of the Quakers are false Doctrines and Antichristian because that God's Appearance is not by his Son Christ Jesus to us p. 3. Answ. Thou art guilty of Antichristian Doctrine and Anti-scriptural also in denying God's Appearance to be by his Son Christ Jesus The Mediator for what God is to us for our Salvation and what good we receive from him for our Souls and what we are unto him in our Obedience as acceptable to him 't is all IN and Through our Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator J. B. That God who is a Spirit should be held in Bondage and Captivity by his Creation or by the Power of Darkness is contrary to Right Reason So that it must needs follow by plain Argument that not only the Creature but the Power of Darkness too hath had Dominion over God contrary to sound Doctrine and is Blasphemy pag. 5 6. GROSS ERRORS Answ. This thou hast often unjustly and slanderously repeated upon the Quakers and herein I testifie against thy Abuse and dare Challenge thee to prove out of any of our Writings that 't is the Quakers Doctrine That either God is held in Bondage or Captivity by his Creation or that the Power of Darkness hath Dominion over him We utterly deny the Assertion and Expressions as Blasphemous but do say the holy Spirit is grieved and the Seed of God burdened by the Iniquities of the World which suffering is in Condescention on Christ's part and not for want of Power or Dominion over the Devil or Wicked men for he bruiseth his Head hath Power to subdue condemn and punish them and his own Arm to bring Salvation to him J. B. Another of their Doctrines That all are to come to the Son of God Christ Jesus whom they say is in them and that he is the only Way to the Father which Doctrine I do deny because it is God who both was and is a Spirit which hath first appeared in and to the Sons and Daughters of men after sin c. Therefore every one is to be first turned to God in their own particulars and NOT to the Son of God p 8. Gross Errors Answ. This Erronious Denyal and Doctrine of thine against coming to the Son of God as the only Way to the Father is but the same reiterated over and over The Father and the Son are not divided in the work of Regeneration I and my Father are one saith Christ No man cometh to the Father but by me But 't is no marvel that thou hast denyed Christ the Mediator to be the way to the Father and so opposed his Mediatorship for thy Denyals and Oppositions appear more Gross Erronious and Antichristian against Christ himself and the holy Scriptures in thy Antichrist's Transformations 1st In thy not owning Justification or Condemnation by Christ that dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem which thou confessest to be the ground and main Difference that arose between some of the Quakers and thee p. 10. 2dly In thy asserting That Christ's Soul dyed p. 19. And so thy holding the the Mortality of the Soul in general 3dly Thy asserting That the Book of the Scriptures both was and is the fruit which the Tree of Knowledge bears p. 22. 4thly Thy affirming That there is Two Christs p. 23. Thus thou arguest § 9. J. B. It is no where written in the Scriptures that we shall either be justified or condemned by that Christ which dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem but it is written By Grace ye are saved and by Grace ye are justified and 't is also written By the Light of the World ye are condemned and not by Christ that dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem Antichr Transf p. 17. Answ. Here again thy erronious Blindness is apparent who seest not how consistent being saved and justified by that Christ who is the very Christ of God to whom all the Prophets gave witness AND being saved and justified by his Grace both which the holy Scripture testifie Isa. 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justifie many for he shall bear their Iniquities This was a Prophecy of the same Christ that suffered and Mat. 1.21 She shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins and verse 23. Behold a Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son and his Name shall be called Emanuel which being interpreted is God with us And Luke 2.11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And that Grace by which we are saved is that Grace of God which comes by Christ see also Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. Where the saving Grace of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity c. are testified of and therefore Salvation by that Christ through his Grace are not Inconsistent J. B. Now if Salvation be by that Christ that dyed without the Gates at Jerusalem then are all the Gentiles perished that were in the World before that Body came into the World Antich Trans p. 18. Answ. Thy consequence is erronious for that very Christ the Son of God was and is Mediator and Saviour from the beginning his outgoings were from of Old he was spiritually in being by his Life Light Spirit and Grace before he took upon him that Body prepared of the Father to do his Will John bore witness of that Man Christ saying He that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me John 1.15 And again vers 30. After me cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me Therefore the Man Christ Jesus was before he came in the Body or Flesh He was that spiritual Rock which all Israel drank of his Life was the Light of men from the beginning and all the generations of the Righteous did spiritually pâ—rtake of the benefit of Christ as Mediator both before and after his Coming in the flesh they vertually pertook of the Sacrifice of the Lamb of the vertue of the Blood of the Covenant for Remission and were saved by the Life of this Mediator by Faith they pertook of the spiritual Advantage of his suffering and sacrifice who was as a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World and as in the fullness of time his coming and suffering in the flesh and his tasting Death for every man and his giving himself a Ransom for all were for a Testimony in due time of God's great kindness to Mankind So Christ's coming in the flesh an eminent Dispensation from God ordained and decreed in great love to Mankind So that thereby a greater and more eminent discovery and breaking forth of his Light and Glory in the Gospel Day and Dispensation was manifest in due time which Glory the holy spirit of Christ in the holy Prophets testified of as that which should follow his sufferings and in him are all
Appeal and Supplication I do Conclude OH Thou Heart-searching God and righteous Iudge of all unto thee I make my Appeal and Supplication against this Jealous Dividing Rending Spirit that hath appeared in Strife and open Contention against thy Servants and faithful Witnesses and against that good order and society that thou hast been pleased to gatber us into Thou knowest the integrity of my soul before thee and that I have waited for thy Counsel how to act and behave my self in these matters and that I have not sought to exalt my self nor any Popularity Party or Interest to my self but only thy Glory and the good of Souls Thou knowest that in the first place my soul hath sought for Peace in the way of Peace and for a quiet Composure of Differences occasioned by some Self-willed and Luke-warm Professors of thy Truth whilst there was any hope or probability thereof before the opposite Party became open Adversaries And O Lord thou knowest I am not alone in this concern many others of thy faithful servants have traveled in the same Christian Spirit with me for peace and quietness and for a quiet end of Differences in Truth and Righteousness But thine and our Adversaries have rewarded us evil for good and to me hatred for my love And now O Lord behold how true love and tenderness is rejected by thy Adversaries and how thy holy spirit is offended Behold and judge the bitterness of their spirits Their Rancor and Fury their Words of Hatred Reviling and Slander against thy faithful Servants and Witnesses Their Disregard to the Honour and Reputation of thy Truth thy Name and People Their working against the Glory and Honour of thy excellent Name among us Their crucifying thy Son afresh to themselves and putting him to open shame and reproach in the Eyes of thy open Enemies and Persecutors of thy People Oh! Lord Lord look down behold and judge for these things show thy Power in putting an end as openly to these Controversies as they are openly forced out into the World by Apostates and Adversaries of thy Truth and People Thou knowest O Lord that though thou hast endued me with a Christian Spirit and with Faith Patience and Rejoycing under all my Sufferings and Tribulations for thy Name sake and enabled me patiently to undergo the open Revilings and Infamies cast upon me both by open profest and secret Enemies in all which I daily praise thy Name for thy Goodness Yet thou hast also endued me with the Spirit of Righteous Judgment Understanding and Zeal for the Glory of thy holy Name and Truth and hast raised me up in defence of thy Gospel to vindicate thy Truth and innocent People who are Lovers of Peace and Union in thy Son Christ Iesus And now O Lord I humbly pray thee preserve thy Lambs and tender Babes and open the Eyes and unvail the Understandings of all whom the Enemy has deceived and prejudiced who are mistaken in their Iudgments and not guilty of willful Opposition and Hatred That they that have not sinned out their day nor become judicially hardened may yet find a place of Repentance and Mercy in returning to thee with Humility true Contrition and Brokenness of Heart that thou maiest heal their Backslidings and love them freely O my God! in these my Labours and Endeavours as I have eyed thee and thy Counsel and thou hast been with me for which I praise thy Name So I recommend all to thee to manifest the real intent and end of all and to plead and justifie my Cause it being thy own Cause and the Cause of thy whole Heritage Amen Amen saith my Soul ADVERTISEMENT FIrst Note That where in pag. 158. of this Treatise mention is made That G. F 's intention and sence is by another hand spoken to That and much more is yet reserved in Manuscript against W. R's abusive Books Secondly That whereas in pag. 205. it is said It being now above six Weeks since the Letter was left at Ely c. and yet no Answer It is now above three Moneths since and yet no Answer received from F. B. being now at the Printing hereof towards the latter end of the 11th Moneth 1682. Thirdly That this Treatise has been long in the Printer's hands and not hastened in the Press because of these Additions in the three last Chapters to Francis Bugg Thomas Crisp John Pennyman and Jeffery Bullock for the Answer to William Rogers's 7 th part of his Christian-Quaker was writ in a short time after it was out Fourthly It is some question whether two or three of the Names in pag. 250. be right i. e. Averset Snazdale and Tysoeth by reason of their Names being badly writ in the Certificate sent up Fifthly Note That where in the Postscript after the Letter to Francis Bugg pag. 253 4. and in his Book also p. 52. he gives account of a Minister thus viz. That in the Quarterly-Meeting Book at Hadenham they shall find a Record wherein he is recorded out of the Vnity for not taking his Wife according to the Order of Friends i. e. not publishing his Intention before the Womens Meetings Which Account is excepted against upon Friends positively giving a contrary one to me Let it be farther remarked that Francis Bugg's pretended Proof appears not from Evidence of the Fact but is his consequence drawn from the Records But first his Consequence appears not only fallacious but false in Fact in his restraining the Order of Friends only to the Womens Meetings which is not consequent to the Record of the Quarterly Meeting dated the first of the 10th Moneth 1675. and cited by F. B. p. 61. for Proof for the extent of that Record is For the consent of Friends at two Mens Meetings and two Womens Meetings c. 2 dly Neither can his Account be true if there was not then a Womans Meeting established in that part of the County but that the complaint of the Monethly Meeting was That the Person concerned did not publish his Intention above once to the Mens Meeting and refused to bring the Woman to any Meeting at all before the time of their Marriage 3 dly Since the said Exception was writ I have met with a Certificate under the Hands of several Persons of Credit i. e. Phillip Taylor William Brasier John Prime and Jacob Baker who do confirm the matter excepted against Francis Fugg's said Account whereby they declare it to be his false Insinuation and a manifest misrepresenting of Friends in those parts and a malicious Falshood For they affirm That there was no Womens Meetings established in that part of the County where it fell in course for the said Person to publish his Intention of Marriage and that because he refused to bring the Woman to any Meeting at all to manifest her consent and intention of Marriage with him And his proposing it but once to the Mens Meeting and that in her absence before he took her to Wife This they looked
Bride the Lambs Wife and she hath no need of the Light of the Moon to shine in her because the Lord is the Light and the Lambs Spirit is the Light of the Church that is in him But your visible Churches make use of the Light of the Moon that is your Mens Meetings and also your Womens Meetings and the Orders which are set up by them they are to be Rules for your visible Churches to walk by For the Women have power to order the Affairs of your visible Church as well as your Men and this Practice of yours is altogether Antichristian and so also is your Church-Government because it is the Invisible man Christ who orders all things in his Church by his own Spirit Those who are Members of the Church in God among you in time will abhor your Government because it is Antichristian For you Elders do look upon your selves to be Judges and that you have Power to determine things in matter of Conscience c. p. 10 11. Answ. Christ's Government in his Church is both Invisible and Visible he governs by himself and by his Ministers all are not come to a ripe Age in him there are many Children and weak Ones who have need of helps in Government Our faithful Mens Meetings and Womens Meetings were set up by the Power of Christ Jesus and in his Light he governs and rules among them by his own Spirit And faithful grave and sober Women have power to be Teachers of good things and to teach the younger Women Christian-Church-Order and Spiritual Rule were exercised among the Primitive Christians both Men and Women who were Children of New Jerusalem the free Woman the Inhabitants of this City are not without Order or Ministers therein And therefore this Opposers Blow and Charge of altogether Antichristian against our Mens and Womens Meetings is both Silly Proofless Slanderous and altogether Antichristian against Christ's Work and appointment in Male and Female and as the Church-Government among us is Christ's Government both revealed set up and ordained by him none that are and continue true Members of his Church will ever abhor that Government nor reject slight or despise that promised Dominion and Judgment that he hath given to the Saints to determine matters of Difference but only Apostates false Brethren and deceitful Workers and loose Spirits these will be smiting and accusing the Brethren despising Dominion and speaking evil of Dignities yea speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them crying against outward Rule and Government Forms and Order in the Church whilst they are seeking Mastery Dominion Rule and Government to themselves As for our visible Church and visible Church-Government or Order so much opposed by this Adversary he talks blindly and ignorantly for though the Church be Invisible as to the Spirits of Men who are Members of it and Christ's immediate Rule and Government in the Heart be Invisible yet there is a Visibility both of the true Christian Congregation and good Order and Rule therein proceeding from the Spirit of Christ within The People of God and their good Conversations and Order in Christ are not all shut up in an Invisibility being as Epistles to be read and seen of all and they as a City set upon a Hill c. J. B. You do prefer your selves and the Church in the first place before God who is Light And have set up themselves and their Church as Head instead of God and Christ p. 12. Their setting up themselves and their Government and are laying aside the Spirit 's Government and Authority p. 13. Those Elders who call themselves Ministers look upon themselves and their Image to be equal in Power and Glory both with the Father and the Son Testimony against the Quakers p. 3. Answ. These are notoriously false and slanderous We prefer the living God and his Son Christ Jesus before all and do not lay aside the Spirit 's Government or Authority but in humility reverence and desire ever to live under the same knowing Self abased and Images defaced and rejected by the Light of Christ Jesus § 4. J. B. If any of those called Teachers intend to speak a few words commonly called Prayer then the Women and the Men that are set in the Meeting shall rise up and the Men will uncover their Heads Their Teachers have judged those Quakers not to be real Members of their Church or Body that have not done it i. e. uncovered their Heads And herein the Quakers in general have given more Homage Reverence and Respect to the Words or Prayers of another wherein there was no Life at all than they have done to the Word of Life it self in their own Particulars And this is Anti-christ's work p. 14 15. Answ. His conclusion is false and slanderous herein We Reverence the Word of Life in our living Prayers and not Lifeless Words And why doth he thus judge any Reverent Posture among us in Prayer as that of Peoples Rising up and Mens Uncovering their Heads in our holy Duty of publick Prayer This is like John Perrot's prejudiced Party And how foully Contradictory to himself is he in thus uncharitably judging us for our Reverent Posture or serious Behaviour which is matter of Conscience to us when yet he 'l not allow any Members or Elders among us to judge or determine matters relating to Conscience And cautions us in Christ's words Judge not that ye be not judged p. 12. Oh blind harden'd Man how darest thou thus judge over our Consciences or falsly accuse us with leading People from the Power to worship and reverence the Form more than the Power And then most falsly to add That this is the work of Antichrist among the Quakers p. 17. Here thou hast slandered and shamefully belyed the People of God called Quakers and hast shewn thy self not worthy of so much as the Name of a Quaker Thou hast long been a Reproach unto them J. B. Postscript to his Antichrist's Transformations within viz. If any amongst you pretend to be moved by the Spirit to go to Prayer then both Men and Women they either stand up or else kneel down and the Men all pull off their Hats which own your Form of Prayer and herein you do both Worship Reverence and Adore the Form outwardly and the Words more than you do the Word of Life in your own Particulars Answ. An erronious Conclusion and no natural Consequence either of our standing up kneeling or putting off our Hats in Prayer for all these may be and are innocently and conscientiously performed with Respect and in a holy Reverence to Almighty God whom we breathe and pray unto by his own Spirit Besides both Kneeling and being Uncovered have been practised among God's People and true Christians in Prayer to him so that these Postures are not condemnable in themselves How blind and ignorant therefore is this Gain-sayer in his Opposition Read Psal. 95.6 O come let us Worship and Bow down Let us
Kneel before the Lord our Maker And Acts 21.5 And we Kneeled down on the Shore and prayed see also 1 Cor. 11.4 § 5. Having thus manifested the Heads of Jeffery Bullock's Opposition to outward Order and visible Church Government c. and how blind and irrational he is therein Inconsistent Erronious and Antichristian in his Judgment Now take a view of the Doctrinal part of some of those Doctrines he opposeth and what Doctrines he asserteth J. B. The second false Doctrine by you Preached and also Printed is That the Seed Spirit Word or God is both in Prison Bondage and Captivity and to be quickned raised c. and that the Blessing is to the Seed p. 2 3. of his ONE BLOW Answ. Herein he hath dealt unfairly and fallaciously he hath not produced any Book of ours or our Friends wherein this Doctrine is Printed nor proved where any of us have thus asserted in these very Words though much of his opposition in his Pamphlets depend hereupon We deny the Doctrine that the Word God is either in Bondage or Captivity in the Sons and Daughters of men but only that there is a Seed of God and of Christ that is oppressed and suffers in many by reason of Transgression a Seed of God is commonly our phrase and terms in this case God is greater he is above all he is God and Father of his own Seed and Birth in man which is a tender Seed a lowly and innocent Seed of the nature of Christ Jesus as Mediator who hath planted of his own Seed in man from the beginning even of his own Life Soul and Image c. who was The first born of every Creature who said My Father is greater than I Aâ—â— from this Seed comes a holy Generation in them that believe in his Name and Power Read also the Parable of the Sower which was the Son of Man and of the Seed that fell some on good Ground some on stony Ground and some in High-way Ground c. And also how the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Grain of Mustard Seed as also the Parable of the Pearl hid in the Field c. And further the Seed of God and Christ may suffer and yet not be in Bondage nor Captivity nor hath the Devil or Sin power or dominion over Christ or his Spirit in man as J. B. falsly infers against us but over the Soul and whole Creature in Sin for whom Christ laid down his Life and took it up again who gave his Flesh for the Life of the World And every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him shall have everlasting Life and I will raise him up at the last day saith Christ John 6.39 40 44. and ver 54. Christ Jesus is not brought into Bondage or Captivity in man though he condescends to suffer and bear Affliction for his own Seed and Generation to bring them forth for his own Arm can bring Salvation to him he can take unto him his great Power when he pleaseth Though he was oppressed and afflicted and his Soul was Sorrowful nigh unto Death when he bore the Sin of many in the dayes of his Flesh when the Iniquities of all did meet upon him when he suffered on the Cross and he is also such an high Priest as can be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities suffer with us and be afflicted in all our Afflictions many are also said To pierce him grieve his holy Spirit crucifie to themselves the Lord of Life afresh and to tread under Foot the Son of God c. These are certain Allusions and Elegancies intimating Christ's suffering and also his being offended and grieved by the Contempt Despight and Enmity of the Rebellious And yet Christ cannot be properly said to be in bondage or captivity in the Sons and Daughters of men for as in himself he that was dead and is alive ever lives in Dominion having power over all Flesh that he might give eternal Life to all that come unto him truly believe in him 'T is properly said of the Souls of Man and Woman in the Fall that they are in Bondage and Captivity that they are in Prison and Thraldom till Christ bring them forth and deliver them Psal. 142.1 Bring my Soul out of Prison that I may praise thy Name And be sure he that brings the Soul out of Prison does condescend to visit it in Prison He that brings up the Soul out of the horrible Pit does first descend or reach so low to fetch it up or else it would alwayes remain thâ—re § 6. J. B. Antichrist's Transformations pag. 9. The Seed is not to arise in man And p. 25. I disown the arising of the Seed or God in man Answ. A sad Doctrine and State That 's because the Enemy is arisen to such a great hight in thee that thou dost not own the arising of the Seed of God in thee What Fruit canst thou bring forth to God if thou dost deny the arising of his Seed in thee 'T is evident thy Heart is bad Ground stony Ground and thorny Ground in which the good Seed hath not taken Root so as to spring up and bring forth Fruit unto Perfection for in the good Ground or honest Heart it takes Root downward and brings forth Fruit upward And they that take heed unto the Light of Christ in them where it shines but as in a dark place they come to see the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in their Hearts And is not Christ Jesus the bright and Morning Star But thou as an enemy to the Seed of God disownest the arising of his Seed in thee Howbeit that His Light doth ARISE The brightness of his RISING He shall grow up Truth shall SPRING out of the Earth The Sun of Righteousness shall ARISE The Day spring Let God ARISE and his Enemies be scattered c. The Word of God grew So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed These are Scripture Terms and Language though little heeded by thee We shall see more of thy absurd and erronious Disownings and Denyings anon concerning the very Christ of God and the Soul c. But how comest thou to deny the arising of the Seed in man when thou hast espoused and cited what G. B. writ as thou sayest against that Paper of Orders c. seeing he herein plainly saith The Revelation of God is to his Seed and his secrets he reveals to it for which he made the World and for whose sake it is continued And now the SEED IS RAISED to reign over all Thus far G. B. thy authority But how shamefully hast thou contradicted him in this matter in thy disowning the arising of the Seed in Man § 7. J. B. You do preach both Salvation and Justification and also Condemnation to us Gentiles by the man Christ the Son of God as other Professions do and this Doctrine I would have you to prove because you preach Salvation by Christ the
Light within You Preachers do say in your Declaration that the Son of God is come and hath given you an understanding the which Doctrine I do deny ONE BLOW p. 20. Answ. Thou that canst not reconcile or see the consistency of Salvation by the Man Christ Jesus AND by his Light within art gone from his Light into Imaginations Why hast thou not better observed the Gospel preached by the Angel of the Lord to the Shepherds concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God Luke 2.11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord see also Mat. 1.21 Read also good Old Simeon's Testimony which he gave of the Lord 's Christ Luke 2.26 27 28. And also read Verse 30 31 32. For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the Face of all People a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel The true Christ of God is but one though he hath appeared in divers manners both in the Flesh and in the Spirit he is the Light he is the Way to the Father he is the Saviour he is the one Mediator betwixt God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus the heavenly glorious Man the Man that was promised to be for a hiding place who in the dayes of his Flesh said I am the Light of the World And He that is with you shall be in you As he was the eternal Word the Son of God the Life that was in him was the Light of men John 1. both before his coming in the Flesh and ever since and therefore he was that true Light that enlightens every man that cometh into the World he was given for Life and Salvation This our one Lord Jesus Christ is our Light Life and Salvation he is also Judge of quick and dead that MAN by whom God will judge the World in Righteousness he that believeth not in his Name is condemned already and This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World i. e. the Light of the Son of God and Men love Darkness rather then Light John 3. see also 2 Thes. 1.7 8. When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel c. Then such shall know him their Judge and Condemner unto their deserved punishment see Verse 9. J. B. You Teachers do hold forth to us Gentiles Christ the Son of God to be our Way to the Father The which Doctrine I would have you to prove One Blow p. 20. Answ. What defidence and unbelief hath entred thee Christ the Son of God testied John 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life No man cometh unto the Father but by me and no man cometh unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Wherefore in that no man cometh unto the Father but by the Son the Son is the way to the Father and the Father's drawing or teaching reacheth unto man before he come to the Son or Father that he may be drawn and come to both No mans knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Therefore Christ the Son of God is the way to the Father out of Adam in the fall if thou l't believe him and 'T is by one Spirit through Jesus Christ the Mediator that we have access to the Father § 8. J. B. In his gross Errors detected or many of the Doctrines of the leading Quakers disowned as coming from an Antichristian Spirit p. 1. he saith John Webb's Doctrine was That God's appearance in the Sons and Daughters of men is to beget and bring forth that innocent Birth and Babe immortal c. This Doctrine doth signifie that God's appearance is to his Son Christ Jesus and for the begetting and bringing of him forth in the Sons and Daughters of men the which Doctrine I do deny Answ. First God's appearance in the Sons and Daughters of men is not to bring forth a nocent Birth nor a Babe that 's mortal but an innocent Birth and a Babe immortal Except a man be Born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him Secondly This innocent Birth which God by his Spirit brings forth in the Sons and Daughters of men who truly believe relates to them and their souls as begotten and born of the immortal seed by the living word so that this Birth is not Christ Jesus for he is that incorruptible Seed and Word of Life which begets forms and brings forth the Soul of man into his own Nature and Image and so he renews his own Image in man that believes in his Power and so Christ may be said to be formed in us as in a mysterious and elegant way of speaking the property and effect being put for the cause for Christ in himself hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him and it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him J. B. That God's appearance is in and by his Son Christ Jesus to us and that all are to hear the Son in them by whom the Father speaketh to them and that the Son in us is our way to the Father The which Doctrine I do deny His gross Error p. 1. Answ. Here thou hast denyed sound Doctrine which is according to Christs own Doctrine i. e. He that seeth me seeth the Father also who hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of his Glory in the face of Christ Jesus And my Sheep hear my Voice saith Christ And God hath spoken to us by his Son Thy denying God's appearing and speaking by his Son and his Son to be our way to the Father Herein thou hast not only denyed Christ's own Testimony but the blessed advantage we have by him as MEDIATOR J. B. Another of their Doctrines is That the Quakers ought so to wait upon God as that they may feel the Life in them to flow from Vessel to Vessel whenas they are met together to wait upon God This was Charles Marshalls Wife's Doctrine p. 2 ibid. Answ. This is neither false Doctrine nor gross Error as thou imaginest but sound Doctrine Hannah Marshall knew better than thy self herein for they that truly wait upon God both receive an encrease of Life from him who is the Fountain and feel Life to flow from Vessel to Vessel He that believes as the Scripture saith out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe should receive And the true Believers all drink into One Spirit And there is among such a spiritual and effectual Communication of Faith and Virtue in the living Communion of the holy Spirit all which thy dark Imaginations have deprived thee of J. B. These Doctrines
Iudgment fixed UPON THE Accuser of our Brethren AND THE Real Christian-Quaker VINDICATED From the Persecuting OUTRAGE of Apostate Informers Chiefly from W. Rogers F. Bugg T. Crisp John Pennyman and Jeffery Bullock their Malicious Confused and Unjust Opposition and Imputation of Apostacy Imposition Popery c. in their abusive Books and Pamphlets herein specified Beginning with W. R's Seventh Part. By that Contemned Servant of Christ George Whitehead Psal. 109.3 They compassed me about with words of Hatred c. vers 4. For my Love they are my Adversaries but I give my self unto Prayer Jude v. 13 Raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own Shame c. London Printed and Sold by Andrew Sowle at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway-Lane near Shoreditch 1682. An Introductory Epistle To my beloved and tender-hearted Friends called Quakers who are lovers of Peace and Unity in our Lord Jesus Christ Greeting in the holy Spirit of Life IF I did not feel the Lord my God laying a real necessity upon me to be publickly concerned in this Controversie and that for the sake of simple Hearts and poor Lambs to warn them against such grievous Wolves as seek to prey upon them rend and tear them and that the weak of the Flock may not be hurt scattered or perverted by those that speak perverse things to draw Disciples after them I would chuse rather to sit down mute and silently bear the Revilings Outrage and fierce Despisings of crooked Spirits than spend time in Controversie with them or against them But the Lord has laied the necessity and knows best my Conscientious concern and for what end and to what effect and for whose sakes And in discharging my Duty I neither consult Events nor fear Effects but leave all to God for I feel his divine Power and Counsel In whose Name and in the Patience Forbearance Long-suffering and Bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ my Soul hath had a share in deep Travail and Exercise with many more of his faithful Servants my Brethren for a quiet Composure of this Breach 1st With Respect to Truth 's Reputation 2dly With respect to that Compassion that 's to be had on some where a difference ought to be made for the regaining and delivering them who have been at unawares taken captive by the Enemy I have no self-Interest nor end but the Churches Peace and the Salvation of Souls and Prosperity of the Lord's Work in the Earth God doth bear me Record I have not been awanting in Christian Endeavours private and friendly with divers principally concerned in this Opposite Rending Self-Separating Spirit Christian Patience and Forbearance have not been awanting in the Exercise of my Spirit and Testimony But when all our Christian Endeavours on these accounts have been rejected by some Conceited Exalted Pufft up Luciferian Spirits Despisers and Mockers that have of late time lusted to be Contentious and at open War and Defiance against many of the faithful Ministers and Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ who have kept their Garments and Stations in Truth and Uprightness and whom they have most grosly abused in Print in their Books and Pamphlets On this extream Occasion and Offence given against the Truth and Gods Heritage I find my Spirit stirred and moved within me by and in the same Long-suffering tender Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus my Lord saying Why should God's Heritage lie under their publick Lyes and Defamations without open Rebuke and to withstand oppose weaken and repel these their Wicked Attempts and Insolent Abuses and to vindicate the peaceable Christian People called Quakers in their blessed Society Order and Church-Discipline c. from the cruel Envy Scorn Outrage Madness and Confusions of certain Persons turned Apostate Informers Treacherous Hypocrites False Brethren and Deceitful Workers Betraying Judases Devils Incarnate for Christ called Judas a Devil who having lost their First Love to Truth and gone out from us are become Degenerate without Natural Affection Dogs that are without Wolves and Raging Waves of the Sea that foam out their own Shame whom the strength of Truth is turned against in Judgment and God in ten Thousand of his Saints is coming to execute Judgment upon them as the Patience of Christ in his Saints comes to be fulfilled towards them and their Iniquity ripened for open Discovery and Condemnation as they have not spared publickly to defame the Innocent But they that are at unawares betrayed deceived or only mistaken and not willful contentious are to be had Compassion of and distinguished from the other And in Righteous Judgment will the great Judge of all decide the Controversie with all them who would be counted true Jews and are not Christian-Quakers and are not but of the Synagogue of Satan and Antichrist whose Works the Day of Christ our Lord will yet more clearly declare and fully manifest and the Day and Time hastens blessed are they that watch and keep their Garments that their Nakedness appear not Amen Ingenuous Reader Note that the Contents of the ensuing Treatise are mostly placed before each Chapter respectively in several Sections directing to the Passages therein And also please to take notice That William Rogers who is first concerned in this Treatise is not ignorant what great Labour and Pains I have taken with him more privately to inform his Vnderstanding and allay his Heat by divers large Answers in Manuscript unto his Gain-saying Accusing and Reviling Letters and Papers amounting to much more than what 's herein contained in Answer to his seventh Part of his Christian-Quaker but instead of any fair ingenuous Reply or acknowledgment of the Truth from him he hath slighted me and my Christian-Labours and Endeavours sometimes casting Dirt upon me yet giving the GO-BY to the greater part of my Writings seeming rather desirous to be some-body in Print against us as one affecting Popularity though in a perverse Work the more publickly to manifest his Revengeful Spirit in Abusing Scandalizing and casting undeserved ODIUMS upon those whom his Spight and Malice is most bent against and I expect no better Treatment from him and such exalted Spirits I expect the Hatred of Scorners for rebuking them and for this my Christian Conscientious Labour Howbeit I doubt not but this shall have its Effect for the clear Information and Advantage of many simple honest Hearts And I can say Surely my Judgment is with the Lord and my Reward is with my God Isa. 49.4 Several Testimonies and Answers are already extant in Print against William Rogers's wicked Books as by Thomas Ellwood his ANTIDOTE and divers others Surely it would be more reputable for him to desist and lay aside his daring Confidence and evil Attempts against the Servants of Christ and ingenuously and humbly submit to the Truth for our God nâ— doubt will finally and signally rebuke that Rebellious Exalted Spirit of Strife and Contention To him who is the Righteous Judge of all I freely commit my Cause with my Friends in
Christ to execute outward Laws Orders c. in an outward Form of Church-Government Or if it be Popery or like the Pope or inconsistent with the New Covenant so to do as he has insinuated what and where are those Helps and Governments which God in his Wisdom hath afforded in his Churches in subjection to Christ Are no visible Persons instrumental therein by the Power of Christ Or are they Helps and Governments or helpers in Government without visible Persons Were Apostles Prophets Teachers Elders Overseers c. in the Christian Churches no visible Persons or not so indued with Power from Christ to be helpers in the Government See 1 Cor. 12 28. I confess I know not how to reconcile our Opposer to himself in these matters no more than I can find Reason or Proof for his black Charges of Impious Prevaricating Pen-man Oh Impious Prevaricator perverse and hard Heart qualified like a proud Prelate The Pen-man's Iniquity angry Waspish Pen c. Thus he I must needs say he 's far more loud in his Censures than in 's Proofs If our Opposer did impartially consider and compare William Penn's Address to Protestants quoted by him he would see there 's no Lash to the Pen-man as he falsly affirms seeing W. P. grants that the one Shepherd may have many Servants p. 44. And on 2 Cor. 4.1 2. He further saith Here is the utmost Imposition the Apostle makes use of He requires not men to receive him without Evidence c. p. 44. No more do we whom Christ hath called forth in his Service and Ministry in this his day who by the manifestation of Truth commend our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God having renounced the hidden things of Dishonesty c. Here 's no cause to complain for want of Evidence or of Imposition without Evidence in plainly discovering or shewing the hidden things of dishonesty Truth in its manifestation both in the Ministry and in the Hearers Conscience is Evidence both against what 's Dishonest and for what 's Honest God would not have Men blind in their Duty their own Negligence and Prejudice is cause of blindness Nor hath this Person convicted us of pleading for or setting up Imposition without Evidence in the Conscience or of Imposing a blind Obedience or putting any Persons thereupon No my very Soul is against that And though W. P. also has writ against Imposition without Conviction the Pen-man seems to have no other sence nor doth it follow that he is either against Church Discipline outward Order or Form of Church-Government but for these in the Church of Christ and Christian Societies he being Principl'd for the true Church having Power from Christ to give Judgment spiritual Censures and Sentences against all dark Spirits that sow Discord and make Division and against all ungodly loose disorderly and scandalous walking and walkers under profession of Truth I 'le adventure to quote William Penn's Address to Protestants to shew his Principle and Sence in these matters In page 214. he saith No Scripture-Church-Discipline is hereby oppugned or weakned Let not the Sentence end in Violence upon the Conscience unconvinced Let whoso will expound or determine so it be according to true Church-Discipline which can be exercised on them only who have willingly joyn'd themselves in that Covenant of Union c. P. 215. Let us observe what sort of Church-Government the Apostle recommends Avoid foolish Questions and Contentions c. A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject c. And on Phil. 3.15 He did not say You shall be Fined Pillaged Excommunicated and flung into Prison if ye be not of our mind P. 216. on 2 Tim. 2.22 23 24 25. Here is both Faith and Government Religion and Duty all that becomes us towards God our Brethren our Neighbours yea our Opposers and Enemies And W. P. in his Brief Examination and State of Liberty Spiritual he doth more particularly explain and clear the Point to Friends first in his Epistle saying Christ's Liberty is obtained through his Cross they that would be his Free-men must be his Bonds-men and wear his blessed Yoke His Liberty is from Sin not to Sin to do his will not our own And secondly he speaks farther to it in the said Examination Observe Here W. P. pleads not for a Liberty of Conscience in opposition to true Church-Government Discipline or Order but to those outward Penalties Persecutions and Punishments corporal and pecuniary mentioned and opposed by him and the rest of us which is no Liberty to make Division or Discord in the Church of Christ or Society of Believers § 5. To the Question Whether the Church of Christ hath Power in any cases that are matters of Conscience to give a positive Sentence and Decision which may be obligatory upon Believers To this R. B. answers affirmatively SHE HATH Anarch p. 48. And Whereas R. B. pleaded for the Church of Christ having Power in SOME CASES of Conscience to give a positive Sentence or Decision which may be obligatory upon Believers To this W. R. saith Which clearly shews to us R. B 's meaning to be That in some cases the Consciences of Believers ought to be bound by the positive Sentences of others To which he adds Without leaving any Liberty for a Believer to refuse to submit on the account of not seeing it his duty to submit This meaning and Government saith W. R. over Believers we take to be contrary to the Principle of Truth and Liberty we have in Christ Jesus c. p. 44. Herein he appears both unfair in his citation and mistaken in his construction For 1 st The some cases intended wherein a positive Judgment or Sentence from some Members or Believers is binding upon others are such Cases Wherein only the Truth the Spirit of God doth give the Judgment through some or other in the Church of Christ. The only proper Judge of Controversies in the Church is the Spirit of God and the power of deciding solely lies in it saith R. B. Anarch pag. 66. As also That God hath ordinarily in communicating his Will under his Gospel employed such whom he made use of in gathering his Church and in feeding watching over them though not excluding others Thus R. B's Anarchy of the Ranters p. 67 68. Observe here that he placeth the Judgment or Sentence as binding and to be submitted unto by others professing the same Faith on the Truth the Spirit of God the Will of God 2 dly And therefore the Judgment is not placed upon any Imposition of Government over Believers contrary to the Principle of Truth or Liberty that 's in Christ Jesus for the Judgment of Truth or of the holy Spirit which unites in one Mind and Judgment cannot be contrary to that Principle nor without evidence in the Conscience for conviction to oblige and the Conscience thus obliged is not without true sight sence or knowledge of duty therein because
from the Spirit of God in any of his Servants is just and reasonable for whatsoever is unjust is not of God but to be rejected The Controversie is not there § 6. Again William upon our words viz. God preserve his people from this Libertine Spirit thou falsly notest That by the Pen-man's discourse a Believer's refual to submit to the Church on account of not seeing it his Duty to submit is the fruit of a Libertine Spirit c. p. 45. A Believer's refusal to submit to the Church is a begging the Question and fallacy for I do not own that any true Believer will REFVSE to submit to the Church of Christ in any thing that Christ commands or is in it self his just duty towards God or his Neighbour on the account of not seeing it his duty is again a begging the Question If it be his Duty and required of him by the Spirit of God in his servants the same spirit if he minds it quickly makes an immediate discovery of it to and impression on his Conscience it being his duty both to see and submit to what Truth and Justice require of him so as the sincere and tender-hearted though but weak in the Faith for a time are preserved on the one hand from Rebellion and from Refusing that submission which the Lord requires and on the other hand from running into a blind Obedience For put case there be a little space of time that one weak in the faith sees not presently every thing that may be required by the Lord in his People as duty he does not therefore REFVSE Submission but waits patiently on the Lord to clear up his way and reveal his duty therein and though whilst thus waiting for satisfaction and clearness he 's neither refusing nor opposing that which he has not a clearness of judgment in Want of sight or clearness in such cases of Conscience is no just ground for Refusal Rejection or Opposition no more than for any to act in a blind Obedience or ignorant Devotion without satisfaction in Faith or Conscience Let but blind Opposition and Refusal as well as blind Obedience be laid aside and we shall have quietness for though neither be good yet blind Opposition is the worst of the two For there 's yet a Medium between Refusal and Active Submission viz. A WAITING passively and patiently until God reveal his will in this or that particular thing required by him as duty Again thou dost both scornfully and fallaciously proceed against the Pen-man in these words viz. 'T is plain to me that he reputing himself a Church-Governour is thirsting after such a sort of Subjects that may be willing to follow his Track though they know not whether it be right or wrong p 45. I presume thou meanest my self as that Pen-man that so affects being a Governour or so reputeth as thou hast before twitted the Pen-man with having forgotten his low and mean Estate telling him how the very conceit of being a Governour in an outward Government is very apt to puff up Persons of some sort of Qualifications pag. 25. If thou intendest me herein thou hast taken wrong measures and hast given me Scurrillous and Abusive Characters and then thou art grosly mistaken in thy judgment That I thirst after such ignorant Subjects as thou importest The Lord hath raised me up to open peoples Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and God the Righteous Judge who knows my heart and whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son he knows 't is my delight in Humility to serve him therein and to see People turned from Darkness to the true Light and from their Ignorance and Error to the knowledge of the Truth in the spirit and power of it in themselves that they may walk in the Path of Life and be saved and no otherwise to follow me than as they may see me walk therein So knowing my Integrity and Humility in the sight and presence of God who hath thorowly searched and tryed me that I affect neither Popularity nor Greatness I do the less value thy Reproaches and all the bitter Invectives that thou canst bring forth against me My innocent Life reigns over thy hatred and shall out-live thy envy and scorn And as thou hast laid a false foundation against the Pen-man as judging him a Person thirsting after such sort of ignorant Subjects as before related so thy Superstructure raised by supposition is impertinent trifling and fallacious For 1 st Where have any of us whom thou smitest at either from a Meeting yearly or else-where in giving forth as thou callest them certain Sentences Decrees and Orders directed to the rest of the People called Quakers therewith signified to them 'T is your Duty to submit whether you see it your Duty or no p. 45. I am sure this is forreign to my and my Brethrens Language and Intention If it intends an active Obedience before men see their real duty which none can acceptably perform nor is it my Principle to urge them upon practice until their Eyes be opened to see their duty therein yet peoples present Ignorance of their Duty when proposed or told them in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is no warrant for them to oppose refuse resist or reject it but rather tenderly and quietly to weigh consider of it before the Lord and wait in his Light till he reveal it resolve the doubts and remove the scruples 2 dly Moreover that which hath a tendency to Confusion Rebellion and Ranterism was thy undervaluing the Authority of the Church of Christ in such a Judgment or Decision given thereby as proceeds from the Spirit of God for 't was no other that R. B. argued for in the case by thy pleading in opposition for leaving a liberty therein for a Believer to refuse to submit on the account of not seeing it his duty to submit with other circumstances of Looseness and Confusion proceeding from thy opposite loose confused Spirit of Prejudice and Division This has a tendency to Confusion Rebellion and Ranterism which we placed not meerly on a Non-submission or Forbearance of Practice for want of seeing it their duty to act therein For 't is possible some Members may want a present sight in some things required by the Church of Christ and his Spirit and yet they not thence allow themselves a liberty to Refuse submission but rather to wait in their measures till God reveal his mind therein in which cases there 's a tender sence and forbearance one to another and this does not tend to Confusion Rebellion or Ranterism but thy plea for the leaving a liberty for Believers to refuse to submit to the judgment and decision of the Church of Christ and for the same insisting on their not seeing it their Duty to submit when the judgment of the Church of Christ pleaded for on our parts is no other than what proceeds from his Spirit or Christ himself as
being present in his Church This thy Libertine plea tends to divide the Church of Christ and to leave Believers who are Members thereof in a liberty both of denying submission and in an ignorance or blindness concerning what the spirit of Christ in his Church may require of them which I cannot grant thee that any sincere Believer is either so to be left in such a liberty of REFVSAL nor yet remains in such Ignorance for he that will not hear the Church where Christ is in the midst is to be accounted as an Heathen man Therefore thy Plea tending to divide and make Believers Heathen is contrary to our Principle and Testimony received from the beginning which is That Life answers Life The Spirit of Truth receives its own in men every living true Member in some degree feels what proceeds from its Life in other Members though all Christ's Members are not come to the same measure and degree of growth strength and understanding yet there 's so much inward sence and nearness in his Life and Faith as preserves them from Confusion Rebellion and Opposition to one another or to any thing the Spirit of Christ saith unto the Churches by any of them Thy putting and supposing Cases against us that are not thy arguing from Generals to Particulars from Principles to Persons from a Plea for the Church of Christ and its obliging Judgment proceeding from his Spirit to reflect upon particular Persons as the Pen-man and his Brethren John and George and Stephen c. p 45. are empty trifling and impertinent and as vain and silly is the Laughter and Scorn which thereupon thou supposest and wouldst stir up against the Pen-man and his Brethren all grounded upon a false bottom namely thy uncharitable and false sence and censure against the Pen-man viz. That he is thirsting after such a sort of Subjects that may be willing to follow his Track though they know not whether it be right or wrong Which is so utterly false if thou intendest me that such a desire never entred into my Heart my Soul abominates such a Principle as to lead People on in such blindness Again I do not make the reason of my Discourse depend on a meer supposition nor yet on a bear affirmation that I and my Brethren are the Church thou and thine not we are now on the defensive part and thou art not able to unchurch us we may give testimony of our Faith and to our sence of the presence of Christ with us and among us of our continuance in Love Unity in him and against thine and others Apostacy and thou not able to confute us The reason of our Discourse in the present Controversie depends not on Persons but on undeniable Principles and Practices agreeable both to divine Testimony Revelation undeniable Evidence amongst men And wherein any of us have been moved of the Lord in his holy zeal to give positive Judgment either concerning Spirits Persons or Practices that appear not yet so evident to some as to us the day will make further discovery and declare it and the Lord will appear witness and evidence in the case And thou shalt then find that thy Scorn and the Laughter and Scorn thou hast supposed and sought to stir up against us will be turn'd into sorrow on thy part and thou mayst be ashamed of thy scorn and laughter and of comparing our Treatment with the Papistical Parties towards the Protestants and telling of following the Pen-mans Papistical Track p. 46. All grounded on thy false sence before-cited though to me all thy Scorn Laughter false Comparisons and Rattles thou knowest what I mean are all but like the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot. It 's observable that in thy Epistle to the Reader c. thou art for taking up a Lamentation for the Apostacy of your Brethren as thy pretence is Now thou art for Scorn and Laughter against them thou so censurest yea to the Presbyterians Laughter and Scorn thou art exposing R. R. and for those Instances he gives for Deconesses in the Gospel-times p. 33. though this be a Truth which many Protestant Authors have confirmed besides Paul's own commendation of their Sister Phebe whom he called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministra A Servant of the Church at Cenchrea Rom. 16.1 2. There were Women-Deacons who in their places did service in the Churches with respect to the Sick and Impotent c. But to return one while thou pretendest to pray for the Pen-man That the Lord would mollifie his hard heart p. 42. another while art for causing Scorn and Laughter against him Thus but in pag. 46. Thus thy hypocritical Lamenting Praying and thy Scorning do much resemble thy confused Work And what such things are they thou insinuatest against the Pen-man and his Brethren Of which thou sayst Thou couldst soon lay a new Foundation to prove him and his Brethren guilty of such things as by his Rule would tend to Confusion Rebellion and Ranterism and what not p. 46. What things are those We expect no mercy nor favour from thee thou hast rendred us as obnoxious I think as of thy self thou canst And this thy general and dark way of smiting with what things thou couldst prove the Pen-man and his Brethren guilty of as tending to Rebellion and Ranterism without mentioning what things is very unfairly to raise great suspicion against us and to render us highly Criminal Odious and Obnoxious some-what like the Treatment we had in those Abusive Scurrillous Atheistical and Slanderous Pamphlets stil'd The Quakers Quâ—bbles How now William Is this thy Conscience thy Charity thy Christianity thy Love pretended and the end of thy feigned Lamentation and Praying for us thus to abuse us and cast dirt upon us after this general implicit and suspicious manner Is not such deceitful injurious and contradictory Dealing rather contrary to common Morality and Civility amongst men Thy Prayer conclusive of thy second Chapter pag. 46. is mixt with as much Falshood and Envy as the other stuff is with Scorn in these words viz. The Lord preserve us all from following the Pen-man's uncharitable Papistical Track lest thereby we should not only merit the Indignation of God but justly be accused by men of understanding of so much Delusion Weakness or Wickedness as considering our antient professed Principles and Practices might render us unworthy the favour of a true Protestant a derision to the Heathen and a scorn to Fools themselves I am sure this Prayer appears not without Wrath and doubting 't is not offered in Charity nor with Holy Hands 't is more like a Cain's Sacrifice 't is to slay the Christian and Protestant Reputation of him and those thou writest against to render him not only one that has merited the Indignation of God but one in a Papistical Track unworthy the favour of a true Protestant and so obnoxious to the outward Penal Laws seeing by thy Words If you should follow his Track
about Impositions Prescriptions c. The Spiritual Christian who hath the Power and Form of Godliness distinguished and vindicated both from the Formal Christian and Loose Apostate who deny both Power and Form § 4. The unsound Doctrine of Robert Rich espoused by T. C. tending to Ranterism About Forms Prescriptions Impositions c. R. R. a false Accuser like the rest of these Apostates His Authority made use of by T. C. and F. Bugg invalid J. Perrot's Spirit and Language appearing in these present Opposers § 5. About T. C's Marrying by a Priest and his Wife 's condemning it His rendring the holy Spirit contradictory to it self in the matter of Tythes His Answer to John Field dirty scurrilous and impertinent His abuse of his Wife and Friends in the case misrepresenting them in his Prejudice and Vncharitableness judging and defaming others contrary to his own warning He himself reprehended and warned § 6. His endeavouring to extenuate his Offence about Marrying by a Priest paying Tythes His Instance and Allegation in the case but slight covers And he proved Irreligious and Fallacious in his preceeding and arguing contrary to the Profession and Testimony of a real Christian-Quaker § 7. His Judgment about Tythes as it accords with W. R's still unsound loose they not excusable in the Declension and Apostacy § 8. His Reply to Stephen Crisp disingenious and fallacious A Catalogue of some of the notorious Falshoods and Slanders therein His Reviling and foul Detractions against Stephen Crisp. § 9. Concerning the Paper which W. R. and T. C. have published and printed in Edward Burroughs's Name To the scattered of Israel c. Their implicit Credulity and Confidence therein and abuse of Edward Burroughs with Reasons given by a Certificate and Testimony to shew it in most probability to be John Perrot's and not E. Burroughs's Paper All which is recommended to Serious Consideration § 1. WHereas Thomas Crisp hath of late time struck in with William Rogers and his party as a busie Agent in Division and as hot and violent in his abusive Language and Reflection as the most of them for want of better Argument and Reason he is also gotten into the same kind of stile and strain with W. R. and F. B. against promoting Government Orders Customs Forms Prescriptions c. as in several of his late Pamphlets called Testimonies I find also that these Opposers have recourse to one anothers Writings and quote each other and thereby show their own Authorities for themselves in the Controversie for want of better Proof as W. R. cites F. B. in his seventh Part from page 64 to page 75. and F. B. quotes W. R. and Tho. Crisp's Babels Builders in his 112 page of his said Book De Christ. Lib. and Thomas Crisp in his fifth part Babels Builders quotes something he calls Q. Vn. M. which I understand to be a pernicious Pamphlet of John Pennyman's which F. Bugg has threatned us with in several Papers so that these Opposers seem to be joyned together in one and the same Spirit of Division Opposition and Separation and therefore may well be linked together as Persons concerned in one and the same Interest and not only so but I find a Paper in T. Crisp's third Edition which he calls George Bishop's Testimony against a Paper of Orders which is the very same Paper that Jeffery Bullock some Years ago cited against us in his Pamphlet stiled Antichrist's Transformations and which the said Jeffery Bullock did so publish in Print against G. Whitehead J. Whitehead T. Green T. Briggs A. Parker J. Coule R. Farnsworth T. Loe S. Crisp J. Moon J. Parkes by Name who are struck at for no other cause but a Paper wherein we gave our Christian sense and seasonable advice which we see no cause to Repent of and therefore G. B's Paper cited by the said Jeffery Bullock and Thomas Crisp in opposition to that of ours proceeded from a mistaken Judgment and is Uncharitable against us as well as Erronious in divers parts of it But the Author is gone I shall say the less and charitably believe God took him away in Mercy and that if he had remained to this day he would not have stood by these Gain-sayers in the evil use they make of his Paper in Print against so many of the Servants of Christ. But I have not done with T. Crisp for his so often printing part of a Letter from B. F. to me when he was under a Cloud and mistake in the Controversie and Division occasioned by J. Perrot c. against Friends for putting off their Hats in Prayer in which Letter I and some others are reflected upon and charged That if ever any separation be it will be through mine and some lording rigid driving Spirits against which I have in humility appealed to the Lord to plead my Innocency in the Consciences of all concerned my labour having been and still is for Love and Unity among God's People and I take it not only unkindly from T. C. but as his Injustice and an Abuse so often to bring forth that piece of a Letter in Print against me which was before published and printed more fully by some malicious Adversaries in their Pamphlet stiled Tyranny and Hypocrisie printed in the year 1673. In answer to which I desire T. C. and the rest of the party concerned would now accept and consider B. F's own late Testimony seeing the Lord in mercy has reduced him to a better understanding and judgment than he was in when he writ the said Letter Benj. Furly's Testimony follows WHereas I understand that sundry persons to me unknown have divers times formerly and now again lately published in Print certain extracts of a Letter written by me as I take it about sixteen years ago to G. W. keeping up and feeding thereby a Spirit of Contention and Strife This is in brief to signifie That what has hitherto been done of this nature has been altogether without my order consent or privity for my soul hates that Spirit of Prejudice Enmity and Contention by which some men though perhaps poor men not knowing by what spirit influenc'd what spirit they gratifie and what spirit they grieve and wound in this their work so acted led and driven As for so many of them that are meerly under a mistake I do from my heart pity them and am touched with the sence of their Condition as having laboured under the same snares Wherefore my earnest desire for them is That they may be made sensible of that which they seem so earnestly to contend for yea even for them that are so tinctur'd and leaven'd with Prejudice that they do wittingly and with some degree of Malice foment Contention I cannot but desire if it be the will of God that they may through Judgment come to know Repentance and through Repentance receive Mercy and Remission in and by the Blood of Jesus Christ to whom all such do doe despight
thy self for the different measures or degrees of Grace do not alter the Property of it and whatever it once manifests to be sin and forbids as such it always forbids and allows none in the practice thereof and whoever are truly convinced by the Grace of God and have their Minds turned to it if they keep in it and walk in its way and teaching they are principled by it and are a Law to themselves therein against those things ways and works which are corrupt or sinful and cannot place a slight Indifferency where the Truth hath made a real Difference for what communion hath Light with Darkness or Christ with Belial or Truth with Error or Sincerity with Hypocrisie or Sobriety and Watchfulness with Ranterism and Looseness Consider how and from whence thou art fallen and Repent To thy subsequent Allegation of John Crook's saying I must tell thee that I look upon thee to have dealt unjustly disingeniously and injuriously by him and very impertinently alledged his words in this case for thy unwarrantable confused loose Proposition for the Observation of Tythes as a civil Right or Rite I doubt not but he is better principled even from the time of his first receiving the Truth than to grant or allow any such liberty to any Christian Brother for the observation or payment of Tythes as thy words import and that thy Allegation of his words in this case is contrary to his very Intention I dare presume and appeal to his Conscience to give Judgment against thee in this case whether the different or contrary actions postures or gestures relating to time constancy or place c. mentioned by him were intended with respect to Tythes the Payment or Non-payment of them I dare say thou hast foully perverted his words and intention in this case for the different actions postures and gestures relating either to time or place may relate to divers things only circumstantial and indifferent as to God and not to things substantial wherein Truth 's Testimony has made a real Difference As I or any other in Truth may be in different postures and places praying to God or waiting upon him in Closet on our Beds in Field High-way either kneeling standing sitting or walking and yet truly led moved and exercised by the holy Spirit and accepted of God which I cannot say in relation to the Payment of Tythes in this Gospel day no more than in Sacrifice and burnt Offerings since Christ hath put an end thereto Those things offered by Cain and Abel as the fruit of the Ground and firstlings of the Flock were things in themselves lawful and allowed in their day and time and were also according to the Law of Moses being Types under the old covenant But this can be no pertinent Instance as alledged by thee Thomas in the case of Tythes to observe or pay them in this Gospel day and as now in Controversie since both Tythes and Offerings were ended by Christ in his Death nor is there any parrallel in the case unless thou couldst prove that the Spirit of Christ doth move Believers in this Gospel day both to the Payment of Tythes and the Non-payment or refusal of them which I dare say thou canst not prove 'T is not to be supposed that what Christ has abolish'd in the old Covenant he will enjoyn or command in the new the Spirit of Christ is not contradictory to it self nor are Gods substantial Commands contrary one to another especially under one and the same dispensation and state § 3. Besides thy abuse and injury against John Crook and Impertinency in this case I cannot but take notice how disâ—ingenuous cover'd and fallacious thou art in the management of thy loose design in reference to the Personal Authorities thou bringest particularly in thy citing part of John Wilkinson and John Story 's Paper concerning Womens Meetings c. in two of thy Pamphlets viz. thy second and third Edition in the 24th pag. of the last thou sayst These foregoing Testimonies are not transcribed at large but abridged for brevities sake but the SENSE AND SVBSTANCE OF THE WHOLE included But Thomas I must tell thee this is a down-right Untruth the Sense and Substance of the Whole of that very Paper of J. W. and J. S. is not included in thy citation although thou hast confessed their Testimony to be weighty Truths and hast cited more passages than that concerning Womens Meetings for thou hast left out these Words of their Testimony viz. As to Tythes we can in truth say 't was never so much as in our Hearts to strengthen any in the Payment thereof nor yet to weaken the Faith of any having a Testimony in our Hearts that Tythes as at this day paid are ANTICHRISTIAN Thus far they How now Thomas Why didst thou leave these Words out of thy Citation Was here nothing of the sense nor substance of their Testimony or wast thou not conscious to thy self that their Position here against the payment of Tythes and thy Proposition aforesaid for the observation of Tythes as a civil Right or Rite c. were inconsistent and contradictory their words are positive against them as Antichristian but thine are partly for them and but doubtfully against them that is If the Spirit of the Lord in the Heart forbid the payment of them or if the different measure of Grace require one Brother not to pay them and allow or be silent at another Brother's paying them Thus Thomas thou appearest in Confusion a BABEL-BUILDER And what is our Language thou reflects upon Is it the plain Language of Thee and Thou to a single Person And what are those Orders thou complainest of and those Customs Forms and Prescriptions Hast not thou appeared like thy Brother John Pennyman in thy empty and fruitless opposition only he is a little more plain in his furious Roaring Letter to G. F. dated the 27th of the 3d Moneth called May 1680. printed among his other Letters to divers Friends he furiously exclaims and roars out against us in these Expressions viz. Away with your long Prayers and long Preachings for they are an abomination away with your Pride and Arrogance sitting as Judges and Lords over your Brethrens Consciences Away with your set Form of Words of THEE and THOV calling it the pure Language O ye Blind and Ignorant how can you escape the Condemnation of the Just and Righteous One who have set up Shadows instead of Substance and Form instead of Power Builders of Babel or Babylonish Builders All your Buildings your Inventions Imaginations and Conceivings about your Forms your proud self-conceited Modes your Impositions your Prescriptions Laws and comely Orders as you in your fallen Wisdom call them must all be thrown down laid waste and become a By-word or Proverb of Reproach to the very Heathen c. Thus far John Pennyman These Words are cited to show how far you Backsliders and Opposers resemble one another in Stile and Language
stand for another Name as Richard Richardson but we are sure he is better principled than to write such Airy Loose Ranting stuff One reason that makes me take it to be R. Rich's Paper that thou hast espoused 't is so much in his floating reflecting accusing lavish and conceited Stile and also that thy Brother Francis Bugg makes use of his Authority in his Book De Christ. Lib. p. 170. in these words viz. I begin to see the truth of Robert Rich 's words in a Letter from Barbadoes to his Friends Abstracts c. pag. 20. viz. I can assure you that who meddle with the Quakers had need to be fenced within and without with the whole Armour of God Truth and love to Righteousness David 's Sling and Stone c. These Passages are mentioned that it may the more obviously appear how plainly you resemble one another and tread the same Track in the Stile and Terms of your Opposition and that 't is no new Controversie in the Substance 't is but only John Perrot's Spirit of Division risen with some other Circumstances and Pretences in a more Rough Lofty Contemning Hectoring and Huffing Party daring and scornful who have not that seeming show of Humility Lamb-likeness and Outside Demureness that John Perrot had the tendency and end of whose work time will manifest more directly to center in RANTERISM as it now tends to FLESHLY LIBERTY casting off the Yoke of Christ and causing the offence of his Cross to cease § 5. And now Thomas I am not willing at present to spend much farther time with thee thou having been so much answered by R. Richardson and J. F. only I would show thee a little further how unfairly and disingenuously thou dealest with John Field in thy 5th part of thy Babels c. First I take notice of the account J. Field gives in the 3d page of his Book entituled Thomas Crisp's Envy detected about thy Doctrine and then of what thou sayst in relation to the same and that which thou scornfully callest J. F's Bull of Excommunication against thee his account is this viz. John Field signifieth That Friends have no Vnity with Tho. Crisp nor his Doctrine which is as followeth The 8th day of the 9th Month 1681. Thomas Crisp said That he had lately paid Tythes and that the Spirit of God did or might allow him to pay Tythes or Marry by a Priest And that by the same Spirit of God another might be required not to pay Tythes or not do the same Things This Thomas Crisp spake the day and year abovesaid and consented to have it writ and printed and took a copy of the aforesaid words Witness John Field jun. Oh Thomas How hast thou lost true tenderness and the sence of Truth How art thou backsliden and gone from that which first convinced thee of the way of the Lord and his holy Truth which is but one And how variable dost thou render his Spirit and contradictory to it self in these great concerns of Tythes and Marriage Is this like the Testimony of the Christian-Quaker as thou and thy Brother W. R. and his party would be rendred Is it not more like exact Ranterism Let all tender Hearts and sincere Souls in the Light judge But what sayest thou to J. F's Question Why did thy Wife condemn it meaning your marrying by a Priest To this thou most unrighteously and scornfully answerest in these Words viz. But may not those that pretend to sell Pardons and pray Souls out of Purgatory your Brethren say that if their Prayers and Pardons be not effectual why have and do so many give so much Money for them If a Woman gives all she hath to have her Husband out of Purgatory an effectual Proof of the worth of the Pope's Pardon Thomas Thy Answer herein is dirty and scurrilous thy comparison with the Pope and those that falsly pretend to pray Souls out of Purgatory most unjust and slanderous Be ashamed of such scribling and abusive dirty Work and falsly calling such our Brethren Be ashamed also of thus unnaturally exposing thy own Wife to an unjust censure in this comparison viz. As to a Woman that gives all she hath to have her Husband out of Purgatory Oh sordid and bruitish As also in thy following Words and foul Reflection upon thy Wife viz. It is like SHEE as too many more have gave too much credit to what some of G. F's CHEATS said And she is not the first that hath been deceived by you and perhaps some among you that have prated others out of their Money might prate her unto the writing and giving you that Paper you pretend to Thus far thou in the 9th page of thy 5th part of thy Babel O Thomas be ashamed of thus abusing thy Wife and others our Friends with thy Railery in Print as if she were cheated or deceived into the giving forth the said Paper in judgment against your marrying with the Priest I am satisfied thou hast most foully wronged her as well as abused her Friends herein for I am perswaded that the Lord made her sensible you had done amiss in so marrying that she was convinced in her Conscience of the Evil of it and of your wrong proceeding therein by the Light of Truth before she gave out the said Paper and that therefore thou hast not only abused and unjustly exposed thy Wife thy near relation in Print but also that thou hast abused the Truth and the real Conviction thereof in her I dare appeal to the witness of God in her Conscience against thy sordid abuse of her and Friends in this matter I find thou art a shallow impertinent Scribler and Railer and uncharitably Censorious and Reviling in much of thy Work thou hast an absurd and dirty stile of writing if it be thy own however it is patronized by thee Remember from whence thou art fallen and Repent of thy hard Speeches Prejudice and Uncharitableness against Gods People his Heritage Thou hast abused the Servants of Christ have a care thy dayes be not shortned in Darkness and Sorrow I am sorry for thee Thou canst advise and instruct others to Love and Gentleness and pretendest to shew the necessity of bearing with and not judging one another about such things wherein they differ in Opinion or Practice in some things viz. outward and circumstantial matters of Religion for that thou sayest We may belong to one Shepherd although not all in one Fold and confessest That Love is part of the Seal in the Forehead of the Lamb's followers and so also Hatred Strife c. the mark of the Beast as in thy Introduction to thy third Edition As also page 13. thou givest Friends this warning To forbear judging any man any more upon any pretence whatsoever as in the Paper thou hast cited and falsly callest E. B's Vision Yet contrariwise thou art severely judging and contemning us on some Pretence thou appearest in Hatred and Strife in the most of thy
those Discoveries the true Light has made will not be excusable by all thy slight Allegations in the sight of the All-seeing and Heart-searching God § 7. But T. C 's Judgment about Tythes accords with what is in the third part of the Christian-Quaker c. by W. R. Christianly and largely treated on quoth he in his fourth part p. 19. And what is W. R 's Judgment or Doctrine in that case Is it not for freely paying Tythes to the National Ministry i. e. not as by Constraint yea if any Person will freely of himself give a tenth part of his Estate or Encrease thereof to ANY VSE WHATSOEVER having no regard to any humane Institution or claim by any pretended divine Law c. as his words are 7th part p. 52. Compare his Objection and Answer in that case in his 2d part Christian-Quaker p. 43. and the Apology he makes for it in his 7th part p. 52 53. together with our fore-going Replyes then it will appear how loose and apostatized thy Judgment is from the ancient Principle and Christian Testimony of the truly Christian-Quakers whose Principle never allowed paying Tythes freely or otherwise to the National Ministry or to any use whatsoever Therefore how little excusable is your Declension Apostacy and loose Doctrine in that case who have seen and known better things from a farther degree of Illumination than either the best sort of Papists or Episcopalians have as yet received Wherefore you in sinning against Knowledge are more condemnable in those things than they in their Ignorance blind Zeal or Dim-sightedness So that 't is high time for thee to bethink thy self better and Repent § 8. I could say much to thy Reply thou hast given to Stephen Crisp in thy Babels 4th part to evince how disingenuous fallacious and abusive it is but I find little necessity upon me therein considering what little weight it is of and how that Stephen Crisp the Person immediately concerned did not look upon himself so deeply concerned as to think it worth the while to spend much time about or take much notice of Only I must tell thee thou hast abused both him and those of us who gave our Testimony and plainly showed our dislike against the Paper and Subscription from Barbadoes which was not ONLY a dislike of the Wording it as thou falsly sayest but of both matter and subscription And therefore thy saying There is no denial or disowning the Principle of giving up all i. e. Spiritual and Temporal to G. F 's Mens and Womens Meetings as thou scornfully accusest us p. 2 3. This is a gross Untruth and foul Perversion and our Consciences bear us witness to the contrary that we do dislike and disown any such Principle and Doctrine Thou hast mis-stated the case against us herein Secondly As also thy Objection is false That we were more afraid of the Publication than ashamed of the Matter p. 6.9 Seeing we so plainly manifested our Dislike of the matter in our Letter to those of Barbadoes concerned Thirdly As also a scornful and two-fold Slander it is That we endeavour to compel all to worship our Image as thy false term is of G. F 's Orders p. 7. We deny both by terms and matter herein Fourthly And likewise a gross Slander and Abuse it is That G. F. and his Party sharply reprove others who cannot against their Consciences give up as the Barbadoes Church have done and for not bowing to our Image G. F 's Laws p. 8. What a scornful abominable Lye is this Fifthly Also these are notorious Falshoods That we will drive them that will not follow us contrary or before the Spirit of the Lord lead them into our Ceremonies else they must be Sons of Perdition and all black Characters we can find to vilifie them pag. 10. These are foul and false Accusations Sixthly Again That thou hast to thy understanding endeavoured the Advance and Honour of that Truth we profess i. e. the Light in the Conscience p. 11. This is an untruth thy Vilifying and Abusing and Railery against the Servants of Christ who truly own and profess the Light for their guide proves the contrary Seventhly That we are zealous for Forms more than the Power p. 11. Is also a false Accusation and Slander Eighthly That Stephen Crisp is an Engine of Satan p. 12. And A Forger p. 2. And A bold-faced Lyar p. 4. appear slanderous Abuses and foul Detractions also expresly contrary to thy own warning thou hast given forth in E. B's Name for All Friends to forbear Judging any man upon any pretence whatsoever However Stephen Crisp is known to be a man Conscientious towards God a man more Righteous than thy self and I suppose better qualified both as a Man and a Christian than ever thou wast and thy envious Detractions cannot lessen his Reputation where he is well known For the rest of thy Abuses Perversions foul Detractions Railery and bitter angry Stuff in thy Pamphlets which are not here recited I leave thee to the Righteous Judge of all to reckon with and judge thee as I doubt not but in due time he will § 9. I hereby give the Reader further notice about that Paper before-mentioned which William Rogers and thy self have printed and published in your Books in Edward Burroughs's Name as his Testimony Vision c. concerning The scattered of Israel the Shepherd and his Dogs and Sheep c. and which in thy third Edition thou recommendest To be considered by all more especially by us called Quakers among whom thou sayest 't is proved to be a true Vision and not a Dream of E. B 's making Shewing still thy confident Credulity that 't is really Edward Burroughs's Paper I am still the more confirmed that 't is none of E. B's but John Perrots and that William Rogers and his party who encouraged the Publication thereof together with thy self have been too credulous and confident both in receiving the said Paper upon trust and imposing it on others as Edward Burroughs's and that therein you appear both implicit in your Faith and meer Imposers as well as Abusers of E. B. and his faithful Testimony unless you can shew more manifest Testimony and valid Reason that the said Paper was E. B's than we can show to the contrary that it was John Perrot's It shall not serve W. R's turn to slight a Negative Testimony herein unless he and his party can prove their Affirmative that E. Burroughs was the Author of the said Paper and that with more manifest Testimony and probable Reason than we have here to show to the contrary namely that 't was John Perrot's For besides the Unsoundness of the said Paper in Matter and Manner before hinted as one Reason that 't was not E. B's observe the following Certificates and Testimonies from Bristol viz. I Having read and perused the Paper of The scattered of Israel set down in W. R's Book stiled The Christian-Quaker to which W. R.
I take notice of such confused muddled blind dark and mad Stuff as his appears to be To which I Answer First Because neither the Truth nor us as a Religious People and Christian Society may lie under any Dis-repute Blemish or Derision thereof in the Eyes of those that know not nor rightly understand the Christian Doctrine Discipline Church-Government and wholsom Order among us seeing the said J. B. has been for many Years conversant among the People called Quakers and born the Name of a Quaker he saith this twenty Years and more Though he IS NO QVAKER but turn'd an open Enemy to them Secondly Because the said Jeffery Bullock in a great measure runs parallel with and resembles William Rogers and his party in his opposition and gain-saying of that Order and Church-Government that is among us falsly accusing us with Men's Inventions Imitations Traditions laying aside the Spirits Government c. as in his ONE BLOW c. Thirdly Because four Persons of William Rogers's Party of Chippinham in Wiltsshire have given their approbation in a Letter to the said Jeffery Bullock of his Books particularly that called One Blow more against Antichrist's Ministers and have declared that several Friends have good Vnity therewith Which I do not believe And not only so but this in opposition and contempt to others whom they abusively revile in these Words viz. But here are also a company of called Friends which are very much for Foxonians Orders which may be called mens Inventions that do make it their work to Defame and Calumniate all them 〈◊〉 do not conform thereunto Some of which thou and most of which we are in our Hearts perswaded are Servants of the living God amongst which thou hast a share of being villified to be a bad man although to us it s no manner of Invitation for us to give Credit thereunto c Barnadiston and another hath been here their envious Darts fly very swiftly and secretly If thou pleasest to send half a Dozen of thy Books c. With other Aggravations in the said Chippinham Letter shewing not only their approbation and owning of Jeffery Bullock and his Books but also their bitterness of Spirit in villifying and reproaching others although I understand they have been a little ashamed of their approbation of his Books yet not that they have repented of the bitterness of their Spirits nor condemned those villifying Reproaches and bitter Expressions in their said Letter as Foxonians Orders Barnadiston and another their envious Darts fly very swiftly c. What scorn bitterness and rancor do such Expressions bespeak Christ never taught them to give such Names to Friends as Foxonians nor would they take it well to be so dealt by nay they would think much if they should but be called Johannites and their reviling Giles Barnardiston who was a peaceable innocent man and of good Report doth bespeak a great Prejudice and Enmity to have entred their Spirits which they should plainly have condemned their Letter is all perverse but I do not understand any sincere or tender Retractation or real Condemnation thereof given out by them Fourthly Notice is here taken of Jeffery Bullock's Pamphlets to manifest the great Absurdity that opposit dividing Spirit leads into and to warn others against it And why these Persons should so hastily approve of Jeffery Bullock's Books or say that several Friends have good Unity therewith I know no reason being in several things so Corrupt Erronious and Atheistical as they are except it be with respect to the Oppositions therein contained against the Church-Government Order and Methods among us in opposing whereof Jeffery Bullock was these men's Elder Brother Concerning which take a view of some Passages in his said Pamphlet viz. One Blow more in his own Words § 2. Jeffery Bullock saith And you my Brethren also ought to have Preached up God's invisible appearance by his Spirit in our dayes to be the end of mens Inventions Imitations and false Doctrines But instead thereof you have preached up false Doctrines and also set up your own Inventions among the Quakers so called p. 5. Answer His charge of false Doctrines and mens Inventions we utterly deny as slanderous God's invisible and spiritual Appearance and the Testimony thereof still lives among us in as high esteem as ever against false Doctrines and mens Inventions But herein J. B. resembles the rest of the Opposers in the work of the false Accuser of our Brethren Jeffery Bullock My Brethren I fear you are not past the Doctrine of the Church of Rome nor yet of the Priests and Professors of England a false Fear There is as great necessity of Preaching up Salvation to us Gentiles by God's invisible Appearance who is a Spirit and also his Spirit to be the end of all mens Inventions Imitations Traditions c. pag. 6. True but misapplied Therefore I would have G. Fox and the eleven Elders who are preaching up false Doctrines and also setting up their Inventions among the People called Quakers as Rules c. p. 7. Answer Herein he is a false Accuser still like the rest and he 's far louder in his Charges than in 's Proof False Doctrines and Inventions of men both of the Church of Rome and elsewhere we utterly deny J. B. My Brethren your visible Church-Government is altogether Antichristian because that every Member of the Church in God is to be both ruled and governed by the measure of Gods Spirit in them and it is none of George Fox 's nor yet the eleven Elders that is to be a Rule for the Quakers to walk by p. 9. Answ. His charge of Antichristian and Inventions we utterly deny and testifie against as Antichristian and he and the rest of his backsliding Spirit and approvers of him and his Books are never able to make his Charge good However here its plain that he opposes visible Church-Government because of the inward Rule by the measure of God's Spirit wherein he argues Erroniously and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and Primitive Christians Practice Both the inward Rule and outward Order and due Methods among them all springing from God's Spirit within were not to draw them from a dependance on that Spirit but to shew forth Obedience in Practice and Example to the holy Spirit and pure Religion and therein to help one another for which purpose the Holy Ghost made Overseers and Elders The Elders that rule well are worthy c. He that ruleth with Diligence c. I left thee in Creet to set in order those things that are lacking c. But there were such Apostates then as despised Dominion and spoke Evil of Dignities even of those Instruments and Ministers Helps and Governments whom the Lord ordained and raised up and dignified in his Church and such are these Opposers now in the same Spirit of Opposition and Contempt § 3. J. B. And she i. e. the Church hath no need of your visible Government because she is the
Nations and Families of the Earth blessed and saved who believe and walk in his Light J. B. All the World was freed from their Offerings for sin by that one Offering reconciled to God by the death of his Son But we must be redeemed justified and also saved by a measure of the same Life that dwelt in the Son in which Life the Son of God offered up his Soul and Body to be crucified to the Death a Sacrifice once for all Then NO Salvation to the Souls of the Sons and Daughters of men by him that dyed without the Gates at Jerusalem p. 19. Anti. Transformations Answ. An erronious Inference still and most blindly reiterated for if we must be saved by that Life that was in the Son of God how darest thou deny Salvation to the souls of Mankind by him that so suffered and dyed seeing we are reconciled by his Death who dyed and rose again and Death has no more dominion over him And hast not thou confessed that we are reconciled by his Death so we shall be saved by his Life Well by whose Life by the Life of the very same Christ of God who as concerning the flesh was put to Death And was his Death then no ways conducing to our Salvation How are we then reconciled by it Is Reconciliation no degree of Salvation Surely thou art under great Contradiction and gross Mistakes in this matter To thy Objection That Mary saith her Soul did magnifie the Lord and her Spirit did rejoyce in God her Saviour p. 21. And that God said Look unto Me all ye Ends of the Earth and be saved p. 23. This is no proof that his Son Jesus Christ was No Saviour for God saves by his Son God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself God works by the Mediator and Jesus Christ who is the Saviour and the Redeemer is both truly God and Man Inseparable But how comest thou off in answer to the Objection made against thee viz. If no Salvation by that Christ that dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem then thy Doctrine implyeth two Christs which we do not profess nor preach nor own for in words thou over and over tellest us of that Christ that dyed without the Gates and that he was the Son of God the Christ of God c. What sayst thou to this Review thy following words J. B. viz. Now that there are two Christs it is plain according to the Scriptures for there is both the true Christ and Antichrist p. 23. Rep. Oh sad and lamentable How absurdly blindly and erroniously hast thou answered here The Objection or Question against thee was not about Antichrist but about the True Christ who is the very Christ of God who was crucified at Jerusalem and is in his Saints by his Light Life and Spirit whom thy Doctrine tends to render Two Christs and so to divide the True Christ but we testifie he is but One As to us there is but ONE GOD the Father of whom are all things and we in him and ONE Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1 Cor. 8.6 And of this ONE Lord Jesus Christ the true Apostles testified as One and the same Christ though he variously appeared according to what is written of him 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6 7 verses of his Death and Resurrection and how he was seen of many And last of all he was seen of me also saith Paul as of one born out of due time v. 8. This was ONE and the SAME CHRIST still § 10. J. B. Now Christ he neither came of David nor yet of Israel according to the Flesh not as to his outward appearance as he was a visible Man but he came of David and Israel both according to the Spirit And this is the Spirit whom God hath exalted both as a Prince and a Saviour Anti. Trans p. 23. Answ. This is a gross Mistake and Contradictory to plain Scripture see Rom. 1.3 4 5. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the dead by whom we have received GRACE and Apostleship for obedience to the Faith among all Nations for his Name see also Rom. 9.5 But thou sayst He neither came of David nor yet of Israel according to the flesh quite contrary to the Apostle's testimony Which shall People believe thee or the Apostle Surely not such a blind muddled confused dark and dull Soul as thou art I wish thee with the Light of Christ within on the holy Scriptures to recollect thy self better that thou mayst repent and condemn and call in thy muddled confused distracted whimsical and mad Pamphlets that would be the safest way for thee upon all accounts for thou hast no matter of Religion to suffer for thy hope being in this Life only according to thy Principle of the Soul's Mortality J. B. He that dyed without the Gates at Jerusalem he was the Christ of God being one with the Spirit of God but it was the Womans part that dyed that was his Soul and Body Now Christ as he was a visible Man and made of a visible Woman made under the Law he INTERNALLY DYED as to his SOUL and BODY Antichrist's Transformations pag. 19. Answ. Oh poor Jeffery Whither art thou run in thy whimsical Conceits and distracted Imaginations one while to DENY Jesus Christ the Son of God to be the Way to the Father another while to DENY Salvation by him another while to DENY the Immortality of his Soul and here most erroniously to AFFIRM That his Soul dyed and that he internally dyed as to his Soul Oh! Antichristian and Antiscriptural Doctrine For though he was put to death only as to his Body his Soul dyed not with it for he said Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Luke 23.46 see Acts 7.59 And to the penitent Thief To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 Therefore his Soul or Spirit dyed not with the Body he did not internally dye he dyed only as to the Body being put to death as concerning the Flesh and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and Death has no more dominion over him And although it be said He hath poured out his Soul unto Death This concerned the travail of soul and sorrows of death which he was under the sence of when he said My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Matth. 26.38 whilst yet his soul was living and immortal in its own being praying and making intercession unto the Father For pouring out the Soul or Heart sometimes in Scripture imports an earnest supplication to God and travail in Prayer Psal. 42.4 I pour out my Soul in me And Psal. 62.8 Pour out your Heart before him God is a Refuge for us The soul of Messiah was poured out
in Prayer and Supplication to the Father whilst in great sorrow and deep suffering for Mankind even when he bore the Sin of many and made intercession for the Transgressors Thus his soul was poured out and made an offering for Sin that he might see his Seed and the effect of his Souls travail and be satisfied and through all Reign with the Father in the same Glory which he had with him before the World began So that the Messiah reigneth in Life Glory and Immortality blessed forever and his Saints shall reign with him for evermore But thy Error ends not here in asserting that Christ's Soul dyed seeing thou hast publickly opposed the Immortality of the Soul in my hearing and the hearing of many more and hast affirmed The mortality of the Soul of man that it dyes with the Body And so denying future States Beeings and Rewards of mankind Thou knowest Jeffery I have laboured with thee at sundry times and before several endeavoured to Convince thee of thy Atheistical Error in this very point and many are my Witnesses therein But thou hast appeared wilful dark and pertinacious in thy blind dark and confused Imaginations whereupon I have exhorted thee and do exhort thee to give over Preaching and telling People of saving their Souls by the Word and of raising of our Souls out of the Grave of Sin and Death by the Light and Power of God within when thou dost not believe any Immortality of the Souls of Men more than of a Beast as I have told thee to thy Face when the Beast dyes there 's an end So what gross Hypocrisie is it in thee so often to Preach in Friends Meetings at Sudbury in opposition to our Friends and to pretend as if thou hadst such a great Regard to Peoples Souls that they might be saved raised up and delivered from Sin in this Life when thou hast nothing further to propose to them than only a Hope in this Life a Happiness in this Life a Portion in this Life which is so short and uncertain that the dayes of Man here are compared but to a Shadow and to a Cloud that vanishes and as being swifter than a Post or than a Tale that 's told and swifter than a Weavers Shuttle c. So that if we have hope in this life Only we are of all men most miserable But I cannot take thee as a Person consistent with thy self in this thy Atheistical Doctrine of the Soul's Mortality no more than in other things for thou art manifestly inconsistent and contradictory to thy self in this matter for in thy Pamphlet i. e. GROSS ERRORS thou hast confessed That Christ's Soul never was captivated p. 4. And That the Blessing is to God's invisible Creation within the Sons and Daughters of men as that cometh to be begotten by a measure of divine Life into a true and living Faith the which invisible Creation sayest thou or the Souls and Vnderstandings of men and women over the which Death that power of Darkness hath invisibly reigned p. 3. And That Ministry which is sent of God it is to the Souls and Vnderstandings of Men and Women That so their Souls may be turned to the Light or measure of divine Life which hath appeared to their Souls p. 4. As also thou sayest That God's appearance is both to the Souls and Vnderstandings of the Sons and Daughters of Men even whilst they are altogether Children of the Vnrighteous Nature and Spirit for that very end that so they may be quickned and also raised up and so come to be changed they being made partakers of the Divine Nature pag. 7. Query How then dost thou affirm that such Souls are Mortal This change in such Souls does not only bespeak their Immortality but their being Immortally happy Is not that Soul or Birth immortal that 's capable of partaking of the divine Nature or that doth partake thereof Can that Soul dye with the Body or end in Mortality No no the very Souls of the Wicked and impenitent workers of Iniquity shall live in Torment where the Worm dyeth not and the Fire is never quenched Christ's instance of Dives and Lazarus doth really intimate the two different states hereafter see Luke 16.22 23. c. How grosly Erronious and Contradictory art thou in this point and farther to thy own confutation addest viz. Thus the Sons and Daughters of Vnrighteousness come to be made the Children of Righteousness they being changed and also lifted up by the Spirit of Life from under the power of Death into the Kingdom of God with him to reign over the Power of Death even as the Son of God did in the dayes of his Flesh p. 7. How now Jeffery These passages relating to the Soul's conversion and their being made partakers of the Divine Nature and being lifted up into the Kingdom of God are some of thy better sort of Preaching but thy Doctrine of the Soul's mortality or the Soul 's dying with the Body doth allow the Souls of the Children of men even of the Converted but a very short share and uncertain time in the Kingdom of God if but in this Life only O Jeffery give over thy troublesom hypocritical Preaching in our Friends Meetings for shame and never pretend such a concern for the Conversion and Salvation of Peoples Souls whilst thou holdest this Atheistical Opinion That they are all Mortal Keep at home and give over such Hypocritical Preaching for 't is neither Conscientious nor Religious § 11. Now concerning the Scripture thy Doctrine followeth J. B. in his Antichrist's Transformations p. 22. saith viz. For the Book of the Scriptures both was and is the Fruit which the Tree of Knowledge bears And in his Testimony against the Quakers false Doctrine as he falsly calleth it page 19. He saith thus viz. The Book of the Scriptures is part of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge I say that the Book of the Scriptures is the Fruit that the Tree of Knowledge bears Answ. This Doctrine is not only Unscriptural but a dark erronious Imagination and Whimsie of thy own Thou knowest not whereof thou affirmest and hast plainly contradicted thy self herein by confessing not only That the Scriptures are opened by the Spirit of Truth but that They were given forth by the Word of Life p. 22. and 29. Thou farther proceedest like a whimsical self-opposing and contradictory Person in these words viz. Let all that read your Book and also the Letter that was given me which I disowned which Letter is printed in my first Book and they may easily perceive that the Line of your Testimony is in the Letter and Book of the Scriptures and not in the Light and Law written in the Heart Thus in thy Testimony p. 19. Here thou hast at one dash confuted and overthrown thy own Work and knockt down thy own evil cause at one blow Thou hast undertaken to detect the Quakers Errors and many of the Doctrines of the leading
Quakers as Erronious Antichristian c. And To give a Testimony against the Quakers false Doctrine as thou falsly callest it even in the Titles of thy Pamphlets but now confessest our Testimony is in the Letter and Book of the Scriptures Thus hast thou denyed and opposed that Testimony which is in the Book of the Scriptures and not only So but most erroniously opposed the Light and Law written in the Heart thereunto when as they do agree and the Scripture cannot be broken Therefore Repent of thy vain and Antichristian opposition Another Contradiction is in thy following words viz. J. B. Your Paper to the Churches is not to be owned by the Churches inasmuch as it was written from a sight or a sence and not in and from the Spirit of Revelation Now whatsoever is written declared or given forth in the sight or in the sence is not to be owned Antichrist's Transformations p. 2. And p. 25. ibid. I disown that to be any true Ministry for God who in their Declarations do exhort both Friends and other People to come to a sence and to wait in a sence and continue in a sence for God is not a sence neither is his Spirit a sence But in plain contradiction â—ereto p. 9. Lazarus was raised and so must we be raised by the same Voice Spirit and Power must we come both to FEEL and Witness Christ the Light within to be our Resurrection and our Life by FEELING and Receiving his Power revealed from Heaven c. Observe Here thou hast confessed to the Truth of Feeling and witnessing Christ Feeling and receiving his Power c. contrary to thy opposing and denying what 's written in the sense and exhorting Friends c. To come to wait and continue in a sence whereas there is a spiritual sence and feeling of divine Life there are spiritual Sences to be exercised by the holy Spirit to discern between good and evil There is a spiritual seeing tasting and handling of the Word of Life but thou hast lost these Senses thou art out of they right Senses which makes thee so Sensless and Nonsensical in thy scribling and full of rambling confused Whimsies Delusions and dark Imaginations which are the effects of thy Disobedience to and Apostacy from the Light of Christ within which convinced thee long ago § 12. And now I would have thee observe thy manifest and practical Contradiction to a Passage in conclusion of thy Gross Errors Postscript The Passage is this viz. J. B. It is an Antichristian Spirit in all which leads People under what Profession soever to think of themselves above others or to be in a better state than others or to separate themselves from others although their Souls may have seen by the Light within them beyond others yet these ought not to separate themselves from others for they have been Children of Darkness as well as others for if they do separate themselves from others then this holds forth a certain Testimony that they do think of themselves above others and also to be in a better state than others are in so that this is all Antichrist's work Answ. Why dost thou then separate thy self from others that is from the Church of England for by this Proposition thou oughtst not so to separate nor to frequent the Quakers Meetings nor to preach in them whether thou thinkest thy self in a better state than those of the Church of England or not or that thy Soul hath seen by the Light within beyond them as doubtless thou thinkest thy self herein above them On this Proposition of thy own thou oughtst not to separate nor to preach in the Quakers Meetings And if thou didst not think thy self to see with the Light within beyond them of the Church of England there were no reason for thee then to separate from them Behold thy Practical Contradiction and Ranterism in thy Proposition or Doctrine against separating from others on the account of seeing with the Light beyond them which is to maintain a confused mixture and society in Worship between those that see with the Light and those that see not with it between the Seeing and the Blind the Children of the Light and the Children of Darkness for thy opposing a Separation from others is without distinction and yet thou art in a Separation from others Why separatest thou from the National Worship and makest thy self a Preacher at the Quakers Meetings in Sudbury when they disown thee thy Preaching and Corrupt Erronious and Antiscriptural Doctrine As Thy Denying Christ the Son of God to be our way to the Father Thy Denying Salvation or Condemnation by the same Christ that suffered Thy Denying the Immortality of the Soul of Christ Jesus or of any other Souls of Mankind and affirming That his Soul dyed and that he internally dyed as to his Soul c. And thy asserting The Book of the Scriptures to be the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge And thy Denying the Arising of the Seed of God and Christ in man And thy Denying to come to a Sense and to wait in a Sense in thy self and opposing preaching from a sight and sence as in thy Antichrists Transformations p. 2 25. Thy dark and erronious Doctrine and Preaching in these things the True Christian Quakers utterly deny with many other dark erronious Positions Whimsies Contradictions and blind Oppositions Falshoods and Abuses foolish and unlearned Questions in thy Pamphlets here omitted as also thy Hypocritical Preaching in pretence For the good of Souls For the quickning of Souls For the raising up of Souls For the converting of Souls That Peoples Souls may partake of the divine Nature and be lifted up into the Kingdom of God c. Which though this be the best sort of thy Preaching and in the best words thou hast yet while thou denyest the Immortality of the Soul and concludest They all dye with the earthly Tabernacles and so a total end of all This thy gross and Atheistical Error is enough to evince thy abominable Hypocrisie and Irreligiousness in the best sort of thy Preaching And therefore give over thy preaching in our Friends Meetings hold thy Tongue lay thy hand upon thy Mouth keep at home and seriously bethink thy self and remember from whence thou art fallen and then condemn retract and call in thy Erroneous and Antichristian Pamphlets Remember I have herein given thee the safest Counsel in Love and Friendship to thee and to thy Immortal Soul which shall remember me when thou art awakened under the hand of thy Righteous Judge who is the Judge of all to whom I can sincerely appeal and commit my Christian and faithful Endeavours concerning these Controversies and Differences with thee and the rest concerned in this Treatise you being all concerned in one Spirit of Opposition Prejudice Strife and Enmity though thou hast exceeded the rest in thy Doctrinal part in presumptuously attempting such an Antichristian Confutation of the Quakers Doctrines And with my solemn