oppose with might and main and this I found to be the principal Subject of his Treatise because of which I considered the great ignorance of this man that would appear upon such a subject in such great opposition against it whenas no one Truth is more full and clear throughout the whole Scriptures then this Doctrine of the Light within both in the old Testament and the new as first of all Deut. 30.11 12 14. where Moses the servant of God did preach to aâ—l Israel in general boâ—h good and bad the word that was nigh them in their hearts and be exhorted them to bear that word that was within them and to do it and this word was in every one of them to which Moses did exhort them to hear it and obey it and thus its manifest that Moses was a Preacher of the word of God and his light within men Again Jer. 31. God promised to make a new Covenant with the House of Israel I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall know Me saith the Lord from the least of them to the greatest and they shall need no more every man to teach his Neighbour but the Law in their inward parts and his Spirit within them should teach them And thus it is plain the Prophet Jeremiah was sent with a Message of God to Preach the Promise to wit the Spirit of God put in the inward parts and his Law written in their Hearts and thus was he a Preacher of the Light and Law of God within men And David said Thy Law is within my Heart Psal. 49. Again Luke 17.20 21. When they asked Jesus Christ concerning the Kingdom of Heaven he said The Kingdome of Heaven is within you and in divers other places his Parrables signified That the loast Groat was within and that the Pearl was within and that the Seed of the Kingdom of God was sown in their Hearts Mat. 13.19 and Rom. 10.18 By all which and many other places it is an evident truth that Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul were Preachers of the Kingdom of Heaven within men and of the Seed of the Kingdom which was sown in their Hearts and of the Word of God within in the Heart and so it may be said Christ was a Preacher of Light within for he told them of his Word abiding within them John 5.38 and they had not the love of God in them 42. vers John 14.20 And Christ said I am in my Father and you in me and I in you and if my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and thus it is as clear as the Sun at noon day that Christ was a Preacher of the Spirit and of the Light and of the Word and of the love of God within men Again the Apostles preached the same 2 Cor. 13. Chap. and the fifth Jesus Christ is in you saith the Apostle except you be reprobates and Phil. 2.13 It is God that works in you said the Apostle and Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you and 1 John 2.14 And the word of God abideth in you and verse 24. Let that abide in you which you have heard from the beginning and Ephesians 3.20 according to the power that works in us and 2 Tim 1 14. The Holy Ghost which dwells in us and 1 John 4.12 God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us and thus throughout the whole current of Scripture I might bring multitudes of proofs the Apostles were Ministers and Preachers of the Light within the word of God within the Love of God within the Holy Ghost within Christ within yea and God within the Saints yea if this will not serve to prove that it is the Ministry of Christ Jesus to preach the light and word of God within men I should yet bring many more proofs out of the Scriptures to manifest that Christ and his Apostles preached the Light within men not onely in the Saints but in unbelievers take one Scripture more 2 Cor. 4.6 The Light hath shined in our hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God and thus it is clearly proved out of the Scriptures against J. W. that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles were Preachers of the Light and Truth and Spirit within And when I considered at large this same subject of his whole discourse it appeared somewhat strange to me that any reasonable man should draw up such a Subject to make a whole Book of opposition against it like as it he had never read Scriptures seeing he had thus stated his matter intendedly against us called Quakers thinking by steering such a course be should confute us in some errours whenas it s fully manifest that he hath steered his course in direct opposition to the Scriptures and the Truth therein contained and therefore we may conclude of his ignorance and errour who hath thus justified the Truth of our Principles and Doctrines while he hath thought to oppose them and confute them as errours and so overthrown himself 3 I considered concerning returning an Answer to his Book and I found it meet that it should be answered for the end to clear the way of Truth from his false and foul aspersions which were made up by whole groces in his Book and also least he should glory and vaunt himself in his solly as if none were able to answer him nor to detect him of falshood though I was not hasty in falling aboard upon him and that for divers reasons First because my occasions were then very many and weighty and that of far greater moment to be prosecuted then to leave them for answering of him 2. Because I saw no great occasion of present hast to fall upon him and to detect his unworthy work for as to my own particular I could have let his Book have passed without an Answer and all his Lyes and Calumnies and Falshoods passed without hurt to our particulars for we are satisfied in the Truth of our way thousands of us blessed be God notwithstanding all mens opposition 3. Because I would not willingly and hastily have given our publick enemies occasion to mock and scorn at us while they beheld us as it were tearing one another and contending one against another to the weakning of our selves and strengthning of them nor should I but upon this occasion have appeared publick in this manner against any suffering people for it hath ever been my quality to comfort the afflicted and sufferers rather then to adde affliction to them but upon this occasion I am forced to with-stand the insolency of Io. Wright to reprove his lyes and slanders and that publickly to the view of the world and it could not well be avoided so upon these reasons with some others the Book lay by me divers weeks till at last I have taken it under hand for I have heard a report of some boasting amongst J.W. his
said Book occasionally coming to my hand by a Friend of mine in the fourth month last as I remember and I looked into the Book and read some part of it over and did fully observe the current of the matter conteined in it and the drift and intent of the Spirit of the Author and in my Meditations upon the same I found his work composed and made up of such kind of ingredients as these following First Ignorance Secondly Malice Thirdly Lyes and Slanders Fourthly Contradictions And fifthly Downright opposition to the Truth I say a certain composition I found in his Book made up of all these mixtures which he had published to the world 1 His Ignorance was apparent to me in asmuch as he had in some things mistaken and placed such and such things upon Account against us ignorantly and then seemed to confute them and give his Judgment against us thereupon and this meerly upon mistake through Ignorance fasly supposing we held such a thing which indeed we held not and so flying out against us in Judgment upon his ignorance and mistakes 2 His Malice was apparent in asmuch as he had slandered us and belied us without good Ground and Cause at all having perverted our words and meaning in many things and placed things against us deeply charging of us without any sound Reason at all rendred by him but meerly as to me doth appear upon his own malice and hatred purposely to render us odious to the World and to our enemies which must needs be out of malice and emnity and not out of love and Gentleness to inform us better and convert us if wee had been in error But I found him to be so far from that Spirit of love and good will towards us that he hath taken every occasion he could and also made occasions falsly to traduce us and to reproach us in the sight of our Enemies as it were on purpose to enrage the Spirit of the ungodly world to destroy us 3 His lyes and slanders were apparent in such an abundant manner throughout his Book that every page almost had some contained even as great reproaches and accusations as well could be as if we were Hereticks deniers of Christ having familiar Spirits Witches and what not Such kind of lyes and slanders as these I found a very great number in his Book it is true I have not accounted them in particular but made a guesse at the whole sum which I suppose may be above 200 of Lyes Slanders Callumnies falsereproaches Back-bitings Bitter words and such like 4 His Contradictions were apparent throughout his book in divers particulars sometimes saying thus and so and sometimes quite contrary sometimes accusing us of one occasion and some time accusing us of a contrary And thus his contradictions were made manifest as in our Answer is at large discovered as the Reader may observe 5 His down-right opposition to the Truth was apparent in as much as throughout his book he hath opposed the very Truth of the Gospel as particularly the Light of Christ which every man in the World is enlightned withall and concerning Quaking and Trembling and concerning the anointing and the sufficiency of its Teaching and concerning destroying the Whore the Word of God and Scriptures all these things cum multis aliis c. he hath opposed and gainsayed directly or indirectly and thus as is made manifest in this following Answer his whole work is compounded of such mixtures and ingredients as aforesaid as every impartial man may judge Well upon my further Considerations of his Book I found he had subtilly directed the current of his matter so as it might be taken notice of to be an eminent Work as he thought and yet not so to be taken notice of as if he had directed it immediatly is opposition to us called Quakers for I found not that name once mentioned in all his Book and yet implicitely he had directed it to us for his intent was I discovered to be against us by that word so often scornfully rehearsed To the Preachers of and to the Light within all men c. And by divers other things I found that his Book was intendedly against us and also that his said Book well deserved an Answer from us that the malicious intent thereof might be diverted though many other Considerations presented themselves in my mind at my first looking into his work as 1. The unreasonablenesse of the time of its bringing forth and publication to the world thought I is this a time and fit season for us and them to fall into contention one with another and to oppose each other to the end to discourage and dishearten each other in the sight of our publique Enemies who stands ready themselves to devour us both and by all means seeks occasions against us and to ruine us both if it were possible who doth account us as two parties of their greatest adversaries and are persecuting and imprisoning of us as one in opposition to them and would be glad to see us destroyed and it being thus with both us and the Baptists so called thought I again how unseasonable this mans work is at this day to fall to reproach us and traduce us in the fight of our Enemies thus opposing of us with tooth and nail giving thereby occasion both to his and our enemies to mock at us and laugh us to scorn rejoycing to see us whom they count their Enemies falling together by the ears and as it were tearing one another this I knew would be a great occasion to them against us both in such a season as this when as it would have been more meet to have encouraged one another and strengthned one another in the way of Truth and Righteousnesse and to have been helpfull to one another in our afflictions and sufferings espâ—cially in the things wherein we do agree against the common open prophanenesse and idolatry and persecution which abounds at this day in the world that we might have been a rejoycing one to another as Brethren in Truth seeing we are both a suffering People at this day and accounted Brethren by our Enemies rather then a cause of affliction and grief and greater tribulation one to another as this same J. W. had endeavoured in his Book to be the occasion of this and such like was my considerations upon which I concluded the unseasonablenesse of the time of publication of his Book and the folly and weaknesse of its Publisher 2. I considered the errour and ignorance of the man in respect of the subject of his matter as stated by him and prosecuted which is this against and in opposition to the Light within many times rehearsed oppositely and scornfully to the Preachers of and to the Lâ—ght within all men making this the subject matter of his opposition as if it were the greatest heresie that could be that any should preach up a Light within and this I found he had set himself to
Water Baptism nor is it of necessity for Salvation and thus you confound your selves and thy confusion and idolatry as much appears touching these things thou hast busied thy self about as any that ever opposed us And let all that read this further mark thy confusion and see thy deceit in thy so absolutely judging us for the mist of darknesse for ever and giving such a final sentence of condemnation upon us as if there were no hope of Salvation or remedy for us when as in thy Epistle to us thou hast told us thou shalt onely receive a sober Antagonist or else expect our renouncing our errour repenting believing and obeying the Gospel Now if either of these viz. either a sober Antagonist or repenting believing and obeying the Gospel be to be expected among us then there remains some hope of Salvation for us and that we are not given up for destruction or for the mist of darknesse for ever as thou hast judged us without any restriction or exception and thus all may see what an unjust Judge thou art and how thou are spoiled in thy wicked ends and designs and what an irrational man thou art so absolutely to judge them for the mist of darknesse for ever whom thou hast expected to believe and obey the Gospel if not a sober Antagonist or at least wise thou hast pretended it truly its high time for thee to repent for thou art far from the Life of the Gospel or its faith and obedience who notwithstanding hast accounted us more proud then others for judging or reproving yet in such a high degree hast set thy self to be a Judge as to judge such as preach the Light within for the mist of darknesse for ever though thou hast pretended to have an expectation of Repentance Faith and Obedience from such as thou hast so judged And you Baptists were wont to exclaim against others for judging though now you can so peremptorily judge such to be rewarded with the mist of darknesse for ever who do both preach and own the Light of Christ within which they that follow shall not abide in darknesse but shall receive the Light of Life The Lord open your eyes who have been deceived and misled by such blind guides and defenders as J. W. is that you may escape out of their snares and come out of the darknesse and confusion wherein they have led you that you may know the Light of the Truth to open your understandings and to guide your feet into the way of Truth and the path of the just which is the shining Light that shineth more and more untill the perfect day in them that believe and obey the Light of the Lord and his Truth in them CHAP. VI. Concerning Quaking and Trembling THe next particular observable is about Quaking and Trembling and about this J. W. makes a great stir with several vain stories And in p. 154. He saith It is a woful visitation for it doth not come with a still soft voice but with Earthquakes and rending the Rocks putting the poor creature into a woful condition for oh what quakings and shakings tremblings and fearings what pulling and dragging is at that time as if the very heart must be pulled out and all the bowels torn in pieces and one limb rent from another and when the unclean spirit hath pronounced such woes terrours and judgements as long as he thinks fit which by them is called Hell then the said Spirit speaks peace to them c. And also sayest that this Spirit speaks with a vocal voice in the bottom of the bellies of them that aâ—e possessed therewith burrying the creature up and down with motions revelations and commands c. Answ. To all which we answer J. W. hath here shewed not onely ignorance of the works of the Lord and his waies but hatred and malice against them and hath uttered many reviling words against that which he knows not and if he had lived in the dayes of old when the Servants of the Lord quaked and trembled and roared out because of the terrour of the Lord that was upon them what would he have said surely no lesse of them then he hath done of us at this day and would have called it an unclean spirit and a woful visitation and condition and therefore we shall first prove out of the Scriptures that there was such a thing as trembling and quaking and roaring out even as men distracted among the Servants of the Lord in generations past and then shall vindicate such a thing in these our dayes upon this reason That God and his works and discoveries are the same in this age according to the manifestation of his power amongst his People as ever they were So dreadful was the appearance of God that Moses saw that he said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 and David roared out by reason of the disquietnesse of his heart and his heart panted and his strength failed and there was no foundnesse in his flesh nor any rest in his bones Psal. 38. and his flesh trembled because of the Judgements of God Psal. 119.120 And it s said while I suffer the terrours of the Lord I am as a distracted man Psal. 88.15 And Ezra said I rent my garment and my mantle and pluckt off the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down astonished and there were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel Isa. 9.3 4. And Jeremy also said that he trembled and his bones did shake and he was like a drunken man Jer. 23.9 And the Prophet Habakkuk said my belly trembled my lips quivered at the voice rottennesse entered my bones and I trembled in my self chap. 3.16 and St. Paul was among the Corinths in much trembling and exhorted the Saints to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 And thus it is manifest throughout the Scriptures of both Old and New Testament that the Saints and Servants of God did tremble and were astonished and were as distracted persons and there were earthquakes among them rending of the rocks and quakings and shakings and tremblings and fearings as J. W. his words are and the appearance of the Lord was wonderful and wrought wonderful effects and operations upon them though this same J. VV. seems ignorant of like as if he had never read the Scriptures though in place elsewhere he speaks highly of them yet 't is manifest he is not in that Truth and Power of God which they declare of but is a scorner and reviler and one with the prophane wretches that believes not the Truth of the Scriptures but scorns at the work of God and such as tremble and quake at his words whom he regards Isa 66. And seeing that the Scriptures do thus plentifully prove such an operation as quaking and trembling and trouble and terrour through the manifestation of the Power of God we cannot but for the name of the Lords sake
which doth convince and convert and turn from darknesse to Light and how can their Doctrine be from the same inspiration which is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures page 219 220. 222. Answer Here Joseph Wright hath jumbled some illiterate Logick which may be proved false as thus the Scriptures its true doth declare of the things that ought to be done and believed and the things that ought not to be done as to the general part of things Yet there are many particular Actions and things which the Scriptures do not make manifest and we would have J. W. to leave a little room and work for the Spirit of God and not thus utterly to reject it for the scripture saith it is the Spirit that reveals the Things of God and the Mystery of Salvation and not the scriptures viz. the writings and that sure word of Prophesie which Peter speaks of that was as a Light shining a dark place was something more sure then the very words which Christ spoke with his mouth to them which were written by Matthew and the light which shone as in a dark place to which they were to take heed was more sure to them then Christs words which were written and were scriptures and thus J. W. may see his mistake and perverting of scriptures if he will be but sober and reasonable and that the Commandement of the Lord is Pure and the word is a Lamp we do not deny but gives as full witnesse of as J. W. can do and therefore he needs not cite these scriptures to oppose us for it s thy malitious Spirit that opposeth us not the scriptures for we acknowledge to the truth of these scriptures by the Spirit which gave them forth which is greater then the scriptures and as for the powerful operation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures it is not of themselves that they do operate in any but it is by the Spirit that gave them forth which worketh in the Hearts of Believers to comfort and refresh with the Love of God and it is the spirit according to the scriptures that doth convince and convert and not the scriptures without the Spirit as J. W. would say and it was the Gospel that Paul Preached that turned them from darkness to Light and not the writings which say that the Gospel is the Power of God and not the writings and it is meer ignorance in J. W. to intimate that our Doctrine is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures this I shall account amongst thy slanders and it is not the least of them And whereas thou flyest out high in high words against us That we must consider and leave our inventions else sin will lye at our doors and our bloods will be upon our heads c. and there is no less then four lies in thy last page but these words are to thy self and not unto us for we are not the persons concerned we follow not vain inventions but we are saved out of our blood through Jesus Christ and for J. W. now to exhort us to repentance when as in page 47. he hath given absolute judgement on us without limitation That the mist of Darkness is reserved for ever for us This is a direct contradiction which shews what spirit he has been guided by in all his work And thus we have searched and examined J. W's whole work from the beginning to the end and given an answer to the material parts thereof saving that we have not mentioned many lies and slanders which we have passed over and do reserve them till we come face to face otherwise till our next reply and what we have written we must commit to the judgement of the Spirit of God in all sober persons who may for their own edification compare his work and ours together and truly weigh each of them in the ballance of equity and to the spirit of found judgement and to the Fear of the Lord all are committed and commended in the reading and considering and judging of these things Last of all for a final Conclusion for present if it be supposed by J. W. that this is not a sufficient Answer to his Book I do propound unto him this further in order to the satisfaction of any sober persons if any be doubtfull in this case That first both of us may agree to appoint a convenient time and place for a meeting to dispute it out face to face that which yet remains in controversie between us 2. This being done that all his Friends and ours that are doubtfull or desirous of such a thing may have knowledge of it 3. That in such meeting no foul reflections nor impertinences nor bitternesse of Spirit be allowed on either part but discretion and moderation 4. I shall first take in hand to prove a very great number of Lyes contradictions and falshoods in his Book 5. Then I shall hear his Defence for himself and his Objections against any thing in ours and answer them and after this manner shall be our proceedings if we do meet It s true times and seasons are unsuitable for such a meeting and work yet rather then any Detriment should fall upon the Truth or the cause of preaching the Light within be endangered to harm I am willing to hazard the greatest adventure hoping we may do such a thing if necessity require in that Wisdom and Prudence as may not offend any This I shall leave as my farewell to my Antagonist at this time and thus seal up the whole sum E. B. THE END ERRATA IN the 6. page of the Preface line 5. for contra read contrary in the 7â— page of the Preface line 27. for this work read his work in the 2. page of the book line 9. read we vindicate l. 14. read and his pleading against free-grace to all confuted p. 3. l. 29. for own while r. one while p. 6. l. 31. for strife r. self p. 17. l. 29. for arising which r. arising with p. 27. l. 9. for then r. their p. 31. l. 13. r Ignorant of it p. 48. l. 22. for receive r. reverence p. 50. l. 11. r. tell Lyes * Witnesse Jer. Ives who openly swore to get himself out of prison after he had written against swearing for which some of them called Quakers openly witnessed against him also divers others of the Baptists did swear for fear of suffering as also the said Jer. Ives and John Tombs and Hen Den who have long been Teachers did divulge their deceitful stuff in their books for swearing as those that sought to betray the simplicity of God in others of their brethren who were more conscientious then themselves who could not with a safe Conscience swear though some through the deceit of their Teachers were diverted from the Truth in their own consciences