hope the Author will not deny the truth of these Scriptures and if these promises be fulfilled in any man what need hath such of Scripture reaching without them when they have received the same spirit within them by which all true Scripture was written and how much is the words proceeding from that spirit inferiour to Scripture except the holy Ghost have changed its nature and be not what it was formerly for it is not time and persons that make mens words differ or not be in equallity to the word in Scripture but the spirit from whence they flow And doth not all ordinances point out or leade to that very end that God and Man should be united in one spirit that he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified may be one And if any soule be so made one with God who dare deny but all true Scripture is fulfilled in them and that such soules have no need of any to teach them because that anointing which they have received is able to teach them all things 1 Iohn 2. 27. But I say no more to that because the truth of what they say herein is so largely amplified in Scripture except it be to poore blind iddeots whose envy against others have shut their eyes from seeing and their hearts from understanding the Truth of Scripture The Author of that Discourse proceedeth still in questioning the light which is in these people and amongst the rest of his scandals east upon them would make people beleeve that these people deny the Scriptures the which is a most false aspersion for there is not a people in England that is more conformable to the very outward requiring of Scripture then these people and that light within them doth leade them and causeth them to act according to what the Scripture requireth in the practicall part thereof in their obedience to which their very outward practice doth condemne all men in the Land both religious and irreligious for they follow the words of our Saviour where he saith Take no thought for to morrow And having Food and Rayment therewith be content c. Mat. 6. 26. 27. And in mortifying their Sences and Members they follow the command of the Apostle to divers of the people he taught which Rule he followed himselfe 1 Cor. 9. 27. and yet this Author saith They are possessed with an austere Devill and denyes Scripture for so doing but let but a wise man judge whether those who pretend Scripture and talke of Scripture or those that practice Scripture deny it most for every one that cryeth up Scripture with their Tongue are not those that confesse Scripture but those are they that truely confesse it that in their practice is conformable to it for every one shall not enter into Heaven for talking of Scripture and making discourses of God out of Scripture nor that sayeth Lord Lord but they that doe the Will of the Father But it is no marvaile to me if these people be so cryed out against with all people for their very outward life is a Witnesse against all sorts both Formalists and others For there is no difference between the Formalists and men who are not conformed for both are alike for pride and sensuality and for the love of the world and for reputation amongst men all of them having hearts alike in the worship of the god of the World onely the Formalists differ from the other in their head by which they are carryed beyond the other into a faire seeming Forme in which they worship God according to their good-thinking but yet their Forme will admit their hearts to worship the gods of the Heathen I may speak it with sadnesse of heart seeing the truth hereof so clearely and cannot deny but all Formalists and unconformed are but hornes springing out of the same head of the Beast which John saw in his Revelation Further the light that is in these people is not at all contrary to what the Scripture holdeth out in the Mystery but the same being truely fulfilled in them they are made able to witnesse the truth in the Scripture and no other way can any soule be a true witnesse of the truth of Scripture but by having the same truely fulfilled in them for all other are but false witnesses and speaketh but of it from what they have heard or received from others and these people is made able by the light which is in them to witnesse the truth of the love of God made knowne to their soules and of other of Gods dealing with them and will not vary from Scripture but owne it and take it to witnesse the truth of what they doe declare to others And I am sure that many of the Priests in England can witnesse the truth of what I say if their malice would but let them for the time hath been and not long since that some of the Priests made tryall of them thinking to confute them and make them appeare as erronious but it proved the contrary way for not long had they dissoursed with them but the Priests was strucken dumbe before them and had not a word to say but was forced to fly like beaten Cockes in so much that the very vulgar people shouted at the beaten Priests and some did averre that they conceived that no fewer then an hundred soules was convinced of the truth at that time And yet these beaten Priests deviseth all wayes possible to root out these people but they are but like the people with whom Steven conversed who was not able to resist the spirit he spake from yet they stoned him to death Acts 7. â—7 c. The Author of that Discourse proceedeth about the exhaltation of Scripture and sayes whatsoever is essentiall to God the same is appropriated to Scripture the which saying if well considered is no lesse then blasphemy Whether was it God or the Scripture that Created the World and all other things Or whether was it Scripture or Christ that suffered for the sinne of man or whether is it Scripture or Christ that reconcileth God to man or whether is it Scripture or God that maketh the Winde blow where it listeth and the Raine to fall in its appointed season c. If that be true which he saith why is not every one sanctified and made holy that Heareth or Readeth Scripture Alas when men have no other light but the light of reason to beare witnesse to the truth of Scripture what soule mistakes doe they light on in medling with Scripture for as some being led by their wilde wandering wit make lesse of the Scripture then it is so this Author is carried by that light to make more of the Scripture then it is and to make good what he affirmeth he quoteth Gal. 3. 8. where the Apostle is speaking of things in the dayes of Abraham which was before any Scripture was Written and because the Apostle sayes The Scripture foreseeiâ—g such things therefore it is like God who fore-seeth
by mans own industry which seemingly may be of God the light which is in Reason though never so much augmented by mans industry in Reading Hearing Studying or examination cannot finde out the darkenesse of it selfe yet man in that light may walke very zealously and yet therein be the greatest enemy that God hath in the world and doe more mischiefe against Christ and the Truth then those who have no illumination at all neither act any thing in obedience to such light Witnesse the Apostle Paul who from the obedience to such light Persecuted the Saints And many of the Scribes and Pharisees who upon the same account put Christ to death Yea from the time that God hath been pleased to come neer the sonns of men by the 〈◊〉 of his Sonne in Flesh hath this ignorant zeale manifested it selfe and the Prophesie of Christ hath been in fulfilling till now and as yet is not out of date nor shall be so long as men is hide-bound under Formes which is the creatures owne actings nor so long as men is heart bound to any created thing whatsoever so long as these have residence in men the men who is inveigled in them shall alwayes be enemies of the Truth when or wheresoever the same becommeth truely to be manifest and yet none shall be greater pretenders of Truth noâ— greater contenders for Truth then those who be the greatest opposites thereof And he that was the Truth it selfe beareth witnesse hereof in his Prophesie where he saith The time shall come that those that Kill you shall thinke they doe God service John 6. 2. But some may say at this day there is no Persecuting of men for their judgement in matter of Worship seeing that Liberty of Conscience is countenanced by the present Authority To which I say there is a Persecution and Killing in a two-fold manner The one being acted by the Ignorant zeale of Papists Prelacians and Presbyterians and that Persecution was acted upon the bodies and states of men who would not Worship God in their way but that I confesse is much abated But the second Persecution or Killing is yet untaken away but is in as full force and vigour as ever and that is the Persecution of the Tongue and Hand both being set on worke by the ignorant zeale of the hellish fire that is in the heart from which burning flame the Tongue is made to utter scandelizings and calumnious speeches against such persons as God doth marvailously make his truth to appeare in their soules because such soules is not made partakers of the truth under their good thinking rules and faire seeming Formes and from the zeale of that fire their hands is set on worke to write ridiculous Pamphlets in villifying the names and actions and intentions and manifestations of such persons as have had a clearer sight of the truth and fuller possession of the same yea and live more in the power thereof then any person who is so glewed and hinde-bound to any Forme though never so seeming holy in the same And I wish that the Author of that Pamphlet called the Discourse concerning the Quakers be not one of these good thinking Proselytes who thinketh they have God hard tyed to them in the chaines of a faire-seeming Forme and through that great light he may imagine himselfe to have may become captived under a judgement whose gates may prove as narrow as the eye of a Needle and then it is no marvaile to me to see or heare such persons throw durt in the face of God or in the face of any in whom God doth more abundantly manifest himselfe to then he hath done to them Yet however I will understand the Author of that Discourse in the better sence and will not say that he hath put out that Pamphlet by the power of the ground of the evill that is in his will but rather say and make it good to that he hath put it out from or by the power of the evill in his reason and these sins may happily be pardoned before these which ariseth out of the evill ground in the will for the Apostle Paul himselfe was received to mercy in as much as what he had done he did it in ignorance But now I proceed to what is intended The Authour beginneth his discourse with interpreting the words of such Scriptures as shew what great deceivers shall be in the last dayes and doth make his applications according as his good thinking inspireth him in the understanding of thâ—se Scriptures quoted by him but that spirit that is his guide herein I beleeve will not let him make the application of these Scriptures to himselfe nor any of his order but if judgement were but layd to the lyne and righteousnesse to the plummet and that the tempest of hayle had but swept away the lying refuge and if he would but weigh his own heart in the ballance of the Sanctuary I make no doubt but he might have made a truer application neerer home for who is the greatest deceivers in the world but such as have a faire seeming Forme of godlinesse and yet live not in the power of God himselfe and these are the greatest hypocrites amongst men for amongst such the white-devill hath his habitation and the well-favoured harlot hath her bed of whoredome most daintily decked whereon her lovers and she take their fill of pleasure O how well and subtilly doth she work when once she getteth her selfe covered over with the habit of Saint-like walkings in the outward form of a litterall Religion which seems to be the worship of God because of its newnesse and well regulated according as good-thinking hath invented carrying men into Scripture without them and yet unacquainted with the Scripture of truth which is within them And from hence it is that the mother of harlots becommeth well decked and bravely mounted upon her searlet-coloured beast and drunke with the blood of the saints let all Formalists in England of what Forme soever Brotherhood or Kirk-fellowship though their Forme may be the best in all the world and come to the very point of example and command of Scripture in its outward requirings take heed for though they may blesse themselves in a fools Paradise and think because they have got at a great distance from the Pope and his fictions therefore they be sure that they have nothing to doe with the Mother of Harlots nor she with them yet they are but cheated for she cannot delight her selfe nor be more secure then where Formes is in fashion For where there is not a Forme this Harlot may be entertained but yet not with such suptuousnesse as in a faire seeming Forme for where there is no Forme she is forced to goe on Foot but in a Forme she becommeth well-mounted Our Saviour knew the truth of this which made him pronounce so many woes against the Formalists in his daies and told them it should be more tollerable for Sodom then for them for
AN ANSVVER To Vindicate the Cause of the Nick-named Quakers of such scandalls and untruths as is falsly cast upon them in a lying Pamphlet otherwise called A Discourse concerning the Quakers set out by T. L. or as I understand the signification of the Letters Tho Ledger By GEO BAITEMAN A Word to the Reader of this Booke IT is common among the sonns of men every one to vindicate his own cause whether he be in the right or wrong For Solomon saith Every man seems to be just in his own cause And the truth is every one will speake the best he can in his own behalfe But Christian friend whatever thou art that Readeth these ensuing Lines I would have thee to understand that I have not written these Lines in my own defence or to vindicate my selfe of any aspersions that any can cast upon me in any kinde whatsoever for though I am a man who have undergone and at this day doe undergoe the heavy burthen of false aspersions cast upon me by the fools of the times who neither know me nor themselves yet to me they are no more then the barking of curs the which may affright children for my backe is broade enough to beare all the weight of these burthens and am possessed with a Spirit that maketh me easily passe by all the censures of men and had the cause been my own which is included in these Lines I thinke they had never come to the beholding but my Spirit is such that it leadeth me out rather to justifie others then my selfe for I would have thee to know that my Sect or Profession Tenets or Religion call it what thou wilt is neither of that sort of People called Quakers neither am I Papist Prelacyan Presbyterian Independant Anabaptist Famelist Brownist Arryan Atheist Free-willer Free gracian Raunter Saduccy or Lihertine c. then make of me what thou pleaseth yet such a one I am as knoweth my right hand from my left and that is enough for any man to know and by that light in me I am made in some measure to see what is of God and what is of man and what is of the spirit of darkenesse I professe unto thee I am not the Enemy of any man neither doth any mans Forme or Religion trouble me but wish all men well in their way yet I must tell thee that I am not unacquainted with the wyles of Satan in Formes and out of Formes and likewise of Gods working both in Formes and out of Formes and what I have found by experience I wish that all men had found the same and aâ— hundred times more And I must tell thee I am led out to owne the truth of God where ever I see it in a Forme or out of a Forme but the purest truths is not manifested in Formes though Formes may have their time and in their time is tollerable if not Idolized And to give thee a true Reason why I was led out to draw these Lines it is to vindicate the truth in its appearing in some people in these dayes the which is disposed to the scandall and reproach of most people in these times some by wrong imprisonment some by beating some by threatning some by false accusations and scandalls some by Petitions and some by writing lying Pamphlets all of these arising from the very malice and instigation of the Devill who would have these poore people destroyed for he well knoweth that if these goe on his kingdome will fall Amongst those whom the devill moveth to act and speake against these people one T. L. or Tho Ledger hath written a lying Pamphlet the which I have here answered in some of his false accusations therein and if time would but have permitted I would have answered them more fully but what is here spoken I hope may serve to give thee satisfaction of the truth in these people and if thou have but any light of God in thee thou wilt see and mayest easily judge that these people are no other then such as God hath marvailously called to himselfe to make the riches of his goodnesse knowne in their soules and what ever either Formalists or other say against these people take thou heed thou be not as one of them for better were it for thee to have a Mill-stone hung about thy necke and throwne into the midst of the Sea then that thou shouldest offend one of these that beleeve in God in whom Christ liveth and they in him And for thy better information in the truth I haue drawne these Lines the which I freely commit to thy Christian consideration and the Lord give thee a good understanding that thou mayest learne to have a good opinion of any People in whom the truth of God doth appeare And my desire is that the God of Truth may make his Truth knowne to thee whereby thou mayst be made to know what evill is in thy selfe and the emptinesse of all things acted and created let thy Forme be what it will This is the worst I wish thee Geo Baiteman An Answer to vindicate the cause of the nicknamed Quakers c. THere is two great monsterous evils in the world and they are common among the sonns of men and from these two evills ariseth all other sinnes and wickednesse whatsoever acted spoken or thought either against God himselfe or against any appearance of God in his creature Man and by the venome which ariseth from these two evills one man is set against another in bitter envyings evill wishings evill speeches evill actings c. Now these two great evills is the very ground and originall Rice of all other evill as is before-said the one of these hath its proper being in one of the chiefe faculties of the soule viz. the Reason and by the operations from thence proceeding the sonnes of men becommeth much deprived of the pure understanding of the truth as it is in Jesus And the other great evill hath its proper being in another chiefe faculty of the soule viz. the Will from the operations of which evill ariseth all disobedience and rebellion against the Truth as it is in Jesus yet the difference between the sinns arising from these grounds is great though nothing that ariseth from either be good the evill effect proceeding from the ground or cause in the Reasonable part will be found inferiour to these which ariseth out of the Will Yet wise Solomon saith Without Knowledge the Soule is not good Prov. 19. 2. And God complaineth by the Prophet That his People perished for want of knowledge Hos. 4. 6. And Solomon who knew how wicked the sonns of men were without knowledge and how darke and blinde they were in the understanding the dictates of God without Knowledge how oft doth he counsell men to seek W. sedome and prize her above Gold But who is that wise man that can truely distinguish between the Wisedome of God and the light which is in Reason which may be much increased