Odious and this thou knowest we can prove to thy Face and shalâ— dâ— it if the Lâ—râ— give â—s an Opportunity And now read what is said in the Holy Scriptures of Christ which thou nor all the cunning Crafts-men that the old Serpent makes use of to with-stand the Universal Appearance of God's Grace and Light to all men in this the Day of his Love can do Joh. 1.4 In him is Life and the Life was the Light of Men Vers 9. Which was sent to bear witness of that Light that was the True Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which is spoken of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 God that commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Iesus and this is the True God and Christ that we believe in and turn People unto who hath shined by the Power and Coming of his Heavenly and Divine Light into our Hearts and Souls whereby he hath made us to inherit Comfort whereby we see the Scripture is fulfilled The People that sate in Darkness have seen a Great Light and those that sate in the Regions and Shadow of Death unto them Light is sprung up Mat. 4.16 whereby we see the fulfilling of the Prophet Isaiah's Prophecy Isa 60.19 The Sun shall be no more thy Light by Day nor for Brightness shall the Moon give Light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory and this Light is the Way that the Holy Men of God travailed in though thee and thy Fore-fathers know it not saith Solomon The Path of the Just is as the shining Light c. Prov. chap. 4. ver 18. Isa chap. 2. ver 5. O House of Jacob come ye and let us walk in the Light of the Lord and Christ saith I am the Way and there is none comes to the Father but by me who saith also I am the Light of the World and this is the Way that the true Ministers of Christ turned People unto and were made Ministers of Acts 26.23 to open their Eyes to turn them from Darkness to Light c. that by it they might see their Way out of Sin and Evil and to know their Feet guided in the Way of Peace Luke 1.79 which Light and Truth was that which the Prophets prayed for Psalm 43.3 O send out thy Light and thy Truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy Holy Hill and to thy Tabernacle Psalm 36.19 For with thee is the Foundation of Life in thy Light shall we see Light And now thou that makest it thy Business to cry out against the Quakers Light whose Light is God and Christ and the Truth and Way to Life to so many as walk therein and are guided thereby for this I can say and my Conscience beareth me witness that I never preached nor declared any other Light to be the Way of Life then the true God and Jesus Christ which the Scriptures of Truth largely witness to be so as I have here proved and thou that say'st this God and Christ that lighteth all Men that the Quakers preach is a God that neither you nor your Fathers have known whereby you have manifested your gross Darkness and Ignorance both of the true God and Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Eternal and if I should say no more of this thy railing envious Piece of Confusion which thou and thy Brother Oddey have sent abroad you are largely made manifest to be in that State which you say the Quakers are in who preach another God another Jesus and are of another Spirit then what the Prophets and Apostles were of who said God is Light and Christ is the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World and this the God that thou say'st neither you nor your Fathers have known and I do tell you that I do believe that you speak Truth in that and do judge you out of your own Mouthes to be in their Steps that crucified Christ of whom he said These Things they do because they know not the Father nor me And this I can truly say notwithstanding all your railing Words and unsavoury Speeches concerning me I desire that the Lord may give you Repentance of your Abuses offered against Christ and his Appearance that so you may come to have the Benefit of his Request unto his Father Father forgive them for they know not what they do for I hope your Envy manifested against us and the Truth which we profess is more out of Ignorance then Wilfulness which if so I desâ—re the Lord may open your Eyes that you may come to see what you are doing of Page 3. thou say'st That thou offeredst to prove that the Quakers preached another Jesus and had received another Spirit and another Gospel then what was preached by the Apostles Rep. We acknowledge thou said'st so then and now tellest us as much in thy Book but thou didst not go about to prove it then neither hast thou done it now so that it is sooner said then proved and thy pittiful Shift to evaâ—e the proving of what thou hast promised is already in Print which was to ask us whether we owned the true Christ yea or nay to which then I did freely confess and have mâ—re largely now confest my Faith and Belief and Hope of Salvation to be in the true God and Jesus Christ whereby it appears thy Accusation against me and the rest of my Brethren is false and that you are the Men that preach another Gospel and are out of the Faith that was once delivered unto the Saints whose Faith stood in the Light and Power of God which was and is the Author of the true Faith and the Finisher in all those that continue therein which Faith gives Victory over the World and gives Power and Courage to follow the Lord as faithfully and confess Christ as openly in Times of Suffering and Persecution as in Times of the greatest Freedom and Liberty which Faith hath been made manifest by our Fruits to be in and amongst us ever since we have been a People whereby it appears that good Daniel's Spirit is revealed in amongst us who would not so much as shut his Windows to shun Persecution but prayed as openly as he did at other Times Page 3. thou say'st One of the Quakers said to a Friend of thine that the Body of Christ consumed in the Grave as others do And Francis why didst not thou set down the Name of that One thou speakest of whereby we might have known who it had been for until thou dost I do charge it upon thee as a false Accusation as knowing it to be none of us that said so neither doth it agree with our Principles and thou knowest that I have confessed otherwise in Print to thy Shame Again page 3. F. H. saith Although I have
it appears how thou contradictest thy self pag. 8. Thou pretendest Grief for thy Country-men who sayest thou flee from the Antichrist the Whore of Babylon and falls into the Pit of the Damnable Heresie of this Antichrist the Quakers Now can any be led by a Damnable Principle and they at the same time not in a State of Condemnation O gross Darkness And doth not Christ say This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness And doth not the Scripture say He that believeth not is condemned already But saith F. H. There is none in a state of Damnation until with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell O great Confusion and Contradiction and contrary to the Scripture of Truth Pag. 13. F. H. saith He brings me in reading the Grace of God that brought Salvation hath appeared unto Men leaving out the word All which I testifie in God's Sight to my best Knowledge is utterly Falshood Rep. A pitiful Shift indeed to cover thy Deceit but altogether too short to do it What dost thou and thy Brother Oddey cry out against me for belying thee in this Matter in saying thou readst it wrong Tit. 2.11 and left out the word All and now bringest no Witness to prove me a Lyar nay far short of that for thou hast not here affirmed it thy self that thou read the Scripture as it is but sayst To the best of thy Knowledge thou didst but yet while thou art giving an Account of the Matter thou tellst us That thou dost not use to read that Scripture as it is But Francis in the Light that that thou hatest art thou comprehended and thy Subtilty seen and thy Deceit made manifest And I tell thee again I can prove it to thy Face that to be true which I have charged thee withal in that Matter although thou hast willingly forgotten it and further it appears by thy own words which thou hast here published in Print that what I have said of thee is true whereby there needs no further Witness then what I have from thee and thy Brother Oddey under your Own Hands Pag. 13. Read his own words which are these whereby all may see what Cause this man hath to Rail at me for saying the Truth that he left out the word All excepting this they would not have their Hearers and others know what wicked Perverters they are of the holy Scriptures pag. 13. lin 15. his words are these Now take All Men here for Every Particular I have thought it not agreeing to the Analogy and Rule of Faith to say The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared or shined on All Men. Rep. But Francis what Faith is thine that doth not allow thee to believe the Scriptures of Truth to be true or sound as they are declared by the Holy Ghost that dwelt in them that spake them as it is written 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophecy came not in Old Time by the Will of Man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost May not I and others that read thy words justly judge thee out of thy own Mouth that thou art the Man and art in that State that thou sayest of the Quakers and canst not prove it neither by our Words or Writings but thou art apostatized from the true and living Faith that was once delivered to the Saints For the Apostle saith Titus 2.11 For the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all men and further it is said 1 Tim. 2.4 where it is said God would have all men to be saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth And thou sayst that it doth not stand with thy Rule of Faith whereby it appears that thou art not of the Apostles Faith for if thou wast in their Faith thou wouldst own and believe their words to be more certain to be the Mind of God then thy Thoughts But I tell thee thou Merchant of Babylon Thy Corrupt Thoughts have deceived thee in this weighty Matter and the Enemy of thy Soul hath blinded thee as he hath in several other things concerning us But how should we expect better from thee but Wresting and Perverting our Words when thou art so much in the dark as to tell us in print That to read and take the Apostles words as they are spoken doth not agree with thy Rule of Faith whereby it plainly appears thou hast not the Faith of God's Elect for if thou hadst thou wouldst be of the same Mind thâ—â—â—â—ey were in Pag. 13. F. H. saith these words I say in the Fear of Jehovah all you that believe or fear no New or Strange Gods no False Christ not this False Christ of the Quakers that Light that is in all men Rep. It was alwayes the Way and Practice of Deceivers in all Ages to labour to keep the People in Darkness and Blindness and ignorant of the Appearance of the true and living God as God is pleased to appear and manifest himself unto the Sons and Daughters of men for the saving of their Souls and the Way by which they carry on their Ungodly Wâ—rks was the Way that this our Adversary and Enemy of the Appearance of the true God and Jesus Christ in our Day now taketh whereby he is manifeâ—ted by his Fruits to be in the Steps of his Fore-fatherâ— who envy d the lust who said that which was really True was False and that which was God was a Devil and that whiâ—h was of God and came from God to be of the Devil whereby they stirred up the People that followed them and believed them to envy the Prophets and in their Envy â—age and Fury the Priests had stirred them up unto to persecute Christ although the Scriptures bear Testimony very plainly that he was the true Messiah and Saviour of the World yet they would call him a Deceiver and those that were Followers of him and Believers in his Name deceived by him and so said of him He deceived the People And thus doth F. H. now who treads in the Steps of his Fore Fathers the High Pâ—iests who calls the True Christ a False Christ and those that believe in his Name and are led and guided by his Heavenly and Spiritual Light which is the Way of Life to be deceived and Deceivers F. H. saith pag. 13. towards the latter-end of his Book And know Deceivers though you tell us a Thousand Times over that you own Jesus of Nazareth till you repent and renounce youâ— False Christ the Light in all men till you CAST THAT YOUR IDOL TO THE BATS AND MOLES WE WILL LOOK UPON YOU AS DECEIVERS Rep. Herein thou hast manifested thy self to be of that Generation who said to Christ Come doâ—â—â—â—â—m the Cross and we will believe thee and commanded the Apostles that they should preach no more in the Name of Jesus And thou sayst Till we cast away the Christ which is the Light in all men thou wilt
not believe us which Christ is the true Christ that lighteth all men and witnessed so to be by the Scriptures of Truth spoken by the Prophets and Jesus Christ himself and the holy Apostles which I have before largely proved and in whose Light the Church of Christ had Fellowship one with another 1 John 1.7 And it s said by the Apostle That they that say they have Fellowship with God and walk in Darkness they lye and do not the Truth amongst whom I number thee who hast manifested so much Envy against the Light and the Servants of it and tells us until we cast that away namely Christ the Light which is the Guide and Way to Heaven as before I have proved you will look upon us as Deceivers that we cannot help but I say the more is the pity that thou or any man should be so overcome and led captive by the Power of Darkness that you will not own us nor our Testimony unless we will deny the true God and Jesus Christ I tell thee Francis thou hast set us too dear a Price for us to give you for your Approbation of us nay although you had as much to proffer as your Master the power of Darkness proffered Christ if he would fall down and worship him I hope neither I nor any one amongst us who loves the Light and believes therein and hath seen and felt how good the Lord hath been unto our Souls thereby shall ever so deny the Lord that bought them as in casting away so precious a pearl as this Heavenly and Divine Light of Christ which hath ever been and yet is to all them that believe in it and no man ever was nor can be truly happy without they believe in it and obey it which thou sayest we must cast away but I tell thee that if thou dost expect it thou art mistaken and thy Eyes will sink in their Holes and thy carnal Imaginations will rot in thy Head before thou seest that That ever a People should turn from the Light and Truth of God made manifest in our Hearts and Consciences for the purifying of our Hearts and saving of our Souls to turn unto your dark Imaginations who are such bitter Enemies unto the Light which gives the Knowledge of God and r veals the Mysteries of Life unto all them that believe therein 2 Cor. 4.6 Now I testifie That Widdowhood and Loss of Children must be the Portion of all you Professors as it hath been ever since we have been a People to bear Testimony unto the blessed and spiritual Appearance of God in the Light of his dear Son And I am not without Hope that some that are late turned from you and your dark Imaginations are and will be the more confirmed in this precious Truth unto which their Minds are turned and that those that yet sit under your Dark and Confused Teaching who hate the Light and are Reproachers and Railers against the Lovers of it may thereby be awakened to consider what they are a doing in following such Teachers who are against the True Light and Universal Love of God held forth to all men thereby for there is but Light and Darkness and they that hate the Light must needs be in Darkness And the Apostle John saith They that walk in Darkness they lye and do not the Truth Now I would have all People take notice that F. H. doth not Rail against us for Darkness and express his Envy against us as being led by the power of Darkness for he intitles us that and saith the Quakers God and Christ as you may see all along in his Book the Light that is in All Men which the Scripture witnesseth to be the True God and Jesus Christ which I have before proved by the Scriptures only this I would have all People take notice of which I have hinted at before which is the Practice of him and all such Blind Gâ—ides as he is to call that which is True False and that which is really True he calls False and that which is the True Light he calls Darkness For there is nothing that giveth Light to every Man but the True God and Christ and thus he puts Light for Darkness whereby it appears according to the Scriptures he is under the Wo Isa 5.20 And now I shall take a little Notice of what Joseph Oddey saith page 14. who writes to one Samuel Cater a Deceiver amongst the Quakers who at that Meeting at Thriploe And for what he hath said now in this Paper he deserveth just Reproof for his rude and unsavoury Words which do not become a Man that professeth himself to be a Minister of Christ Rep. And now J. O. I do tell thee that the Light of Christ tâ—at I with many more have received teacheth us not to render Evil for Evil nor Railing for Railing but contrarywise to speak the Truth in Soberness and with sound Words to demonstrate and declare the Truth as it is in Jesus And now thou hast called me a Deceiver which is a false Accusation and thou might'st better have left it until thou hadst proved me so which thou nor thy Brother could not do although promised to do it and thou called'st us a Generation of Vipers and said'st Thou would'st prove us so to be before you went away and did'st not then do it so that it appears it is an easier Matter to cast Reproaches and Slanders upon a People then it is to prove it when you have done But Joseph thou manifests by thy Fruit what Spirit rules thy Heart for saith the Scripture An Evil Man out of the Evil Treasure of his Heart brings forth Evil Things from that cometh Railing and Evil-speaking and Backbiting Page 14. he pretends to examine me with what Face I could say that his Brother Holdcraft did not read the Scripture right Tit. 2.11 The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto Men and that he left out the Word ALL and impudently said it was not in the Greek can this be a bare mistake in thy self and others Rep. I say no it is no Mistake we do still affirm the same to be true of him as we have published and there are three of our Names to it and many more will witness it to your Faces to be true if an Opportunity be afforded and further there was a Man that at the same time when Francis said that the Word ALL was not in the Greek as it is in our Books reproved him and asked him why he brought his Bible hither if it were wrong translated a Man that stood by as a Hearer well known in the Country to be a Man of Estate and Credit who was not then nor is now one with us in Principle or Practice Page 14. How J. O proves that I have belyed his Brother Holdcraft saith he I stood next him on the one side had my Hearing through God's Goodness I think I may say as well as you could this
and whosoever receives this Word and Light into their Hearts and continue therein it will bow their Hearts unto the true and living God and keep them from following or worshipping any false God and they shall and do fear following such Teachers who cry Lo here is Christ or lo there is Christ in Carnal Ordinance or in Outward Observation but through waiting upon God in the Exercise of their Hearts and Minds with this precious Light and Word of Faith they know it to be unto them as it was unto David a Light unto their Feet and a Lamp unto their Paths As concerning G. F. the Younger and William Smith whom I knew very well and have this Testimony to bear for them that they were faithful Men in their Day and were well accomplished with Wisdom Zeal and Courage to declare God's Truth and to publish the blessed Gospel as they had received of the Lord and were not ashamed nor afraid to confess Christ to be the true Light before Men whose Testimony we own Page the 7. Line 1. F. H. saith Be astonished O ye Heavens and be ye utterly frighted rend your Hearts and not your Garments that hear these and the like Blasphemies which fills the Books and Speeches of this Generation who cloaâ—h their false Christ and cursed Idol the Light which is in all men by Nature with the secret Names and divine Attributes c. Rep. Now mark this Man's Deceit and Baseness towards us and the precious Truth of our God which we profess which is pure and spiritual and comes from God the Father of Spirits and Light and is the same Yesterday to Day and forever God blessed forever which he calls a Natural Light and a Cursed Idol saith he the Light in all Men if this Man was not darkened with Envy and Malice he would never manifest so much Madness as he doth and to be revenged of us he rails and blasphemes against the true God and Jesus Christ for mark all that read these Lines which are his own Words saith he Who cloath their false Christ and cursed Idol the Light which is in all men And now see what John s Testimony is of Christ John 1.9 the Words are these That was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and again John 8.12 And this is the God and Christ whom thou hast cursed which is a Light in all Men whereby thou hast manifested by thy Words that the Spirit of God doth not dwell in thee For no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed 1 Cor. 12.3 Now if this Man thinks that he hath not called Jesus accursed let him tell us setting God and Christ aside what it is that is Light in all Men or doth give Light unto all Men let us see what he saith with his own Tongue and writes with his own Hand of Christ page 5. Line 16. saith he I constantly affirm that all men are by Christ who is the true God and Eternal Life enlightned with the Light of Nature which saith he in page 7. is a cursed Idol And thus his Confusion is made manifest and he to be one of the Merchants of Babylon Rep. He saith in Page 5. of our Book he pretended plainly to confess the Christ but he tells us that he will not believe me and then asks Whether the Virgin Mary 's Son be the Christ that we preach he answers his own Question and saith No like his Brother Thomas Hiâ—ks who made a Dialogue feigning and pretending of A Discourse between a Christian and a Quaker which in Truth and Reality was no such matter but himself stated what Question he pleased and answered them how he would but this know both Presbyterians and Baptists and all others which combine together against the Truth and to withstand the Appearance of God in this the Day of his Power and although Hand joyn in Hand yet the Wicked shall not go unpunished And I tell thee Thou hast made an ungodly Answer for us but however I have in that and in this made a true Confession of my Faith in Christ and have the Evidence of a Good Conscience in what I have done and whether thou â—r any other who envieth me for the Truth 's sake will believe me or not that is little matter to me F. H. asks a Question pag. 6. What say you of John 17.1 These words spake Jesus and lift up his Eyes to Heaven Rep. I say it was well in Christ who was and is in Heaven John 3.13 but that is no Proof that every Pharisee that imitates him doth well or is accepted Remember what Christ saith of thy Brother Pharisee who justified himself and was condemned of Christ but the poor Publican would not so much as lift up his Eyes to Heaven but smote upon his Breast saying God be Merciful to me a Sinner I tell you saith Christ this Man went down to his House rather justified Pag. 11. F. H. saith S. C. tells another notorious Lye that these men had declared That some Children before they were born were in a State of Damnation And this makes way for another Abominable Lye where he brings in Mr. Oddey All fell in Adam and so Children before they are born are Vessels of Wrath and for Destruction We testifie the Truth that we never said that any Children before they were born or any else were in a state of Damnation till with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell Rep. As to thy soul Mouth and bitter Speech saying I Lye in those two Passages that I have related of your words and Doctrine that you say and preach That some Children are in a state of Damnation or guilty of Condemnation before they are born that I know and am able to prove if you had denyed it but Joseph Oddey hath confessed it as I shall make it appear so that your Railing against me is manifest to be out of Envy and to cover your selves to the People For you have preached that in the dark which you are ashamed should be brought to the Light and thinking to cover thy self thou runnest into another Extream and sayst We testifie the Truth that we never said that any Children before they were born or any else were in a state of Damnation till with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell What Mad Bedlam Stuff is this Was ever the like heard of by one that would be called a Minister of Christ and doth not know that the Vessels of Wrath are fitted for Destruction through Disobedience and Rebellion against God before they be cast into Hell But Francâ—â— remember thy self Didst thou never say That none were Damned nor in a state of Damnation How often have you pronounced that Sentence There remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation of the Lord against Henry Bostock And how much hast thou said lâ—ss of the Quakers in general Whereby
mind what one of you one Henry Bostock an Apostate said to me God forbid that I should own such a God that hath Hands and Feet F. H. saith towards the latter end of this page There is but one living and true God Everlasting Without Body Parts or Passions c. F. H. pag. 11. towards the latter end That we never said that any Children before they were born or any else were in a state of Damnation till with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell J. O. pag. 16. lin 3. I speak of Children before they be born the same Scripture that prove them to be guilty of Original Sin proves them to be Children of Wrath and under Condemnation F. H. pag. 13. lin 13. My Friends may know for some time my Reading that Word no other then what is in the English Bible J. O. pag. 14. lin 14. I forgot not wholely the Contention with Mr. Houldcraft about the altering of the Reading from what it is ordinarily in our English Bibles Their Controversie stated here is little else but Fictions Which we have plainly made appear behold their Contradictions The Truth of what is here declared wee 'l certainly Maintain And turn your Cursed Forgeries upon your Backs again Shall Impudence with open Face thus act and not be blamed Who have thus with such foul Disgrace God's Glorious Light defamed Shall Forgeries be counted Zeal or Lyes upon us fall No no the Power of God we feel to Triumph over All Jacob Bakeâ— Here followeth a Testimony against the False Doctrines asserted by these Men who say that Children before they are born are Vessels of Wrath and under Condemnation because of their Fathers Sin which Judgment of theirs is here detected by the Scriptures of Truth and the contrary proved and their wresting the Scriptures discovered THis is the Testimony that God Almighty hath put into my Heart to bear with many more Brethren That God who is rich in Mercy and desires not that any should perish but that all might turn from the Evil of their Wayes and live that the Day of his Power is now in this our Day Age and Generation dawned and broken forth which John saw in the Vision of the Almighty when he was in the Spirit by which the Things of God were revealed unto him who said Rev. 14.6 I saw an Angel fly in the midst of Heaven having the Everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People which Time is now come in which the Lord's Power and Holy Spirit moves upon our Hearts to preach the Word of Reconciliation unto all men which is according to the ancient Testimony of the Servants of God and Ministers of Christ which went before us whereby it appears according to the Scriptures of Truth that the Gospel which we preach is the same that was begun to be preached by the Lord Jesus and was confirmed by them that heard him 1 Tim. 3.4 For this is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who would have all men to be saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth And this is the Gospel that the True Ministers now preach which is Glad-tidings unto all that are in their Sins That there is Mercy with the Lord for them all that they may be saved For Christ is come a Light into the World that whosoever believes in him should not perish And The Grace of God that brings Salvation appears unto all men to teach them to deny Vngodliness and whosoever bows to the Teachings of it shall be saved And as Christ stood up in the great Day of the Feast saying If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink whereby it appears that God's Love is unto all Men and blessed be the Lord there is a Remnant whom God by the Light of his dear Son that shineth in our Hearts he hath brought us to see the same and hath inlarged our Hearts by Faith in his Power to publish Peace by Jesus Christ unto all Men whereby the VVords of Christ are fulfilled Joh. 3.14 As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up whereby the Folly of these Men is made manifest and their false Doctrines detected who would tye up the Love of God in Jesus Christ to but a few a certain Number of People now see Numb 21.9 whether that Serpent of Brass that Christ speaks of that was set upon a Pole was only for one or two Tribes of Israel to be healed by as these Men vainly imagine concerning the Love of God now manifested in Christ which they say is but for a few if so that was not a true Figure of the Love of God in Christ or there is a Shortness in Christ the Substance of performing to and for Man that which figured it out if these Mens Doctrines be true for it came to pass that if a Serpent had bit any Man when he beheld the Serpent of Brass he lived Now these Men will readily grant that all are bit or stung by the old Enemy of Man the Serpent that beguiled Eve in the Beginning but they have not so much Faith as to believe that there is Vertue enough in Christ to cure us all or if there be it is not intended for all let such Teachers hold their Tongues that are out of the Faith that was and is delivered unto the Saints and Ministers of Christ for they give an uncertain Sound and are but like sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbals who make a Din in Peoples Ears but do not reach to the VVitness of God in the Hearts and Consciences of Men and VVomen who have not received that Commission that Christ gave unto his Disciples Mark 16.15 who bad his Disciples go and preach the Gospel unto every Creature which Gospel was Glad Tidings to the poor and the opening of the Prison Doors to them that were bound and Light to them that sate in Darkness and in a word to give Knowledge of Salvation and of a Physician that hath Virtue in him to cure all Diseases that come upon Mans Heart and Soul because of Sin and this is freely tendered unto all Men that will believe in him and look unto him And now whereas these Men make a Noise about a State of Children being under Condemnation because of their Fathers Sins which Saying of theirs is altogether contrary to the Scriptures of Truth Jer. 31.30 And concerning Children Christ saith Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and further saith Whosoever receiveth not the Kingdom as a little Child he shall in no Wise enter therein which Words do plainly imply Children to be in an innocent State and free from Sin and Evil for the Scripture saith Nothing that defileth can enter into God's Kingdom But J. O. having a Desire to prove Children Sinners before they are born he brings iâ— Eph. 2.3 Among whom also we all had our
THE Innocent Cleared AND THE Guilty Made Manifest Being a Reply to a Printed Paper lately come to my Hand titled Apostacy of the People called Quakers from the Faith once delivered to the Saints subscribed by Francis Houlcroft and Joseph Oddey who call themselves Ministers of Christ but upon true Examination are made manifest by their Fruits to be otherwayes That is to say Ignorant of the True God and Jesus Christ and Enemies to his Appearance and their Lyes and Slanders that they cast upon the Innocent concerning a Paper printed in which we gave a true Account of the late Meeting at Thriploe turned back upon themselves and their Folly made manifest Their Contradictions compar'd and their Wresting Perverting the Holy Scriptures of Truth discovered and their Rude and Unsavoury Words and Hard and Ungodly Speeches against God his Truth and People Reproved How they wrest our Words and add to our Words that which we never said and then cry out against us and endeavour to render us and our Principles thereby Odious Also A Testimony of the Universal Love of God in Jesus Christ as it now appears unto all men witnessed by the Scriptures of Truth By a Servant of Truth and one that desires the Good of all men known by the Name of SAMUEL CATER Printed in the Year 1676. The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above bis Lord it is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord If they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub how much more them of his Houshould Matthew 10.24 25. Jesus answered and said unto them Ye do Err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God Matthew 22.29 THE INNOCENT CLEARED AND THE GUILTY Made Manifest AND now all may see what Francis Houlcroft and Joseph Oddey have said and given under their own Hands and sent abroad in Print which if I should have reported of them and not have had it under their own Hands they would without all question have denyed their own words as they have already done what they spake before many Witnesses at that Meeting at Thriploe which will witness to their Faces that the Account which we have published in Print concerning their Words and Carriages is true And now see their own Words which I have here faithfully set down and collected out of their own Books which is as followeth Page 1. sayes Francis Holcraft and Joseph Oddey The forged Lyes of a late Pamphlet of theirs Reply But F. H. and J. O. you had been wiser and honester if you had proved it so to be before you had published it so for we still affirm the Truth of it and there are three of our Names to it and you have not yet proved the contrary and we whose Names are here subscribed do promise if the Lord permit to give us Life and Health To give you another Meeting at any Time or Place which may be equally agreed upon between us to maintain and prove all that Relation to be true that we have before published in Print before any People that may come to hear it which we desire may be before the time of these Citations of J. O. in pag. 14. who would put us off unto the Day of Judgment Samuel Cater John Web Jacob Baker And now I shall take notice of your words as you have set them down and sent them abroad in Print And I do tell you that I am glad that you have thus appeared whereby you are further made manifest And as for your Railing against me and Miscalling of me and the rest of us who believe in the true Light which God hath made manifest to our Souls for the leading and guiding of us in the Way of Life its little matter to us only this it s an Evidence of Salvation to us and that of God for it was ever the Portion of God's Servants and Children to be Reviled and Evil spoken on by those that hate the Light and live in Darkness Pag. 3. Lin. 4. F. H. When I came near the Barn where these People were met I heard one speaking and I made a stay without resolving that I would not go in till he had teased his Service of his False Christ the Light that is in all men a New God which neither we nor our Fathers have known Rep. First 'T is to be taken notice of how this man knew or understood what it was that our Friend did declare to the People at that time seeing he would not come into the House until he had done speaking But however he is resolved to give Judgment against him contrary to that equal Law which judgeth no Man until he is heard But further Here thou art judged out of thy own Mouth to be in the Steps of thy Fore-fathers the Pharisees who said concerning Christ unto the Blind Man whom Christ had opened his Eyes As for this Fellow we know not whence he is John 9.29 so sayest thou now concerning God and Jesus Christ which the Scripture fully declares to be the true Light and which lâ—ghteth every man that cometh into the World a God sayest thou which neither we nor our Fathers have known in this thou hast spoken the Truth which I believe concerning thee and all such as thou art who hate the Light and love Darkness O! blush and be ashamed thou Vain Babler and Unprofitable Talker who sayest thou art Oâ—e of the Eleâ—â— and callst thy self a Minister of Christ and yet knowest neither the Father nor the Son who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all And now thou Blind Guide that walkest in Darkness and knowest not whither thou goest nor wherâ—of thou dost affirm Read the Testimony of the True Ministers of Christ whom thy Fore-fathers the Pharisees commanded to preach no more in the Name of Jesus 1 John 1.5 the words are these This is the Message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all Vers 6. If we say we have Fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we lye and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin which Scriptures already are sufficient to convict thee and to manifest thy gross Darkness and Ignorance of the true God and Jesus Christ and all else that are of thy Mind but I do desire thou mayst come to see thy self and to know the Darkness and Blindness that thou art in and however I may be clear of thy Blood and thy Folly made manifest to all I shall not spare my Pains to endeavour to do thee good for the Evil thou hast rendred unto me and the rest of my Friends who from time to time hast made it thy Business to Rail of us and to render us and the Truth that we profess
Conversations in Times past in the Lust of our Flâ—sh following the Desires of the Flesh and of the Mind and were by Nature the Children of Wrath as well as others now all may see how this man wrests the Scriptures to prove their dark Imaginations concerning Children being in a State of Condemnation before they are born now see and consider whether Children before they are born can commit such Things as this Scripture saith that these Ephesians were guilty of before they were converted unto God he brings Rom. 3.9 again 9.33 and Tit. 3.5 6. where all may see whether these Scriptures speak any Thing of Children before they are born being guilty of Sin which he hath a Mind to strain them to but it 's plain to the contrary and speaks of the States of Men and Women and not of Children whereby his Folly is made manifest And this further I ask these men which would have Children before they are born to be Children of Wrath because of their Fathers Sins which they are innocent of where that Scripture is that saith that God ever condemned the Righteous or innocent for the Wicked's sake as they darkly say that God condemns the Innocent Children for their Fathers Sins nay the contrary is easily to be proved that God hath and doth many Times spare the wicked for the sake of the Righteous which is far from destroying the guiltless for the guilty sake so that the Judge of the whole Earth doth right Things Gen. 18.25 So the Way of the Lord is equal who sheweth Mercy without Respect of Persons to all that fear his Name and obey his Grace and his Judgments are just upon all that rebel against the Appearance of his Grace and hate the Light that manifestly shines upon all so that Man's Destruction is of himself for want of receiving Christ the Son of his Love into his Heart who is come a Light into the World and is knocking at every Ones Doâ—r for the awakening of them out of their Sins and that he might purge their Consciences from Dead Works and renew their Minds and enlarge their Hearts to serve the living and true God And as conâ—â—rning Children before they are born they are doubtless in a State of Innocency and after they are born until they come to that Age as to understand Good and Evil then choosing the Evil and refusing knowingly that which is Good that contracts the Guilt upon their Conscience whereby they come under the State of Reproof for it and Condemnation if they continue in that which is Evil which is just upon them for their own Sins and not for their Fathers which they never committed which agrees with the Word of the Lord spoken by his Prophet Jer. 31.30 That every one shall dye for his own Sins he that eateth his Teeth shall be set on Edge so as the Lord saith and complains of a rebellious Generation As the Children grew up so they went from me So that it is plain that People bring forth Fruit according to the Seed which they receive into their Hearts and yield up the Strength of their Desires unto they that receive the good Seed that God hath sown and yield up the Strength of their Desires unto it they bring forth Fruits unto Holiness which Seed Christ saith is sown in all Sorts of Grounds but now who doth not watch unto this blessed Seed and Grace of God the Appearance of which is unto all without respect of Persons but like the Sluggard slumbers away the Time and doth not watch unto the Light of Christ Jesus to lead them keep them preserve them out of the Wicked One's Snares in them the Wicked One sows his Seed which grows up and they in that bring forth Evil Fruits and thus we see the Scriptures fulfilled according as it is written Luke 6.45 A Good Man out of the Good Treasure that is in his Heart bringeth forth Good Things and the Evil Man out of the Evil Treasure of his Heart bringeth forth Evil Things And therefore let every one now examine themselves and see what Root bares them for it is Fruits of Holiness that the Lord looks for and requires ar the Hand of every one which he hath made and given Life and Breath unto and for that End that all may bring forth Fruit to his Glory he hath given unto every man a Manifestation of his own Spirit to profit withal as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.7 and a Measure of his own Light to be a Guide unto them which Spirit and Light appears within Man and Woman whereby that saying is fulfilled which the Apostle speaâ—â— of Rom. chap. 1. vers 19. That which may be known of God is manifest in them And now let none be discouraged by these Blind Guides who say That the Grace of God did not appear unto All Men and now say That it doth not agree with their Rule of Faith to speak and to believe as the Apostle believed and spake as you may see under their own Hands And thus God hath cleared the Innocent from their Slanders and I have faithfully Detected their False Doctrines and asserted the Truth as it is in Jesus who am a Servant to all in the Truth S. Cater THE END