so high so wise so learned so holy to entertain thoughts of being the Eternal and boundless Infinite power and Godhead The blessed Lord proclaime his Infinite Power his Infinite Wisdome his Infinite Greatness and Goodness and Patience to poor sinners as he did unto Iob out of the Whirlwind and then for all Iobs Perfection and their own which so simply as well as proudly they prate of they will with Iob see cause to abhor themselves in Dust and Ashes 6 Such is the inconceivable Infinity in God beyond the reach of all Creatures that he is not only Infinite but Infinity it self 51 Eternity it self Omnipotency it self Wisdome it self Goodness it self Justice it self in all their eminences and perfections 7. Therefore notwithstanding most gracious and most glorious Appearances to and influences from Infinity upon poor finite Worms below sure it is not so sober a Language as that of Birds and Beasts who keep their Native Tongues and Tones Only men honoured with so high Naturals above their Fellow potts the Irrationals and in many respects above other Rationals yea in pretence and some really dignified with Spirituals in the Minde Will and Affections by Priviledges by Promises Mankinde I say so honoured and degenerating we are not only like to but Infinitely as I may say worse then the wildest Beast that perish The 26. Instance is in Pag. 93. where G. Fox brings in Robert Simson c. saying The mystical Body may be sometimes subject to Distempers and Humors and Wants He Answers Are you Judges can you judge of the Mystical Body which the Saints are Baptized into is there Humors Wants and Distempers in the Body which the Saints are Baptized into is not the Wants Humors Distempers in your Body do you here in this divide the word aright distinguâ—sh things in the Ground and speak aright of things and yet you would not be judged and say Iudge not and is not Mystical Spiritual I Reply In our late Dispute at Providence Io. Stubs and W. Edm affirmed that God was a Spirit litterally and properly in which for all his boast of Learning it may be as he said above my self he shewed but little Philosophy or Divinity and William Ed. affiâ—med that properly and really that Scripture of Wolves coming in Sheeps cloathing was to be understood litterally without meaning and expositions but sober men and aware know how to unfold Parables and Similitudes and Metaphors and Allegories they know God is called a Son and a Rock and a Father and a Husband c. and so is Christ Jesus and they know how such Similies are to be expounded They know that Believers in Christ Jesus are called a Body an House a Flock a Friend a Center an Army and ye are no such properly and litterally but by similitude 2. The Papists tell us of an Universal or as the Greek a 52 Catholick Body of Christians Amongst them are two great Factions The one maintaing this Catholick Church to meet in the Representative of an Occumenical or General Council of the whole World The other in the Assembly or Conclave of the Pope and his Cardinals and in the Pope himself while he sits in Peters Infallible Chair The Protestants build also a Catholick or Universal Body of true Believers in Jesus scattered over the World c. the more Reformed affirme this Unâ—versal and Catholick Church to be visible in the Assemblies and Congregations of Christian Worshippers separate from the Church of Rome and her Abominations The Devil seeing the Protestant Witnesses contending about the matter and Form of the true Churches and Congregations He by Gods most holy and wise permission sends out his old and known Spirit of pure Invisibles pure Immediate pure Worshippers in Spirit and Truth c. This Spirit being Cozen German to or sworn Brother in hellish equivocation with the Iesuits when it serves their turn maintain a Church Invisible and Ministers and Officers Invisible and yet when it serves their turn practice as well as Papists or Protestants visible Churches and Congregations visible and audible Apostles preachers Ministers with audible preachings prayings singings Admissions Excommunications more or less professed and Explicite The Qukaers Churches they are as they childishly vapour Bodies without wants or distempers fair as the Sun clear as the Moon terrible as an Army c. 1. But this contrary to the nature of all our Natural Bodies which turning upon the two hinges of Sins and Sorrows are full of wants and distempers until the dashing of all in pieces by sudden or lingring Deaths 2. Contrary to all Figurative or Metaphorical Bodies domestick in Families Political in Cities Nations Armies Navies c. 3. Contrary to Experience of the Bodies or Churches of Worshippers in the Scripture Iewish or Christian who gave up the Ghost through distempers into the hands of Mahumet who brags he hath Conquered Moses at Ierusalem and Iesus at Constantinople c. 4. Contrary to the Experience of the World in their daily observing of the Quakers Bodies and Worships beside the Char 53 ges against them for their wild Doctrines and Disciplines what known Divisions and Passions about I Nailors and others Cases what Envyings Cursings Apostacies and moral Idolatry as that of Covetousness in this Colony known notoriously But since G. Fox speaks so Rationally to his Opposite Do you distinguish things in the Ground I shall remember them of the fairness of my fourteenth Position against them viz. that according to the Principles Roots and grounds of things I have fairly Collected that the Spirit of the Quakers tends to Incivility and Barbarisme and to sudden Assacinations murthers and Persecutions c. The Eternal Father of mercies I believe that I have and can further make it good stops millions of mischiefs in the world daily which the Natures grounds and Principles of men and the Quakers Spirit also now to overrun and overwhelm the World withal A 27 th Instance of G. Fox his lame Answer is in pag. 103. where he brings in Ionathan Clapham saying Men may be called of Men Masters and it is but a Cavil to deny it and they may deny to be called Fathers as well as Masters He Answers Thou hast in this denied that Doctrine of Christ and slights it who saith Be not ye of Men called Masters for you have all one Master which is Christ and you all are Brethren and thou hast show'd thy self out of the Brother-hood And there is a Birth to be born which can call no man Father upon Earth which thou art ignorant of I Reply 1. Amongst other foolish passions and Affections haunting all men and the Quakers especially these two are notorious viz. pride and a lazie Ignorance Those two are the Sire and Dam of most of these wild monsters 2. For doth not this proud man know how many of his excellent Opposites have laid open their Foxians scornful pride in robbing all
a dumb Devil in their dumb meetings and stand still and listen and lie upon their beds of laziness for Revelations and Notions c. 8. As for G. Fox his scornful sling against old Authors what is it but pride and Ingratitude pride to undervalâ—e much more to scorn my Progenitors and Ancestors Ingratitude to God for so many helps c. and to them who have laboured and broke the Ice and left their Labours behind them for the benefit of after Commers yea what Injustice when I disregard and slight their writings and reproach them calling them Old Authors compared with their new Fancies as W. Edmundson did me frequently at Newport Old Man Old Man c. The 33 Instance is in Pag 206 where he brings in Iohn Burton sading It is a Scripture of the Devils making to apprehend Christ within He Answers If there be any other Christ but he who was Crucified within he is the false Christ and the Scriptures hold forth this and the Devil never made it but he and his Messengers are against it And he that hath not this Christ that was risen and 66 Crucified within is a Reprobate though Devils and Reprobaes may talk of him without I Reply This is the great dispute between the Christians and the Pagans the Christians and the Iews the Christians and the Mahumetans and the Christians among themselves so called viz. Who is the great Prophet 2. To what purpose should I alleadge the whole history of the Birth Life Death c. of the Lord Jesus since the Quakers acknowledge all true c. 3. Why should I alleadge the Sermons and Preachings and Writings of the Apostles or Messengers of Christ Iesus after his Ascention all harmonizing with the four Evangelists writing his Life and Death c. 4. Certain it is that he that shall turn over all the former Relations and Histories and all the writings and Sermons of the Apostles since and predicate a Christ that was risen within Crucified within in Opposition to that Iesus of Nazareth without he must have the Forehead of a Reprobate and Devil as G. Fox phrazeth it 5. G. Fox knows the Protestants predicate in Life and Death the believing in Christ Jesus so born so living and dying And the applying of the price of his Death and merits unto God for Propitition And the Applying of the Promise and new Covenant and Bargain in that Blood for a new Heart a new Spirit c. 6. What shall then become of G. Fox his believing in a Christ that was Risen and Crucified within in Opposition to this Lord Jesus so Promised so Prophesied of so prefigured so brought forth so living and dying so preached so believed on and what a Forehead of Hell must he have that calls all those Reprobates and Devils that talk of Christ without The 34th Instance is in pag. 214. where G Fox brings in the Elders and Messengers of several Churches of Ilston Abergevenny c. saying We are Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity c. He Answers David doth not say you who were Conceived in Sin but I and W. saith Iohn was sanctified from the Wombe and the Scriptures speaks of such as were sanctified from the Wombe and Children that were clean And so you do not speak as Elders and 67 Messengers of true Churches or Men dividing the Word aright but you are one against another though you are all against them you call Quakers that be in the Truth I Reply 1. In the passage G. Fox discovers to any Intelligent and Savoury Spirit not only a weak and deluded Soul but a Popish and Arminian poyson about the Estate of all mankinde in their first Birth a strong presumption that he never felt what the woful Estate of all mankinde by Nature is and what to Cry out in his own particular with David I was Conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity which Cry is one of the first Soul Cries of every Child of God 2. About 120 years since the Father of Spirits stird up the Spirit of his Famous Servant Calvin to batter down the Babel of a Franciscan Frantick who maintained that God from the first Created both Devils and wicked men in the same Condition of wickedness wherein we now find them Contrary to the holy Scriptures Testimony as that Excellent Soul proved declaring their pure Creation their Fall and their respective future Estate and condition to Eternity 3. In the Reign of our late Royal Sovereign K. Iames it pleased God to let loose this Devil of Pelagius who rowzed up the wits of Arminius and his Followers in the low Countries during their twelve years Truce with Spain so that the Civil Discord about this point and other Pelagian and Semi-pelagian Doctrines had almost ruined Holland c. but that the Lord mightily assisted them First By the personal presence and Forces of the Prince of Orange and Secondly By the Famous Assembly and Disputes of the Synod at Dort 4. To follow the Fox into his Burrough what if David say not you but I why should the Papists and Arminians or Foxians have a more holy Birth then David Wherein could holy David Father Iesse and his mother be charged Is not the English of the word Devil Accuser Reproacher Slanderer Is not Nature that Law and Order which the most Infinite Creator hath set in the propagation of all his Creatures though the choicest of them Man be degenerated into the soure Vine at first a sweet Vine Nature or Gods Order goes on though mankinde be Corrupted from the Womb and the Imagination of the Thoughts of mans Heart be only evil and that continually Gen. 6. and millions of 68 Experiences all the world over Confirm it what the Trade of all mankinde is from the Birth The Spots of the Leopard and the Blackness of the Neger comes not by Accident c. 6. The perversness and Crookedness of the motions of Nature may continue though Nature and the Course of it run on as we see in Rivers turn'd out of their Chanels in Clocks and Watches and Dâ—al and Lutes and Harps when out of Tune they give their Natural and Artificial though distempered Sounds and operations 7. Beside the holy Testimony of Moses Gen. 6 and David Psal. 51. and the Lord Jesus declaring what the heart of man is Mark 7. How doth Paul Rom. 5. and 7. declare the Entrance of Sin by the first Man until by the second Man Sin and Death and Hell be Conquered and at last Sin in Gods Children fully dissolved and abolished 8. I end this passage with Appellation to all that knâ—w what Children are all the world over the sweetest and the fairest born of the holiest and sweetest Parents how froward how proud how Revengeful against their Fathers Mothers and most tender Nurses 1. These rotten and crooked Dispositions in every Childe bring forth wilde Asses fruits in Youth
Appearance of it and if any of their women should so practice they should condemn it in them yet nevertheless if it should please the Lord God to stir up any of his Daughters so to appear as a Sign and Testimony against the Nakedness of others they durst not condemn it Iohn Stubs said that they did condemn all immodest Appearances in women both in Behaviour and Gestures But if God stirred them up and commanded them to this service to discover the Nakedness of others they could not but acknowledge Gods hand and submit to it And he further added that it was a great Cross to a sober womans spirit so to act as well as an affliction and suffering to her body Iohn Stubs likewise alleadged the Prophet Isaiah as also did W. E. and the Sign of the Prophet Ezekiel and Iohn Stubs read the 20th of Isa. where Isaiah was commanded to goe naked for a Sign to the Egyptians and Ethyopians to prophesie and denounce that they also should go naked with their buttocks uncovered as the words are and this is said they a proof that the People of the Lord might be stirred up by God to such actions for Signs unto others I Answered that this was in the dayes of Figures and Signs Shadows and Ceremonyes And though this was G. Fox his Answer in his Book which I had there by me yet G. Fox throughout all this his Book in Folio turns of the Allegations and Arguments of many of his Opposites with this Answer to wit The Substance is come the Body is come Christ the End of the Law the End of the Command the End of the Scriptures the End of the Prophets and of all Signs and Shadows and Figures 2. Although it were so threatned that the Ethiopians and Egyptians should so goe totally and stark Naked and that Isaiah did so which is much questioned yet it is not to be questioned but that the Egyptians and Ethiopians in their flight would cover 40 their Secret parts with the first cloaths or raggs they could get as it is no question but the Prophet Isaiah did 3. The difference of Nakedness of Mankind and Womankind is very great in all Nations The Sex of Women is more fitted and framed by God for a Covering for Retiredness and keeping at home and for Modesty and Bashfulness nor do we ever read that ever God commanded such a thing to Women or that ever it came into his heart or that ever any Godly Woman did so practice there is no shadow or colour of Proof from the holy Scripture nor from any Civill and sober People no nor from the naked Barbarians themselves who though they suffer their Male Children to go naked till about seven years old yet cover they their Females from their birth T is true it is said in Brasil and other bruitish places some Savage bruits go so but they are Canibals Men-eaters c. and other Barbarians do not so except in Drunkenness and Madness They still answered that they would not Countenance any such Practice but if the Lord God so commanded his Sons and Daughters it must be obeyed I demanded of them how it should be known that it was the voice and command of God the God of Holiness and not the command of the unclean spirit for I told them that under that Cover that one of them might be so commanded and sent of God in such a posture and behaviour amongst men why might not ten or twenty yea all the women in this present Assembly be so stirred up as it were by the Spirit of God to the horror and amazement of the whole Countrey yea of the whole World They seemed to me to be Confounded with this Argumnet and weary to hear of it and not willing to speak to it I therefore took occasion my self to say that it was true in former Dispensations The Command of God came to Abraham to kill his own Child his son Isaac and this fact enjoined him did seem as horrible unnatural and cruel as this Nakeduess of the Women unwomanly and unnatural But 1. It was in the day and dispensation of such wonderfull Signs and figurative teachings unto men And 2. I said God did furnish them with a Spirit of discerning the true dream from the false the true voice from the false the voice of God from the voice of Sathan But in our day wherein God had altered his Dispensations and Revelations which he 41 used to the Fathers and had spoken to us by his Son and had left his mind both in the old and new Scriptures or Writings We have the example and President of the Lord Iesus that is to attend to the holy Scriptures only and to use the weapon of It is written it is written against Sathans immediate Inspirations and temptations Here W. Edmondson fel into a great heat against me and said that I spoke Blasphemy in saying that Abraham and the Saints then had a way and Spirit of discerning the Spirits which we had not implying that Gods Spirit was not the same He added that I had kept them long and had proved nothing and yet we had not done with the first Position I replyed that I had produced such Grounds as should never be shaken and that I presumed did appear to the Consciences of many and I heartily desired might also appear unto their Spirits Soules and Consciences Some of the Auditors spake to this Purpose especially W. Hitchcocks who insisted upon the Water Baptisme And thus by Gods Mercy and Patience the Discourse of the first day ended which very day was notable and significant as to the created Sun in the Heavens who in the midst of our Contest was eclipsed and hid his Face remarkably and preached aloud to us that although the true Lord Iesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness do suffer in his infinite wisdom and and Patience false Christs and false Prophets and Herod and Pontius Pilate and his enemies of all sorts Iewes and Gentiles to cloud his Face and Glory a little from the World and his own People yet he will break forth again in his eternal brightness splendor and glory When that heavenly young Martyr or Witness of Iesus Christ William Hunter was burnt at Burntwood in Essex it was a close and gloomy day but this gallant young Champion of Iesus Christ crying out aloud at the stake Son of God look on me Son of God shine upon me immediately that most wonderfull Light Fire of Heaven the Sun tore the clouds and brake forth and shined gloriously aud remarkably upon the face of this blessed Witness at the suffering of the flames of fire for Iesus his truth sake against the whorshi Principles of both the Papists Quakers and thus do the holy writings tel us that this most glorious light the Sun of Righteousness visibly appeared in his glorious and glorified Form and Shape to the visible eye of his servant Steven while he
who hath seen Sin as Sin the sin of his Nature his chief sin c. will see how far from the Doctrine of true Repentance true Faith c these mens Teachings be and for all their boasting what need they have to Examine themselves whether they be in the Faith and whether there be any other Christ Iesus within them then a Countersiet and painted Messiah and whether their Countersiet and painted Faith Repentance and Hope will yield them another Fruit then a dolefully Counterfieted and perishing Salvation At last by Gods merciful held I come now with their glad Consent to the seventh and last Position propounded to be discust at Newport viz. that their Religion was nothing else but a mixture of Popery Arminianisme Socinianisme Iudaisme c. Herein I knew I was not to exceed my quarter glass and there fore I take liberty now a little to inlarge to remember the Reader of the old Proverb that where God hath his Church the Devil will have his Chappel And that where Christ Iesus hath his Field of good Seed while the Servants sleep the Enemy will sow the Tares of rotten Doctrines and rotten Professors who like Windefals and Revolting Rebels fall from the holy Truths they have professed being loose aud weak believers or only affrighted and Terrified Hipocrites by Gods righteous Iudgement delivered over to listen too and believe Lyes as the only heavenly Truths of Iesus I had purposed to have shewed how in matters concerning God the Son of God the Spirit of God c. the Quakers have followed the Cerdonians the Priscillians the Valentinians the old Gnosticks and Manicheans but I Confined my self to the Terms of the Position and declared that the Quakers were downright Papists in many points some I then Insisted on and the rest 128 intended I shall now mention First In magnifying the rotten strength and Arm of dead and rotten Nature when it is Objected to G. Fox in his book that by Nature we are all dead in sins and Trespasses G. Fox Answers by d viding all men into three sorts Some are born holy from the wombe as Ier. Some the Saints that is only their Children born holy without any sinful corruption Thirdly the wicked who will not turn to the Light within them and they are only the Unbelievers dead in sin But the Protestants David and his Followers Confess their Natures Births and Conceptions to be all defiled with sin and with a sinful proneness to all Iniquity though miraculously some are Sanctified or set apart to God from the wombe as Ieremiah Iohn the Baptist c. Some after a more peculiar and miraculous manner as the Lord Iesus Some by New Birth and the wonderfal Supernatural Power of the holy Spirie Changing Regenerating and as it were New Creating the Soul and Spirit in Everlasting Unchangeable Holiness and Righteousness after the Image of his first and second Creatour It is true that the Papists come nearer the Truth as to Birth Corruption and Defilement then the Quakers acknowledging all â— be Conceived and born in Sin not that the Devil or the Papists care to acknowledge this Truth but that they may use it as a Cridge over which they may pass to the Necessity of Baptisme on pain of Damnation on which they may also build many other Superstitious Fanciee as to the holy Ordinances But the Quakers although they hold only their own Children to be Conceived and born holy without Sin yet they jump into one step with the Papists as to the Power of Nature in Spirituals ane that every man and woman in the world hath a sufficient Light within him to see God and Christ c. and to turn themselves unto them to Eternal Life Contrary to the Protestants who from the holy Scriptures maintain mans Natural Blindness and Darkness Ephes. 5. Mans Natural Deadness Ephes. 2. and that our wisdome can not difcern any Spiritual thing that is Spiritually 1. Cor 2. That our Quintessence of Nature our very wisdome is Enmity to God He hates us as we hate him and are at deadly fewd and mortal Hatred like two men of War 129 giving Fire one upon another we resolving to sink by Ejods side rather then to yield to God but God in Infinite pitty seeing our weakness and madness and certain Destruction hangs out a white Flag and offers a Parly on purpose to save us from our desperate minde Ruine which by many heavenly means of Free mercy he Effecteth The Papists speak more like Men and at last yield that men and Women have left them since Adams Fall power to listen too and obey Moral Perswasions and offers which God makes The Quakers talk only like Bruits of no means no means but Immediate Revelation of the Spirit and yet in Contradiction to themselves they make the Spirit an inward means and their Apostles or Messengers an outward means or else they make themselves idle Embassodors in vain and to no purpose The Protestants affirm from 2. Cor. 3. that we have not one good Thought but from God that it is God not we that turns the will Phil. 2. that when the Word of Faith is preached Rom. 10. and Faith or Belief is wrought by hearing yet is it Gods free Grace that makes the difference 1 Cor. 4. when several Hearers are Assembled and God opens Lidiahs heart and not others Acts 16. the learned Academians mock and only Dionisius and Damaris and a few believe because God sheweth mercy on whom he will and whom he will he hardneth The Papists and Quakers both maintain that dolefully uncomfortable and desperate Doctrine of falling away from true and saving grace The Truth is neither of them seem to know Experimentally what true and saving grace is It is true they differ the Papists make Saving Grace the Property only of the Regenerate The Quakers say it is in every man and Woman in the world they have it though they know it not and will not turn to it and believe in it yet both agree that they loose it whereas the true Protestants though they grant great Failings and Falls and Desertions of Gods Children yet they hold the Seed of God the holy Spirit and Word of God Isai. 59. and 1 Cor. 3. that Incorruptible Eternal Seed of which they are begotten never Final 130 ly nor Totally to be Ecclipsed and they justly account that Doctrine of Intercession viz. when Son-ship or Childship is cut off by Sin and Renewed by Repentance to be a simple Fantastical Notion as if David were a Child of God to day a Child of the Devil to morrow a Child of God this hour and a Child of the Devil the next c. only they fix this impiously upon mortal and great sins only as if Adam Eating of an Apple were not sufficient to his and our Destruction as well as Davids sinning with Bathsheba and Uriah c 3. I must be briefer
of Doctrine and Worship both as the Papists and the Quakers doe to be farther from the truth of the Profession of Christ Iesus and more obstructive and destructive to the Souls of men then the other partyes yea and the Papists not so much as the Quakers who wildly profess all Ordinances and Ministers to be invisible and yet are hypocritically and ridiculously found to be as visible and open as any If the true Foundations of Repentance and Faith be cast down it is in vain to talk of saving of Soules it is in vain to talk of Worshipping of God The Quakers for all their craking of Quaking and Tremhling their way is more easie of Worshipping God and of bringing persons to their worship of God then the way of Iewes or Turks or Papists who to my knowledge take more paines in Religion then do the common Protestants I confess they all do but paint and guild over natures old and rotten Posts only the real Protestants have and profess the greatest care of any in the world for true Faith and Repentance The Quakers came not neer that care of N-England I am sure at first for the personal true Repentance and Holiness of their Churchâ—s and Congregations For it is notoriously known that if persons notoriously Deboist come but to acknowledge a God and Christ within them that is in English that themselves are God and Christ and can practice Thou and Thee and Cheek by Ioll with all their Betters and can rail at and curse all that oppose them and can come and bow down to a dumb Image and Worship without any great business of Contrition and Brokenness and Godly Sorrow they are enrold and canonized for Saints and Gods c. they are free from Sin born of God and cannot sin they now sit upon the twelve thrones and judge the unbelieving Iews and Gentiles in their heavenly places The wound lyes here as it is with Papists Arminians and indeed with all mankind in the soothing up and flattering of rotten Nature from whence from within the Lord Iesus tells us proceed all the rotten and hellish Speeches and Actions 172 I told them it was in this case as it was with Kings and Princes there were two great Enemyes that haunted the Pallaces of Kings and Princes 1. Traiterous Spyes c. 2. Traiterous Flatterers Just here it was as I remember that W. Edmundson stopt me saying thou hast here been telling us Storyes of Turks and Iewes but what is that to thy Charge against us we are none of those that flatter Kings and Princes we deal plainly with all men I said they mistook me for I did not say they slattered Kings I used a similitude only viz. that as Flatterers c. of Kings and great men were their deadliest Foes so such Religions and Doctrines as most slatter and sooth up our rotten hearts and natures they are most dangerous and destructive to us I intended to add that the Quakers pretended to be as fine Flower sifted out from the common Protestants yea from the Independants Baptists that Sathan was too subtle for the subtlest Foxes of them all for he knowes that by pretence he more easily dangerously conveys the Poyson of exalting corrupt and cursed nature in the room of true Soul-saving Humiliation I did say as the Whore of Rome deceived whole Towns Cities Nations and Kingdomes with her glorious Trimmings and her Golden Cup so that the Painted Quaker as a Drunken Whore should follow the Drunken Whore of Rome drunk with the blood of Jesus c. for the obtaining of the smoak of a Tobacco-pipe the Riches and Honour of this World There are two sorts of godly Soules catcht up a while by the Devils Craftiness 1. Weak and unstable for there are Children strong Men old Men in Christianity 2 The unwatchful and secure The holy wisdome of God discovers in Holy Scripture what the Devil that Sathan an old Serpent is viz. not only a Roaring but a vigilant Lyon David Gods beloved as his Name is he fails in his managing of Government therefore the Devil stirs up Ioab and Achitophel to help the grand Rebel his Son Absolom and afterwards Sheba and all in wonderful Figures in all Ages an in this our age and day A famous Iesuit prints it that all the Religion in the World lies in competition between the Iesuits and Puritants c. About 173 this time Iohn Stubs told me that they and I say so do the Iesuites pretend to do had left the Glory and Pleasure of this world their Wives and Children Friends and Relations to Preach the Everlasting Gospel For the Woman had been 1260 years 42 months in the wilderness and she was now come and coming forth and they were now preaching the everlasting Gospel and therefore they advised me to make haste and dispatch and not to hinder the Lords work I spake what then I thought fit and now adde that the Pharisees the Apostles the Quakers and Iesuites do compass Sea and Land but the Pharisees Iesuites and Quakers will be found at last to be the Apostles Messengers Heralds Envoys Embassadors and Emissaries of Sathan sent out from Hell to predicate the goodness of rotten nature hell and damnation and that false and hellish Gospel or good news of poor rotten Natures Righteousness Satisfaction Penances and to the damning of Souls c. The Devil knows that after the witnesses have done their work against Antichrist and after their slaughters the Lord Jesus will send abroad his Messengers to other Nations Iews Gentiles and New Ierusalem or a new vision of peace shall then come down from Heaven among the Sons of men but for the present he stirs up these Jesuites and Quakers with brave titles and pretences like so many Mahomets under pretence of Diogenes treading on Platoes Carpets to fish for the smoak of this World 's Sodome and no doubt but the Quakers will use the Sword as much as Mahomet or the Iesuites under the cloak and colours of love to Jesus and saving of Souls I confess that Charity hopes and believes all things and yet I say cursed is that charity that puts out the eye of Reason the eye of Experience the eye of true affection to Christ Jesus his Father and his Wife to the Souls of his followers and the Souls of poor sinners Iews Gentiles As to the saving of Souls it was a Thunder from the heavenly mouth of Christ Jesus They that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword as if he should say the Sword is not a saving but a destroying Tool in Soul-humbling and Soul-saving making worlds of Hypocrites but not true Protestants true Christians Followers of the true Lord Jesus and of his Father and of his Holy Spirit 174 The Spirit say the Quakers why that 's our Weapon the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God why that 's the word of God Christ Jesus our Weapon
though he often acknowledge that Christ is the Author and Finisher of Faith So that the Gift of God the words of God which are his Tokens Love Tokens and Love Letters they are God and Christ themselves the heavenly Father and his Son the heavenly Bridegroom John the Baptist cried out to all such proud Souls I am not He I am not worthy to untie his Shoe Latchet He it is that Baptizeth with Fire He is the Lamb of God c. He even that man upon whom he saw the Spirit descending like a Dove c. and blessed Paul with Iob abhors himself and counts his Holy Life his Prayers his Fastings his Righteousness Dung and Dirt compared with that of Christ Iesus in Opposition to that of the Law c. In which mud still the most zealous Papists and Quakers stick and talk idly of their fulfilling of the Law now by Christs Righteousness Grace and Spirit in them which they will at last find to be no more but the first Bargain or Covenant let them pride themselves never so much in their filthy menstrous Clouts and Rags of Holiness that is their Christ within them The 39th Instance is in Pag. 223. where he brings in the same Author saying The Light which discovers Sin and Iniquity 77 in Mans Heart is not Christ the dore He Answers The first Adam was the Dore whâ—reon all Sin and Transgression entred Christ the Light the second Adam which doth inlighten every man c. saith I am the Dore the Way and the Life which finish Sin and Transgression and brings in Everlasting Righteousness and the way of Dife out of Death which Light discovers Sin I Reply Edmund Burroughs in his large Epistle to G. Fox thiâ— hâ—s Book he tells us that this Light which they thus boast of shews mans threefold Estate before Transgression in Transgression and what he is by being saved out of Transgression It is true Christ Jesus doth this by many gracious means but not Immediately nor to every man that comes into the world For the World lies in wickedness and Darkness We are not only bleeding in our wounds but we are lost in the Wilderness We are stark dead in Sin and know no more that we are dead then a dead man knows of his Condition what do then these poor deluded Souls tell us of a Light and Christ within every man in the world discovering his pure Estate his foul Estate and his raised Estate which no man or woman in this world that I have read or heard of by Nature had any Spark or shine of such a Light no nor these proud Ignorants neither but they have read or heard of these things more or less from the holy Scriptures and Records 2. It is granted that Natures Light discovers a God some sins a Judgement as we see in Indians Education and preaching discovers more as in Saul Achitophel Iudas The Word and Afflictions makes Pharoah cry out I have sinned Miracles make Nebuchadnezzar and Darius cry out There is no God so great as Daniels and to make dreadful Laws against blasphemers of him though themselves continue in their old Idolatries yea doubtless Natures Light is able in self deceitfulness wonderfully to Counterfiet true heavenly Light and the Devil seem an Angel or Messenger of Light from Heaven 3. What is this to a saving Conviction which Gods Spirit worketh in those that shall be saved when they cry out as the wounded Iews what shall we do to be saved and as the Gaolour what shall I do to be saved until this saving Sense of my Condition and Gods Justice what is Christ a Physitian a Saviour a Redeemer Bread Water Wine and oil to me All is needless yea loathsome though an bony Comb to a full Soul what talk 78 you of a pardon to an honest man or if a Rope or Barr to save a secure Epicure in his downe Bed 4. Again how poor a plea is this Adam was the dore to sin therefore Christ is the dore to the discovery of sin For look upon Adam in his Fall 1. He saw his sin 2. He had horrour of Conscience 3. He run from God 4. He hides himself 5. He He fals to mincing end excusing his sin All this is revealed to us and not a word yet heard of Christ the promised Seed or a Light Christ Jesus to Convince him of sin That was another work a saving work which we may hope the Spirit of God wrought in him upon the preaching of Christ Jesus the Seedâ—nd â—nd Mediatour to come 5. I know the Song of the great deluder is Turn to the Light hearken to the Light thou seest it chides thee for thy Stealing for thy lying c. Is not this the Christ c. listen to him be still sink down obey him he will teach thee save thee c. But the Bottom is the English and meaning is hearken to Sathan the God of this world be ruled and taught and guided by him The Scripture is but a dead Letter the true Christ is within thee he will turn thee from these sins and make thee perfect as God is perfect c. Christ is come now in us the second Time without sin to Salvation He is come in us Ten thousand of his Saints to Judgement He within thee is the word of God the Christ of God the Light of God the Spirit of God God himself and He seeks Worshippers in Spirit and Truth for the visible things are temporal c 6. But what is there in all this but the noise of Fenny bitter in hollow Canes c What is here but that common Businesses may reach to 1. The Conscience of good and evil which every favage Indian in the world hath 2. The whisperings the blâ—ndings and cheatings of the Devil in Samuels mantle pretending vowing and Swearing to be the word of the Lord to be Christ Jesus yea that to your feeling c. 7. But what are these to Christ Jesus a dore of Hope to poor wounded and damned sinners God by his Law and Justice by outward hearing or reading and inward Convictions of Natural Conscience hath passed Sentence of Eternal Death and Hell on them They feel it they cry out now the Gospel or glad news of a Saviour a Jesus is Hony in the mouth c. Now Luke 4. he 80 heals the broken heart he sets free the Prisoners ho gives Light to them that see themselves blind and Cry to him as the blind man did Christ medles not with sound persons who have no need of his Bloud Righteousness and Merits c. The 40 Instance is in Pag. 224. where G. Fox brings in Ellis Bradshaw saying There is more words then one He Answers God is the word and the Scriptures are the words which Christ fulfil I Reply 1. As the designe of the bloudy Pope and Iesuits are to kindle wars between the Protestants
notoriously false against Moses as the Charge of the Quakers against such blessed Instruments which God hath used like Moses to bring the Protestants out of the Egypt of Popery viz. a Charge of Pride and Ambition wilt thou make thy self a Prince over us a Charge of which the Foxians are notoriously guilty 5. I observe their horrible Ingratitude both unto the most holy God himself and unto Moses and Aaron Gods Servants by whom he had wrought so many wonders for this people in so many wonderful and miraculous Directions Preservations and Deliverances 6. Their Impatiencci and Unbelief c. Thou hast not yet brought us unto a Land flowing with milk and hony as if God and Moses had only fed them with Sugred and honied Words and no Effects and performances 7. I observe their subtle and false pretences and Suggestions Is noâ— all the Lords people holy every one of them and the Lord is amongst them just the Quakers Language who so advance every one of the people of the Lord as they call their Proselites viz. that they are just now born of God and Literally can not Sin are Immediately Inspired need no Teachers no Scriptures c. 8. I observe and I humbly beg of the Father of mercies to cause these poor Foxians to observe the Conspiracy of the two Elements Earth and Fire to Consume and devour these Famous proud Conspirators I spare Applications begging mercy from the Father of Lights and mercies for their Humiliations and Salvation Only I Remember that every Plant the Heavenly Father hath not planted flourisheth it never so green so high so long shall be plucked up and cast into the Fire c. The 46th Instance is in pag. 262. Where he brings in George Iohnson sâ—ying The Americans were never ordained for Grace and Salvation and the Grace of God never appeared to the Americans 93 G. Fox Answers which is contrary to the Scriptures which saith the grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all men c. and I will give him for a Light and for a Covenant to the Gentiles a new Covenant to the House of Israel and Iudah and that he may be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and many in America have received Truth and Salvation I Reply 1. To the Covenant or Bargain of God with Man first and secondly I have spoke as also to the figurative calling of Christ Jesus the Covenant to Iews and Gentiles and that this blind Soul taking it litterally he runs upon the Rocks of the Arminian general Redemption and the Universalists general Salvation and that with a known Contradiction against their own Foundation of none having any benefit of Christ that own not their Light c. as also with a known Contradiction to all Expeiience which saith the whole World lies in Wickedness and this America in Barbarisme and Barbarous Wickedness of all sorts 2. I have said Christ is the Light the Covenant the Brazen Serpent the Bridegroom held forth as the Sun in the Heavens to all the World So Christians are the Salt the Light of the World and the Church the Pillar and Firmament of Truth holding it out to all the World is therefore all the World seasoned enlightened converted saved yea doth he not only deny the Americans but the Europeans Asians and Africans also any Salvation though never so holy Professour of Christ except they bow down to their new black Image of Light within them 3. It was a large effusion of the Holy Spirit of God upon so many precious Leaders and Followers who ventured their All to New-England upon many Heavenly Grounds three especially First The enjoyment of God according to their Consciences Secondly Of holding out Light to Americans Thirdly The advancing of the English Name and Plantations These three ends the most High and Holy God hath graciously helpt his poor Protestants in a Wilderness to Endeavour to promote c. And as to these Barbarians the Holy God knows some pains I took uprightly in the Main Land and Islands of New-England to dig into their Barbarous Rockie Speech and to speak some 94 thing of God unto their Souls and surely God hath stirred up the Spirit of my ancient dear Friend Mr. Eliot to gain their Language to Translate them the Bible and many other wayes to bring the sound of a Saviour amongst them which I humbly beg of God to perfect and finish for the Glory of his Great Name c. 4. What G. Fox means by saying some in America have received Truth and Salvation I can but guess at It is known he owns nothing of God in Indians or English until they bow down to their Idol and that he intends none but such English in America as he and others have Poysoned and Bewitched with Helish Sorceries 5. This last Year a Paper was sent me from the Quakers desiring me to turn it into Indian that so it might be Printed in England and so dispersed amongst them it contained two things First That they had a Light within them which told them that it was evil to Steal c. Secondly That if they did hearken to this Light it would lead them to God c. I returned the Paper and my refusing in Writing affirming it not to be Truth c. and I questioned the Quakers themselves for a false Christ false Light and Spirit which they would infect the Indians with The 47th Instance is in pag. 263. Where he quotes Iohn Owen saying All Truth concerning God and our selves is to be learned from the Holy Scripture the Word of God G. Fox Answers There was Truth learned before the Scriptures were written and the Scriptures of Truth are the Words of God which ends in Christ the Word and there is no Truths learned but as the Spirit doth lead into all Truth And many has the Scriptures but know not Christ and the Truth c. so he hath thrown out Christ and the Spirit I Reply 1. I have more then once before Answered this Childish Answer There was Truth and the Spirit and Christ and Light before Scripture as also that which no true Protestant denies viz. that the Scriptures nor preaching nor Baptisme nor the Supper nor Afflictions avail except the Spirit the Fin 85 ger or Power of God set them home upon us As also that many have the Scriptures yet know not Christ which who questions So that his Answers are so loose and Childish that none but Fools and Children and Frantick persons can find any Savour and tast in them 2. I therefore further Answer to this Quotation pray the Reader to read some former passages but especially those publick discourses of this excellently learned and pious Author wherein he hath admirably both in Latin and English maintained the Authority and perfection of this Inestimable Iewel the holy Scripture both against Atheists and Papists and Iews and Quakers
Pag. 326. where he brings in the same Author saying The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man in the Church to profit withal and not to every man in the World G. Fox Answers The manifestation is given to every man to profit withal without distinction I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh For the Spirit of Truth shall lead the Saints into all Truth And he shall reprove the World and that which doth reprove the World is manifest to the World I Reply I spake to this Text before in Answer to the Letter of my Neighbour I. T. as is to be seen in the Letters before our Disputes who declared himself satisfied with my Answers but G. Fox like a Cow with a Kettle on her head giving every one warning to stand clear he boldly slanders on and tumbles Heaven Earth and Hell together c. 1. This 1 Cor. 12. expresly declares three things 1. That it pleased God to appoint in his Christian Church and Worship the Ministry of Apostles Prophets Teachers c. according to Rom. 12 Ephes. 4 c. 2. He bestoweth several Gifts and Endowments on such persons whom he pleaseth to call unto such Ministrations 3. He vouchsafeth to give a gracious Concurrent Operation of his Spirit unto these his Gifts Ministrations what now is this gracious promise of the Father of Lights to the Garden of his Church Saints the howling Desart of the whole world from whence the Garden is taken in inclosed and separate Because a Queen is a Woman must therefore all the Honours and kindneffes of a glorions Prince due to his Royal Consort be dispensed in Common to all the Women in his Kingdome or Dominions The Garment in which the Queen is brought is a Garment of Needle work richly and most curiouâ—ly embroydered with the graces and Operations of the holy Spirit doth it therefore follow that those Heavenly Embroyderies c. belong to every nnclean and Lousie Begger 102 Yea but this prophane Mouth hath something to say for it self three things he saith full of Prophaneness and Simplicity 1. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh. But 1. Was this as he speaks without all distinction done actually was it Universally so with all the Individuals of mankind in the world at that time 2. Was not there a wonderful Wall of separation between the Iews and all other Nations which the Lord promised by the Prophets to break down and at the coming of the Lord Jesus and ever since hath more and more broke down and abolished Is not Gideons Floor which was dry the poor Gentiles and we English among them now wet with the Dews of Heaven while the poor Iews which were only wet at first are dry and barren 3. What is that Extraordinary Promise of Gods Extraordinary pouring out of his Spirit in Fiery Tongues and Prophesyings fitting some to go unto all Nations to carry the glad News or Gospel had others and all Believers those Gifts least of all with any shew of Reason belong they to all the Men and Women in the world who have never seen and heard of any Glimpse of the Sun of Righteousness 4. Again I observe how vainly and wickedly this deluded and deluding Soul cheats himself and others with this Tearme All Flesh Every man All the World and so with the Terms Light Christ Spirit his proud Fancy playeth c. not dividing the Hoof by just and holy distinguishing a Crime that he often upbraids his Opposites most odiously with in his Book not dividing c. but is most notoriously guilty as ever was filthy Camel in this world or any of the unclean Beasts c. G. Fox his second Answer here is The Spirit of God shall lead the Saints into all Truth I observe here how like a Skittish Jade this wild Soul runs in and out and cannot keep to one steady Affirmation Before he brings in the Spirit of God poured out upon the Common of the World now he brings in the spirits leading the saints Gods Garden and Paradice Yet again in his next words he concludes every man in the World to have the spirit because saith he The spirit reproves the World and that which doth Reprove the World is manifest to the World I Answer The holy spirit testifies that he is the Comforter of the saints but a Reprover of the World that he Comforts the 103 Saints in the Promises Assurances c. that he Reproves the world in his Threatenings and Judgments That the world knows not sees not the Spirit but mocks at receives it not but banisheth imprisoneth murthereth such in whom the true Spirit of God appeareth Hence it is that because of this Spirit of God in any soul three are against two two must be against three in the same house the Parents against the Children and the Children betray their Parents unto Death yea two in a Bed and two in a Belly and yet he whom Gods Spirit chooseth shall be mockt and murthered by the other and yet this lying Peor tells us that all the world without distinction have the manifestation of the Spirit of God to prosit withal 5. There have been persons professing the Order of the holy Ghost yet far from the favour of the holy Spirit there hath been a great Ship in the world full of Sailors and Souldiers called the holy Ghost and yet scarce one man in it known to have any Acquaintance with Gods Spirit Alas what are the Babilonish Orders of these pretenders to the Holy Ghost or Spirit what are they but a poor Ship full of Resisters of Gods Spirit and Enemies to the greatest Enjoyers of him in the World the true Protestant Witnesses whom they professedly oppose under the Name of Professors I hope as I have often said that many of them are of the two hundred that followed Absolom in honesty and simplicity 6. But Oh what Reproofs of Gods Spirit hath G. Fox and others of their Leaders had in and by so many excellent Opposites and Scriptures and Arguments which G. Fox here proudly tramples under his prophane feet without any savour of the holy Spirit of God! It is true it pleaseth God as I said to strive with men by preachings by writings by their own Readings by publick Iudgments and private and also by publick mercies and private for Acts 14. every Drop of Rain is Gods voice word or witness c but what is this Common grace to that Regenerating and changing Spirit John 3. to the opening of Lidiahs and so of all saints hearts by his free and holy spirit or Finger what is this to the same Power that raised Christ Jesus from the Dead Ephes. 1. that raiseth any poor sinner unto a new and holy and spiritual Condâ—tion 104 7. Excellent and most heavenly is that similitude Cant. 1. Because of the savour of thy good Ointments therefore do the
patiently suffered for the true Lord Iesus sake the murthering Stones to lay him down to sleep 42 THE second day of our Spiritual Contest Battle being come being the tenth of the sixth Moneth August so called I heartily wished that I might rather have kept my Bed then have gone forth to a whole dayes fresh Dispute with such reputed able and noted Champions Not that the most high Lord Iesus whose cause and Name I was that day to manage for the next point was about the true Lord Iesus Christ not that I say he faild me in my Resolution to march on against Men and Devils for his Name sake nor that he faild me in my cheerfull Confidence that he would carry me in the everlasting armes of his Power and Goodness through that dayes Conflict as he had done the day before but that he was pleased to try me with more than ordinary Weakness and mouldring of my house of Clay that so my strength might be in a great respect immediately from Heaven considering my great unfitness for this dayes Service for thus it was My continued loud Speech all the day before had left an impression of Hoarsness upon me and much rain falling that afternoon after the Eclipse I took some wet in my feet that evening so that my Hoarseness increased and all that day my Head was afflicted with pain and my voice with a painfull Hoarsnefs I lookt up to heaven and desired to wait as a Begger at the Gate and as a Dog under the table of Mercy and my Spirit was chearfully resolved not to give occasion of Reproaching the name of God to them who I knew waited and watched for it nor any Disappointment to such as were resolved to attend the Meeting This day I chose a middle Seat neerer to the Seat of my three Antagonists I. Stubs I. Burnet W. Edmondson that so I might be heard the better with less straining of my Voice and Breast I began and stood up and said the holy Scriptures by the Prophet Ieremiah told us of certain Bow-men some that bent their Tongues as Bowes for Lyes and complain'd that none were Valiant for the Truth I told my opposites that they and I were met as Bow men and I could heartily desire that all our Arrowes might fly one way to wit in the defence of the true Lord Iesus Christ against the false But since I had charged them in my second Position to have set up a false Christ in stead of the true Lord Iesus I should address my self to make probation of my second Position Yet before I enter upon it I pray the Readers Patience to be acquainted with some Particulars 43 First Though my head was ill and my voice speech hoarse and painfull yet the Lord graciously carried me through the the whole day with little hindrance in my self and little disadvantage to the understanding of the Auditors Secondly This dayes Discourse was but accidental and additional for they and I desired to have finished the the whole first seven Positions in one day at Newport only in my paper I added that if the whole seven were not finished in one day the Conference might continue some few hours the next day following on this second day therefore was a great Assembly the Governour Magistrates Inhabitants and strangers Men and Women c. And this dayes Contest also held unto the Evening Thirdly As I had beg'd of God a Spirit of Patience to bear all their Censures Reproachings Revilings Vapourings and Insultings so it pleased God to exercise me with one notorious though private That I was Drunk and could not speak that day as I had done the day before But my Daughter Hart at whose house I lodged and Iohn Trip sen. who lodged with me can testifie that I complained of Illness and eat but a few spoonfulls of milk with Mr. Trip at Breakfast and though my daughter kindly offered me a Dram for my Illness but I refused it knowing it might curdle the milk I had taken and so increase my cold and Obstruction this the most holy God knowes and these Witnesses know was all I took that morning which might conduce to that foul Slander of being so Drunk that I could not speak plainly that day Fourthly This day also I encountred with that Disadvantage of all the three aforesaid Disputants at once with all their might fighting for their Idolls and Images against me I spake of it and so did others again and again But W. Edmundson still bruitishly pleaded that it was mine own Offer to undertake all Comers I answered as before that I took them to be rational Men and by all Comers not to understand ten or twenty or an hundred confusedly at once but in a fair and equal way one after an other it was grievous often exprest by some of the Audience But as beâ—ore on the first day I resolved not to lose time or suffer a Breach and the Lord was pleased to make my Yoke easie and Burthen light Now to the proof of my second Position which was That their Christ was not the true Lord Iesus Christ. 44 Here I prayed their patience to suffer me to tell them that they were not Christians nor Professors of Christian Religion They might with Iewes Turks Papists profess one God yet Christians they could not be but as the true Lord Jesus told us many false Christ and false Prophets should come who like Mountebanks instead of true Physitians and false and counterfeit Money instead of true should with Satans power and policy pass up and down and deceive Peoples and Nations so I must affirm and declare that for their parts they had cut of the head of the Christian Religion the true Lord Iesus Christ and they had set up a false Christ a false King an Usurper in his stead they had like Michal put a wooden Image upon a pillow of goats hair in Davids bed but David himself was gone the true David the true Lord Jesus Christ was not to be found amongst them this I spake expresly and they did hear me awhile My proof was First Because the Description and Character which the holy Scripture gives to the true Lord Iesus no way agrees with the Image which they have set up I told them that it was known that the word Christ was a greek word signifiing anointed as the word Messiah in the Hebrew did I said this true Lord Iesus was one Person made up of two Natures God and Man united into one person I said one Individual person whatever S Fisher blasphemously utters against it That as to his humane Nature or being Man all the Figures and Ceremonyes al the Priests and Sacrifices pointed to him as the great Prophet the great anointed King and Governour c. 2. As to his humane Nature and being a man and One Man Moses and the Prophets wrote of