy Word in mine Heart that I might not sin against thee 't is a Light unto my Paths and a Lanthorn to my Feet saith David Qr. Primmer p. 16. Such are Deceivers who preach for Money and Tythes such cannot lead you out of Transgression for they are in Transgression themselves for Christ said to his Freely ye have received freely give and Paul made not the Gospel Chargeable but these Priests that preach for filthy Lucre deceive people Pr. The Priest answers
the consequence of placing the Rule of Faith Knowledge of God and Salvation only upon the Scripture and not upon the Light of Christ within Pr. Ibid. Vnto the Law and the Testimony is no Rule for Children to walk by Page 65. By no means the Law and the Testimony mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah may now be our Rule Hath not this man Quaked to purpose Answ He still wrongs and abusively derides the Quaker for children are not so taught that the Law and the Testimony is No Rule for them to walk by whether it relate to the Law and Testimony of God as outward in Scripture or inward in the Heart whether to the Law and Testimony of God by Moses as in Tables of Stone or to the Law and Testimony of Christ as in fleshly Tables of the Heart we cannot say of either that 't is no Rule at all for every Command or Precept from God or Christ whether it be upon outward or inward Record is a Rule in it self for Instruction by the Spirit 's Assistance The Law and Testimony as given by Moses and as in Tables of Stone were a Rule to Israel after the Flesh yet not to exclude the Word nigh them even in their Hearts or their hearkening to the Voice of God for that was through all Dispensations The Law and Testimony of the New Covenant written in the Hearts of spiritual Christians under the Guidance of the holy Spirit must needs be their Rule now who Worship God in Spirit And further the Commandment which is a Lamp and the Law which is Light and the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy are not only the Principal Rule in the Hearts of Spiritual Christians who are the Evangelical Israel and Inward Jews but also of more Universal extent as to Nations then the Scriptures are For when even those Gentiles who have not the Law and yet do by Nature the things contain'd in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2.14 15. So that the Scripture could not be their Rule who had it not but the Law and Light of God and his Christ in their Hearts And the Law and the Testimony within contain the Substance and Truth of what 's written in Scripture and will the more clearly and livingly appear and be read in the Heart as the Vail of Darkness Sin and Corruption in man is removed and taken away in his Conversion and coming into the New Covenant Dispensation On the words To the Law and to the Testimony I would Query If this Testimony could be the Books of the New Testament which this Prophet Isaiah referred them then to No sure how could they when those Books were not then written Yet whoever obey and follow the Law and Testimony of the SPIRIT of Life in Christ Jesus within such cannot Oppose Slight nor Invalidate any thing of holy Scripture but have real Union therewith and be in the Life Practice and Fulfilling thereof Pr. Ibid. The Spirit that doth infatuate the Quakers is the foolish Guide whom this Quaking Father would have his Child to follow Answ What Blasphemous Folly is this against the Spirit of Truth which the Quaker would have the Child yea and all Men to follow which 't is Horrid Blasphemy to charge with being an Infatuating or Foolish Guide whereby he hath also abused and slighted Christ's Testimony and the Scriptures which testifie of the Spirit of Truth to guide into all Truth Pr. Ibid. This Quakers Faith to undermine the Scriptures to render them good for nothing for saith he the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things therefore the Scriptures to be minded in nothing Answ He hath herein abominably belied the Quaker and perverted his words though he himself has cited but a few Lines before in the same page 36. viz. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints were made Witnesses of This is no undermining nor rendring them good for nothing Again from minding the Spirit alone in all things it follows not that the Scriptures are to be minded in nothing He might as well have said that nothing else upon any account is to be minded but the Spirit alone howbeit that the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things as the Principal and most Eminent Rule is true yea 't is to be minded even in the reading Scriptures or else they cannot be rightly understood Pr. p. 37. The Quakers ill Spirit is to be minded in all things this alone is the true Discerner betwixt Truth and Falshood but pity those poor Children that have no better guide to follow Answ When the Quakers speak of the Spirit of Truth this Priest will have it the Quakers Ill Spirit thus he Blasphemously perverts still But that the Spirit of Truth is both the true Discerner and Giver of true Discerning betwixt Truth and Falshood I suppose he dare not deny S. XVI Pr. pag. 38. As for those Priests that do warrantably use the Common Prayer-Book either in the King's Chappel or else-where to speak this Quakers mind or sense they are a company of dull Ignoramusses they cannot pray at all a sad Case except it be in the Quakers Dumb Meeting or amongst those that are acted by the Spirit of the Hat Answ The Quaker so called was speaking of such Priests and Teachers as pray not with the Spirit nor with Vnderstanding and of some that cannot pray at all but as they have Made Prayers by others in a Book to read and such it seems he renders those Priests in the King's Chappel and else-where so dull as that they cannot pray without Book for he has made the Application with such a Reflection As for our Meeting which he Scornfully terms Dumb we therein wait upon God in his holy Fear and have regard to the Motions of his good Spirit in his Worship and Service both in our inward Attention Meditation Souls breathings unto God Preaching Praying to and Praising our God who is a Spirit and to be Worshipped in Spirit Truth I take his telling of the Spirit of the Hat also to be in Scorn and Contempt nothing at all of any serious Sence or Argument in it he should have explain'd himself therein Pr. p. 39. According to this Quaking Rant is not the King's Majesty basely reflected on Hath he not a dull Clergy to minister in his Presence Is not this Church whereof he is a Nursing-Father in a bad Cafe Answ I think this Priest hath Reflected on the King and his Clergy to purpose while he has rendred them such as do not pray with the Spirit or as cannot pray without Book for such was our Friend writing of about which this Priest takes all this occasion And why does he call the King a Nursing-Father of the Church He rather means as he would have him the Nursing-Father of the Clergy that they may feed upon the Fat
not a little Flie-blown with Spiritual Pride Answ That 's thy own state Proud and Scornful Man Spiritual Pride and Conceit puffs thee up Qr. J. P's Tryal of Faith You believe you shall never overcome your sins so long as you are here Here you shew your Faith is not built upon Christ who came to destroy the Works of the Devil and to cleanse from all sins Pag. 60. Priest Answers This is the Corrupt Testimony of this Quaking Martyr that they are no sound Believers whose Faith doth not cleanse them from all their Sins that the Faith of Christians is not built upon Christ if it doth not make them free from their Sins Answ That which the Priest calls the Corrupt Testimony is according to Christ and his holy Apostles Testimony Christ came to Wash and Cleanse true Believers from Sin that they might be Clean every whit he gave himself for his Church that he might Wash it by Water through the Word that he might present it holy without Spot c. By Faith he purifies their Hearts he destroys the Work of the Devil the Blood of Christ cleanseth them that walk in the Light from all Sin And Faith in him overcomes the World it was and is the Saints Victory These are plain and Scriptural Testimonies how ignorant soever this unsanctified Priest shews himself wholly a stranger to the washing of Regeneration Pr. Ibid. A sinless state reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven is no true Divinity in the Quakers School Answ How is a sinless state reserved for that Kingdom if not attainable in this Life Pr. Ibid. If we say that we have no sin which the Quakers usually do we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us Answ An Untruth against the Quakers where or when do they usually or ever say they have no sin but that though there is a time of having sin there 's a time of confessing and forsaking sin and if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL SIN 1 John 1.7 9. And saith he My little Children these things write I unto you that you SIN NOT Chap. 2.1 What John writes relates to several states Pr. Ibid. This Quaker is certainly for a more holy Faith than God himself did ever require It s not the Ruling Power but the being of sin which this Quaker's Faith makes free from without doubt this is to be Righteous over much in this World Answ The Priest is grosly Erroneous here the Quaker is for that holy Faith which is the Gift of God whereby he purifies the Heart and which Faith overcomes and is the Saints Victory over the World And to have the being of sin destroyed by Christ is not to be Righteous over-much in this World for 't is for this End that Christ is made manifest to take away our sins and to destroy the Works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. Christ destroying the Works of the Devil is to destroy the being of Sin that it may neither Rule nor be in true Believers And this work of Christ is effected by degrees as he is obeyed and truly followed whose Work of destroying Sin this Priest has apparently opposed lest he should be Righteous over much in this World so that his Faith will carry his sins with him into the next World if he relinquish it not and where he will get rid of them there he tells us not but by his Opinion he must expect a Purgatory or place of Purgation after Death seeing he confesseth A sinless state is reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven Observe here how near of Kin he is to the Papists and how nearly he has border'd upon the Doctrine of Purgatory only they exceed him in believing that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs shall escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven Pr. Ibid. If the Ill Spirit of the old Catheri was not gotten into this Young Quaker The Quakers Idolized Perfection Answ If by his word Catheri he means the Puritans or those called Old Puritans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ì i. e. Puri then I must tell him that many of the Old Puritans were more Conscientious Sincere and Religious to what they knew then himself is or ever was Hist Eccl. Euseb Pam. Lib. 6. C. 42. for they were not such Temporizers and Opposers of the Light and Work of Christ they durst not call either an Idol as he has done And whatever Novatus was who called his Sect Cartharous that is Puritans I matter not there were many Honest people in England and other parts of those called Puritans Pr. p. 61. By this false Doctrine he hath concluded the Church of England at home all Reformed Churches abroad under Vnbelief for being of this right sound Mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins as long as they are here Answ Here he counts it a right sound Mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins so long as they are here but when and where they shall be freed he tells us not I am sure it is not the Mind of Christ that men should live in sin all their days And I think this Priest has wrong'd the Church of England if the Church of England means as she speaks and professeth viz. in promising to forsake the Devil and all his Works c. And in praying O God make clean our Hearts within us and take not thine holy Spirit from us Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this Day without Sin with many other passages to this purpose in the Morning-Prayer and Service-Book And what has this Priest done less then charged the Church of England with Dissimulation and Hypocrisie as being of a contrary mind then what 's here exprest As also Edw. Stillingfleet in his Sermon preached before the King March 13. 1666. he strongly argues and pleads against that Opinion of God's laying Impossible Laws upon the Sons of Men and puts the Question thus * Ed. Still 6. Serm. 1669. pag. 69 70. For what is it that God requires of men as the Condition of their future Happiness which in its own nature is judged impossible Is it for men to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this World For that was the End of Christian Religion to perswade men to do so § XXII Qr. The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light the Word the Life the Judge the Rule the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits for all this belongs to Christ Pr. p. 61. I must truly say this is none of Abel his Language nor a faithful Testimony for God except another Qr. Atheist or Anti-scripturist none would have laid such base things to the charge of the holy Scriptures Answ Here is one of his base Abuses For to say The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light the Life the Judge c. is only as much as to
to the Light viz. That no Priests of the Church of England or else-where did ever deny that God might not be known by the Light of Nature within them pag. 120. See how manifestly the Priest has Contradicted himself here Did ye ever read that God might be known by a False Christ or by an Idol or by an ELF before as he calls the Light within †Whether by Elf he means a Fairy Nymph or Dwarf his Term is very Irreverent and Blasphemous Pr. pag. 68. It is a confessed Truth among us that all those do hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness that do not live according to it Answ Many such Professors there are among you that do not live according to Truth we wish your Repentance and Amendment of Life that you may through the Grace of God live answerable to Scripture Pr. Ibid. But 't is no false Light in any of us to profess the Scripture to be our Rule By God's own appointment the Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Life Answ The cripture is not your Rule if you walk contrary and hold Truth in Unrighteousness and live a sinful Life the Scripture is not the Rule of such a Life to be sure And if ye know it to be a Rule and profitable to you it must be through God's Assistance and his divine Illumination else ye cannot understand it But where by Gods own appointment the Scripture is called the Rule of Faith and â—ife he shews us not by Scripture Pr. Ibid. It 's folly to think that the sinfulness of any man's Life can make the Scripture to cease to be the Rule of Life as God hath declared it to be Answ He shews us not where God hath declared the Scripture or Writing to be the Rule of Life or the Rule of Faith and Life we have only his Say-so for it no Scripture-proof for this Article of his Faith And then where is the Foundation of his Faith which he pretends the Scripture to be the Rule of he is not content with its being a Rule Subordinate to the holy Spirits Guidance and Illumination of the understanding but by way of Emphasis he must have these Epithetes placed upon the Scripture which signifies Writing viz. The Rule of Faith and Life which yet he brings us no Scripture-proof for that ever God hath declared it so to be much less the Word of Life the Judge the Tryer of Spirits those streams which make glad the City of God Wherein he might as well plainly have told us that the Scripture is God Christ the Spirit the Life the Light and what not § XXIII Pr. Ibid. Without doubt it is a false Light in any Quaker which guides him to say that the Scripture is not the Rule of Life without the Light within to guide him Answ Here the Priest renders the Scripture the Rule of Life without the Light within to guide as if Men could know the benefit of the Scripture while in their Darkness without the Guidance of the Light The man is quite out here How should any rightly understand use or improve the Scripture without divine Illumination or Inspiration to open their Understandings seeing that there is a Spirit in Man but the Inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding The Spirit of God is sufficient to instruct men in those Nations where they have not or cannot read Scripture But the Scripture of it self cannot guide any men nor be of any real profit to them so much as a Rule of Life without the Spirit and its inward divine Illumination For what can dark minds and Earthly Corrupt Hearts or Natural men by their own Wisdom truly understand of holy Scripture 't is as a seal'd Book unto them And therefore the Psalmist applied himself to the Lord in Prayer in this wise Teach me thy Statutes make me to understand the Way of thy Precepts so shall I talk of thy wondrous Works Remove from me the way of Lying and grant me thy Law graciously I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart Teach me O Lord the Way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the End Give me Vnderstanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole Heart With many more such passages in Psal 119. Of whom did he seek this Teaching Understanding and Help but of the Lord Could then the Scripture of it self do all this no sure Consider of it and let all serious Readers take notice how blind Opposers of the Light of Christ within stumble and fall in the dark § XXIV In the next place the Priest appears greatly vex't at James Parnel's Book called The Trumpet of the Lord blown or A Blast against Pride and Oppression About which the Priest greatly abuses the Author and the people called Qrs. most shamefully perverting his Testimony against Pride and Oppression as may plainly appear in a few Instances As Whereas James Parnel saith Wo unto you that are called Lords and Ladies Knights c. in respect to your Persons who are Exalted in the Earth who are Proud High and Lofty c. With other passages Threatning and Warning of them for their Pride Wantonness Voluptuousness c. instancing Dives Haman Pharaoh c. Pr. Hereupon the Priest saith According to this Qr. the last End of all the aforesaid Persons without exception is to be destroyed p. 70. And that according to this Quaking Scrible all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam shall every one of them unless they turn Quakers be damn'd forever they shall without any Exception be cast into Hell p. 71. Answ The Priests horrid and gross Abuse in these Passages in saying that without any Exception they shall be all cast into Hell Here he makes the Threat Absolute as if because they are called Lords and Ladies c. they must all be damned in the Qrs. sence which is a most Sordid Perversion and Knavery leaving out much that concerns their Destructive Ways and States and the very Principal Condition or Matter which J. P. inserted in those Threats and Warnings of his and yet for all this the Priest puts in or Forges a Condition or Exception in his own Terms That unless they turn Qrs. they shall be damned forever These are none of J. P's words and yet a forged Exception enough to render the Priest Contradictory to himself And it is to be noted that this Priest in his Citation pag. 71. out of James Parnel's Book pag. 31 32 33. which he takes together he hath left out the most Materal Passages both relating to those Ways and States that are Destructive and to those Conditions that tend to Salvation As for Instance After the Words Rising up to Play the Priest leaves out and live in Pride and Covetousness And after the words The blind eads the blind into the Ditch he leaves out and so you lead your Lives and spend your Time here and
Believer in Christ can witness that Christ is come to destroy the Works of the Devil and to redeem him from under his Power before this saving Work of Christ be effected or compleated from the very first appearance of Christ and work of his Grace in the Heart through Faith which he is the Author of there is a real Belief Sense Expectation and Hope that he who has begun a good Work will perfect it in his own due time he that hath begun to Cleanse to Purifie to work out Sin to engage the Soul in a Spiritual Warfare against it will in his own time even in this Life perfect this Work of Cleansing and Redeeming the Creature from all Sin so that he is known to be a Redeemer by that effectual Progress which he makes in his Work in Man in the gradual carrying on of it unto Perfection there is a time of Washing and Cleansing and a time of being Washed and Cleansed from Sin there is a time of Warring and a time of Conquering as also a being made more then Conquerors through him that loved us Pr. pag. 103. It s no marvail that the Qrs. do ignorantly plead for a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life for this is their Top-gallant Error which makes them reign like Kings above the World Death Hell and the Devil Answ See here how mad against Perfection this Priest is he likes not to hear of perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life he calls it The Quakers Top-gallant Error his Clamour against us on this occasion he reiterates over and over and therefore I recite his words that the Reader may see how earnest he is for Satan's Kingdom he has done no less herein than Blasphem'd the Work and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles which was against all Sin and for a perfect Freedom from it in this Life as being a Top-gallant Error thus he has shewn himself an Industrious Agent for Satan's Kingdom Pr. Ibid. By this Quaking Doctrine of Perfection this Quaker saith that the Children of God and the Children of the Devil are made manifest Behold in this Qrs. account they are manifestly the Children of the Devil who do not hold a perfect Freedom from Sin on Earth Answ That which here he scornfully calls Quaking Doctrine is according to plain Scripture which he has flatly opposed see 1 John 3.9 10. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Pr. Ibid. Thus this Idoliz'd Perfection of the Qrs. serves to Vnchristian all but themselves Answ Manifest Scorn and Falshood we do not idolize Christ's Work of Perfection nor unchristian any by vindicating of it but seek to bring them to true Christianity that they may know Christ his Image and divine Nature formed and brought forth in them by the Operation of his Spirit and Power Pr. Ibid. In vain doth this Qr. tell us that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not for the Scripture records no such Over-holy Inhabitants Answ The Scripture doth record such Holy Inhabitants in Christ as sin not Ye know that He was manifested to take away Our Sins and in him is No Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5 6. But this the Priest counts Over-holy that is with him 't is Over-holy to abide in Christ and not to sin whereas Christ said Abide in me and I in you Pr. Ibid. It s true it s the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so Answ Then Priest to be sure thy Mouth ought to be stopt for much of thy work here is pleading striving and contending for Sin reiterating the same sinful Doctrine of thine against Perfection and Freedom from Sin in this Life over and over frequently and therefore thou art therein the Devil's Mouth and not the Mouth of God nor Christ The Devil pleads for Sin and so dost thou thou and the Devil are manifestly united together against Christ and all his Followers in this matter and therefore stop thy Mouth for shame thou Flattering Sin-pleasing Priest who strengthenest the hands of Evil-doers that they may not forsake their sins like the false Prophets of old promising them Life Justification Peace and Salvation in a sinful state Pr. Ibid. But to affirm the In-being and Dwelling of Sin in the best of men in this World is no siding with the Devil in the same Plea Answ Here the Priest hath accused the best of men in this World with the In-being and Dwelling of Sin and is not this a pleading for Sin and a siding with the Devil against Christ's Manifestation and Work which is to take away Sin to destroy the Work of the Devil and if to Destroy it then not to let it have a Being or Dwelling in any true Believers The best of men are free from consenting to the In-being of sin much more from pleading or contending for it for being made free from Sin and become Servants to God such have their Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Pr. Ibid. Ministers of the Gospel who teach that none can be Perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life Answ They that teach that none can be perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life preach another Gospel than the holy Apostles preached whose Preaching and Work of the Ministry was to present Believers Perfect in Christ and for the Perfecting of the Saints But such Ministers as teach that none can be cleansed from all Sin in this Life are like or of kin to such as hold a Purgatory or place of Purgation to cleanse in after Death only they fall short of the Papists in this that they 'l allow none no not the best of men on Earth to be perfectly cleansed from all sin in this Life whereas the Papists do grant that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven when they dye but yet they will imagine a Purgatory for the greatest part of their People to give them ease in their Sins and get Money and Gifts of the Richer sort to mitigate and shorten their pains in Purgatory Thus Satan has divers wayes to sooth up Sinners and to maintain his own Kingdom against Christ his Work and Kingdom Pr. pag. 104. O Quaking Perfection from all Sin in this Life O Brain-sick Whimsy To what Extravigant Assertions to what Devilish Expressions hast thou transported this Poor Deluded Quaker This Quaking Error Answ Thus the Priest Hectors Rants Vapours Vilifies and Reproaches the Quaker for pleading against the Devil's Work which is Sin and for Christ's Work and Service which is Perfection and perfect Freedom But the Priest in his pleading for Sin and therein siding with the Devil Rants it
6 7 10 12. Pr. Art 10. We Q. do believe that Jesus our Saviour is not the Son of Mary nor the Son of the Substance of the Father Answ These are both Gross Lyes the point is cleared before We never denyed but alway believed Jesus our Saviour as Miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Mary and born of her As also we never denyed but ever believed him as he is the Eternal Son of God to be of his Fathers Substance § 13. Pr. Art Ibid. That Mary is not the Mother of God its Popery to call Mary the Mother of God Answ This he has set down as part of the Qrs. Unsound Faith and therefore his Faith is That Mary is the Mother of God 't is not Popery to call Mary the Mother of God The rest of the Forgeries in this Article are answered before § 13. Pr. Art 12. We Q. do believe that Deliverance from Condemnation is not by believing in Christ who dyed to save Sinners by his Blood but by obeying the Light within Answ This is a Gross Perversion and Forgery again Christ and his Light within are not to be divided in the matter of Faith or Salvation We never opposed Christ who dyed for Sinners or Faith in his Name by believing or in obeying his Light within For he that believes and walks in his Light believes in his Name and thereby partakes of the Fruit of his Death and Blood to cleanse from all Sin § 14. Pr. Art 14. We Q. do believe that there is no Knowledge of any Truth to be gotten by the Scripture Answ Here is a Falshood and Perversion again for we do believe that a Knowledge of some Truths may be gotten by the Scripture and more especially through the Blessing of God enlightening the Vnderstanding in the serious reading the Scripture but no saving Knowledge is gotten by the Scripture alone without the Blessing of God by his Spirit enlightening the Understanding § 14 15. Pr. Art 29 30. We Q. do believe that there is no outward Civil Honour due to the King to Magistrates and Men in Authority or any others Answ False again 't was never an Article of the Qrs. Faith we have fully exprest the contrary even upon outward and Civil Accounts as in paying our Taxes Customs and Duties and actually submitting to Authority as Christians in all cases consistent with the Peace of our Consciences and passively in suffering in cases wherein we could not be active for Conscience sake But it is the Hat and Knee Honour Bowing Creeping and Cringing Flattering Titles and Complements which this Priest is doting upon 't is not the substantial Honour Dignity Estimation or Reverence that his Contest is for but what 's meerly Complemental and pleasing to the fleshly Mind and Pride of Man § 17. Pr. Art 47. We Q. do believe that all Lords Ladies Knight◠Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Young and Old Rich and Poor c. who are no Qrs. are the Children of the Devil Fruitless Trees for the Fire to be cast into the Lake that there they must lie for evermore c. Answ His Falshood and Knavery herein is sufficiently detected before in his leaving out the general Conditions of Mercy and Salvation proposed to the Wicked viz. Repentance Fersaking their Iniquities c. without which they are liable to Destruction and Misery which are in their way see Sect. 24. 'T is a plain Lying Forgery to make their being No Qrs. the Condition of their Destruction as if we should condemn all to utter Destruction who are not formally Qrs. so called We never went about thus to confine the Mercy of God For there are both Thousands of Infants that dye Innocent as also many Thousands of Persons that have a Degree of Innocency being free from Envy and Malice against us and others and many in Dark Times and Dispensations that having a Secret Sincerity in their Hearts to God who never were Reputed Quakers nor formally gathered into an outward Society with us that yet may and do find Mercy and partake of the common Salvation tendred in Christ Jesus to Mankind But No Fallen Sinful or Poluted Man or Woman can find Salvation without Repentance or Inward Conversion by the Grace of God that has appeared to all men that they may be taught to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts § 31. But now more briefly to sum up and recite some more of the Priests Lyes Wicked Forgeries and Falshoods in others of his Articles I shall thus proceed Art 54. That there are no Right Magistrates but Qrs. and such Quaking Magistrates c. This is a Knavish and Idle Forgery § 25 26. Art 54. That not Thouing one another is a Damning Sin is a Lying Forgery again § 17 26. Ibid. That all Superiority Nobility Honour Breeding c. are under the Curse of God is a Perverse Lye Ibid. That there is no true Nobility true Gentility but in us Qrs. that Honour is only due to us Qrs. These are Knavish Forgeries still § 26. Ibid. That any of us despised Qrs. is more Noble than either King or any Nobles after the Flesh because of the Noble Seed in us No Article of the Qrs. Faith but the Priests Forgery Ibid. That all Noble men Gentlemen Superiours Men of Honour Breeding c. are Bastards An Odious Forgery to render us Odious See § 17 18. Art 58. We Q. do believe that it is the Devil who tells men that Christ dyed for all This is a Horrid Lye Wicked Slander and Most Abominable Forgery for that Christ dyed for all men we have alwayes believed and owned as testified by his Spirit in his holy Apostles and Scriptures § 9 10. Art 59. That they who said they believed that that was the Christ who dyed at Jerusalem and that he dyed for their Sins and rose again and sitteth at the Right Hand of God were no Christians in Truth This again is a Wicked Perversion and Falshood and also a Curtailing of J. Parnel's words as the Priest has more at large cited them pag. 105 106. as if the Qr. denyed these things relating to Christ whereas 't is spoken of such false Christians as had the History or Profession of Christ but were not in the true Knowledge of God or Christ but under Anti-christ's Reign yet under a Gospel Profession looking at God as a God afar off only and sotting up Idols Temples False Teachers Hirelings c. § 26. Art 66. That to know God according to the Scripture is no true Knowledge of him This is a gross Lye and Forgery again for truly to know God by the Revelation of his Son is according to Scripture though given by Christ § 14 15. Art 72. That all true Quakers have the same Gift of the H. Ghost or gift of Miracles that the Apostles had The last is a gros Lye for though true Quakers confess and own a partaking of the Gift of the holy Ghost yet pretend not the
same as to Miracles or to equalize themselves therein with the Apostles though God hath wrought Wonders and Miracles among them and by some as Instruments in his hand Art 78. That to redeem and make free from Sin is done with the Body of Christ which we have told you is the Church A Perversion still as if the Church only did redeem and free it self whereas 't is Christ in and with his own Body that redeems his Church which is that Body of his whereof he is Head Though he has an intire peculiar and glorious Body yet the Church as united to him and Members of his Body comprehensively make up one Indivisible Body in the compleat and mysterious Union and Fulness of himself § 32. Art 81. That that man looks upon Christ with a Carnal Eye that looks upon him to have a true Body Which is a lying Forgery still Christ hath a true and Spiritual glorious Body whereof the Saints are Members in the spiritual and mysterious union wiâ—h himself § 32. Art 83. That Fellowship at the Lords Table is very wicked Is also a perverse falshood for ye cannot eat at the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils Covetous Priests and Wicked People though they have the Sign or Shadow yet are short of the Lord's Table and partake not of the Flesh and Blood of Christ nor of his Supper while they shut him out of their Hearts § 16. 25. Art 89. That Vnquakeriz'd Christians do worship an unknown God A Forgery still none of our Terms or Creed but false and fleshly Christians do so Worship § 31. There are divers more Forgeries Perversions and Falshoods in the Priests Articles which for brevity's sake I omit and shall now give the Reader an Account according to my second Proposition before stated of some Truths set down in the Priests Articles which are not according to his Faith he having given them all the Title of the Quakers Vnsound Faith And thus I proceed viz. Pr. Art 2 3. Now we Quakers do believe that the Spirit alone doth give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of our Faith and Practice Answ We do believe that the Spirit of Truth is all-sufficient for those Ends 't is given for and leadeth into all Truth that true discerning of Spirits is a Gift of this Spirit and that we ought to walk in the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit as the chief Rule of our Faith and Practice which things it seems this Priest does not believe he believes not that the Spirit alone doth give true Discerning or that the Divine Light thereof ought to be his Rule He believes the Scripture to be the Rule of Life without the Light within as he has told us p. 120. § 14 15. Pr. Art 21. We Q. believe that we are to mind the Spirit alone in all things Answ We do believe we ought to mind the Spirit of Truth in all things both in reading Scripture for a true understanding thereof and in our Words and Actions but this Priest does not believe he ought to be so mindful of the Spirit his mind is more upon Flesh than Spirit § 14 15 23. Pr. Art 34. We Q. do believe that the Name Sunday is Heathenish that every day is the Lord's day Answ Then this Priest does not believe the Name Sunday is Heathenish or proceeded from Heathens or that every day is the Lords thus ignorant he has shewn himself § 20. Pr. Art 35. We Q. believe that they are no truly faithful Christians who deny that there is a perfect freedom from all manner of Sin to be had in this Life that their Faith is not the true Faith if it doth not cleanse them from all their Sins Answ This Priest therefore believes that they are truly faithful Christians and in the true Faith who deny a Perfect freedom from Sin in this Life and whose Faith does not cleanse them from their Sins which is contrary to the Belief and Faith of truly faithful Christians who know the Heart-purifying Faith and the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all Sin and such could say He hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood But 't is not done in this Life saith the Priest When then In the Life to come it must be But Where must it be in a Purgatory between Heaven and Hell That 's Popish Doctrine § 21. and 28. Pr. Art 36. We Q. do believe that the Scripture is not the Light nor the Word nor the Life nor the Judge nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits Answ This being also included in the Qrs. unsound Faith by the Priest we must take it for granted that he believes the Scripture is the Light the Life the Judge †Contrary to Psal 50.6 Isa 33 22. Acts 10.42 Heb. 12.23 James 5.9 the Rule the Guide the Tryer of Spirits which Terms by way of Eminency most properly belonging to God to Christ to the holy Spirit to the divine Light * John 1 c 11.25 c. 14.6 might not the Priest as well have told us that the Scripture is God and Christ § 22 23 § 14 15. Pr. Art 37. We Q. do believe that the People and Teachers are Ignorant of Christ who seek Life in the Scripture where it is not to be found Answ So then this Priest therefore believes that Eternal Life is to be sound in the Scriptures and they who seek it in the Scripture do know and find Christ the Light and Life Eternal therein which is contrary to Christs own Testimony John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life § 22 23. § 14 15. Pr. Art 50. We Q. do believe That they are all Heathens and no Christians who are so baptiz'd i. e. with Water and cannot witness the other Baptism i. e. the Baptism of Christ Answ This Priest then believes that they all are no Heathens but Christians who are Baptized or Sprinkled with Water when Infants though they cannot witness the Baptism of Christ at such an easie rate can he make Christians contrary to Christs own Testimony If I do not wash thee thou hast no part in me and except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God § 16. 25. 29. Pr. Art 51. We Q. do believe that Sacramental Bread so called is Natural that the Cup is such like and that which they call the Lords Supper is a Shadow Answ This being also included in the Qrs. Vnsound Faith we may take it for granted that the Priest does not believe that the Bread and the Cup which they call Sacramental and the Lords Supper are Natural Carnal or Shadow What then that they are Supernatural Spiritual the Substance the Body and Blood of Christ yea That the Bread broken
THE Real Quaker A Real Protestant And the Spirit of POPERY directly struck at In Answer to a most Malicious and Scandalous BOOK Entituled The PAPISTS Younger Brother By a Disguised AUTHOR under the Titles MISOPLANES and PHILALETHES But on the CONTRARY proved Philoplanes Misalethes By a Servant of Christ G. Whitehead Psal 36.2 3. The Wicked flattereth himself in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful The Words of his Mouth are Iniquity and Deceit Printed in the Year 1679. The Title of our Adversary's Book THE PAPISTS Younger BROTHER OR The Vileness of Quakerism Detected as it has been Printed and Published by Themselves AND An Appendix of the Quakers Unsound Faith which is also gathered out of Their Own Printed Books By Misoplanes and Philalethes A Hater of Error Lover of Truth The Anti-title relating to the following Treatise THE Real QUAKER a Real PROTESTANT And therefore no Brother to the Papists AND The Verity and Christianity of that Profession nick-nam'd Quakerism asserted and their own printed Books vindicated from the gross Abuses Slanders and Calumnies exhibited by a Malicious Persecuting Priest who is justly Recharged and proved guilty of Popery in Spirit Practice and Doctrine AND An APPENDIX to the following Treatise of the QUAKERS Sound Faith in Opposition to their Adversary's Appendix plainly evincing his Most Abominable Abuses and Forgeries against the People called Quakers In all which he is evidently proved to be Philoplanes A Lover of Error Misalethes A Hater of Truth AN Introductory Epistle Vnprejudiced Reader WEre it not to inform the Ignorant in Truth 's Vindication and to remove that Smoke and those Mists from before their Eyes which the Devil's Agents are busie to raise and cast before them to obscure and vail Truth with Prejudice I should not have set Pen to Paper to Answer this Adversary for I count him not worth those few dayes being near one Week's time that I have spent in Collecting and Answering so many of his gross Absurdities Falshoods Perversions and Slanderous Abuses which I have the more particularly set down in his own words and some of them in his own frequent Reiterations though I might more concisely and briefly have collected his confused Rambles into Heeds but I have thus traced his Absurdities and Slanders as I met them dispersed that they may remain upon record as a Testimony against him in such an obvious manner and all who own or abet him therein for his Abusive Work carries a more general Reflection than only upon himself 1st Because he makes himself some great Agent Champion for the Clergy and Church of England 2dly Because his large Pamphlet being above Twenty Three Sheets goes out with this Approbation viz. LICENCED W. JANE November 15. 1678. But as for his own Name he conceals it whether from a Jealousie of his Work or from a Consciousness of his own Disreputation that it may weaken the Credit thereof or from a Fear of incurring some of the Papists displeasure and endangering his own Promotion if they should have a Day for some Reflections upon them in his unjustly charging the Quakers with Popery only he subscribeth Misoplanes and Philalethes whereby he would be thought to be a Hater of Error and a Lover of Truth but his Work will manifest the contrary that as a Lover of his own Erroneous Wayes he shews an absolute Hatred to Truth His chief Quarrel is against the inherent or inward Righteousness of Christ Jesus for the compleating our Justification and Salvation and against the Light of Christ in Man and the Doctrine of Perfection or Freedom from Sin being attainable in this Life as also against the Light and Spirit of Christ being the only or chiefest Rule of Faith and Life as it is to all true spiritual Christians and Believers above Scripture so that the true Gospel and New Covenant Urim and Thummim to wit Light and Perfection true Knowledge and Holiness in the Breast-plate of Judgment in the Royal Priesthood of Christ are stumbled at and blasphemously opposed by this inveterate Clergy-man to the great Disgrace of his Coat and Shame of his Profession and Disparagement of his Moregrave and Learned Brethren for suffering such a furious discomposed Agent to be such a publick Advocate in their Cause who when he can't Answer nor give any modest Reply he Reviles Hectors Vaunts Boasts Scoffs and Jeers as if by that means he would conquer all when he cannot Reason he Rails and Clamours most hideously when he cannot confute his Opposers nor remove the Charges against him and those of his Spirit and Fraternity he recites and reiterates the Charges with Taunting Jeering and Scoffing and his chief Refuge and confuting Argument is The Church of England the Church of England 's Faith is Opposed though I must needs say he has greatly wrong'd and misrepresented that Church in several particulars wherein he is here reprehended for she should not be made worse than she is and instead of endeavouring to convince the Quakers in any Christian way of their being Deluded as he charges he does not only unjustly render a Real Quaker as being a Papist and charge Popery upon him for holding such plain Scripture-Truths relating to the new Birth and Justification by Grace received not excluding the Merit or Deserving and Dignity of Christ in his Suffering Death and Sacrifice for Mankind as an obtaining and procuring Cause thereof for all truly believing in him But also our Adversary shews himself offended at the King's Lenity towards Peaceable Dissenting Protestants nothing less will satisfie him than to have the Priests exalted and their Designs carried on over all by the secular Magistrate that they may be atop and both Kings Princes and Subjects subservient to them which hath been alwayes a Popish design and to this purpose this Priest in his very Title Page has given us a Citation which is very grateful to the Popish Clergy viz. Neque enim aliunde haereses obortae sunt aut nata sunt schismata quam inde quod sacerdoti Dei non obtemparatur Divus Cyprianus libro primo Epistola tertia i.e. For neither from any thing else Heresies have risen nor Schisms bred but hence that Obedience is not yielded to God's Priest So that its Obedience to the Priests our Adversary chiefly aims at as the chief Obligation to prevent Heresie and Schism and that the Security both of Church and State Kings and Princes may center in the Priests in all being obedient to them if by such Insinuation they of this mind could get the Miter set above the Crown their Princes not obeying such Priests nor siding with their selfish Interest may be liable to be Condemned if not Deposed as Hereticks This our Adversary greatly endeavours to incense the King and Government to Severity or Persecution against the despised People called Quakers using such Expressions as these Is it not high time for the King 's Sacred Majesty to arise and judge pag. 5. and surely
burn such Books for testifying of the Light of Christ within would no doubt both Hang and Burn us if it had but Power but God be thanked for putting a Limit to it Pr. pag. 34. The Light Within this Quaker 's Fondling is the Child 's only Tutor to help him to know God his Way and Truth Answ You may see his Rage is still against the Light Within which neither he nor the Devil shall ever be able to suppress if they had Power to imploy the Hang-man against us I would ask him and his Brethren if they think that any can know God his Way or Truth without the help of Divine Light surely they cannot by continuing in Darkness Pr. Ibid. As for the Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God as St. Paul saith is able to make wise to Salvation Answ Pauls words are these And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS But these words Through Faith which is in Christ Jesus the Priest hath disingenuously left out as if the Scriptures of themselves without either Faith in Christ or Light from him could make wise to Salvation whereas this was writ to Timothy a man of God a man in the Faith and Knowledge of God a man that was partaker of the Gift of the holy Ghost in him to whom it was said Neglect not the Gift that is in thee the Vnfeigned Faith that is in thee stir up the Gift of God which is in thee c. So that the Scriptures alone without Divine Assistance and Faith in Christ Jesus could not make him wise to Salvation but the holy Spirit alone could nor be of that profit and advantage to him but as he partook of that Faith which is in Christ Jesus For Christ himself was the principal and chief cause of saving Wisdom and Knowledge in whom all the Treasures thereof are Quakers Primmer pag. 5. Such as are not Christs Ministers have their Power and Authority from Man and each man a place of settlement called a Parish In that Parish they have Tythes and a Law made by man to compel it and if any for Conscience sake cannot give it them then they Sue and Imprison them and Spoil their Goods and these are Wolves Child that are let loose among the Lambs to rend and tear them c. Pr. The Priest Answers p. 35. By this Quaking Father the Children of this Church and Kingdom are basely taught in a ridiculous manner to despise all Gods Ministers of what degree soever throughout this whole Kingdom from the Kings Chappel to the meanest Congregation we are all alike none of Christs Ministers like Jeroboams Priests or Baals Prophets this Quaker saith we derive our Authority from Man The Consecration of Arch-Bishops and Bishops the Ordinantion of Priests and Deacons is no more but an Humane Invention for they have their Power and Authority from Man Answ I shall need say little to these Passages untill he gives us a better Consutation to clear himself and his Brethren than only are-citation of our Friends words or his bare telling us that they are God's Ministers I deny that the Children are here taught to despise Gods Ministers when they are taught to deny such Priests as Preach for Hire and Divine for Money and Persecute Oppress Imprison spoil People in their goods for Tythes I deny that such derive their Authority from God or that the Consecration and Ordination of the Bishops who are called Lord Bishops who by their Office are made Great and Rich in the Earth and their Parish-Priests can shew any higher Power and Authority then what 's Human or of man whether they be set up by Pope or Prince and many Thousands are of the same mind with me as being dissatisfied concerning them Let them therefore shew us any Divine Authority or Power for their Consecration Ordination and Commission that we may be convinc'd thereof according to the holy Scriptures Otherwise it s but a pitiful begging the Question for this Priest to cry themselves up as Gods Ministers Ministers of Gods Word or Gods Priests and to boast of the Kings Power on their side and the Kings Chappel and the Arch-Bishops and Bishops as if that were sufficient to prove that they are Divinely authorized and impower'd while this is his great Refuge he has the King and Bishops on his side and they own the Priests therefore the Consecration and Ordination Power and Authority is not Human or of Man but Divine What Real Christian or Rational man will own such Arguing as this to prove the Commission Divine And verily this is the best Logick and strongest Argument I can â—ather or naturally infer from this Priests Method to prove his Call Power or Authority to preach in the Name of Christ Pr. Ibid. An Hour-Glass measures the time of their Preaching which their Eyes are oft upon In this Quâ—kers Eye they are no better than so many Hour-Glass Preachers Answ 'T is strange this Man should cite this passage against the Priests practice and give us no better proof for it then only the Recital of the Charge and telling us 'T is a silly scandalous Charge and that it is a shame that such base things should not signally be taken notice of as if to incense the Magistrates to punish us for saying The Priest Preaches by an Hour-Glass were Confutation enough for us and proof sufficient for such a Practice But what Scripture has he for preaching by an Hour-Glass Come Priest bring us plain Scripture for this your practice or else never pretend the Scripture to be thy Rule of Faith and Practice Quakers Prim. p. 10. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints are made Witnesses of but the Spirit is the Rule unto them that gave forth the Scriptures The Priest Answers p. 36. The Youth are taught by this Quaking Father that the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith and Obedience Answ Come Priest seeing 't is an Article of thy Faith that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Obedience and not the Spirit as appears by the Tenor of thy Writing let us have plain Scripture to prove this great Article of thy Faith to wit that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Obedience If thou hast not plain Scripture for this then it follows not only that the Scripture is not the Rule of thy Faith and Practice but also that thy Position or Article in this case is unsound as well as Unscriptural and inconsistent with it self that the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith c. and yet no Scripture to prove they are so But that they testifie of Christ as the Way the Truth the Life the Light and that the Spirit of Truth is that which guides into all Truth this is Scriptural And further 't is very Uncharitable to condemn all Nations that have not the Scriptures and that is
live upon Tythes and Forced Maintenance Imprison and Spoil many Innocent Subjects that the Lofty Domineering Priests may live in Pride and Fulness which thing doubtless can be no Delight nor Advantage to the King that the Priests should thus harrass and destroy his Subjects considering his divers Declarations for Liberty of Conscience and Toleration But if the King should grant and cause a Law to be made to leave People free to their Consciences and Perswasions in that Case of Payment or Non-payment of Tythes then I suppose this Priest would not so readily cry up the King as the Churches Nursing-Father What the Prophet saith That Kings shall be thy Nursing-Fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-Mothers relates not at all to any Persecuting Church or Priest-hood but to God's own afflicted People Zion or Church of Christ in the Restoration and Gathering of the Gentiles thereunto to whom he saith Thy Destroyers and they that made thee Waste shall go forth of thee Isa 49.17 So that when such Persecutors and Destroyers as many of the Priests are come to be removed and the Hearts of Kings and Princesses come to be made tender by the Invisible Power of God they shall be a Comfort as Nourishers and Relievers of God's afflicted People from their Oppressions when the Beast shall hate the Whore and lay her Desolate that she may no longer persecute nor drink the Blood of the Saints So that this Prophecy of Isaiah Chap. 49.23 does not appertain to a Persecuting and Oppressing Priest-hood or Church but to the Afflicted and Oppressed Zion and People of God in the Day of his Churches Restoration and encrease even among the Gentiles Pr. p. 39. Our Singing of Psalms in the Time of Divine Service is as bad as our Preaching and Praying Answ Praises are not comely in the Mouth of the Wicked their Prayers and Sacrifices God regards not If I regard Iniquity in mine Heart God will not regard my Prayers You sing what you experience not in David's Psalms Prayers Complaints Lamentations c. You falsly personate David in Conditions that are none of your own Pr. Ibid. The Quakers to the shame of true Christianity are they only who sing with the Spirit and Vnderstanding Answ We do not say that Quakers only sing with the Spirit and Understanding but that the true singing is therewith If this Priest pretends to sing with the Spirit then I hope he will own the Spirit 's Guidance in this point and so to sing and pray without Book by the Spirit 's Motion and Guidance if he owns this to be concern'd in true Christianity then why does he Revile the Quakers so called for owning the Spirit 's Rule and Guidance If he owns it not then no Injury to tell him his Defect wherein his Brethren are generally concerned Pr. p. 39 40. To mount the Baseness of Quakerism aloft the singing of Psalms at Court in the King's Chappel in the City and Country in Cathedrals and Parish Churches is a very prophane piece of Service Answ Their being sung at Court in the King's Chappel and in Cathedrals c. does not make the Service one bit better 't is not the Places but the Hearts of men that God looks at if the Hearts be bad and wicked at Court in the City or Country in Cathedrals or Parish Churches so called God will never a whit regard their pretended Services for the sake of the Places for he is no Respecter of Persons he regards not the Face of Princes It is not the Kings Palace that will excuse men in offering Prayers or Praises from a poluted Heart Iniquity at Court is Reproveable in God's sight as well as in City or Country 't is Truth in the inward parts God requires Pr. Qr. Prim. p. 36. Christ did not ordain sprinkling Water in a Child's Face Answ If he did let 's have Scripture proof for it where-ever Christ did ordain or command Infants to be sprinkled or called that the Baptism I am apt to be more than confident that he has no Scripture to be his Rule in this Practice Pr. Priest answers pag. 40. We have quite lost Baptism and the Lord's Supper in the Church of England This Quaker doth buldly say They rose from the Pope's Invention Answ The true and real Baptism and Lord's Supper both in the Type and Antitype did not rise from the Pope's Invention but dipping or sprinkling Infants and calling that Baptism was imposed by Popes I challenge him to produce plain Scripture-proof for sprinkling Infants if he can Pr. pag. 41. Who can but laugh this Baal 's Prophet to Scorn or rather who can but pity his great Ignorance Answ This Person is given more to Laughter and Scorn than he is to Pity but his Laughter and Scorn are but like the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot for he laughs and scorns at such as truly own the Light and Spirit of Christ within to be their Guide and Teacher Pr. Ibid. Let this be noted that the Quakers own no other Baptism but that which is in the Spirit which certainly is NO SCRIPTURE-BAPTISM Answ The One Baptism which the Quakers own is the Baptism of the Spirit testified of in Scripture There is one Faith one Baptism Ephes 4. We are all Baptized by one Spirit into one Body and As many as are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ For this man to say This is no Scripture-Baptism shews his great Ignorance as well as Error Pr. pag. 42. Alas poor despised Church of England What 's become of thy Two Sacraments which are generally necessary to Salvation Answ Where is his Scripture for this Passage for the word Sacraments and for the Two Sacraments necessary to Salvation If he cannot produce plain Scripture-proof herein then the Scripture is not his Rule but the Church is his Rule as the Papists say His Railing and crying out The Vgly Face of these Quaking Lines is no Proof for his Positions but Reviling still Pr. pag. 4 3. Who knows not that a Material Church is a Place made by Men and not by Angels Answ Where is his Scripture for a Material Church made by Men or that a Steeple-house or old Mass-house is the Church He distinguishes not between Ecclesia and Templum here Pr. Ibid. As for that Church which this Quaker calls a Living Thing it is an Vnlawful Conventicle Ecclesâ—a Malignantium the Congregation of Evil-doers with which this Church and Kingdom is too much pestered Answ That Church which the Quakers call a living Church is built up of Living Stones whereof Christ is the Head and Chief Corner-Stone no Unlawful Conventicle He now talk like a Malicious and Popish Informer that would incense the Magistrates to Persecution against us Pr. Pag. 44. Not the King's Majesty on the Throne nor the Peers of this Realm do escape this Quaker 's Lash Answ Neither the King on the Throne nor the Peers of the Realm will be able to excuse this Priest in the great Day of God
say The Scripture proceedeth from Christ but is not Christ for he is the Light the Life the Word the Judge the Guide of all his true Followers And why may not he be called the Rule as well as the Way the Truth c Pr. Ibid. This Qr. is guilty of Weak Reasoning because Christ is the Word the Light the Life therefore the Scripture is not a Light the Word of Life a Judge a Guide a Tryer of Spirits rare Quaking Logick Answ He grants the Qrs. Assertion that Christ is the Word the Light the Life wherein he has weakened his own Cause but his Inference upon the Quaker I deny for that the Qr. does not argue in the Terms he doth For the Priest cunningly puts in A Light A Guide A Judge A Tryer of Spirits as applicable to the Scriptures wherein he greatly varies the Terms from The Light The Guide c. to A Light A Guide But that the Scriptures of themselves abstractly are these without Divine Assistance he proves not if he dare affert it muchless that the Scriptures are the Word of Life or the Living Word let him prove that I deny his Position for Christ is the Living Word Pr. pag. 62. At this Door hath been brought in all the Filth that hath been east upon the holy Scripture The Scripture is not the Light What is it then Darkness saith one Qr. not to be minded in any thing saith another Answ There is no Filth cast upon the holy Scripture by asserting Christ to be the Word of Life the Light the Judge the Guide c. Again I am confident that he has wrong'd two Qrs. so called in his dark Accusation not telling us what Qr. would call the holy Scripture Darkness or what Qr. did say 't is not to be minded in any thing This is a blind Story I am apt to think of his own forging for no real Qr. would speak so slightily of the holy Scriptures Though there are Parables that are called dark Sayings in the Scriptures which yet cannot properly be called Darkness Pr. Ibid. The Scripture is become like a Dung-Cart to receive what Filth the Qrs. and Papists have to throw into it Answ This is an abominable and slanderous Comparison against the Qrs. who have fully exprest their Reverend Esteem of the holy Scriptures both in Doctrine and Conversation Pr. pag. 64. Are not those Streams which make glad the City of God basely foulled by him Answ He counts the Scriptures those Streams and thereby sets them in the place of Christ who is that Man that shall be as an Hiding-place and is compared to Rivers of Water in a dry place Isa 32.2 And there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers and Streams Chap. 33.21 And this was in Zion the City of our Solemnities and in Jerusalem a quiet Habitation Vers 20. 'T is these Streams of the Water of Life that make glad the City of God whereof the Scriptures testifie Pr. Ibid. The Scripture saith this Qr. is the Idol of all Gospel-Ministers to get Money by Pag. 67. They count the Holy Scripture an Idol Answ A plain Perversion and Falshood again the Qr. saith no such thing nor so accounts of the Scripture but that your Leaders cause you to err for their own Ends and of the Scripture they MAKE an Idol to get Money by He does not call the Scriptures the Idol but that such Make an Idol thereof to get Money by and these are no Gospel-Ministers Those Priests who make a Trade of Scripture and exalt it in the place of Christ make an Idol of it but it is not so in it self Pr. That the Scripture is not the Word nor a Light unto our Feet nor the Rule Guide Teacher or Judge because Christ is so An Oracle from this Qrs. Lying Spirit p. 65. Answ By way of Eminency we own Christ to be the Word also the Light the Rule the Guide the Teacher the Judge the Law-giver the Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 Yet we don 't hereby deny the Scriptures to be a Rule or to contain Words of God Pr. Ibid. That the sure Word of Prophecy is no Light shining in a Dark place Answ Yes the more sure Word of Prophecy is a Light shining in a Dark place in many Dark Hearts whereunto men do well to take heed until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in their Hearts This Word was before the Scripture was writ The Priest calls the Scripture the sure Word of Prophecy but tells us not what Scripture nor wherein the Comparison is of its being the more Sure Word of Prophecy Concerning the Judge and the Light within and Benefit of Christ's coming see what John Preston saith in his Book Entituled The Doctrine of the Saints Infirmities pag. 106. viz. The Office I say of Christ is to teach men Judgment and this he doth with much Tenderness Compassion and Gentleness 1. To teach men the Just and Righteous Ways of God so the Word is taken in the Old Testament to ENLIGHTEN men to judge of the Ways of God Christ is often compared to a Shepherd that feeds his Flock Pag. 107. And he is also called the true Light which lightneth the World If Christ had not come into the World there would not have been one spark of God's Image left in man neither Adam nor his Posterity should have known any thing but a Cloud of Darkness should have seized on mens Minds But now by Christ's coming every one even the Wicked have this benefit that they have seen common Light Christ lighteth every one that cometh into the World in some sort teacheth them so much as shall make them inexcusable And pag. 111. If Christ were not God and Man that is If he were not patient in an Infinite manner he could not bear with us c. Observe how contrary to this of Christ's teaching men Judgment and being that true Light which lightneth every man c. our Adversary hath proceeded against the Light of Christ within both before and after these passages and how he hath opposed the benefit of Christ towards us both as God and Man contrary to J. Preston's account who was a man doubtless of better Fame Religion and Learning in his Day than our Adversary Pr. Ibid. Surely 't is matter of Lamentation that a false Christ the Light within who is not God and Man in one Person must by the Qrs. be thus exalted to lay the honour of the Scripture in the Dust Pag. 67. How fond the Qrs. are of their Light within to exalt this Idol Answ No such Design in the Quakers in exalting the Light within as to lay the honour of the Scripture in the Dust 'T is no dishonour to Scripture to exalt the Light of Christ within and however this Priest might have given the Light of Christ a better Epithete than a False Christ or this Idol especially since he hath given us this Concession
think to be saved hereafter No no. And after the words We is coming upon you all he leaves out who are Proud you must all give an Account before the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is Terrible to the Wicked Behold the Day of the Lord cometh which will burn as an Oven and all that are Proud and all that do Wickedly shall be as Stubble Thus far J.P. And next after these words The Lord abhors all your Profession and your Hypocrisie the Priest leaves out these viz. It is not Profession that he seeks for it is Practice it is not the Sayer but the Doer that shall inherit it is not all that say Lord Lord that shall inherit but he that doth the Will of my Father The Lord looks for Fruits c. And next after these words You serve the Devil with your Hearts and Actions the Priest leaves out who is King of Pride and here you are in the broad and casie Way in the first Nature which is in the Fall separated from God whose Kingdom is not of this World Thus far J. P. See now how plain it is that J. Parnel does not threaten them with Destruction or Hell without Exception or meerly for being called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen Gemlewomen Madam c. but plainly shews them the Destruction and Misery that those Evil Courses Ways and Practices which too many live in lead to and that they that live or continue in Pride and Covetousness cannot escape Destruction is Evident For without Conversion there is no Salvation Again how plain that J.P. proposeth the Conditions that God requireth in order to a Reformation and consequently the Salvation of the same persons whom he Warns in these words viz. The Lord abhors your Hypocrisie 't is not Profession that he seeks for 't is Practice it is not the Sayer but the Doer that shall inherit The Lord looks for Fruits as before cited Again the Priest p. 73. in his Citation out of James Parnel's Book p. 34 35 36. he leaves out Let your Mouthes be stopt all you who act in Vnrighteousness And next after the words Away with all your Profession he leaves out and now Repent and then follows Tremble before the Lord and then he also leaves out Come down all you High and Lofty Ones and then follows Howl in Sack-cloth and Ashes And after the words p. 34. Who are for the Fire the Priest leaves out these viz. For Fruit he is come to seek for Therefore profess him no longer in words but now Repent and Return from all your Vnrighteousness for know you not that no Vnrighteous Person shall inherit the Kingdom of God No Vain Person nor Drunkards Swearers no Lyar no Proud no Covetous ones none who delight in Pleasures Sporting Rioting Chambering and Wantonness no Vnholy Vnclean Thing must enter Thus far James Parnel Now let all serious Readers judge how basely and fallaciously the Priest hath dealt with J. Parnel and the Qrs. on his Account to render him as Pronouncing Absolute Sentence of Damnation for evermore upon all that are called Pag. 74. Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen c. Pag. 75. as dooming them all without Exception to the Fire of Hell pag. 75. And not only so but the Priest has forged this as an Article of the Qrs. Faith viz. Article 45. We Qrs. do believe That all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam are all accursed of God and shall be cast into Hell and that they are no better nor shall fare better then Lucifer Dives Haman Pharaoh Herod and the rest of their Fore-Fathers pag. 154. And to this very purpose he has forged Three Lying Articles in the Qrs. Name viz. his 45th 46th 47th Article Wherefore I testifie against this Priest as an Arrant Forger and one that has dealt most Basely and Knavishly with our deceased Friend's Testimony herein For in the reading of his Books he could not be Ignorant First That it was the state of Dives Haman c. and those that continued therein that were liable to their End to wit Destruction and that they that live in these Evils Pride Covetousness Oppression Excess c. do incur Destruction Secondly That our Friend warned them all to wit the Great Ones with the Priests and People to Repent and to Return from all their Vnrighteousness c. But this the Priest was willing to leave out and take no notice of that he might render the Qrs. more Odious and incense the great Ones against them as guilty of great Vncharitableness Religious Foolery Melancholly c. says because they are not Trembling Qrs they must all to Hell Mind this Melancholly Qr. how he hath packt them up for Hell pag. 73. We may rather say Mind this Deceitful Scornful Priest that has thus forged and play'd the Knave and fordidly abused the plain Testimonies and serious Warnings of a deceased Servant of the Lord and then Scoff at Trembling But the Day will come that the Fearfulness and Horror that will surprize such Hypocrites Atheistical Spirits and Abusers of Truth and Religion will cause him to Tremble and Quake and his Reward will be according to his Works and the Glorying of such in Wickedness will be their shame It s time for this Hypocritical Scornful Priest to Repent J. Parnel's plain Testimonies and Warnings both to High and Low without respect of Persons shall rise up in Judgment against this Temporizing Daubing Flattering Priest that hath so foully and shamefully abused and perverted them to incense the Powers against us like one of Jeroboam's Priests against the Lord's Prophet see Amos 7.10 13. even in as great Envy as Amaziah shewed against Amos to Instigate the King against him Hath this Priest shewn himself against us for warning the great Ones He may see that J. Parnel was not such a Minister as could Daub and Flatter great Persons for a fat Benefice or Augmentation nor such an one as could have their Persons in Admiration for Advantage like those Covetous Temporizing Priests that can renounce and break their Covenan◠Turn from the Directory to the Common-Prayer Wheel about with the Times Sail with every Wind to save their Livings or procure fat Places or Benefices Creep Cringe Complement and Flatter great Persons Pag. 95. and give their Flattering Titles of Your Excellency Your Grace Your Honour Your Lordship Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir c. as this Priest has taught and all for their own Ends and Advantages § XXV Whereas the Priest is offended at J. Parnel distinguishing between the Letter and the Life as between the Shadow and the Substance p. 70 71. The Priest hereupon saith That the Scripture by this Quaker is unjustly term'd the Letter p. 76. Whereupon I ask him if the Apostle doth not distinguish between the Letter and the Spirit in these Scriptures Rom. 7.6 That we should serve in Newness of the Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter
And 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit And whether the words Carnal Commandment and Carnal Ordinances related to no part of Scripture Heb. 7.16 9 10. And whether no part of the Scripture or Writing of Moses or any else was intended in this term Letter But consider all Scripture as it signifies Writing ought there not to be a distinction made not only between the Writing and the matter written but much more between the Writing and the Spirit Life or Substance declared of in the Writing Concerning Baptism he defends his practice very poorly whilst he intends Baptizing or rather Sprinkling young Children in his telling us That the Church of England is grosly mistaken this Quakers Doctrine hath Quaked the Doctrine of the Church of England into a meer delusion p. 78. And why so but because the Quaker saith The Baptism we own is the Baptism of Christ there is but one Lord one Faith one Baptism from Matth. 3.11 Ephes 4.5 6. Collect. J. P. p. 67. Now this Priest proves not that Baptizing with Water muchless that Sprinkling Infants is this one Baptism we have only his Say so or his Belief for it or that Sprinkling Infants is a sign of Regeneration whereby as an Instrument the baptized are grafted into the Church p. 78. He produces us no Scripture-proof for it Pr. pag. 78. This Quaker hath very mean Thoughts of the Lords Supper he counts it but the Worlds Communion As for the Bread broken which is the Body of Christ this Quaker calls it the Bread which the World breaks he speaks abominably of this Bread blessed and broken calling it Carnal Natural that it passeth out of the Body c. Bread and Wine but the Husk and Shadow without p. 79. Answ It appears by this that he deems their Bread and Wine Spiritual Supernatural the Substance the Bread the Body of Christ and then by this the Wine must be the Blood of Christ when blest or consecrated by the Priest Which is rank Popery all one with the Doctrine of Transubstantiation as the Rhemists in their Annot. on Matth. 26. affirm a Consecrating the several Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ the Bread into his Body a part as betrayed broken and given for us the Wine into his Blood a part as shed out of his Body for remission of Sins and Dedication of the New Testament Which is their professed Transubstantiation or changing the Substance of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ according as our Adversary tells us That the Bread broken is the Body of Christ He has left the Doctrine of the Antient Protestants and Protestant-Martyrs who did not own any such Change of the Elements of Bread and Wine but only that as a Sign or Figure of the Body of Christ crucified they were received as a grateful Comemoration of Christ's Death and Sacrifice for mankind But this Adversary is offended that the Bread and Wine should be counted Natural nothing it seems will serve him short of their being the Body and Blood of Christ according as the Rhemists also on Luke 22.19 say Although sense tell thee 't is Bread yet it is the Body let Faith confirm thee judge not by Sense after the words of our Lord let no doubt rise in thy mind of the Verity of Flesh and Blood there is no place to doubt c. See how exactly our Adversary agrees with these Papists in saying The Bread broken is the Body of Christ as before By which he hath now more fully manifested his Popish Spirit especially if he means as he spoke as both repugnant to the Faith of all true Protestants who either look upon these outward Elements to remain the same in themselves in Substance both at and after the words of Consecration and no more than Signs Shadows or outward Mementos at most or look upon them as a Figure or Shadow of the Spiritual receiving of Christ's Body and Blood in the Mystery to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by Faith as he is the living Bread that comes down from Heaven who gave his Flesh for the Life of the World For there is an Inward and Spiritual Supper of the Lord as well as there was an outward which they partake of who hear the Voice of the Son of God and open the Door of their Heart unto him that he may come in and Sup with them and they with him according to his Testimony in Rev. 3.20 Yet we acknowledge the Sign and Figure in its place and day but the Mystery or thing signified is greater and more Excellent Pr. The Letter or the Scripture is Dust the Serpents Meat which they food upon Answ This he falsly infers and casts upon J. Parn. whenas there is no such passage in J. P's words but that Those who pretend to study Divinity and go among Ignorant People and sell that which they have studied and got into the Brain and those who receive it get it into the Brain and so they live upon Dust which is the Serpents Meat Collect. J. P. p. 78 79. Hence its evident that he did not term the Scripture Dust but the Hireling Priests studied Brain-Notions or Knowledge Whereas the Priest appears in a great Rage and in Cruel Mockery against J. Fernel for his plain dealing with the Magistrates Heads and Priests of England as where J. P. saith For the Testimony of this true Ministry some of us are Imprisoned some Stoned some Stocked Whipped and shamefully intreated as Vagabonds Deluders Wanderers Raisers of Sedition c. and esteemed not worthy to live in the Nation both by Priest and Rulers who are out of the Commands of God and are Vagabonds and Fugitives from God who go in the Way of Cain and Envy and murder the Innocent Collect. J. P. pag. 80. As also where he saith We own Magistracy in its place for whilst there is Transgression there must be a Law and while the Devil hath Power over Man there will be Transgression The Law was given forth to curb Evil-doers c. And true Government according to the Law of God is Serviceable in its place and all Magistrates who fear God and hate Covetousness and are guided by the Light of God in the Conscience and execute the Law in its place without partiality and respect of Persons such are serviceable in their place and this we own and honour and are subject for Conscience-sake J. P. Collect. p. 81 82. These Passages the Priest has left out in his Citation except the first Line and then goes on citing viz. They neither know how to rule or govern who are guided by their own Wills such rule with partiality and respect of Persons and give forth Laws in their own Wills Persecute the Righteous encourage the Heathen c. Upon these and such passages before cited the Priest shamefully inveighs against and belies the Quakers
there should be one Head Christ one Teacher one Lord one Lawgiver one Faith one Baptism one Light one Life one Way one Shepherd and one Sheep-fold one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Family one God and Father of all in this true Church This is not strange to the Church of Christ which is Constituted of true and living Members of one Body who live by the Faith of the Son of God and are new Creatures in Christ Jesus who are gathered and baptized by one Spirit into one Light Life and Power and so into one Body according to Scripture seeing the Priest is so ignorant of these things I desire him to read these Scriptures at leisure Isa 33.22 Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. Heb. 8.8 9 10 11. John 6.45 Isa 54.13 1 Cor. 12.13 see also Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. which is directly to our purpose for this Unity and Perfection in the true Church so much condemned and derided by our Unchristian and Atheistical Adversary § XXXI Pr. Ibid. The true Church is now only to be found among the Poor Deluded Qrs. Most of these Vnities heaped together by this Qr. must be understood according to the Notorious false Principles of all Qrs. A Quakerized Vnity Answ We do not say this true Church is only to be found amongst the Poor Quakers or this Unity as relating only to a Visible Society among us 't is of more Universal extent than any Visible Society of Persons but that there is an Invisible and Spiritual Union known to all the faithful among us and that as we are a People gathered by the Power and Spirit of Christ we are Members of that Church which he is Head of and that his Power has more manifestly appeared with us in our Testimony for him and in upholding us chearfully to suffer for the same than with other Societies in our Day as also to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and Man this we are satisfied in and that the Lord's Power has more Eminently appeared among us in our Societies and Assemblies than among other Professions Societies or Assemblies in our day else we should not keep together in a Society we should not be a Church nor in such an Union nor Assemble together if we did not really believe and were satiâ—fied that the Lord owns us and is with us as we are a People And let this Caution be taken by the way That whoever go out from us separate themselves and turn into Emnity Malice or Wickedness after they have seen and tasted of the great Power and Work of the Lord among us they fall into a worse and more dangerous state than thousands are in who never had this Knowledge Wilfully to sin against such Knowledge is far worse than to be in the time of Ignorance wherein God winked their latter End is worse with them than the beginning it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteâ—usness than after they have known it to turn aside from the holy Commandment Turks and Indians who confess and adore an Eternal Deity and live honestly according to what they believe and know are more acceptable to God yea and the most ignorant among them shall sooner find Mercy and Salvation with him than either the Rebellious Back-slider the Hypocrite Careless and Unfaithful under the Profession of Christianity among what People soever And though we do not Exclude all who are not yet gathered into an outward Society with us from having any share in that inward and invisible Life Spirit Faith Union or Salvation which we are made partakers of For there are those that Wish well to Zion that have a love to her and a drawing towards her that God hath regard to them and will prosper in their honest Desires And there are those that are Not against us that are for us Luke 9.50 And God hath a regard to Inward Sincerity and honesty of Heart though clouded under various Forms and Professions There are those that have a Simplicity and Innocence in their Heart towards God and are free from Enmity against his People that yet are not come to have their Understandings so clear as to come into an outward Society and compliance in all things with the gathered and chosen of the Lord that yet have a secret breathing unto him in Spirit whom he will in his own time gather unto himself as Christ saith Other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice and there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd John 10.16 However I would not be mistaken though all are not come to that visible Society and open Testimony which God hath gathered us into and brought forth publickly among us through many deep Sufferings and Reproaches yet I do not own nor believe Salvation by any other Christ Gospel Light Spirit or Power than that which we have received from God and â—eat Witness unto through his Son Christ Jesus The Way of Life and Salvation is but one Truth is but one the Light of the Lord of the Lamb and of his holy City is but one wherein the Nations of them that are saved shall walk and the holy fear of God and working Righteousness which in every Nation they that experience are accepted springs from this one Divine Principle of Life Light and Truth in the inward parts which God hath given to mankind wherein Christ is spiritually and effectually received to Salvation which is but one in all though different in degrees of Discoveries and Knowledge thereof among the Sons of men Howbeit thus far there is an Universal Union among all People saved of the Lord when in the way of Salvation that there is not an Envy nor an evil mind in one against another but a certain degree of Innocency Love and good Will all which springs from that one universal and divine Principle of Life Light and Grace in the Hearts which we testifie of Pr. p. 118. This Quaking Vnity belonging to the true Church of God hath no Scripture-bottome to stand on no Christian Writers of any Century did ever describe the true Church of God after this Canting rate Answ The Unity belonging to the true Church and the description thereof I have sufficiently proved by H. Scripture and according to true Christian Experience Testimony and therefore this Adversary may be ashamed of his scornful Taunting and Idle Atheistical and Impious Triffling Reflections on these serious Occasions and remember the Proverb cited by himself Piet as non patitur ludum he will find one day that he has an heavy Account to give for his acting the part of a Mountebank and Stage-player Gamer and Sporter about Pious and Religious matters his casting his Scurrilous terms upon us and calling that Canting which hee 's not able to Confute This will not excuse his Prophaneness Levity Scorn and Contempt which God will rebuke As for his slighty Reflection upon