intended matter So I leave that and come a little to examin the proof of the second false Assertion viz. That the main End of the Quakers Meetings in these Islands is to make the Lords Christ his Holy Spirit his Angells and Apostles all Lyars and false Witnesses of God Now let any Reasonable Man judge what ground or foundation he hath to lay down such a positive Assertion for he never was at any of our Meetings in these Islands to know our practices in our Meetings whereby he might discover our ends but either he must have it by Information or Supposition or Consequence Which either of these may prove true or false and therefore whether the one or the other it is too slender a ground to build such an Accusation upon against an Innocent People but whither will not Envy lead a Man Even to shame himself But let us see how he will prove his Work Why Mark. First he supposes That the main end of our Meeting is to declare to People or to build up one another in this Doctrine that the Light within or Spirit of Christ in us is the Saviour This he supposeth to be the main end of our Meeting and this saith he is against the Testimony of Christ to the Man whose Eyes he had opened John 9.35 36 37. As I remember this was the Scriptu e he brought when the Blind Man enquired who the Son of God was that he might believe Jesus Answered I that speak unto thee am he This saith he was the Man or Body only from whence he doth infer that the Man Jesus considered meerly as Man is the oâ—ly Saviour and therefore saith he The Quakers main end of their Meeting is to make the Lords Christ a Lyar. Noâ— see what Weight this Argument hath in it the Weight must lie in these Words I that speak unto thee am he Now here lies the Question whether in these Words he meant the Body only or that which dwelt in the Body also Which was the Godhead joyned with the Manhood which thing was not at all proved at that time from the Scripture according to his promise and so did falsifie his Word and is it not strange that the Priest should make Christs Body to speak without his Spirit But now that People may not be left in the dark with their Understandings Clouded consider and Weigh seriously whether it was not the same Jesus which spake to the Jews in the foregoing Chapter 8 56. Abraham rejoyced to see my Day and he saw it and was glad And Verse 58. Before Abraham was I am Now the Body was brought forth in time according to Gal. 4.5 And so was not before Abraham in the Body But S. B. said That he is not the Son of God but as he was Man Now consider how grievous dark this Man is read the Scripture diligently and you shall see what a Testimony it gives concerning the Son of God Psal 2.7 The Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee This was long before the Body was and he speaks here of the time present This Day have I begotten thee Heb. 1.2 Where he saith that God Hath in these last Dayes spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appoined Heir of all things now mark by whom also he made the Worlds So he that made the World or that Word by which the World was made was the Son of God John 1.10.3 Who being the brightness of his glory the Son of God he is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his substance and upholding all things by the Word of his Power mark this was the Son of God that upholds all things by the word of his Power when he had by himself purged our Sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High So see and consider well and weigh this matter and let the wise in Heart Judge For God had promised afore by his Prophets in the Holy Scriptures concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead by whom we have received grace c. Rom. 1 2.3.4.5 And this is the true Christ we own in his Grace and Truth both as he was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh and as he is declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness c. according to God and his Son and his Angels and Prophets and Apostles against all Opposers and Blasphemers but espacially against SAMPSON BOND who was Priest at Bermudas And we are sorry that the Sherriffe and Justices of Peace in Bermudas should believe or regard his Lyes and Slanders But it is clear Sampson Bond hath put the Sheep of Christ in scorn called Quakers in his Bear-Skin that such as he is might worry them Secondly He saith We in our Meetings or the main end of our Meetings is to make the Holy Spirit a Lyar and to prove this he names Luke 2.30 Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation I hope said he you will not deny that Old Simeon spakâ— by the Spirit Now said he it was his Bodily Eyes which he spake of by which he only beheld the Body of Jesus and hence doth infer that we witnessing to the Spirit do makâ—th Spirit of God a Lyar. Let us see what weight this Argument hath in it and for the better opening of your Understandings take S. B's own Words I hope you will not deny Old Simeon to speak by the Spirit Indeed he was a Spiritual Man and so was abâ—e to discern the things of God and he was a Prophet and spake in the Spirit of Prophesie in which he spake and declared of him as a Light prepared before the face of all People not the Jews only but all People A Light to lighten the Gentiles c. And mark withal what it was that was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should see Was it not the Lords Christ If the Body barely considered without the Spirit had been the Lords Christ then the Jews had seen the Lords Christ for they only saw the Body and Crucified it But the Lords Christ the Lord of Glory was vailed from their Eyes For had they seen him they had seen the Father also John 14.9 And had they known him they would not have Crucified him But now the unbelieving Iews had neither heard the Fathers Voice at any time nor seen his shape Iohn 5.37 And so it is clear though they saw the Body yet saw not the Father they saw not the Eternal Power and Godhead as they did whose Eyes where opened in and by the Spirit as Old Simeons was who saw through the Vail and beheld the endless Power of that which made the
World and upholds it by the same Word of Power who after he had purged our sins said the Apostle sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High Ephes 4.6 And this is he who fills all things and is above all and in us all So all those that desire to know their Sin purged must know Christ not at a distance only but nigh even dwelling in them else they are Reprobates which all the obedient in Heart do Witness according to his promise If a Man love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him So he that believeth in Christ at a distance only never knows a fulfilling of Christs Words in them who said He and his Father would make their abode with them For it was revealed by the Holy Ghost to Old Simeon before he had seen the Lords Christ and Simeon came by the Spirit into the Temple c. And the Angel of the Lord told Ioseph that which was conceived in Maâ—y is of the Holy Ghost Now Simeon by the Spirit and Holy Ghost did see the Lords Christ which was conceived by the Holy Ghost who was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost So this was a Spiritual Sight not Natural For the Natural Man receives not the things of God they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them bâ—cause they are Spiritually discerned Mat. 1.20 Luke 2.26 27. 1 Cor. 2.14 And the Angel said to Mary that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God And doth not Christ say That none knowes the Father nor the Son but by Revelation 3. S. B. saith farther we make the Angels Lyars who said he bore witness only to the Body or Man Luke 2.11 To which I Answer I deny that the Angels there do bear Witness meerly to the Body for in their Testimony they testifie to this Saviour as a King For unto you is Born said they in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Which Word Christ relates to his Kingly Power which was Spiritual as he saith My Kingdom is not of this World And the Testimony or Message the Angel brought to Mary as concerning the Son of God who was now coming to be made manifest in the Flesh said He should Reign forever and his Kingdom should have no End Luke 1.33 For the Angel said Behold a Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son and they shall call his Name Emanuel which being Interpreted is God with us So here you may see that the Angels bore Witness more then only to the Body or Man Mat. 1.23 as Sampson Bond doth assert which he has not proved So Mary believed God and did not ascribe the Work of Salvation to him meerly as Man but to God saying My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour Vers 47. I would not have any one to think because I plead so much for the Spirit that I deny the Body of Christ but do own it in all points as the Scripture doth declare of it and so give the Honour due unto it Though I cannot believe the things declared by S. B. in his Nonscriptural expressions The last thing which is the Apostles Testimony of Christ I have sufficiently spoke to already and so shall wave it here So People may see how far short of his promise he came in proving his Three Accusations with the greatest clearness from the Holy Scripture so hath little cause to boast or glory of his Victory for the Truth stands over his Head and will do for ever The Third and last Accusation is That the prime Principles of a Quaker is the same that was held and professed by the Beasts which Paul fought with at Ephesus And to prove this he first doth endeavour to prove that those Beasts did deny the Resurrection and said so do we I answer The first was never truly proved and the second is absolutely false his Scripture to prove the first 1 Cor. 15.32 where the Apostle saith If after the manner of Men I have fought with Beasts at Ephesus what doth it avail if the Dead rise not Doth this at all argue that this was the Ephesians profest Principles or doth it not rather argue that the Saints loses their reward for all their labour if the Dead rise not as he saith in the 19th Vers If in this Life only we have hope in Christ we are of all Men most Miserable So that he hath fallen short of his proof and so his Accusation is truly overthrown But inasmuch as he did go on to charge the thing upon us viz That we do deny the Resurrection I do here testifie that it is none of our Principles to deny the Resurrertion for we own it as the Apostles own'd it Not the same Body not a Corruptible Body not a Natural Body a Natural Body hath Flesh Blood and Bones but a Spiritual Body as the Apostle saith And a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones said Christ which before he can prove he must be fain to get new Scripture for the Old will maintain no such Doctrines So though he did stop and hinder me that time by his Mocks and Scoffs and deriding Speeches and clamorous Noise altogether unlike a Preacher of the Everlasting Gospel as he saith in his Paper be is yet now through mercy I trust as the Truth will stand over your Heads so I shall be clear of your Blood whether you will hear or forbear I am a Friend to the Seed and a Lover of your Souls The 11th of the 3d Month 1678. Francis Estlacke Some few Lines briefly Answering some Part of SAMPSON BOND 's Book Entituled The Quakers in BERMUDAS Tryed c. THat part in his Book which I find my self chiefly concerned to make Answer to is where he makes mention of my Name viz. William Wilkinson As for my part I do not know that I should have set Pen to Paper to have made him any Answer had he laid down the Matter concerning me every way Fairly and truly without Abusing me or the Truth but I finding in several places of his Book Words printed that I cannot own to be Truth besides his reviling Speeches which he hath cast at me As Prater a Baffling Quaker and one that never had the Spirit of God in me All which things in the sense he brings them if true were a great Reproach But I knowing it is too hard a thing for him to prove or plainly to make appear do find my self justly concerned to make some reply or answers both to these and several other things for the vindicating of the Truth and my self also from him whom I find in his Book hath very much strove to make his own case appear strong and ours weak c. But according to that saying in Prov. 18.17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his Neighbour cometh and searcheth
it was brought which might be enough to make a Sober Man admire what I or we did mean so to do But to be short the reason why that Scripture was brought was in answer to him who stood there to affirm Thâ—t Christ as Man was the only material Saviour without joyning the Godhead with the Manhood which place of Scripture I judge was very pertinent to that master shewing that though the Apostles had known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth said he kâ—ow we him no more 2 Cor. 5.16 So that of necessity the true sensibâ—e knowledge that any Man could have of Christ for the future time must be in Spiâ—it according to what Christ himself had promised wherein he said He that is with you shall be in you and again he saith in John 16.7 It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And in the 13th Vers When he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth The next place of Scripture which he saith I repeated was the 1 Cor. 6.11 where the Apostle saith But ye are washed but ye are justified by the Spirit of God and farther he asserts that I Queriâ—d Why they meaning us might not be washed and justified by the Spirit now as well as others heretofore To which part of his reply was That I never had the Spirit of God in me and to prove it he layes down three Arguments the which I here sleight as not worth the mentioning only this I look upon as worth the noting and I would have them that reads his Book take notice of it in Pag. 65 66 67. where his Charge or Accusation concerning me as abovesaid is mentioned His Charge runs thus That I never had the Spirit of God in me and his proof is only a recharging me in different terms That I have not the Spirit of God in me his Charge in both most uncharitably excludes me from the Spirit of God saying thou never had it it is not in thee And in the other two â—f his censorious judgings his words are hast not and have â—ot Now I say a Man would think that he looking upon himself so wise and so learned as it appears by his Book he does that he should not have repeated such proofless and false Accusations as that I never had the Spirit of God in me which I know through the mercy of God he cannot prove while he lives yet what satisfaction could this be to the People that heard To the Question Propounded the Apostle speaks of some that were bad Sinners as we may read in the 1 Cor. 10.11 But they were Washed and Sanctified and Justified in the Name of the Lord Jâ—sus and by the Spirit of God And the Question to this purpose was why we might not be Washed and Justified now as well as others heretofore This Quâ—stion ought to have been answered directly to because it is commonly spoken of by many in the World that there is no Revelation now adays and no freedom from in on this side the Grave and if so then indeed there were no Spiritual Washing nor Cleansing from Sin in these days as in days past But this I have to say and through the mercy of God am a Witness of that Revelation is not ceased now adays for God hath shewed by his Spirit or Light in the Heart of Man in these days the things that belong unto his Peace he shews unto Man now as in days past that he should do Justly love Mercy and walâ— humbâ—y with the Lord and this Revelation or Manifestation of God by his Spirit or Light in the Heart and Consciences of People is very precious and by taking heed unto this Light within or measure of the Spirit or Grace of God which is all one and the same thing though called by several Names and by loving and obeying it I believe many are come to depart from Sin and Iniquity and come by it to find and feel the true peace fo God And so herein the true Spiritual Washing and Cleansing from Sin is known and witnessed ye even by the powerful working of the Spirit of God in Man But for all his bad Words and hard Speeches which he hath cast not only at me but at the Light within also which may be plainly seen in his Book I can leave him to the Lord to answer for it to whom every Man must give an account for the Deeds done in the Body be they Good or Evil. Now I having answered to his three false Accusations mentioned in the beginning which he in his Book hath cast at me I would have it considered by the Reader whether that which he hath cast at me be not come upon himself Namely where he hath striven to baffle the Apostles meanings to his own Words and give another meaning to them then the Apostle himself there doth where he saith Christ in you the Hope of Glory this Man to wit Sampson Bond calls this an inforced sense and saith It doth destroy the true nature of the Word HOPE Now I would have it well considered by the Reader who hath baffled he or I I that own the Apostles Words or he that has so far disowned them as his Words above mentioned hath made appear And where it is in all his Book that I have either baffled or prated unsound Words that I have not given a sound reason for what I have said to him ought to have been made appear But this I have to say to all People that are not yet convinced of the Truth as my Testimony for it That he or they that hath not Christ in them to wit his Spirit in them their hope of Glory cannot come to know the true living hope of true Glory in them let them Profess what they will And for this many places of Scriptures may be brought to prove As First The Apostles own Words before mentioned Coll. 1.27 where he faith Christ in you the hope of Glory Secondly Christs own Words John 15.5 For without me you can do nothing Thirdly In Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure Fourthly Where the Apostle saith Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 4.6 And God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father Fifthly In Rom. 8.24 We are saved by Hope Sixthly Rom. 8.9 He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his Seventhly It is clear that they that are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God as in Rom. 8.14 where the Apostle saith As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Eighthly The hope of the Wicked is to
the Light within a Quaker must be Born at Bethlehem Reply I could say more and yet speak truly of the work of the Light or Spirit of God or measure of Christ within then S. B. câ—n receive or understand but this I say I never said the Light in every perticular was the entire Christ for that were to make many Christs but I say that it is only a measure of that Christ who appeared in the Body that was â—orn in Bethlehem Again this Priest Page 9. In his answer to that Text 1 Tim. 3.16 said Nothing can be more Evident then this Disputant would have had the Hearers to believe that the God-head as distinct from Christ being a Man is the true Christ and only Saviour In answer to this and all other of his Wicked and false Accusations I say and testifie that I do truly and really give according to what I Understand and feel by the Inward Operation of the Spirit of Christ within according to the Testimony of Saints without as it is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth unto God his due and also what the Scripture doth declare of the Man or Body of Christ I also truly own So let his Lies and false Accusations return upon his own Head who shall assuredly feel the weight of them in the Day of the Lord. In Page 10. He clearly manifests his Ignorance and the Carâ—allity of his Mind for speaking there of the Apostle John's words 1 John 1. Vers 1 2 3. where he saith That which was from the Beginning mark diligently Christ in that Body was not from the Beginning which we have heard which we have seen which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of Life This he seems to affirm That the blessed Apostle did testifie that they had seen him and looked upon him and handled him viz the Word of Life by being in his company as dark a piece and as ignorant almost as I have heard drop from â—ny one that hath taken upon them to write in the defence of their Religion What! the outward Eye to behold the word of Life Doth not the Scripture say No Man hath seen God at any time Did not the Jews see the Body Yet they saw not God that dwelt in the Body For he that saw Christ saw the Father also according to Christs own Words to Phillip likewise Christ saith The hour cometh and now is when the Dead should hear the Voice of the Son of Man and they that heard should live But the Jews heard the outward Voice yet did abide in Death and Darkness where this Priests place is otherwise he never durst adventure to open his Mouth in Blasphemies against the clear manifestation of the Spirit in the Heart and Consciences of Men calling it an Idol even the Light of Christ who himself bore witness and declared That he was the Light of the World But now having begun to revile the Appearance of Gods Spirit What can put a stop to him but the Hand of Divine Justice Which will assuredly overtake him and he shall have a Reward from the Hand of the Lord. In Page Twelve This Sampson Bond accuseth us of Envy comparing us to the Jews who Contradicted the things spoken by Paul and Blasphemed To which I Answer Therefore art thou inexcusable O Man for wherein thou Judgest us thou thy self art Condemned even by thine own Judgment for the very thing thou hast laid to this Peoples Charge thou thy self art sound guilty of for thou at found contradicting the things spoken by Paul and left upon Record viz Christ his being or Appearance within as witnessed 2 Cor. 13.5 Gal. 2.20 and Chap. 4.19 Col. 1.27 And hast also Blasphemed his Inward Appearance calling it an Idol So with the Wicked and Sloathful Servant thou art justly Condemned out of thine own Mouth and so the Judgment wherewith thou hast judged me will redound upon thy self defend thy self as well as thou canst And Rom. 10.6 7 8. Which he keeps such a busle about turning and winding Serpent like yet except he could race the Words out of the Book it will stand a Witness for Christ the Eternal Word which Faith takes hold of and brings the Soul into Union with him who is nigh unto his in the Mouth and in the Heart So that his People feeling his presence in their Hearts are not ashamed to Confess him with their Mouths In the Sixteenth Page speaking of the 2 Cor. 13 5. Know ye not your own selves how that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates This Scripture he saith Wounds their new Coined Religion to Death and to make it appear he forms an Argument thus If the Light which is by Natural Generation in Reprobates coming into the World be not the true Christ then the Light that is in every Man that comes into the World by Natural Generation is not the true Christ But the Light which by Natural Generation in Reprobates is not the true Christ as above Ergo the Light which is in every Man which comes intâ— the World is not according to your selves the true Christ Reply I shall never fear wounding by a Weapon that never comes near me so this Argument of thine is farr enough off from wounding our Religion that it touches not neither comes near for I believe this Bond would be hard put to it to find that Quaker out that either writ or said that the light which is in every man by Natural Generation is the true Christ but he who is the true Lighâ— that Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World is the true Christ but thy Natural Light we deny to be the Christ as well as thou dost knowing that whatsoever is Born of the Flesh is Flesh but that which is Born of the Spirit is Spirit at which I doubt thy enmity is chiefly although thy Ignorance is not able to put a difference between the one and the other but here by the way take Notice that the Apostle doth not say Christ is not in Reprobates but that Reprobates do not know Christ in them by his Light to condemn them in Page 18. he saith that I said I abhor Hour-Glasses Answer This is also false I said not I Abhor them for they are serviceable for their proper use but I said I deny them as they use them His Words viz. His familiar the Glow warm Light within what Scripture has he for this is not a Blasphemous Character put upon the Light within Farther in the same Page I take Notice of another grand Lie and false accusation Namely that I doubted in my Discourse whether the Word took Flesh of the Virgin and in that Flesh dyed for all Men. But I account it but a light thing to be Belied or Evil spoken of by him who is not afraid to speak Evil of the Divine and Elect Seed Christ in the Saints calling it the Idol Light within as it follows in the same Page and
for his Seed remains in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 John 3.9 Now let Priest Bond prove where ever the Apostle Preached such a Doctrine as in all true Believers there is a cursed Root of Bitterness mortified and not nullified in this World Death only makes the Conquest over Sin So we must understand we must have this cursed Root of Bitterness as long as the Believers live according to Priest Bond 's Doctrine though he has not proved it by Scripture and then how can they be kept blameless to the Day of the Lord as in page 85 Priest Bond saith 't is an erroneous Principle for the Quakers to say that the Scriptures are not the word of God in page 77. and page 87. he brings many Scriptures and makes a great pudder and abuses them to prove it but to no purpose his declarative word of God but he hath not proved such a word in Scripture all Scripture is given forth by Inspiration of God c. 1 Tim. 3. Therefore saith Priest Bond the Scriptures is the word of God but that Scripture doth not say so 2 Tim. 3. And in page 88. Priest Bond falls a Railing against Quakers and saith Is there any word asserted to be the word of Christ but the written word of Truth Doth not the Apostle say that the Word of Faith is nigh in the heart let the word of Christ dwell in you c. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of Incorruptible by the word of God the word of God endures for ever and are these Writings of the Letter And Priest Bond saith page 88. The Lord hath no other will as a Rule of Obedience than his will revealed in the written Scriptures had the Lord no other will or Rule of Obedience before the Scripture was written Prove that by Scripture Priest Bond runs into Lies and foul words the Quakers worship cannot be accepted of God Quakers are under the power of Satan gross blind and ignorant the Cavil is idle and vain These Lyes Priest Bond may apply to himself but where doth the Scripture say of themselves in so many words as S. B. doth that the Scripiures are the infallible standing Rule of his Faith and Life and yet acts contrary to them for the Scripture saith The Holy-Ghost shall lead you into all Truth and no Man knows the things of God But the Spirit of God and Holy Men spake forth Scripture as they were moved by the holy Ghost And Priest Bond falls a railing against Quakers Spirit and calls it their Idol light within seducing Quakers is blind These filthy ungodly words he had better apply to himself Priest Bond saith Because the Spirit is antecedent to the Scriptures therefore none can walk in the Scriptures till they walk in the Spirit This consequence is lame saith Bond Page 90. Howbeit the Scriptures are before the Spirit in respect of aid and assistance The Apostle doth not say so in 1 Pet. 1. The Apostle tells you The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned So it is the Spirit of God that brings people both to discern the Scriptures and to walk according to them which Spirit of God or Holy-Ghost was before they were written which moved the holy men to give them forth And Bond saith To the Law and the Testimony the Written Word he adds Written Word and yet he saith Scripture is his Rule And Bond saith When the Spirit of Truth is come it shall guide you into all truth of the Scriptures And yet he saith The Written Scriptures are the Infallible standing Rule of Faith and Life page 89. 91. And how can the Scriptures be the Rule and the Spirit of Truth must be the guide into all the truth of the Scriptures And again Priest Bond contradicts himself and saith He affirms that the matter contained in the Scriptures is the only infallible standing rule of Faith and Life Page 91. So then the Scriptures are not the only rule but that which is contained in them And what is that which is contained in them which is thy Rule seeing the Holy-Ghost was in them which moved them to speak them forth and in them that leads them into all the truth of them But Priest Bond is all the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelations thy Rule and all that is contained in them For the Scripture speaks of the Devils words and bad men's words as well as the good Priest Bond saith The People of God had no Word Written from Adam to Moses and yet they had a Word given from God to be the rule else their worship would have been like the Quakers Will-worship If Priest Bond have not the same Word and Holy-Ghost as they had he cannot Worship God in Spirit and Truth neither can he be born again of the incorruptible seed but by that Word which lives and abides and endures for ever And Will-worship is not the Quakers who worship God in Spirit and Truth but his own In Page 92. Priest Bond is full of railing against Quakers their Idol light within craftily thrown down the Scriptures this Plot cannot be from the Spirit of Christ blind rotten and wicked spirit your Light that false Christ within See how wickedly Bond torments himself and blasphemes against the true Christ and the Light in his people Priest Bond saith Where is that place of Scripture to be found which saith the Scriptures are to be tryed by the Spirit the Spirits are to be tryed by the Scripture and not the Scripture by the Spirit Then Priest Bond what Scripture had they to try withal from Adam to Moses before the Scripture was written And Priest Bond saith It is the Holy-Ghost that leads into all truth of the Scriptures Then it must try the truth of them whether they be rightly translated or no And the Spirit of God will not deny its own Words And again Priest Bond saith The Spirit witnesses in the Scripture But where doth the Scripture say such words That the Spirit witnesses in the Scripture Priest Bond saith The Spirit witnesses in the Scripture that he is a righteous man who walks in all the Commandments or Ordinances of the Lord page 99. And page 87. Thou saith in contradiction There is in all true Believeâ—â— a cursed root of bitterness and death makes only the conquest over sin But we tell thee That Christ through death destroys Death and the Devil the Power of Death and makes an end of Sin Then Priest Bond falls a railing Quakers damnable delusion hellish Impostor that Idol light for if they might herein prevail and withal get into the Saddle they would undoubtedly soon arreign try and condemn the inspired Bible of God to the Fire and Fagot These are horrid malicious Lies Blasphemed from Priest Bonds evil Tongue For we have esteemed and do own the Scriptures more
him The first thing I find in his Book where he takes occasion to mention me is my calling of him Friend To which he answers himseâ—f saying I am none of thy Friend Answer In so saying I have now cause to believe he spoke truth though I had Charity and Friendship towards him as his following words in the same page partly makes appear by his reckoning up a Report of me which was by me many years before in Word Writing and Practice condemned and declared against as also that very time in the Presence of all the People there which were many when the Dispute was he himself being also present who could not but hear I being so near where he was all which a man would think might have been sufficient to have satisfied any Christian-hearted Man But it seems it would not satisfie him But according to that in Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth his Sins and forsakes them shall have mercy which was fulfilled as we may read both by and David and Peter after they knew the Truth and they both came again do find acceptance both with God and Man and that it was the practice of the Christians in days past to upbraid any with their Transgression or Sin after truly repented of I do not read so that for his so doing it appears Unnatural and not like a Christian But to proceed to the next thing where he says the next Prater was William Wilkinson in Page 61. where he says I repeated some of the Apostles words in Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory Now it is worth the noting here how barely he hath brought this Scripture without laying here down the reason why it was brought which had but been fair and reasonable so to have done but as I before have said so here it doth appear how he strives to make his own cause strong and ours weak but it is not like to pass so For this I know and heard him say If you said he can prove that Christ was ever in any Man as a Saviour I will lay down the Cudgels or words to this very purpose which greatly occasioned me to bring them words of the Apostle which were before mentioned saying Christ in you the hope of Glory which was pretty partenent to that purpose to prove that Christ was in Man as a Saviour seeing the Apostle said Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 But here methinks he struggles greatly to have another meaning for the Apostles words then what the Apostle himself said who spoke plainly But he saith This is an inforced sense and destroys the true nature of the word HOPE Now here I would have it well considered by the Reader who is most fitting to be believed the Apostle or Sampson Bond And the Apostle in Rom. 8.24 saith We are saved by Hope And in Gal. 2.20 he saith I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God So that it is plain that Christ is in his People both their Hope and Faith too let this Man say what he will Again he saith in Page 63. That I interrupted him saying We owned Gods Presence in Heaven and in Hell Answ This I disown to be either fairly or truly laid down for I did not bring them Words by way of interruption but what I said tending to that matter was by way of Answer to one of his Questions which was to me thus Quest Is God in Heaven or in Hell Answ To which I Answered him with some of the Words of the Psalms Psal 139.7 8. Whither shall we flee from thy Presence if I ascend up into Heaven thou art there or go down to Hell thou art there To this my Answer he said I said well for so said he he is every where Quest But speedily after he asked me again whether God was in Hell saved or damned To this Question he saith I Answered I will not tell thee these Words I utterly disown as being then spoken by me But it seemes it is little to him to cause such Words to be Printed as were not then spoken and send about the World for People to read as Truth But I hearing him ask this last Question it appeared to me so rediculous as amongst Men and so improper to be asked concerning the Lord who is God over all Blessed for Ever that I Answered I leave it to thee This Answer he saith was no other then a silly shift Now it is worth the Noting how he hath shifted concerning his own Words Where he saith he asked him meaning me Whether his God whose presence he owned to be in Hell was there saved or damned This Word his I disown to be therein mentioned and his own foregoing Words in answer to me helpeth greatly to make appear as may be seen where I answered him to that Question Whether God was in Heaven or in Hell with some of the words of the Psalms he said I said well for said he he is every where Now here his Words did not relate to that sense he hath shifted them where he says his God but his words related to the same God the Psalmist spoke of else why did he say I said well But it is like he hath considered since he asked that Unreverent Question that it was too gross and Improper to go forth so as it was at first stated therefore he would see to help it a little But seeing that I did not Answer this Question according to his expectation I have looked that he should have answered it himself for the satisfaction of the People that heard him But as to that I find him silent and the People left in as much Darkness about it as they were before for what I see or know So that I may say if it were by him accounted Inconsiderable to be answered it was much more Inconsiderable to have been asked But in that 63 Page I find because I did not answer to that foul impertinent Question before mentioned as he would have had me He saith I was one of their Baffling Prating Quakers Answ Methinks it would more a becomed him before he had charged me so high to have had a more sufficient ground for his charge then that was But it seems it is little to him to give bad names and cause to be Printed though upon too sleight a ground for the reason why I did no other wayes answer him I have before given as may be seen in my answer to that unsavoury Question of his The next thing I find he notes concerning me is That I repeated that place of Scripture in the 2 Cor. 5.16 where it is said Though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more Answ This doing is like some of his former as I have already mentioned to insert the place of Scripture without laying down with it the reason or occasion why
perish but he that hath the true living hope in him which the Apostle speaks of in John 2.3 purifieth himself even as he is pure And again Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies Many other places of Scripture might be brought tending to the proof of what I have before asserted but these I judge might be sufficient The last thing I find my self concerned with him in his Book is in Page 69. Where he saith I called on him to make good the third part of the Charge viz That the prime Principles of a Quaker are the same which were held and professed by the Beasts that Paul fought with at Ephesus This I own indeed that I did call upon him to make good or prove as in his paper sent to us he said he would do with the greatest plainness and clearness out of the Holy Scriptures a copy of which paper I have still by me these words to wit with the greatest plainness and clearness I find he has left out and saith in his Book from the Holy Scriptures I note it because there is a great deal of difference between proving a matter with the greatest plainness and clearnness out of Holy Scriptures and proving of it by his pretended Logical Arguments and Cousequences Because the one makes a thing perfectly appear as it is but the other as ill managed and misapplyed darkens Peoples minds as his Ergo's it is so or consequently it must be or may be so in which manner of proving a matter may be gross erring as I have already shewed where he said of me That I never had the Spirit of God in me His first Argument to prove that was thus formed Using the Apostles Words in the 1 John 5.8 where he saith There are three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in me meaning himself But the Spirit that is in thee doth not agree with the Water of Baptism nor Blood of the Supper for thou hast renounced both the Sacraments therâ—fore the Spirit of God is not in thee Why should the Spirit that is in me agree with such a Popish Phrase as Blood of the Supper any moâ—e than with Sacrament of the Altar will this prove that I never had the Spirit of God in me or that the Spirit of God is not in me The like I never read in all the Scriptures of Truth that ever any of the true Ministers of Christ used thus to censure others on such occasion and terms But this was the way that this Man used to prove several of his charges against us But I minding this third Part of his Charge which was as beforemention'd That the prime Principles of a Qâ—ak r are the same which were held and professed by the Beasts Paul fought with at Ephesus And knowing it was too hard a thing for him to prove against all such as are call'd Quakers or any one as I know of I urged him to prove it if he could by plain Scripture but no such place of Scripture did he bring that could prove that charge for that the Principles of the People of God called Quakâ—rs and them Men called Beasts at Ephesus are far enough differing if they were Men the Apostle means as in point of Worship is well known to the Nation As in this particular that the People called Quakers do not Worship an Image an Idol God the Workmanship of Mans Hands which the Men at Ephesus called Beasts did as we may read in Acts 19.26 This Paul hath perswaded and turned away much People saying that they be not Gods which are made by Mens Hands and in Vers 27. So that not only our Craft is in danger to be set at nought but also that the Temple of the great Goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence should be destroyed whom all Asia and the World Worshippeth and in the 28 Verse And when they heard these sayings they where full of Wrath and cryed out saying great is Diana of the Ephesians and in the 35 Vers Ye Men of Ephâ—sus what Man is there that knoweth not how that the City of the Ephesians is a Worshipper of the great Goddess Diana and of tht Image which fell from Jupiter But the Principles of the People called Quakers in point of Worship is to Worship the true God in Spirit and in Truth and such Worshippers Christ himself saith the Father seeketh And their prime Principle is Christ Jesus the Power of God the Light that inlightneth every Man that cometh into the World And what other erronious Principles them Beasts at Ephâ—sus held I know the People called Quakers disown sufficiently but what need have I to make that my business to search for them now this Man viz Sampson Bond having charged us so grosly and falsly as he hath and saying He would prove with the greatâ—st in plâ—inâ—â—ss and clearness out of the Holy Scriptures it was his place if he could have done it to have brought forth the Scripture to have proved both the Principles of the one and the other and so have made them appear to be as one and the same as he in his Paper to us said he would But here I have answered that false Charge of his and made it appear by plain Scripture that their Principles or at least some of their Pâ—incipâ—es was to Worship a visible Image And no such thing can be proved against he People called Quakers Now where does it appear that the Principles of the Beasts at Ephesus these being some of theirs and the Pâ—inciples of the People called Quakers agree Surely the Principles of those called Beasts at Ephesus and the Principles of the People called Quaâ—ers are far enough from agreeing as one and the same But I find in his Book that he alleadges their Principles were First That the Body of Christ was not raisâ—d from the Dead Secondâ—y That no Mans Body shall be raisâ—d from the Dead Noâ— that these â—here the Principâ—es of these Feasts that Paul fought with at Ephesus I do not find the Scripture plain for it But that their Pâ—inciples were as I have befâ—râ—mentioned the Scripture is very plain clear for that if the Apostle speak figuratively But that it was part of the Apostles Testimony to preach unto People Jesus and the Resurrection I own and truly believe as may be plainâ—y seen both to the Aâ—henians and Corinthians and it is like to many moâ—e both Jews and Greeks and that it was strange Doctrine as we may read in Acts 17. It was to the Athâ—nians to whom Paul preached at Mars-hill â—ut what is this to prove that it was the Principles of the Beasts that Paul fought with at Ephâ—sus or of the Qâ—â—kâ—rs either This Man having given fâ—om under his Haâ—d that he would prove his charge with the greâ—test plaiâ—n ss clearness from the Holy
Scriptures I looked for it but not finding it I must needs judge his charges to be false And for his saying That it was one of thâ— Principles of the Beasts that Paul fought with at Ephesus to hold that the Body of Christ was not raised from the Dead To this I answer if it were one of their Principles to hold such a thing what is this to the People called Quakers they do not hold it for they as confidently be ieve the Resurrection of Christ â—ody as Sampson Bond or any other Man need do according to the Testimony of severa faithful Witnesses given oâ— him in the Holy Sâ—riptures of Truth The second Principle that he saith them Beasts at Eph sus held is 2dly That no Mans Body shall be raised from the Dead First This I want a plain Scripture to prove First That it was one of those Men that Paul fought with Secondly I want a place of Scripture to prove that it is the Natural Carnal or Earthly Body of all Mankind that shall rise again after Death To this I need say but little because I do not find the thing proved that is asserted But least any should think or say I make that my excuse to save my answer I answer to it thus that for many to say hold and believe that the Natural Bodies of all Mankind shall rise again after Death this I esteem great ignoracne aâ—d doth in no wise agree with the Apostles Words as may be seen in the 1 Cor. 15.35 Where the Apostle speaking concerning the Resurrection put forth a Question and afterwards answered it himself saying But some Man will say how are the Dead raised up and with what Body do they come his answer was in the 36 Vers Thou fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it dye Vers the 37. And that which thou sowâ—st thou sowest not that Body that shall be and in the 38 Vers But God giveth it a Body as it hath pleased him Verse the 42. So also is the Resurrection of the Dead it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption and Verse the 44 of the same Chap. saith It is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body And this Testimony of the Apostles I own and farther do believe a Resurrection both of the just and the unjust the one namely the just or they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and the other namely they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation according to Christs own Words in John 5.29 Thus I having come through the thing which I at first intended though I could have here more inlarged concerning the Light within which Sampson Bond hath spoken so much Evil agaist it being that which our Lord Jesus Christ hath given a measure of to all Men to lead them out of Darkness and so into the Marvelous Light and Kingdom of Peace Yet here I forbear expecting that he will not miss the Hand Writing of some other to answer him both to that and several other things asserted in his Book Bermudas the 1st Month 1683. William Wilkinson A BRIEF TOUCH OF THE DECEIT AND False Doctrine OF SAMPSON BOND THe mighty strength as he thinks of this operative blind embondaged Sampson Bond lies in his 17th and 66th page wherein he grindes and grins against the Truth of the Gospel and he sayes wounds to Dâ—ath a meer Lye that which makes a Devil the spirit that now works in the Children of Disobedience and in him a Falshood a Nullity nothing in his Text an Expletive of the Translaters having nothing or it in the Greek making an Ambiguity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bipenâ—â—â— which he makes use of as his Two edged Sword his Ax to wrest the Apostles Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are Know ye not that Christ dwells in you c. not How Christ dwelleth c. which word How which Justin Martyr a most eminent Writer soon after the Apostles dayes Juâ—i Mâ—r yr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayes is an Argument of Vnbelief to say How God is in men he makes his Text the Handle of his Mill the Hinge of his Work that brings him his Grist his Christ only without Word only without nothing within but his How a meer Manner Mode without Substance by his Popish Philosophy and Divinity like that of their Bread God And 't is no Wonder he lays such stress on the Translaters How not the Apostle's Know for the New Doctrine they have got up against us contrary not only to the Primitive Fathers but also to the Protestant Reformers is That the Spirit of Christ is not Objective and Perceptive See G Keith's Quakerisâ—n no Popery citing Aug. Luther Zwâ—ngl us Melancton c and h s Bâ—ok of â—â—mmediâ—te Revelation aâ—d his Answer to the Dr. of Jena in Defence of Robert Barclay on that part but only Subjective and Effective as their Terms are his is Operative here that is according to his Comparison as the Sun's Effect is on Plants c. they not perceiving it So the Son's Effect is on Men yet they not knowing but only believing the Doctrine and that they have they have it This he shews is his by his Restraint in his Interpretation of John 1.1 and there is grounded his Argument against W.W. and our Friends in pag. 66. which is Popish not Protestant Doctrine too large a Field to be entred on here against such an inconsiderable Adversary who deserves but such answer as the Man made the Popish Priest that had taught him to believe Transubstantiated Christ to be his saying Believe thou hast him and thou hast him But lest he should conceit Silence to be as empty an Answer as his Text How wherein he would place the emphasis I shall offer him t'other glass to pâ—ove it that he is not beside his Text and that seeing he sayes the Hour-glass knows as wâ—ll his Terms as his Adversary it proves not the Divisions and Terms of time better than he does those of that Scripture that is Prove and Know wherein the Apostle's emphatical stress is laid not S. B's How For on the word Prove the Apostle discants after his manner as others have also observed using the word six times here twice in this Verse once before and three times after it as in Vers 3. A PROOF of Christ speaking in me Vers 5. PROVE your selves KNOW ye not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be UNAPPROVED Vers 7. Not that we should appear UNAPPROVED We might be as UNAPPROVED Now here this Great Greek THRASONICAL SAMPSON boasting over unlearned Men with his Metonymyes and Syllogisms proves himself REPROBATE UNAPPROVED in the Greek in the words of his Text going beside it and placing the weight of the sentence on that which is not in it in the Greek in which the Apostle wrote and omitting that on which the Apostle insists so much viz KNOW by PROOF which word signifies to
and time to stop his boasting over them in some things wherein they are not versed Wherein he shews both his Arrogance and Deceit pretending an Aristotelian Schooll-form before and against Men that are not skilled at that Weapon forsaking the plain Spiritual Weapons inclosed in plain words and methods which the true Preachers used Some of the Schooll-Men themselves say Baconthorp prol 4 sen q 8 Beware of Subtil Sophisters in the Doctrine of the Church The nature of Sophisms is to bring in all errors and Heresyes Wherein he shews himself unskilful as well as deceitful J. Bale as in saying The Conclusion ought not to be denyed And in proving but one part of the reason in all his four Arguments Begging the former part in all unproved The Consequence is Ungranted Ungrounded and Unproved which is in question the second part unquestioned by all is all he proves For he proves Jesus of Nazareth to be Christ by the Scriptures he brings but no where pâ—oves by the Scriptures that we own him not as Christ Onely as the Professers then saying He had an unclean Spirit a Devil So S. B. c. now saying His Spirit is an Vnclean Spirit the Devil Because they have said it it must be taken as an axiom a Maxim needing no proof because they have said it their authority is sufficient because they are Infallible their Positions are Principles Authentic Self-proof And so great is his Authority he thinks that he makes himself determinating Judge in the Schoolls Magisterially For as I remember I have read in the Master of the Sentences upon occasion of a dispute between a Presbyterian and a Baptist almost forty Years ago on that Question that several of the Fathers held That the Spirit was in Men not only efficiently or Vertually So no new Doctrine And they being in all Mens esteem greater then we how comes it that we in his esteem and not they are then the greatest Antichrists But it happens to us as Erasmus said it did to Luther when the Priests accounted that Heresy in him which they accounted Orthodox in the Fathers And as it happened to Erasmus himself Apolog. when he said to the Popish Doctors of Paris Why blame ye me for denying swearing to be lawful blame the Fathers for denying it whose Authority I bring But S. B. seperates as well as distinguishes Personal Mystical Operative but no where proves it but only by his mighty Greek Word Metonymy which he brags that F. E. understands not which he could if he had not hid himself in Greek as their manner is but call'd it in plain English as the word signifies Misnaming which he no ways proves only says it As if God were not in us of a Truth in whom we live move and have our being and not afar off as the Heathen acknowledged but only operatively working by a Metonymy a misnaming improper speaking as the Sun is at a distance and so fills not all things nor Christ where his Spirit is nor the Father where the Son Works and both where the Spirit contrary to the Schools also which say that the works of those three are indivisible ad extra Nor that Christ is not really where he is mystically so not in his Body Christ not in Christ nor the Father in the Son nor he in him Cyril on John l. 10 c. 13. nor they in the Saints nor that they dwell in them but only by a Metonymy not really and properly only by works at a distance I do not read that ever the Lutherans called Vbiquitarians were by their adversarys called for that the vilest Antichrist or other his vilest terms he bestows on us but allowed honourable Names as Zanchy called the judicious Zanchy of Ch. Relig. of true disp p. 6. 7. c. who said The Humane nature of Christ might extend from Heaven to Earth c. But to omit him and others to avoid that Name Vbiquitarian Chytraeus approved as aforesaid handling those Controversies professedly of the Son in the Articles of the Creed and opposing the prodigious Vbiquity as he calls it yet saith in the close all The Divinity of the Word which only of it self is Quickening Omnipotent and Omniscient yet shines in the whole Humane nature assumed and in it and by it is freely effectual as hot Iron possesses heat and the force of shining and burning truly and in very deed communicated in it self but not of it self For we know that all Orthodox Antiquity unanimously used this similitude And as for Ubiquity our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ Immanuel not only by his Divinity but also according to his Humane Nature to be truly present wheresoever he hath promised by his Word that he will be present we doubt not nor take away the glory of his Truth and Omnipotency due to Christ So he who would in these Controversies also have the plain words in Scriptures kept to as they sound simply properly p. 201. But S. B. also Magesterially invents a lowing new term viz. Humane p. 50. as easily found in Authours as Humane in Scriptures Also he declares without proof that in Rom. 1.19 is not meant Christ by whom the World was made p. 25. 38. though by Christ he understands God-man And that to them is not in them but without them I would have him shew how the God-head can be shewn to the outward Eye the inward being blind by the monstrous Syllogism or reasonless reason to speak plain English of this blind Sampson the Phiilstines having put out his Eyes The Psalm the Apostle grounds it on shews the inward Preacher as well as the outward declaring God as the fear of the Lord and the Words and Expressions of like signification after the Hebrews manner of speech And what Light can the Scriptures which he calls the Light give to them that have no Light in them Even as much as the Sun can give to a blind Man They would have the course of the Word to begin from externals says Oecolampadius Eze. 3.10 a chief Protestant Reformer but without ears it is in vain that the sound is inculcated so it s begun in the Spirit Abraham believed God not the Word Preached for where then were the Preachers or the Law Then it would follow that justification we e by the Works of our Hands Man should lay the first Stone so he and much more And now on mention of Justification I shall bring another Protestant chief Reformer to obviate his calling the â—uaker's Light within but the Pope without viz. to omit the rest I have largely cited elsewhere Melancton They say not well says he that by justify understand to be made just and obedient apud Pezâ—l de sign justif Aâ—g 5. and do not also therewith comprise the acceptation of the person So he contrary to S. B. his justification onely without with others his like ... And the Fathers of the first 300 Years after Christ were
from the Law of Sin and Death he saith that the Apostle doth not mean that the Spirit did so free him from Sin and Death as that he was simply delivered from either but so that it should not Dominere over us nor Damn us Suppose it were so that we could grant him this yet still the Scripture stands on the Spirits side and so consequently on our side against this Priest for if he doth save but from the Dominion of sin that is no small degree of Salvation so by Right and good Reason the Spirit was in Paul as a Saviour and made him free which if this could be proved that the Spirit of Christ was ever in any Man as a Saviour thou saidst thou wouldst give up the Cudgels But it is plain that Paul became Dead with Christ Crucified to the World Dead to Sin and Alive to Righteousness and all this through the inward working of the Spirit of Christ Jesus Farther he Ignorantly affirms that the Death Paul was Delivered from was nothing else but the Power of a Natural Death here People may behold the Ignorance of the Man was it a Natural Death that Paul so much complained of Rom. 7.24 Was it not the Body of Death the Old corrupt Nature which was not yet quite overcome yet the Law or Power of this Body of Death was strong in his Members and this was it that he cryed for deliverance from and that was it from which that Law of the Spirit of life set him free In Page 34. S. B. saith F. E. stept again and said I in thee and thou in me I Answer The end for which I made use of the Scripture was to Testifie to the indwelling of Christ in the Saints against his wicked charge that the Quakers Saviour within was the false Christ which perhaps the word might be mistaken in uttering yet it stands firm in the Record of the Scripture for Truths advantage in plain Scripture Words I in them and thou in me and is part of Christ Prayer to the Father who heard him always although S. B. by his Interpretation seeks to hide the true sence thereof and to give a meaning that may answer his own End In pag 36. S. B. saith Mrs. Bullock asked him whether he did make our Christ within us to be the Devil to whom he saith he made answer viz. That he did Solemnly with much Reverence in the presence of God to whom I must shortly be accountable for my Words declare that I do most assuredly know that a Quakers pretended Christ within him Mark who Sam. Bond said that was page 29. The Graces effects and opperations of the Spirit within them whom here he calleth the false Christ the Devil with whom he saith We shall be Damned in Hell if we Repent not Damnable Doctrine indeed no wonder he put such a Blasphemous question to Will. Wilkinson viz. Whether our God were in Hell Sav'd or Damn'd such abominacle vapours assends out of his Bottomless Pit many times But of this foregoing answer his own Pen hath accused him for had not he accused himself I know not any that could but as Christ said Nothing is Hid that shaâ—l not be uncovered And for his Warrant to confirm this Sentence he urgeth Joh. 8.24 I said therefore ye shaâ—l die in your Sins which Scripture with the 21st verse to which it relates I turn back again upon himself as his own Portion for it is the Doctrine that he Preaches to the People that they cannot be free from sin while they live who can otherwise Judge if so but that both he and all that Dies in the Faith of his Lies can escape Damnation except with the Papist thou canst find a Purgatory for into the Holy City nothing must Enter that defileth or worketh abomination Rev. 21.27 Farther this Bond after his usual manner of wresting the Scripture goes on to comment upon another Scripture alledged by one of the Friends Eph. 5.13 But all things that are Reproved are made manifest by the Light c. Which by Light he saith we are to understand a sin Reproving Light which he farther saith is the Light of the Scripture But where dost thou find the Scripture called a sin reproving Light we read indeed in Timothy that it is profitable for Reproof and Instruction to make the Man of God perfect and to Furnish him throughly to every good work but though it be serviceable to reprove the Actual Sinner what is this to the manifestation of sin in the Heart before it breaks forth into Action which only is made manifest by the Light or Spirit of Christ as in Joh. 16.8 and whereas he saith the Scripture is frequently described by Light alledging for proof Psal 119.105 Thy Word is a Light unto my Steps To this I answer that Scripture is not there mentioned If he say it is the Word to this I farther give answer that the Scripture in no place calls it self the Word though S. B. without any Scripture ground calls it the Written Word but it saith God is the Word and Christ is the Word and Ezekiel saith often The Word of the Lord came unto me saying so that it notes the Word and the sayings which sayings are many of them Recorded in the Scriptures of Truth and are properly the true sayings of God who is the Word Joh. 1.1 He farther to confirm the Scripture to be the Light doth Note Joh. 3.16 Every one that doeth Evil hateth the Light But experience tells us that every Evil Man doth not hate the Scripture but delight many of them to Read it and Teach it their Children but their Enmity is against the Light that makes manifest sin and Iniquity in the Heart which is the Righteous Principle of God in the Heart the sure Word of Prophesie to which the Saints of Old did take heed which is prefer'd before the sound of Words without for the Words without may be falsly Translated and the true sense of them may be changed and falsly Interpreted or written in another Tongue or the Scripture being made up of several Creaters it is possible it may be destroyed but the Invisible Word the Light Christ Jesus could no Man destroy whom the Apostle Paul saith speaketh from Heaven Gods beloved Son whom we are to hear not rejecting the Scripture as it is truly Read for it bears witness to the Light Christ Jesus Several more Lies and false accusations I meet with in his Book as page 38. he saith the Teaching Quakers saith Christ is manifest in their real Flesh but the Flesh of Christ was only in shew and appearance And in page 38. he charges William Harriot for saying he denyed their out-side Christ which words I do not remember in the least neither do any Friend or other People that I have spoke withal witness any such word spoken by him And in page 40. he Proceeds farther with his false charges saying The Quakers deny that Christ was true Man consisting of
Name or Book whereby it might have been made manifest but in as much as he hath done neither I return it back upon him again as an Imagination forced upon his own Heart And as for that of George Fox concerning the Nature of Christ that it was not humane but Divine I have bore my Testimony agreeable thereto before and so leave S. B. to prove it by the Scripture which lies upon him as a necessity in as much as he hath laid it down as a necessary point of Faith One thing more of which he chargeth the Faithful Servant of the Lord G. F. is that he hath abused the Scripture 2 Cor. 5.11 For we which live are always delivered unto Death for Jesus sake that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Mortal Bodies Now the abuse charged on G. F. is that he reads it thus the Life of Jesus is manifest in our Mortal Bodies thereby making that present which the Apostle makes future at the Resurrection Answ The words might be doth not so much note the time as the end wherefore the Saints were always delivered up to Death even for that very end that the Life of Christ might be Manifest in their Mortal Bodies all that might Dye to the Flesh and to the World and Sin might no longer Live in them but that the Life of Jesus might be Manifest in their Mortal Bodies Now if G. Fox witnessing the fulfilling of this and did Testifie to the same how did he abuse the Scripture or belye the Apostles words as thou hast falsly charged him but it is plain thou hast wrested the Scripture in that thou say'st it is only at the Resurrection when Paul himself witnessed the same thing before he went out of the Body Gal. 2.20 And yet in contradiction Priest Bond saith in pag. 72. that the Body shall be raised Spiritual as Christs Body of Flesh and Bones after the Resurrection was Spiritual our Bodies shall not be raised Natural corruptible Bodies but Spiritual Incorruptible Bodies though the Body of Man be not Natural corruptible or Mortal Flesh and Blood and as saith unfit for the Kingdom of God but in the Resurrection the Body will not be so for it will then be Spiritual incorruptable immortal Flesh and Blood Priest Bond in this hath contradicted himself and is made to confess the Quakers Principles And for what thou hast to charge Isaac Pennington withal I believe he was a Spiritual Man and was better acquainted with Heavenly things then Sampson Bond and so could speak as he had known felt and received them in Spirit which is a Mystery to every Natural Man for the Wisdom of this World with all the acquired parts that it can Furnish the Natural Man withal cannot know or Receive the things of God because they are only known and received in the Spirit But it had been a great point of Wisdom in this Priest to have been still and quiet and not to speak Evil of the things he knew not neither understood but he that thus will rail against the Light of Christ which the Saints believe in will not spare his Disciples Thus have I searched over the first part of his Book which concerns his first charge wherein I have noted some of the abuses Slanders Blasphemies Confusions and soft contradictions of S. B. and according to the Measure of Light I have Received briefly answered the same I shall now pass on to the Second charge viz. that the main end of the Quakers Meeting in these Islands is to make the Lords Christ his Holy Spirit his Angels and Apostles all Lyers and false Witnesses of God And to make good this his Ungodly false charge against us he lays down this for his Foundation viz. That we are G. Fs. Disciples and therefore that this is our Principal that the Light is in us which he calls pretended Light is our true Christ Teacher Rule and Guide to be heard believed in walked unto and obeyed as the only Saviour to give Remission of Sins and Salvation with God to which he said we consented from whence he draws down this conclusion viz. That we did thereby Grant that the end of our Meetings is to Teach a denial of Jesus Christ of Nazareth the Man approved of God to be our true and only Saviour which Teaching said he is to make the Lords Christ his Holy Spirit his Angels and Apostles all Lyers and False Witnesses of God Reply The Ground of this his charge is of the same Nature with the former because we confess to the Spirit within which is Light and therefore he concludes that it must needs follow that we do deny the true Christ which he concludes to be the Man Jesus without without having any respect to any thing that dwelt within or at least without any Respect to the Spirit of Christ whose Office it is to cleanse the Soul from Sin and so consequently doth save and Redeem from under the power of Death Reply This his charge is absolutely false for our Hearts viz. The Hearts of the Faithful amongst us is truly set to serve the Lord and our main end is truly to Worship him in Spirit and in Truth and if in the Indeavours of our Hearts to bring this our end to pass and for want of a true understanding in the Scripture we had mist of the thing must it needs be charged on us that it was our main end so to do I believe few that have any tenderness in them will believe thee But on the other Hand it is Manifest that the Man Jesus did declare himself the Light of the World Joh. 8.12 and so to be believed in Chap. 12 46. now as Man barely understood how could he be the Light of the World which Light is a Heart searching Light Rev. 2.23 therefore it must be understood in the Spirit and he declares himself one with the Father Joh 10.30 in whom dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodyly who was before Abraham John 8. and it was the Godhead the Invisible power for which the Body was prepared and this power dwelling and acting in the Body was that which unheld it in this great work of Mans Salvation and it was through the excellency worth and power of the Indwelling Spirit which was one with the Father which the Invisible Eye only could behold by which the satisfaction was made and the purchase of the Heavenly Inheritance obtained by whom Remission of Sins Justification Sanctification and Everlasting Redemption is obtained this is he in whom we confess to be our true and only Saviour in whom we believe And in as much as he did direct his Disciples that after his departure they should wait for his Spirit which the World could not receive then no more then they can do now which saith he dwelleth with you and shall be in you and this Spirit was to be waited for even by his Disciples that had been taught by him and he was
makes the Conquest over sin God said only Noah was a just and pâ—rfect man Job was perfect and upright and dost not thou here pervert the Scripture who saist contrary to the Lord And yet thou saist so then the perfect man is the upright and sincere hearted man and how can he be upright and sincere hearted and have a Cursed Root of Bitterness in him And we never did affirm that Job or any did own their own perfection but the perfection which is of God and Christ Priest Bond saith to prove Resurrection F. E. said that the Scripture saith that which thou sowest is not that Body which shall be Priest Bond saith Wool died in Scarlet is the saâ—e Wool for substance as it was before c. Page 72 73. And then in Page 75. Priest Bond confounds all again who saith in the Resurrection the Bâ—dy will be Spiritual Incorruptable Immortal Flesh and Blood And in Page 69. Priest Bond saith Stephen saw Christs humane Body of Flesh and Blood Priest Bond saith The Quakers say that the Body of Christ was not raised from the Dead and that no mans Body should be raised from the Dead These are horrid Lies Page 69. And Page 71. Priest Bond saith that Francis Eastlack saith We do deny the Resurrection of the Dead But his Lies are sufficiently said though he basely abuses the Quakers in saying we deny the Resurrection of the Dead or the Resurrection of Christ but we do not look upâ—n Priest Bonds words to be any slander and therefore we do not matter what he saith And we say the same that did descend did ascend and is glorified in his glorious and Spiritual Body at the Right hand of God who will change our vile Bodies and make it like unto his glorious Body Priest Bond saith Had not Christ a real humane mankind Body after he Rose Page 68. And in Page 75. In the Resurrection the Body will not be so it will be spiritual incorruptable immortal flesh and blood But Priest Bond how dost thou make this hang together Humane Mankind Body yet Spiritual body Immortal flesh and blood Page 56 and 67. Thou usest many lying Arguments that the Quakers should not believe the record that God gives of his Son namely that Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God c. The Lamb of God which takes away the Sins of the World these are all horrid Lyes which Priest Bond makes his Refuge But how doth Priest Bond believe in Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World Who saith The Saints shall not bâ— made free from all Sin in this Life and there is in all true Believers a Cursed Root of bitterness not cast out Death only makes the Conquest over Sin Then how doth Christ take away the Sins of the World and make an end of Sin And Priest Bond hath not proved in Page 66. his Baptizing of Children with Water and that outward Water is one of the three Witnesses spoken of by John and W. W. the Quaker said both Baptisme and the Lords-Supper was within Priest Bond saith It is supposed so hot with two Wives this is like Priest Bonds base Spirit for is not Baptisme with Fire and the Holy-Ghost within and doth not Christ say I stand at the Door and knock and if any Man will hear my Voice and open the Door I will come into him and sup with him and he with me Is not this Supper within Revel 3. Therefore how dare he say that the Quakers deny both the Sacraments and hath not proved that outward Water and outward Wine to be a Sacrament nor the Word Sacrament a Scripture Word Priest Bond saith That the Spirit as such never Justified any Saint from Sin in the Sight of God much less such as F. E. was who never had the Spirit of God In this Priest Bond hath shewed his Rash Ignorance of the Scripture for God poureth out of his Spirit upon all Flesh Acts 2. and Joel 2. And doth not God Justify his People from Sin by the Spirit of Faith which Faith is the Victory in which Faith they please God and have access to him And Priest Bond thou saist Paul infers though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet henceforth know we him no more 2 Cor. 5.16 Priest Bond saith in Page 64. The Flesh i. e. after worldly greatness and honour Creature Pomp and Dignity in which sence Flesh is understood in Reader dost thou think this meaning of Priest Bond is right concerning Jesus of Nazareth the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World for did Christ ever receive the Worldly greatness and Honour Creature Pomp and Dignity Doth not Christ say He was not of this World He testified against this World that their Works were Evil. Priest Bond saith All such as stand in a Covenant of Works as the Quakers do And yet in Page 61. W.W. confesses to Christ in them the hope of Glory the Quakers are in the Covenant of Grace the Light and Life which Light thou Blasphemously calls an Idol as in Page 64. Priest Bond brings Jeremiah Chap. 25. God is at Hand c. And Psalm 139.7 8. David saith Whither shall I go from thy Spirit c. If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there c. So Priest Bond saith The Deity filleth all places Creatures and things in Heaven Hell the Sea and the Earth But Priest Bond doth the Deity fill the Devils in Hell in whom there is no Truth If he fills all things in Heaven and Hell Is not the Deity Truth Page 63 Priest Bond saith Christ made a Scourge of small Cords and Whipt sundry persons that sold Doves in the Temple in Page 59.61 Why should the Lawful Magistrate Scruple to follow Christs example to whip W. H. the Quaker We believe that Priest Bond would have the Magistrates to be Whipping like the New-England Priests but we hope the Magistrates of Burmudas will be wiser But S. Bond would be at whipping Doth not he deserve to be Whipt who calls Christ a Devil and his Light within an Idol Priest Bond thou saist in Page 57. They do in their Meetings and Aims make the Angels and the Apostles of Christ Lyers These are all horrid Lies for we own Christ Jesus according as the Angels and Apostles have declared him more than Priest Bond. And Priest Bond saith again As if the Lord Christ had said all Men are Flesh and Blood so dull sighted and blind that they could never have received his Truth by any Study or Observation it comes only by Gift and Revelation John 6.62 Peter saying to Christ Thou art the Son of the living God And yet in page 55. Priest Bond contradicts himself and saith that Christ was both seen and heard with the bodily eyes and ears of a Woman with whom he conversed What Priest Bond without the Gift and Revelation did she know him to be the true Christ and if