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
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
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.
they Prophesied to the Seed And Christ as he hath Power to lay down his Life which no man taketh from him so he hath Power to take it again John 10.17 18. and to raise up his own Life or Seed in his People Did not his own Arm or Power bring Salvation to him Isa. 63.5 And where he is manifested in that Power in his Saints may he not speak thorow them to his own in others where manifest in a less measure And did not Saint Paul travel till Christ was formed in the Galathians Gal. 4.19 And what ignorance is it in J. W. to deny in page 106. that Christ Preached to the Spirits when they were in Prison Seeing that when he was quickened by the Spirit he Preached to the Spirits in Prison 1 Pet. 3.19 As also he was promised to open the Prison Doors and bring forth the Prisoners out of the Prison-house and he it is that saith to the Prisoners shew your selves And J.W. in p. 141. hath further charged absolute falshoods upon us in saying as that the creature man is not the subject of our blessings but a supposed seed and that the subject of our curse he saith is not the creature man consisting of spirit soul and body but a contrary seed likely the Devil c. These are as wicked and false as his accusing us that when we exhort to perfection we never intend that the creature man with all the helps he can lay hold on either is can or ought to be perfect as in pages 145 146 149. when as on the contrary we affirm that the creature man as he comes into the seed of God which the blessing is originally to which is perfect and to be in the nature and life of it therein he partakes of the blessings which are in that seed and grows unto a perfect man as the Saints did and on the contrary as men or Creatures are joyned to the evil seed and servants to the Devil so they become subjects with the Devil of the curse and anger of God which they treasure up to themselves and this is no emboldning man on in his sin nor advantagious to Satan as he saith p. 141. And we neither exhort God nor Christ to perfection nor make them the subjects of our exhortation as J. W. in effect hath accused us who but an impudent malicious man would have charged such wicked lyes absurdities and blasphemies upon us as he hath done Are these the fruits of the Baptists spirit Sad is that peoples state that have appointed this Jos-Wright for a defence unto them or their way as he accounts himself and poorly are they defended by him CHAPTER V. Concerning Ordinances and J. W. his idolatry and falshood about Water Baptism ANd whereas in pages 33 42 and 158. thou J.W. hast accused such as do preach the Light within with denying Baptism in water prayer and laying on of hands and with reproaching and despising the Ordinances of the new Testament and with calling prayer and laying on of hands carnal c. To this we lay thou hast grosely slandered and impudently belyed us in these as in many other things for both prayer laying on of hands and other ordinances as they are performed in the Power of God by the leadings of his Spirit we own but where such things are done out of the Power or leading of that Spirit in mens wills they are but formal dead and empty and as such to be denyed and the one Baptism Eph. 4.5 which the outward was but as a figure of we witnesse And further note how thou hast contradicted thy self in pages 159. and 160. thou hast accused us for laying on of hands and for praying once in thirteen dayes at least with such as are inclinable to our Principles how then do we reproach and despise prayer and laying on of hands as in general terms thou hast accused us how art thou confounded in thy malicious accusations which confusion is a fruit of thy envy for where envy is there is confusion and whereas thou art pleading for the Baptism of Believers in water as an ordinance of great authority and as being appointed to signifie the burial and Resurrection of Christ and the fellowship of true believers in his death and that it consisteth not in the bare putting away the filth of the flesh as the Jewish Baptisms did Heb. 9.9 and that the effect of it is greater then the effect of those legal washings and thy proof is 1 Pet. 3.21 22. Answ. In thy Epistle to the Churches thou counsellest them not to discourse this Spirit about the Authority of Ordinances meaning the spirit of such as preach up the Light within and in thy other Epistle to them that so preach thou pretendest as if thou would not be disputing about Ordinances when the difference is about the substance yet now in contradiction to thy former counsel and pretence thou hast disputed about the authority of Water Baptism which thou applaudest as thy great Ordinance as if there were more efficacy in it then the bare putting away the filth of the flesh how hast thou discovered thy lying spirit and confusion of Babylon one while to counsel others and to pretend not to discourse about Ordinances and then afterward to contend for them as thou hast done though to little effect or purpose they that cannot see thy falshood and folly herein are stark blind and that of 1 Pet. 3.21.22 thou hast absolutely perverted it for it does noâ— prove your Baptism in Water to have more in it then the Jewes washings or baptizings Heb. 9.9 for there is mention of the Baptism that saweth which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience which the outward water or washing is mentioned as a figure of for there is a plain distinction betwixt the inward Baptism that saveth and the outward washing or putting away the filth of the flesh and the true believers in Christ are come further then that which is but the sign or figure or doth but signifie Christs burial Resurrection or their fellowship in his death for they are come to be baptized into his death and to be raised in his life by that Spirit which hath baptized them which is the substance wherein the signes and shadows are ended which Christ through his death and suffering made way for mens Redemption out of and abolished the Law of Commandements by which these outward shadows and figures which related to that state that was under the Law were upheld where the possession of the holy Seed which is the substance was not attained to and the use of such outward Baptisms or shadows by any of the Apostles for a time does not prove them of force by a Law since Christ fulfilled them and abolished the Law of them Eph. 2.15 Col. 2.14.20 and through suffering made way for a further more glorious and living dispensation then that wherein the signs shadows or figures
come into Covenant with God and be so taught of him as not to need another Teacher And thus we have shewed First That the Saints are taught of God and they need no man to teach them but as the anointing within them Secondly That they are not so taught of God as not to be capable to receive advice and instructions one of another in the Lord. Thirdly How the unbelievers hath the Light of Christ given to them and yet hath need of teaching without them And thus I have answered and confuted that foolish charge of J. W. that we dissemble by telling people the light within is the Teacher and yet intends it not and have shewed him that we do say the Saints that are called and regenerated have received the spirit in that manner and measure as that they need no man to teach them but as the anointing and the unbelievers have the Gift of the Light of the spirit of God given to them that it may teach them and therefore we preach the Gospel to them to beget Faith in their Hearts and that they may receive Christ and his anointing to Teach them and lead them into all Truth And now I shall proceed to the next thing observeable which is concerning our Meetings CHAP. VIII Concerning meeting together and silent waiting upon the Lord with something about back-sliders and the spirit that Acts them J. W. saith An evil spirit is our Familiar which we communicate to such as adhere to our Doctrine And first he saith it appears by that humming and hollow sithing among us which is from the evil spirit Secondly Our silent meeting is the direct Practice saith he of such as have familiar spirits and to what end are our silent Meetings but for the communicating of our unclean spirits for never did any of the servants of the Living God hold meetings in silence to meet and not speak one word and such Meetings are contrary to the practice of the people of God in all ages and they are gone aside after Satan whose Doctrine they publish and whose unclean spirits they hold Assemblies in private to communicate 3. He speaks of some confession of some of our own Proselytes that there came a Spirit into one of them as he was going to reprove another which did roar and make a terrible noise in his belly and another story or two he tells of some that hath now forsaken us that a Spirit came into him that did make him quake and tremble so exceedingly that he thought it would have tore him c. And another confessed that there did a Spirit speak within her bidding her leave her Kindred c. Then he concludes this Chapter with a certain story us he calls it of the sad pranks the Devil played on one that thought himself perfect pages 164 165 166 167 168. Answ. 1. To all which we do Answer That all these poor weak reasons asserted doth not prove his assertion that we communicate an evil Spirit to such as adhere to our Doctrine the Assertion in its self is a lye and a grievous slander published without the fear of God and what sober men could imagine that a Baptist Teacher a defender of their Gospel as he accounts himself in his Epistle should use such a weapon against us as so foul and grosse a slander as this is especially at this day when both he and we are in a suffering state and condition from our adversaries wherein we might rather have comforted one another in our sufferings then added to one anothers grief and affliction by fighting one with another before our adversaries that would rejoyce to see us both destroyed that they may glory over us And as for that humming and hollow sighing as he calls it it is not from an evil Spirit as he supposeth but rather occasioned by the Spirit of God which worketh according to that Scripture with groans and sighs that cannot be uttered Rom. 8. And the Lord despises not the sighing of the poor and the Saints groaned in themselves and had J. W. or his helpfellows in this his folly been as wise and judicious as he would be accounted he would rather have judged the deep sighs that he speaks of had arisen from the work of Gods Spirit rather then from an evil Spirit for what would he have said of them in whom there was such groans and sighs which could not be uttered and that groaned within themselves as in Romans 9. would not he have said these were from a familiar and evil Spirit and as for some being enabled at our Meetings as he saith to speak two or three hours this he judges also to be from an evil Spirit the Lord forgive him and make him more wise or else he can never inherit Eternal Life that thus judges it to be an evil Spirit by which the Servants of God are enabled to speak his word even immediately without consultation or study what would he have said of Peter who so immediately inspired that he lift up his voice and preached the Gospel in a wonderful manner to the amazement of the Hearers being an unlearned man and not used to large Orations and this was not by carnal study nor of an evil Spirit but even as the Spirit within him moved him Acts 2. and yet there were some at that day of J. W's Spirit who said he was drunk and the like because the Spirit of God carried him out so wonderfully in Declaration and he saith that it is done in these dayes by an evil familiar Spirit Oh J. W. thou Enemy of God Repent who hast judged the Spirit of God to be an evil Spirit and of many of the Prophets of the Lord it is said that the Spirit of God came upon them at such and such times and they spoke to admiration when as at other times it is possible they appeared weak men for saith the Apostle of our selves we can do nothing but by Christ we can do all things of themselves they were weak but of Christ strong and mighty and thus it is among us at this day we are not ashamed of it even sometimes we are strong and mighty by Christ and sometimes of our selves mean and weak 2. As for our silent meetings which J. W. hath charged to be the direct practice of such as have familiar Spirits We say that this is a contradiction to his last saying who charged us with speaking too much in our meetings and now charges us with too much silence this is direct contradiction and therefore how shall we escape the judgement of his slanderous reproachful tongue who accuses us for speaking sometimes too much and sometimes too little and also doth assert that when we speak we do it by a familiar and evil Spirit and when we are silent that is by a familiar and evil Spirit too Oh thou Enemy of God how shall we escape thy cruel censures it appears whether we speak or be silent in our meetings it is
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
but we are divided from them though among our selves in the Body of Christ of which we are members we have Unity Peace and Fellowship with the Lord and one with another CHAP. X. Concerning destroying the Whore discovering Secrets and sufferings c. NOw I come to the third Particular about destroying the Whore which J. W. saith he denyes we do his Reason is this because we were not instrumental in Banishing the Popes Nuntio's Legates and Iesuites nor have we stopt the Popes Pardons nor Indulgencies by our Preaching and he sayes when did we cause Cross and Crucifix to be pulled down and when was Bell Book and Candle Monasteries and Popish Hierarchy demolished by us then he speaks of our running up and down and railing against the Ministers of the Nation and giving them reviling Language and what we do in destroying the Whore as if we would turn people out of one way of wickedness into another as bad or worse and we delude the Whore more then any others we bid her Repent but withal teaches her to reject the Word of God and to reject Christ and disobey the Gospel c. pages 185 186 187. Answer To all this I Answer The Whore is the false Church not onely the false Church of Rome as J. W. seems onely to intimate but the Whore is all that hath the name of Church whether they be National or Congregated Churches so called that do not witness nor can prove that they are lawfully married to Christ such whomsoever are the Whore and against this Whore we are â—ent to give our testimony against her by the Spirit of the Lord in order to the converting people from her and to destroy her which we know the God of Heaven will effect by his Power in his own season but he denies this because we have not banished the Popes Nuntio's nor the Jesuites out of this Land c. By the same Rule J. W. nor none of his Fellows nor the Baptists are not themselves the True Church nor destroyers of the Whore as they pretend and while we are censured by them not to be destroyers of the Whore but one with her or worse then she by the same reason they give that we are such they themselves are proved to be as bad as they say we are For when did any of the Baptists banish any of the Popes Nuntio's Jesuites or Legates out of England and when did they stop the Popes Pardons and Indulgencies by their Preaching And when did they demolish Bell Book and Candle and Popish Hierarchy and pull down Popish Crosses and Crucifixes If these be found Reasons alleadged against us that we are not destroyers of the Whore because thereof by the self same Reasons J. W. and his Fellow Baptists are proved to be no destroyers of the Harlot the false Church but as bad as she and upholders of her Secondly But is this the way to destroy the Whore by Banishing killing and destroying the persons of the Papists and by laying violent hands on their Crosses and Monasteries c. I say no for the destruction of the Whore must be by converting and turning people from her by found Doctrine and by drawing people by True Love from errour and falshood to Truth and Righteousness and not by killing and banishing and doing violence to persons for their errours sake but it is manifest that the Baptists would destroy the Whore the Church of Rome and all that differs from them in point of Religion on this wise by killing and banishing persons and this is clearly manifest by his own words that they pretend to destroy the Whore by killing and banishing persons which is a Spirit of cruelty which lodges in their hearts against the persons of people that differs from them and it is the same spirit that is in the Whore of Rome that would bring forth the same practice if it had as great force but let me tell them this is not the way to destroy the Whore but thereby they rather prove themselves to be of the Whore bloudy and cruel that drinks the bloud of the Martyrs and Prophets 3. And whereas J. W. charges us with running up and down and railing against the Ministers of the Nation Hereby it is manifest that he takes part with the false Ministry in opposition to us and hath joyned himself to Baal and hath charged us with deluding the Whore more then any others do and if we turn any from the National way of Worship and from the Papists and if any turn from open prophanenesse to joyn with us in the way of the Lord J. W. hath concluded such to be in a worse way of wickednesse and to be more deceived in that state then if they were Papists Idolaters or common prophane Persons thus much his words signifie for though saith he we bid them repent yet we teach them to reject the Word of God and Christ himself as though Preaching Repentance were a rejecting of the Word of God and of Christ himself which is ignorance and impudency in J. W. to affirm who also doth signifie that such as turns from common Idolatry and open prophanenesse to our way are in a worse condition with us then they were before the Lord rebuke his ignorance as well as his lyes 4. And we do know that our Testimony against the false Ministry in these Nations hath not been ineffectuall but God hath blessed our endeavours and converted many from the way of Errour in Doctrine Practice and Worship to the way of Truth and Righteousnesse though J. W. reproachfully calls it running up and down railing and cursing of the Ministry which is like the rest of his work to wit falshood for we have given a blessed and a precious Testimony against unrighteous wayes and not used cursed nor railing language though we have spoken plainly and not flatteringly to them neither have we as some of J. W's Brethren and Generation have done cryed against them for the end that we might dispossesse their Persons and possesse their Places and Benefits and Tyches and Hire These things have we not done though I could mention some of the Baptists that have done it to my knowledge like Hypocrites and self-seeking persons I cannot but speak plainly seeing I am provoked to it and to lay their own wickednesse upon them and let J. W. defend such if he will and he shall hear from me again 5. Now I come to his fourth Particular about discerning of secrets which he sayes he denyes and that we do not discern the mystery of Christ his taking away the sin of the world nor the mystery and the secret of God manifest in the flesh c. These mysteries we are ignorant of though we can discern who we have deceived by that spirit of Antichrist which guides us and he speaks of some that have been mistaken in some things and thus he saith thy deceitful dealing is seen and the pride of thy heart c. page 188 189.
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
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
the flesh is it then improper to say the seed which is Christ came in the flesh and was in that person that was born of the Virgin Mary seeing that as he was so manifest in the flesh he was the true Christ without any of J. W. his blind distinctions who after he hath granted that the spirit of holinesse in that person is the Son of God by eternal Generation he saith that the humane nature also of that person is the Son of God by temporal Generation and yet there are not two Christs but one c. Did you ever hear such Doctrines as these which are all one as if he had said that the Spirit of Holinesse and humane nature are both one or that Divine and humane are both one when as they are two distinct things that which is humane is of the earth as the first man was as Humane is of Homo which comes of Humus the ground of which man was made as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Humanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terra aut Humus but that which is Divine is from above as Christ is who is Lord from Heaven Now though this Christ in time took part of that which the Children had viz. flesh and bloud Heb. 2.14 yet we never read that Humane nature is Christ nor that the flesh and bloud is Christ by temporal generation for to assert that is all one as to say that Christ who is Lord from Heaven took upon him Christ in time but Christ in the flesh we read of and own neither do we read in the Scripture that the soul of Christ is a humane soul for is not his Soul divine and immortal What is humane and immortal both one Or hath he two Souls in one body or person of such differing kinds And if the humane nature be Christ and all mankind be of the same substance with Christ according to that nature as J. W. saith page 116. Then it followes that the humane or earthly nature of all mankind is Christ and then they that would know Christ and be saved by him they must own their earthly or humane nature to be Christ or the Son of God and look to be saved by it did ever the Apostles preach such a Christ as this they that cannot see J. W. his ignorance of Christ his nature soul and spirit they are in grosse darknesse Now though we deny J. W. his unscripture-like and blind distinction from which it follows that either there must be two Christs in one person or else that humane and divine are both one which no ingenuous person will own and though we deny his vainly imagining a humane or carnal Christ like himself yet still we own the true Christ according to the Scriptures who according to the flesh was of the seed of Abraham and David and according to the Spirit is declared to be the Son of God with power by the Resurrection and that he was the word which was made flesh and dwelt in the Disciples John 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his death as concerning the flesh and his Resurrection and Ascension according to the Scriptures of Truth we own and that he is Glorified with the Father in the same glory which he had with the Father before the world began and as in that state his nature body soul and spirit are spiritual divine and immortal at the right hand of power for as he had power to appear in the transfiguration and after his Resurrection to appear in divers forms and amongst the Disciples when the doors were shut John 20. so now he being glorified with the Father in that his transcendent glory he is in a further state then in the dayes of the flesh when his body was subject to hunger cold or other sufferings upon earth and he is not to be supposed to be like unto corruptible man or a Christ of the same substance with sinful polluted men though he be the same Christ still the same to day yesterday and for ever not divided and is the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth who is ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things with his fulnesse who hath said that no man hath ascended up to Heaven but the Son of man which came down from Heaven which is in Heaven John 3.13 Eph. 4.9 10. Psal. 68.18 J. VV. saith p. 27. what do they lesse then say I am Christ which say I speak to the Light in thy Conscience which shall eternally witnesse me what mean they by this word me which they say is eternally to be witnessed is there any thing that is eternally to be witnessed but the eternal God and his Son Jesus Christ Answ. If J W. did not know what we mean that is to be eternally witnessed as appears he did not then he should not have judged us with directing people unto our selves or with saying we are Christ therein he hath judged us falsly for that which is eternally to be witnessed is Christ who speaketh in us Mat. 10.20 2 Cor. 2.17 4 5. 13.3 who may speak in his own name and such as would stop his mouth from speaking where he is manifest are of Antichrist And also J. W. his accusing us with not confessing that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh and with onely saying he is come into our flesh c. These are as false as the rest of his slanders against us and therein hath he contradicted himself for before he accused us for saying that Christ is the seed spirit or Light in that man which was born of Mary what then do not we confesse Christ come in the flesh and must we deny Christ come in our flesh Then seeing that Christ come in the flesh is a general word not onely including that body which he took upon him in the womb of the Virgin but also the flesh of all his people who are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone Eph. 5.13 And the following of the Light within thereby to attain unto Righteousnesse doth not at all render the death of Christ in vain as J. W. imagines for the Saints in walking in the Light knew the bloud of Christ to cleanse them from all sin and purified their souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 1 John 1.7 And this was not any making of the death of Christ in vain but by the Light or Spirit of Christ a witnessing the end fulfilled in them for which Christ suffered that they might live unto him and how should any hear Christ in all things Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 as J. W. saith unlesse they follow the Light of Christ within for wch preaching J. W. in his rage hath called us men of Belial p. 30. so what grosse ignorance and confusion is he in And as for Christs saying if the Light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse Mat. 6.23 This hath relation to that
state where the eye is evil where that is supposed to be the Light which is darknesse upon which their supposition who were in that state Christ spake these words for the Light of Christ is the same that ever it was and in it self is unchangeable though in some it shine in darknesse and the darknesse comprehends it not And as for those that spoke not according to the word of whom it s said it is because there is no Light in them Isa. 8.20 which J. W. also alledges They were such as walked in darknesse unto whom there was no morning as the Hebrew word signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for many speak contrary to the word that are reproved by the Light of Christ in them as J. W. may see his own guilt thereby if he be not past feeling and yet such are come short of the morning for the Light shineth in darknesse among such as are not led by it to the morning nor receive Instruction from it And note further that though this J. W. hath so much set himself against the Light within and does not own it to be in all yet in page 108 he hath confessed That the old ungodly World that were destroyed by the flood of waters would not be turned by the strivings of Gods Spirit but refused that grace that was so affectionately tendred to them c. Wherein to his own confusion he is made to confesse to the Truth for then if the old ungodly world had the Spirit of God so striving with them and the Grace of God so tendred to them what ignorant men are they that deny the extent of the Grace of God or the Light of Christ now to the world and will not own it to be in the ungodly nor that they should look to or follow it in them now What was not the old World as wicked as the World now is or is the Grace of God or his Mercy now lesse then it was to the old World J. W. in pag 110. saith of Christ It is he that hath two distinct natures in one intire person no person else hath the like in him in him onely dwelleth the fulness of the God-head bodily in no man besides him dwelleth the god-head in any measure bodily c. Answ. Yes the Saints were made partakers of the Divine Nature also and such received of the fulnesse of God in Christ grace for grace and God hath promised to dwell and walk in his people John 1.16 1 Cor. 3.16 2 Cor. 6.16 and can that state be attained by any and nothing of the Divine Nature be in them Is God in his People and his Nature divided What grosse confusion is this Baptist in and notwithstanding his denyal of the Divine Nature being in Believers In pag. 111. he saith that all men in respect of their substance of spirit soul and body and Christ in respect of his humane nature as he calls it are one yet in respect of his God-head are not one c. what then hath not the soul of the Righteous any of the Divine Nature in it How then hath it its immortality Is any thing immortal that hath not of the Divine Life or nature in it And are not they that are joyned to God one spirit What blindnesse is this J. VV. in who also after he hath denyed that nature which is in Christ to be in any man else viz. the Divine nature he hath in pages 113. and 146. accounted that the Divine Nature is the spirit of holinesse or that they are one so that in his denying the Divine Nature to be in any except Christ he hath denyed the spirit of holinesse to be in the believers from which it followes that none of the believers are Christs and that Christ hath no flock for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his so all that reads this may see how this Baptist hath gone about to shut Christ his Nature and Light or Spirit out of all people not onely unbelievers but Saints and how his Doctrine tends to keep all people in darknesse from Christ his Divine Nature and Spirit And so this Baptist in telling of two distinct natures in the person of Christ viz. the spirit of holinesse or Divine Nature and the humane nature and calling each of these natures the Son of God though he own them to be two distinct natures as in pages 24. 10. 111. 113. what he hath said herein is all one as if he had said that there are two Christs in one person when as Christ is but one and is the same yesterday to day and for ever glorified with the Faâ—her in the same glory which he had before the world began and this Christ is in the Saints and the same spirit of holinesse which raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in them so that the Divine Nature is not excluded out of them as this Baptist hath often implyed and no where do we read in Scripture that that nature of Christ which hath been free from hunger and cold ever since his Resurrection is a humane or earthly nature according to this mans words who hath shewed himself both ignorant of Christ and his nature as now glorified with the Father which is of an immortal or spiritual being or kind Joseph Wright saith p. 116. That the flesh soul and spirit of all men and the flesh soul and humane Spirit of Christ is of one substance Answ. Oh grosse darknesse and errour to imagine that the flesh and soul and spirit both of all men and Christ are of one substance what then is the soul and spirit made up of flesh If they be of one substance then must the soul dye with the body and then where is its immortality And why is the Spirit a distinct thing from the flesh and a body without the Spirit dead And further how are all mankind of the same substance with Christ when as the substance of Christ never sinned but thou J. W. sayest ye are unclean because ye are propagated in unclean lust what are you of the same substance with Christ or of his nature who is in a glorified state in immortality and eternal glory when you are so propagated and are unclean thou art yet unclean and exceeding sottish or else thou wouldst have been ashamed to utter such confusion and folly as thou hast done as also after thou hast asserted that all mankind are of the same substance with Christ thou hast told us p. 121. That man became like the Devil by sin as thou sayest the Hebrew word may be rendred which is as much as if thou hadst said that that which is like the Devil is of the same substance with Christ shewing thy self wholly ignorant of Christ and of his substance and flesh which is not suffered to see corruption And further in pages 128 131 132 134 58 59. it may be observed how thou puttest afar off the state of the Church or
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
Saints will not do the business as thou scornfully sayest to us but thou Communicate an unclean spirit and thou writest Epistles and spreads thy Doctrine by Letters or Books and the Apostles run up and down from one Nation Country and City to another and what need you do this if the annointing within be sufficient to teach them and if it be sufficient why does not every particular Saint do that which some do Why doth not every one of the Christians go up and down Preaching as well as some few of you Apostles Thus and after this manner might thou J. W. have reasoned against the Apostles and Saints as well as against us and doubtless hadest thou lived in their dayes thou wouldest have said no less by them then thou dost by us but this is to manifest thy own folly and weaknesse who cannot understand how the annointing dwells in the Saints and teacheth them into all Truth and how notwithstanding they edifie one another and instructs one another by words and writings this same thing was true amongst the Apostles and Primitive Christians and is true also at this day among us though thou objects against it nay reviles and slanders the witness of the same at this day and this is thy ignorance and weakness who art not worthy to be named a defender of the Gospel of Christ as thy works makes to appear And as for J. W. his saying as if we should say They should receive virtue and life from us and that we intend to give a spirit and of taking hold of the wrists of some c. And that we lay aside Gods Word and reject Scriptures and exalts our own unholy writings c. These are slanderous accusations and malitious suggestions as if we were Witches and such like And this is spoken by him with a tendency as doth appear to enrage the spirits of ungodly men against us We do not say they shall receive Life from us but if they wait upon God in the Ministration of his Life and Spirit they shall receive Life from him and sufficient instruction by his Grace and Gift within them if they never see us more and they shall receive the Spirit of Truth from God though we are made Ministers of the Spirit which the Father giveth to all his Children and as for our taking one another by the hands by way of kind Salutation one of another Why doth he wickedly surmize against us for this practice but that out of the abundance of his malitious heart his tongue speakes fraudilently as if we did bewitch people thereby thus much he seems to intimate by his reproachful expressions that we intend by taking one another by the hands to communicate a spirit which is onely his ignorant and malitious suggestion and as for our denying the Word of God and rejecting Scriptures we shall pass it here onely tell thee J. W. thou hast slandred us and speak fuller to it by and by 1. But concerning immediate teaching of God by the light and anointing within I would yet more fully explain that I might be understood of all First We do not affirm that every man in the world to wit unbelievers as well as believers have received the anointing and spirit within them so as they need no man to teach them for this is onely proper to the Saints of God who have believed in and received Christ Jesus and his Spirit that anointing which teacheth them all things and leadeth into all Truth and they abiding in this anointing they need no man to teach them but as it teacheth and this is the new Covenant of God and according to his promise I will put my spirit within them and write my Law in their hearts and they shall need no man to say know the Lord but from the least to the greatest they shall all know me saith the Lord But as we have said this is only proper to the Believers and Sanctified in Christ Jesus and this state is not proper to the unbelievers in the world in their state of unbelief who rejects the Counsel of God and refuses to be taught by him and led of him and quenches the Spirit of the Lord. 2. But though this state was promised by the Lord that his people should be thus taught and the Saints did in the Apostles dayes witness it as in Johns Epistle before cited and the Saints of God now in this age do witness the same Yet notwithstanding the Saints did and may edifie one another and build up one another in the most holy Faith and Comfort one another by advice and Counsel and instruction through declaring the Word of the Lord one to another and Ministring the Gospel of Christ and of his free gift one to another as the anointing within moveth and teacheth this was the Saints practice in the dayes of old and is their practice at this day for let none mistake us as if any were so taught of God by the anointing and Light within that they were thereby uncapable of and freed from all good instruction edification and counsel visitations and salutations of Love amongst them and one towards another like as if they were so taught of God as their state admited of carelesness and rejecting of love and exhortations one from another we tell thee nay but we are so taught of God at this day as the Saints before us were by the light and annointing within which we have received from God that alwayes we are capable of and willing to receive edification and counsel and advice through the Word of the Lord and by his Spirit that dwells in us and extends one to another by good advice and counsel consolation and comfort so that these two do agree to wit immediate Teaching by the anointing and light within us and exhortation and edification one of another by the same spirit and anointing among us and these two are not contrary one to the other 3. Yet we do say though the unbelievers have not so received the anointing and spirit within them as that they need no man to teach them as the believers have received it yet the Gift of the Spirit of God and the light of it is given to them and manifested in their Consciences and hath its operation of conviction and reproof because of their unbelief and Iniquities and these needs to be taught without them even turned and directed to this same light within them that they may believe in Christ Jesus and wait upon the Lord in it thereby to receive the anointing and pouring forth of the Spirit through Faith in Christ Jesus that they may be also-taught of God as believers and regenerate persons and may need none to teach them but as the Gift and Grace of God within them and such in the state of their unbelief have need to be Preached unto that they may believe and be renewed and receive more of the Spirit and of the Grace of God in a greater measure and may
Answ. As for discerning of Spirits I do say it is the gift of God that God giveth unto his People and there is such a gift in the true Church as discerning of Spirits and secrets and this same gift God hath given some at this day but that we discern not the mystery of Christ Jesus nor of God manifest in the flesh this is J. W. his accustomed language to wit of lyes and falshood which I sum up to the rest of his Lyes and as for our being guided by the Spirit of Antichrist and deceiving others thereby this is spoken in his haste if not in his malice and because he gives no proof for it I passe it with the Answer of a plain denial And as for mistake of persons or things which he imputes to us suppose it be true which he saith yet this proves us not to be dissemblers and deceived as he concludes of us for was not the Apostle Paul who had the gift of discerning sometimes mistaken as particularly in the case of the High-Priest and afterwards said he wist not that it was Gods High-Priest now J. W. would have charged Paul by the same rule he charges us that he was ignorant of the mysteries of Christ and led by the Spirit of Antichrist and a deceiver and dissembler and deceitfull dealer and that he had not the Spirit of discerning but was proud in heart Why because he mistook a Person but such false judgement J. W. spends in his haste and malice Now I come to the fifth Particular about sufferings and J. VV. saith It is not sufferings onely which makes a Martyr but the cause for which the sufferings are and he bids leave off boasting in our sufferings for Romish Priests though great Adversaries to the Truth yet for sufferings they exceed us and we suffer many times as evil doers and there is a Spirit in us that waits but for an opportunity to make others to suffer and he speaks of one that hath been threatned to be thrust out of doors by head and shoulders and sayes you will be as free to execute punishment whensoever you obtain Power to enable you to do it c. page 190 191. Answ. 1. As for sufferings we do confesse that we are and have been a suffering people under cruel persecutions even to death and banishment out of the Dominions where some of us have lived and such our sufferings have been for the Name of the Lord and for good Conscience sake this the Lord himself from Heaven bears witness of daily and then what need we care for all J. VV. saith with his lying Spirit to the contrary and some of our Friends have been Martyrs not because of their sufferings onely but for the cause for which they have suffered which is the direct cause of God and of a good Conscience and J. VV. is never able to prove the contrary though we do not boast of our sufferings as he falsly saith nor do we look upon our selves to be the People of God because we suffer but we know we are the people of God and therefore we suffer and herein is Christs words fulfilled upon us who said as they have done unto me so shall they do unto you and they shall speak all manner of evil on you for my Names sake and he that suffers as a Christian it is a Testimony to him that he is of God and that his Persecutors are of the Devil 2. As for the Romish Priests who have deeply suffered though I will not say for Truth and Righteousness sake yet their sufferings are a shame to your Generation who cannot suffer for that which you call the Truth as they do for that which you call falshood and do not they here shame you who can suffer death for their Religion but you Baptists that was lately tryed by Imprisonment though at first many of you refused to swear as out of point of Conscience yet afterwards the generall part of you did deny your own Principles and did swear contrary to the command of Christ and to what once your selves professed and for which you were imprisoned and thus you proved deceitful Persons and Hypocrites and such as would neither keep Conscience to God nor Faith to men and J. VV. himself came feebly off in this point as some well knowes and so indeed he had need to plead that suffering is no good sign seeing he and his Brethren could not suffer no not so much as the Romish Priests to their shame be it told who were many of you in great confusion about that very thing of Swearing some of you holding against it and some writing for it and suffering a while for refusing and at last did swear and so made your selves a scorn to your Enemies and proved your selves to be in confusion and treacherous to your own Principles and Consciences 3. In that he chargeth that we suffer many times as evil doers and not for the sake of Christ and Truth we charge him to prove this in his next or else silence shall be taken that he acknowledgeth himself to be a Lyar and Slanderer and as for our waiting an opportunity to make others to suffer this is onely his envious surmise and for some threatning others as he saith and cursing them having no better weapons this I account like the rest of his stories not worth answering though t is possible J. VV. judgeth of us by himself as if we wanted Power to execute what our wills could do this I verily believe is the state of him and his Brethren for we have Power enough according to the will of God and out of his will desires no more Power though J. VV. wickedly suggests as if we would be cruel like himself but this is but his imaginations and not worth heeding for God hath made us long-suffering and patient towards all men CHAP. XI Concerning the word of God and the Scriptures and the word and writings truly distinguished NOw I passe over to his fifth Chapter as finding little to oppose between the 192. page and the 205. excepting half a score of Lyes which I leave till J. W. and I meet which I hope may be in a good season and his fifth Chapter contains Concerning the Scriptures and the word of God and he charges us that we deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God and uses reproachful language concerning it and speaks of one laying the Bible upon the ground and setting his feet upon it and we delight to abuse the Scriptures and are filled with rage against the Word of God and that we foam out disdain against the Scriptures and then takes in hand to prove the Scriptures to be the VVord of God c. page 205. Answ. 1. Here is a grievous charge laid down and managed in manner as aforesaid for it is utterly false that we use any reproachful language concerning the holy Scriptures neither ever have
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
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
20.4 to Query What part of man is it which is capable of being beheaded Is it not the Body Therefore the bodies lived c. When as that of Rev. 20.4 speaketh onely of the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God so that his reason is as if he had said that because the souls of them that were beheaded lived therefore their Bodies when they were beheaded lived when as the souls and that which was beheaded are spoken of as distinct things viz. the Souls of them that were beheaded so that where the Scripture mentions the souls as including the whole man or men as Gen. 46.27 which J. W. cites this will not prove his absurdity and the like reason for his dream about the bodies hath he in page 70. from Luke 16. of the rich mans being tormented which torment he saith is to be vnderstood to be upon the body of the rich man from his desire that Lazarus might be sent to dip his finger in Water to cool his tongue a part of his Body c. Wherein I.W. sheweth himself both ignorant of Parables and mysteries wherein he hath implyed as if the rich mans body was then in hell when he was so tormented when as Christ saith The rich man dyed and was buried and speaks that of Lazarus the rich man as in the time past then where was that Hell out of which he that was in it could see Lazarus in Abrahams bosom betwixt Abraham and which Hell there was a great gulf fixed And what was it in the rich man then that let him see Abraham and Lazarus a far off Did he see them when he was in Hell with bodily eyes yea or nay And as for I. W. his Comparison page 55. of the Wheat arising out of that very Seed and that very Kernel which was sown even so saith he shall it be in the Resurrection from the Dead the Natural and Visible bodies of those that believe in Christ although they shall not be raised as they are sown yet they shall be raised out of the Grave c. This is contrary to Iob. 7.9 and 1 Cor. 15.37 and this his Comparison doth not paralel his matter intended and asserted unless he can prove that the Bodies of all that are deceased or die are so reserved and their substance remain in the Earth or Sea where they die as the Wheat that is sown which brings forth its own Body which absurdity no rational man will believe though herein he hath contradicted himself for the same grain of Wheat that is sown is not that Body or Ear that grows forth and said the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.37 Thou sowest not that Body that shall be though every Seed shall have its own Body which who knows the mystery of the differing Seeds they come to know the Body of each which are of the Nature of those Seeds they belong to and there is also a Natural Body and a Spiritual Body which are distinct things as there is a first man and a second man which differ and so there are Terrestial Bodies and Bodies Caelestial which are discerned and the state of each distinguished where that Body which is Spiritual which differs from that which was Natural is discerned and seen and this is hid from all blind and empty Professors who are in their Dreams and Imaginations imagining that they shall see God with their Carnal or Visible Eyes and by such imaginations have in the long night of Apostacy blinded the simple and begot them into a blind Faith and Hope which stands not in the Power of God nor the Seed which is Christ which is risen to destroy and to root out the evil Seed which has been sown in the night by the envious one whose work they are in that oppose the good and where proves J. W. by Scripture that man that was made of the dust of the Earth had not in his Body dyed or returned to dust had he not transgressed as in page 61. Must not all things return to their Center For shall not the Bodies of the Just return to dust who are redeemed from Transgression and washed from sin by the Blood of Christ What was that death that Adam dyed in the day he eat of the forbidden fruit seeing that his Body lived hundreds of years after that CHAP. IV. Concerning what we appeal to in men and the Subject of our Exhortations And J. W. his gross Lyes and Slanders against us about these things WHereas J. W. hath accused us of Fearful Blasphemy for speaking to the Light in the Conscience or to the Seed of God in men Which saith he supposeth that that which they call Christ hath done Iniquity else why do they say Repent repent with exhortations to depart from sin c. So that he saith They reprove Christ exhort Christ councel Christ yea they say they speak to that of God in the Conscience which shall eternally witness so that they Teach God reprove God counsel God Oh horrible blasphemy thus far J. W. page 98. c. Answer What abominable falshoods gross mistakes are these against us for as we are manifest in mens consciences in the sight of God so we appeal or speak to his Light in them as our witnesse which beareth Testimony to what we say and do not make that Light the subject of our exhortations or reproofs but the Creature that is to be turned to Christ and his light within neither is the Light ever reproveable or guilty of any evil but that which transgresseth it And this light we appeal to as our witness for the Truth even in the wicked who rebel against it and we are a good favor to God even in them that perish And so his charge against us as not Preaching to the Creature man when we appeal to the Witness of God in men is exceeding false and foolish For cannot men appeal to any thing as a witness for Truth and true Judgement but they must make it the Subject which they reprove or appeal against What gross ignorance is this J.W. is in And is not the Truth where ever it is Preached manifest to that of God in mens Consciences and in our speaking or appealing to the light of Christ in mens Consciences we do not suppose that Christ is saved by our Preaching nor that he is in a fallen condition as impudently this Baptist hath accused us in page 99. And whereas he seems so much to be offended that any Doctrine or Ministry should be directed to the Seed of God in man or that Salvation should be tendred to that he hath manifested himself wholly ignorant of the Seed of God in that state as a Seed For do not the Promises of God belong to the Seed and when the Spirit of Promise moves any true Witnesse to declare them are they not to be directed to the Seed which they belong to should the Prophets mouths have been stopt when