I known any of us ever set his feet upon the Bible in contempt and abuse of the Scriptures as he saith though it is very true there was one Richard Stokes in the North of England that was then an Anabaptist so called and so yet for ought I know that did in contempt and scorn tread upon the Bible in the presence of many witnesses so it may be J. W. mistakes one of his own friends and thinks he is one of ours for it is not delightful in us to abuse the Scriptures nor are we filled with rage against the Word of God nor do we foam out disdain against the Scriptures these things are utterly false 2. This Testimony we have often given concerning the Scriptures and here again I give it upon this occasion The Scriptures are writings in which are contained many words of God and may be properly called the words of God declared by writing and as they were given forth by the Spirit of God and no whit altered in Translation they are a perfect Testimony of God and his works of Christ and his Salvation and of the Experiences and Testimonies of the Servants and holy men of God and also in the Scripture is contained many words of the Devil and the words of wicked men so that the Scriptures are a true Testimony as they were first given forth of all these things and we believe that the Scriptures were spoken forth by the holy Spirit as the holy men of God were moved thereunto and whatsoever is written ought to be believed and received for Truth and a true relation given by the Spirit of God but the Scriptures cannot properly be called the Word of God for they are words and writings and admits of alteration and change and therefore cannot properly be called the word of God but onely a Declaration of the Word and of that Truth which lives and abides for ever and which must be believed and practised for Salvation and the Scriptures do say that the Word of God was in the beginning but the Scriptures began but to be written by Moses which was many hundred of years since the beginning and therefore the Scriptures cannot be the word of God which was in the beginning Again the Scriptures do say that the Word of God made the world and lives and abides for ever but the Bible the Scriptures did not make the World nor can abide for ever but will passe away as we see daily Books wears away though the Truth therein declared of shall abide for ever and therefore the Scriptures are not the Word of God which must endure for ever and thus we do distinguish and we would have all to do so between the Book the writings which are most properly called Scripture and that Truth Salvation Word of Life and the things declared of in Scriptures the one endures for ever the other not the one is the Word of God the other a Testimony of it and thus we distinguish and yet not denying the Truth and Life and Salvation and Redemption nor the Christ which the Scriptures speaks of but fully acknowledging that they are infinite and everlasting and the Scripture declare of these things but are not the things themselves neither do we deny to ascribe all lawful Dignity and Title and Reverence to the Scriptures but yet we cannot account them what they are not nor give that honour to them which God gives not nor which he appointed them to receive though further we do acknowledge there is no other Gospel nor way of Life and Salvation nor no other Christ for Redemption and Eternal Life nor no other Truth for substance but what is declared of in the Bible which we do account as I have said as it was given forth by the Spirit of God to be a true Testimony of all these things this and such like Testimonies we have often given concerning the Scriptures yet still acknowledged Christ Jesus to be the word of Eternal Life he and no other and yet this confession we make not contrary unto or to oppose but according unto the Scriptures and our Testimonie concerning the Scriptures is so well known both by word and writing for these many years that I need not here say much more in this case onely that the Scriptures all along calls Christ the Word of God and no where that I know of in the Scriptures doth it call it self the Word of God but a Declaration and a Treatise Luke 1. Acts 1. And whereas J. W. saith Is not the Truth exprest in the Scriptures eternal and incorruptible and what lesse then an Almighty hand hath preserved that Book and this is devised deceitful Doctrine to teach all men to hearken to the Light within them thereby to turn away their minds from the Scriptures And he mentions that Scripture the words of the Lord and every word of God are pure and the entrance of thy word gives Light and my words shall not passe away and whosoever shall be ashamed of my words c. page 208 c. Answ. To all this I answer why is J. W. so blind as to bring this in opposition to us as if he confuted us in something we held contrary to this when as it is nothing so for we say the same as these Scriptures testifie that the Truth expressed in the Scriptures is eternal and incorruptible yet the writings which are properly Scriptures will corrupt and change and alter and we do know the hand of God hath been in preserving of that Book to this day and our benefit by the Scriptures are not the least of others as I might instance in divers particulars and we confesse fully to the Truth of all these Scriptures cited by him and there is not any one of them opposite to us in any thing that we hold but why doth he secretly here weave in his slander as if we did direct People to the Light within them thereby to turn their minds from the Doctrine of the Scriptures which is utterly false for we direct People to the Light of the Spirit of God within them not contrary to or to make void the Scriptures to them but according to the Scriptures and that they may come to the fulfilling of them and witnesse the Truth wrought in them whereof they speak and therefore his secret slander is turned out of doors and further he falls out in high tearms that God will punish such severely as do speak against the Scriptures and do disdain and reproach them and that do add to or take from them and against such as do vent their rage against the Scriptures and tread them under their feet as the Adversaries of Christ the Preachers up of the Light within do saith he who are Blasphemers of God and his Truth when they cast the Scriptures on the ground and call the Scriptures lifeless c. page 212. Answer These Threatnings and Judgements do not belong to us as not being guilty of his charge so
the flesh is it then improper to say the seed which is Christ came in the flesh and was in that person that was born of the Virgin Mary seeing that as he was so manifest in the flesh he was the true Christ without any of J. W. his blind distinctions who after he hath granted that the spirit of holinesse in that person is the Son of God by eternal Generation he saith that the humane nature also of that person is the Son of God by temporal Generation and yet there are not two Christs but one c. Did you ever hear such Doctrines as these which are all one as if he had said that the Spirit of Holinesse and humane nature are both one or that Divine and humane are both one when as they are two distinct things that which is humane is of the earth as the first man was as Humane is of Homo which comes of Humus the ground of which man was made as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Humanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terra aut Humus but that which is Divine is from above as Christ is who is Lord from Heaven Now though this Christ in time took part of that which the Children had viz. flesh and bloud Heb. 2.14 yet we never read that Humane nature is Christ nor that the flesh and bloud is Christ by temporal generation for to assert that is all one as to say that Christ who is Lord from Heaven took upon him Christ in time but Christ in the flesh we read of and own neither do we read in the Scripture that the soul of Christ is a humane soul for is not his Soul divine and immortal What is humane and immortal both one Or hath he two Souls in one body or person of such differing kinds And if the humane nature be Christ and all mankind be of the same substance with Christ according to that nature as J. W. saith page 116. Then it followes that the humane or earthly nature of all mankind is Christ and then they that would know Christ and be saved by him they must own their earthly or humane nature to be Christ or the Son of God and look to be saved by it did ever the Apostles preach such a Christ as this they that cannot see J. W. his ignorance of Christ his nature soul and spirit they are in grosse darknesse Now though we deny J. W. his unscripture-like and blind distinction from which it follows that either there must be two Christs in one person or else that humane and divine are both one which no ingenuous person will own and though we deny his vainly imagining a humane or carnal Christ like himself yet still we own the true Christ according to the Scriptures who according to the flesh was of the seed of Abraham and David and according to the Spirit is declared to be the Son of God with power by the Resurrection and that he was the word which was made flesh and dwelt in the Disciples John 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his death as concerning the flesh and his Resurrection and Ascension according to the Scriptures of Truth we own and that he is Glorified with the Father in the same glory which he had with the Father before the world began and as in that state his nature body soul and spirit are spiritual divine and immortal at the right hand of power for as he had power to appear in the transfiguration and after his Resurrection to appear in divers forms and amongst the Disciples when the doors were shut John 20. so now he being glorified with the Father in that his transcendent glory he is in a further state then in the dayes of the flesh when his body was subject to hunger cold or other sufferings upon earth and he is not to be supposed to be like unto corruptible man or a Christ of the same substance with sinful polluted men though he be the same Christ still the same to day yesterday and for ever not divided and is the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth who is ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things with his fulnesse who hath said that no man hath ascended up to Heaven but the Son of man which came down from Heaven which is in Heaven John 3.13 Eph. 4.9 10. Psal. 68.18 J. VV. saith p. 27. what do they lesse then say I am Christ which say I speak to the Light in thy Conscience which shall eternally witnesse me what mean they by this word me which they say is eternally to be witnessed is there any thing that is eternally to be witnessed but the eternal God and his Son Jesus Christ Answ. If J W. did not know what we mean that is to be eternally witnessed as appears he did not then he should not have judged us with directing people unto our selves or with saying we are Christ therein he hath judged us falsly for that which is eternally to be witnessed is Christ who speaketh in us Mat. 10.20 2 Cor. 2.17 4 5. 13.3 who may speak in his own name and such as would stop his mouth from speaking where he is manifest are of Antichrist And also J. W. his accusing us with not confessing that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh and with onely saying he is come into our flesh c. These are as false as the rest of his slanders against us and therein hath he contradicted himself for before he accused us for saying that Christ is the seed spirit or Light in that man which was born of Mary what then do not we confesse Christ come in the flesh and must we deny Christ come in our flesh Then seeing that Christ come in the flesh is a general word not onely including that body which he took upon him in the womb of the Virgin but also the flesh of all his people who are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone Eph. 5.13 And the following of the Light within thereby to attain unto Righteousnesse doth not at all render the death of Christ in vain as J. W. imagines for the Saints in walking in the Light knew the bloud of Christ to cleanse them from all sin and purified their souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 1 John 1.7 And this was not any making of the death of Christ in vain but by the Light or Spirit of Christ a witnessing the end fulfilled in them for which Christ suffered that they might live unto him and how should any hear Christ in all things Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 as J. W. saith unlesse they follow the Light of Christ within for wch preaching J. W. in his rage hath called us men of Belial p. 30. so what grosse ignorance and confusion is he in And as for Christs saying if the Light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse Mat. 6.23 This hath relation to that
THE Son of Perdition REVEALED By the brightness and light of the Son of God in his Saints And the Preachers of his Light within and their Doctrines Principles concerning the mysteries of God the weighty things of Salvation Vindicated and Cleared from the Reproacheâ— Slanders Calumnies cast upon them by the spirit of Satan and Antichrist which hath largely appeared in one Joseph Wright who esteems himself one appointed by the Flock of Christ for a Defence of the Truth of the Gospel as is apparent in his Book intituled A Testimony for the Son of man and against the Son of perdition c. which he hath given forth against them that preach the Light within But herein his Pride Insolency and Impudency are Reproved and his bundle of Errors Blasphemies Confusions and Slanders in his book against the Light and the Children of it Discovered And the eternal Truth in its own clearnesse touching many weighty Principles of the True Religion made manifest for the satisfaction of the people and of all that are doubtful By the Light of the Son of God in his Servants Geo. Whitehead Edw. Burroughs LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1661. A Table of the Chief Heads of the following Discourse 1 COncerning the Light within Christs coming in the flesh and dying for all men 2 Concerning the Nature and State of Christ of the soul of man and of the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature 3 Concerning the Resurrection from the dead 4 Concerning that Light in the Consciences of people which the Preachers of the Light within appeal to and the subject of their Exhortations by which men are converted and edified 5 Concerning Ordinances 6 Concerning Quaking and Trembling 7 Concerning the sufficiency of the Light and the Annointing within to teach all that do believe 8 Concerning meeting together and silent waiting upon the Lord with somewhat about Back-sliders and the spirit that acts them 9 Concerning Humility and Vnity 10 Concerning destroying the Whore discovering secrets and sufferings c. 11 Concerning the Word of God and the Scriptures and the Word and the Writings truly distinguished 12 Concerning the Infallible Teacher and that it is the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and not the Scriptures The Epistle to the Reader FOR as much as it hath pleased the God of Truth and Righteousness most gloriously to appear in these last dayes in the hearts of his people according to his promises of old who hath said That he would exalt his Mountain upon the top of all Mountains and his House should be established and his Kingdome should be set up spiritually in the Hearts of the Children of men and he hath promised to dwell in men and to walk in them and write his Law in their Hearts and put his Spirit within them and they should be his People and he would be their God and he alone would be their Teacher and Comforter and his Day-star should arise in their Hearts and the Light of his Glorious Gospel should shine in their Consciences These things hath the Lord promised and he is a fulfilling of them in these our dayes in and amongst his People Blessed be his Name for ever for he hath opened the eyes of the blind and caused them to see and Light is risen out of obscurity and darkness is passing away and the Light of the Day even of the Day of God is approached nigh unto his People and Life and Immortality hath he brought to Light in his People by the Light of his Glorious Gospel which shines in their Hearts and they are become the Temple of the Holy One and his Habitation is with them and his Promises are fulfilled and fulfilling abundantly this Day our Eyes have seen our Ears have heard and we have tasted of the VVord of Life which is revealed in us and these things we cannot but bear witness of and testifie concerning them unto all the world that they may partake with us of that heavenly virtue and be satisfied therewith for evermore through faith in Christ Jesus and receiving of him to dwell in them that they may not be reprobates for all in whom Christ is not are reprobates as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth But notwithstanding though the Lord hath promised these things and is now fulfilling of them amongst us to his Glory and Honour yet that adversary the Devil and Satan doth not cease to make opposition against this good work of the Lord if it were possible to prevent and stop the purpose of the Almighty in his proceedings of fulfilling his promises unto his people and it is not unknown through these parts of the world how many and divers kinds of oppositions the Devil hath made through his Children against the VVork of God What woful Persecution of these late rears hath been brought forth upon the Innocent people in whom the Lord is fulfilling his Promises What cruelty exercised What reproaches and slanders uttered And what obstructions and oppositions hath been made of these late years against an Innocent people t is hard to be exprest every City and Town and Country must bear witness of that cruel Persecution and hard dealing that hath been exercised upon the Innocent people and for no other end but for Truth and Righteousnesse fake and from no other cause but from the enmity of the seed of Wickednesse in the ungodly world for the end to oppose and stop the work of the Lord and these things are so God and Angels and Saints do bear witnesse And also the opposition hath been great against the work of the Lord not onely by outward open opposition and persecution through prophane and cruel men but also by the Professors of Religion of our age even of such as have cryed the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we and such as have professed Ordinances Churches and Fellowships and that have thought themselves to be men of Wisdome and Conscience even such as these have lift up their hands against the Lords Work and have consulted and imagined mischief against the Lords interprize for as the prophane World have persecuted by cruel reproaches and abuses Imprisonments and unjust dealing as aforesaid so also have the professors and wise men of this Generation Preached and Prayed and written Books and published their principal Reasons and Arguments against the Way of the Lord and all this in the opposition to the Work of the Lord an evidence hereof is manifested by Joseph Wright in his Testimony for the Son of Man so called in which Book he hath fully opposed and gain sayed the Truth of the Gospel and the People bearing witness thereunto amongst whom the Work of the Lord is blessed and prosperous yet hath he partly out of Ignorance and partly out of malice set himself in opposition against the work of the Lord and against his Truth and people as aforesaid And his
Brethren as if his Book could not be answered but he had confuted us so and so highly unanswerably and it s said by some that he was a whole year or more in bringing forth the said Book whereby it is proved a Monster and being brought forth its now imperfect and effects not the end propounded by its Author well upon these reasons at my first spare opportunity I have looked thorow his Book and a dear friend of mine while I was absent hence in the work of the Lord elsewhere begun the work for me and hath answered a part of it and it is published with no other end nor intent but onely to discover the Truth and to reprove falshood and if it prove effectual to any as to inform them to a distinguishment between Truth and Errour to discern the difference between the one and the other and if any be edified in the Truth hereby I have my end and desire and if it shall work through the Spirit of God any conviction in the heart of our adversaries and if Io. Wright shall see what he hath done and repent my end is fulfilled but if not I am satisfied in what I have done finding it to be my duty to send forth this Answer in pursuit of and to detect J.W. his slanders and reproaches errours and contradictions And now I must commit the serious Reader to the grace of God and to the Spirit of sound Judgement that thereby he may read and weigh the one and the other and that he may justly Judge by the rule of equity and Scripture proof the difference of the controversie and the Right Truth and Justice of the one and the errour and falsity of the other that he may be edified in this matter for the end that he may follow Truth and Righteousnesse as it is discovered to him and deny deceit and falshood where ever he shall meet with it And thus I shall leave the Reader to the serious view of the whole matter as hereafter it followes London the 9th day of 7th month 1661. Being a true friend to all that love Truth and Righteousnesse and one that loves his Enemies Edward Burroughs A Preface To the People called Anabaptists who are herein concerned for the clearing of the Truth to them and others who scruple concerning it or the Light of it within FRIENDS WHat a sad thing is it that you that profess the Name of Christ and to be his Flock should be so unwise and shew your selves so indiscreet and irrational as to discover such a spirit of bitternesse and enmity especially in this day of Tryal both of you and us against such as are conscientious towards God in what he hath made known though in Judgement differing from you as here that spirit of enmity and malice is plainly discovered in what hath proceeded from it in this Book called A Testimony for the Son of Man c. Subscribed by one Joseph Wright who it appears is accounted no mean man amongst you for he accounts himself so nearly related to you whom he calls The beloved Flock of Christ who are the People called Anabaptists which he intends that he saith he hath been appointed by many of you though unworthy for a defence of that Truth of the Gospel which you profess but if you were in the Truth of the Gospel you would not have appointed such a Reviler and Insolent man for a defence of it nor of you in it as this Jos. Wright hath clearly discovered he is as is clearly manifest in his Reviling Reproaching and Slandering such as he calls Preachers of and to the Light within all men whom his Book is contrived against he intending the suffering People called Quakers who own and walk in the Light of Christ in them against which Light he hath also so greatly manisted his enmity as if he could not contain his Malice nor these many sad Aspersions and black revilings in his Book which he hath produced from the Spirit of Antichrist and Blasphemy in him and though he hath appeared in his Pride Presumption and boasting Spirit and as one appointed by you for an eminent defender of your way as if he were some wonderful Champion and great Warriour yet by the Light which he hath reproached is he discovered and his weakness and folly made manifest and he seen to be as feeble a Warriour and Child of Babylon as ever formed a Weapon or lifted up a hand so publickly as he hath done against the Israel of God and if you were in Gods fear and true humility and well considered your own state and the state of such as are reviled by this your Defender you would not own nor suffer such Babylonish Bratts and dirty frothy stuff to proceed from amongst you as this said Book of J. Wrights considering these things First These are Suffering times which both you and we are in and how especially we are lyable to suffer for our Consciences in our obeying that Testimony committed to us not onely by mens reproaches but also by Acts of cruelty and Persecution inflicted upon us because we cannot deny the Lord in what we are perswaded he requires of us 2. Such Revilings Reproaches as J. Wright hath spread forth against us in the sight of our Persecutors tend rather to add afflâ—ction to us and to stir up our Persecutors in cruelty against us then otherwise Seeing that he hath so much accused and reviled us under the names of workers of Wickedness forerunners of the man of Sin Lyars Blasphemers Deluders with many more reviling names which falsly and unjustly he hath cast upon us chiefly for Preaching up the Law Light within men which is the Light of Christ and in all his mater there is no just evidence against us wherein he hath manifested himself as a partaker with the persecuting Generation who smite against us with the fist of wickednes wch his work tends to encourage and strengthen whilest he is smiting with the tongue like the wicked who shoot their Arrows against the Righteous and casting out his mire and dirt upon such as fear the Lord and walk in his Light Thirdly If you truly weighed your own state and minded the rule of equity in your own Consciences To do to others as you would be done by you would not spread abroad such reviling Books and bundles of confusion as tend to cause others to suffer who are concientious towards God in what they know knowing that in these times if you be true to your own Principles you are lyable to suffer also for your Consciences by such as would assume to themselves a power to be Judges in matters of Conscience and Religion though they dare not own themselves to be infallible in their Judgements notwithstanding Fourthly Considering how many have opened their Mouths and published their Books and Pamphlets against us and how little all their work hath effected or brought forth against us and how we have in the testimony of
a good Conscience been made to trample upon and discover our enemies works which have so often been brought to nought this might have hindered this untimely and monstrous birth of J. VV's from coming abroad which though he hath been a long time a bringing it forth it must be turned back into the pit of Darkness and belly of Confusion where it was conceived though it appears he was so conceited in his work and impudency and pride was so high in him that he thought to prevail more then the rest of his Predecessors who were of the Dragons Army that have opposed the Truth before him and that his work would have been more effectual then any besides that hath been brought forth against us but herein is he and all that believe him and his work deceived for both the weakness confusion and falshood of his matter is easie to see by any unprejudiced persons who have but common sence and reason for he hath not onely openly and falsly reviled us whom the Lord hath delivered out of darkness into his Light and Life made manifest in us but also he hath set himself to oppose and revile the Light of Christ in all men and hath done what in him lies to keep all people at a distance from Christ who is the true Light as one not willing that Christ should have any room to dwell either in his people or in any upon earth for this Jos. Wright who saith he hath been appointed by many of you for a defence c. in his Epistle to you whom he calls the beloved flock of Jesus Christ he writes To all them that call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father in the Heavens out of every man on earth he saith and to such wisheth blessings riches of grace c. wherein you that own this J. W. as a defence of Truth may note first how absolutely he hath set himself against Christ and the Truth who herein hath gone about to limit or divide the Holy One from his People and members as also further appears in his following matter and whose Doctrine tends to keep all out of the Faith of the true Church and so in the reprobate state contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates so that he that knows not that Jesus Christ in him is out of the Faith and so a reprobate and much more he that preaches to keep all from knowing Jesus Christ in them while on earth 2. And in that J. W. hath accounted Christ as he is at the right hand of God the Father not to be in any man but out of every man upon earth he hath gone about to separate the Saints from the right hand of God and so hath discovered himself both ignorant of Christ and of the Fathers right hand and of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Saints for they that are come to Christ and to know him in them they are come to the Fathers right hand and being Christs sheep none shall pluck them out of his Fathers hands 3. Also about this thing hath J. W. confuted himself for he hath acknowledged that blessings glory and praises are to be ascribed unto the onely wise God throughout all ages in the Churches by his onely Son Jesus Christ which plainly implies that then Jesus Christ must be in the Churches or how should praises be given by him in the Churches to the onely wise God or how should any glorifie or praise the onely wise God by Jesus Christ unlesse he be in them Also after this J. W. hath thus told people of Jesus Christ being out of every man on earth he hath set himself to oppose the light of Christ in all men who is the true light that enlightens every man that cometh into the World For in his Epistle he tells of giving you a discription of one viz. errour and delusion that is most dangerous and that which he hath chiefly written against is Preaching the Law Light within and also accounts it a sad Principle of the Spirit of Antichrist which now he saith runns about preaching up the Law or Light within as also he accounts this Doctrine Gross Darkness and so warns you against it As also he saith There hath risen up a most pernitious stratagem of Satan whereby to delude the Children of God and men it is a Teaching up the Light within all men and he calls them that are in unity with that Principle the Messengers of Antichrist and that a Doctrine of Antichrist and a device of Satan and chargeth us with detestable blasphemies about it c. So that this Jospeh VVright hath not onely shewed himself against Christs being in his People but also he hath sought to keep men from his Light in them as one that would shut up the Kingdom of God against men that they might not enter into it and so he hath uttered forth his Rage and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ and his Law in men who is come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have eternal life whose Law and Light it is that we Preach and Christ told the Pharisees That the Kingdom of God was within them Luke 17. Though they were wicked men and sought to shut up the Kingdome of God against others as this J. VV. hath done in his foaming out his own shame and uttering his rage and folly against the Light within so that he might as well have reviled Christ and said that he Preached up a delusion and a most pernitious stratagem of Satan and a device of Satan as so charge us for Preaching those things that are agreeable to the Doctrine of Christ And yet note that notwithstanding all this mans raging against this Doctrine of the light within all men and his reviling it as delusion and a most pernitious stratagem of Satan and gross darknesse he hath in page 165 distinguished the Light which is in us and all men from the spirit of darkness as accusing our speaking to be not from the Light within all men nor from the light within our selves but from the spirit of Darkness c. Which though he hath falsly accused our speaking yet he hath hereby truly Implyed that there is a light in us and all men that is opposite or contra-to the spirit of Darkness and thus he bewrayes his own confusion and folly about the Light of Christ in all men one while to rail so bitterly against it and the Doctrine of it as the most pernicious delusion stratagem of Satan and gross darkness another while so intimately to grant to a light within all men which leads to speak truth as opposite to the spirit of Darkness As also in page 16 20.28 29.41 This Joseph Wright saith
2 Cor. 5.14 1 John 2.2 Which also as a testimony against J. W. in many of our Books vindicate the free Grace of God in Christ to all men and his dying for all as in a Book Intituled The Voice of Wisdom by G. W. page 12. and at large in a Book Intituled Rusticus ad Accademicos by S. F. in both which Priest Danson is answered and his pleading against Christs death for all men and his free Grace to all confuted as also in a Book called A brief Discovery by G.W. as in many more Books of ours the free Grace of God to all and Christs dying for all men is declared Also J. W. his third Proof for his said charge against all that Preach the light within is as false as his former where he laies down these words to wit Thou dost not gather men and women into Communion with Christ by Faith teaching them to believe in Jesus Christ c. Which thing he himself who hath openly opposed the light of Christ in all and counted the Doctrine of it a stratagem of Satan is guilty of and not we that own the light for it is the light that brings into communion with God and his Son Jesus Christ for they that say they have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness they lye and do not the truth but they that walk in the Light are in the true fellowship and faith and know the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all sin Also J. VV. his charging us with gathering by works and not by Faith in warning all people to look to the light within and such as receive this Doctrine with being as ignorant as heathens and absolute infidels in this hath he slandered us and shewed himself to be an Infidel who sees not the light within 〈◊〉 owns it for the Infidels were such as in whom the God of the World did blind their minds from seeing the light of the Glorious Gospel which shineth in the heart and giveth the knowledge of the Glory of God to them that believe in it and so works without Faith we deny but the works that are wrought in the Faith and in the light we own and though J. W. hath so much warned people from looking to the light within as that which must bring them to reconciliation and justification yet in pages 124. and 125. he hath contradicted his matter against the light within for there he speaks of being set free and justified by performing the condition of the second Covenant as Repentance Faith and Gospel Obedience which those that have sined may perform through the assistance of Gods Spirit c. as also he saith so far forth as Persons come to be in Covenant with Christ and are enabled by him to walk according to his direction so far are these said to have Christ formed in them that is to be brought into a blessed destate of freedom from the guilt of sin of freedom from the power and dominion of sin of assurance of redemption from the first death and of deliverance from the second and so by Christ to be Intituled to Eternal Life c. Now how should those who have sinned perform the condition of the second Covenant through the assistance of Gods Spirit or come into the True Faith and Gospel obedience and to know Christ formed in them unless that Gods Spirit or Light be known or owned within and if those that have sinned may come to this state of Faith and Obedience and freedom from the guilt and power of sin by the Spirit of God then a measure of this Spirit or light is given to all men without exception seeing that the sinners themselves are not exempted from it according to J. W. his own words and thus hath he grosly confounded himself in his own while rayling against the Preaching up of the light within and another while confessing to the Spirit of God or light even in the wicked J. W. his fourth Charge is thus viz. Thou which Preachest that all men should mind the light which is within them dost deny the Christ of God which dyed at Jerusalem because thou hast said to me when I have made as large a confession of Christ as I now have done that I am ignorant of Christ c. Answer What a silly Reason is this against those that Preach that all should mind the light within as if he had said that because he has made a large confession of Christ therefore he is not ignorant of him when as the Devil who favours not the things of God hath been made to confesse Christ and many do confess Christ in words as largly as J. W. and yet are ignorant of him and of the Power of his death and Sufferings as J. W. is whilest he shews him self an enemy to the Light of Christ which we own and we do not deny either the coming of Christ or his suffering in the flesh as we are falsly accused by this reviler neither do we deny Christs reconciling of the world nor teach any thing contrary to that of Rom. 5.10 2 Cor. 5.19 as J. W. hath implicitely accused us for we know and Preach reconciliation through Christs death and Salvation through his life whose life is the light of men and this is not any establishing of our own Righteousnesse as falsly we are accused neither are we strangers unto the Doctrine of Justification by the Grace of God through the redemption that is in Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood but how are any justified by the Grace of God whilst they deny the light within for is not the light of Christ within the free gift of his Grace which hath appeared to all men and which by his Righteousness hath come upon all men Rom. 5.18 Titus 2.11 Which Righteousness is received where the light of Christ within is obeyed and he thereby made known to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood and we who are come to own this in the true Faith are come to self-denyal and to deny self-righteousness contrary to J. W. his false accusations against us who Preach the light within Who also saith in his twelfth page But self must be denyed and self righteousness which is of the Law yea when men have done all whatsoever they are commanded they are to say with humble hearts they have done but what was their duty c. Answer What an Ignoramus is this man who puts no difference betwixt Self-righteousness which is to be denyed and the doing whatsoever we are commanded which is our duty as if he had said in denying self-righteousness you must deny your duty or that self-righteousness is mens duty when as that which brings men to do their duty to God in obeying his commands is of God and though man as in the Servants state may abase and humble himself yet that Principle of Faith which brings him to do his duty is to be esteemed
20.4 to Query What part of man is it which is capable of being beheaded Is it not the Body Therefore the bodies lived c. When as that of Rev. 20.4 speaketh onely of the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God so that his reason is as if he had said that because the souls of them that were beheaded lived therefore their Bodies when they were beheaded lived when as the souls and that which was beheaded are spoken of as distinct things viz. the Souls of them that were beheaded so that where the Scripture mentions the souls as including the whole man or men as Gen. 46.27 which J. W. cites this will not prove his absurdity and the like reason for his dream about the bodies hath he in page 70. from Luke 16. of the rich mans being tormented which torment he saith is to be vnderstood to be upon the body of the rich man from his desire that Lazarus might be sent to dip his finger in Water to cool his tongue a part of his Body c. Wherein I.W. sheweth himself both ignorant of Parables and mysteries wherein he hath implyed as if the rich mans body was then in hell when he was so tormented when as Christ saith The rich man dyed and was buried and speaks that of Lazarus the rich man as in the time past then where was that Hell out of which he that was in it could see Lazarus in Abrahams bosom betwixt Abraham and which Hell there was a great gulf fixed And what was it in the rich man then that let him see Abraham and Lazarus a far off Did he see them when he was in Hell with bodily eyes yea or nay And as for I. W. his Comparison page 55. of the Wheat arising out of that very Seed and that very Kernel which was sown even so saith he shall it be in the Resurrection from the Dead the Natural and Visible bodies of those that believe in Christ although they shall not be raised as they are sown yet they shall be raised out of the Grave c. This is contrary to Iob. 7.9 and 1 Cor. 15.37 and this his Comparison doth not paralel his matter intended and asserted unless he can prove that the Bodies of all that are deceased or die are so reserved and their substance remain in the Earth or Sea where they die as the Wheat that is sown which brings forth its own Body which absurdity no rational man will believe though herein he hath contradicted himself for the same grain of Wheat that is sown is not that Body or Ear that grows forth and said the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.37 Thou sowest not that Body that shall be though every Seed shall have its own Body which who knows the mystery of the differing Seeds they come to know the Body of each which are of the Nature of those Seeds they belong to and there is also a Natural Body and a Spiritual Body which are distinct things as there is a first man and a second man which differ and so there are Terrestial Bodies and Bodies Caelestial which are discerned and the state of each distinguished where that Body which is Spiritual which differs from that which was Natural is discerned and seen and this is hid from all blind and empty Professors who are in their Dreams and Imaginations imagining that they shall see God with their Carnal or Visible Eyes and by such imaginations have in the long night of Apostacy blinded the simple and begot them into a blind Faith and Hope which stands not in the Power of God nor the Seed which is Christ which is risen to destroy and to root out the evil Seed which has been sown in the night by the envious one whose work they are in that oppose the good and where proves J. W. by Scripture that man that was made of the dust of the Earth had not in his Body dyed or returned to dust had he not transgressed as in page 61. Must not all things return to their Center For shall not the Bodies of the Just return to dust who are redeemed from Transgression and washed from sin by the Blood of Christ What was that death that Adam dyed in the day he eat of the forbidden fruit seeing that his Body lived hundreds of years after that CHAP. IV. Concerning what we appeal to in men and the Subject of our Exhortations And J. W. his gross Lyes and Slanders against us about these things WHereas J. W. hath accused us of Fearful Blasphemy for speaking to the Light in the Conscience or to the Seed of God in men Which saith he supposeth that that which they call Christ hath done Iniquity else why do they say Repent repent with exhortations to depart from sin c. So that he saith They reprove Christ exhort Christ councel Christ yea they say they speak to that of God in the Conscience which shall eternally witness so that they Teach God reprove God counsel God Oh horrible blasphemy thus far J. W. page 98. c. Answer What abominable falshoods gross mistakes are these against us for as we are manifest in mens consciences in the sight of God so we appeal or speak to his Light in them as our witnesse which beareth Testimony to what we say and do not make that Light the subject of our exhortations or reproofs but the Creature that is to be turned to Christ and his light within neither is the Light ever reproveable or guilty of any evil but that which transgresseth it And this light we appeal to as our witness for the Truth even in the wicked who rebel against it and we are a good favor to God even in them that perish And so his charge against us as not Preaching to the Creature man when we appeal to the Witness of God in men is exceeding false and foolish For cannot men appeal to any thing as a witness for Truth and true Judgement but they must make it the Subject which they reprove or appeal against What gross ignorance is this J.W. is in And is not the Truth where ever it is Preached manifest to that of God in mens Consciences and in our speaking or appealing to the light of Christ in mens Consciences we do not suppose that Christ is saved by our Preaching nor that he is in a fallen condition as impudently this Baptist hath accused us in page 99. And whereas he seems so much to be offended that any Doctrine or Ministry should be directed to the Seed of God in man or that Salvation should be tendred to that he hath manifested himself wholly ignorant of the Seed of God in that state as a Seed For do not the Promises of God belong to the Seed and when the Spirit of Promise moves any true Witnesse to declare them are they not to be directed to the Seed which they belong to should the Prophets mouths have been stopt when
Saints will not do the business as thou scornfully sayest to us but thou Communicate an unclean spirit and thou writest Epistles and spreads thy Doctrine by Letters or Books and the Apostles run up and down from one Nation Country and City to another and what need you do this if the annointing within be sufficient to teach them and if it be sufficient why does not every particular Saint do that which some do Why doth not every one of the Christians go up and down Preaching as well as some few of you Apostles Thus and after this manner might thou J. W. have reasoned against the Apostles and Saints as well as against us and doubtless hadest thou lived in their dayes thou wouldest have said no less by them then thou dost by us but this is to manifest thy own folly and weaknesse who cannot understand how the annointing dwells in the Saints and teacheth them into all Truth and how notwithstanding they edifie one another and instructs one another by words and writings this same thing was true amongst the Apostles and Primitive Christians and is true also at this day among us though thou objects against it nay reviles and slanders the witness of the same at this day and this is thy ignorance and weakness who art not worthy to be named a defender of the Gospel of Christ as thy works makes to appear And as for J. W. his saying as if we should say They should receive virtue and life from us and that we intend to give a spirit and of taking hold of the wrists of some c. And that we lay aside Gods Word and reject Scriptures and exalts our own unholy writings c. These are slanderous accusations and malitious suggestions as if we were Witches and such like And this is spoken by him with a tendency as doth appear to enrage the spirits of ungodly men against us We do not say they shall receive Life from us but if they wait upon God in the Ministration of his Life and Spirit they shall receive Life from him and sufficient instruction by his Grace and Gift within them if they never see us more and they shall receive the Spirit of Truth from God though we are made Ministers of the Spirit which the Father giveth to all his Children and as for our taking one another by the hands by way of kind Salutation one of another Why doth he wickedly surmize against us for this practice but that out of the abundance of his malitious heart his tongue speakes fraudilently as if we did bewitch people thereby thus much he seems to intimate by his reproachful expressions that we intend by taking one another by the hands to communicate a spirit which is onely his ignorant and malitious suggestion and as for our denying the Word of God and rejecting Scriptures we shall pass it here onely tell thee J. W. thou hast slandred us and speak fuller to it by and by 1. But concerning immediate teaching of God by the light and anointing within I would yet more fully explain that I might be understood of all First We do not affirm that every man in the world to wit unbelievers as well as believers have received the anointing and spirit within them so as they need no man to teach them for this is onely proper to the Saints of God who have believed in and received Christ Jesus and his Spirit that anointing which teacheth them all things and leadeth into all Truth and they abiding in this anointing they need no man to teach them but as it teacheth and this is the new Covenant of God and according to his promise I will put my spirit within them and write my Law in their hearts and they shall need no man to say know the Lord but from the least to the greatest they shall all know me saith the Lord But as we have said this is only proper to the Believers and Sanctified in Christ Jesus and this state is not proper to the unbelievers in the world in their state of unbelief who rejects the Counsel of God and refuses to be taught by him and led of him and quenches the Spirit of the Lord. 2. But though this state was promised by the Lord that his people should be thus taught and the Saints did in the Apostles dayes witness it as in Johns Epistle before cited and the Saints of God now in this age do witness the same Yet notwithstanding the Saints did and may edifie one another and build up one another in the most holy Faith and Comfort one another by advice and Counsel and instruction through declaring the Word of the Lord one to another and Ministring the Gospel of Christ and of his free gift one to another as the anointing within moveth and teacheth this was the Saints practice in the dayes of old and is their practice at this day for let none mistake us as if any were so taught of God by the anointing and Light within that they were thereby uncapable of and freed from all good instruction edification and counsel visitations and salutations of Love amongst them and one towards another like as if they were so taught of God as their state admited of carelesness and rejecting of love and exhortations one from another we tell thee nay but we are so taught of God at this day as the Saints before us were by the light and annointing within which we have received from God that alwayes we are capable of and willing to receive edification and counsel and advice through the Word of the Lord and by his Spirit that dwells in us and extends one to another by good advice and counsel consolation and comfort so that these two do agree to wit immediate Teaching by the anointing and light within us and exhortation and edification one of another by the same spirit and anointing among us and these two are not contrary one to the other 3. Yet we do say though the unbelievers have not so received the anointing and spirit within them as that they need no man to teach them as the believers have received it yet the Gift of the Spirit of God and the light of it is given to them and manifested in their Consciences and hath its operation of conviction and reproof because of their unbelief and Iniquities and these needs to be taught without them even turned and directed to this same light within them that they may believe in Christ Jesus and wait upon the Lord in it thereby to receive the anointing and pouring forth of the Spirit through Faith in Christ Jesus that they may be also-taught of God as believers and regenerate persons and may need none to teach them but as the Gift and Grace of God within them and such in the state of their unbelief have need to be Preached unto that they may believe and be renewed and receive more of the Spirit and of the Grace of God in a greater measure and may
he means such who sometimes have been amongst us and professed and confessed to our Doctrines and waies and yet afterwards have turned from us we do confesse such there may be even such who may have tasted something of the Power of the Lord and of his goodnesse to their souls and have cryed out and trembled because of their iniquities yea and have been called out from their Kindred as he speaks and yet some such have turned aside again to vanity and then have been ready to make Lyes and frame false reports and to tell them for their own advantage to excuse their own revoltings thinking to defame us as so bad and so evil that with a more credit to themselves they may turn from us and some such like persons hath been J. W's informers if he hath not invented the lyes himself And though there be such revolters and false-hearted Hypocrites in the world yet the way of the Lord and his Truth is alike precious unto us immutable and unchangeable though Back-sliders walks not in the way thereof but seeks to asperse it when they turn aside from it but let such persons be marked some such we do know and they were wicked and prophane before they came among us and coming among us possibly were convinced of their sins and touched with judgement and sorrow for sin but now being turned from us again they are more prophane then ever and the Devil is entred again with the unclean Spirits worse then before and their latter end is worse then their beginning as the Scriptures says of such and some such as these are J. W. his converts and his brands pluckt out of the fire and such to tell stories and he to publish them are suitable correspondents but Truth is over them both and the way of the Lord is pretious and prosperous notwithstanding all the malicious oppositions that is in the hearts of his Enemies whose Judgement is such that they call Truth Errour and Errour Truth and calls that the work of the Devil which is of God and that the work of God which is of the Devil and the saying is true upon them a foolish People that have eyes and see not hearts and understand not And whereas J. W. hath been opposing the Light within and both the Preachers and followers of it thereby proving himself to be neither Preacher of the Light nor follower of it and therefore neither Minister of Christ nor indeed a Christian for whosoever doth not preach the Light and word of God within is no Minister of Christ nor in the example of his Apostles as is manifest at large in this Book and whosoever doth not follow the Light of Christ within and walk by the Spirit of God which is a Light in the heart is not in the new Covenant nor a member of the Church of Christ and such a one J W. is directly concluded to be from his own words who hath opposed such as preach and follow the Light within as if all such were in delusion and he hath denyed that the Light within is sufficient to lead to repentance from sin and pardon of sin and to comfort in God for the soul But he hath found out one that doth all this that shews sin and that judges for sin and that leads to mourn and grieve for sin and takes sin away and blots it out to wit the Devil as he saith if you will believe him pray you do but observe his story page 169. 170. He tells you there a large story but he names neither the Person nor the place nor time where and when it was which we demand of him in his next of one that preached the Light within as he sayes that the Devil did so and so with him and that the Devil set all his sins that ever he had done in all his Life before him as if they had been written in capital Letters then the Devil laid them all to his charge and did judge him for them and that the Devil made him to mourn and grieve and weep and made the tears come from his eyes for his sins this done as J. W. relates then the Devil took all his sins from him and said I have blotted out all thy Transgressions and the Devil let him loose from all his bonds and then the Devil commanded him to tell what God had done for his soul c. Now let any sober man judge that hath ever read the Scriptures ' whether this be a likely story for the Scriptures say that it is God that sets mans sin in order before him and it is God that judges men for sin by his Spirit of Judgement and it is he that causes men to mourn and grieve for sin and it is he that takes away their sins and blots them out by the bloud of Christ and that looseth man from his iniquities and brings them to declare what he hath done for their souls and it s our Faith that it is God through his own Son that works all this and not the Devil and the Scriptures say the same Psal. 50. Isa. 4.4 Dan. 9.24 John 5.27 1 John 1.7 But J. W. his story is contrary for he relates that its the Devil that doth all this and by this you may judge of this story and the Truth of it and also do but observe the temper of J. W. his Spirit and you shall see through his Book he opposeth the Light of Christ and the anointing within as if they were not sufficient for the effecting these things but he hath found you one that can do these things and who think you but the Devil and that can discover sin and condemn for it and lead People to Repentance and take away and blot out Transgression c. He hath brought you a story for the proof of it which we believe he credits to be true else he would not have brought it for the proof of his matter as he hath very pertinently done as he supposes and further as his story goes this Person that the Devil dealt thus by when he would have preached the Light within the Devil caused his mouth to shut that he should not preach it c. From which it follows that the Devil and J. W. are both of one mind for J. W. opposeth the Light within as the Devil does from which we have the more occasion to stand faithfully in preaching the Light within seeing both the Devil and J. W. do oppose it though afterwards his story relates that the Devil made him preach what God had done for his Soul and if this be a likely story let wise men judge Oh the Ignorance and Impudency that is fully manifest in J. W. that hath given his Faith to believe that the Devil convinces men of sin and judges them for it and takes away their sin Thus much in Answer to his story till his next return that we may know by him the Person and the place in whom and where
these pranks of the Devil were acted as J. W. saith and in the mean time it rests upon him that he hath believed and reported better of the Devil then of the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit in men but it seems an unlike story for the Devil will not destroy his own Kingdom CHAP. IX Concerning Humility and Vnity and the Infalliable testimony NOw I come to his fourth Chapter the sum whereof is that our proofs as he calls them doth not justifie our way and practice which he saith are in number five First Our Humility Secondly Our Vnity Thirdly Our Destroying the Whore Fourthly Our discovering all Secrets Fifthly Our sufferings In these pretended proofs saith J.W. like Goliah in his Armour in which we rejoyce but he saith He shall be enabled to take this Armour from us and destroy us with our own Sword wherein we trust Answer To which I Answer First Generally that I. W. hath here mistaken the matter and stated the case for himself in such a form as his weak wit may easily answer it and so hath as it were made a man of straw to fight with it for he is mistaken we do not trust in our own strength nor in these outward signs and tokens which he hath here laid down for thus more fully I answer we are the people of God of his chosen and elected Seed and our proof that we are such is the infalliable Spirit of God in us that he has given us that bears infallible witness and evidence in us and to us that we are such and this is the witness even the holy Spirit of the Father in which we trust and this witness is sufficient to us to prove us to be the people of God and it is the only evidence in which we trust so that he hath mistaken the matter in saying we trust in our Humility Unity Sufferings thus he hath imagined of us and then goes about to overthrow his own imagination an excellent warriour indeed that can raise false objections to himself and then confute them and think he hath confuted us but I tell him again he hath erred in his proceeding for we do not trust to any proof as infallible saving the proof and testimony of the Spirit of God that he hath given us for by that spirit we know we are of God and they that are of God heareth us and we are now the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be Thus much by way of general answer Now we come to Particulars First As concerning Humility J. W doth absolutely deny we are more humble and free from pride then all others either in the outward bodily habit or more secretly in the Heart for the Romish Fryars saith he who are great Adversaries to the Truth they excel in Humility and they will be justified rather then thee for their Humility and again a Hermit at Icknâ—m near London he saith is so and so humble neglecting of the Body c. Then he seems to condemn us for superfluity that our Trades Dit and Garments are as other mens and the hair of our heads like womens by wch he saith he sees we are not more free from pride then other men and as for pride of Heart he saith It is perceived by our countenance and by our Actions for we neither fear God nor Jesus Christ we fear not the Judgements of God but despises his Promises thou hardens thy self in thy wickedness the holy Commandements and Precepts of Iesus Christ thou contemns them and calls them shells without kernels empty carnal lifeless and thus we esteem the Promises of Life and Immortality and reject the Promise of the Resurrection c. and we do not receive man he saith for we do not acknowledge any Superiour thou wilt not put off thy Hat nor bow thy body to any man and neglectest Faith and Gospel Obedience and thy heart is too high to stoop to anything whereby it should manifest Humility of spirit Faith and Obedience by which it is manifest thou art not more humble but more proude then others page 175. to 180. Answer First Here is a whole pack of lyes and falshoods reproaches and slanders heaped up together reproachfully cast upon us for we glory not in any thing we are saving in the Lord that has made us what we are we boast not in our Humility but that God hath wrought it in our hearts in measure and it is in us a fruit of his Spirit this we dare not deny least we should deny the Work that God hath wrought and as for the Romish Fryars and Hermites of which he speaks that are so and so self-denying we make them no example to us nor are we of that spirit by which they are guided in their feigned practices of Humility though he compares us together but yet their practises of feigned self-denyal may shame you Baptists so called who professes your selves to be the onely Church of Christ and yet in dayes past have been so proud and high that you thought you had never places great enough in the Nation but exalted your horn so high that few but such as were of your Fraternity were counted by you worthy of any place or office such was your pride in those dayes and arogancy till it was time for the Lord to bring you down both in Habit and otherwise that the very feigned Fryars by their example might shame you who never came so far in truth of self-denyal as Hypocrites have done in feignedness and as for our Trading Diet and Garments of which J. W. speaks they are according to Godliness and Truth and Righteousness and according to example of the Holy men of God before us and so is our hair at which he stumbles as if he would fall and sayes we are like Locusts by it that comes out of the Pit when as there is neither Command nor Example in Scriptures how oft nor of what length any should cut their hair but rather no example at all for cutting it then otherwise and was Sampson and Christ and Samuel and many others of the Servants of God like Locusts of the bottomless Pit that wore long hair How hast thou unjust Judge and Hypocrite Judged the Servants of God in thy haste and ignorance by judging of us in the like case that they were guilty of 2. And as for the pride of our hearts with which we are so deeply charged by J. W. we will rather lie under his false charge with patience then give any occasion of suspition that we justifie our selves but yet I cannot but charge him in this place with a foul high slander for we fear God and Iesus and regards his Commandments and despises not his promises nor hardens our selves in wickedness nor doth not contemn the Precepts of Iesus Christ nor the pretious promises of Imortality and the Resurrection these are all absolute falshoods and were not J. W. a person altogether impudent