God and Father of all c. First one Body 1. One Body All Believers in all Ages of the world past present and to come in all Nations Kindreds and People Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth under all Forms do make this one body And this one body hath but one Spirit 2. One Spirit as the Members of the Natural Body have but one Soul to Actuate and Enliven them so also in the Mystical body they all are quickned taught moved and led by that one Spirit which is the Promise of the Father and of the Son Thirdly The Members of this one body having one spirit have also one hope even the hope and expectation of all the good things promised in the Gospel 3. One Hope Eternal Life the enjoyment of God for ever Fourthly Another Bond of Vnion in the true Church 4. One Lord. is One Lord even our Lord Jesus Christ unto whose Laws and Commands all his People are Subject Fifthly One Faith That is 5. One Faith the true Justifying Faith of Gods Elect wrought by that one Spirit apprehending that one Lord for Justification by him alone Paul calls it the Common Faith Titus 1.4 Titus mine own Son after the Common Faith Sixthly Another Bond of Vnion in the true Church 6. One Baptism is one Baptism 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all Baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Greeks whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit This one Baptism makes all Believers truly one Seventhly The last bond of Vnity of the true Church 7. One God is One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all All Believers are born of God and are all Partakers of the Divine Nature among the Lords People none of them have a better Nature than another as to the Truth but as it differs in the Degrees or Measures to some God is pleased to Communicate a greater measure to some a lesser Measure of Gifts and Graces that one and the self-same Spirit Divideth to every Man severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 We see here these seven Bonds are the true Bonds of the true Members of Christ his Body the Church and are here mentioned and laid down by the Apostle as strong Reasons and Grounds why all the Members should endeavour to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and not Divide and Separate one from another seeing they are all Members of one Body and have but one Spirit among them all and have all one hope all of them but one Lord one Faith one Baptism all but one God and Father here is good Reason then they should be one among themselves in Vnity Peace Love Fellowship and Communion one with another as Opportunity serves So that the Author above mentioned hath little Reason to boast of that kind of Vnity that is among the Quakers if he consider these things Sixthly 6. The Quakers Patience The Author of the strong man Armed cast out further tells us That the Patience and Faithfulness of these People in doing and suffering the Will of God is Remarkable for the World is against them though as he says they are the onely Innocent and harmless People upon the Earth and because there is more of God amongst these People the Quakers than others therefore are they hated of all Men and every where amongst all Religions evil spoken of Answ In Answer whereunto I say That Patient suffering for Well-doing is very Acceptable with God and shall certainly have a great Reward from God the Apostle Peter saith 1 Pet. 3.14 If ye Suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye But there is a Suffering sometimes for Evil doings and Evil sayings And it is better if the Will of God be so that we Suffer for well doing than for evil doing v. 17. Now it is true These People the Quakers have been Sufferers as well as others but for what have they Suffered Has it been for well doing for doing the Will and Work of Christ They will say Yea for doing the Will of God but it follows not therefore that it is so Christ will rather say unto them who Required these things at your Hands Nay he hath forbidden them your False Doctrines and Opinions your Disownings Despisings and Separations from the Precious People of the Lord in all the Societies Assemblies and Congregations in the Land your Disturbing of them and Railing against them whilst they are about the work of the Lord ye your selves being drawn or driven by the Seducing Spirit have done his work and not the Lords work and have sometimes Suffered for it And herein ye boast and think your Patience is great and that ye suffer according to the Will of God But know That it is not the Suffering but the Cause that makes a Martyr It is possible a Man may give his body to be burned and that is more than to be Imprisoned and yet not suffer for Righteousness-sake 1 Cor. 13. Though I give my Body to be burned and have not Love it profiteth me nothing Jesuites and Papists have sometimes suffered for their false Principles and Practices and so may others and so have you Therefore speak no more of your Patient sufferings untill ye know that ye Suffer for a good Cause for well doing untill ye Suffer for Christ and for Righteousness-sake Thus I have gone through the several particulars wherein the Author of the strong man Armed cast out says He and the People called Quakers do Excell all other Professing People in the World wherein it appears to all Men that have in them the Spirit of God how grossely these People are Deluded and blinded by seducing spirits that they give heed unto which making strong Impressions in their Minds they are Seduced and carried away with them never Examining of them and Trying of them by the Scriptures and so are easily Deceived And it is a most dreadful Condition that they are in and an Evidence of the greatest and sorest Judgment of God that the Nature of Man is capable of on this side Hell a Judicial blindness and hardness of heart upon any Man or Men is the greatest of all Judgments And this is the punishment that God often lays upon Men that will not hearken unto him that Despise his Word and Ordinances his Worship and his People That will not Receive the Truth in Love that they might be saved Therefore God doth send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye that they all might be Damned who believe not the Truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness That which doth confirm this man James Jackson A false Perswasion of Conversion Author of the strong man Armed cast out that he is truly Converted by the Light within which he says is Christ is this for that he finds such wonderful Effects in himself as he Accounts them he is
left off to be a Parish Priest yea and after that hast left off from being a Teacher among the Independents and hast disowned and forsaken the Congregations and Assemblies of the Independents and art now come and joyned with the People called Quakers And thou tellest us That these are the onely Holy People of God upon Earth and that all other Churches Assemblies and Congregations Naming the Presbyterians Independents Baptists and others are out of the way and that though they differ in Forms or Perswasions yet they agree in the same Faith Foundation and Root Answ For Answer hereunto briefly I shall not speak to Reproach thee or rail upon thee or any of thy way as thou hast done against many of the Precious Saints in the Churches of Christ saying of the Independents whose Assemblies thou hast forsaken That there was sufficient ground for thee to separate from the Tents of those ungodly Men Strong Man Armed p. 8. their Teachers who are no better than Filthy Dreamers Blind Guids and Belly-gods which belch out nothing but Lies Slanders Blasphemies and evil speeches against Christ his Ways Truths and People and this thou sayest thou seest and declarest against them in the Light I say I will not bring against thee Railing Accusations as thou dost against others but the Lord Rebuke thee and that Lying Spirit in thee and Convince thy Spirit of the Truth Concerning thy leaving off to continue a Parish Priest thou didst well but thou hadst done better if thou hadst never undertaken it for there are too many such Priests like the Priests of Old the Sons of Eli who by reason of their wickedness made the Sacrifices of the Lord to be Abhorred There are many in these Days of the same Tribe who make the Gospel of Christ his Ways Truths and People to be evil spoken of yea they make the Name of Christ to be Blasphemed and his People Reproached even through them and by their means And making others who are the true and Faithful Ministers and Ambassadors of Christ to be evil spoken of Reviled and Disowned for their sakes and because of them yea more They Occasion Separations in all parts of the Land Wo unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam for a Reward and get into the Priests Office that they may eat a piece of Bread that they may get a Living by it Many of them more sit for the Cart or the Plough than the Pulpit having neither Gifts of Nature nor of Grace fit for the Ministry Men that never learned Christ were never taught of God and how then can they Teach others Nay instead of Instructing others in the ways of Life and Salvation they by their wicked Examples draw them down to Hell they are the worst of Men upon Earth I have Indignation against such and am greatly grieved for the Misery of those poor Ignorant Souls of their Parishes who are like to perish for lack of Knowledge the Blind leading the Blind both will fall into the Ditch The Lord Remove them or Reform them and give Pastors after his own heart according to his Promise And for this I Commend thee James Jackson that thou didst leave off thy Profaneness and also deceiving the People as a Parish Priest But now take heed The Strong Hold of Hypocrisie is stronger than that of Profaneness lest thou art not yet deceived in the state and condition thou art now in lest the false spirit be not too subtill for thee lest Satan that strong Man Armed having quit one strong hold be not got into another that is stronger than the former for certain it is the Devil's power and policy in a way of Gross wickedness and profaneness is not half so strong a hold as the strong hold of Hypocrisie Where Reason Natural Conscience all outward Occurrences Moral Civilized Persons all can readily Reprove and help to draw a Man out of such an Estate but the strong hold of Hypocrisie and Erroneous perswasions and Practices in a way of Religion is more Dangerous and a stronger Hold where nothing but the spirit of God and an enlightned Vnderstanding to discern the Truth of the word of the Gospel can Instruct a Man especially when a Man hath passed through many or divers States Forms Opinions and perswasions and at last hath pitched upon one that he Judges and Concludes doth Exceed all the former if yet this be false and he know it not he is then in greater Danger than ever seeing his own Natural Reason and his Ignorant dim-sighted Conscience confirmed by the strong delusions of Satan that spirit that worketh and Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience do all concurre and joyn together and hold the poor soul in Bondage under Darkness which is by many taken for the true Light of Christ I say Take heed of being deceived in these things thou and thy Friends for I say the strong hold of the Devil in a way of Profaneness is not so strong as his strong hold in a way of Hypocrisie or false Worship this is Evident both by Scripture and Experience Christ told the Pharisees who were Zealous in a way of Hypocrisie That Publicans and Haâ—lots great and gross sinners in a way of Profaneness should enter into the Kingdom of Heaven before them Mat. 21.31 And that I may shew my true Love to your souls whether you will Accept it or no I will Endeavour to shew unto thee and them things in a clearer Light than yet shines in you Thou sayest the strong Man Armed the Devil is cast out of thee and Christ a stronger than he is come in and now keeps the House How is this made manifest Thy saying so does not prove it but thy Sayings and thy Doings prove the contrary and this I shall make good both by positive Scripture and by Example If any Man be in Christ The New Creature doth Evidence it self where it is he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 He that is Converted and changed from the state of Nature to the state of Grace out of whom Satan is cast and Christ come in he is New in his Vnderstanding Will Affections yea New in his whole Life and Conversation But now it appears plainly that thy Vnderstanding is still Old the same Ignorance Blindness Darkness remains upon it as is in all Natural Men and this is seen and manifest by thy false Interpretations of Scriptures and Secondly by thy false applications of them in Applying those Scriptures to the Saints true Believers Members of Christ as do belong only to the unregenerate World such as are yet in the state of Nature neither art thou changed in thy Will and Affections they are not yet New but according to the Old Nature in all unregenerate Persons as plainly appears in that thou shewest forth no true Love to the Lords precious People Members of the Body of Christ but contrariwise disownest them and
separatest from them nay more thou dost Revile them and falsly speak evil of them as is plainly seen in many passages of thy Book And as for thy Love and affections towards Christ it is Love but onely in Tongue in Word and Profession onely not in Truth Thou professest that thou Knowest and Lovest him but indeed thou denyest him in denying of his People and disowning of them for he hath said He that Despiseth you Despiseth me nay more Thou and those of thy way Deny and dishonour Christ in that ye set up his Creature and Adore it and Worship it for Christ and call it Christ in you and so make the Creator and the Creature all one Now seeing thou art an Old Creature still both in thy inner Man and outward Man in thy Conversation How canst thou think thou art changed or that the Strong Man Armed is cast out but rather that he is Removed to a stronger hold Nay Paul's Example a Looking-Glass further Let us try by another Touch-stone whether thou art true Gold or no Paul we know was once in a Carnal state in a state of Nature in Darkness but was Called and Converted And we see he shews forth and manifests to all that his state was changed for he soon after prayed earnestly to God and he Preached the Gospel he stood up Zealously to Preach that Jesus which lately before he persecuted in his Members He Banished them and Imprisoned them and did many mischiefs to them yea and thought verily he did well and that he ought to do many things against Jesus of Nazareth and this was from the Light within which thou and thy Friends say is in every Man and Woman and which ye adore for God and Christ But when he was Converted this Light was known to be but Darkness by the true Light Jesus Christ when he shined into his soul when this Sun of Righteousness arose it scattered his Darkness Now Compare thy Change and Conversion as thou callest it with Paul's Conversion for his was true and see how like thine looks to his or how unlike it and thereby thou and others may gain Instruction Thou and others may plainly see how much thou art Deceived in that thou thinkest and say'st The strong Man armed is cast out of thee Do but look thy self in this glass of the Example of Paul and thou wilt see thy self like him as he was before his Conversion as like him as one Man can be like another But if thou lookest thy self in the Example of Paul after his Conversion then thou art no more like him than an Ape is like a Man perhaps some dark shadows and simple Resemblances some seeming likeness but nothing of Truth or Reality in any Spiritual Respects Paul before his Conversion Raged against the Saints and was very bitter against them but afterwards when he was enlightned and Converted he joyns himself to them is one with them and counts it a great and precious Priviledge so to be He Preached to them that Jesus whom before he knew not but Persecuted him yea he is tender of them and Nourisheth them and Cherisheth them as a Nurse Cherisheth her Children Now consider with thy self James Jackson dost thou do so dost thou shew forth these clear Evidences of Conversion and a New state as Paul did if so then thou hast good grounds to believe that the strong Man is indeed cast out if thou say it is so then tell me what meaneth this Bleating of the Sheep and Lowing of the Oxen which I hear What meaneth thy loud out-crys and Clamours against the Lords People thy Railing Accusations against all the Churches and Congregations that are not just of thy Mind Is this Cherishing them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children as Paul did Paul Fed the Young ones and the Weak with Milk and tenderly dealt with them untill they were able to Digest stronger Meat Thou regardest not the Weak nor the Young no nor the Strong but Cryest them down all as Deceived Persons in Darkness in Babylon as Paul did before his Conversion So this proves thee to be like him before hÃs Change and consequently that the strong Man armed is not yet cast out of thee but removed to a stronger hold If thou say Nay but I Own and Love and Cherish the Holy People of the Lord unto whom I am now joyned which is a good Evidence of my Conversion and Change It is Answered That if it were supposed and granted that those People with whom thou walkest were indeed the People of the Lord as I hope many of them are who know not their false Doctrines for I will not be severe as the manner of some is to Condemn all for the Errors of some amongst them yet art thou far short of Paul's Spirit who owned all the Saints though under Different Forms To the Jews he became as a Jew to the Greeks as they to those under the Law as under the Law to those without Law as without Law he became all things to all in such Indifferent Un-commanded things as Forms are that so he might gain them to Christ But thou cleavest to a few and many of them under strong Delusions and there thou helpest to strengthen their Deceived Minds in Errors Deâ—eiving and being Deceived Why art thou not a Follower of Paul herein as he beseeches all to be as he is a Follower of Christ Now Christ Owns Loves and Accepts all his People under all Forms being United to him as Members of his Body Worshipping of him in Spirit and in Truth So the Apostle tells us In every Nation though they are not one in their Forms there being several in this Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Now how are we Followers of Christ or of Paul herein if they are not Accepted of us also The Apostle Paul was Exercised with such proud Proud Professors in Paul's Time Reproved self-conceited troublesome persons in his time as are now in ours and he deals with them and Reproves them even for this very thing that I am now speaking of that is Highly esteeming of themselves and Despising others as we see 2 Cor. 10.7 some High Proud Persons that Commended themselves and valued themselves above Paul and those that were of his Assemblies they thought that they themselves were the onely people of the Lord but as for Paul and his Followers they had no such perswasion of them But the Apostle Reproves them and tells them they have as good grounds and Reason to think as well of him and those with him as of themselves 1 Cor. 10.7 If any Man think that he is Christs let him think this again that as he is Christ's even so are we Christ's let them have as good an Opinion of us as they have of themselves for they have as good grounds for it But saith he they are a People that look upon some things in Themselves but take no Notice of any
good in Us and so they Measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves among themselves and in so doing they are not wise v. 8. Howsoever we know our Measure and our Time our Gifts and Graces that God hath gìven us and although they think highly of themselves and but Meanly of us yet we know that not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth as v. 18. Is it not so in our Days are there not a People among us who have high esteem of themselves and that think of themselves more highly than they ought to think that account themselves the onely Holy People of the Lord and all others to be of the World and cast off and disown and separate from all other Societies Communities Congregations and Churches of the Saints and people of God in all the World and Measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are thereby grosly mistaken and misled they Commend and Applaud themselves above all other People as being in the right and true way and all others out of it but not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth and approveth he shall stand and be accepted v. 18. Now let us consider the ground and cause of all this Apostacy from the Faith what it is whence is it that many have such high thoughts of themselves and Despise others better than themselves The Apostle tells us and the Spirit hath spoken it expresly and plainly that in the last days which are these we now Live in Men shall depart from the Faith that is from Faith in the Doctrine of the Gospel not from Justifying Faith and shall give heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils they having once departed from the Doctrine and Truths of the Gospel they shall then give heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils they shall slight and make light of the Scriptures and then shall give heed to seducing spirits a spirit within them yea many spirits are watchful to insinuate into such a mind as take no heed to the Scriptures for in such a Frame of Mind what should direct them what Touch-stone or Rule of Tryal can they have when the Scriptures are laid aside of what spirit speaks in them In such a case Men often think it is the spirit of God when it is but a seducing spirit who hath Transformed himself into an Angel of Light and resembles the spirit of God under the pretence of Holiness and Truth In some things that are like Truth it Resembles it but is not so And hereby their Weak and Dark Minds are missed and deceived For the Devil does often in many things speak the very Truth but it is with an intent to deceive in other things that are of greater Moment and Consequence like cunning deceitful Tradesmen who bring forth and shew some good and right Commodities that so amongst these they may put off their counterfeit Wares the better and with less suspition Now The Spirit within known by the Scriptures know this That men shall not be able to know the false seducing spirit from the true but by the Fruits and effects of it and by trying it by the spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and by these it may be known and not otherwise And hence it is That many in our Days finding and feeling strong impressions and impulses in their minds and not Examining of them and trying of them by the spirit speaking in the Scriptures do erre grosly and are mis-led by them both in Doctrine and Practice They give heed to and are carried away with the present Impression moving in their minds looking upon it immediately by and in it self as Christ the true Light speaking in them when oft-times it is a seducing spirit Quest But if it be asked How then shall we certainly know the Impressions of the seducing spirit in our minds and the Impressions of the Spirit of God Answ The spirit of God which is given to them that Believe Instructeth them how to know its own Operations First by Comparing these immediate Impressions in the Mind with what is already written in the Scriptures dictated by the same spirit concerning the same things now in the Mind or Judgment therefore we ought to compare them together and Examine whether they agree and are one and the same if the Impressions of the Spirit in the mind be contrary to the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures we may then be sure it is a false and a seducing spirit but if it be the same with the Spirit in the Scriptures and confirmed thereby then it is the true spirit The Spirit of God gives more especially to some of his People the Gift of discerning of spirits As we see 2 Cor. 12. To another he gives the Discerning of Spirits And it is by this means afore-mentioned And Secondly Causes known by Effects we may know the true spirit from the seducing spirit by the Fruits and Effects of it we may know Causes by the Effects as in Nature so also in Grace And therefore when we are doubtful what Spirit it is that speaketh in us or others let us try it by the Effects the Fruits that it produceth for every Tree is known by its own Fruits The Effects and Fruits of the Spirit of God are such as the Scripture tells us of in many places as in the 5th Gal. The Fruits of the Spirit are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Patience Humility Temperance c. Our Lord Christ the Head who was filled and Annointed with this Spirit above his Fellows what Effects did it work in his Humane Nature as our Mediator he tells us Mat. 11.28 he is Meek and Lowly in heart and again 2 Cor. 10.1 I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ What wonderful Humility did he shew forth in all his Life amongst us and in that astonishing Example of Washing his Disciples Feet And though he were a King yea the King of Kings yet behold he came Meek and Lowly Riding upon an Asse and so tender of his Young Lambs his Weak ones that he carries them in his Bosom and gently leads such as are Young and tender he will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Though Faith be but as a grain of Mustard-seed it shall be watered to grow up and increase to more strength Now the like Effects the same spirit works in his Members in every one in their Measures Paul fed his New-born Babes with Milk and not with Meat because they were not able to bear it and cherished them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children often weeping over them Travelling from place to place to strengthen the New gathered Churches Teaching and Instructing them in those two great and chief Doctrines Faith in Christ and Love to all the Saints So the Apostle John the same spirit brought forth the same Fruits and Effects in him 1 John 1.
the Truth they shall believe Lyes What Difference shall we think is there between these Men The Quakers sin is like the great sin of the hardened Jews the Teachers among the Quakers who have delivered these Damnable Doctrines afore-mentioned being the Doctrines of Devils and still maintain them What difference I say between them and those Jews who Blaspemed the Holy Ghost and ran into that sin unto death Those Jews Rejected Christ his sayings and Doctrine which he Taught among them and they told him that he had a Devil Christ tells them then after that he had often spoken unto them and Taught them and they would not hear him nor regard his sayings he then Declares unto them their dreadful state And surely the sin of these Men looks so like unto the sin of those Jews that I think it 's hard for any Man to distinguish them otherwise than by saying That the sin of these Teachers does Exceed the sin of those Jews The sin of these Men seems to be much Aggravated in that they have not onely heard all those Sayings and Doctrines of Christ which he Preached among the Jews but they have had the Truths of God Offered and tendred to them by others also the Apostles Evangelists and Disciples of Christ have spoken to them in the Scriptures which those Jews never had And also many of the Ministers Messengers and Ambassadors of Christ have spoken to them and tendred the very Truths of the Gospel to them yea many others of his Faithful Saints and Servants have from time to time spoken to them and Advised Counselled and Admonished them and yet all in vain they have Rejected all and despised all and have as Swine Trampled Pearls under their Feet and turned again and Rent those that brought them they have Reviled them and Reproached them for so doing so that to what purpose should any Man go about to Teach these Teachers who are not capable to Learn as being Blinded and Hardned and Sealed up as is feaâ—ed even to destruction having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron Men of Corrupt Minds Reprobate to every good work without Judgment unfit either to Teach or Learn For we know there have been many such in former days who were guilty of this great sin some such were contemporaries with the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 6.10 Make the Heart of this People fat and make their Ears heavy and shut their Eyes c So also many such were in the Time of our Lord and Saviour Mat. 13.15 This Peoples Heart is waxed gross and their Ears are dull of Hearing and their Eyes they have closed lest at any time they should See with their Eyes and Hear with their Ears and should Vnderstand with their Heart and should 〈◊〉 Converted and I should heal them In this Generation there are just such a People even those of whom we speak they shut their Ears and their Eyes and their Hearts against Christ and the Truths of the Gospel All the Advice and Councels of Men which are according to the Truth all are Rejected and Despised The Inspirations of the spirit of God are refused but the Inspirations of the spirit of Delusion are readily Received and Embraced My Judgment is therefore let them be Rejected as Hereticks having been so often Admonished as Men that are hardned to Destruction And for the Hearers among the Quakers Advice to the Hearers among the Quakers my Councel unto you is Separate your selves from the Congregations and Meetings of these ungodly Men lest ye be Consumed in all their sin Be as much afraid of them and of their Poysonous Doctrines as ye would be afraid to eat of a dish of Meat before you on the Table that had rank Poyson in it of which ye were told and fully assured of it Would ye eat of such a Dish I know ye would not Remember and consider Eternity it will be well or ill with you for ever according as ye Receive or Refuse the Truths of the Gospel now Beware of False Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves if ye be the Sheep of Christ follow him and know his Voice in the Scriptures in your hearts and amongst his own People and follow not Strangers that bring strange false Doctrines about the Light within and in many other things which have been mentioned contrary to the Mind of Christ Revealed in the Scriptures These People the Quakers The Quakers great Idol near falling have forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters and have run to broken Cisterns And seeing they have forsaken the Living and true God the Glory of his People and set up an Idol a false Christ the Light in every Man and Woman that cometh into the World I shall therefore bring against this their false Doctrine several Arguments from Scripture to prove the Vanity and falshood of it as so many Pieces of Ordnance Planted against this great Idol which the Quakers have set up and Worship that so it may fall as Dagon before the Ark of the Lord. Whereas they say That Christ the true Light is in every Man and Woman that cometh into the World This is not a Truth because in whomsoever Christ is and dwells he does enlighten that Soul with true Light saving Light supernatural Light even by himself by his Spirit and by the Scriptures It 's true all wicked Men that come into the World have Lights of Christ's making he Created them which Enlighten all Mankind and that both Outwardly and Inwardly 1. They are Enlightned Outwardly by Lights that God hath Created and set in the Heavens the Sun and the Moon by which all are Enlightened 2. And then Secondly All Men and Women that come into the World are Enlightned with Inward Light also Reason and Natural Conscience So Christ the true Light Enlightneth all that come into the World which is all that is Intended and meant by that place John 1.9 But Christ himself is the true Light the Light of Lights who inlightneth his own People immediately by himself and by his Spirit which the wicked of the World are not Partakers of they have onely those common Lights afore-mentioned As is fully and plainly Proved by these Scripture Arguments Ten Propositions Proved by Scripture Those in whom Christ is and and dwells First Argument Prop. 1. he Inlightens them with spiritual Light But wicked Men and women are not Inlightned with spiritual Light therefore Christ is not in wicked Men and women For Proof of these Propositions both Major and Minor then the Conclusion drawn from them must needs be granted by all Rational Men See Eph. 5.8 Ye sometimes were Darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord walk as Children of Light And Paul was sent to turn Men from Darkness to Light Acts 26.18 And we see the Corinthians who sometimes were Darkness and afterwards Converted Paul says 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of
Seeing they have forsaken the Fountain of Living waters Jesus Christ and trust to a broken Cistern they shall return from it with their Pitchers empty and be ashamed they shall find no water of Life to refresh them They are now empty Vessels as all who have the true Light in them may perceive They have no Light Wisdom Knowledge nor Vnderstanding as Christ gives to his People No Sanctification no Justification no Reconciliation no Salvation But it is not so with true Believers for they have chosen the Fountain of Living waters the Fountain of Gardens the Well of Living waters Cant. 4.15 The Spring-head of the River of water of Life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 Who also gives unto every one of them to have in themselves a Well of water springing up unto Eternal John 4.14 so that out of their Bellies shall flow Rivers of Living water John 7.38 In so much that they do therewith water others and so obtain yet more waterings themselves Prov. 11.25 So that their Souls are like watered Gardens and as Springs of water whose waters fail not Isa 58.11 We see then what a vast difference there is between these Wells without water these Clouds without water afore-mentioned who have set up their Idol and trust in it and those that have chosen the Fountain of Living waters The one sort are continually dry without any true Refreshings as the dry and barren wilderness without Fruit But the other continually watred and refreshed and bringeth forth much good Fruit As the Tree Planted by the Rivers of waters which bringeth forth his Fruit in due Season 4. I shall now proceed and shew some other particulars wherein the Quakers say they do Excell all other Professors in the World having already mentioned three particulars which James Jackson tells us of in his Book p. 14. Strong Man Armed cast out viz. In the true Foundation in Faith and in Knowledge The Quakers Humility So Fourthly in Humility and Spiritual abasement and subjection to the Power and Kingdom of Jesus Christ whereas other Professors are blown swell'd and puff'd up with Airy Notions vain boastings and self-conceitedness as he there saith Answ In Answer to which I say I should be glad to see these good words and Professions to have any thing of Reality in them that they may not be as the Apostle says of the Love of some which is in word and in Tongue onely not in deed nor in Truth For wherein does this Humility appear I see nothing that looks like Humility amongst them except it be in an Outward Garb of Comely and decent Apparel and for that they are in good earnest to be commended I wish others would take Example by them herein and avoid all Foolish Garbs and Fashions unbecoming for Professors of the Gospel Yet this alone is but a shew of Humility it is not the Grace it self But it is plain and manifest by their Principles Behaviour and Practice they Discover that which is Directly contrary and Opposite to Humility i. e. much Pride of Heart and are lifted up in themselves as the Proud Pharisee was and are perswaded and profess that they are not as other Men are all are Publicans and Harlots in Ignorance Blindness and Darkness but themselves Yea all Professors of all perswasions whatsoever that are not one with them in Judgment and Practice they are all Deceived and out of the way out of the Light the Truth and the Life Now what greater Evidence of Pride can Men Discover than this Little cause therefore has this Author to boast of his and their Humility and to accuse other Professors as blown swelled and puffed up with Airy Notions vain boastings and self-conceitedness when they themselves are plainly seen and known to be the Men void of Humility and swelled with Pride 5. Fifthly This Author of the strong Man Armed cast out P. 14. The Quakers Vnity Commends the People with whom he now walks for their Vnity not onely in Opinion and Judgment but in Spirit And their Love is as the soul that hath its Influence into all the parts and Members of the Natural Body so it is among them which as he says makes them in all their ways Doctrine and Practice to be but as one Man Answ It is Answered The Vnity Love and Concord amongst the Quakers is far from the Vnity that Christ Commandeth requireth to be amongst his People the Members of his Body the Church He commandeth Love Vnity Peace Communion and Fellowship to be between and amongst all his People his Members And there is so in their Degrees and Measures which is discovered as Occasions and Opportunities are Offered But though there were as there is not that Vnity of Judgment Opinion and Practice amongst themselves as he saith there is yet I say it is far from that Vnity and Love that is in the true Church of Christ for these People have cut off and separated themselves from the true Church and from all the particular Assemblies Societies and Congregations of the Church of Christ and do fansy themselves to be the onely People of God upon Earth excluding all others for so he hath said O Wonderful strong delusion A Darkness and Blindness not Natural onely as all Carnal Men are Blind but surely a Judicial blindness is upon them Blindness as a just Judgment from the Lord who hath given leave to the god of this World to blind the Minds of them that believe not This Vnity among themselves Dividing and Separating from all the Saints better than themselves if we should suppose that they are of the Body is the greatest Evidence of Enmity strife Schism and Dissention that can be for out of his own Mouth he is Judged He Alludes to the Vnion between the Members of the Natural body their Vnion and Love he says is such a Vnion Now consider Were it not a strange and Monstrous thing in Nature for some of the Members of the Natural body to combine together against all the rest to Neglect or disown the rest of the Members Nay the Members of the Natural body we know have mutual and tender care of and Love one to another even so it is in the Mystical body the Church The true Members Love one another and as they have Vnion with the Head so they have also one with another And where there is at any time any Dissention and External Separation Corruption and Satan are the Cause of it which should Occasion Repentance and Humiliation and not boasting The Apostle Paul shews us plainly wherein the Vnity of the true members of the Church of Christ consists which is another kind of Vnity The true Vnity of the true Church than that among these People He Discovers it briefly in this seven-fold Bond or Vnion See Eph. 4.4 There is one body and one spirit one hope of your Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one
is Christ the true Light according as they are Taught not understanding the Difference between Natural Light and Spiritual Light no more than their Teachers and so it passeth for a currant Doctrine amongst them though it be most Absurd and false and manifestly contrary to the Scriptures Do ye not know that there is a Conscience in every Man and Woman Conscience is a Natural Light and that it is a Light according to its Nature it hath so much Light as not onely to see and know Earthly things according to Reason and Humane Vnderstanding but also some things according to the Law of God Rom. 1. to see and to reprove for some gross evils and sins As Murder Theft Drunkenness Bestiality Deceitful dealings and such like things against the Light of Nature which also the Law of God forbids And this Light within every one does move unto some things that are Morally good and Honest Reproving and Troubling for the one and Excusing for the other But this Light can never lead to Christ without the Spirit of God and the Word of the Gospel which Reveals Christ fully Therefore give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods Ascribe unto Conscience the things that belong to Conscience and unto Christ that which is his own Set not a Creature in the Throne of the Creator and by Worshipping an Idol forsake the Living and true God It is true Christ the true Light is really in Believers and in none else and a glorious Truth indeed a precious Priviledge of the Saints and peculiar People of God that Christ dwells in them and this is a great and Glorious Mystery made known unto the Saints onely Believers as we see Col. 1.16 17. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations but now is made manifest to his Saints ver 17. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory Here is a glorious Mystery revealed to the Gentiles that they should now come in and be of the Church of Christ the poor Gentiles that never were call'd before that time the Gentiles who were formerly Excluded in all the Generations before those dayes they are now made fellow-heirs with the Believing Jews And this Rich and Glorious Priviledge is also revealed to them Christ dwelling in them by Faith by his Spirit and all his graces and operations communicating his Nature to them that they are as really partakers of the Image of the second Adam in righteousness and true holiness as they were of the Image of the first Adam in sin and darkness But what is this Priviledge to the wicked and unregenerate world that lye in sin and darkness what Communion hath light with darkness what fellowship hath Christ with Belial Will Christ Dwell in the Soul where the Devil Dwells and Reigns Nay verily If Christ come to dwell and abide in any Soul and be a light unto it he will surely cast out Sathan that Strong man Armed that keeps the house as Sathan does in all wicked men and Sathan shall Reign nor keep house no longer but Christ will remove him and come in his place and Reign and Rule and Dwell there and by his Presence and Dwelling in the Soul will give to such a believing Soul sure grounds of hope of Eternal Glory according to this word Christ in you the hope of Glory And seeing the Teachers among the Quakers The Scriptures are the Word of God do slight and undervalue the Scriptures and deny them to be the Word of God and to be a Rule for Christians in Faith and Practice and prefer their own Fansies and vain imaginations moved often by seducing Spirits before the written Word of God let us consider the tendency of this strong delusion The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans Chap. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written aforehand were written for our Learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope The Church of God was for a long time without the Scriptures God teaching his People immediately by his Spirit or by Angels mixed with some Providential dispensations but when he had gathered his Church and People out of Egypt he was graciously pleased to instruct them by a plain written Word to be a perfect standing Rule both for Faith and Practice And required upon divers sore Penalties on the one hand and Rewards and Promises on the other that they should observe them And those that were Godly amongst them took diligent heed thereunto and great delight therein How did the holy Prophet David a man after Gods own heart prize and value the written Word of God though he had but a small part of the Scriptures to what we now have as we see in all his Psalms more especially in the 119. Psal almost in every verse of that long Psalme he makes mention of the Law of God his Statutes Ordinances Judgments Precepts and Commandments how he loved them delighted in them meditated in them O how I love thy Law it is my meditation continually he aimed at the keeping and practice of them as at a mark and tells us it is the nature and property of all good men so to do Psal 1. The godly man meditates in the Law of God Day and night But now these Teachers and Leaders of the Quakers they express no love to the Scriptures but the quite contrary they Slight and Undervalue them and teach others to do so too and deny them to be a Christians Rule of Faith and Practice though spoken by Christ himself in his own Person a great part of them who is truly God as well as Man and the rest inspired by the Holy Ghost who also is God Yet these Unreasonable and Unthankful men deny them to be the Word of God though spoken by God himself We have much of the Scripture spoken by Christs own mouth and all was given by inspiration of God Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and is not the Holy Ghost God How then are not the Scriptures the Word of God Are not these men infatuated that will not own these things When the believing Thessalonians had heard the Word of God spoken by Paul and received it effectually he thankes God for it for this cause thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in Truth the Word of God And when any one would draw us to hearken to any Private Spirit as of old they did and so now we are commanded by God not to hearken to them Isaiah 8.20 but we are directed to the Scriptures To the Law and to the Testimony if they speake not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them And Isa 8.9 Lo they
Another Character of false Teachers The Fifth Character of false Teachers Denying the Lord that bought us c. or rather their Names spelled out at length with all the Letters that make up their Names plain and Legible to all who have clear fight and walk in the Light These are Named and set down largely and plainly both by the Apostle Peter 2 Epist 2.1 2 c. and the Apostle Jude joyns with him see his whole Epistle 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets among the People even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in Damnable Heresies even Denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift Destruction Ver. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of And now before I speak to the particular Characters The Apostles Peter and Jude both agree in the same Characters of false Teachers or Letters whereby being joyned together we may spell out their Names let us consider this thing which is of great weight and moment to the Business in hand viz. That the Apostle Peter spends a whole Chapter in decyphering and marking out these false Teachers which should come in these latter days And so doth the Apostle Jude also spend his whole Epistle to the same purpose concerning the very same Men both of them Agreeing in the self-same particular Characters Letters or Marks whereby they are known as we may see in the particulars following First then The Apostle Peter saith 2 Pet. 2.1 There shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in Damnable heresies 1. So Jude to the same purpose ver 4. There are certain Men crept in unawares who were of Old Ordained to this condemnation Vngodly men c. 2. Secondly Both brand them with this Mark or Character ver 1. Denying the Lord that bought them 2. So Jude ver 3. Denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ 3. Thirdly Both note their Pride and Presumption in Despising Government and speaking evil of Dignities The most Eminent and chief Persons both in Church and State Exalting themselves above them all 3. 2 Pet. 2.10 They Despise Government presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities 3. So Jude ver 8. They Despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities Fourthly Both the Apostles note their height of Pride and Presumption in Despising Persons of greatest Worth and Eminency both in Church and State i. e. Dignities They both set out their Pride and excessive Ambition by way of Aggravation telling us That even the Angels of God which are far more Excellent Creatures in Wisdom and Power than Men yet even they do not bring Railing accusation against men in any case no nor against the Devil But these with an Emphasis as Natural Brute Beasts speak evil of the things they Understand not so that hereby is the sin of these Men Aggravated and heightned who do frequently in their Pride and Displeasure bring Railing accusations against good Men that Oppose their false Doctrines as is already particularly shewed 4. 2 Pet. 2.11 Angels which are greater in Power and Might bring not Railing accusation against them before the Lord. 4. So Jude ver 9. Michael the Arch-Angel when contending with the Devil about the Body of Moses durst not bring against him a Railing accusation but said The Lord Rebuke thee 5. Both the Apostles Mark them out by this Character 2 Pet. 2.17 These are Wells without Water Clouds carried about with a Tempest 5. So Jude ver 12. Clouds they are without Water carried about with Winds They are Wells and Clouds without water shews and shadows without Substance Husks and Shells without Kernels having some Form or shew of Religion Godliness and Christianity but not the Power the Life no Real or true Grace or holiness no water of Life from the pure Fountain of Life they have not the Spirit of Life which in Believers is a Well of water springing up to Eternal Life but these are as Clouds without water carried about with the winds of Temptations i.e. Secret impulses of seducing spirits that hurry them to and fro of their Errands and Business and then they Cry it is from the Light within 6. A Sixth Character Both the Apostles say They are in the way of Balaam 2 Pet. 2.15 They have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam 6. So Jude ver 11. Wo unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the Error of Balaam for Reward and perished in the gain-saying of Core The Apostle says They have gone in the way of Cain it 's true Cain slew his Brother Now these Men though they rise not against any with Material Weapons yet their hearts rise against their Opposers as appears in that they whet their Tongues like a Sword and shoot out their Arrows even bitter words like David's Enemies Psal 64.4 In that sence they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the Error of Balaam And as the Apostle Peter also saith they are gone astray folowing the way of Balaam Now what was the way of Balaam the Error of Balaam Was it not chiefly in that he went so contrary to the known Will and Word of God the Will and Mind of God was plainly and often made known unto him that he should not go to Curse the People of Israel the Lords People It was plainly and manifestly made known and Revealed unto him and yet he would go contrary to the plain revealed Will of God which was the most Desperate Madness and Folly that could possibly be The Apostle calls it Madness 2 Pet. 2.16 The dumb Asse speaking with Mans Voice forbad the Madness of the Prophet Now these Men the Teachers among the Quakers have gone in the way of Balaam and do still go and run greedily earnestly after the Error of Balaam In that the Mind and will of God is plainly and fully Revealed and made known unto them in the Scriptures and which hath been often very often Declared and proved by the clear Light of the Gospel by many of his true and Faithful Messengers and Ambassadors sent of God and Taught of God and have the mind of Christ and have made it known unto them and yet so Blind so Ignorant so Desperately mad are they as that they go on still in the way of Balaam after the Error of Balaam in this Desperate Madness and wickedness as Balaam did in his Directly against the plain and clear word of God Revealed in the Scriptures as hath been fully proved in many particulars by many that have pleaded against them and manifested their Errors And it may well be supposed also that many of them run greedily after the Error of Balaam for Reward or Advantage being Tradesmen and great dealers in worldly affairs they may have Respect to the
were enlightned and led by him they would make a Difference and separate the precious from the vile but they do not Distinguish between the Righteous and the Wicked but Condemn them together and so are Abomination to the Lord So that thereby it is plainly seen that they are not of God that they are not as his Mouth to the People as they pretend Jer. 9. It is the Seducing Spirit we may be sure that doth bely and Reproach the Lord's People and his Works and Operations in them By this and other Characters afore-mentioned we may be as sure who the Men are as if their Proper Names whereby the World knows them from other Men were Recorded in Scripture For as the Lords People may certainly know that their Names are in the Scriptures and are Written in Heaven in the Book of Life Gods Eternal Decree and Secret Counsell by Seeing and Reading their Natures Properties and Qualifications in the Scriptures to which Eternal Life is promised I say they may know thereby that they themselves are the Persons as certainly as if their Proper Names were there Recorded whereby they are known amongst Men So on the contrary of Wicked and Ungodly Men they are also known in like manner by their Natures Properties and Qualifications We know who hath said Births of the Spirit and of the Flesh That which is Born of the flesh is flesh and that which is Born of the spirit is spirit We may know of what it is Born by the Birth that is brought forth Satan he broods upon the Carnal Spirits of wicked Men and begets false Notions Opinions and Principles we may know they are of his begetting by their Form and shape when they are brought forth Principles of Pride self-love false Notions and other Deformed shapes when they are Conceived then after a while they are brought forth they are born they are Published and Declared in Discourse Preaching Writing or Printing the Births of Mens minds their Fleshly Carnal Minds are brought forth into the World and they are so like their Father the Devil that thereby they may be known who was the Father of them So on the contrary That which is Born of the spirit is spirit the spirit of God dwells in his People and he daily works and moves in them he Inspires them with Truths according to the Mind of God which the Spiritual Mind Conceives and brings forth in Prayer Preaching Discourse and Writings and these Conceptions are Born and brought forth into the World to the View and Knowledge of all And that which is thus born of the spirit is spirit or spiritual it is Truth According to the Mind of the spirit for he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit one with him of his Mind The Saints are Unanimous of the same Mind with God as Wicked and Unregenerate Men are unanimous with the Devil they are of his Mind and he of theirs for he Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience The Devil speaks against Christ and so do they though they will own him in Words in Form in Shew and Pretence yet in Deed in Works really they deny him The Devil will own the Scriptures in words as he does Christ in words and say Thou art the Holy one of God so will those who are one spirit with him but will deny him really and according to Truth The Devil will own the Scriptures and Argue from them to attain his ends but never to prove a Necessary Truth So false Teachers are unanimous with him in these things for he that is joyned to the Devil is one Spirit even as he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit How great then is the sin of these Men Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins who Conceive in their Minds and bring forth the Births of the Devil as all Doctrines of Devils are Surely These Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins as Drunkenness Gluttony Adultery Murder c. If Robbery or Murder of a Man be so great a sin what is it to Rob God and to Crucifie and be guilty of the Blood of Christ Though for these and such like when Men will not be reclaimed from them God often gives them up to a Reprobate Mind Rom. 1. Even so he does also for these spiritual sins false Opinions Doctrines and Principles Concerning Christ his Natures Righteousness Merits and the things of God when they will not be Instructed but hate to be Reformed and change their Mind when they will not hearken to the Truth but still resist it disown it contradict and Blaspheme when the Truths of the Gospel have been often Offered and tendred to them yet they will not hear nor regard but rather believe Lyes than the Truth then God gives them up to strong delusion to believe Lyes and to hearken and give heed to seducing spirits this is a very dreadful state indeed they draw these spiritual Judgments upon themselves by these spiritual sins The Quakers setting up this Idol The Light within every Man and Woman is a greater sin in them than for Jezebels false Prophets to set up Baal and Pray unto it and trust in it instead of the God of Israel May it not Ironically be said to them as Elisha said to those false Prophets Cry aloud for he is a god as ye say but he is but a Blind god he hath Eyes indeed but he cannot see Ears but he cannot hear Hands and Feet but he cannot move to help or do any thing for those who Trust in him without help from another If these Men will not be pleaded nor perswaded out of their Vain Ignorant sottish Opinion of the Light within every Man and Woman being Christ let Men endeavour to Shame them out of it for it hath not so much as a shew or shadow of Truth in it but is plainly a most dreadful delusion of the Devil and a great Blasphemy against Christ This Opinion of theirs The false Opinions of the Quakers spring from Pride and Ignorance with other of their false Principles springs from Pride and Ignorance And this the Apostle Observes concerning such Men 1 Tim. 6.3 4. If any Man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness Ver. 4. He is Proud knowing nothing but Doting about Questions and strife of words whereof cometh Envy Strife Railing Evil surmisings Ver. 5. Perverse Disputings of Men of Corrupt Minds and Destitute of the Truth c. Such kind of men were also in the Apostle Johns time as we see Rev. 3.17 They were Proud and Ignorant They thought themselves Rich and had need of Nothing whereas indeed they were poor and miserable and blind and naked It is our duty to discover these kind of people to try them and to make them manifest to the world as much as may be for their false Opinions of God of Themselves and of Others is
win Christ Ver. 9. And he found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith We can hear no such Doctrine as this amongst the Quakers nay the very contrary slighting the Person of Christ and the Righteousness of Christ Imputed to Believers who of God is made Righteousness to them And setting up their own Righteousness and the Perfection of it which may be made appear by their Books And yet they tell and so deceive their simple silly Hearers that they do Declare Christ unto them the Light within every Man and Woman that is God and Christ the Saviour of the World But will this serve their turn to put the Name Christ upon one of his Creatures Will Christ allow any to take away his Name and his Glory and cloath an Idol with it and then say they Declare and set forth Christ This is the way to divert and draw off the minds of poor Ignorant People from Christ as he is Revealed in the Gospel This is the great Fundamental Doctrine of the Devil The Devil 's Fundamental Doctrine The chief point of Doctrine that he Teacheth his Disciples That is to say To Deny Christ Eo disown him according as the Gospel hath Revealed him and then to set up something else in his stead Let them call it Christ if they will that 's no Matter to give it the Name so it be not Christ he knows it will deceive Ignorant Minds the sooner the more easily For thereby he knows they do but Mock Christ and disown him the more and also the more provoke him that Men should give his Name and Title to any thing and disown himself as these Men do They call the Light within Christ but deny Christ himself as the Gospel sets him forth Now this the Devil knows is enough to serve his turn and destroy them and therefore he still keeps the Eye of their Mind upon this and makes them look upon it through a Multiplying Glass and shuts the Eyes of their Mind against Christ as he is Revealed in the Scriptures The God of this wicked World hath Blinded the Minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them And if the Gospel be hid from them it is hid to them that are lost We see in all their Declarings in all their Books and Pamphlets this is the Main and Chief point to Teach their Hearers to take heed to the Light within to the Witness of God within with variety of Expressions to that purpose But what do we hear in all their Books and Teachings concerning Christ that was Promised long before he came into the World of Christ that was born when the fulness of time was come of Christ that Lived amongst us and Preached and Taught amongst us the way of Salvation of Christ that Dyed for us and rose again and Ascended into Heaven that is now at the right Hand of God making Intercession for us of Christ that shall shortly come again in glory and yet in his Humane Nature to Judge the World in Righteousness This is the Christ that the Gospel Declares and that all true Believers know and own and Teach plainly and clearly without Equivocations and subtil Evasions as these false Teachers among the Quakers use to speak of him and whom all believers have Received by Faith who dwells in them and they in him But what do we hear of all this in the Teachings of these Men among the Quakers Nay on the contrary their Doctrines in their Books and Pamphlets that they frequently send forth do Directly Oppose these things And therefore we may safely conclude their Doctrine is the Doctrine of Devils for if all the Devils in Hell should combine together and joyn their Cursed Craft and Malice against Christ and the Souls of Men they could not bring forth a more Damning Doctrine than this is For to Deny Christ is to deny all What then shall we say to these Men or of them Surely Obstinate Quakers to be Rejected seeing these things are so That they have thus denyed the Lord that bought us and Preach up another Christ and maintain and uphold this their Idol in Opposition to Christ as the Gospel hath Declared him and slight and Despise the Scriptures we have grounds to conclude they are Men of Corrupt Minds of Seared Consciences Idolaters and Hereticks Now the Apostle by the Inspiration of God gives us a Rule 1 Tim. 3. Reject an Heretick after once or twice Admonished but these Men have been often Admonished Pleaded and Disputed with and they regard not Admonition they resist the Truth and the Spirit of Grace and Truth speaking in the Scriptures and in and by his People they will not hear they will not regard the Counsel of God But in their Ignorance and Pride they despise both God and Men and do prefer their own Idle and vain Fancies and Satans subtile false Insinuations before the Teachings of the Spirit of God If God should work a Miracle and raise up the Apostle Paul from the Dead to Declare against them and their Doctrines they would no more regard him nor his Teachings than they regard Tho. Hicks in his three Dialogues Between a Christian and a Quaker or than they regard any other Messenger of Christ who pleads with them and lays the very truths of God before them as it is Revealed by the Spirit in the Gospel We are assured of this from Luke 16.31 If they will not Hear Moses and the Prophets neither will they hear though one should rise from the Dead So if they will not hear Christ and his Apostles in the Gospel if they will not hear the Scriptures neither will they be perswaded to imbrace the Truth though one should be sent to them from the Dead Nay if Christ himself should come and speak to them in that mean state and condition that he was when he conversed among us here below these People would regard him no more than the hardned Jews did in their Day For they Reject and Deny him now his Doctrine and his Person in his Merits Righteousness Satisfaction c And so would do if he were Personally present So that my Judgment is Let them alone they be blind Leaders of the blind they talk of a Light within but the Light in them is Darkness and it is a great darkness a double darkness more than a single Natural darkness as is the state of all Mankind by Nature but also a darkness added to that even a darkness as a punishment or a Judgment a Judicial darkness Natural darkness is the sin of man but this darkness is the Judgment of God That because they regard not the Truth they will not receive it in the Love thereof therefore hath God given them up to strong delusions to believe lies That seeing they will not believe