believers being conformed to the Image of the Son of God that he might be the first-born among many Brethren as in Rom. 8.29 which thou puttest afar off as to be attained but at the Resurrection of their bodies from the graves which thou tells of and then thou blindly sayest Christ will give himself unto it viz. unto his Church and make it like glorious with his own glorified humane nature and then the Church shall resemble her head c. Herein hast thou perverted both that Scripture of Rom. 8.29 30. and that of Eph. 5.25 26.27 for the Apostle does not put that cleansed and glorious state of the Church wherein they were made conformable to the Image of Christ afar off till after death as thou hast done for the Saints were come unto the Church of the first-born and knew Christ born in them as he is the first-born in many Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who he justified them also he glorified Rom. 8.30 and Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and present it to himself not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. Now doth not the Church resemble her head when she is brought into that state of purity for which Christ gave himself which refers to the time past it s not said there that he will give himself as in the future Tense so to cleanse his Church at the Resurrection of the bodies out of the graves as thy words imply who also to prove that the Believers partaking of the Divine Nature in this Life is but in part bringest Rom. 7.25 With my mind I serve the Law of God but with my flesh the Law of sin wherein thou hast implyed that the Apostle was not freed from serving the Law of sin while he was in this Life what a sad life wouldst thou make Paul to live and so like the deceivers and blind guides hast put freedom from sin afar off till after death that the bodies shall be raised out of the graves and when that shall be thou knowest not when as the Apostle passed thorow the warfare and attained to the victory over sin and the Law of the spirit of life in Christ did make him free from the law of sin and death which sometime had ruled in his members and he could say before his decease I have fought the good fight c. though several times he condescended to several states or conditions below his own as he did to the Romans and others and became as weak to the weak and as one under the Law to them that were under the Law c. And thou sayest p. 139. That humane nature by personal conjunction with the Divine Nature being become so spiritual that it may be truly said The last Adam that is the created substance in Christs person is now made into a quickening spirit c To which we say how then is all mankind of the same substance with Christ as thou said before what are they all quickening Spirits or is the Humane Nature of all man-kind a quickening Spirit Canst thou not distinguish betwixt that which is Humane or from the earth and a quickening Spirit What gross absurdity hast thou herein implyed And what a vast difference wouldest thou make betwixt Christ and his Nature now when he is in a glorified states further then in the dayes of his flesh as if he were become a quickening Spirit which is divine but there is a nature in him that is Humane so the Nature of the quickening spirit is of the earth according to thy words as the first Adam was and so thou canst not distiguish betwixt the first Adam and the second though the first Adam and his Humane Nature is of the Earth but the second and his Nature and Image is Divine and Heavenly according to himself who is Lord from Heaven whose state is glorified spiritual and immortal wherein that which was mortal which in time he took upon him is swallowed up of life and immortality and he as Glorified with the Father before the world began made higher then the Angels though they be ministring Spirits And whereas thou J. W. countest it Blasphemous and of Antichrist to think that any part of man Spirit Soul or Body is of the Divine Eternal and uncreated Substance c. To that we say Is not that wherein the Soul hath its immortality of the Eternal Life or Substance else whence had the Soul its Life and Immortality and what is it in it self For shall not the Soul if saved from the power of sin be eternally in the feeling and enjoyment of the Love of God And if not so saved shall it not Eternally be under a sence of his Anger And was not man made in the Image of God and had the Breath of Life from God in him whereby his Soul lived Was not that Image and Life Immortal And whereas thou seemest to admit of a Perfection that Believers may attain unto and yet sayes that the perfection of God and of the Divine Nature of Christ is of a different Nature from the perfection of man c. This is as blind a business as thy former denying the Divine Nature to be in any but Christ for there is no true perfection of Holiness that the believers attain to but what they have in God and Christ according to his Divine Nature in which they pertake of in him who hath exhorted the Saints to be Perfect as their Heavenly Father is Perfect that they might be Holy in all manner of conversation so that thy sinful Doctrines which are for sin the tearm of Life do tend to make the commands and Work of Christ of none effect CHAP. III. Concerning the Resurrection and J. W. his silly reasoning and vain conceits about it ANd as concerning the Resurrection from the dead we do not say that the Resurrection is past with us as J. W. in page 63. doth falsly accuse us for we are in him who is the Resurrection the Life and by whom comes the Resurrection from the dead John 11.25 1 Cor. 15.21 and we are against those that in saying the Resurrection is past have gone about to destroy or do overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 2.18 for through Faith many are in the way to attain to the Resurrection of the just and so according to the Scriptures we do own a Resurrection both of the just and unjust and that some shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life wch they that abide in the Faith until death shall attain to and others to the Resurrection of Condemnation which is their portion who believe not in Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life wherein the Righteous shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever but the wicked shall rise to shame and contempt Dan. 12.2 3. And why does J. W. count it absurd as in pages 54 55. that the
of and as in that he lives he comes to be reckoned among the Faithful and profitable Servants of Christ who become his Friends through faithfulnesse and Christ said unto such I call you no more Servants but Friends and this is further then the unprofitable Servants state And whereas J. W. chargeth such as strangers to justification by Faith in the Blood of Christ who say That so far as the creature is brought out of the filth of this world and to leave sin so far onely is he justified before God c. As also he tells of a poor sinner standing justified before God and of God justifying the creature while it is in its sins in its blood page 14. Answer Herein hath J. W. shewed himself ignorant of justification before God by Faith and of the state of justification for the Creature is not justified as a sinner nor in that state wherein it is in the filth of the World and in its blood but as it is made just in Christ being justified from sin and ungodliness and not in sin and justified from those things from which it could not be justified by the Law of Moses and it is not the hearers of the law that are just before God but the doers that shall be justified So this justification is not without sanctificaon as deceivers do falsly imagine a justification of men when they are in the filth of the world contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said to the Corinthians But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 So that he did not deny following the light or Spirit of God within as in reference to mans justification nor Preach up a justification of men when they are in the filth of the world and in their Blood as J. W. hath done who notwithstanding hath in page 124. owned a justification by performing the condition of the second Covenant through the assistance of Gods Spirit and that so far forth as persons are in Covenant with Christ and are enabled to walk according to his direction so far are they in a blessed estate as in page the 125. and is not that blessed estate and freedom from the guilt power and dominion of sin and assurance of eternal Life and a justified estate supposeth J.W. How hath he confounded him self in these things who hath also granted that they that believe are taught to be holy as he which hath called them is holy and to be holy in all manner of conversation because it is written be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy 1 Pet. 1 14 15. Lev. 19.2 How then are any justified while they are in the filth of the world in their sins and in their blood Thus all may see what gross absurdity confusion and ignorance this J. W. is in who also saith The humble do see themselves in a lost and undone estate by reason of sin which they and all the world are guilty of finding themselves under the curse of the law c. What falshood and confusion is this when as those that are truly humble are taught of the Lord and freed from the guilt of sin according to this mans own confession and the humble and contrite heart is a Sacrifice to God and not to be reckoned under the guilt of the worlds sin nor under the curse of the Law as this J. W. hath falsely accused the humble who are of contrite Spirits whom God regards Also J. W. hath accused such as followers of the Romish Synagogue and as being Messengers of Satan who Preach up the light within saying that they lead all such as follow them from Christ to themselves setting up themselves c. As also he saith They set up that which is indeed the darkness of this world the traditions of men the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot page 21. Answ. What an absurd and foolish slanderer is this man who distinguisheth not between the Light within men and the men themselves when as they who truly preach the Light of Christ within do not lead them from Christ to themselves but to that which is not of themselves that they may come to deny themselves as he hath taught and this we own which is no setting up of strife nor of the darknesse of this world neither is it any Tradition of men or Doctrine of the Romish Harlot as impudently and falsly J. W. hath charged against such as preach the Light within and so hath manifested himself to be one of them who put Light for darkness and darknesse for Light unto whom Woes belongs Isa. 5 20. and the more he strives against the Light the more he confounds and splits himself against the Rock who having confessed that what we preach is the work of the Law in the hearts Rom. 2.15 and as much as that there is a light in us and all men contrary to the spirit of darknesse and now chargeth us with setting up the darknesse of this world and the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot what grosse darknesse confusion and blasphemies hath he here uttered forth if J. W. his heart were not filled with envy and malice he would not shew himself thus impudent in his folly and confusion CHAP. II. Concerning the nature and state of Christ and the soul of man and the Saints partaking of the divine nature and how J.W. hath confounded himself and shewed his blindnesse about these things JOseph Wright's words viz. Thou art a Deceiver for thou sayest not that the flesh and bones humane soul and spirit of that man which was born of Mary the Virgin is the Christ but thou making no mention of the humane nature that which thou callest the Christ is the seed spirit or light in that man that was born of Mary p. 23 24. c. Answer That which we own to be the Christ is the same that the Apostles and true Believers owned to wit That Jesus Christ our Lord was made of the seed of Abraham and David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the spirit of holinesse by the Resurrection from the dead and the seed which the promise is to is Christ and the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit and the Lord is that Spirit set Româ— 1.3 4. â— Cor. 15.45 Gal. 3.16 2 Cor. 3.17 Was the Apostle Paul a deceiver for speaking these things supposeth J. W which are the same things we speak though he count us Dâ—ceivers and is not this seed or spirit which is Christ in them that believe Yet J. W. hath confessed That it ought not to be denyed that the Spirit of Holinesse in that person which was born of the Virgin Mary is the Son of God by eternal Generation c. Why then hath he judged any to be deceivers for confessing that spirit or seed to be Christ and we confesse Jesus Christ to be come in
Seed of God should be sown in one condition and raised in another seeing the Apostles words are plain to that effect for that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die and doth not that Seed suffer in man by corruption before it be raised in incorruption and is it not the Seed of God that is sown in weakness and raised in Power and every Seed shall have its own Body and what is it God gives a Body to as it pleaseth him but the Seed And what Seed is that is raised in incorruption Glory and Power but the Seed of God before which state of the Seed be attained to the Seed is known in suffering in death and in corruption though in it self it be incorruptible for it could not be said it shall be quickened unless after it be sown it dye and in respect of its being sown in weakness and dying as to them in whom it is sown who are not redeemed into the state of the second Adam it s said to be sown a Natural Body as also there is a Natural Seed or Seed of Abraham according to the flesh that this Seed of God takes hold on or takes upon it but in respect of its being raised in Power and Glory it is Spiritual and Immortal as being beyond that state in which it is sown in weakness which states none comes truly to know but as they come into death with the Seed and to be raised up by the Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead which spirit where it dwells doth quicken the mortal bodies and doth bring into the likeness of Christs Glorious Body and as many as are dead with Christ shall live and appear with him in Glory and witness the Body of their lowness made like unto his Glorious Body whose they are and such who come to the Resurrection of the Just and to see the mortal Body which was dead because of sin quickened by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them shall come to witness that of Hosea 13 14. fulfilled for they shall come to be ransomed from the Power of the Grave and redeemed from death as the Seed comes to live and reign which cannot be holden of death nor kept in the Grave but is the destruction of the Grave and this the Prophet witnessed when he was delivered from the power of the Grave and his soul brought out of the Pit by the sides whereof the Graves were set And why saith J. W. in page 60. as that arising which Christ through the Faith of the Operation of God is not the Resurrection from the dead nor the state of perfection which the Faithful unto death shall obtain c. What do not they that rise with Christ rise from the dead And was not that the Resurrection from the dead that Saint Paul desired to attain to Phil. 3.11 Are not all men in sin dead And do not they that rise with Christ rise out of sin seeing the Saints that had been dead in trespasses and sins when they were quickened and raised in Christ they were come to live in him with whom they shall live who first knew what it was to die with him or to be baptized into his death for the dead in Christ shall rise first and is not that a state of perfection where there is a Resurrection in Christ from sin and the death which came in by it For is it not sin that caused the imperfection And that the Resurrection from the dead is a raising of man from the dead in every part wherein he is dead by reason of sin and to live in every part wherein he lived before he sinned to wit to be alive in Spirit Soul and Body as in page 66. Who denies that For because of sin death hath come over man in every part both over spirit soul and body so that where man is raised out of sin by Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life his Spirit is quickened that it can rejoyce in God and his soul is raised up out of death that it can magnifie him who is the Saviour and if Christ be in you the Body iâ— dead because of sin and the same spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead shall quicken the mortal Body and the Creature it self thereby comes to be delivered into the Glorious liberty of the Sons of God so that the Resurrection of the whole man and of every man in his own order 1 Cor. 15 23 over whom death and the Grave had dominion we own and do not take a part of it for the whole as falsly J. W. accuseth us But whereas J. VV. imagineth that the Redemption of the Body spoken of in Rom. 8. Which the Saints groaned travelled and waited for is not to be enjoyed till the Natural and visible bodies of men shall be raised out of the Graves as in page 65. and 53. and 55. This is like the rest of his vain Imaginations and foolish dreams about the Resurrection and other things for this would suppose that that Redemption of the Body from the bondage of Corruption which Saint Paul and other Saints so many hundred years agoe did travel and wait and hope for in their suffering state is not yet attained which would render their Faith Hope and Travel ineffectual and what then was that bondage of corruption and that suffering under which the body suffered and from which they waited for redemption is it some bondage or suffering that the Saints so long deceased both were in their dayes and are yet in suffering under if they be not yet attained to the redemption of the body which so long since they travelled for as this J. VV. ignorantly seems to imply which his reason is like his saying that God is declared to be the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob because their bodies which are dead shall live again when as he was their God because they lived with him and were in him and were in the bosom of the Father who is not the God of the dead but of the living And as for that of Job 19.25 26 27. Which he mentions where Job knew his Redeemer living and that he should stand upon the Earth and that in his flesh he should see God whom said he I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold c. After this Job knew his hope herein fulfilled when he said to the Lord Chap. 42. I have heard of thee by the Hearing of the Ear but now mine eyes seeth thee Now it is not to be supposed that Job did either see or expect to see God with bodily or carnal eyes for who so imagines they must suppose God to be visible like themselves and not a Spirit nor an immortal invisible being who is to be seen spiritually and not carnally who is in that immortality and Glory with no man as mortal can approach to or behold with that which is mortal and what silly reasoning is it for J W. from that of Rev.
THE Son of Perdition REVEALED By the brightness and light of the Son of God in his Saints And the Preachers of his Light within and their Doctrines Principles concerning the mysteries of God the weighty things of Salvation Vindicated and Cleared from the Reproacheâ— Slanders Calumnies cast upon them by the spirit of Satan and Antichrist which hath largely appeared in one Joseph Wright who esteems himself one appointed by the Flock of Christ for a Defence of the Truth of the Gospel as is apparent in his Book intituled A Testimony for the Son of man and against the Son of perdition c. which he hath given forth against them that preach the Light within But herein his Pride Insolency and Impudency are Reproved and his bundle of Errors Blasphemies Confusions and Slanders in his book against the Light and the Children of it Discovered And the eternal Truth in its own clearnesse touching many weighty Principles of the True Religion made manifest for the satisfaction of the people and of all that are doubtful By the Light of the Son of God in his Servants Geo. Whitehead Edw. Burroughs LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1661. A Table of the Chief Heads of the following Discourse 1 COncerning the Light within Christs coming in the flesh and dying for all men 2 Concerning the Nature and State of Christ of the soul of man and of the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature 3 Concerning the Resurrection from the dead 4 Concerning that Light in the Consciences of people which the Preachers of the Light within appeal to and the subject of their Exhortations by which men are converted and edified 5 Concerning Ordinances 6 Concerning Quaking and Trembling 7 Concerning the sufficiency of the Light and the Annointing within to teach all that do believe 8 Concerning meeting together and silent waiting upon the Lord with somewhat about Back-sliders and the spirit that acts them 9 Concerning Humility and Vnity 10 Concerning destroying the Whore discovering secrets and sufferings c. 11 Concerning the Word of God and the Scriptures and the Word and the Writings truly distinguished 12 Concerning the Infallible Teacher and that it is the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and not the Scriptures The Epistle to the Reader FOR as much as it hath pleased the God of Truth and Righteousness most gloriously to appear in these last dayes in the hearts of his people according to his promises of old who hath said That he would exalt his Mountain upon the top of all Mountains and his House should be established and his Kingdome should be set up spiritually in the Hearts of the Children of men and he hath promised to dwell in men and to walk in them and write his Law in their Hearts and put his Spirit within them and they should be his People and he would be their God and he alone would be their Teacher and Comforter and his Day-star should arise in their Hearts and the Light of his Glorious Gospel should shine in their Consciences These things hath the Lord promised and he is a fulfilling of them in these our dayes in and amongst his People Blessed be his Name for ever for he hath opened the eyes of the blind and caused them to see and Light is risen out of obscurity and darkness is passing away and the Light of the Day even of the Day of God is approached nigh unto his People and Life and Immortality hath he brought to Light in his People by the Light of his Glorious Gospel which shines in their Hearts and they are become the Temple of the Holy One and his Habitation is with them and his Promises are fulfilled and fulfilling abundantly this Day our Eyes have seen our Ears have heard and we have tasted of the VVord of Life which is revealed in us and these things we cannot but bear witness of and testifie concerning them unto all the world that they may partake with us of that heavenly virtue and be satisfied therewith for evermore through faith in Christ Jesus and receiving of him to dwell in them that they may not be reprobates for all in whom Christ is not are reprobates as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth But notwithstanding though the Lord hath promised these things and is now fulfilling of them amongst us to his Glory and Honour yet that adversary the Devil and Satan doth not cease to make opposition against this good work of the Lord if it were possible to prevent and stop the purpose of the Almighty in his proceedings of fulfilling his promises unto his people and it is not unknown through these parts of the world how many and divers kinds of oppositions the Devil hath made through his Children against the VVork of God What woful Persecution of these late rears hath been brought forth upon the Innocent people in whom the Lord is fulfilling his Promises What cruelty exercised What reproaches and slanders uttered And what obstructions and oppositions hath been made of these late years against an Innocent people t is hard to be exprest every City and Town and Country must bear witness of that cruel Persecution and hard dealing that hath been exercised upon the Innocent people and for no other end but for Truth and Righteousnesse fake and from no other cause but from the enmity of the seed of Wickednesse in the ungodly world for the end to oppose and stop the work of the Lord and these things are so God and Angels and Saints do bear witnesse And also the opposition hath been great against the work of the Lord not onely by outward open opposition and persecution through prophane and cruel men but also by the Professors of Religion of our age even of such as have cryed the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we and such as have professed Ordinances Churches and Fellowships and that have thought themselves to be men of Wisdome and Conscience even such as these have lift up their hands against the Lords Work and have consulted and imagined mischief against the Lords interprize for as the prophane World have persecuted by cruel reproaches and abuses Imprisonments and unjust dealing as aforesaid so also have the professors and wise men of this Generation Preached and Prayed and written Books and published their principal Reasons and Arguments against the Way of the Lord and all this in the opposition to the Work of the Lord an evidence hereof is manifested by Joseph Wright in his Testimony for the Son of Man so called in which Book he hath fully opposed and gain sayed the Truth of the Gospel and the People bearing witness thereunto amongst whom the Work of the Lord is blessed and prosperous yet hath he partly out of Ignorance and partly out of malice set himself in opposition against the work of the Lord and against his Truth and people as aforesaid And his
oppose with might and main and this I found to be the principal Subject of his Treatise because of which I considered the great ignorance of this man that would appear upon such a subject in such great opposition against it whenas no one Truth is more full and clear throughout the whole Scriptures then this Doctrine of the Light within both in the old Testament and the new as first of all Deut. 30.11 12 14. where Moses the servant of God did preach to aâ—l Israel in general boâ—h good and bad the word that was nigh them in their hearts and be exhorted them to bear that word that was within them and to do it and this word was in every one of them to which Moses did exhort them to hear it and obey it and thus its manifest that Moses was a Preacher of the word of God and his light within men Again Jer. 31. God promised to make a new Covenant with the House of Israel I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall know Me saith the Lord from the least of them to the greatest and they shall need no more every man to teach his Neighbour but the Law in their inward parts and his Spirit within them should teach them And thus it is plain the Prophet Jeremiah was sent with a Message of God to Preach the Promise to wit the Spirit of God put in the inward parts and his Law written in their Hearts and thus was he a Preacher of the Light and Law of God within men And David said Thy Law is within my Heart Psal. 49. Again Luke 17.20 21. When they asked Jesus Christ concerning the Kingdom of Heaven he said The Kingdome of Heaven is within you and in divers other places his Parrables signified That the loast Groat was within and that the Pearl was within and that the Seed of the Kingdom of God was sown in their Hearts Mat. 13.19 and Rom. 10.18 By all which and many other places it is an evident truth that Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul were Preachers of the Kingdom of Heaven within men and of the Seed of the Kingdom which was sown in their Hearts and of the Word of God within in the Heart and so it may be said Christ was a Preacher of Light within for he told them of his Word abiding within them John 5.38 and they had not the love of God in them 42. vers John 14.20 And Christ said I am in my Father and you in me and I in you and if my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and thus it is as clear as the Sun at noon day that Christ was a Preacher of the Spirit and of the Light and of the Word and of the love of God within men Again the Apostles preached the same 2 Cor. 13. Chap. and the fifth Jesus Christ is in you saith the Apostle except you be reprobates and Phil. 2.13 It is God that works in you said the Apostle and Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you and 1 John 2.14 And the word of God abideth in you and verse 24. Let that abide in you which you have heard from the beginning and Ephesians 3.20 according to the power that works in us and 2 Tim 1 14. The Holy Ghost which dwells in us and 1 John 4.12 God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us and thus throughout the whole current of Scripture I might bring multitudes of proofs the Apostles were Ministers and Preachers of the Light within the word of God within the Love of God within the Holy Ghost within Christ within yea and God within the Saints yea if this will not serve to prove that it is the Ministry of Christ Jesus to preach the light and word of God within men I should yet bring many more proofs out of the Scriptures to manifest that Christ and his Apostles preached the Light within men not onely in the Saints but in unbelievers take one Scripture more 2 Cor. 4.6 The Light hath shined in our hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God and thus it is clearly proved out of the Scriptures against J. W. that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles were Preachers of the Light and Truth and Spirit within And when I considered at large this same subject of his whole discourse it appeared somewhat strange to me that any reasonable man should draw up such a Subject to make a whole Book of opposition against it like as it he had never read Scriptures seeing he had thus stated his matter intendedly against us called Quakers thinking by steering such a course be should confute us in some errours whenas it s fully manifest that he hath steered his course in direct opposition to the Scriptures and the Truth therein contained and therefore we may conclude of his ignorance and errour who hath thus justified the Truth of our Principles and Doctrines while he hath thought to oppose them and confute them as errours and so overthrown himself 3 I considered concerning returning an Answer to his Book and I found it meet that it should be answered for the end to clear the way of Truth from his false and foul aspersions which were made up by whole groces in his Book and also least he should glory and vaunt himself in his solly as if none were able to answer him nor to detect him of falshood though I was not hasty in falling aboard upon him and that for divers reasons First because my occasions were then very many and weighty and that of far greater moment to be prosecuted then to leave them for answering of him 2. Because I saw no great occasion of present hast to fall upon him and to detect his unworthy work for as to my own particular I could have let his Book have passed without an Answer and all his Lyes and Calumnies and Falshoods passed without hurt to our particulars for we are satisfied in the Truth of our way thousands of us blessed be God notwithstanding all mens opposition 3. Because I would not willingly and hastily have given our publick enemies occasion to mock and scorn at us while they beheld us as it were tearing one another and contending one against another to the weakning of our selves and strengthning of them nor should I but upon this occasion have appeared publick in this manner against any suffering people for it hath ever been my quality to comfort the afflicted and sufferers rather then to adde affliction to them but upon this occasion I am forced to with-stand the insolency of Io. Wright to reprove his lyes and slanders and that publickly to the view of the world and it could not well be avoided so upon these reasons with some others the Book lay by me divers weeks till at last I have taken it under hand for I have heard a report of some boasting amongst J.W. his
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
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
2 Cor. 5.14 1 John 2.2 Which also as a testimony against J. W. in many of our Books vindicate the free Grace of God in Christ to all men and his dying for all as in a Book Intituled The Voice of Wisdom by G. W. page 12. and at large in a Book Intituled Rusticus ad Accademicos by S. F. in both which Priest Danson is answered and his pleading against Christs death for all men and his free Grace to all confuted as also in a Book called A brief Discovery by G.W. as in many more Books of ours the free Grace of God to all and Christs dying for all men is declared Also J. W. his third Proof for his said charge against all that Preach the light within is as false as his former where he laies down these words to wit Thou dost not gather men and women into Communion with Christ by Faith teaching them to believe in Jesus Christ c. Which thing he himself who hath openly opposed the light of Christ in all and counted the Doctrine of it a stratagem of Satan is guilty of and not we that own the light for it is the light that brings into communion with God and his Son Jesus Christ for they that say they have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness they lye and do not the truth but they that walk in the Light are in the true fellowship and faith and know the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all sin Also J. VV. his charging us with gathering by works and not by Faith in warning all people to look to the light within and such as receive this Doctrine with being as ignorant as heathens and absolute infidels in this hath he slandered us and shewed himself to be an Infidel who sees not the light within 〈◊〉 owns it for the Infidels were such as in whom the God of the World did blind their minds from seeing the light of the Glorious Gospel which shineth in the heart and giveth the knowledge of the Glory of God to them that believe in it and so works without Faith we deny but the works that are wrought in the Faith and in the light we own and though J. W. hath so much warned people from looking to the light within as that which must bring them to reconciliation and justification yet in pages 124. and 125. he hath contradicted his matter against the light within for there he speaks of being set free and justified by performing the condition of the second Covenant as Repentance Faith and Gospel Obedience which those that have sined may perform through the assistance of Gods Spirit c. as also he saith so far forth as Persons come to be in Covenant with Christ and are enabled by him to walk according to his direction so far are these said to have Christ formed in them that is to be brought into a blessed destate of freedom from the guilt of sin of freedom from the power and dominion of sin of assurance of redemption from the first death and of deliverance from the second and so by Christ to be Intituled to Eternal Life c. Now how should those who have sinned perform the condition of the second Covenant through the assistance of Gods Spirit or come into the True Faith and Gospel obedience and to know Christ formed in them unless that Gods Spirit or Light be known or owned within and if those that have sinned may come to this state of Faith and Obedience and freedom from the guilt and power of sin by the Spirit of God then a measure of this Spirit or light is given to all men without exception seeing that the sinners themselves are not exempted from it according to J. W. his own words and thus hath he grosly confounded himself in his own while rayling against the Preaching up of the light within and another while confessing to the Spirit of God or light even in the wicked J. W. his fourth Charge is thus viz. Thou which Preachest that all men should mind the light which is within them dost deny the Christ of God which dyed at Jerusalem because thou hast said to me when I have made as large a confession of Christ as I now have done that I am ignorant of Christ c. Answer What a silly Reason is this against those that Preach that all should mind the light within as if he had said that because he has made a large confession of Christ therefore he is not ignorant of him when as the Devil who favours not the things of God hath been made to confesse Christ and many do confess Christ in words as largly as J. W. and yet are ignorant of him and of the Power of his death and Sufferings as J. W. is whilest he shews him self an enemy to the Light of Christ which we own and we do not deny either the coming of Christ or his suffering in the flesh as we are falsly accused by this reviler neither do we deny Christs reconciling of the world nor teach any thing contrary to that of Rom. 5.10 2 Cor. 5.19 as J. W. hath implicitely accused us for we know and Preach reconciliation through Christs death and Salvation through his life whose life is the light of men and this is not any establishing of our own Righteousnesse as falsly we are accused neither are we strangers unto the Doctrine of Justification by the Grace of God through the redemption that is in Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood but how are any justified by the Grace of God whilst they deny the light within for is not the light of Christ within the free gift of his Grace which hath appeared to all men and which by his Righteousness hath come upon all men Rom. 5.18 Titus 2.11 Which Righteousness is received where the light of Christ within is obeyed and he thereby made known to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood and we who are come to own this in the true Faith are come to self-denyal and to deny self-righteousness contrary to J. W. his false accusations against us who Preach the light within Who also saith in his twelfth page But self must be denyed and self righteousness which is of the Law yea when men have done all whatsoever they are commanded they are to say with humble hearts they have done but what was their duty c. Answer What an Ignoramus is this man who puts no difference betwixt Self-righteousness which is to be denyed and the doing whatsoever we are commanded which is our duty as if he had said in denying self-righteousness you must deny your duty or that self-righteousness is mens duty when as that which brings men to do their duty to God in obeying his commands is of God and though man as in the Servants state may abase and humble himself yet that Principle of Faith which brings him to do his duty is to be esteemed
not pleasant to thee for thou art of the Spirit of which Christ speaks who said John came neither eating nor drinking and yet that Spirit said he had a Devil and Christ came eating and drinking and it said he was a wine-bibber and the same Spirit is J. W. and his fellows of who say it s by an evil and familiar Spirit that we speak and its by an evil and familiar Spirit that we are silent 3. Our meetings are according to the mind of God and example of Gods people in fornier ages and they are for the end to wait upon God and worship him and we have the evident Testimony of the Spirit of God in our own Consciences many thousands of us that the Lord God hath been present with us in his heavenly vertue and power and comfort and Soul-refreshments in such our Meetings and that many a time have we found the Lord when we have been met together to wait upon him even to the satisfaction of our immortal souls who hath revealed his goodnesse and his saving health unto us even in our meetings and this the Spirit of God witnesses to us blessed be his name notwithstanding whatsoever J. W. or any such slanderous tongues can oppose in this case and we have large example in the Scriptures that the people of God met together in the same way and manner as we do now in private houses and sometimes in the fields and sat sometimes long in silence as Ezek. 3. The Children of the captivity they sat together and Ezekiel was astonished amongst them seven dayes and at the end of seven dayes and not before the word of the Lord came to him and would not J. W. have lookt upon this silence to have been from an unclean spirit and Job that servant of God sat with his friends seven dayes and seven nights and spake not a word one to another so that from hence it is proved that some of Gods servants did sit in silence for a long time neither do we read that the Churches of Christ had alwayes speaking and preaching amongst them when they met together though often they had and thus we cannot but vindicate such a practice in it self and the scripture is plain for it as in sitting together in silence and in that silence the Lords presence sweetly enjoyed though yet there are very few of our meetings in such silence as that some one or other or more hath not something given of God by way of Exhortation to the People or Prayer to God few meetings I believe wherein the Lord doth not stir up the hearts of some or other to mention his Name so that we would be understood in this we plead not for silence in opposition to all speaking nor can we plead that of necessity some must speak or else God cannot be worshipped though there is no such thing amongst us as brain-study or knowledge before-hand that we shall speak or what we shall say like the Diviners of this age who makes up their matter before-hand and shapes it what and how to say it before they come among the People to whom they must say it like Artists and Tradesmen this kind of way we reject as unprofitable to God-wards yet if any have a particular message ascribed to them of God to a particular People or Person which if any have let them retain what God puts into their hearts and be faithful to speak it but the general way in which God leads us is this 1. We do know it is our duty by the perswasions of the spirit of God in our own Consciences and partly by the examples of Saints declared in scriptures to meet together at a convenient time and place and so oft as the wisdom of God shall order for us which dwells with us 2. Being come together we are turned to the Lord in our minds to feel our peace and joy and comfort and how our conditions are to God-wards in our own particulars And 3. if any amongst us receive any thing from the Lord to speak of what his work is in them and what he has done for them or by way of exhortation to administer comfort to others or by way of reproof to convince or convert others or by way of praises unto God for his mercies received or in Prayer for what is wanted I say if any amongst us find ought of this from the Lord upon them they speak it to others and its well-pleasing to God and comforting one to another but notwithstanding if nothing of this be received from the Lord by any in a meeting to declare to others yet our peace and joy and comfort and Teacher is with us even the grace and Spirit anointing of God that dwells with us by which every one is fed and refreshed in his own heart in the presence of the Lord and this is the manner and end and practice of and in our meetings and that its the practice of familiar Spirits to sit in silence and for the communicating of an unclean Spirit and that none of the people of God ever did thus and that such a practice is not in the example of Scriptures and that we are gone aside after Satan and publishes his Doctrine and communicates his unclean Spirit these are six abominable ungodly lyes uttered by J.W. in about 2 pages of paper and therefore I cannot but exhort thee to Repentance if thou hast not sinned the sin unto damnation that thou may find mercy if it be not too late and thus much about our meetings which are for the worship of God which I could not but vindicate in opposition to thy false assertions about the same and whether J. W. and his fellows be not themselves guided by an unclean Spirit in slandering the Innocent let the God of Heaven and Earth judge and Saints and Angels testifie Concerning Back-sliders and J. W. his stories 4. As for the stories which he tells of of one that did confesse that a Spirit made him roar and of another whom he saith is as a brand pluckt out of the fire that a Spirit made him quake and tremble and another who said that the Spirit spoke with a vocal voice in her and of another who thought himself perfect and the Devil wrought such strange things upon him as in page 170 171. These I look upon to be meerly vain stories seeing he hath neither named the Persons nor the places nor the time in which these things should have been and therefore I conclude them onely vain stories and not worth answering nor spending much time about for what manner of evil hath not been said of us within these ten years the words of Christ have been plainly fulfilled upon us who said they shall say all manner of evil falsly of you for my Names sake and among all manner of evil falsly spoken we reckon these stories of J. W's but as for such as he sayes are as brands pluckt out of the fire I perceive
he means such who sometimes have been amongst us and professed and confessed to our Doctrines and waies and yet afterwards have turned from us we do confesse such there may be even such who may have tasted something of the Power of the Lord and of his goodnesse to their souls and have cryed out and trembled because of their iniquities yea and have been called out from their Kindred as he speaks and yet some such have turned aside again to vanity and then have been ready to make Lyes and frame false reports and to tell them for their own advantage to excuse their own revoltings thinking to defame us as so bad and so evil that with a more credit to themselves they may turn from us and some such like persons hath been J. W's informers if he hath not invented the lyes himself And though there be such revolters and false-hearted Hypocrites in the world yet the way of the Lord and his Truth is alike precious unto us immutable and unchangeable though Back-sliders walks not in the way thereof but seeks to asperse it when they turn aside from it but let such persons be marked some such we do know and they were wicked and prophane before they came among us and coming among us possibly were convinced of their sins and touched with judgement and sorrow for sin but now being turned from us again they are more prophane then ever and the Devil is entred again with the unclean Spirits worse then before and their latter end is worse then their beginning as the Scriptures says of such and some such as these are J. W. his converts and his brands pluckt out of the fire and such to tell stories and he to publish them are suitable correspondents but Truth is over them both and the way of the Lord is pretious and prosperous notwithstanding all the malicious oppositions that is in the hearts of his Enemies whose Judgement is such that they call Truth Errour and Errour Truth and calls that the work of the Devil which is of God and that the work of God which is of the Devil and the saying is true upon them a foolish People that have eyes and see not hearts and understand not And whereas J. W. hath been opposing the Light within and both the Preachers and followers of it thereby proving himself to be neither Preacher of the Light nor follower of it and therefore neither Minister of Christ nor indeed a Christian for whosoever doth not preach the Light and word of God within is no Minister of Christ nor in the example of his Apostles as is manifest at large in this Book and whosoever doth not follow the Light of Christ within and walk by the Spirit of God which is a Light in the heart is not in the new Covenant nor a member of the Church of Christ and such a one J W. is directly concluded to be from his own words who hath opposed such as preach and follow the Light within as if all such were in delusion and he hath denyed that the Light within is sufficient to lead to repentance from sin and pardon of sin and to comfort in God for the soul But he hath found out one that doth all this that shews sin and that judges for sin and that leads to mourn and grieve for sin and takes sin away and blots it out to wit the Devil as he saith if you will believe him pray you do but observe his story page 169. 170. He tells you there a large story but he names neither the Person nor the place nor time where and when it was which we demand of him in his next of one that preached the Light within as he sayes that the Devil did so and so with him and that the Devil set all his sins that ever he had done in all his Life before him as if they had been written in capital Letters then the Devil laid them all to his charge and did judge him for them and that the Devil made him to mourn and grieve and weep and made the tears come from his eyes for his sins this done as J. W. relates then the Devil took all his sins from him and said I have blotted out all thy Transgressions and the Devil let him loose from all his bonds and then the Devil commanded him to tell what God had done for his soul c. Now let any sober man judge that hath ever read the Scriptures ' whether this be a likely story for the Scriptures say that it is God that sets mans sin in order before him and it is God that judges men for sin by his Spirit of Judgement and it is he that causes men to mourn and grieve for sin and it is he that takes away their sins and blots them out by the bloud of Christ and that looseth man from his iniquities and brings them to declare what he hath done for their souls and it s our Faith that it is God through his own Son that works all this and not the Devil and the Scriptures say the same Psal. 50. Isa. 4.4 Dan. 9.24 John 5.27 1 John 1.7 But J. W. his story is contrary for he relates that its the Devil that doth all this and by this you may judge of this story and the Truth of it and also do but observe the temper of J. W. his Spirit and you shall see through his Book he opposeth the Light of Christ and the anointing within as if they were not sufficient for the effecting these things but he hath found you one that can do these things and who think you but the Devil and that can discover sin and condemn for it and lead People to Repentance and take away and blot out Transgression c. He hath brought you a story for the proof of it which we believe he credits to be true else he would not have brought it for the proof of his matter as he hath very pertinently done as he supposes and further as his story goes this Person that the Devil dealt thus by when he would have preached the Light within the Devil caused his mouth to shut that he should not preach it c. From which it follows that the Devil and J. W. are both of one mind for J. W. opposeth the Light within as the Devil does from which we have the more occasion to stand faithfully in preaching the Light within seeing both the Devil and J. W. do oppose it though afterwards his story relates that the Devil made him preach what God had done for his Soul and if this be a likely story let wise men judge Oh the Ignorance and Impudency that is fully manifest in J. W. that hath given his Faith to believe that the Devil convinces men of sin and judges them for it and takes away their sin Thus much in Answer to his story till his next return that we may know by him the Person and the place in whom and where