translated from death to life before ever the Scriptures were written which thou sayest is the rule to walk by though the Scriptures do not say any such thing but another that the Sons of God were both ruled and led by the Spirit of God and though we do say and testifie these things as the faithful and true sayings of God and as John did bear witnesse of him so do we that he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world yet those things as thou hast wickedly and maliciously laid them down as our principles were never spoken nor owned by us neither do we slight the Scriptures at all but own them as they are and ought to be owned yet Christ the light the bright and the morning Star that is the same and changes not but spake in all the Prophets the eternal arm and power of the Father to Salvation we say is not changed but is able to save now without the Scriptures as before they were written so this is not to make void the Scriptures at all which do declare what was the Judge of the Spirits and Saints rule in all ages their guide and what was the wisdom and power of God to the salvation of their souls and as the Prophets and holy men found them to be in themselves and as this Spirit did inspire them and gave them utterance so they spake of him as his People do in the same spirit in this age now this is onely to set Christ the Eternal Son of God above all visible things and the chief corner stone in his place where it ought to be and therefore the builders of Babylon and children of confusion which are setting him at nought and cannot see the hidden treasure which is bread indeed nor look any further then the things that are earthly in whom the treasure and life is hid and are feeding upon the husks and shadows with the Swine are now condemning them that have been in those carnal Ordinances and washings but could never find the pearl in them where it was not to be found but now having found him that is living which is not among those dead things but onely to be found in Spirit we leave those things behind us and go on to perfection and look no longer at the things that are seen which are temporal but at those things that are not seen but in that Light which is eternal which whilst we look at and believe in we have strong consolation and confidence in him that is our hope and purifies our hearts as he doth arise he doth also condemn fin in the heart and destroy the Devils work where it hath been wrought which is yet standing in thy heart and in the hearts of all Lyars and false accusers who are speaking evil of those things they understand not but as a natural bruit beasts wherein they defile themselves as thou hast done it doth finish sin in us and makes an end of transgression and brings in and us into his everlasting righteousnesse which is by faith in his bloud but the blind will be blind still and cannot see any bloud but that which doth not wash the heart nor sprinkle the Conscience from dead works nor know any nor believe in any Resurrection but that which doth not give the answer of a good Conscience towards God I say if thou canst receive it and believe in him who is the Resurrection thou mayest but if otherwise thou shouldst dye in thy sins and pine away in thy transgressions and then Christ is not risen to thy advantage but condemnation if thou art yet in thy sins Therefore thou Hypocrite who art hipt from the Light and climbed above the door of the sheep who is the incorruptible and eternal Light and he onely it is that gives an entrance into the Kingdom that is incorruptible eternal and fadeth not away But many have been setting up another Saviour then he that saves his people from their sins and therefore have his Servants been imagining of a kingdom power and glory that is of this fading world and therefore instead of hearkning to the light and innocent Lamb which faith My Kingdom is not of this world if it were my Servants would fight therefore such who have rejected the word of the Lord which word is Light as thou dost and scornest the Quakers for walking in it they have betaken themselves to carnal weapons and gone from the Spiritual weapon which is the Light and have sought for a Kingdom that is of this world and so in their imaginations have set up both a visible Saviour and Kingdom Therefore try thy self whether thou art in that faith which the just lives by and purifie the heart that comes to see the pure God if not thou art but a reprobate concerning the faith that is a mystery held in a pure Conscience which was once delivered or given to the Saints neither shalt thou ever have the witnesse in thy self of thy rejoycing as many that have been in thy dark and blind condition never had until they were turned to the Light in their Consciences but now can through mercy and grace that is powred out upon his off-spring testifie to his glory and praise everlastingly be it given to him alone who doth the work in us and for us that in the same place where it hath been said unto us ye are not my people there are we called the Children of the living God at this may the Serpent catch that is cursed of the Lord but own it if thou canst it is thy condemnation in that state thou art in eternally thou shalt witnesse it true except thou repentest A little I shall reason with thee concerning thy principle what some of thy brethren which thou and they have affirmed in dispute First thou say est the eternal Spirit is not the Saviour of the world but the man Christ Jesus that dyed and was a body which the Apostles handled outwardly Answ Did not Christ say who is that Spiritual Rock who saved Abraham and the Fathers before that body was into thy hands Father I commend my Spirit and then did he not give up the Ghost and dyed and when the eternal Spirit did ascend to the Father was not the body dead without the Spirit and lay in the Sepulchre until the same Spirit and power of the Father raised it again is your confidence in the flesh or in the Spirit and power that quickned the dead do ye believe the Scriptures are true which say he ever liveth and is the same yesterday to day and for ever I in the Father and the Father in me or do ye believe there was no Saviour before he was born in Bethlehem who was it then in whom Abraham believed or who did the Prophet speak of when he saith unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given or what dost thou in thy dark mind imagine the Prophet meaneth when he saith his name shall
the Prophets and Righteous men heard his voice and he wrought all their works in them for them and saved his people from their sins took away the shadowand destroyed death and ransomed them from the power of the grave and did such works in them for them as never man ever did is not this the very Christ yea this is he and besides him there is no Saviour neither do I look for another he opens the blind eye and the deaf ear he causeth to hear he makes the dumb to speak and the lame to walk he opens the heart to discipline and commandeth man to depart from iniquity he saith and it cometh to passe as ever the Winds and the Sea doth he rebuke and still the proud Waves thereof as in the Generations past this is the Lords doing and in my eyes very marvellous this is his Name and his Memorial the Lord our Righteousnesse throughout all Generations this is he that saith I am the Lord and change not that is my Name and besides me there is no Saviour let all Disputers of this World be confounded before him whose way is everlasting that sitteth upon the Flouds and walketh on the Sea as on dry land and the waters sink not under him that turneth the darknesse into light and the day light into the shadow of death let all the wise to do evil and oppose him be made mad for ever and let them not find an arm to help them that cannot see the Arm of Gods Salvation but are comparing the Holy One of Israel the Immanuel to and with themselves and likening the invisible and incorruptible Redeemer of the invisible and immortal soul unto corruptible man that are setting up the letter instead of the eternal quickening Spirit that giveth life that sees not a difference betwixt the flesh that profiteth not and the flesh that is the life and if I say the Saviour of the World I lie not between the word that doth wash cleanse and purifie the Hearts of the Saints and was like a hammer and a fire in Jeremiah and in all the Prophets and is the same and changes not in all Generations which word they heard and believed in it and therefore spake and the Word that the Apostles did feel taste hear and handle which was in the beginning with God and was God and this is the Saviour of the World and besides him there is not another but ye being blind cannot perceive him that took Flesh upon him and had a Body prepared to do the will of him that set him if thou hast an ear to hear or an eye to perceive this is he that descended and the same that ascended far above all Heavens into the bosom of the Father and sitteth on the right hand on the Majesty on high and is glorified with the same Glory that he had with the Father before the world began this is a mystery if thou canst receive it thou art happy But may not I say as once was said to the men of Galilee Why stand ye gazing Why are you seeking the Living among the Dead Is not he the Resurrection And is there any life in any other Is not this he that is the eternal and everlasting day in which ye ought to walk And out of the Bosom of the Father did he not proceed and was one with him who saith This is my beloved Son hear Him And the Holy Ghost did appear in the likenesse of a Dove yet was not a Dove so say I and my sayings are faithful and true Christ the Saviour of the World came in the likenesse of sinful flesh and took upon him the form of a Servant yet was he not sinful flesh but the eternal Son of God which was begotten of the Spirit and is Spirit there is a Spiritual Body and there is a natural Body there is a corruptible and there is an incorruptible Body but this is a mystery to the World in a few words time would fail me to declare his Generation to the uttermost I may say that which I have seen of him Oh the depth and heighth length and breadth of his unsearchable riches and wisdom and how in all generations he hath been to his people an infinite treasure a boundlesse fountain and an everlasting stream of goodnesse life vertue peace and pure satisfaction in all generations who was before all the Authour Creator and Maker of all in whom was Life and he is not changed but in him is life eternal peace everlasting and satisfaction eternally and his life runs through all discerns and beholds all and shines in the darknesse and none can flee from him neither is there any darknesse nor shadow of death where the worker of iniquity can hide himself from his dreadful hand that it should not find him out though man being in the first birth and born blind and a transgressor from his mothers womb doth not see nor comprehend the Light that hath enlightned him though it shine in his heart and doth convince all and reprove all of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches that they have wickedly spoken against the Lord yea and it will condemn thee Matthew Caffin for all thy ungod like and unchristian-like lyes and slanders cast upon the people whom the Lord hath blessed and chosen for his peculiar treasure even thee in whom the Father of lyes ruleth and his works are wrought in thy wicked heart out of which cometh slanders and lyes abundantly and them thou dost invent thy self and calst them the Quakers errors when thou hast done whose foundation and principle thou knowest not but speakest evil of that wch thou art a stranger unto though thou talkest of faith of being a Christian indeed which thou sayst few do attain unto yet art thou one of the vain disputers of the world like Cain art wounding and shooting thy arrows against the innocent and like Ishmael art scorning the Lords people saying the Quakers saith turn to the light within this was Pauls Commission and the Quakers work which in this world they have to do this was the Prophets work and Johns message to turn people from darknesse to the light and from the Power of Satan to God Act. 26.18 and 1 John 5. and Paul saith it was the Light that shone in the heart which must give them the knowledge of the glory of God and John said the anointing which was in them that was truth and nolye taught them all things and with this anointing or unction they were to try the false Spirits though thou scornest at the Quakers because their message is to turn people to the light and though it be true that the light within was sufficient and it is the same and changeth not to all the Fathers which died in the faith to save them from all sin and redeem them out of all tribulation and in which Light they walked with God who is the Fountain and Father of Lights and they were
Apostles and Prophets did proceed from the Light within for there is a Spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him an understanding how to speak and their very end was to turn them to the Light within and they testified God was a Spirit and dwelt in the Light and they that walked in the Light had fellowship with him and his Son Jesus Christ and in which both them and their worship was accepted with the Lord and all the rest worshipped they knew not what as Christ saith Iohn 8.4.24 and what if Christ had said as the Quakers say in thy own words turn to the Commandement within I say and the Spirit of Christ in Solomon saith the same Prov. 6. thy Commandement is Light and what if he had said this is the work of God that ye believe in him who is the Commandement and given for a Commander for a Covenant of Light wouldst thou not have scorned him as thy Brethren the Jews did and as thou dost the Quakers did not David say I believe in thy word and it hath quickned me and did he not say it is a Light to my feet and a lanthorn to my paths and that it kept him from sin and was the way for a young man to have his way cleansed if he took heed thereunto and doth not Paul say this word in which David believed and is the Author and begetter of the true faith in all that hearken to it which faith I know thou art a reprobate concerning though the Title of thy Book is Faith in the promises is the Saints best weapon yet thy self hast another weapon and as for thy hiding place slanders and lyes is thy refuge Rom. 10.8 is not this word nigh in the heart and did not Christ say to the unbelievers who rejected the word and Law which is Light While ye have the Light walk in the Light that you may be Children and hath not this enlightened every one that cometh into the world and doth not Christ say Iohn 8. He that follows me shall not abide in darknesse but shall receive the Light of Life but I say and the Lord hath said it the Life is the Light of man and shineth in the darknesse though such blind guides and sottish Children as thou art comprehend it not Iohn 1. vers 1. to the 10. Thou bidst thy Brethren take the shield of faith and so concludes thy Book The Lord hath said thy faith is false and let thy Brethren be warned least they believe as thou dost but as thou sayest in scorn I say in the integrity of my heart let the simple among thy Brethren or elsewhere turn to the Light within and word which is nigh them in their hearts and if thy own day of visitation be not over do thou hear and fear but consider for the time to come the Jews had thy word the Letter and the unbelievers and Apostates had thy rule guide and leader but were reprobates concerning this faith which was once given to the Saints and came by hearing of the eternal word in their hearts but how canst thou believe on him thou hast not heard but art vexing thy self because the Quakers cry turn to the word within Thou likest such a word and rule well and the Children of thy Father ever did which thou canst wrest and turn as thou dost the Letter to fight against the Life but that which is a more sure word and foundation a tryed stone and a perfect rule from generation to generation of them that seek the Lord this thou canst not endure but it is my Crown and the Ornament of the Righteousnesse in which I rejoyce and tread upon the Serpents head and should I never speak more this I say the eye is open that sees thee and comprehends thy muddy mind thou art weighed in an even ballance the Lord will bruise thee with the stone thou art lifting at and the sword and weapon which thou fightest with shall be a perpetual pain and terrour in thy own bowels And in the 59. page of thy Book thou goest on in a scoffng way to oppose the Light within which is to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and thou brings the Prophets words and John Baptists words and Christ and the Apostles words and Paul and Silas their words that speaks of Repentance and concerning the gifts of the holy Ghost and these thou brings to oppose the Light within Now to all sober people this needs no answer but that thou shouldst not exalt thy self among the ignorant these Queries are sent unto thee Can any repent or have their minds changed but they must have the Light within and be turned to it can any receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but they must be turned to the Light within Is not the gift received within And further thou goes on and sayest Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ And then thou scoffest and sayest The Quakers say turn to the Light within Now can any believe but such who are turned to the Light within which gives the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus as Cor. 24. And do not they that believe come to the Witness in themselves and are past from death to life And is not that Witness within What hast thou Preached all this while that sets such things upon Record that Generations to come may see thy Ignorance This shews that thou art not as the Churches was in the Primative times that canst not endure the annointing within nor light within the annointing within must needs be light and how many of the Baptists Teachers has brought people to the annointing within them that they need no man to teach them but as the same annointing teacheth them And how many have they brought to the Light within which shines in the heart to give the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus And how many have the Baptist Teachers brought to the New Covenant the Law written in their hearts and put in their minds that they need not teach every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him from the least to the greatest How have you Baptists Apostatized from this practice Doctrine who now appear as Antichrist in opposition to it which was in the Apostles dayes who now look upon Christ and see him as the Pharisees did who with the same eye that looks stedfastly upon him runs upon him and rages at him and these are them that stops the pure eye within that denies the Light as the Pharisees did so you are like to see with no other eyes then the Pharisees did who know him no further then the Pharisees did which flesh and blood does not reveal him to be the Son of God and Christ is the substance of all Figures yet to the world he is a sign see if thou canst read that figure and
he is an example and wilt thou look for another Christ then he that dyed at Jerusalem because Humphery Smith sayes He looks for no other are you Baptists angry at this he that looks for another I must tell you it is that Antichrist 1. Query Whether that was not the Light within that the Pharisees stop their ears to and closed their eyes if it was not what was it 2. Are not all eyes stopt and all ears closed till they come to the Light within and all in the ungenerate and impenitent state till they come to the Light within 3. Is not the Light within the eye that beholds God and Christ 4. And can any see God or Christ without the Light within or can they see him with a Natural eye who is a Spirit 5. And is it not the Spiritual eye by which Christ is beheld and is not that within Or is there any fellowship or Vnity amongst any people that is of God but they must c me to the Light within Answer these-Queries all you Baptists who oppose the Light within or else for ever let your mouths be stopt 6. Could any one ever hear God Christ Prophets Apostles or Angels if it was not with the Light within which gave to understand their words 7. Or can any come to the knowledge of the Truth or to Repentance Faith or the Gifts of God or come to Worship God in the Spirit and Truth if they do not come to the Light within 8. Or can any know Christ to be the Son of God and the Saviour and know his Resurrection and his Blood and him to be the offering who remains in the Heavens and restors all things and by what he does restore if it be not by the Light of Christ within 9. And do not the Baptists stick in Bread Water and Wine instead of the substance 10. Is this a time for you to brawl and to jangle and wrangle about outward things could the prodigal fill his belly with the husks Did not he leave the husks when he came to the Fathers house Was not this parable spoken to the Jews who lived in outward things And may not this be spoken to you who live in outward things warnglers and fighters about them in the field and comes not to the Fathers House Did not Cain k ll his brother in the field and is not the field the World Friend in the fourtieth page of thy book thou charges the Quakers to be in a very great error because they say The Eternal Spirit in man is the Saviour of the World and to contradict this thou puts a difference between Christ and the Comforter in this sence I have said there is a difference as in his several Administrations and as he oppeâ—â—ts in one to condemnation and is near in another to justification in this sence there is a difference when he Ministers wrath and his everlasting burnings against the wicked and when he Ministers Peace Joy and everlasting assurance to those that love his Light and have followed it in the way of its Righteous Judgements so I say there is a difference when God who is pure Love pure Peace in himself hath to do and deal with man who is joyned to the Seed of Esau and Cain which is reprobated this was alwayes hated by the Lord and to the froward and perverse Geneâ—â—â—â—on God did alwayes shew himself froward though God changes not neither is he froward though he shew himself so and stands with his Right arm as an Adversarie to the wicked Psal 18.26 With the Pure thou wilt shew thy self Pure with the Merciful thou wilt shew thy self Merciful with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright but with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward vers 25. and so though there be diversities of administrations yet is there but one Lord who is the same and changeth not Thou sayest also The eternal Spirit which dwelt in the Man Christ Jesus which after the Apostles received in them is called another Comforter and that by Christ himself which would not come unto the Apostles unlesse as thou sayest the true Christ went away and so thou wouldst fain prove that the Comforters which afterware dwelt in the Apostles was not the true Christ and for proof her of thou 〈…〉