The Contemned QUAKER AND HIS Christian Religion DEFENDED Against Envy Forgery In Answer to two Abusive Invective PAMPHLETS The One stiled Antichrist in Spirit Vnmasked The Other Railings and Slanders Detected Promoted by some Persons commonly called Anabaptists at Deptford in Kent who have unwarily begun the Contest Jer. 48.30 His lies shall not so effect it LONDON Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-yard in Lombard-street 1692. THE CONTEMNED QUAKER AND HIS Christian Religion defended WHereas in a small Treatise entituled Antichrist in Flesh unmask'd and the Quakers Christianity vindicated from the Malitious and Injurious Attempts of Edward Paye William Alcott and Henry Loader in their late Defaming Confused Book falsly stiled Antichrist in Spirit Vnmask'd I did near the Conclusion of the said Treatise seriously enquire only of William Alcott and Henry Loader in these four Questions following viz. I. Was Edward Paye Deputed and approved by your Congregation or any Select Assembly of Elders or Mininisters of the Baptized People or Churches to Write and Publish his said Book against the People called Quakers or did he do it on his own Authority and Head with your Approbation only II. What Ministers or Elders of your Churches besides your selves did peruse and approve of Edward Paye's said Book before printed and of the Printing thereof to Defame us as a People III. Is the said Edward Paye indeed esteem'd among you and your Society a good Christian a Person of a Godly and Sober Conversation of Sound Judgment Piety and Parts meet to manage Matters of Controversy about Religion IV. Do you intend to stand by him the said Edward Paye in all Matters that he has written in Charge both against certain Persons and against the People called Quakers in his Book Having also given my Reasons for these Questions in the said Treatise Antichrist in Flesh p. 26. Now let it be observ'd that to these Questions I find no answer from the said William Allcot or Henry Loader to whom they were put but a pretended and evasive Answer from Edward Paye himself having only his own Name subscribed a few Lines after but no William Allcot nor Henry Loader subscribed thereto but Edward Paye left to shift for himself and they slunk back for all they highly commended his Work and defamed us in their Commendatory Epistle to his other Pamphlet i. e. Antichrist in Spirit against us And yet as if he had a Plurality of Advocates to answer for him he gives us his slim Answer in the Plural thus viz. We will give an answer to G. W's impertinent Questions though I think they are not worth taking notice of His Questions are four but his Reasons for asking them vanish in answering the first And in the pretended Answer it is said E. P. did Write and Publish his Book by the Approbation of the majority of this Congregation and so he did not do it on his own Head neither did we see it needful to desire the Approbation of others herein though several have approved of it since p. 37 38. But what We are these give this Answer besides Edward Paye we find no Body's Name else to it but his own If by WE will give an Answer neither did we see it needful to desire the Approbation of others be meant William Allcot and Henry Loader why did they not put their Names to it Why do they now shrink back and decline their Brother in his Work seeing the Enquiry was so fairly made of them Can they or Edward Paye either reasonably suppose that we as a People defamed and injured by E. P. will accept of his own Answer or Justification of his perverse Work and himself too and believe that he says true in saying That he did Write and Publish his said Book by the Approbation of the majority of their Congregation at Deptford For my Part I do not believe him herein in Point of Charity I do not suppose the majority of the Congregation or Hearers of the Baptists at Deptford are so grossly corrupted and deluded into Envy and Prejudice as really to believe and approve of such a Bundle of Malicious and Numerous Slanders Forgeries Notorious Lyes Perversions and Abuses as are contain'd and apparent in the said Pamphlet styl'd Antichrist in Spirit by Edward Paye and many of them repeated in his second and highly approved by William Allcott and Henry Loader But if either the majority or minority of their Congregation have given their Approbation for the Writing and Publication thereof as is pretended I and others of us should be very sorry for their sakes that they should be so miserably deluded as not only to believe but approve of the Publication of such gross Slanders and Defamations against their Innocent Neighbours as are contained in the said Pamphlet And that they should be so implicit and blindly credulous of such gross and notorious Falshoods and Reproaches invented by envious Persons and Persecutors And you E. P. W. A. and H. L. who have so far deluded any of your Hearers have much to answer for and a sad account to give before the Righteous Judge of all But now seeing the Writing and Publication of E. P's said Envious Pamphlet i. e. Antichrist in Spirit is at last so far dedicated to the majority of the Baptist's Congregation at Deptford as having their Approbation it may not be unseasonable to shew them and others some of Edward Paye's and William Allcot's notorious Falshoods Slanders and Perversions contained therein and in his last Pamphlet also stiled Railings and Slanders c. which I shall here recite in their own Words as in Charge against them and all that approve or publish them to their Shame and Disgrace The Holy Scriptures this Generation of Men i. e. the Quakers contemn and vilifie Commendatory Epistle by William Allcott and Henry Loader to Antichrist in Spirit and that the Quakers are great Enemies to and Contemners of Holy Scriptures p. 20. This is their General and a most odious Charge which in our very Souls and Consciences in the Sight of God we the said People do utterly deny with Detestation and I find that all their pretended Proofs do fail of any real Proof of the Matter charged the chief whereof being hereafter examin'd more particularly That the Quakers prefer their Lying Pamphlets above the Scriptures p. 9. Their pretended Proof is That G. W. affirms That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scripture and greater p. 11. quoting Apology p. 49. In which Apology no Pamphlets at all are preferred above the Scriptures but the immediate Living Ministry of the Holy Spirit within above the Letter the Divine Inspiration which was before the Scriptures were written for they proceeded from it I am very unfairly and unjustly dealt with in this Charge my Intentions and Words perverted after the Word Scriptures in mine or Chapters are here left out and after the Word Greater all these
by a Mediate or Immediate Inspiration or Revelation p. 21. And what follows If by neither of these ways we can resolve him then not to pretend to Immediate Inspiration And yet he himself pretends to Mediate or more Common Gifts of the Spirit and then confusedly tells of the use of these more immediate or common Gifts p. 19 20. And yet by these his pretended more immediate or common Gifts of the Spirit or rather mediate Gifts in his sense I presume he cannot resolve himself his Two Questions before nor can he upon his own Principle either resolve them or be resolved them either by any mediate or immediate Gifts For the immediate he has disclaimed he needs it not he says but pretends the Scriptures to be the Only Rule of Faith By what Rule then should he be resolved what those or any of those other things were that are not written John 20.25 Therefore he has insincerely and temptingly imposed unlearned Questions and Propositions which he does not believe can be resolved to his conviction or satisfaction and thereupon has past unjust Judgment against our having immediate Inspiration yet in contradiction to himself tells us of common and more immediate Gifts and Graces of the Spirit and of the use of these more immediate or common Gifts to help our Infirmities p. 19 20. Altho I presume he would be loath to have his own Judgment and Condemnation against us return'd upon himself on the same condition For 't is certain he that has not the Spirit of Christ is none of his And what are these more immediate Gifts and Graces of the Spirit he pretends to the use of seeing he and his Brethren pretend not to immediate or extraordinary Inspirations p. 19 20. There 's another Contradiction in the Case to prove their Call to Baptize People in Water He saith they have a sufficient Call for it from the Commission of Christ our Great Prophet who is to be heard in all things Matth. 28. Mark 16. and the frequent Examples of his Apostles c. So that we need not immediate Inspirations for our Call or Authority herein p. 21. Ans. Which is to tell us you may take upon you to be Preachers and Baptizers in Water without being inspired by Christ because he gave a Commission to his Disciples to teach all Nations baptizing them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost But 1. This is no proof that you are called by Christ to either 2. Here 's no Water mention'd in the Commission 3. And to baptize into that Name is a work of the Spirit attending a living and spiritual Ministry given and authorized by Christ himself which this proves not yours to be no more than that the false Prophets were true and truly commissionated because they said thus saith the Lord when yet God never spoke to them no more than Christ hath spoke to you to Preach and Baptize with Water when as you do both without his immediate Inspiration Commission or Spirit and consequently you do not hear him in all things 4. Neither does it follow that you hear Christ because you Preach and Baptize People in Water by imitation of others whom he sent to Preach and Convert People by his Spirit whereby they did Minister 5. You might as well argue that because Peter James John and Paul c. were Apostles and Ministers of Christ therefore we Edward Paye and William Allcott c. are Ministers of Christ. 6. If Reading Christ's Commission to his Disciples Mat. 28. Mar. 16. be sufficient authority for persons to turn Preachers and then to tell People they hear Christ because they read his said Commission and presume to take it upon them without immediate Inspiration from him why may not the Priests of England c. be his Ministers as well as you and why do you dissent from them Thus we see how you have proved your Call and Authority for what you pretend even as well as any sensual Impostors blind Guides and Deceivers may On Rom. 10.6.7 8. E. P. saith neither did the holy Apostle understand the Word here to be Christ p. 22. Ans. How does he answer the Questions then which the Righteousness of Faith gives answer to Say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ from above Or who descend into the Deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is near thee c. Is this all one as to say the Scripture is near thee even in thy Mouth and Heart Or was the Enquiry after the Scripture Who shall ascend or descend to fetch me the Scriptures No sure Was not the antecedent Question of Christ And surely none can savingly believe with the Heart and in true Faith confess with the Mouth that God hath raised Christ from the dead so as to be saved but by that Living Word of Faith in the Heart which works a true and living Faith therein and therefore that Word of Faith which begets and works this Faith is Christ in Spirit who is the Author of this Faith otherwise the Questions who shall fetch Christ c. are not answered For where with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth maketh Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 he must needs first feel that Living Word of Faith in his Heart to work that Faith in him which produceth that Righteousness in Man which attends Salvation 'T is true that I did complain of E. P.'s injurious way of Writing in accusing us with giving better or higher Titles to our own Books than to the Holy Scripture instancing that of H. Smith's Book where E. P. gave these words only for the Title A True and Everlasting Rule being but the first words of the Title and leaving out the next following in the same Sentence viz. From God discovered This I did deem very disingenuous Now to extenuate and excuse the Offence he asks me Does those Words from God discovered added to The True and Everlasting Rule diminish the Heighth of the Title p. 23. Answ. Yes as the first Part was only by E. P. attributed to the Book contrary to the Design of the Title and Matter contained in the Book to which the Title had plain reference as taken together entirely that True and Everlasting Rule from God discovered being the Holy Spirit the Eternal Light and Manifestation of Christ within or what may be known of God being manifest in Man plainly testified unto in the said Book as that True and Everlasting Rule that was from God discovered so the Perversion and Abuse is plain I think E. P. might have spared his Labour of giving the Reader a Breviate of what he Ironically calls The Sweet Convincing Language the Quakers use to treat their Antagonists withal unless his own Language had been sweeter and more convincing than it is and less Partial and Abusive in his Accusations as to Matter
following are left out viz. as received and proceeding immediately from that Spirit and spoken in the Sense thereof as Christ's Words were of greater Authority or Power when he spake than the Pharisees reading the Letter and them in whom that Spirit speaks not and their Speaking we deny whereby I did prefer the Spirit in it's Living and Powerful Ministry above the Letter but not a Word of preferring any Pamphlets to the Holy Scriptures God knows it never entred into my Heart to prefer any Pamphlets or Books extant in the World much less Lying Ones before the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament but do prefer and esteem them before all other Books or Writings extant whatsoever When Humphry Smith 's True and Everlasting Rule came in date the Scriptures became no better than an Old Almanack this from a Story of Tho. Hicks against one Tho. Holbrow though we know no such Person Dialogue p. 27. to which Edward Paye c. addeth these Words viz. These are the Men that in their Pamphlets profess so high an Esteem for the Holy Scriptures Antichrist in Spirit p. 13. Pray observe here These Men here accused with esteeming the Scriptures no better than an Old Almanack are therein most wickedly belied and scandaliz'd being those of us who publisht the Paper in Print entituled The Christianity of the People commonly called Quakers asserted wherein we sincerely declare the quite contrary to what 's here implicitly charged by E. P. c. against us namely That we do believe and own the Holy Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration c. Tho. Hicks in his Dialogue I. p. 24 25. and Edward Paye c. on his Credit Falsly and Wickedly Personate the Quaker thus viz. When we make use of Scripture it is only to Quiet and Stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule but for us had the Scriptures never been we could have known what is therein contained I hope quoth Edward Paye the Reader by this may perceive the Reason why the Quakers talk so much of Scripture in their Paper Observe we own not the Scripture we seemingly allow it but our End in this is only to stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule You see here quoth E. P. the condescending Spirits of these Men c. Antichrist p. 15. We do in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ utterly deny this Passage and Declaration as laid down in the Quakers Name and Person as no Declaration or Speech made or thus declarable by the Quakers on their Principle but a Horrid Abusive Forgery of Thomas Hicks long since detected and which you Baptists now may be horribly ashamed to bring forth or suffer to be renewed in Print The Names they i. e. the Quakers give the Holy Scriptures viz. No better than an Old Almanack a Dead Carnal Letter p. 18. But on second Consideration E. P. deems it a difficulty to prove that the Quakers do now in the present Tense say The Holy Scriptures are but a Dead or Carnal Letter as his other Pamphlet Raylings p. 23 24. and yet chargeth them in the present Tense with giving such Names to the Holy Scriptures but now 't is a Difficulty to prove his own Charge Among the Names which E. P. falsly chargeth the Quakers to give the Holy Scriptures viz. That they are the Precepts and Traditions of Men p. 18. That Obedience to the Scriptures is the Harlot's Child p. ibid. These are both utterly denyed by us the said People and the pretended Proof of the first is hereafter examined and proved false The latter I really believe could never be so said nor ever was held by the Quakers so to term sincere Obedience to the Holy Scripture but rather to reflect upon an Hypocritical Profession and Imitation of some Shadows and outwardward Things and neglecting the Substance of the New Covenant Dispensation That the Heaven they i. e. the Quakers intend wherein the three Divine Witnesses bear Record is No where else but within their Mortal Corrupt Bodies they intend no other Heaven than what is within them Antichrist in Spirit p. 20 21. This is expressly contrary to our known professed Principle of the omnipresence of God and his Spirit both in Heaven above and in Earth beneath and whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain And I take the Charge to be but E. P's own Consequence which he himself has drrawn from some Words he has partially and mincingly taken up against James Parnell Thomas Lawson Edward Burroughs c. First For a Pretext quoting James Parnell's Book as he calls it Satan's Design Discovered But I know no Bok of James Parnell's so entituled upon the Reviewing the Titles of his Books nor any of the rest quoted that oppose or disown God's Omnipresence much less that the People called Quakers are guilty of any such Charge I would desire E. P. if he will still be so injurious as to reassume this Charge against the People called Quakers that he would yet be so ingenious as fairly and fully to cite the whole Passages of the Authors quoted by him relating to the Matter intended and for Proof of his Charge without his own Consequences and Perversions That if it shall appear that any of them have opposed or denyed the Omnipresence of God or his Eternal Spirit we may shew our dislike thereof But I believe there 's enough in our Friends Books to clear them if honestly viewed and cited and we have great cause to Question and detect his unfair Citations as I have this following Instance against my self for Proof of his said Charge 8. Quoting Dipper plung'd Christ without us is not Scripture Language but the Anthropomorphites and Muggletonians Antichrist in Spirit p. 22. But E. P. in his other Pamphlet Railings p. 29. varies in his Repetition of his Charge thus viz. G. W. Dipper plung'd Jesus Christ a Person without us is not Scripture-Language c. Observe here in the one it is Christ without us where after Christ E. P. leaves out God-Man a Person i. e. without us which I said is not Scripture-Language c. In the other it is Jesus Christ a Person without us is not Scriture-Language where after Christ he leaves out God-man again and yet both charged by the same Credulous Person E. P. though both be falsly cited and unjustly charged upon me as mine For to Tho. Hick's strange Phrase viz. Jesus Christ God-man a Person without thee Dial. p. 9. My Answer was This is not Scripture Language but the Anthropomorphites and Muggletonians who profess a personal God denying him to be an Infinite Spirit Dipper plung'd p 13. Wherein my Objection was not against the Words Jesus Christ without us for he is both without us and within us but my Question was of the Words God-man a Person without us including God as well as the Man Christ Jesus as
of Fact wherein he is still general against the Quakers as if they all treated their Antagonists of all Sorts with such sharp Language as some have treated a few and how far they merited severe Treatment from our Friend concerned he does not know The Instances of the Quakers Treatment E. P. gives are upon T. Lawson E. Burroughs W. Penn and G. Whitehead but chiefly on E. B. who in Scorn he terms Famous p. 25. for using the Words Reprobate Child of Darkness Diviner Antichrist Beast Blind Pharisee Hypocrite Sottish c. These with other Words of like import he has pick'd up among Matters of Controversie which though the Language be sharp 't is not unscriptural both Prophets of God and Ministers of Christ yea Christ himself did sometime use the like against Wicked Men who really were such in Spirit and Practice especially against Envious Persecutors Deceivers Hypocrites c. In his accusing E. B. hereupon with sentencing a Man to Wo and Condemnation for ever for asking some sober Questions p. 26. Herein he apparently wrongs E. B. for 't was not only for the Questions that he censured him though they were not sincere nor consistent clear Questions but as knowing that Adversary to be in Strife and Envy as he declares f. 31 32. denounces severe Judgment 1. Absolutely upon the Envious Persecuting Spirit of the Beast in him 2. Conditionally upon the Envious Person leaving him room for Repentance Exhorting him To Own and Obey the Light in his Conscience that he might know that Obedience of Christ which reconciles to God and that by the same Light he might see his Evil Deeds and be led up to Christ from whence the Light comes thus E. Burroughs f. 30 31 33. Whence it evidently appears He did not absolutely condemn the Man for ever but the Beast in him the evil envious Spirit and Works of it in him and this can be no just Occasion for E. Paye or W. Allcott to accuse the People called Quakers with having Affinity with the Muggletonians in their execrable Imprecations Curses c. as they falsly declare in their Antichrist in Spirit p. 9. For the Muggletonians have absolutely Cursed and Damned Persons for opposing them only allowing them no condition of Repentance or of owning or obeying the Light of Christ in them to lead them up to him as E. B. did neither does any Just Ground appear from his Words as justly distinguished before to deduce any such Rude Censorious and Reviling Question as E. Paye and W. Allcott c. have done in their Antichrist in Spirit p. 34 35. Their Reviling yet mistaken Question follows ☞ viz. Could the Devil himself have been more Vile and prodigiously Arrogant to take upon him to Determine a Man's endless Condition When it was not the Endless Condition of the Man but of the Evil Spirit in him the Beast in him that E. B. absolutely excludes from God for ever but conditionally declares Judgment upon the envius Man warning him To own and obey the Light of Christ in his Conscience that so he might find Repentance otherwise Destruction would be his Portion This Distinction I observe and clearly find in E. B's said Answer to Bennit The Matter justly considered is much like as if a Son of Thunder stirred up in Zeal for Truth should severely Judge and Condemn the Evil Lying Envious Spirit of the Beast and false Prophet in E. P. and his Abettors and unto that Lying Spirit in them declare viz. Thou Envious Lying Persecuting Beast thou Foul Wicked Spirit thou Malicious Devil and Father of Lyes and Lyars thou Author of all Mischief and Discord thou Troubler of the Creation thou Reproacher of God's Heritage thou that hast opened thy Mouth in Blasphemy against God his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven thou art utterly cast down and condemned for ever and to the Pit thou must return c. And you in whom this Lying Envious Spirit has so violently appeared against the People of God to Defame and Reproach them and their Christian Profession You and your Lyes and Perversions are condemned with the Light of Truth and you 'll come to Shame and Contempt for the same and utterly perish if you do not repent this is more than a Supposition 't is a real Warning to you the Lake which is the Second Death is and will be the Portion of all Lyars and therefore I exhort you in love to your poor Souls Return Own and Obey the Light of Christ in your Consciences that will shew you your Evil Deeds your Hypocrisies your Falshood and Envy and lead you to repent of the same that you may find Mercy and Pardon in Christ if your Day be not over the Spirit of Truth the Saints Comforter is the World's Reprover and Judge also of the Prince thereof Christ's Ministers who were led by this Spirit did not wrestle against Flesh and Blood but against Principalities and Powers and Rulers of the Darkness of the World against Spiritual Wickedness in High Places Eph. 6. These testified against Evil Spirits and Wickedness it self both in Root and Branches The great Degeneracy hath been such in the World that a Generation of Men have turned Beasts the Persecuting Envious Spirit of the Beast has made them Beasts Bulls Dogs Foxes Swine Wolves Devourers Destroyers of others the Old Serpent has made them Serpents Vipers Children of the Devil c. These being Characters in Scripture put upon Wicked Men And it is no hard Matter to shew E. P. and his Brethren as severe Judgment and sharp Language given in Scripture to Envious Wicked Persons as E. Burroughs gave to his Envious Antagonist before-mentioned and which I am persuaded is as justly applicable to our present Malicious Adversaries as to those to whom first directed by the Spirit of true Judgment in the Servants of God and Christ as Ps. 52. observe E. P. c. 1. Thy Tongue deviseth Mischief like a sharp Razor working deceitfully thou lovest Evil more than Good and Lying rather than to speak Righteousness Selah Thou lovest all devouring Words O thou Deceitful Tongue God shall likewise destroy thee for ever He shall take thee away and pluck thee out of thy Dwelling place and root thee out of the Land of the Living Selah v. 2 3 4 5. 2. And Isa. 56.10 His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb Dogs c. v. 11. Yea they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough they are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his Quarter as the Covetous Persecuting Priests used to do and 't is well if some of you be clear thereof And 3. Ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell Matt. 23.33 O Generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come Matt. 3.7 4. Read also the Epistle of Jude v. 10. But these speak evil of those things which
they know not but what they know naturally as Bruit Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves 11. Wo unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain c. 12. These are Spots in your Feasts of Charity c. 13. Raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own Shame wandring Stars to whom he is reserved the Blackness of Darkness for ever Many other Instances might be given of the Prophets Christ his Servants and Ministers giving severe Judgment against the Wicked And what think you now do not these Instances contain as much Sharpness of Language and Judgment if not rather more as either the said E. B. or any of our Friends have given their Envious Adversaries and yet 't were not warrantable to compare them to the Muggletonians much less to the Devil's Vileness or prodigious Arrogancy The Lord open these Men's Eyes and soften their hard Hearts and make them more charitable if it may yet stand with his good Pleasure And I perceiving the very same Bitter Envious Spirit of Persecution in these present Adversaries Pamphlet styled Antichrist in Spirit I could do no less than tell them of their Hypocrisy Envy and Bitterness their Turbulent Persecuting Lying Spirit their Gross Lyes and Falshoods c. for which I am not condemned of the Lord nor conscious to my self of Wrong done them for these Evils are apparent in them but really believe the Just God will Rebuke and Judge them and plead our Innocency And seeing Ed. Paye upbraids us with the Sweet Convincing Language of the Quakers I will not so unequally retaliate and say I shall give the Reader a Breviate of the Sweet Convincing Language the Anabaptists use to treat their Antagonists withal But to speak in his Terms of the Sweet Convincing Language which Edw. Paye and his Brethren Will. Allcott and H. Loader have treated the People commonly called Quakers withal in their said Pamphlet Antichrist in Spirit viz. Quakerism a great Delusion their Deceit their pretended Faith proved a Counterfeit Title their Profession a Labyrinth of Confusion a Compound of Heresies corrupt Notions Equivocal Reserves Proud Boastings the Pride and Ignorance of these Impostors these deluded Impostors the Quakers great Enemies to and Contemners of Holy Scriptures The Quakers dream This Generation of Impostors the Quakers who say Behold he Christ is within thee to deceive the Hearts of the Simple Horrid Blasphemy They labour to keep a Christian-Mask over their Anti-Christian Face a Bundle of Blasphemy Could the Devil himself have been more Vile Why should these Impostors talk of the Blood of Christ their Pofession but a Painted and Deceitful Flourish The Quakers Grand Deluders Blasphemous Absurdities By no means their Word must be taken blasphemous Confidence The Title on each Page is Quakerism a great Delusion above 70. times over and Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker 7. times over in three Pages repeated in Derision and set in Opposition to Christ's Doctrine c. The Spirit of Delusion and gross Ignorance in the Quakers These Clouds of Popish Darkness These Men care not for the Scriptures except it be to abuse them A Spirit of Delusion Their impertinent Evasions and manifold Corruptions of the Scriptures The Quakers are greatly deluded What Horrid Contradictions and gross Absurdities attend this Spirit of Delusion The Quakers vainly feed themselves with Wind in Imagining that they have the Holy Spirit who rebel against Christ contemn his Blood despise his Ordinances c. With much more such like Treatment in their said Pamphlet in pages 8 16 18 20 24 25 28 29 34 35 37 39 40 43 46 54 55 56 58 62 64 69 70 71 75 76. which as 't is unmerited so it is utterly denyed by us Take a View farther of some of Edw. Pay's Sweet Language he treats us withal to convince us in his Second Pamphlet styled Railings and Slanders detected viz. The Folly and Heresies of the Quakers Quakerism a great Delusion in the Title Slanderous confused Raileries Ill-shapen Cub Your Defects in Truth and Reason Gross and abominable Errors All their Authors Books full of Railings and Blasphemy that they have formerly called it a Doctrine of Devils viz. Justification by Christ's Works Righteousness and Merits which is an abominable Falshood I have seen them Quake and Foam at the Mouth Your Corrupt Notions and Deceivable Gestures Suppose you formerly used to Quake Tremble Roar Swell Foam c. G. W. an old Stickler for Quakerism Mr. J. Faldoe saith How generally were their Meetings either Silent or taken up with sudden and violent Eruptions of dismal Howlings and horrid Ravings Shaking and Foaming at the Mouth c. G. W. is so daringly Confident his Impertinent and Absurd Evasions This small Bundle of Railery written by G. W. Like raging Bears Their Ragings The confused Profession of Faith that G. W. makes p. 1 2 6 7 9 10 11 12 15 22 24 27 28 34. I am not willing to trouble the Reader in this Place with more of E. P's sweet Treatment or rather his sowre scurrilous Contemning and undeserved Detractions he had better have let what he calls the Quakers Sweet Convincing Language alone than to have reflected so scornfully upon us unless his own had been sweeter than 't is and more Convincing and obliging though I confess this his latter Pamphlet is not quite so bad as the other An Examination of those Exceptions and Passages which Edward Paye has set opposite as the Quakers Contradictions of their Profession of Faith in his said Pamphlet styled Railings and Slanders detected Excep SMith's Primmer p. 9. They that are false Ministers preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above p. 29. and not within also nor in Peoples Hearts they preach Christ without and in Heaven only excluding him Men's Hearts as William Smith's Book shews that to be his Intention Excep Your Carnal Christ. Who so wrote and on what occasion We know not But suppose if any Quaker did he struck at some Carnal Imaginations about Christ for the true Christ of God could not be intended for he is a Spiritual Divine and Heavenly Christ. Exc. Your imagined God beyond the Stars Who hath so writ I know not nor on what occasion but if any among us did the Intent was this viz. That the True God is not such a God as you or some Men imagine he is not an imagined God limited or circumscribed only beyond the Stars but is also on this Side the Stars a Real True Infinite and Omnipresent God both in the highest Heavens and lowest Hearts 'T is true I did question some Socinians and Baptists their defining Christ under the Terms of a Personal Being a Human Body and consisting of a Human Body asking them what they meant by Human Body in Heaven And if Human Body be not an Earthly Body Appendix to Reason against Railing printed in 1673. p. 21 22. This is impertinently alledged against me by E. P. p.
I do not therefore conclude that the Divine Doctrin therein contain'd may be no means of our knowing God for in Christ's hand and by his opening it to us and our understandings therein it may be and is A Means of Divine knowledge to us Christ being the Way and the Means original of Divine and Saving-Knowledge Obj. against G. W. again viz. Who also affirmeth that Faith grounded on the Scriptures is but an empty implicit Faith and bespeaks such persons void of the knowledge of God and Christ and Salvation and that such Men walk by their own Fancies and Imaginations Quoting Christ ascended p. 11. Observ. This Baptist has again apparently miscited and wrong'd my Answer 't was none of my affirmation or words That Faith grounded on the Scripture is but an empty implicit Faith c. I affirm they are not my words but E. P.'s fallacious abuse put upon me The Case was this viz. John Newman in his Book stiled The Light within c. having affirm'd p. 45. That without the Scriptures to be the Rule we know not that there is any God or Christ or Salvation c. all Men are left in the dark and no man knoweth how to enjoy Life Eternal neither do we know what God counteth unclean and what holy without the Scriptures we know not any Promise c. It leaves men to walk by Fancy and Imaginations Thus far he My Answer was Poor Men You have shewn your selves sufficiently herein and what an empty implicit Faith you are in and how void both of the Knowledge of God Christ and Salvation you are and how yet in your sins having denied Christ and his Light within to be your Rule Way and Foundation as he is to his Followers And so you are walking by your Fancies and Imaginations who set the Scriptures in the place of Christ as your only and absolute Rule and Ground of your Faith and Knowledge c. So that I did not own nor grant that their Faith was really grounded on the Scriptures herein but on their own unscriptural Fancies and Imaginations vid. Christ ascend p. 12. contrary to Scripture-Testimony of Christ. And I further oppose their Ignorance of God and Christ thus viz. And then what a sad Sentence of no less than condemnation doth this pass upon all People and Nations who have not the Scriptures as being all void of knowledge that there is either God Christ Salvation Good or Evil without the Scriptures whereas there is a Living Evidence throughout the Creation or Works of God therein of the Eternal Power or Maker thereof See Ps. 19. Rom. 1. Job 12. and many do know and have known these things written of which concern Salvation by the Light of God and Christ in them that never could read nor had the Scriptures outwardly as those Gentiles which had not the Law yet did those things contained in it and shewed the Effects of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2. Tho' the Scriptures are profitable to the Man of God who hath them being led by his Spirit which opens them Christ ascend p. 11 12. And now E. P. to prove thy Brethren W. Allcot and H. Loader's false Charge That the Quakers contemn and vilifie the Holy Scriptures in their Epistles and thy own horrid Slanders also that they are great Enemies to and Contemners of Holy Scriptures p. 20. of thy Antichrist in Spirit Thou summest up thy Argument with divers If 's but assumest no Assumption pursuant to thy general Charge as in thy 33 and 34 Pages of thy Railings and Slanders detected thus viz. Now if the Scriptures be a dead carnal Letter Ink and Paper saith Parnel If they are the Precepts and Traditions of Men saith Naylor in his Love to the Lost. If they are no better than an old Almanack as Holbrow said Hick 's Dial. p. 29. If to say an Ass hath as much Authority essentially in himself to teach and rebuke as the Scriptures c. be not to Contemn and Vilifie them I am yet to seek what is Ans. The Assumption or Minor Proposition intended i. e. but the Quakers say all these of the Holy Scriptures is here wanting and the Argument is lame and fallacious as well as falsly stated also in the first Proposition being not in the terms of the Charge For 1 st The Charge is general against the Quakers That they are great Enemies to and Contemners of the Holy Scriptures yet the word Holy not mentioned in the particular Instances fallaciously alledged for proof though it be in the general Charge 2. If some of the Instances were true yet to charge them upon the People called Quakers in general is an absurd and unjust way of arguing a particulare ad universale and no better than to argue thus If Edw. Paye the Baptist has raked up and charged divers of Hicks's Lies and Forgeries upon the Quakers and added many more of his own to them then the Baptists are all Forgers But Edw. Paye hath so done is apparent Ergo They may justly deny the Major though the Assumption or Charge alone stands good being plentifully proved against E. Paye in particular 3. Neither are the particular Instances true in fact the Holy Scriptures are not a dead Letter in the Quakers esteem tho' none of us ascribe Holiness to Ink and Paper or the dead Characters but to the living Divine Precepts and Doctrine therein contained nor did we ever think the Holy Scriptures to be but the Precepts and Traditions of Men or much less no better than an Old Almanack as the People called Quakers are most unjustly accused by these Adversaries Antichrist in Spirit p. 18. And 't is far from J. N. or any of us either to say or think that an Ass hath as much Authority essentially in himself to teach and rebuke as the Holy Scriptures For shame E. P. retract and leave off such foul gross and horrid Lies and Reproaches against the People called Quakers To prove that we name or call the Holy Scriptures the Precepts and Traditions of Men charged against the Quakers in general Antichrist in Spirit p. 18. Thou E. P. hast repeated this again in thy Railings p. 33. and quotest James Nayler's Love to the Lost for it but not in what Page and therefore I have been at the pains to view over that Book to see if I could find any such words but find nothing like them but the contrary namely 1 st That the words of the Scripture were given forth from the Light which he calls the Eternal Light Love to the Lost p. 4 20 21. And that the Ministers of Christ who have the Word who are begotten by the Word through such came the Scriptures which came not by the Will of Man but by the Spirit and so are of no private Interpretation Love to the Lost p. 73. which Spirit is the Eternal Spirit the Spirit of Light and Truth p. 13 18. Thus J. N. All which is far enough from calling or
the highest Attainments of the Holy Spirit do but fit Men for Water-Baptism as if that were higher than those Attainments or the Spirit Inferior to the Element of Water 3. But in contradiction to themselves herein they tell us That Water-Baptism is the initiating and ingrafting Ordinance whereby the Penitent Believer puts on Christ p. 68. Obs. For which they quote and misapply Gal. 3.27 which shews That it is by Faith in Christ Jesus that they were Children of God being baptized into Christ v. 26 27. and Rom. 11.19 20 23. 4. That there is but one Baptism in a full and proper Sense and that is that of Water in which the Penitent Believer is Buried for which they unduly quote Coll. 2.12 Rom. 6.4 and on Eph. 4.5 say To be Baptized with Water is the one Baptism Pa. 66 67. Obs. This appears directly Popish Doctrine and accordingly held by the Rhemists contrary to the Protestants and wholy excludes Christ's Baptism by the Holy Spirit 5. 1 Pet. 3.21 Applyed to Water-Baptism as the Baptism that doth now save us the End whereof is the Answer of a good Conscience towards God p. 67. Obs. If Water-Baptism be the one-saving Baptism then out of the Baptist's-Church there is no Salvation This is not only Popish but contrary to that very Scripture 1 Pet. 3.2 that Saving Baptism being not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh c. 6. That our saying Water-Baptism was a Figure of the Spiritual is an apparent Falshood p. 68. Ob. No 't is an apparent Truth John's Baptism was a Figure of Christ's Saving Spiritual Baptism and Washing of Regeneration See Matth. 3.11 Mar. 1.8 Luke 3.16 Joh. 1.26 27. Tit. 3.5 6. 7. That Christ is not come because that Kingdom is not come that Christ speaks of I will not henceforth drink of the fruit of the Vine 'till I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom Matt. 26.29 Luke 22.18 p. 73. compared with p. 74. In that Kingdom they neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more Luk. 20.35 36. Qu. How then shall they drink new Wine with Christ in that World to come and in that State wherein they shall be equal with the Angels of God in Heaven suppose ye And as neither can they dye any more so neither shall they Hunger nor Thirst any more Rev. 7.16 Isaiah 49.10 What occasion for New Wine then 8. That his Disciples upon Earth are to Break and Eat Bread and Drink of the Fruit of the Vine till he come to wit in a Personal Glorious and Visible manner Phil. 3 2â— Who shall change our vile Bodies and make them like his own glorious Body at Christ's second personal coming visible in his Body of Flesh and Bones p. 73 74. Qu. And shall those glorious Bodies then have occasion to drink New Wine with Christ in his Father's Kingdom do you think or are you not rather too Carnal in your Expectations in this Matter whilst you mean literally and then do you not delay and put off the Spiritual Eating and Drinking with Christ Rev. 3.20 Luke 22.30 in his Spiritual Kingdom 9. No Christians can allow them i.e. the Quakers that Christ is come the second Time p. 74. Obs. Yes true Christians can allow it tho' these Baptists cannot wherein they contradict the true Believers Expectation and Experience of Salvation by Christ's coming Heb. 9.28 Tit. 2.13.14 10. That the Quakers say they are perfect viz. without Sin this is not true by the way but that to be so is both required of us in this Life and attainable in Christ Jesus but Christians expect compleat Perfection that is a living without Sin as 't is explain'd by E. P. Rail and Slan p. 38. when they come to glory on the other side of the Grave c. p. 51. Qu. When do these Men expect to be made clean in the Grave or at their expected Resurrection unto Glory If not until they are in their Graves they dye in their Sins and then whither Christ is gone they cannot come John 8.21 If not until such their expected Resurrection what shall become of their Sins inherent Pollutions and Defilement between their Death and Resurrection A few more of their Unsound and Antichristian Doctrines about Inspiration Christ within his Kingdom and Light within 1. That if the Quakers by their immediate Inspirations do not resolve what those many other things were that Jesus did that are not written Joh. 21.25 and what were the Contents of that Writing on the Ground Joh. 8.6 8. then their boasting of immediate Inspiration is to be condemned to perpetual Silence and shame to cover their Faces Antichrist in Spirit p. 15 16. Contradiction Things that are Secret and not written not at all belonging to us but to the Lord as in E. P. Rail and Slan p. 20. Obs. There they have imposed such a Proof of immediate Inspiration upon us as doth not at all belong to them if things not written do not all belong to them 2. On Matth. 24.26 they say 'T is more than probable that Christ pointed at this Generation of Impostors the Quakers who say Behold he Christ is within thee c. p. 25. Obs. Antichristian Doctrine contrary to Christ and his Apostle's Doctrine Joh. 17.23 2 Cor. 13.5 Coll. 1.27 Rom. 10.6 7 8. 3. That those that are in the Possession of that Kingdom viz. the Kingdom of Christ neither Marry nor are given in Marriage c. but the Quakers do Marry ergo not in possession of that Kingdom p. 51 52. Obs. Marriage in the Lord hinders not his People from the Enjoyment of Christ's Kingdom therefore the first Proposition and Conclusion of this Argument is contrary to plain Scripture Coll. 1.13 Rev. 1.9 Matt. 16.28 Mar. 9.1 Luk. 9.27 4. That the Disciples did not expect this Christ to come into them Namely This Christ the Prophet whom ye shall hear in all things Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 He of whom God the Father from Heaven testified Matt. 17 5. This is my beloved Son hear ye him This Christ that was Crucified and Rose from the Dead Luke 24.39 This is he that told Mary Joh. 20.19 I go to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Hereupon these Baptists affirm as before the Disciples did not expâ—ct this Christ to come into them p. 52 53. Qu. What Christ then Is there two Christs See 1 Cor. 8.6 Is not this Antichristian Doctrine contrary to Christ's own express Testimony Joh. 14.20.17.23 And to these Baptists own Confession on 2 Cor. 13.5 c. 5.17 1 Cor. 6.19 Coll. 1.27 Ro. 8.9 Eph. 2.22 p. 22 23. 5. Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker This these Baptists have in contempt repeated seven times over in less than three Pages and all under the Title of Quakerism a great Delusion to prove that the Quakers disown the Doctrine taught by Christ and his Apostles and that they oppose the Teachings of Christ's Prophetical office p. 54 55 56. Obs. Here they have opposed and contemned the Doctrine of God's Prophets Christ and his Apostles who were all for and preached the Light within see Ps. 56.13 Isa. 2.5 Jo. 12.36 1 Jo. 1.7 and 2.10 Acts 26.18 and how can the Light of Christ within either oppose his Doctrine Ministry or Offices And 't is no other Light we exhort People to turn to The Lord open these Men's Eyes that they may come out of Darkness which they cannot do unless they turn to the Light within FINIS Charg 1. Answer Answ. Observ. * Where proves he these to be the Quakers words from which he himself varies p. 11. viz. That all things necessary may be taught without them and what less have Baptists heretofore confessed by approving Samuel How 's Sermon for The Sufficiency of the Spirit 's Teaching printed 1655. A Gross Lye Answ. Answ. Answ. Observ. * This is a gross Forgery Observ. Observ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. Answ. * Contrary to Christ's own Testimony Matt. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luke 9.27