receiv'd and it is the most blessed Treasure for as every one holds it fast they shall know it to be a Bond of Peace even the Peace of God which by his Son Christ Jesus is given unto us which as we abide faithful in his blessed Truth shall never be taken away from us So in a living Sence of this undefiled Love of God do I dearly salute you all where this may come who am your Brother in the Fellowship of the Gospel of Peace who am known to the World by the Name Thomas Wynne Caerwis the 1st Day of the 11th Moneth 1678. Postscript THis infamous Libeller in page 2 and 3. layes down his Charge against the said Thomas Wynne thus Libeller 1st He sayes That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures and all the Saints of God mentioned there were Quakers page 11 14. Secondly That the present Quakers have got the Key of David with which they and they only can unlock all Mysteries p. 11. Thirdly That all Schollars especially the Priests having quite lost this Key cannot tell the Meaning of the Scriptures and that their Hearers have not so much Discretion as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar bad p. 12. Fourthly That the Ministers of God the Priests of this Church and those that hear them are all running Head-long to Destruction p. 14. He further adds thus viz. These are the main Pillars our Quaker superstructs all his Foolary upon and most justly deserves for his Pains to be rewarded with a Whipping-post that by taking a lawful Dance about that he might assay also to prove the Antiquity of a Lancashire Horn Pipe Reply In all these four Particulars this Libeller doth falsly charge the said T. W. as may be seen in those pages of his Book which the Libeller quotes In p. 14. T.W. saith thuâ— Oh! you Priests of all sorts I beseech you for Christ's sake do not run thus headlong to Destruction and draw the poor blind People after you Reader seriously consider how falsly and wickedly this Libeller hath dealt with T. W. For T. W. doth not say That the Ministers of God the Priests of this Church and those that hear them are all running headlong to Destruction and therefore this Author hath grosly belyed T. W. in this matter But more fully to prove that this Libeller hath grosly belyed the said T. W. take T. W. his own words as followeth p. 21 22. who writing against the Papists Protestants Presbyterians Independants and Anabaptists I know saith he there are some particular persons of each of you who are come so far to be led guided by the holy Principle in them that they dare not scoff nor jear any but are troubled to see any others do so who have shewed their Moderation so much as they themselves have not escaped being Sharers in the Reproach of the Quakers These I distinguish from the rest and what I charge the afore-mentioned with and I heartily desire that they may witness a growth in the heavenly Principle which will further them in holy living and make them able to discern who they are that fear God and who fear him not Thus far T. W. word for word Thus the Libeller is plainly proved to be a Forger of Lyes and his Pamphlet to be made up of Lyes and Scoffing writ in a Spirit of Envy and therefore to be abhorred by all people who come to a sight or knowledge thereof Secondly The said Libeller chargeth the said T. VV. with saying That all Schollars especially the Priests have quite lost this Key cannot tell the Meaning of the Scripture And that their Hearers have not so much discretion as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar had Rep. This is another forged Lye or rather two Lyes fâ—â— first T. W. believes and certainly knows that there are Schollars who have the Key and know the meanings of the Scriptures and he also knows that there are some who hear the Priests who have as much discretion as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar had and this he shews in what is said before in pag. 21 22. of his Book Secondly This Libeller chargeth the said T. W. with saying That the present Quakers have got the Key of David with which they and they ONLY can unlock all Mysteries Rep. The said Libeller hath forged and told a Lye in this charge against T. W. for though T. W. doth say that The Quakers at this day have the Key of David which doth unlock all the Mysteries of all his Brethrens Writings Yet T. W. doth not say that the Quakers only have this Key Fourthly The said Libeller charges the said T. W. with saying in pag. 11 and 14. of his Book That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures and all the Saints of God mentioned there were Quakers Rep. T.W. doth not say in the aforesaid pages That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures and all the Saints of God mentioned there were Quakers therefore this Libeller hath belyed him in this matter But if T. W. had said That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures and all the Saints of God mentioned there were Quakers yet those sayings may be true for any thing this Libeller knows or for any thing he hath offered in this his Pamphlet to prove the contrary The Apostle said God hath concluded all under Sin that he might have Mercy upon all Again the Apostle said We have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God Again We have all been gone astray as Sheep without a Shepherd but now we are returned to the Captain of our Salvation and Bishop of our souls And the Apostle exhorted saying VVork out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling for it is God that worketh in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure as saith the Apostle This Libeller in page 4. of his Pamphlet saith We ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling Now seeing all have sinned as the Apostle said and seeing the Apostle exhorts People to work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling If they take the Apostles counsel then they must work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling and if 〈◊〉 do so then they do Quake or Tremble and so in a sence may be called Quakers or Tremblers the words Quaking and Trembling being of one and the same Signification The holy Prophet said Serve the Lord with Fear and rejoyce in him with Trembling c. And the Lord God said To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and Tremblesh at my VVord Again the Lord saith Hear the VVord of the Lord ye that Tremble at his Word your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and they shall be ashamed Isa 66.2 5. Reader Take notice that though we own Quaking and Trembling as the People of God did both before the Law and under the Law and also in the dayes
to lay his Mouth in the Dust to see if there were hopes this was it the holy Prophets and Apostles could speak experimentally of and this is the narrow Way and strait Gate c. this was it that pricked Paul to the Heart and made him cry out Oh wretched man that I am c. and this was it which did overtake in an acceptable time these poor despised People called Quakers in our Age And whereas the Libeller in his 11. and 12. pages scurrilously tells of their Trances Distortions Quaking and Trembling comparing them to Conjurers and Bell-Founders c. Rep. That the Holy Ancients passed through such a State I have proved before and when in our day and time the Lord appeared unto us he appeared in the way of his Judgment for Sin and the powerful eternal Word of the Lord which is the Sword of the Spirit pricked many to their Hearts and I being one among them can do no less then give in my Testimony concerning the Operation or Working of the Heavenly Power it wounded as a Sword it smote like a Hammer at the whole Body of Sin in my Bowels it burned like Fire yea so dreadfully it burned that it made by Bowels boyl it pierced as a Sword it broke as a Hammer And then the Pangs of Death I felt in my Members which did make me to roar yea and to Quake and Tremble for this Fire when it burned it gave Light as its the Nature of Fire to do and it discovered to me and these poor despised People the great body of Sin and Death which was indeed terrible to behold and not only so but it discovered the narrowness of the Gate and that there was no going in thereat but by first having all that combustable Body of Sin and Death destroyed and burnt up at this time did great Terror and Amazement fall upon many and this my Opposer must come experimentally to know and witness in this Life or else his latter End will be miserable And as for his telling of a great Change within this 12. or 14. Years I say there is a Change Glory to God for the fame for many are passed from Death to Life and do witnesâ— the work of Regeneration in them and can sing the Song of Sion even the Song of Moses and the Lamb to whom by them and all the Host of Heaven be sung Halelujahs for evermore So here 's great alteration indeed Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel them who were dead in Sins and Trespasses are quickened and made alive they who were Alians and Strangers to God made Fellow-Citizens of the New Jerusalem and the Prodigal Son who had been feeding among the Swine on Husks brought home into the Father's House where there 's living Bread enough yea and Wine also well refined and he saith Eaâ— Oh Friends yea drink abundantly Oh Beloved CHAP. II. of TYTHES THe Tythes Liâ—eller pag 24. the chief Cause of all his grumbling are but a Portion which God himself out of his own Word hath given such as minister about holy things Reply We do not read either in the Old or New Testament that God perpetuated the Levitical Priesthood to be in force in Gospel Times and it s my Faith in God That they who take Tythes or give Tythes in Gospel Times deny Christ come in the Flesh and so are of Antichrist my Reasons are as followeth First That the Levitical Priesthood was by it self a distinct Priesthood which Christ Jesus by offering up himself once for all hath ended Secondly That under that Priesthood the Priests were to have but a Part of the Tythes for the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widows were to be maintained out of it Deut. 14.28 And at the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the Tythe of thine Increase the same year and shalt lay it up within thy Gates and the Levite because he hath no Inheritance with thee and the Stranger and the Fatherless and Widows which are within thy Gates shall come and eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the Works of thy Hands which thou dost Mark Reader the Use of Tythes in their first Institution were for the Stranger the Fatherless and Widows they weâ—e to eat and be satiâ—fied of them a very pious Use under that Dâ—spensation and the Priests had only a share with them Deut. 18. vers 1 2 3. The Priests the Levites and all thè Tribe of Levi shall have no Inheritance with Israel they shall eat the Offerings of the Lord made by Fire and his Inheritance 2. Therefore they shall have no Inheritance among their Brethren the Lord is their Inheritance as he hath said unto them 3. And this shall be the Priests due from the People for them that offer a Sacrifice whether it be Ox or Sheep they shall give unto the Priest the Sholder the two Cheeks and the Maw Now if these Priests will have it in these Gospel Dayes as it was ordered by the Levitical Law to the Priests then this Clause of the Law doth tell them what is their Due Share or Portion and what was their Due of the other Encrease is exprest in the afore-going Text the Poor the Fatherless Strangers and Widow were to eat and to be satisfied and then the Priests were to have their Due or Portion as is read in Gen. 47.22 and that Portion was Pharaoh's free Gift there was no Law to enforce treble Damage if not paid Behold the Zeal of the Libeller for Tythes which were only due under the Levitical Priesthood One would think that so zealous a Son of the Church should be prefer'd unto a Benefice if he have none as some say he hath not for he hath stood up for Tythes as stoutly as the Presbyterians did in Oliver's dayes who had then a Law to enforce them with treble Damage but although he and the Priests hold up Levi's Priesthood they have changed the course of it for in Levi's time it was to be stored up for the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow and the Priests were only to have a share of it and their share or due was of an Ox or Sheep they were to have one Sholder the two Cheeks and the Maw but now they have altered their course they have taken all the Tythes they could get to themselves and have turned the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow to beg not so much as giving them any share it had been Charity for them to have allowed them something if it had been but the Sholder or two Cheeks it had been better than nothing and since it s by Levi's Priesthood the Priests now claim their Tythes may not the Poor the Fatherless and Widows by it lay as good a Claim to it if not let the Priests or this Libeller their Agent shew us by the Scriptures of Truth when and where they were excluded if
also Dan. 5 you may read of the Hand-Writing that appeared at Belshazer's impious Feast who beholding it his Countenance was changed and he cryed out for the Astrologers Magicians and Wise Men here it failed also When Christ Jesus was born of Mary the Scribes the Pharisees the High Priests with all their Schollarships could not find out that he was the Saviour but took him for a most wicked Impostor How â—ame it then that they could not find it out seeing that they had the Scriptures that fore-told his coming nay instead of knowing him by their Hebrew Greek and Latin they persecuted him and put him to the most shameful Death however many poor illiterate Mechanicks had him revealed unto them I might bring many Scripture-Testimonies more to my Defence but at present do content my self with these not doubting but such Hoops as these will make my Vessel hold Water these following may be used also if need be Bishop Jewel in his Book against Papists writ about a hundred years ago said thus The Spirit of God is bound neither to Sharpness of Wit Bishop â—ewel against Hard. p. 532.534 nor to abundance of Learning oft-times the Unlearned see that which the Learned cannot see therefore Epiphanius saith Only to the Children of the Holy Ghost all the Scriptures are plain and clear Flesh and Blood is not able to understand the Holy Will of God without special Revelation without the special Help and Prompting of God's holy Spirit the Word of God is to the Reader be he never so wise and learned but as the Vision of a fealed Book William Dell It is only the INSPIRATION of GOD that enables a Man to know the Things of God William Dell confut Sims p. 114 115 116 117. and not man's Study and human Learning Dr. Barns Martyr Burnt for his Faith in King Henry the eighth's dayes saith That Man's Will Reason Wisdom Heart Soul or Whatsoever thing is in man without the Spirit of God is but the Wisdom of the Flesh Zwinglius The Scriptures are not to be understood but by that very same Spirit by which they were writ Tom 3. fol. 160. Peter Martyr that famous Italian Protestant teacheth us That the Spirit is the Abettor by which we must assure our selves for the understanding of the Scriptures Peter Mart. ch 6. and that thereby we must discern between the Words of Christ and the Words of a Stranger Erasmus What 's set forth by man's Device may be received by Man's Wit Eras on 1 Pet. 1.19 ibid. or 1 Cor. 2. but the Thing that 's set forth by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost requireth an Interpreter inspired with the like Spirit Thus Reader thou may'st see who abuses the first Reformers my Adversary or I yet he calls himself a Protestant but if he be he is very much apostatized from the first reformed ones and for my part I am a Protestant in this Case with the afore-said good men And whereas in my Book I did give my Testimony That none could understand the Mysteries of God's Kingdom by Human Learning Arts or Sciences and he hath said nothing to invalid my Assertion yet I did not say there nor was it ever in my Heart that Schollarship was not good in its place viz. to translate any History out of one Language to another as Hebrew to Greek Greek to Latin Latin to English English to Welch or Welch to English c. in these and in Commerce with men by them that travel into strange Countries and for trading with them it s of excellent use But let a man be Master of never so many Languages he cannot by them know the true Meaning of the Parable which Christ spoke The Kingdom of God may be compared to a Mustard seed and whoever say they can they are in their own Eyes wise but when they come to the Tryal they will find it deceitful as well as Pilate and the Jews and many others did And John in his Revelations gives in his Judgment in this Case he says The Whore sits upon the Waters and he says The Waters are Tongues Languages and Peoples But may some say Who is that Whore he there speaks of It s plain that a Whore is one that is Adulterated from her Husband and Christ Jesus is the Husband of the true Spouse his Church but many who have laid Claim to him for their Husband have adulterated from him in their Lives and Conversations and this is that Whore which would make People believe she is an Honest Wife she gets the Tongues and Languages and Peoples and upon these as John saith she sits as a Queen and the Cry now is to all Come out of her my People partake not of her Sins lest ye partake of her Plagues Pilate and the Jews who put Christ to Death had Hebrew Greek and Latin for Pilat wrote a Superscription in Hebrew Greek and Latin and set over Christ's Head when he was Crucified and the Jews read it and yet by these Tongues they knew not Christ CHAP. IV. Of his Reflection on me calling me COOPER c. IN this he spits his Malice at me as much as in any and indeed his Book savours of little else and in this he thought to Character to Disgrace by Reflecting upon my small Original but I am quite of another mind for if this would be so to me it would certainly be of much more to very many that I could name were it not lest any should think I did reflect on them who are now Persons of known Repute and Honour in the World who had smaller Beginnings than my self I could bring the Libeller under this Odium also if he thinks it be any if he be the Man he is said to be but Revenge is none of my Way therefore will at present reply to him of this Matter He 's fitter to Plant Tobacco or at bâ—st to mind hiâ— Ax and Saw Libeller pag. 20. the Joynter and the Adz alias Neddâ— the Criste and the Head-Knife c. Rep. It s known to many now living in this my Native Country wherein I live and it being also near the place where I was Born that my genious from a Child did lead me to Surgery insomuch that before I was Ten Years old I several times over-ran my School and Home when I heard of any ones being wounded or hurt used all my endeavours then to see Fractures and Dislocations reduc'd and Wounds dressed and have been so long missing that my Parents thought they had lost me for which I underwent severe Correction and the troublesome Times being then my Parents sustained great Plunder and my Father dyed before I was Eleaven Years old and my Mother not being then able to produce so great a Sum of Money as to set me to Chyrurgery I betook my self to this honest necessary Calling he upbraids me with with several other things that in those dayes pleased my mind yet during all
Fishing-trade and call them Lay-Preachers and scoff at their Fisher's Coats especially knowing them to be illiterate men did not the great Schollars who had the Hebrew Greek and Latin in those days in Derision call Christ a Carpenter's Son and Blasphemer and Devil thus their Tongues and Languages deceived them for they knew him not with all these Tongues Acts 18.3 Were not Paul and Pricilla and Aquilla Tent makers and were not these true Preachers sure they were So all people that are spiritually awakened may see how that God in the time of the Prophets and Apostles made choice of Lay-men as my Adversary hiâ— stile is to be his Ministâ—rs but it may be the Libeller thinks that now the Case is alter'd and that God hath changed his mind from Lay-men to Schollars only if not why are Lay-men excluded now adays is noâ— thiâ— to limit the Holy One of Israel who will not be limitted but is now risen in his Power in a poor and despised Remnant to whom he hath made known a heavenly Principle wâ—â—ch is the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus God's Anointed the Second Adam who is made a Quickening Spirit as saith the Apostle in man and thiâ— was it I bore Testimony to in my Book and it s not fe lo de se to deny all outward Teaching in the days of the Gospel that springs not from Christ Jesus the Anointed of God who is enjoyed within by the true Christians in this Age as was by such in former Ages Glory to the Lord God for the same Christ saith God is a Spirit and they who VVorship him they must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth And this spirit is the true Teacher which we have believed in this is he whom God hath anointed to preach good Tidings to the Poor even Christ Jesus in his Children this is he whom God has sent to bind up the broken-hearted and to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to those that are bound and to proclaim the Acceptable Year of the Lord and the Day of the Vengeance of our God to all that oppose the Appearance of his Son yea and to comfort all that truly mourn for Sin yea and to appoint to all that mourn in Sion to give to them Beauty for Ashes and the Oyl of Joy for mourning and the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness that they may be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord. The Conclusion to the Welch Y cymry anwyl cynor yr apostol oedd at bawb yddynt brofiâ—pob peth a glynu wrth y peth sydda ag nid wgf yn disyfy dim yngwaneg genych agos gwnei di velly yn dy gydwybod a cymo anwyl a cei di wir far no ba wreiddin y doeth lythur ar atebwr T. W. An Epistle to my dear Friends the People in Derision called Quakers MY Everlâ—stingly Endeared and Beloved Friends my Soul in a deep sense of the great Love of God and of the Mercy of the meek and lowly Jesus doth dearly salute you all heartily desiring that both you and I may spend all the little remainder of our time with bowed down Souls in holy Obedience to the holy Precepâ—s of the Immaculate Lamb who lives forever who is now risen in Power and great Glory and hath revealed his own everlasting Arm of Power to lead us out of Captivity and Bondage and hath given every one of us in measure of his blessed eternal Spirit to be our Guide and Conducter to that blessed Inheritance prepared for us before the World began Therefore my dear Friends wait diligently and give Obedience to the pure and holy Motions of the divine Light Life Power Spirit of God and Christ in you for the Testimony of Jesus is upon record Rom. 8.14 that they that are led by the Spirit of God are the Children of God And I desire all the Young-convinced who have not yet known what it is to wade through the many Tribulâ—tions Not to be daunted with the Vapours of any Goliah or Envious Enemy and let none in the least think much at this kind of Treatment which I and my dear Brethren have met with from this and many other Angry Adversaries but keep your Eye to Christ Jesus who is our Patern who said Learn of me for I am meek lowly in Heart And forever blessed be his Name I can in truth bear this Testimony That I have learnt to forgive Enemies to bless them that curse me and to pray for them that despightfully use me and persecute me And although the Libeller hath employed his learning his wit and parts most horridly and despightfully to abuse you above most that ever I read yet do I from my Heart desire the Lord if it be his Will to forgive him and though I have resented his ill behaviour to me and you and the blessed Truch with just Rebuke and must do yet again if the Lord will if Cause be given yet it is in the Love of God and in the innocent Nature of his Son And dear Friends It s the desire of my Soul that every one of you may be true Witnesses that this Love of God do always predominate in your hearts towards your Enemies for nothing hath happened to us but what hath abundantly more happened to our Lord himself For his Visage was marred more than any man's and his Form more than the Sons of men he hath no Form nor Comliness in him he was despised and rejected of men a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastizement of our Peace was upon him and by his Stripes were we healed all we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own Way and the Lord laid on him the Iniquity of us all he was oppressed he was afflicted yet he opened not his Mouth he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb so he opened not his Mouth he was taken from Prison and from Judgment who shall declare his Generation he was cut off out of the Land of the Living and for our Transgression was he stricken Oh! dear Friends how can we but be overcome with such Love as this for it hath none to compare to it Oh that it may be imprinted in every one of our Hearts with so large a Character that our great Enemies may be perswaded that the Love of God dwells abundantly in our Hearts both towards Priests and People Professors and Prophane and that which we desire for them is that they also may partake of the same Love of God which Love will destroy Enmity and Discord and take away the ground of war and strife yea the very ground of all plotting contriving hurt to any either high or low and this dear Friends I know you have
of the Gospel yet we have not given our selves that Name Quaker or Quakers but our Persecutors and Enemies gave us that Name in Scorn and Envy But the Names which God and Christ gives unto those who truly believe and continue in obedience are Saints and Servants Children of God and Children of the Light and Disciples of Christ and the Apostle called the Believers in Christ Christians the Apostle saith If ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you but let none of you suffer as a Murtherer or as a Thief or as an Evil-doer or as a busie Body in other mens matters yet if any Man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorisie God on this behalf 1 Pet. 4.15 16. Reader Here note first that those who believe in and suffer for Christ the Apostle calls them Christians and this Name we own as proper to us more proper then the Name Quaker or Trembler yet as we have and do Tremble at the Word of the Lord as the Prophets and Apostles and People of God formerly did if any in reverence honour and love to the Power of God at which we Tremble do call us Quakers or Tremblers this we own but the Name Quakers as given us in envy and scorn by this Libeller and many others we deny and reject Secondly observe that such who suffer for Murther Theft c. do not suffer as Christians for Murtherers and Thieves are no true Christians but are in the Nature of Heathens These four particular Charges this Libeller makes the Foundation of his scoffing Atheistical Pamphlet called Work for a Cooper and herein they are all proved False Lying and Slanderous and therefore the Devil is the Author of his said Pamphlet For he is the Author and Father of all Lyes and Lyars as Christ said The said Libeller quotes Rev. 21. where it is said Aâ—l Lyars shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Here this Libeller may read his Portion and what will be the reward of his Work if he do not unfeignedly Repent but it is his unfeigned Repentance and Salvation that T.W. and the People in scorn by him called Quakers unfeignedly desire Concerning FEAR The aforesaid Libeller who Scoffs at Fear and Trembling saith pag. 10. The worst of men have commonly the greatest share of Fear Rep. If this Libeller had been in that holy Fear of God which is the beginning of Wisdom which is as a Fountain of Life which preserves from the Snares of Death and which keeps the Heart clean as saith the Prophet then he would have distinguished betwixt Fear and Fear as Christ and his Apostles have done Christ said I say unto you my Friends Be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do but I will fore-warn you whom you shall fear Fear him which after he hath killed hath Power to cast into Hell Yea I say unto you fear him Luke 12.4 5. Mat. 10.28 The Author to the Hebrews saith of Christ That in the days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayer and Supplication with strong Crying and Tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 Take notice of this that the Man Christ Jesus who was made of a VVoman under the Law as the Apostle saith in the days of his Flesh when hoâ— prayed unto the Father he was heard in that he feared Thus the Apostle shews that even the man Christ Jesus who sinned not was not without holy Fear and Reverence towards the Father Again the same Author exhorted the Saints saying Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and GODLY FEAR Heb. 12.28 Again But as he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation because it is written Be ye Holy for I am holy and if you call on the Father who without respect of Persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here with FEAR 1 Pet. 1.15 16 17. Again he exhorted saying If ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are je and be not afraid of their Terror neither be Troubled but Sanctifie the Lord God in your Hearts and be ready alwayes to give answer to every man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you with Meekness and FEAR Chap. 3.14 15. Here the Apostle distinguisheth betwixt the Fear of God and the Fear of Wicked Men he exhorts them to the holy Fear of God but forbids them to Fear wicked Men And thus the Apostle agrees concerning Fear with the Command of Christ who saith Fear not them which kill the Body c. but are not able to kill the Soul but Fear him who is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Mat. 10.28 Here the Apostle exhorts those that call on the Name of the Father to pass the time of their sojourning here with Fear so that they who call upon the Name of the Father with acceptance must not cast off the holy Fear of God but must keep and abide in it all the dayes they live upon Earth according to the holy Saying of the Man of God who said Blessed is the Man that Fears at All Times In pag. 4. this Libeller saith Till we have Mortified our sinful Affections and Lusts we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling Rep. It appears by his Envy Scoffing and Lying that he hath not yet mortified his sinful Affections and Lusts and therefore according to his own Principle he ought to Fear and Tremble before the Lord. But as a Plea for casting off the holy Fear of God he quotes the words of Zacharias which he spake concerning the Promise of God that he would grant unto us That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies might serve him without Fear in Holiness and Righteousness c. Luke 1.74.75 Rep. His Lyes and Scoffing doth shew that he is not yet redeemed from under the Power of his Soul's Enemy he doth not serve God in Holiness and Righteousness and he wickedly wrests and perverts Zacharias's words before-cited for those who did receive the Promise of God who were delivered out of the hands of their Enemies they served God in Righteousness and Holiness without the Fear of their Enemies but Not without the Fear of God For any man to say That he serves God in Holiness c. but doth not Fear God this man is No True Christian but a RANTER Again this prophane Scribler as a Plea for casting off the holy Fear of God quotes Paul's words to Timothy thus For God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear but of Power of Love and of a Sound Mind Thus far he quotes the Apostle's words but like a Treacherous
you may be tryed and ye shall have Tribulation ten days be thou Faithful unto Death I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 As concerning the Wicked the Apostâ—e saith There is NO FEAR of God before their Eyes Rom. 3.18 Psalm 36.1 Again And unâ—o Man he said Behold the FEAR of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil is Vnderstanding Job 28 28. Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Psal 111.10 Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge but Fools despise Wisdom and Instruction Prov. 1.7 Again speaking of the Wicked he saith They hated Knowledge and did NOT chuse the FEAR of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they would none of my Reproof therefore shall they eat of their own Way and be filled with their own Devices for the turning away of the Simple or Ignorant shall slay them and the prosperity of Fools shall destroy them but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil verse the 29th to the end Here God speaking by Solomon saith The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge vers 7. and in vers 29. he complaineth of the wicked saying They hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord. Therefore Misery and Destruction came upon them but saith God Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil. So those who chuse Gods Fear and take his Counsel are kept by his mighty Power in that which is well pleasing to him and such are not terrified with the fear of Evil for they know God to be their Keeper who keeps them out of the Evil that is in the World and from the wrath and punishment which he will bring upon the Wicked who chuse not his sear nor take his counsel who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Here God distinguisheth betwixt Godly Fear which the Godly do stedfastly abide in and the fear of Evil which brings Torment upon the Ungodly Again The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life to depart out of the Snares of Death Prov. 14.27 Again By the Fear of the Lord men depart from Evil Chap. 16.6 Again Better is a little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Chap. 15.16 The Apostle Peter exhorted the Saints saying Fear God 1 Pet. 2.17 Again the Angel that preached the everlasting Gospel saith Fear God and give Glory to him Rev. 14.7 Many more Scripture-Testimonies might be brought to confirm this great Truth viz. that Godly Fear is to be continued in by Godly Men and Women unto the end of their dayes upon Earth but what I have already written doth sufficiently confute the Ranting Doctrines and Notions of this prophane Scribler And though I dearly own the Testimony of the holy Scriptures and therefore bring them for the confirmation of this great Truth yet that in which my greatest assurance lies is the living experience that I have had through many Years exercise of the excellency and preciousness of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God my Heart and Soul is deeply affected therewith because of the preciousness and excellency thereof therefore I commend it unto all People as that which is indispensably needful to be come into and kept in without which no Man or Woman can come to Peace and Rest with God And I tenderly exhort and warn the Sons and Daughters of men to chuse the Fear of the Lord God in whose hand their Life is and to flee from all Ranting Atheistical Books Doctrines Principles and Practices which would keep them out of or lead them out of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God and every one apply your Hearts to the Spirit of Truth which God hath sent which shews you what is good and what is evil believe in that and attend upon it and be careful to keep out of that which you know to be Evil and let your care be to obey God in what you know to be your duty and as you are obedient to him in what he has made known unto you to be your duty that which is further needful for you to know which you yet know not God will freely make it known unto you That which is and hath been the hurt of many is their hunting after the Knowledge of the Secrets and Mysteries of God in their SELF-WILL while they have neglected to obey God in that they already knew and by this means many have hunted themselves into Ranterism and Atheism which is lamentable to behold at this Day Others there are who desire not to know any thing but the following the foolish fleshly Lusts and vile Affections which War against their Souls who giving up themselves thereto and pursuing the same with a greedy Appetite become swallowed up therein and drowned in Perdition or Destruction thereby as the holy Apostles have testified see 1 Tim. 6.9 and 1 Pet. 2.11 The Apostle saith The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the Vnjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished but chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government presumptuous are they SELF-WILLED c. Such speak Evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly Perish in their own Corruption having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin beguling unstable Souls an Heart they have exercised with Covetous Practices cursed Children which have for saken the right Way these are Wells without Water Clouds that are carried with a Tempest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever For when they speak great swelling Words of Vanity they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were CLEAN ESCAPED from them who live in Error while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption c. see 2 Pet. 2. verse 9 10 12 13 14 15. to the end read the Chapter through Again the Apostle saith This second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the COMMANDMENT of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the last dayes Scoffers walking after their own Lust c. Chap. 3. Verse 1 2 3. Again Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth forever 1 John 2.15 16 17. Jude the Servant of
Jesus Christ writing against the false Teachers and rebellious Apostates said They walk after their own Lusts c. but said unto the Believers Beloved remember ye the Words which were spoken before of the Aposâ—les of our Lord Jesus how that they told you there should be Mockers in the last Times who should walk after their own ungodly Lusts Jude 16.17 18. Oh Reader seriously read and ponder these weighty and holy Sayings of the Apostles of Christ and flee from those fleshly and ungodly Lusts which War against the Soul and drown those in Destruction who do not unfeignedly Repent thereof and turn therefrom while God gives them a Time of Visitation while he visits them by his holy Spirit of Grace Life and Strength to lead them thereby to unfeigned Repentance and to redeem them thereby out of all sinful and ungodly Lust O blessed are all they who turn unto him while he strives with them to gather them unto himself but most miserable are those who turn not unto him but go on after their own ungodly Lusts who set at nought all Gods Counsel both that which is immediately given them by his Spirit inwardly and also that which is given by him through his Instruments his Prophets Apostles and his faithful Servants which is witnessed unto by the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith every man that cometh into the World is lighted according to John 1.9 as is shewed before Of this evil Generation the Prophet complains they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy Wayes What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we Pray unto him Job 21.14 15. and 22.17 The Holy Prophet said I sought the Lord and he heard me c. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them O! taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the Man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him The young Lyons do lack and suffer Hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Come ye Children hearken unto me and I will teach you the Fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth Life loveth Dayes that he may see good Keep thy Tongue from Evil and thy Lips from speaking Guile Depart from Evil and do Good seek Peace and pursue it The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and his Ears are open unto their Cry The Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil to cut off the remembrance of them c. The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their Troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Psalm 38.4 to the 19th Thus Reader the Psalmist declares of the Mercies and Judgments of the Lord as he had seen and experienced them The Author of the Scoffing Book called Work for a Cooper would no doubt be esteemed a Religious man The Apostle saith If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue this man's Religion is Vain Pure Religion and Vndefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World James 1.26 27. That this man hath not a Bridle to his Tongue and that his Religion is Vain take his own Book for proof which is plentifully furnished with Lyes Scoffing and Railing a little of which I may here Collect. Thomas VVynne is known amongst his Neighbours to be a Sober Honest Man I have known him for above Twenty Years last past and I never knew nor heard other of him till this prophane Scoffers Pamphlet appeared against him These are the Names he gives him viz. Our second Tom of Bedlam pag. 6. Our Cinque and Cater pag. 7. Note here this vain man speaks here more like a prophane Player at Dice then a sober Religious man Again Our wise man of Gotham pag. 8. Again speaking of T.W. and his Friends saith Their Hocuspocus Tricks are now much laid aside pag. 13. Again speaking of the said People saith That they are the most Formal Coxcombs produceable in this Age pag. 15. Again pag. 1â— he renders T.W. A beastly Quaker Again scoffing at T.W. saith He knoweth not what Consanguinity there is betweâ—n the Porpos and the VVhale or the Craw-Fish and the Lobster pag. 21. Again he call him A Robber upon Gods High Way pag. 23. Again he calls him Wicked Ferry-man of Hell pag. 24. Thus I have collected a few of his bad Words and ill Names he has given to an Honest Man by which the Reader may see that his Tongue is not bridled as it ought to be and that his Religion is vain Now I shall collect a few of his Lyes He sayes The Quakers would endeavour to obtrude that they had been with God c. and have received the Spirit of Prophecy with the Gift of Miracles and all other that God had or could bestow pag. 12. Answ He names no persons on whom he fastens this his charge but throws it at the Quakers in General I say it is a Horrid Slander proceeding from the Father of Lyes for though we do own that God hath given the Manifestion of his Spirit to profit withal and some amongst us do prophecy and testifie of Christ and of God in the Spirit which he hath given yet we never said That we had received all other that God had or could bestow This is an Abominable Slander their is none that will believe him herein but those who are given up to believe Lyes Again That they could to a minute fore-tell the Last and Dreadful Day of Judgment Answ This Charge is general against the Quakers he names no Person or Persons that said so I return it as a Lye forged against the People of God and I exhort him to Repent of that and the rest of his Wickedness Again thus And heal more Diseases then all the World could possibly need help for Answ This is another horrid Slander that the Wicked One has in Envy led him to cast upon us the Lord Rebuke thee thou Prophane Man Again thus That they and they only were those of whom it was said They should lay their hands upon the Sick and they should recover Answ This is another horrid Slander proceeding from the Father of Lyes for which God will bring thee to Judgment Again thus And that God meant them only when he said I will pour my Spirit upon all Flesh Answ This is another horrid Lye for we believe that he poured forth his Spirit upon his Prophets and Apostles his Sons and Daughters and Hand-maids according to his Promise in former time and he is pouring it sorth in this Day and we believe he will pour it sorth according to his Promise upon all Flesh but we do not believe that the People called Quakers are only intended to be that All Flesh Mark In the compass of nine Lines he has told five Lyes in pag. 12. there being five in so little compass Reader thou mayst conclude there is a great many more in the whole Book These few here may suffice to give thee a taste and sence of the Wickedness of the man and to shew thee how Wickedly he deals with the People called Quakers It is our desire that he may Repent of these things and do so no more that so he may know forgiveness of the same and may come to Peace and Rest with God in his Latter-end God speaking of his People said Surely they are my People Children that will not Lye so he was their Saviour Isa 63.8 A Faithful Witness will not Lye but a False VVitness will utter Lyes Prov. 14.5 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it John 8.44 A False Witness shall not be Vnpunished and he that speaketh Lyes shall not escape Prov. 19.5 They bend their Tongues like Bows for Lyes but they are not valiant for the Truth Jer. 9.3 In this POSTSCRIPT I have shewed the Falseness and Wickedness of this Scornful man and have rebuked him in the Love and Fear of God and I unfeignedly desire his Repentance and Salvation who am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness who desires the Eternal good of all People but I Hate Lying Envy and all Wickedness William Gibson London the 25th of the 8th Moneth 1679. THE END