I known any of us ever set his feet upon the Bible in contempt and abuse of the Scriptures as he saith though it is very true there was one Richard Stokes in the North of England that was then an Anabaptist so called and so yet for ought I know that did in contempt and scorn tread upon the Bible in the presence of many witnesses so it may be J. W. mistakes one of his own friends and thinks he is one of ours for it is not delightful in us to abuse the Scriptures nor are we filled with rage against the Word of God nor do we foam out disdain against the Scriptures these things are utterly false 2. This Testimony we have often given concerning the Scriptures and here again I give it upon this occasion The Scriptures are writings in which are contained many words of God and may be properly called the words of God declared by writing and as they were given forth by the Spirit of God and no whit altered in Translation they are a perfect Testimony of God and his works of Christ and his Salvation and of the Experiences and Testimonies of the Servants and holy men of God and also in the Scripture is contained many words of the Devil and the words of wicked men so that the Scriptures are a true Testimony as they were first given forth of all these things and we believe that the Scriptures were spoken forth by the holy Spirit as the holy men of God were moved thereunto and whatsoever is written ought to be believed and received for Truth and a true relation given by the Spirit of God but the Scriptures cannot properly be called the Word of God for they are words and writings and admits of alteration and change and therefore cannot properly be called the word of God but onely a Declaration of the Word and of that Truth which lives and abides for ever and which must be believed and practised for Salvation and the Scriptures do say that the Word of God was in the beginning but the Scriptures began but to be written by Moses which was many hundred of years since the beginning and therefore the Scriptures cannot be the word of God which was in the beginning Again the Scriptures do say that the Word of God made the world and lives and abides for ever but the Bible the Scriptures did not make the World nor can abide for ever but will passe away as we see daily Books wears away though the Truth therein declared of shall abide for ever and therefore the Scriptures are not the Word of God which must endure for ever and thus we do distinguish and we would have all to do so between the Book the writings which are most properly called Scripture and that Truth Salvation Word of Life and the things declared of in Scriptures the one endures for ever the other not the one is the Word of God the other a Testimony of it and thus we distinguish and yet not denying the Truth and Life and Salvation and Redemption nor the Christ which the Scriptures speaks of but fully acknowledging that they are infinite and everlasting and the Scripture declare of these things but are not the things themselves neither do we deny to ascribe all lawful Dignity and Title and Reverence to the Scriptures but yet we cannot account them what they are not nor give that honour to them which God gives not nor which he appointed them to receive though further we do acknowledge there is no other Gospel nor way of Life and Salvation nor no other Christ for Redemption and Eternal Life nor no other Truth for substance but what is declared of in the Bible which we do account as I have said as it was given forth by the Spirit of God to be a true Testimony of all these things this and such like Testimonies we have often given concerning the Scriptures yet still acknowledged Christ Jesus to be the word of Eternal Life he and no other and yet this confession we make not contrary unto or to oppose but according unto the Scriptures and our Testimonie concerning the Scriptures is so well known both by word and writing for these many years that I need not here say much more in this case onely that the Scriptures all along calls Christ the Word of God and no where that I know of in the Scriptures doth it call it self the Word of God but a Declaration and a Treatise Luke 1. Acts 1. And whereas J. W. saith Is not the Truth exprest in the Scriptures eternal and incorruptible and what lesse then an Almighty hand hath preserved that Book and this is devised deceitful Doctrine to teach all men to hearken to the Light within them thereby to turn away their minds from the Scriptures And he mentions that Scripture the words of the Lord and every word of God are pure and the entrance of thy word gives Light and my words shall not passe away and whosoever shall be ashamed of my words c. page 208 c. Answ. To all this I answer why is J. W. so blind as to bring this in opposition to us as if he confuted us in something we held contrary to this when as it is nothing so for we say the same as these Scriptures testifie that the Truth expressed in the Scriptures is eternal and incorruptible yet the writings which are properly Scriptures will corrupt and change and alter and we do know the hand of God hath been in preserving of that Book to this day and our benefit by the Scriptures are not the least of others as I might instance in divers particulars and we confesse fully to the Truth of all these Scriptures cited by him and there is not any one of them opposite to us in any thing that we hold but why doth he secretly here weave in his slander as if we did direct People to the Light within them thereby to turn their minds from the Doctrine of the Scriptures which is utterly false for we direct People to the Light of the Spirit of God within them not contrary to or to make void the Scriptures to them but according to the Scriptures and that they may come to the fulfilling of them and witnesse the Truth wrought in them whereof they speak and therefore his secret slander is turned out of doors and further he falls out in high tearms that God will punish such severely as do speak against the Scriptures and do disdain and reproach them and that do add to or take from them and against such as do vent their rage against the Scriptures and tread them under their feet as the Adversaries of Christ the Preachers up of the Light within do saith he who are Blasphemers of God and his Truth when they cast the Scriptures on the ground and call the Scriptures lifeless c. page 212. Answer These Threatnings and Judgements do not belong to us as not being guilty of his charge so
these pranks of the Devil were acted as J. W. saith and in the mean time it rests upon him that he hath believed and reported better of the Devil then of the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit in men but it seems an unlike story for the Devil will not destroy his own Kingdom CHAP. IX Concerning Humility and Vnity and the Infalliable testimony NOw I come to his fourth Chapter the sum whereof is that our proofs as he calls them doth not justifie our way and practice which he saith are in number five First Our Humility Secondly Our Vnity Thirdly Our Destroying the Whore Fourthly Our discovering all Secrets Fifthly Our sufferings In these pretended proofs saith J.W. like Goliah in his Armour in which we rejoyce but he saith He shall be enabled to take this Armour from us and destroy us with our own Sword wherein we trust Answer To which I Answer First Generally that I. W. hath here mistaken the matter and stated the case for himself in such a form as his weak wit may easily answer it and so hath as it were made a man of straw to fight with it for he is mistaken we do not trust in our own strength nor in these outward signs and tokens which he hath here laid down for thus more fully I answer we are the people of God of his chosen and elected Seed and our proof that we are such is the infalliable Spirit of God in us that he has given us that bears infallible witness and evidence in us and to us that we are such and this is the witness even the holy Spirit of the Father in which we trust and this witness is sufficient to us to prove us to be the people of God and it is the only evidence in which we trust so that he hath mistaken the matter in saying we trust in our Humility Unity Sufferings thus he hath imagined of us and then goes about to overthrow his own imagination an excellent warriour indeed that can raise false objections to himself and then confute them and think he hath confuted us but I tell him again he hath erred in his proceeding for we do not trust to any proof as infallible saving the proof and testimony of the Spirit of God that he hath given us for by that spirit we know we are of God and they that are of God heareth us and we are now the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be Thus much by way of general answer Now we come to Particulars First As concerning Humility J. W doth absolutely deny we are more humble and free from pride then all others either in the outward bodily habit or more secretly in the Heart for the Romish Fryars saith he who are great Adversaries to the Truth they excel in Humility and they will be justified rather then thee for their Humility and again a Hermit at Icknâ—m near London he saith is so and so humble neglecting of the Body c. Then he seems to condemn us for superfluity that our Trades Dit and Garments are as other mens and the hair of our heads like womens by wch he saith he sees we are not more free from pride then other men and as for pride of Heart he saith It is perceived by our countenance and by our Actions for we neither fear God nor Jesus Christ we fear not the Judgements of God but despises his Promises thou hardens thy self in thy wickedness the holy Commandements and Precepts of Iesus Christ thou contemns them and calls them shells without kernels empty carnal lifeless and thus we esteem the Promises of Life and Immortality and reject the Promise of the Resurrection c. and we do not receive man he saith for we do not acknowledge any Superiour thou wilt not put off thy Hat nor bow thy body to any man and neglectest Faith and Gospel Obedience and thy heart is too high to stoop to anything whereby it should manifest Humility of spirit Faith and Obedience by which it is manifest thou art not more humble but more proude then others page 175. to 180. Answer First Here is a whole pack of lyes and falshoods reproaches and slanders heaped up together reproachfully cast upon us for we glory not in any thing we are saving in the Lord that has made us what we are we boast not in our Humility but that God hath wrought it in our hearts in measure and it is in us a fruit of his Spirit this we dare not deny least we should deny the Work that God hath wrought and as for the Romish Fryars and Hermites of which he speaks that are so and so self-denying we make them no example to us nor are we of that spirit by which they are guided in their feigned practices of Humility though he compares us together but yet their practises of feigned self-denyal may shame you Baptists so called who professes your selves to be the onely Church of Christ and yet in dayes past have been so proud and high that you thought you had never places great enough in the Nation but exalted your horn so high that few but such as were of your Fraternity were counted by you worthy of any place or office such was your pride in those dayes and arogancy till it was time for the Lord to bring you down both in Habit and otherwise that the very feigned Fryars by their example might shame you who never came so far in truth of self-denyal as Hypocrites have done in feignedness and as for our Trading Diet and Garments of which J. W. speaks they are according to Godliness and Truth and Righteousness and according to example of the Holy men of God before us and so is our hair at which he stumbles as if he would fall and sayes we are like Locusts by it that comes out of the Pit when as there is neither Command nor Example in Scriptures how oft nor of what length any should cut their hair but rather no example at all for cutting it then otherwise and was Sampson and Christ and Samuel and many others of the Servants of God like Locusts of the bottomless Pit that wore long hair How hast thou unjust Judge and Hypocrite Judged the Servants of God in thy haste and ignorance by judging of us in the like case that they were guilty of 2. And as for the pride of our hearts with which we are so deeply charged by J. W. we will rather lie under his false charge with patience then give any occasion of suspition that we justifie our selves but yet I cannot but charge him in this place with a foul high slander for we fear God and Iesus and regards his Commandments and despises not his promises nor hardens our selves in wickedness nor doth not contemn the Precepts of Iesus Christ nor the pretious promises of Imortality and the Resurrection these are all absolute falshoods and were not J. W. a person altogether impudent
said Book occasionally coming to my hand by a Friend of mine in the fourth month last as I remember and I looked into the Book and read some part of it over and did fully observe the current of the matter conteined in it and the drift and intent of the Spirit of the Author and in my Meditations upon the same I found his work composed and made up of such kind of ingredients as these following First Ignorance Secondly Malice Thirdly Lyes and Slanders Fourthly Contradictions And fifthly Downright opposition to the Truth I say a certain composition I found in his Book made up of all these mixtures which he had published to the world 1 His Ignorance was apparent to me in asmuch as he had in some things mistaken and placed such and such things upon Account against us ignorantly and then seemed to confute them and give his Judgment against us thereupon and this meerly upon mistake through Ignorance fasly supposing we held such a thing which indeed we held not and so flying out against us in Judgment upon his ignorance and mistakes 2 His Malice was apparent in asmuch as he had slandered us and belied us without good Ground and Cause at all having perverted our words and meaning in many things and placed things against us deeply charging of us without any sound Reason at all rendred by him but meerly as to me doth appear upon his own malice and hatred purposely to render us odious to the World and to our enemies which must needs be out of malice and emnity and not out of love and Gentleness to inform us better and convert us if wee had been in error But I found him to be so far from that Spirit of love and good will towards us that he hath taken every occasion he could and also made occasions falsly to traduce us and to reproach us in the sight of our Enemies as it were on purpose to enrage the Spirit of the ungodly world to destroy us 3 His lyes and slanders were apparent in such an abundant manner throughout his Book that every page almost had some contained even as great reproaches and accusations as well could be as if we were Hereticks deniers of Christ having familiar Spirits Witches and what not Such kind of lyes and slanders as these I found a very great number in his Book it is true I have not accounted them in particular but made a guesse at the whole sum which I suppose may be above 200 of Lyes Slanders Callumnies falsereproaches Back-bitings Bitter words and such like 4 His Contradictions were apparent throughout his book in divers particulars sometimes saying thus and so and sometimes quite contrary sometimes accusing us of one occasion and some time accusing us of a contrary And thus his contradictions were made manifest as in our Answer is at large discovered as the Reader may observe 5 His down-right opposition to the Truth was apparent in as much as throughout his book he hath opposed the very Truth of the Gospel as particularly the Light of Christ which every man in the World is enlightned withall and concerning Quaking and Trembling and concerning the anointing and the sufficiency of its Teaching and concerning destroying the Whore the Word of God and Scriptures all these things cum multis aliis c. he hath opposed and gainsayed directly or indirectly and thus as is made manifest in this following Answer his whole work is compounded of such mixtures and ingredients as aforesaid as every impartial man may judge Well upon my further Considerations of his Book I found he had subtilly directed the current of his matter so as it might be taken notice of to be an eminent Work as he thought and yet not so to be taken notice of as if he had directed it immediatly is opposition to us called Quakers for I found not that name once mentioned in all his Book and yet implicitely he had directed it to us for his intent was I discovered to be against us by that word so often scornfully rehearsed To the Preachers of and to the Light within all men c. And by divers other things I found that his Book was intendedly against us and also that his said Book well deserved an Answer from us that the malicious intent thereof might be diverted though many other Considerations presented themselves in my mind at my first looking into his work as 1. The unreasonablenesse of the time of its bringing forth and publication to the world thought I is this a time and fit season for us and them to fall into contention one with another and to oppose each other to the end to discourage and dishearten each other in the sight of our publique Enemies who stands ready themselves to devour us both and by all means seeks occasions against us and to ruine us both if it were possible who doth account us as two parties of their greatest adversaries and are persecuting and imprisoning of us as one in opposition to them and would be glad to see us destroyed and it being thus with both us and the Baptists so called thought I again how unseasonable this mans work is at this day to fall to reproach us and traduce us in the fight of our Enemies thus opposing of us with tooth and nail giving thereby occasion both to his and our enemies to mock at us and laugh us to scorn rejoycing to see us whom they count their Enemies falling together by the ears and as it were tearing one another this I knew would be a great occasion to them against us both in such a season as this when as it would have been more meet to have encouraged one another and strengthned one another in the way of Truth and Righteousnesse and to have been helpfull to one another in our afflictions and sufferings espâ—cially in the things wherein we do agree against the common open prophanenesse and idolatry and persecution which abounds at this day in the world that we might have been a rejoycing one to another as Brethren in Truth seeing we are both a suffering People at this day and accounted Brethren by our Enemies rather then a cause of affliction and grief and greater tribulation one to another as this same J. W. had endeavoured in his Book to be the occasion of this and such like was my considerations upon which I concluded the unseasonablenesse of the time of publication of his Book and the folly and weaknesse of its Publisher 2. I considered the errour and ignorance of the man in respect of the subject of his matter as stated by him and prosecuted which is this against and in opposition to the Light within many times rehearsed oppositely and scornfully to the Preachers of and to the Lâ—ght within all men making this the subject matter of his opposition as if it were the greatest heresie that could be that any should preach up a Light within and this I found he had set himself to
charges against us hath he dealt deceitfully like him who is the Father of lyes and lyars who when he speaketh a lye he speaketh of himself and not as a rational man and in very many things he hath absolutely wronged our Principles and Practises and charged as apparent falshoods upon us as ever was as hereafter is made manifest to the shame of him that was the Authour of the said lying Book called A Testimony for the Son of man c. and the shame of all such false Spirits as own him in his work We see that God hath appeared in Judgement against you and your way and a line of confusion is come over you since that so many of you especially of your Leaders have set themselves in their envy and malice against us who are in the Power of Truth what do you think that spreading your railing and false Books against us will gain you favour from the prophane world and be any means to rescue you from persecution or suffering under the powers of the earth Do you think to save your selves by reviling the Innocent as some of the Leaders in your way have gotten themselves out of Prison by swearing contrary to Christs Doctrine after they have been imprisoned for denying to swear when so many of our friends were in prisons for refusing to swear for Conscience sake to Christ And not onely so but several of them who have long been reputed eminent in your way have like Men-pleasers written to vindicate swearing and oaths as treacherous men both to God to their own Consciences and to his Innocent and Conscientious people such as you have reviled and bespattered with reproaches in the Book here answered who would be loath to be so treacherous to God and their own Consciences as many in your way have been whatever we suffer either from you or from the persecuters in the same envious spirit which is among you And yet this know that we had not publisht this against any of you had we not had that great occasion given us by this piece of wicked work which Joseph Wright your Defender hath brought forth wherein we who preach the Light of Christ within are not onely slandered and bespattered with his lyes and calumnies as men but also the Truth of God which we are in and suffer for is blasphemed belyed and perverted even in the sight of our enemies in vindication whereof we were necessitated to give this forth and to deal thus plainly with your Principles which are published by your pretended Defender otherwise we could have been silent as from medling with you in this kind for it is no pleasure to us to bestow so much labour upon such a heap of confusion and absurdities as I. VV. his work is nor to upbraid you with your confusion and weaknesse in what you professe especially since you are as in a suffering state and like to suffer as we are if you be true to your Principles and conscientious towards God in what you know or professe but you may see the urgent occasion given against us and the Truth for what we do in this thing And though I.VV. does not name the word Quakers by name yet it is all one as if he had done it whilst he so often in general words upbraids such as preach the Light within for we called Quakers are known to be the people he all along so peevishly smites against seeing that we are known so generally to own and preach the Light within as the Saints of old did and in that Light of Christ in us we see Light and therein are as a City set upon a Hill which cannot be hid and are in that Truth and Life which will out-live our opposers and persecuters and do know that power manifest in us which out-shines all the dead and empty forms professions and traditions of all who are out of the life and power of godlinesse and in that hath the Lord given us strength and the spirit of understanding to see beyond and to stand over our opposers and the envy and subtilty of the Serpent in such as rise up in Judgment against us Glory to our God for ever and ever And now we come to some of the heads of Joseph Wrights matter in charge against such as preach the Law and Light within CHAP. I. Concerning the Light within and Christs coming in the flesh and dying for all men J.W. his first charge is in these words viz. The first thing I lay to thy charge whosoever thou art that preachest up the Light within men requiring all People to mind the light which is within them is this That thou dost deny that Christ which dyed at Jerusalem and denyest Jesus Christ come in the flesh and thy spirit is the spirit of Antichrist c. And the first proof for his charge is in these words viz. 1. Because in all thy preaching teaching and declaring thou never makes mention of Christs dying for the sins of the world nor that he tasted death for every man thou art altogether silent in this Doctrine of Christs dying for man in the body of his flesh c. And his second proof is in these words viz. 2. Because as is thy word of mouth even so is thy writings for amongst them all and in them all there is not one line which teacheth that Christ did dye for the sins of the world and freely laid down his life as a ransome for sinners c. Answer As his charge is universal against all that preach up the light within it is both false and slanderous as also all his proofs for it so that he might as well have said that the light of Christ in all men and the Doctrine of Christ which directs to it doth deny Christ and his coming in the flesh when as on the contrary all who truly own and believe in the light of Christ-in them by it they come to be led to the knowledge of Christ from whence it comes and to the power of his death and the vertue of his life which none can truly know but as they are led by the light of Christ within which giveth the Knowledge of the Glory of God and of those things that are freely given to us of God and Christ said believe in the 〈…〉 t that you may be children of the light John 12.36 Did Christ herein deny himself or his coming in the flesh as falsly J. VV. accuseth all that preach the light within and in that we are included in his proofs as never mentioning Christs tasting death for every man either in our Preaching or writings in this he hath notoriously belyed us as thousands may witness against him who have heard us both Preach up and contend for the free Grace of God to all men and thereby that Christ tasted death for every man and dyed for all men and gave him self a ransom for all to be testified of in due time Heb. 2.9 1 Tim. 2.6
vindicate the same operation in this day as that same Power is manifest amongst People And it is the Power of the Lord not the spirit of witchcraft or uncleannesse as J. W. blasphemously affirms but we know that thousands in these our dayes have been pierced to the heart by the word of the Lord and have been smitten in their Consciences and been made to cry out and roar and tremble through the disquietnesse of their hearts and have been brought as low as Hell even to the sides of the Pit and to know their bones broken as David did and they have lain disconsolate for many dayes and yet the Lord hath after this raised them up into peace and joy and comfort and blotted out their transgressions and washed them away by the bloud of Iesus and hath restored comfort for mourning and the spirit of praise for the spirit of heavinesse according to his promises so that were not J. W. a man more ignorant and malitious then a man of Knowledge and good Conscience he would never presume to have vented such malicious and rayling tearms against us for and because of the self same operation of the Power of God amongst us as is so largely demonstrated by examples throughout the Scriptures so that he hath not onely reviled us at this day but also the Saints of God in former ages so declaring himself to the world to be ignorant of the Scriptures and of the Power of God to Salvation and a Blasphemer against both And his Reason to prove it an unclean Spirit that leads them to tremble is because some have stripped off their Cloaths and gone naked for a sign c. To which we Answer By the same reason he might as well have said that was an unclean spirit that led Isaiah the Prophet to put off his shooes and walk naked and bare-foot as a sign and wonder upon Aegypt when as it was the Spirit of God that moved him to that work Isa. 20. and Saul also when he went to Naioth and the Spirit of God was upon him and prophesied and he stript off his Cloathes and lay down naked all the day and all that night wherefore it was said is Saul also among the Prophets 1 Sam. 19.23 24. And thus J. W. may see the errour of his own judgement who hath condemned that Spirit to be unclean which led Isaiah and Saul to go naked by his censuring such now as are led by the same Spirit but against his reproachful tongue we do vindicate such a thing in it self and that the Spirit of the Lord is not limitted but may lead some at this day to the same thing though if any do such a thing in imitation and deceit we justifie them not CHAP. VII Concerning the sufficiency of the Light and the annointing within to teach all that do believe AGain the next thing observeable that we can digg out of his heap of Confusion is he chargeth us with dissimulation that we never intended that every man should be guided by the Light in them though we Preach it up and direct every man to it as a guide his Reasons for it are First Because we intend to communicate a Teacher from without Secondly Because we declare to men and women that if they will but wait in silence they shall receive virtue and Life from us though they never see us more by which it appears saith he that we intend to give a spirit to such as adhere to our Doctrine Thirdly Because when we take hold of the hands of men and women yea when we have taken hold of the wrists of some they have been taken with a trembling c. Fourthly Because we are constantly visiting them that are inclining to our Principles c. Fifthly Because we run up and down to spread our Doctrine and by our Printing such a multitude of Books to Teach men in our way we cry down Preaching saith he and that we lay aside Gods Word and set up our own word and that Gods Holy Scriptures we reject and our own unholy Writings we exalt c. Sixthly Because the Light which is in every man doth not lead us and our followers to do those things we do c. page 158 159 160 161 162 163. Answer To all these we Answer That we do turn people to the Light of the Spirit of God within them and Preach the free Gift and Grace of God that he hath given to the Sons of men in order to their Salvation and we acknowledge notwithstanding all J. W. his Scornful and Ignorant Railings against us for Preaching the light within that we are sent of God and t is our Message that we have received to Preach to all the World and that we are sent to turn from the darkness to the Light as the Apostle Paul Acts 26.18 and this Light to which he turned them was not a visible Carnal Light without them but an Invisible and Spiritual Light that shone in their Consciences and to this Light Paul was sent to turn them even to the light that shined in their Hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 The light shined in their Hearts that gave them the light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ and the light of the new Covenant is the Light of the Spirit of God that shines in mens Consciences for God hath said I 'le put my Spirit within them and write my Law in their Hearts so that whosoever doth Preach the new Covenant must Preach the light within but of this about Preaching the light within more in another place therefore here we pass it and shall examine his fix feeble Reasons by which he would prove that we dissemble with people in Prracâ—ing the light within and we never intend what we say which is a notorious slander that shews J. VV. hath neither wit nor good Conscience for might not he as well have brought all these his Reasons against the Apostles who Preached the same Doctrine of the light within as we do now for when Saint John said to the Church ye have anointing within you and ye need not man to Teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you 1 John 2. might not J. W. as well have said to him John thou dost not mean as thou speakest but dissemblest with them for thou sayest they have annointing or light within them and they need no man to teach them but as that doth teach them and yet thou thy self art a Teacher without them and thou givest exhortations to them by Declarations and Epistles and tellest them if they abide in the anointing that they have received and in Christ they shall not sin and though the Saints in former Ages were thus taught by the anointing within them yet they did constantly visit one another and prayed one for another as the annoting led them but hadst thou J. W. lived in their dayes thou mightest have said John thou dost plainly declare that the anointing in the
let the judgement be to himself for we are not guilty but he guilty of wickedness in charging us so falsly like as if he had given up himself to rail and accuse the innocent for be it known to J. W. we esteem as well and truly of the Scriptures as he doth And thus I count it a sufficient answer to deny his false Charges and to turn back his own sentence to him again God will punish him severely for his wickedness CHAP. XII Concerning the Infallible Teacher and that it is the Spirit of God and not the Scriptures NOw I shall proceed to J. W. his Proofs That the Scriptures are an Infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation c. To which I Answer this is a false assertion for first the Scriptures as he hath confessed are subject to change and alteration and that which is so is not infallible for that onely is infallible which admits of no change nor alteration but such are not the Scriptures the writings and therefore not infallible though it is alwayes acknowledged the Truth and Way of Salvation declared in the Scriptures are Infallible Secondly This assertion seems absolutely to deny the Spirit of God and its Teachings which is given in the new Covenant unto all that believe for God hath promised I will put my Spirit within them and pour it upon them and they shall need no man to teach them but as that spirit teacheth them And the spirit was promised by Christ that it should be given to lead into all Truth and be the Everlasting Comforter and it is the spirit that quickeneth and gives Life and Sanctifies and Teaches to do the Will of God all this the Scriptures testifie and not as if the Scriptures were the Teacher the Comforter the Leader but the Scriptures say the spirit doth all this but J. W. has accounted the Scriptures to do all and accounts not of the Spirit to do any thing for he hath hardly mentioned it in this case and thus his folly and weakness hath appeared in giving the Scriptures Authority above the spirit and as it were dis-throning the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and exalting the Scriptures in its place but we say that its the spirit that works all things in order to mans Salvation God works in us to will and to do all good things by his spirit that he hath given us according to the Scripture and not contrary to it for the spirit is Infallible which gave forth the Scriptures but the Scripture is changeable in translation and interpretation as we see by experience and therefore not infallible And though J. W. say First The Scriptures do make mention of all Works of Righteousness which ought to be observed by the sons of men Secondly And the Scriptures do most severely forbid all works of wickedness which ought not to be done Thirdly And the Scriptures declare of the Promise of Peace and Happiness which ought to be imbraced Fourthly And the Scriptures speaks of the punishment which God would inflict upon sinners Those are four of his Reasons page 216. by whith he would prove the Scriptures to be the Infallible Teacher of Salvation Answer Though it be true that the Scriptures do declare of every work of Righteousness which ought to be done and of works of unrighteousness which ought not to be done and of the Promises of God which ought to be embraced yet it is the spirit of God that teaches men to perform and observe that Righteousness which ought to be done and to deny that wickedness which ought not to be done and to receive the Promises of God though I say the Scriptures declares of these things yet it is the spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures that teacheth and leadeth into these things that the Scriptures speak of and it is that spirit that is the infallible Teacher and the Scriptures are onely a declaration of the things which the spirit is infallibly to teach and as for thy fourth Reason though generally the punishment of sinners is declared in Scriptures yet it were an easie thing to mention particular punishments for particular people upon particular occasions which the Scriptures do not make mention of for I am of that mind that some of his Fraternity are at this day under a punishment for their sin which the Scripture makes no particular mention of and if he scruple it in his next return J. W. shall have particular instance in our next reply so that this reason is partly true and partly false also Deut. 28.61 t is signified that there are Plagues and punishments for sinners which are not mentioned in the Book of the Law and as for thy 5 6 7 and 8 Reasons to prove the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher all of them are much like the former and the same answer in kind may be said as thus we acknowledge the Scriptures declares sufficiently for Truth and Righteousness and against deceit and unrighteousness and of the Promises of God and threatnings for sin c. Yet still this proves not the Scriptures in themselves infallable to teach infallibly but as I have said it is onely the Spirit of God that is the infallable Teacher into all that Truth which the Scriptures declares of and by the spirit men receives power to be the Sons of God and to do his Will and not by the Scriptures and thus we give the Spirit of God its prerogative and priviledge and the Scriptures also what belongs to them but we dare not give that dignity to the Scriptures which belongs to the Spirit of God thereby abridging the Spirit of God of what belongs to it and setting up the scriptures in opposition to it as J. W. hath clearly done for want of knowledge and understanding in the Mysteries of God Again he saith The Scriptures are very far in Authority and clearness before any spirit or light in any mortal man in the world page 218. Whereby he hath clearly given more dignity and authority to the Scriptures then he hath to the Spirit of God and so hath set up the Scriptures above the Spirit which is direct errour if not Blasphemy that he should say any thing is far greater in Authority and clearness then the Spirit of God which dwells in mortal man even in his Saints and thus the result of J. W. his Reasons and Arguments about Scriptures is a clear denyal of the Spirit of God and setting the Scriptures above it furthermore he saith VVhatsoever doth make manifest is Light the Scriptures doth make manifest the Mystery of Salvation therefore the Scriptures is Light Again he saith That the Scriptures are the more sure word of Prophecy which Peter speaks of which was as a Light which shined in a dark place the Commandements of the Lord is Pure and the VVord is a Lamp unto the Feet Then he speaks of the powerful Operation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures upon the Hearts of such as believe
which doth convince and convert and turn from darknesse to Light and how can their Doctrine be from the same inspiration which is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures page 219 220. 222. Answer Here Joseph Wright hath jumbled some illiterate Logick which may be proved false as thus the Scriptures its true doth declare of the things that ought to be done and believed and the things that ought not to be done as to the general part of things Yet there are many particular Actions and things which the Scriptures do not make manifest and we would have J. W. to leave a little room and work for the Spirit of God and not thus utterly to reject it for the scripture saith it is the Spirit that reveals the Things of God and the Mystery of Salvation and not the scriptures viz. the writings and that sure word of Prophesie which Peter speaks of that was as a Light shining a dark place was something more sure then the very words which Christ spoke with his mouth to them which were written by Matthew and the light which shone as in a dark place to which they were to take heed was more sure to them then Christs words which were written and were scriptures and thus J. W. may see his mistake and perverting of scriptures if he will be but sober and reasonable and that the Commandement of the Lord is Pure and the word is a Lamp we do not deny but gives as full witnesse of as J. W. can do and therefore he needs not cite these scriptures to oppose us for it s thy malitious Spirit that opposeth us not the scriptures for we acknowledge to the truth of these scriptures by the Spirit which gave them forth which is greater then the scriptures and as for the powerful operation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures it is not of themselves that they do operate in any but it is by the Spirit that gave them forth which worketh in the Hearts of Believers to comfort and refresh with the Love of God and it is the spirit according to the scriptures that doth convince and convert and not the scriptures without the Spirit as J. W. would say and it was the Gospel that Paul Preached that turned them from darkness to Light and not the writings which say that the Gospel is the Power of God and not the writings and it is meer ignorance in J. W. to intimate that our Doctrine is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures this I shall account amongst thy slanders and it is not the least of them And whereas thou flyest out high in high words against us That we must consider and leave our inventions else sin will lye at our doors and our bloods will be upon our heads c. and there is no less then four lies in thy last page but these words are to thy self and not unto us for we are not the persons concerned we follow not vain inventions but we are saved out of our blood through Jesus Christ and for J. W. now to exhort us to repentance when as in page 47. he hath given absolute judgement on us without limitation That the mist of Darkness is reserved for ever for us This is a direct contradiction which shews what spirit he has been guided by in all his work And thus we have searched and examined J. W's whole work from the beginning to the end and given an answer to the material parts thereof saving that we have not mentioned many lies and slanders which we have passed over and do reserve them till we come face to face otherwise till our next reply and what we have written we must commit to the judgement of the Spirit of God in all sober persons who may for their own edification compare his work and ours together and truly weigh each of them in the ballance of equity and to the spirit of found judgement and to the Fear of the Lord all are committed and commended in the reading and considering and judging of these things Last of all for a final Conclusion for present if it be supposed by J. W. that this is not a sufficient Answer to his Book I do propound unto him this further in order to the satisfaction of any sober persons if any be doubtfull in this case That first both of us may agree to appoint a convenient time and place for a meeting to dispute it out face to face that which yet remains in controversie between us 2. This being done that all his Friends and ours that are doubtfull or desirous of such a thing may have knowledge of it 3. That in such meeting no foul reflections nor impertinences nor bitternesse of Spirit be allowed on either part but discretion and moderation 4. I shall first take in hand to prove a very great number of Lyes contradictions and falshoods in his Book 5. Then I shall hear his Defence for himself and his Objections against any thing in ours and answer them and after this manner shall be our proceedings if we do meet It s true times and seasons are unsuitable for such a meeting and work yet rather then any Detriment should fall upon the Truth or the cause of preaching the Light within be endangered to harm I am willing to hazard the greatest adventure hoping we may do such a thing if necessity require in that Wisdom and Prudence as may not offend any This I shall leave as my farewell to my Antagonist at this time and thus seal up the whole sum E. B. THE END ERRATA IN the 6. page of the Preface line 5. for contra read contrary in the 7â— page of the Preface line 27. for this work read his work in the 2. page of the book line 9. read we vindicate l. 14. read and his pleading against free-grace to all confuted p. 3. l. 29. for own while r. one while p. 6. l. 31. for strife r. self p. 17. l. 29. for arising which r. arising with p. 27. l. 9. for then r. their p. 31. l. 13. r Ignorant of it p. 48. l. 22. for receive r. reverence p. 50. l. 11. r. tell Lyes * Witnesse Jer. Ives who openly swore to get himself out of prison after he had written against swearing for which some of them called Quakers openly witnessed against him also divers others of the Baptists did swear for fear of suffering as also the said Jer. Ives and John Tombs and Hen Den who have long been Teachers did divulge their deceitful stuff in their books for swearing as those that sought to betray the simplicity of God in others of their brethren who were more conscientious then themselves who could not with a safe Conscience swear though some through the deceit of their Teachers were diverted from the Truth in their own consciences
a good Conscience been made to trample upon and discover our enemies works which have so often been brought to nought this might have hindered this untimely and monstrous birth of J. VV's from coming abroad which though he hath been a long time a bringing it forth it must be turned back into the pit of Darkness and belly of Confusion where it was conceived though it appears he was so conceited in his work and impudency and pride was so high in him that he thought to prevail more then the rest of his Predecessors who were of the Dragons Army that have opposed the Truth before him and that his work would have been more effectual then any besides that hath been brought forth against us but herein is he and all that believe him and his work deceived for both the weakness confusion and falshood of his matter is easie to see by any unprejudiced persons who have but common sence and reason for he hath not onely openly and falsly reviled us whom the Lord hath delivered out of darkness into his Light and Life made manifest in us but also he hath set himself to oppose and revile the Light of Christ in all men and hath done what in him lies to keep all people at a distance from Christ who is the true Light as one not willing that Christ should have any room to dwell either in his people or in any upon earth for this Jos. Wright who saith he hath been appointed by many of you for a defence c. in his Epistle to you whom he calls the beloved flock of Jesus Christ he writes To all them that call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father in the Heavens out of every man on earth he saith and to such wisheth blessings riches of grace c. wherein you that own this J. W. as a defence of Truth may note first how absolutely he hath set himself against Christ and the Truth who herein hath gone about to limit or divide the Holy One from his People and members as also further appears in his following matter and whose Doctrine tends to keep all out of the Faith of the true Church and so in the reprobate state contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates so that he that knows not that Jesus Christ in him is out of the Faith and so a reprobate and much more he that preaches to keep all from knowing Jesus Christ in them while on earth 2. And in that J. W. hath accounted Christ as he is at the right hand of God the Father not to be in any man but out of every man upon earth he hath gone about to separate the Saints from the right hand of God and so hath discovered himself both ignorant of Christ and of the Fathers right hand and of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Saints for they that are come to Christ and to know him in them they are come to the Fathers right hand and being Christs sheep none shall pluck them out of his Fathers hands 3. Also about this thing hath J. W. confuted himself for he hath acknowledged that blessings glory and praises are to be ascribed unto the onely wise God throughout all ages in the Churches by his onely Son Jesus Christ which plainly implies that then Jesus Christ must be in the Churches or how should praises be given by him in the Churches to the onely wise God or how should any glorifie or praise the onely wise God by Jesus Christ unlesse he be in them Also after this J. W. hath thus told people of Jesus Christ being out of every man on earth he hath set himself to oppose the light of Christ in all men who is the true light that enlightens every man that cometh into the World For in his Epistle he tells of giving you a discription of one viz. errour and delusion that is most dangerous and that which he hath chiefly written against is Preaching the Law Light within and also accounts it a sad Principle of the Spirit of Antichrist which now he saith runns about preaching up the Law or Light within as also he accounts this Doctrine Gross Darkness and so warns you against it As also he saith There hath risen up a most pernitious stratagem of Satan whereby to delude the Children of God and men it is a Teaching up the Light within all men and he calls them that are in unity with that Principle the Messengers of Antichrist and that a Doctrine of Antichrist and a device of Satan and chargeth us with detestable blasphemies about it c. So that this Jospeh VVright hath not onely shewed himself against Christs being in his People but also he hath sought to keep men from his Light in them as one that would shut up the Kingdom of God against men that they might not enter into it and so he hath uttered forth his Rage and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ and his Law in men who is come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have eternal life whose Law and Light it is that we Preach and Christ told the Pharisees That the Kingdom of God was within them Luke 17. Though they were wicked men and sought to shut up the Kingdome of God against others as this J. VV. hath done in his foaming out his own shame and uttering his rage and folly against the Light within so that he might as well have reviled Christ and said that he Preached up a delusion and a most pernitious stratagem of Satan and a device of Satan as so charge us for Preaching those things that are agreeable to the Doctrine of Christ And yet note that notwithstanding all this mans raging against this Doctrine of the light within all men and his reviling it as delusion and a most pernitious stratagem of Satan and gross darknesse he hath in page 165 distinguished the Light which is in us and all men from the spirit of darkness as accusing our speaking to be not from the Light within all men nor from the light within our selves but from the spirit of Darkness c. Which though he hath falsly accused our speaking yet he hath hereby truly Implyed that there is a light in us and all men that is opposite or contra-to the spirit of Darkness and thus he bewrayes his own confusion and folly about the Light of Christ in all men one while to rail so bitterly against it and the Doctrine of it as the most pernicious delusion stratagem of Satan and gross darkness another while so intimately to grant to a light within all men which leads to speak truth as opposite to the spirit of Darkness As also in page 16 20.28 29.41 This Joseph Wright saith
That the Light within is no other then the work of the Law written in the hearts of the Gentiles Rom. 2.14 15. And then he saith It is evident that these Preachers are Preachers of the Law not of the Gospel c. See what gross darkness and confusion this man is in who cannot distinguish between the Law of God within and the work of it counting the Law or light within the work of the Law like as if he had said that the Law of God within is the work of the Law within when as the work of the Law is that which is effected by the Law as distinct from the Law it self as much as a conviction or convincement is distinct from that which convinceth and we in owning the Law of God and its work within do not deny the Gospel nor Christ as we are accused no more then the Apostle did when he went not about to make void the Law but to establish it as it was to be obeyed and fulfilled in the Faith of Christ in whose hand is the Righteous Law that manifests sin and witnesseth against it and this was the Covenant that God promised to put his Laws in the mind and write them in the hearts Heb. â— And said the Apostle Rom. 2.13 14. For not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers shall be justified and this he brings as his reason For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law unto themselves which shew the work of the law written in their hearts c. Herein he does not go about to destroy the Light or Law or the work of it within nor to render it a delusion nor a sad Principle of Antichrist nor a most pernitious stratagem of Satan as J. W. hath done but owns and vindicates it and those that through Faith attained unto its righteousness which the Jews by works out of the Faith did not So let any Rational or Indifferent man Judge whether this J. VV. hath not in effect accused the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Jeremiah and others with Preaching up a most dangerous delusion a sad Principle of Antichrist gross Darkness and a most pernitious stratagem of Satan c. seeing that he hath thus reviled the Law and light within and the work of it in the heart mentioned in Rom. 2 15. under these tearms and thus hath he manifested the Malice and Rancor of his Imbittered Spirit against the light and Law of Christ and work of it in the Hearts and so hath shewed himself an enemy to the Covenant of God which was to Jews and Gentiles Isa. 42.6 Jer. 31. and so instead of giving a testimony against the Son of Perdition he hath absolutely appeared in his work and after his so much Blasphemy against the light in all men and our Preaching of it up he is made to confess to the light in us and all men as a differing thing from the spirit of Darkness as in page 165. It should seem that when he writ that he had forgotten his former revilings against the light in all men Thus you who are called Anabaptists may see the Bruitishnesse and Confusion of this unworthy man who hath been appointed by many of you for a defence as he saith and what credit or profit will this work be unto you though he set up himself as a Teacher of the Churches of Christ and in the same Epistle that he writes to those he calls the Beloved Flock of Christ that are in the Faith and Fellowship of him according to his Glorious Gospel when he has bidden them beware of hearkening to Preachers up of the light He saith But if you shall not be warned I have as to this done my duty your blood will lie upon your own heads So you may here see what a Teacher of the beloved Flock of Christ that are in the Faith and Fellowship of him this Joseph Wright is to lay the same words upon them that concerned the Jews that blasphemed and opposed themselves against the Truth when Paul spoke to them Acts 18.6 As if the beloved Flock of Christ that are in the faith had not yet taken warning but might be guilty of their own blood as Joseph Wrights words do imply and yet this Flock is both in the Fellowship and Faith of Christ was there ever such absurdity and confusion as this And further you may take notice how that after Joseph Wright hath so much reviled and blasphemed the light within he hath willingly manifested himself an open enemy to the light and the Doctrine of it where in his Epistle to the Reader he hath laid down these words viz. Although we have both preached and printed against this device of Satan and have born witnesse very much against this delusion yet so simple are some both People and Teachers as to rank us with them as co-partners and such as are espoused to that Doctrine which teacheth up the law or light within all men c. but the Lord knows it and so shall you one day if you shall not believe it now that to entertain such a Doctrine would be to commit a Rape not onely upon our very consciences but also upon our meanest principles and it is no small grief to us to bear the least tittle of their Inventions neither do we preach or practize any thing at all as from them c. These are Joseph Wrights very words wherein you may see what presumption and Impudency hath appeared in him against the law light and such as preach it as one that is vexed and grieved that ever any should repute him as a co-partner with such as preach and own the the Law or Light within and so like a Hypocrite and man-pleaser he hath appeared as one that would get in favour with those that are enemies to the Law and light within by his exclaiming against it and them that own it though in page 165. he hath implicitely confessed to the light within all men as contrary to the spirit of Darkness and thus all may see this mans wickedness and confusion And you who have owned him as your Teacher or a defence of your way may be ashamed of him and it is a shame and disgrace to your profession that ever such dirty stuff and absurdities should proceed from amongst you as this J. VV. who hath been so much set up amongst you hath uttered forth against the Truth and them that live in it who though he pretends to lay down our own Principles who Preach and own the light within as if they were sufficiently known to be ours both by our words of mouth and Books yet many things hath he charged against us as ours both as to Principles and matters of fact which he neither mentions the Authors of nor the Books of ours by which they were asserted and thus in the greatest part of his accusations and