declare against the vain Formalities either in Prayer or Preaching yet they own the true Preachers which are able Ministers in the Spirit and true Prayâ—ng in the Spirit and the One Baptisme Ephes. 4. And as the Apostle saith to the Corinthians They were Baptized by one Spirit into one body 1 Cor. 12 13. R. W. And thou say'st This is Treason and Rebellion in any Atheists or whomsoever but more abominable Hypocritical in these Pharisaical Quakers who cry out against the Apish Imitatours and yet themselves practise Preaching Praying Congregations Singings Conventings and Addings to Castings out c. full well as the Lord Jesus speaks abrogating the word and appointments of God that they may set up and establish their own Traditions c. Answ. Thou hast not told the Reader what our Traditions are which Christ told the Jews But here of all thy Abusive Expressions we are clear of thy Treason and Rebellion and abominâ—ble Hypocritical and Pharisaical which words suit thy own Spirit and thou may'st apply them at home And our Religion and Way and Preaching and Praying and Singing is according to Scripture and we are gathered in the Name of Jesus Christ where we find him in the mid'st of us a Prophet a Priest and a Bishop and a King to rule in our hearts who exerciseth his Offices in his Church And if any professes the Truth and doth not walk in it such we deny and the Believers are Added to Christs Church daily praised be the Lord. And why dost thou and you Priests of New-England separate your selves from the Papists and call her the bloody Whore of Rome when you are found in her Spirit and not in the Spirit of the First Primitive Christians R. W. And whereas thou say'st G. F. crys out against all Scriptures and common Sense and against all Forms Answ. These are more of thy Vntruths For he owns all Holy Scripture and doth not cry against all Forms but such as have the Form of Godliness and deny the power turn away from such And he and the Quakers own God's ways and manners of Gods worship in Spirit and Truth R. W. And thou say'st G. F. cryes up a Christ within a Scripture within and a Church within and Ministers within and Baptism and Supper within yet practises the most of these so many as their Idol requires will serve his turn as outwardly visibly as any in the world Answ. Is not Baptism of the Spirit within that burneth up the Chaff within how dark art thou and have not the Ministers of the Spirit the Spirit within And doth not the Apostle Preach Christ within the Saints and doth not Christ say I stand at the door knock and if any man will hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will Sup with him and he with me Revel 3 But where did ever the Quakers say in any of their books that the Church or Congregation was within them and these are thy own forged words not ours and is not the Spirit and the Truth within in which God is worshipped R. W. After thou hast commended R. Baxtâ—r our old Persecutor thou say'st It hath been his Observation viz. that the Churches of the Independents and Baptists have been the source and spring whence have flown the Generation of the Quakers And then thou contradicts him and say'st For my self I have observed the contrary in these parts Answ. Nay the Quakers spring is from that Fountain of Life which the Primitive Church was in Glory to the Lord God for ever who are built upon the Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus And R. W. do'st thou say That the Quakers sprung from the Ranters and Grindletonians what Babel is this R. W. And whereas thou say'st Although some rotten Professors or weak souls though true have been bewitched by these Soul-Witches yet generally where they have any Liberty the National Church fills up their numbers Answ Here thou judgest others as well as the Quakers but it is best to pply it to thy own Spirit and to see thy self first and your own Rotten profession at home And where they have any Liberty thou say'st but we know thy Spirit and the New-England Priests and Professors that call Light Darkness and persecute the Truth that is it you would not have to Have Liberty and call it the Soul-witches and therefore the Soul-witches thou may apply at home R. W. And thou say'st W. Edmonson boasted of their Numbers viz. their Religion is so Easiâ— never coming near the Roots of Rotten Nature but so wonderfully agreing with it and changing one Devil for another Answ. If the Quakers have Changed one Devil for another as thou say'st they are changed from your Religion of New-England and them that upheld it and from thee then thou do'st acknowledge that thou and the New-England Profession was a Devil and the Independents and the Baptists according to Baxter but thy Fore fathers the Jews said That Christ Jesus our Lord and Master whom we are Changed to that he had a Devil and by the Prince of Devils cast out Devils And as for the Roots of Rotten Nature that thou and you may apply to your selves which your Religion is made up of which thou would'st accuse the People of God withall which are in the pure Religion James 1 26 27. but thou hast manifested thy Religion with thy Unbridled Tongue And W. Edm. did not boast of our Numbers for that is the Abuses of thy Tongue but we can praise the Lord through Jesus Christ who adds to his Church daily R. W. And then thou say'st Thou adorest the Infinite power c. that they were not ten thousand-fold more c. then they are and then thou say'st I can demonstrate that if G. F. for all their Hypocritical prating against Carnal Weapons get a Sword as Mahomet did most of the Popish and Protestant and Pagan world will easily be brought to dance after him Answ. This is from thy Evil Thoughts and Cains Fear G. F. and the Quakers abhor thy words But this is your Condition in New-England and because the People of God will not dance after them therefore they have Hanged them and Banished them and Spoiled their goods For the Lord and his Son knoweth that Our Weapons are Spiritual that he hath armed us withall and if ever thou had'st set foot in the pure Religion which the Primitive Church and the Quakers walked and walk in thou would'st not say It is so easie But thou speakest Evil of that which thou knowest not and utterest forth the malice and envy of thy heart And we do pray to the Father to send forth Labourers into his Vineyard and that is his Work and not Mens and can praise the Lord at the Conversion of Sinners And as for Hypocritical prating that is thy own R. W. And thou say'st to M. B. Was there ever a Child of God in this world but he was a Nazarite separate from worldly
Reveal the things of God doth make them Overseers R. W. And thou say'st The Christian Profession and Professours how-ever they were wrought and prepared and by divers Means by God's Spirit yet c. Answ. But what these divers Means are R. W. hath not told the World But what is this in opposition that the Holy Ghost made not Overseers in the Church in the Apostles days it is nothing to that R. W. And thou say'st Yet the Lord Jesus Christ compareth them to the most Visible Conspicuous and Glorious Things and Persons to the Sun and Moon in the Heavens and the Heavens and Stars also to Mountains and Cities c. and to Kings their Houses and Palaces c. R. W. What is all this to oppose the Apostle's Doctrine and say The Holy Ghost did not make them Overseers which is the Consequence of R. W's Jangling For we do grant what the Lord Jesus Christ doth compare his Holy People to in Scriptures but that 's not thy State R. W. And thou say'st Although the Lord Mayor of London and the several Officers of the City are not made and ordained in the publick Streets nor Generals c. are they not therefore Visible c. Answ. What a Story is this who opposeth thee in this who saith They are not Visible But what is this to oppose the Apostle's Doctrine still who said The Holy Ghost that is Invisible made them Overseers Will R. W. say It is the Holy Ghost that maketh all Mayors and Generals and Officers which are Visible Officers by Visible Commissioners else what doth he bring this Comparison for The Work of Christ's Overseers is Spiritual it is with a Spiritual Eye and a Spiritual Discerning and by a Spiritual Power and to watch over the Invisible Spirits of People the Souls of Men and Women R. W. It is most true c. that the Church is in God and then thou Contradictest thy self and say'st And is it not also true in one Sense that is thy Sense not the Apostle's 1 Thess. We live in God and move in God and have our being in God c. Answ. What Roger one while a Church and not in God and yet Live in him and move in him as thou confessest Thou say'st The whole Creation is Gloriously Visible Who saith to the contrary of that which is Outward R. W. And thou say'st The Saints their Assemblies and Officers are in God Visible to the world c. though in an Heavenly Spiritual Sense transcending the being of the Creation Answ. And yet R. W. bringeth J. M. to Contradict himself in his Append. pag. 21. and saith The Wise Heathen Philosophers had a greater measure of Light in them which is the first Adam than any I can find now And R. W. opposeth G. F. for setting up Christ the Second Adam and his New Covenant and his New Creatures above the First Adam and the Heathen-Philosophers and now in his 42 Page he confesseth This transcends the being of the First Creation Why didst thou oppose G. F. then in thy 21 Page and there Contradict what thou say'st in page 42 But where doth the Scripture say That the Saints and their Assemblies and Officers are in God Visible for God is a Spirit and they that are joined to the Lord and are in the Lord it must be by the Spirit for none knoweth his things but by his Spirit that is Invisible And G. F. never denyed that the Bodies of the Saints and Officers and Assemblies were Visible now and in the Apostles dayes and they were and are to be seen with Visible Eyes or else how could they have been persecuted in the Apostles days and in New-England if you had not seen Quakers there you could not have Hanged them And thou say'st It is most true and most sweet that the Church is in God yet again G. F's Reason is notoriously Silly and Impudent because he saith to the Priest R. W. defendeth that the Church is in God So Roger put thy Words together and see what Sense thou canst make of them R. W. Thou say'st Yea G. F. and his c. for all their being in God and some of their proud and silly Answerings in Courts that they Live in God and Dwell in God c. Answ. See R. W's Contradiction before in the same page where he saith We live in God and move in God and have our Being in God c we must not now confess this that he just now owned without being called Proud and Silly But why must not we tell where our Living and Being is before your Courts and are not they Silly and Proud as thou speakest and live not in God that cannot endure to hear People tell you where their Living and Being is And yet thou say'st They disown not their own Visible Congregations c. Why should they disown their Visible Assemblies or Teachers or Overseers which are gathered together in the Name of Jesus and are Ministers of the Spirit and are made Overseers by the Holy Ghost that is Invisible and their Singing and Praying in the Spirit they own As for those Audible Performances thou speakest of the Saints perform their Worship Praying Preaching c. by the Spirit is the Spirit and Truth Visible in which God is worshipped let R. W. and all the Priests prove that by Scripture if they can R. W. And thou say'st VVhy doth this poor notoriously Visible Cheater thus prate of Invisibilities especially in times of Peace and not in Elias his Case Answ. What! must they not talk of Faith by which the Invisible God is seen nor the VVord of God which was made Flesh by which all things were made nor talk of the Holy Ghost which made Overseers And did not the Apostle say Ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit Rom. 8 9. and yet all these were upon the Earth but thou art dark not knowing the things of God But you Professors that prate so much of Visibility are Invisible enough at Times running away and flying your Testimony but the things that are seen that are Temporal your striving is in and so thou pleadst for Visibility And though we are for God's Invisible things against your Carnal envious Minds yet have we not been visible in Tryals and Persecutions did we hide from you R. W. And thou bringst M. Bine which saith The Scriptures may be understood by the Help of Tongues And G. F. Answ. All Scriptures were given forth by Inspiration and so without the same Inspiration it is not understood Again Pilate had the Scriptures and Tongues and yet did not understand the Scriptures nor Christ the Substance of them and this you have set up since the Apostacy your Tongues you Raveners from the Spirit R. W. replyeth and saith That G. F. confesseth that every Syllable or Title in the Scripture is the Word or immediately revealed VVill of God against his and the Quakers common Song hath God any more Words than one Answ.
Spirit as literally and properly as the Scripture declareth him And thou say'st again That W. Edm. shewed but little Philosophy and Divinity Doth not the Apostle bid the Saints Beware of Philosophy and if they had known God and Divinity by it the Apostle would not have bidden them beware of it surely And thou say'st That W. Edm. affirmed that properly and really that Scripture of Wolves coming in Sheeps-Cloathing was to be understood Literally without Meaning And what meaning wilt thou give to Christ's Words are not Men called Wolves really that worry Christ's Sheep about Religion for Christ doth not say They are Wolves with four Feet and when Christ spoke Parables he said He that hath an Ear let him hear and sometimes he expounded them to his Disciples And the Scripture calling God a Father and a Husband and Christ a Rock and Christ's Believers are called a Body a House a Flock are they not really so for it doth not say They are a Flock of Sheep as outwardly or other Creatures nor an outward House c. And then thou goest on with a great Tale and tell'st What the Papists hold and what is amongst them Roger though thou and you of New-England are separated from the Church of Rome yet you are found in the same Old Spirit of Persecution R. W. And whereas thou say'st By God's holy and wise Permission the Devil sends out his old known Spirit of pure Invisibles and pure Immediate and pure Worshippers in Spirit and Truth Answ. Roger do not Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit of God For is not God's Spirit and Truth Holy and Pure in which he is Worshipped and is not God's Holy Spirit Invisible or is it Mediate R. W. And thou say'st This Spirit to wit of the Quakers being Cozen German to or Sworn Brother in Hellish Equivocation with the Jesuites c. Answ. These are thine and the New-England Priests Conditions as your Fruits have declared it for the Quakers obey the Commands of Christ who saith Swear not at all R. W. For thou say'st The Quakers Churches they are as they Childishly vapour Bodies without Wants or Distempers c. Answ. Reader see if there be any such Words in G. F's Answer for G. F. speaketh of the Mystical or Spiritual Body he doth not speak of Naturals nor Bodies of outward Families or Bodies of Nations and Cities or Armies Nor Visible Churches nor the Body of Visible Churches but the Spiritual Body For doth not the Apostle speak of a Spiritual Body and a Natural Body and so it is God that doth supply both And G. F. doth not speak of the outward Bodies of the Saints for is that Mystical R. W. And then thou say'st What known Divisions and Passions about J. Naylor's and others Cases what Envyings Cursings Apostasies and Moral Idolatry as that of Covetousness in this Colony known notoriously Answ. Thou hast not particulariz'd who they be and what is their Covetousness who is known so notoriously as thou say'st in that Colony therefore we look upon this as a Slandering of thy Neighbours for we question whether thou hast admonished them if it was so before thou told the World And as for Cursings and Envyings and Divisions thou mightst have kept that amongst you New-England Professors but if any one do not walk as becometh the Gospel we do Admonish them And if there be any Difference about outward Matters according to the Apostle's Doctrine we do end it amongst our selves according to Truth and Righteousness 1 Cor. 6 and God hath given us Judgment in such Matters as well as Spiritual R. W. And thou say'st I have fairly Collected that the Spirit of the Quakers tends to Incivility and Barbarisme and to suddain Assassinations Murthers and Persecutions Answ. This is thine and the New-England Spirits whose Persecution is known for you have proved it already And thou wouldst have us punished and yet thou wouldst not have it called Persecution as in thy 200 page Is not your Law standing by which you Murdered God's People and do not your Laws and thy stirring up to Punishment Collect or declare your own Spirit not to be the Spirit of Christ for where would it have any to be punished for Matters of Religion and Conscience towards God And so as for thy Lies and abusive Speeches we can say The Lord forgive thee if it be his Will R. W. And thou say'st I believe that I have and can further make it good that the Eternal Father of Mercies stops millions of Mischiefs in the world daily which the Natures Grounds and Principles of Men and the Quakers Spirit also now to turn and overwhelme the world withal Answ. Here thou hast manifested thy self to be of the Spirit of them that opposed Paul who said he was a Pestilent Fellow and a Turner of the World upside down And as for the Principles of Men beside the Quakers they may answer for themselves and thy Slanders may serve such as are given up to believe Lies but sober People that know us will not receive nor believe thy Lies but it will make more to believe the Truth which thou canst not stop But let the Reader see if R. W. in all his Rambling Reply hath said any thing to the Spiritual or Mystical Body which was G. F's Question R. W. And thou bringst J. Clapham his saying Men may be called of Men Masters and it is but a Cavel to deny it and they may deny to be called Father as well as Master And G. F. Ans. Thou hast in this denyed the Doctrine of Christ and slighted it who saith Be not ye called of Men Master for ye have all one Master which is Christ and ye are all Brethren and thou hast shewed thy self out of that Brotherhood And there is a Birth to be born which calls no Man Father upon Earth which thou art ignorant of And R. W. replyeth and falleth a Railing and calleth it G. Foxs's lame Answer Answ. Let the Reader see if it be not Christ's Doctrine which he might as well have called Christ's Doctrine Lame which he Preached to his Disciples R. W. And thou say'st Among other Foolish Passions and Affections haunting all Men and the Quakers especially these two are notorious viz. Pride and a lazy Ignorance these two are the Sir and Dame of most of these Wild Monsters Answ. R. W. might have kept this at home for it is his own Condition who kicketh at Christ's Doctrine that G. F. brings who saith Neither be ye called of Men Master for one is your Master even Christ and ye are all Brethren And he manifests himself to be in the steps of the Pharisees who love to be called of Men Rabbi And so for his Foolish Passion and Pride c. and Lazy Ignorance and wild Monstrous Spirit he may apply at home who doth not obey Christ's Doctrine And we know that those Opposites have written against Christ's Doctrine who love to be called of Men Masters and against us
word Lye and is it Civil for thee with the Mittins And we know that Christ after his Resurrection appeared unto his Disciples and that the Holy Ghost came to his Disciples after his Ascension but what is all this to the purpose to disprove G. F's Answer That Christ doth not dwell in his Saints now and that the Holy Ghost is not in them now And we do believe of Christ's birth sufferings Death and Resurrection and Manifest in people who will Judge the world in Righteousness R. W. And thou say'st That we maintain Christ's Second Coming to be Spiritual And doth R. W. maintain his coming to be Carnal And thou say'st They count all gazing fools that look after a man for Christ is come unto them in Spirit and in them he maintains his great Assizes and now passeth Judgment upon men by them c. Answ. Doth not Christ dwell in his peoples hearts by his Spirit and doth not he there Judge down Sin Evil that is in the hearts of Men and doth not he give a Judgement to his Saints to Judge the Evil of the world read 1 Cor. 5 And must the Saints deny this Judgement that he giveth his people because Christ will Judge the world in Righteousness and reward every man according to his works Nay Roger thou must feel it for belying and vilifying his people And if you look after Christ as a Carnal Man may they not call you Fools who is called the Second Adam THE LORD FROM HEAVEN R. W. And thou say'st If these poor filthy dreamers lived without food and Physick c. without procreation c. Answ. We may say to thee as Christ said to the Devil Man liveth not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God And as for thy saying VVithout procreation and bringing forth of Children without the Stinks of Nature c. and a great deal of such Rambling stuff which thou hast filled thy book up withall thou may'st keep at home and where did ever the Prophets or Apostles use such Language concerning Marriage which is an Ordinance of God or of Nature which is good in it self And as for thy speaking of Eating of the flesh of Christ until they bâ—come Christ himself which thou say'st is Simple Monstrous and Blasphemous c. let the Reader see if there be any such words in G. F's Answer or if they be not words of his own forging and Lyes But we cannot deny our bread from Heaven for all R. W's Lyes and Slanders for which we can praise God for it as the Apostles did who are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone And thou tell'st of Manicheans and of a Frantick Spirit As for the Manicheans these thou might'st have kept at home R. W. And thou say'st This Frantick Spirit saith Is not Christ in us how is he distinct from us what need you ask me how I do can Christ be sick can Christ do but well speaking of themselves And thou Observest God's wonderful Stroke in this world upon three sorts of persons c. Answ. It were well if R. W. did see the Stroke of God upon himself and let others alone to stand or fall to their own Master And Reader is there any of these Expressions in G. F's Answer to Tho. Moor for he hath not named any that hath spoken such words as he hath forged here And was that a Frantick Spirit in the Apostle who said Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates but doth not Christ say I was thirsty hungry naked in prison a stranger and sick c. whether this was not Christ in his members and if so then whether R. W. and the New-England-Professors have not been persecuting him all this while as the persecuting Jews did who looked on him as a Deceiver And as for the other Scoffing words we leave them they are not worth mentioning as in the 62 63 64 pages may be seen R. W. And thou bring'st S. Hamond Fol. 186 who saith What Warrant have you to go out to the Quakers shall a Man go hear the Jews and Popish Mass because Paul bids Try all things No no. And G. F. answereth Paul biddeth us Quench not the Spirit and where the Spirit is not quenched they may try Papists Jews Protestants who quench not the Spirit But who quench the Spirit and draw People from the Light within they draw them from that they should See withal then you stuff them up with Old Authors and Lying Stories as you Print abroad R. W. instead of Replying he asketh Questions Whether the Jews Papists or Idolaters have the Holy Spirit and whether they may go to hear God speaking in his Holy Promise among them c. Answ. Have not the Jews the Old Testament and the Papists the Old and New as well as thou to speak of And do not they hate the Light of Christ and quench the Spirit as well as thou and persecute them that believe and walk in it and I ask R. W Whether he can judge of them without hearing of them or reading of their Books And doth not the Lord say He would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh as well as thee though they grieve it and lighteth all as well as thee though they and thou hate it R. W. And thou say'st May I hear a Papist a Jew or an Idolater a False Worshipper c. when I am convinced that they speak not from the Holy Spirit c. Or May I go to worship God with them when thou believest they worship a False God Answ. If thou wast convinced with the Holy Spirit of God as we are then thou couldst not join with any false Worship nor hear them to uphold them in it for with the Spirit they are tryed and not followed in which Spirit of Truth God is worshipped But is it not Sam. Hamond's and R. William's Intent here that they would not have the People to hear the Quakers and to worship God in the Spirit and Truth Though the Apostles went up and down into all Nations to Preach the Gospel yet they did not join with their VVorships and hold them up and they that are convinced of the Falseness of them they have tryed them R. W. And thou say'st May I hear a False Prophet or be present at any False Worship but with Actual Reproving of them and labouring to reduce them c. Answ. If thou werest in the true Spirit out of the false lying slandering Spirit thou mightst Admonish and Reprove if thou wast in the Spirit of God as the Apostles were in but how cometh it to pass that the New-England Professors who are the Pesecutors and False Prophets cannot bear such as Actually reprove them And why do the New-England Professors make the Quakers pay Five shillings a day that do not go to hear them when they are convinced and have proved them and tryed them that they do not speak from the Spirit of God
By the Prince of Devils he casts out Devils And the Apostle telleth thee That the Natural Man doth not perceive the things of God And had not Pilate so much Reason as thou think'st thou who asked Christ Whaâ— was Truth And if the Holy Scripture was the Means the Rule and Judge to try Motions then Abel Enâ—ch Abraham Isaac Jacob and Moses had none Now an Heavenly-Inspired Scripture which thou speakest of that is by the Spirit by which they are known again and not by the dark Spirit and Reason for No Man knoweth the Things of God but by the Spirit of God which Reason thou here settest above both the Spirit that Inspireth and the Scripture Inspired or given forth by it and so hast made the Reason the Chief Judge which the Apostle did not but the Spirit R. W. Thou say'st It is best to take James's Counsel If any Man want Wisdom let him ask of God c. If so then Reason tells us that except we suffer our selves to be led â—s Beasts by Satan as the poor Quakers are we must come to the Vse of Means or a Mediate Leading and Teaching and then what 's become of these Hellish Fancies of only Immediate Teachings and Inspirations Answ. This is R. W.'s Proof to prove That we have not the Spirit of God And R. W. calleth the Immediate Teachings and Inspirations of God Hellish Fancies Now would not he have dotingly said this to the Apostles had he been in their Dayes And so what must we understand from R. W.'s words He and his New-England Priests must come to REASON and a Mediate Leading and Teaching c. and to Mediate Means So it must not be the Inspiration and the Immediate Spirit of God the Holy Ghost to Lead into all Truth So his Leading is Mediate his Means are Mediate and his Teaching is Mediate and not Immediate and yet he must Ask Counsel and Wisdom as James did from God and yet it must not be Immediate and Inspired into him but Mediate And if Evil Spirits have such a Great Reason as R. W. saith Append. p. 108. and he Admireth them so and Reason telleth R. W. that except we suffer our selves to be led as Beasts by Satan c. and yet Evil Spirits have great Reason and let the Reader see what Distinction thou hast made between Satan's Reason and thy own and the New-England-Priests and who is thy Leader And as for the Poor Quakers the Light and Spirit of God which proceedeth from the Father and Son is their Comforter and will lead them into all Truth And so Hellish Faâ—cy thou may'st apply at home who fightest against God's Immediate Teaching and Inspiration And what dost thou talk of the Spirit of Wisdom or Knowledge and talkest of Reason that must be Judge Isa. 11. Luk. 11. And as for Dreamers thou may'st keep to thy self And R. W. I must tell thee None know the Scriptures and the Mysteries of Christ by their own Spirits nor their dark Reason but by the Spirit of God R. W. And thou say'st The Scripture in John Ye know all things we expounded Literally c. and say'st Then why are not the Quakers Omnipotent and Almighty as well as Omniscient or knowing all things Answ. Why doth R. W. take James's words Literally and not John's As for Omnipotent and Almighty and Omniscient or knowing all things as God the Quakers hold no such thing and there is no such saying in G. F's Answer Yet the Saints know all things concerning their Salvation and Election and concerning the Devil and his Angels that will deceive them and they knew knew all things so that no man needed to teach them and they knew God and Christ and J. Stubs's words will stand And did we speak no more to thee but the four Lines thou settest in page 83 Why could'st not thou put down our Words And why canst thou not take John's words Literally as thou takest James's who saith The Light which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which is Life in the Word c. which Light thou Blasphemously callest an Idol R. W. And thou say'st I desire to know what is meant by the Word WITHIN Answ. That which Paul preached Rom. â—0 which is as a Fire and hammereth down Sin and Evil sharper then a Two-edged Sword which was the Word of Faith which he preached and we And thou comest to learn of us What is meant by the Word Within It openeth the Vnderstanding it openeth the Eye of the Soul and changeth the Affections where it is loâ—ed and done as James telleth thee but if thou be a Sayer of the Word and Dost it not thou deceivest thy own Soul And how now R. W is this thy Proving That we have not the Spirit of God To come and learn of us What is the Word of God within this is quite beside the Matter and well might W. Edmundson call thee back again when thou wast Rambling on beside the Matter R. W. Now thou say'st It is said that God hath shined in our hearts Answ. But thou dost not speak as the Apostle doth who saith God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 4 6. Now what must we understand from R. W.'s meanes or meanings here from the Scripture That God shineth in the Heart to give the Knowledge of God if we had said so would not he have cried out Blasphemy and God commanded God to shine out of Darkness O! R. W. take heed of such dark means R. W. And then thou contradictest thy self and say'st The Seat of the Light and Knowledge of God c. Further thou say'st Though Fox makes it the Light to be Natural and born with every Man c. and goest on a railing callest it Their Natural Hellish Darkness and upon this thou makest false Conclusions upon thy own Invented Words which G. F. hath not spoken Answ. Let the Reader see if G. F. any where hath made the Heavenly Light of Christ Natural c. John the greatest Prophet born of a Woman maketh not the Light Natural that came for a Witness to be a Witness of the true Life in the Word which was the Light that Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World For R. W. may read such as he is of the same Spirit saying John hath the Devil and such were not like to own the Light no more then R. W. which he bore Witness of R. W. Thou say'st That to hearken to to turn to to lissen to any Voice or Motion within in Heavenly things in matters of Super-natural Light is as proper as in matters of Law to go for Counsel to a Cheating Thief or Rogue in matters of Health to a known Cheating Mountebank as to turn within to a Man's Heart which is the Arrantest Jugler and Cheater in the World Answ. Why
Fancy and an Idol and would'st have the Magistrates to punish us and the Magistrates and Priests in New-England their Persecutions instead of Loving Enemies doing unto all Men as they would have them to do unto them have declared it So 't is plainly proved that ye are neither in the Royal Law nor in the Gospel nor do not Really own the Scriptures that do not practise them Love thy Neighbour as thy sâ—lf Love one another Love Enemies Are the Commands of Christ but thou callest the Lord Christ Jesus his Light a Fancy and an Idol and therefore thou art not nor canst not be in his Spirit that callest his Light an Idol and so None of his but a Ravening Woolf. And we always did own the Scriptures and have said We and the Priests would be tried by the Scriptures and to see which was in the Practice of Christ and his Apostles by the Fruits And so we are Faithful Witnesses for Christ and his Light as John was for we are Come for Witnesses and do bear a True Witness for Christ and his Light which enlighteth every Man that cometh in the World which is the Light of the World And the Occasion that we must speak this over and over is because thou bring'st it so often R. W. And thou tell'st us of an Irish Papist that flung the Bible in the Kennel and kickt it saying The Plague take this Book And what 's this to us is it not a shame to print such Fruits of a Wicked Spirit over and over which we abhor And thou say'st That John Burnyeat took a Bible and râ—ad publickly Luke 1. How the Scripture was a Declaration and yet thou say'st and Contradictest thy self that we would not endure the searching of the Scripture as pag. 78. See his Margent And thou goest on to no Purpose and say'st Still they sied to this Borrow The Spirit that gave forth Scripture is greater than the Scripture Answ. Why R. W. and the New-England-Priests is not the Spirit above the Scripture Cannot the Devil get Scripture and the Wolves and Anti-Christ but can they get the Spirit of God would ye have the Spirit less than the Scriptures which was before they were written and gave them forth R. W. thou say'st Thou maintainest the Inward Breathing of the Holy Spirit more than we Answ. But where is it R. W dost not thou say pag. 83. There is no Voice or Motion within Man that is to be hearken'd unto turn'd to or lissen'd to in Heavenly and Supernatural Light And R. W. Thou say'st We ought in all our Preaching Hearing and Reading c. beg the Help of the Spirit c. Answ. But R. W. Are ye to Preach and Pray of Heavenly Things without the Spirit of God or a Motion in you and can a Man Hear or Read the Scriptures with understanding without the Spirit of God which we affirm They cannot truly And if the Spirit of God then must be a Motion within hearken'd to and so R. W. overthroweth his own Assertion and proveth himself a Doter Then R. W. Telleth a Story of Babilonian Assyrian and Popish Tyrants Devils c. Answ. What are all these he might have kept them at home to prove The Quakers do not own Scriptures R. W. And thou say'st This Record is the Outward and External Light Lanthorn Judge and Guide and Rule c. Answ. Now but can an External Rule and Judge and Guide guide the Eternal Spirit of God doth not the Spirit of God Lead into all Truth of it But R. W. that seemest to own the Scriptures and ye New England-Priests where is it written that the Scriptures are called an External Judge and Guide let us see Chapter and Verse for it do not tell us of a Gall'd-back-Horse but give us Chapter and Verse and abide the Search But are not ye New-England-Priests and Professors gone beside this External Judge Rule and Guide so that ye neither walk according to the Light of the External Guide as thou callest it the Scriptures nor according to the Light of Christ for the Light of Christ thou call'st a Fancy and an Idol And thou art made to confess That God and Christ were before Scripture and then why wouldst thou set the Scriptures above his Spirit And then thou tell'st us in a Way of Preaching of John Baptist what he said of Christ All this we own and the Scriptures that speak of him but how can'st thou own the Scriptures and not John's Tâ—stimony who came for a Witness to bear Witness of the true Light And we also can say God sent us amongst you R. W. And thou tell'st us of Prating of the Light and say'st If they slight the Outward Standing Record and Witnesses of God in them there is no Light in them Answ. That is thy own Condition thou slightest both Scriptures and Light which John bore Witness to as the Scriptures testify R. W. saith telling us of subscribing to the Papists or else he saith ye must study the Scriptures and search the Originals c. Answ. R. W. may subscribe to the Papists How can he search the Scriptures and study the Originals without the Light of Christ no more than They can see without the Light of Christ than a Blind-Man can see to read the Writings And so without the Heavenly Light of Christ thou can'st not Judge of pretending Christs Prophets Doctrines Churches and Spirits nor see what is in thy self R. W. Thou say'st That the Quakers do affirm that the Scripture is within them and What is the English of that but that the Light which they and every Man in the World hath within them the Christ the Spirit which every one hath is the Scripture Answ. Who did ever hear any of the Quakers say or in G. F.'s Book here That Christ the Light and Spirit in Man was Scripture to wit Writings or Paper and Ink Though this we must needs tell R. W. That is Scripture within when God writeth his Law in the Heart that is Heavenly Scripture that is the Table in the Heart that every true Christian readeth that is Law there And every one that hath the King's Declaration he hath not the King in his House so every one that hath the Scripture hath not Christ but he that hath the Word hath Christ the Scripture declareth of so that he hath both the Declaration and the Word it self to wit Christ in his Heart then he hath the Comfort of Scriptures And we own the Scriptures to be Love-Letters and can bless the Lord God for them and have the Comfort of them though thou may'st say what thou wilt R. W. And then thou say'st The Light Christ which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World and the Spirit the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth which proceedeth from the Father and from the Son which we have received from the Lord Jesus Christ this Light this Spirit thou say'st thou hast proved
say'st R. W. That we are Saved by Hope Faith c. Answ. But doth not Paul tell thee That this Hope is Christ and Faith he is the Author of And thou say'st R. W. Saved by Baptism Answ. And what without FAITH And R. W. Women are Saved by Child-bearing Answ. But what without Faith by Christ And what are all Women Saved by Child-bearing all that are in the World with their Bastards for thou dost not say Some Women and thou dost not put in FAITH But can they grow up in Christ the Saviour without Faith And then thou say'st R. W. All these Subtilly and Wickedly G. F. setteth at Variance with the Meritorious Salvation by Jesus Christ. Answ. G. F. Setteth them not at Variance but he saith again There is no Salvation in any other Name under Heaven but in the Name of Jesus Christ And thou that say'st There is givest the Apostle the Lie and dost not own the True Lord Jesus R. W. Thou tellest of a Man saving his Brother by a Rope and a Mid-wife saving a Woman in Child-bed Answ. What is this this is Outward from a Natural Death but it is Christ Jesus that Saveth his People from Eternal Death through Faith in him which is more than from Outward Death And R. W. Thou say'st To talk of this Immediate Christ and Spirit without Scriptures without Preaching and other Holy Means is as Silly as Impious as Blockish as Blasphemous and as Bedlam and Frantick as Wicked and Anti-christian Answ. R. W. hath not described what his Means are But Reader is not the Means the Faith in Christ Jesus and is not that Revealed and is not the Means the Holy-Ghost that Proceedeth from the Father and his Son that leadeth all True Believers into all Truth And they are not the True Preachers that are not in the same Holy Ghost that gave forth the Scriptures and all their Means are good for nothing seeing the Apostle saith That no Man knoweth the Things of God but by the Spirit And so as for thy Ungracious Words Silly Impious Blockish Blasphemy Frantick Wicked Anti-christian and Bedlam thou may'st keep to thy self and so all thy Means that hast No Motion of Heavenly Things And all they that be in the Faith of Christ and the Holy Ghost that leadeth into all Truth which the Ministers of the Spirit they have their Means from Christ in whose Name is Salvation and Preach Christ and not themselves and such we are One withal and such cannot but own the Scriptures So the Holy Means are in the Holy Spirit but what is this to the Means of all your Priests and Thee who ownest not the Light of Christ but callest it an Idol And thou talkest of an Immediate Christ without the Scripture Will R. W. say That Christ and the Spirit is in the Scripture is not Christ in Heaven and the Spirit of God was in them that gave forth Scripture And Christ saith Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Life but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life But we tell R. W. We and whosoever else owneth the Lord Jesus Christ own the Scriptures and cannot deny them nor none of his True Preachers which carry their Message from Christ for the Good of People and such the World receiveth not that come in the Name of the Lord but such as come in their own they will Receive R. W. And again thou bringest a Comparison of the King's Pardon sealed with his Broad Seal to a Condemned Rebel which thou often bring'st over and over Answ. What dost thou think to prove by this That the Scripture is the Pardon or is the Evidence if it were then the Papists that thou Comparest us so often to and many Wicked Men might have Pardon and Remission But is it not the Spirit that Sealeth according to Ephes. 1 23.4 30 and is it not Christ that Bringeth the Glad Tidings of Life unto the Soul and by his Holy Spirit beareth Witness according to Rom. 8. and is not the Assurance thus known R. W. bringeth Hosannah c. G. F.'s Fol. pag. 221. saying The Sure Word of Prophecy the Apostle speaketh of is the Prophecy of Scripture G. F. Answ. Doth the Scripture shine in a Dark Place until the Day Dawn and are they them that must be Taken heed unto as to a Light Can any see the Scripture or know the Scripture but by the Light within cannot a Cain a Balaam a Korah bring Scripture that is gone from the Spirit of Prophecy within and then put the Letter for it R. W. Replieth and beginneth with Blasphemy and Railing and saith I know that Fox maketh their Idol Within called Light to be the More Sure Word of Prophecy and his Vsual Proof is The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy c. And why must all the Prophets or Messengers of God who from the Beginning of the World were God's Mouth and Pens concerning the Birth Life and Death of Christ c. here be â—ast out from the Word of Prophecy Answ. What! cannot R. W. endure to hear talk of the Scriptures are not John's Words in Revelation The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy and thou deniest it both Scripture and Spirit who say'st I Vsually bring this Proof And Peter's Saying We have a more Sure Word of Prophecy which ye do well to take heed unto as unto a Light that shintth in a Dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your Hearts This the Apostle lets them see the Sufficiency of that Light till they came to the Day-Dawning and the Day-star-Arising And what is this Day-dawning and Day-star-arising in the Heart if it be the Outward Scriptures of the Prophets prove it by Scriptures And is this Day-Star-Arising in the Heart and Day-Dawning and Idol as thou callest the Light within an Idol a More Sure Word of Prophecy than the Voice which was Heard in the Mount And this is not to Cast away the Prophets and Peter who directed the Saints to this Sure Word of Prophecy the Light that shineth in a Dark Place did not Cast out the Prophets that Prophesied of Christ's Birth Death c. as thou Dotingly speakest no more do we but own them all And Luk. 1. and Rom. 16. and the Apostles that had this Light shining this More Sure Word of Prophecy they saw the Fulfilling of the Scriptures in Christ Jesus which none doth without the Light of Christ by which he is seen And R. W. Thou say'st The Written Word or Prophecy of the Prophets is a more Sure Word and Evidence to us c. than the Voice from Heaven of which Peter here speaketh c. Answ. Now what must we Observe from R. W.'s Words here That the Written Word or Prophecy of the Prophets shineth in a dark place Now R. W. saith that the Scripture is the Rule and Touch stone We do Charge him and the New-England-Priests to make
This was the true Light which he bore witness to that Lighteth every Man which was the Life in the Word and R. W. with all his Evil Speakings witnesseth against it and calleth it a Fantastick Light a Childish Vapour and Whispering and Peeping but he might have kept this at home And The Father of Lights he saith proclaimeth us to he Children of howling Darkness and that there is no Light in them Answ. The Father of Lights proclaimeth no such thing nor his Son but saith Every One that doth the Truth cometh to the Light and every one that doth Evil hateth the Light and will not come to it because it reproveth him And this is R. W.'s Condition R. W. asketh What Light have the Papists Jews and the Devil when they bring Scripture to Christ and so falleth a railing Answ. But if the Jews and Papists do hate the Light like R. W. yet I never heard the Jews and Papists call it an Idol and a frantick Light as R. W. doth and we say neither he nor the Papists or Jews can see neither the Scriptures nor Christ without the Light And we never did say That Christ did enlighten the Devil himself with his true Light for Christ saith There is no Truth in him but R. W. saith That there is something of God that is from the Power and Wisdom of God in the fallen Spirits and the Devils themselves which we Charge R. W. and all his New-England-Priests to give us Scripture for those Words as in his Append. p. 5 and therefore why doth R. W. ask G. F. What Light hath the Devil himself And thou say'st The Devil bringeth a pertinent Scripture and Promise to Christ Jesus as ever the Papists or Quakers This R. W. might have kept at home with the Jesuitical Diabolical Reservations and venemous and poisonous with his Unsavory Ungratious words R. W. bringeth Enoch Howet G. F. Fol. p. 14. his sayings The Scriptures to be the Only Weapon whereby Christ overthrew the Devil G. F. Answ. Who bruiseth his Head to wit Christ was before the Scripture was yet the Scripture is for Correction and Doctrine furnishing the Man of God in his place And Christ the Seed was before the Scripture was and all that have Scripture and not Christ cannot Overcome the Devil ye and the Papists doing his Work For they that Overcome him it is with the Power of Christ for Christ saith Without me ye can do nothing and those have the Scriptures of Truth which the Devil is out of R. W.'s Reply How doth Christ's bruising of Satan's Head and being before Scripture was disprove c. and so falleth a-railing Who sees not Fox in his Burrough Answ. R. W. doth not or will not state G. F.'s words right as he hath spoken them as the Reader may see viz As Christ who bruiseth his Head being before Scripture was who bruiseth his Head by his Power and destroyeth Death and the Devil the Power of Death who is manifest in Time c. And R. W. saith As for G. F.'s saying They that have the Scripture and not Christ cannot overcome the Devil And R. W. Replieth What News doth he tell the World which no body denieth and yet thou say'st again How doth this deny that Christ Jesus overcame the Devil by Scripture which is the Sword the Only Sword and is called a Sword Append. p. 88. Answ. But R. W. thou must show us a Rule for it in Scripture Chapter and Verse That the Scripture is the Sword the Only Sword and yet thou say'st Append. p. 94. That it the Scripture doth not avail without the Spirit of God And how doth this hang together R. W That they that have the Scripture without the Spirit cannot overcome the Devil and yet The Scripture is the Sword and the Only Sword by which Christ overcame the Devil and The Scripture doth not avail without the Spirit and yet it is thy Only Sword and in thy Book called Experiments Epist. to Lady Vane the Younger 1652 thou say'st That the Two-edged Sword is of his God's most Holy Spirit which pierces between the very Soul and Spirit c. But these things are Answered more Largely in the Appendix R. W. saith Is all Scripture or Writing given forth by Inspiration of God and is profitable though G. F. alledgeth the Scriptures by Halves for Correction and Doctrine c. and Then it clearly follows that as Christ Jesus overcame the Devil by the Scriptures so c. Answ. Christ was the Power of God and the Devil brought Scripture to him and said It is written but Christ overcame him by the Power who is the Substance of the Scriptures And Christ through Death destroyed the Devil the Power of Death and was that by Scripture And G. F. doth confess he doth not write all the Scriptures which thou Scoffingly callest Halves neither doth R. W. write all the Scriptures nor half neither And Christ did not Overcome the Devil by the Scripture when he corrected him by Scripture in his Power and Spirit And the Apostle saith All Scripture given forth by Inspiration of God is profitable for Doctrine Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect and throughly furnish'd to all good Works 2 Tim. 3. and this he doth not say to the Men of the World that be in the Evil Work like R. W. and his New-England-Priests and Professors are R. W. And thou say'st So by the same Weapon this Suttle Fox and all other of Satan's Foxes must be corrected confuted catch'd and destroyed except they repent for ever Answ. What! must the Scripture destroy us and that which is of no value without the Spirit of God R. W but this is Answered as I said afore Largely in the Appendix R. W. And with Scoffing words to no purpose thou say'st How he runneth in and out of his Holes c. As for the Quakers Power here pretended in Opposition to the Scriptures c. and Thus sometimes a Devil of Drunkenness Swearing Stealing runs away from the Sermons of the Quakers as a Naughty Devil sometimes as the Chiding and Conjuring of a good Witch that he may get the faster hold by c. Self-Conceit and Contradiction to the Scriptures by Will-worship and superstitious Inventions against the Holy Institutions and Commands of the true Lord Jesus Christ. Answ. R. W. and his New-England-Priests and Professors might have all those Vngratious Vnsavory Words kept at home But what is this good Witch he speaketh of for we own the Holy Scriptures and the Commands c. of the true Lord Jesus Christ and his Worship in Spirit and Truth And if thou had'st Overcome the Devil by the Only Sword of the Scripture we should never have such Railing Expressions from thee which proceed from him And thou tell'st a Story of the Devil and how a Child lieth down and crieth but thou might'st have kept this at home with all the rest of
by Instances out of G. F.'s Book all along that he confounded and made all one both Faith and Justification c. and made Believing in Christ but a meer Babel and fallest a railing because that G. F. saith He that hath Faith hath Repentance hath Justification Sanctification c. Answ. But dost not thou Confound thy self for thou sayst That Repentance is a Turning of the whole Soul from all Sin as Sin to all of God as God as this is R. W.'s Form of Words and yet R. W. have not they then that have Repentance Faith Justification and Sanctification And G. F.'s words are He that hath Faith hath Repentance Can any have Faith without Repentance or any Justification without Repentance and Faith or any have Sanctification without Repentance Faith thou wouldst have Justification Sanctification without Faith and Repentance Thou mayst keep thy Babel to thy self And Christ Jesus that preach'd Repentance saith Believe in the Light that you may become Children of Light and this Light thou callest an Idol and a Fancy and so hast plainly manifest thou art no true Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ nor true Christian and who wouldst have Faith Justification and Sanctification without Repentance hast neither true Faith Justification Sanctification And so as for Babel Non-sense Confusion Monstrous thou mayst keep at home R. W. And thou sayst Thou told'st us that we and the Papists talk of Faith and G. F. talk'd much of Faith Answ. As for the Papists Faith thou and the New-England-Priests might have applied at home But for the Saints Faith it is the True which Jesus Christ is the Author of and we have received it from him and not from Men. And thou in disproving our Faith thou hast prov'd thy self out of the True Faith in Christ which thou opposest R. W. And so thou sayst They have put out the True and Living Faith and have put in a painted or Glass-eye in the Room of it Answ. This is thy own condition who deniest the Faith in Christ Jesus that he is the Author and Finisher of Which in all this Work thou goest about to overthrow but thou canst not R. W. And thou sayst True Faith is Receiving of Christ Jesus as only King Priest and Prophet it is believing on and receiving of Christ distinct from God Joh. 14. And This true Lord Jesus Christ the Quakers turn into a meer Fiction Dream or Imaginary Christ in the Mind of Man c. And thou fall'st a-railing and tellest us We are like the Papists and sayst The Quakers Transubstantiation is worse then the Fantastick Transubstantiation of the Papists Answ. How can R. W. receive Christ Jesus as a Priest King and Prophet and believe in him who call'st the True Light of Christ an Idol which John bore Witness unto Or be a Believer as Christ Commanded and said Be a Believer in the Light and he calleth this Light a Fancy So no Believer in the True Christ nor no Receiver of Christ King Priest and Prophet Neither is R. W. in the True Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of who maintaineth The Scripture is the Ground of Christ's Faith and the Saints yet he saith Christ is afore Scripture And he confesseth that Abel Enoch Noah Abraham c had Faith afore Scriptures and again he saith That true Faith is Receiving of Christ. But let R. W. and his New-England-Priests prove by Scripture That God the Creator of all things and the true Lord Jesus Christ his Son whom we believe in according to Scripture as the Prophets and Apostles did can be turn'd into a Fiction and Dream let him make this Blasphemy good by Scripture if he can And R. W. who calleth himself Orator did the Apostles turn Christ into an Imaginary Christ Dream and Fiction when they preach'd Christ in you except ye be Reprobates and is this Worse than the Papists Transubstantiation prove this by Scripture And thou art degenerated and the New-England-Priests if this be their Doctrine and Preaching of Christ and the Apostles in the Primitive Times R. W. And then thou sayst that we say All Spirit and no Body and so not consisting of Flesh and Spirit and yet thou contradictest thy self and say'st We are of his flesh c And then thou fall'st a-railing and thou sayst That we say All must die and rot and never rise again and sayst So you have blown up and Juggled away the Flesh of Christ Jesus both his and your own altogether And further thou sayst We can give no Account of the Flesh of the Man Christ Jesus and thou fallest a-railing Answ. Dost not thou see how thou Contradictest thy self but instead of proving thy false Charge thou hast utter'd forth many more false Charges Where did ever we say in any of our Books That we shall not rise again or That Christ is not risen The same that Descended is the same that is Ascended and at the Right Hand of God did not we confess this before thee at Newport and yet thou Wickedly sayst That we can give no Account of when we gave Account according to Scripture as the Apostle saith And did not we say that we believe the Resurrection as the Apostle did and as we have born the Image of the Earthly so we shall bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. R. W. And thou sayst The Quakers which grant Christ Jesus to have been born lived and died as we c. and here thou overthrowest thy Babel of false Charges And then thou Contradictest thy self and sayst And yet now Transubstantiated into a Spirit and the Quakers Flesh so that in the upshot the Christ in whom they believe is vanished by an Hellish Chymistry into themselves c. Answ. R. W. How far art thou degenerated from the Apostles Doctrine did the Apostles say so when they preach'd Christ within and said They were Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone And Christ saith Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you c. and wouldst thou keep us from our Heavenly Food by which we have Life And art not thou worse then the Jews that loaded the Manna from Heaven who addest Lie unto Lie to prove thy false Charge but the Father of Lies hath set thee at Work and the Day will come when Christ will reward thee who Blasphemest him R. W. And thou sayst They do believe on themselves and that lying Spirit within them Answ. R. W. Thou canst not speak Truth thou art not like indeed this is another false Charge For we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as he hath taught and the Apostles and deny Our selves and thy Lying Spirit within thee And we know thy condition where thou art and the New-England-Priests better than thy self and if you had been good we would not have forsaken you And R. W. Confessed That J. B. had delivered many Holy Truths of God and yet thou sayst At
this there was a deep Silence aâ— If I had turn'd a Proselite at least it pleased them to be applauded Answ. Nay R. W. we saw the Subtilty of the Serpent in thee And if I B. had spoken many Holy Truths why didst thou not join with them it seemeth thy spirit could not join with Holy Truths And then thou speakest of Repentance and Being saved by the Blood of Christ Jesus and of Living soberly and righteously Then how cometh all this Vngratious Language from thee if thou art to live soberly and righteously these are but Words R. W. And how canst thou be Saved by the Blood of Christ and Repent and not believe in the Light as Christ commandeth by which thou must see thy Sin and Evil Heart And so thou hast prov'd thy Faith and Repentance to be Antichristian and not at all disprov'd ours And so thy Faith and Repentance may go along with the Papists as thou speakest of who opposest the Faith of God's Elect that purifieth their hearts and that is thy false Faith that purifieth not the heart R. W. And thou scoffingly say'st That we might have preach'd to wit I B. and I S. this Doctrine of Faith and Repentance before the Pope at Rome at his Chappel Answ. Here R. W. scoffeth at True Faith and Repentance and maketh himself unsensible of it but it s very well he hath manifested himself to be so much One with them and the New-England Professors But some of us have preach'd Repentance and the Faith of Christ at Rome where neither he nor his New-England Priests dared to shew their Heads and suffered there Death for it though thou and the New-England-Priests may rail at them behind their Backs And so thou might'st have applied at home the Sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity I know you not whose Light thou callest an Idol R. W. And thou sayst Thou hadst intended to Charge us with the Falseness of our Hope Love Peace and Joy which they often Crake thou say'st c. their Heaven consisteth and all the Eternal Life to come they look for they are now in present and full Possession of Answ. Why did not R. W. do it there what he Intended But where doth R. W. prove these Lies That our Heaven c. and all the Eternal Life that is to come that we say We are now in present full Possession of it he hath brought no Proof for these his Lies From the Seed which Christ hath sown in their hearts some bringeth forth Thirty Sixty Hundred-fold in this Life and in the World to come Life Eternal So these Words of his we turn back as R. W.'s forg'd Lies And as for true Love Hope and Faith he and his New-England-Priests have banished that long ago R. W. Thou sayst What Scripture is more Common in their Mouths and Pens c. than Col. â— Christ in you the Hope of Glory Whereby they insinuate Two of their grand Deceits and Lies 1. That there is no other Christ but what is in every Man in the World 2. That there is no other Glory to be hoped for or by or with the Lord Jesus Christ but what is in the Saints c. Answ. The Reader may see R. W.'s Contradiction here in this very Scripture but still he is forging Lies which we never heard of a fore Christ in you the Hope of Glory Mark of Glory And are not the Saints to grow up in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ unto a Perfect Man and do not our Writings and hath not our Mouth and Pens declared it So as for Deceits thou might'st have kept this at home But R. W. and the Rest of the Priests which G. F. hath brought could not endure to hear of Christ Within us the Hope of Glory but ye would only have him Without and so keep people in the Reprobate State And how can R. W. have him Within when he calleth his Light an Idol and a Fancy And So R. W. thou tell'st of Hopes like unto Spiders but this thou might'st have applied to thy self with the Hope of the Hypocrite not to us R. W. And R. W. thou sayst Do they not overthrow the very Nature of Hope which they prate of and give the Spirit of God the Lie which telleth us That Hope is not of things in Possession c. Rom. 9. Answ. When did we tell to R. W. this Lie he hath forg'd it himself And so as for a Dead and Painted Hope thou might'st have kept thy self for our Hope which is Christ maketh not ashamed for we are Saved by Hope But Hope that is seen is not Hope c. Rom. 8. But R. W. bringeth Rom. 9 but let the Reader see if there be the Word Hope in the Chapter But the Living Hope as Peter speaketh of we witness 1 Pet. 2 3. We whom Christ hath begotten again to a Lively Hope ouâ— Faith and Hope standeth in God and Christ our Hope of Glory ankers our Immortal Souls see Col. and Hebr. And our Hope is Steadfast that keepeth us above all the Waves and Storms and Floods that R. W. and all the New-England-Persecutors can cast upon us for we have the Hope of Eternal Life and Glory as Paul writeth to Titus and we know we are the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3. as the Saints did that were the First Fruits But let us return again to Try R. W. and his New-England-Priests their Love Faith Hope and Peace c. whether they are not degenerated from the Love of the Primitive Christians and the Apostles and Messengers First doth not the Apostle say Faith worketh by Love and Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of Faith and is not Faith called a Shield now is not R. W. and his New-England Priests degenerated from this Faith and this Shield that worketh by Love have not their Fruits Manifested them by their HANGING BURNING with an Hot Iron BANISHING and SPOILING the GOODS of God's people and R. W. would have them PUNISH'D for Matter of Conscience Nay have not ye prov'd your selves to be the Tinkling Cymbals Sounding Brass 1 Cor. 13. have not they persecuted such as would not run after the Sound of their Tinkling Cymbals and Sounding Brass Charity suffereth long and is Kind have ye not been Unkind and full of Envy out of this Charity Vaunting yourselves pufft up and rejoicing in Iniquity And how did the Mayor General Vaunt and boast when he told the Prisoners How Mary Dyer hang'd like a Flag when ye had Hanged her This was your Charity and your Joy and your Love to Enemies and to Christians So neither your Faith Love nor Hope nor Peace nor Joy is according to the Primitive Christians your Practice showeth your Error from them And likewise ye are not in the Wisdom of God which is pure gentle and peaceable c. which the Apostles were in as in Jam and are gone into a Devilish and Destroying Wisdom And so
as ever we could meet withal did believe that the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men and is not that Saving which bringeth Salvation which the Wicked turn into Wantonness and walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace But what doth R. W. say of them that had tasted of the good Word of God Heb. 6 I do not believe that ever he or the New-England-Priests came so far And how can R. W. talk of Falling away from Grace and Light and is yet in the Fall and calleth Christ's Light an Idol and so not come to it R. W. And thou sayst Thou told'st us that the Papists and we were Confederates in their Endeavours to raze the Heavenly Records and to rob the Saints of the Holy Scriptures This is a false Charge for we esteem of the Scriptures more then thou and the New-England-Priests and they And thou sayst The Papists own the Snriptures to be the Word or Will of God c. but the Quakers will not vouchsafe it the Name of the Word of God Answ. Here then the Papists differ and are one with thee and the New-England-Priests and are Contrary to the Prophets and the Apostles who call the Scriptures WORDS and Christ Jesus who saith they are Words and his Name is called the Word of God and not scoffingly as thou call'st it our Simple Pretence but really he is so And thou that givest the Title to the Scripture which belongeth to Christ which the holy Men of God did not art degenerated from both Spirit and Speech R. W. And thou sayst The Papists horribly abuse the Scripâ—ures and call it a Nose of Wax c. and so do the Quakers â—riumphing over it c. as over a Dead Letter a Carkass c. Answ. R. W. These are thy own forg'd Words Where did ever the Quakers call it a Dead Carcass and triumph over the Scriptures for thou sayst thy self The Letter profiteth nothing without the Spirit And the Apostle saith The Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life and was he therefore a Papist R. W. And thou sayst The Papists prefer the Vulgar Latin Copies before the Hebrew and sayst Do not the Quakers simply and brutishly bind themselves to the bare Letter of the Common English Answ. Here the Quakers and the Papists Dis-agree And dost not thou say That the Scriptures are the Word of God which we say are Words And must not we own Scriptures as they call themselves for dost not thou say They are the Touchstone and if the English Copies be not true why dost thou tell us The Scriptures are the Touchstone and the Rule and the Word of God and why hast not thou and the New-England-Priests mended them all this time And dost not thou say That Ravius proclaimes above a Thousand Faults to be in our Last Translation How now R. W. and yet are they the Touch-stone and the Rule and the Word of God how darest thou say they are the Word of God if there be a Thousand Faults in them And how darest thou say They are the Touch-stone the Ground of Christ's Faith and the Saints as in thy Book pag. 102. and the Priest saith They are the Means of Faith yet thou dost extol this Man calling him a most-Famous Hebraician â—hat saith There be above a Thousand Faults in the last Translation of them And R. W. saith The Papists set up a Judge in Controversy above the Holy Scriptures c. and the Quakers say the same of their Spirit c. Answ. But how canst thou call it the Holy Scriptures if thou sayst There be a Thousand Faults in them And is not the Spirit aâ—ove the Scriptures that gave them forth and the Word of God which was afore they were as thou hast confest But the Quakers are not agreed with the Papists here but the Papists are agreed with you If the Spirit of God be not the Judge and not to be set above the Scriptures ye and the Papists are of one Spirit but not in that that gave forth the Scriptures and the Word of Wisdom which was afore they were Written R. W. And thou sayst The Papists will not deny to make the Scriptures the Rule to be tried by it yet their Church and Pope must Interpret it Answ. That is like to you that do Interpret them and give Meanings and find Fault with us for taking it Literally so ye and the Papists are agreed And then thou fall'st a-railing But we tell you both that the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son the Spirit of Truth is that which leadeth into all Truth R. W. And thou sayst The Papists generally use not the Scriptures in their Devotions in their Mother-Tongue but in Latin which thou callest the Whore's Tongue of Italy And then thou tellest a long Story of Luther and sayst The Papists and Quakers slight the Holy Scriptures Answ. But here thou canst not Join the Quakers with the Papists for we do not use in our Devotion to speak the Scriptures out of our own Language Neither do we justify the Papists in â—o doing R. W. And thou sayst The Quakers at first took off themselves Families and Assemblies from any use of it to wit the Scriptures Answ. This is altogether false all people knoweth it is that knows both our Families and Assemblies R. W. And thou sayst The Papists and Quakers say If the Scriptures were consumed and quite taken out of the World there would be no Loss c. Answ. This also is false the Quakers never said so they never had such a Thought in their Hearts that we know of But No man knoweth the things of God in the Scriptures but by the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God leadeth us into all Truth of the Scriptures both to the Comforting of our Assemblies and Families R. W. And thou sayst The Quakers and Papists love the Scriptures no better then Goliah loved David's Stone Answ. And we may say to thee Thou lovest the Scriptures no more then thou lovest the Light of Christ who callest it a Fancy and an Idol But by the Scriptures and the Spirit of God that gave them forth we have proved thee That thou neither lovest the Scriptures nor the Spirit of God which gave them forth which we love and esteem R. W. Thou sayst The Papists and Quakers Shake hands in the most Hellish Doctrine of Justification by what Christ worketh within us Answ. Is the Apostles Doctrine Hellish and Popish who are Justified by Faith and doth not Christ work Faith within how doth it purify the Heart And this Faith within owneth Christ it doth not deny that he died without the Gates of Jerusalem for all men And where do we put Justification for Sanctification and is not this Sanctification wrought within Men And where do either ye or the Papists confess that Christ is the Author and Finisher of Faith for thou wrongst the Papists For if they confess that that
Faith that purifieth their hearts giveth them Victory and Access to God they need not plead for a Purgatory when they are dead nor thou for a Body of Sin and Death to the Grave R. W. Thou sayst The Quakers are Papists in that Infallible Spirit c. to wit the Spirit of Truth which Christ and his Father hath sent to lead us in all Truth Answ. This Holy Ghost the Papists have denied to our Faces and therefore thou Abusest the Papists And ye have confest ye have not the same Holy Ghost that the Apostles had and therefore they and the New-England-priests are of one Nature for they have said the same And this Spirit shall reprove the World of Righteousness c. as Christ saith And if all men did believe in the Light and not turn the Grace of God into Wantonness nor grieve the Spirit which God hath poured out upon them it would Teach them and instruct them And that we do exhort people to that they may escape the Dreadful Judgements of God who will Judge the World in Righteousness And then thou scoffest against our Preachers c. But we have preach'd the Everlasting Gospel in New-England and other places and it had been very well if thou had'st turn'd to the Spirit of God within thee that thou makest slight of R. W. Thou sayst The Quakers are Papists in a high Lofty Conceit of Perfection when in Calvin's time this Spirit came from Hell c. Answ. Dost not thou Contradict thy self and sayst The Papists hold a Purgatory then how are they like the Quakers that hold Perfection And so they are near thee that must have a Combate or a Fighting all thy Life and no Overcoming And how darest thou to say The Spirit and Doctrine of Perfection came from Hell in Calvin's Time c. for it is the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles to his Saints and Followers R. W. And thou sayst The Quakers in the latter Years in Lancashire came from the Grindletonians Answ. This is also false the Grindletonians know otherwise and the people in Lancashire R. W. And thou sayst The Quakers and Papists are great Friends in their Notions and Practice of Revelations c. and Inspirations Answ. How can the Papists own true Revelation that own not the same Holy Ghost as they were in that gave forth Scriptures So their Dreams and Visions are like thine and so not like the Quakers who know the things of God that are reveal'd by the Spirit of God And thou that scoffest at Revelation Inspiration c. knowest not the things of God but art in the Natural dark State thou speakest of And R. W. Thou sayst What a Noise we make about Vncovering the Head Knee Wearing of Lace c. and saying of You and Thou and Musick and Painting and thou callest it Idle Popish Trash and Trumpery Answ. These are thou and thy Protestants that make such a Noise about them Nay would'st thou not have us to be punish'd for doing those things p. 200. And What must we infer from all this R. W. would have his Musick and the Head Vncovered and Knee bowed to him and Wearing of Laces and You instead of Thou said to him and he is offended at us because we deny such things and so are the Papists his Brethren And we tell R. W. and his New-England-priests that they never shall know true Religion till their Flesh be Silent to know what it is to Tremble at the Word of God and to work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling for it is God that worketh in us both to Will and to Do. But this Voice and Motion hath R. W. not known nor heard yet R. W. Thou sayst The Papists and Quakers are Brethren in Iniquity in their Affirming â—hat the Pope is not the Anti-Christ Answ. And how can this be when G. F. said Anti-Christ was come in the Apostles Days and the World went after him And thou and ye New-England-Priests and the Papists that are inwardly Ravening from the Spirit and Grace and Truth in the heart and Anointing and Word and Faith there though ye do profess Christ and the Apostles Words in the Sheeps-Cloathing and drink the Blood of the Saints as the Papists and New-England have done must needs be the Whore and Anti-Christ your Fruits have declared it and thou art Stirring up the Magistrates to punish us who were the Livery of the Bloody Whore R. W. Thou sayst The Papists change their Names and why the Quakers guided by the same Hellish Spirit and Fancy are so tender about owning their Old Names Answ. Let the Reader see how Angry this Old Doting Man is where had any Quakers changed their Names as the Papists have done this is no Comparison But I must tell thee as John said He that overcometh hath a New Name And Our Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life and doth R. W. think this is the Old Name nay this is not And yet we do not say we are weary of our Old Names which our Parents have called us by But will R. W. say that was a Hellish Spirit that changed Paul's Name and therefore was he like a Papist And if thou dost call the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Truth a Hellish Spirit and so blasphemest against the Holy Ghost remember Christ's Sentence R. W. Thou sayst again The Papists and Quakers are led by one Spirit of feigned Holiness c. Monkish Solitariness c. must be sequestred from Wordly Business is the Beggars Life and Paul wrought night and day with his hands which I never read of any of these Lying Apostles Quakers in all their Travails to have done Answ. All people may Judge thee here Led with a Lying Spirit For of whom hath our people Begg'd and where are our Nuns and our Fryaries thou fillest up thy Book with such Lying Stories The Spirit of God Leadeth us to no such things no more then he did the Apostles But R. W. to prove us that we are not According c. as thou sayst because thou hast not read that we labor night and day in our Travails as the Apostles and therefore our Doctrine our Practice our Faith and our Religion must not he according to the Apostles Herein he hath proved all his Priests in New-England not to be in the Doctrine of the Apostles which have so much a Year which the Apostles had not and that you are gone from the Religion Practice and Profession of the Primitive Messengers and Teachers And it is known that we have Labored night and day in our Travails though he hath not read it and have not been Chargeable to any and coveted no Man's Gold nor Silver And let him enquire in Rode-Island and Long-Island whether J. B. did not work there or no R. W. Thou might'st have kept that at home to say The Quakers Tongues and the Papists are both spitting and belching out Fire from one Fire of Hell Answ. And this is thy
and the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and he was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and they are all One and not Distinct but One in Vnity And that which cometh out from him to wit the Holy Ghost leadeth the Saints into all Truth and that was it that ever was given forth from the Spirit of Truth and so up to God the Father of Truth and so goeth back from whence it came R. W. Replieth and saith That G. F. calls that Blasphemy which the most-Holy and Eternal Lord calls Heavenly Truth he hath like some Witches c. so inur'd himself c. Answ. Why R. W because he speaketh Scriptures art not thou like the Pharisees that could not endure to hear Christ say That he and his Father was One And John said They were One wilt thou call him a Notorious Wretch Indeed thy Spirit will call Christ a Deceiver But R. W. and his Priests say They are Distinct give us a Scripture that saith so and that they are not One and How far are they Distinct one from another then thou sayst something R. W. And thou say'st That the Scripture tells us concerning these Mysteries that in this Life we know but in part as through a Glass darkly c. Answ. Let the Reader read 1 Cor. 13. and see whether R. W. hath not addeth In this Life to the Apostle's words and the Apostle doth not mention in this Life So here thou abusest the Apostle's words as thou dost ours And we know Christ saith My Father is greater than I And what then doth this deny Christ's words who said The Father is in him and he and the Father is One nay do not your own Books say They are One and Equal But thou wast finding Fault with the Socinians nay all the Proofs and Evasions thou bring'st concerning G. F. and M. F. is nothing to disprove Christ's words who saith He and the Father are One. And what dost thou talk of the Four Points of the Pather Son and Spirit c. Fall and Redemption c. of the Church-Officers Baptism c. and Resurrection Eternal Judgment c. Art thou like to see them when thou callest Christ's Light a Fancy and an Idol For all these we own as Scripture declares both within and without and therefore thy Charge is false R. W. And thou bring'st in Tho Collier in G. F.'s Fol. p. 38. saying The Kingdom is not come nor the Refreshing from the Spirit of the Lord. G. F. Answ. Which sheweth they are like unto the Pharisees Unconverted gazing here and there and Christ told them the Kingdom was in them And they that are not turned to the Light which cometh from Christ the Refresher whereby Refreshing might come are not come to Repentance yet And R. W. Replieth and saith Who sees not that G. F. speakes not here of the Kingdom of Christ in the future and to come and the times of Refreshing but that he cuts off all future hopes and expectations to come Answ. The Reader may see this is a false Interpretation upon G. F.'s words for did Christ Cut off all Future Comfort to come to his Saints when he said The Kingdom of Heaven was in them And they that turn to the Light receive Refreshing from the Lord. And G. F. saith They that turn not to the Light which cometh from Christ the Refresher whereby Refreshings might come Receive not And how can R. W. say G. F. cuts off all future Hopes and Expectations to come But what should we expect from him that calleth Christ's Light a Fancy and an Idol R. W. saith That the Scripture tells him and Experience that the Hypocrites have no solid Peace and Joy here nor solid Hope or Joy of Glory to come c. Answ. Roger this is thy own Condition and if thou did'st not abhor the Thoughts of a Judgment to come thou would'st never have spoken such words And Foolishly Atheistically Childish Dreams of no Heaven and Refreshing which thou speakest of thou might'st have applied to thy self And let the Reader see if G. F. say There is no Heaven or Hell or Torment in us c. is there any such saying in G. F.'s Answer here These are words of thy own Forging and then thou hast charged them upon us and criest Foolish Childish Dreams c. which are thy own Sayings and not ours R. W. Bringeth John Clapham G. F.'s Fol. p. 101. saying To witness Heaven and Hell and Resurrection within is the Mystery of Iniquity G. F.'s Answ. Which sheweth thou never knew'st Heaven in thy self nor Hell there nor Christ's Resurrection and the Life which they are Blessed that are made Partakers of the first Resurrection on them the Second Death shall have no Power And the Scripture doth witness Heaven within and if Christ that was offered up the Resurrection and the Life be not within thee thou art a Reprobate R. W. Replieth and saith If G. F. would speak of Heaven and Angels and Hell and Devils and Resurrection and Life to come by way of Allusion and Similitude or by way of First Fruits or Tast of them he might profitably do it Answ. All ye that do not know a Resurrection of Life to come by Christ Jesus and know not the Kingdom of Heaven within you how can ye know it without you And know Hell and the Strong Man cast out there how will ye know the Eternal Judgement which is upon the Devil and his Angels upon the Wicked cast into Hell and the Lake which burnes with Fire and Brimstone which go to the Devil who is out of the Truth who are gone from the Spirit of God his Grace his Truth in the Inwards parts and his Light which thou callest a Fancy and an Idol which will condemn thee and thou shalt know a Hâ—ll which thou so much pleadest for without thee And we are not Revolted from the true Christians Faith and Religion that was in the Apostles Days but thou that deniest this art And R. W. in the same page bringeth Some Nameless Author G. F.'s Fol p. 214. saying To say the Heaven and Glory is in Man which was before Man was they are sâ—ttish and blind G. F. Answ. There is none have a Glory and a Heaven but within them which was before Man had a being And he brings Tho Pollard's Saying G. F. Fol p. 81 For a perfection of Glory to be attained to on this side the Grave I utterly deny G. F. Answ. Where Glory is in the least Degree it is in Perfection and who have not Glory and do not Attain to Glory on this side the Grave they are in a sad Condition For the Saints rejoiced with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory and they witnessed the Hope of Glory within them while they were upon the Earth Col. 1 and of that Hope they were to give a Reason that was within them And they Saw the Glory of God and of the Father and so came to be
Changed from Glory to Glory till they came into the Image of God And the Apostle saw c. And so ye may read at large in G. F.'s Fol which is to large to be set down here but R. W. hath taken about three lines of it and left out the rest And R. W. replieth As the Swinish Epicures and Dives's of this World what-ever they formally and loosly profess have no solid Hope of Peace and Joy to come after this Life and therefore like Brute Beasts practically confess it saying in their Hearts and Lives Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die c. Answ. What is this to the purpose for G. F.'s Answer R. W. might have put himself amongst his Company and Judged himself as well as others for it 's his own Condition R. W. thou sayst Thou knowest that same of the Quakers will not believe that G. F. and others of them deny the Resurrection c. Answ. And why should they believe a Lie as thou dost and why should not we stand by G. F.'s words when he speaketh Scripture and thou that dost not deniest Scripture and the Light of Christ and call'st it a Fancy And the Resurrection we own according to Scripture R. W. And here thou bringest the Ninth false Charge viz All that the Quakers Religion requireth externally and internally to make Converts or Prâ—selytes amounts to no more then what a Reprobate easily may attain to and perform Answ. This is false for Reprobates do not believe in the Light and become not Children of Light and recâ—ive not Christ in them from whence the Light cometh R. W. And thou hopest many of us will come to Abraham's Bosom But then why dost thou rail at us And how can we come to Abraham's Bosom and Attain to no further then to what a Reprobate may And then thou sayst Thousands may have gotten all their Religion requires or performs yea all that their Principles call for outwardly or Inwardly and yet not be accepted but rejected from the holy presence of God Answ. How now Roger and yet come to Abraham's Bosom O Roger thy Darkness cannot comprehend the Light that seest not our Condition no more then thou seest the Saints in the Apotles Days thou would'st have said the same of them had'st thou been in their Day We know our Assurance of God and our Acceptation through Jesus Christ his Beloved Son through whom we have peace with God and we do know the Son by Revelation and God that sent him which is Eternal Life Blessed be his Name for Ever And are grafted into him and built upon him the Rock and Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and thy words are but Chaff R. W. And then thou tell'st a story of Perkins and appliest that to us which he spoke of the Papists But thou hadst better to have applied this to thy self And thou fall'st a Judging the Common Protestants and Quakers and tell'st of their Great Reformations and Joys c. their enduring great persecution and burning of their bodies c. and yet be far from the true Protestant Religion either in the true Dâ—ctrine and Principles or in the true Life and Practice of it Answ. How can Roger Williams tell why doth he Judge such that they were not in the true Religion Who was this Protestant not in New-England nor R. W he never felt the Flame nor was BRANDED with an HOT IRON his Religion will not lead him to undergo such suffering for why did he not stand but go in the Woods when he was tried in Boston-Colony But R. W. would make people believe he was a High Protestant beyond all these but plainly he is nothing but a Railer as his Book doth make manifeâ—t But let the Reader see how he hath lost himself and gone from G. F.'s Answer And R. W. Tearmes our Faith to Rotten Nature c and our Prayyers and Fastings and Sufferings to Womens filâ—hy Clouts and dung of Men and Beasts put into the Ballance of God's Infinite Justice instead of the Infinite Righteousness and Satisfaction of the Son of God c. Answ. As for the Papists they may Answer for themselves but our FAITH Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of we had it not from Men nor Rotten Nature And we Pray as we are moved by the Spirit of God and â—ast as we are ordered by his Divine Wisdom And our Sufferings amongst the New-England-Professors have been for the Truth and the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ's sake in whom our Poor Souls have had Satisfaction And we know Christ's words to be true Blessed are they that Suffer for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5. And for all thy Vngratious Words the Lord will rebuke thee in one Day and in that Day of thy Torment remember thou hast wronged us R. W. And thou scoffingly sayst That if a Notorious Drunkard be convinced and come to hearken to a Spirit within to say Thee and Thou and thinks himself Equal and above all his former Superiors c. he is Justified Sanctified c. and so holy that he cannot sin in Thoughts and Words c. Thus they pretend Repentance Faith and a Change of Heart because they have changed their Talk and Garments Answ. The Spirit of God within leadeth to no such Sudden Thing neither is the Work so easily done as R. W. here would foist into the minds of the World to make them load the Truth neither shall he find it so easy himself if ever he should see a Day of Repentance And the Spirit of the Lord leadeth to Humility and that is a good Spirit that Leadeth to Modesty in Apparel and to True Words and from Evil Thoughts and from Drunkenness For after a Man is restrained from Actual Sins without him then he cometh to know the putting off the Body of it within and crieth as Paul did to Christ for no Man can help him then but He that did help Paul who Thanks God in Victory in the end But why should R. W. be so against the Spirit within in saying THEE and THOV and putting off our needless Apparel seeing it was the Practice of the holy Men of God in the Scripture hath not he proved himself that he is degenerated from the Spirit Life and Practice of the Primitive Church R. W. And thou say'st John Bradford said unto God Lord thou art Heaven and I am Hell Answ. And was not this Hell within him think'st thou and if so why dost thou find Fault with the Quakers R. W. Then thou fallest on a preaching but to no purpose to thy Position nor G. F.'s answer And dost thou not say The Blood of God doth Cleanse and Redeem thee Answ. And yet dost thou not find Fault with the Quakers for mentioning the Blood of God And the 2 Cor 7. doth not evidence thy True Repentance from a Pharisee's And R. W. Thou say'st That no Papist nor Quaker by
unto therefore he Judgeth that ours Attaineth no higher than his own And poor Man how can he do otherwise when he blasphemeth against the Light of Christ which We are commanded by Christ to believe in and to receive him in us and so no Reprobates R. W. Bringeth forth his Tenth Position That the Popes of Rome do not swell with and exercise a greater Pride then the Quakers have express'd and would aspire unto although many truly humble Souls may be Captivated amongst them And R. W. Thou say'st Thou hast a spacious Field to walk in the Pride of Christ Jesus his pretended Triple-Crowned Vicar and the Pride of the New Papists pretending to be Christ himself and under the Papists he means us Answ. As for the Papists as we have often said let them Answer for themselves And where did ever any of the Quakers pretend to be Christ Jesus we charge R. W. that he shew it there is no such thing in G. F.'s Answer which he quoteth to prove his false Charges But as for his calling us New Papists truly this hits himself and his New-England-persecutors whose Image they have born their BLOODY HANDS and their Laws declare it they be in the Spirit of the Old Papists and not we who suffered Death by both of them both in Rome in France and in New-England and we may very well call it NEW ROME R. W. And thou tell'st us of the Devil's Pride and Condemnation in Spiritual Gifts Priviledges and Excellencies this was the Devil's Break neck and will be of the Pope's and Quakers c. Answ. R. W. and dost not thou say pag. 154. Thy Hope is that many of us may come to Abraham's Bosom and now dost number us with the Devil's Pride and our Necks must be broken with him and the Pope And under the Devil's Condemnation R. W. might have applied this at home better and to many of the New-England-Church then to the Quakers But R W. and the New-England-Priests we would have you make good by Scripture what Spiritual Knowledge the Devil hath and Spiritual Gifts and Priviledges and Spiritual Excellencies For Christ saith There is no Truth in him the Devil and then what spiritual Knowledge spiritual Gifts spiritual Priviledges and spiritual Excellencies hath the Devil describe them and let us see where they be written in the Scriptures that Christ and the Apostles said so much of the Devil as thou hast done R. W. Thou say'st As to the Quakers they know it is not yet time to put on the Eagle's and the Lion's but the Sheep's and Foxe's Skin and say'st But if let loose the Quakers Spirit would scorn to come behind the Pope Answ. Thou and the New-England-priests might very well have applied this at home who have gotten the Sheep's-Skin but have been the Wolves and Foxes devouring the Lambs But it is the Pope's Spirit and not the Quakers who have shed the Blood of Christ's Martyrs So have the New-England-People SHED our BLOOD for the Testimony of Jesus But we and the Reader may understand that their Guilty Consciences are afraid of an Eagle to be let loose upon them And is not the Fourth Angel pouring out his Vial upon your Head that maketh thee to Blaspheme and the Fifth upon the Seat of the Beast that you Gnaw your Tongues so and Blaspheme the God of Heaven So it 's clear that ye are not Come behind the Pope's Spirit who have SHED the BLOOD of the Lambs of Christ And so the Comparison is true between you and the Pope and not the Quakers whom thou wickedly slanderest And W. Edmond saying That thou had'st slandered many people both in Old England c Did this fright thee This was not a Boasting of our Numbers as thou scoffingly say'st W. Edmond was a fit Man to make a Bonifacius or a Hildebrand and J. S. also c. and all of them are ready to cry up Diana whom all Asia and the World worshippeth Answ. Now let the Reader see whether R. W. speak Truth or no Do All call Christ the Light with which he Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World and God whom we worship in Spirit and Truth as Christ commanded above Sixteen hundred Years since Diana whom the World worshippeth What an Enmity is in R. W. against Christ his Light and the Worship of God! as John 4. And as for his Saying Bonifacius and Hildebrand which W. Edmond and J. S. is so fit to make This he might have very well applied at home to his New-England-Priests and see his Boniface there and BLOODY persâ—cution ready made J. S. they cast him in the Goal and Nicholas Alexander a Justice of Peace of Jamaica when they came to visit their Friends they cast him in the Goal And this was their Entertainment in New-England R. W. And thou say'st In their first Creeping like Hercules out of the Cradle how doth this Spirit dare the Spirits of Kings c. to Thou and Thee to the Faces of Mighty Monarchs with what â—râ—zen Faces c. Answ. The Reader may see what a plague the word THEE and THOV is to R. W yet was the Language of Christ and the holy Men of God both to Superior and Inferior And R. W. who calleth himself an Orator what hath he not read his Accidence and Grammar Plural and Singular Is the Practice of this called Brazen Face by R. W Then why do they teach the Children Plural and Singular AND for their First Creeping like Hercules c. Plainly this might the New England-priests and professors very well applied to themselves What Protestations of Religion have they made in their First Creeping out And how at last they threw it all down and turn'd it into Persecution both among themselves and Strangers R. W. And thou art offended because we do not Bow our Knee and Vncover our Heads which thou call'st Reverence c. Answ. Is not R W. worse then the Turk here and more fonder of his superstitious Honor For doth not the Turk say The Christian spends most of his time in shewing of his Bare Head But where did the Apostles or Christ command that the Christians should Put off their Hats one to another and Bow their Knee and say YOV to a Single Person We do charge R. W. and the New-England-priests to give some Scripture for it seeing they make so much to do about it And W. Edmond saying Whist Whist upon this thou scoffingly call'st him Pope Edmondson Nicholas Easton the Governour was not offended at it and what should R. W but only proud Pharisee-like seeking the honour one of another and is offâ—nded because he hath it not And if the Honor was sought which cometh down from above this would be laid into the Dust. BVT hath not R. W. who looketh so much at Putting off the Hat and Bowing the Knee proved himself to be Like the Pope here and not the Quakers who Put off the Hat and Bow their Knee neither to him nor the
Pope and neither King nor Governour are offended at it So R. W. hath proved the New-England-priests and himself like the Pope and not the Quakers with his Hat and Knee R. W. Thou say'st That the Pope sits in the Temple of God as over the Churches and Consciences c. Answ. So doth R. W. and his New-England-priests BRANâ— HANG WHIP and SPOIL the GOODS of such as will not Bow to the Image of their Religion c. R. W. And thou say'st That We do not regard as the Apâ—stle and the Bereâ—ns the Holy Scripture Answ. This is false for we trying you by the Scriptures maketh you so to Rage whose words and practice is Contrary to them and therefore you cry so often for Meanings And it is the Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father and Son that leadeth into all Truth and leadeth us into the Truth of the Scriptures AND why should not we send Word to our Friends of Coming into the Country c. this doth Torment thee Yea and the Lord will Torment you more who is gathering his people and drawing them to his Son and bringing them from your Barren Mountains and he has set his Shepheard over them Christ Jesus Read Ezek 34. how ye have Marr'd Pastures and Foul'd Springs and Thrust the Sheep with your Shoulder And R. W. is offended because our Meetings are Established in New-England And thou tell'st of Laws Papers and Decrees but thou hast not produced them And it was always our Practice as thou scoffingly say'st There was not Liberty for all to speak as the Spirit gave them Vtterance till G. F. came into New-England That is false And our Vnity stands in the Holy Spirit of God which is the Bond of peace if any go from it they are reproved And why did'st not thou produce the Decrees thou say'st G. F. gave forth of loosing from that brutish and dogged Behaviour c. and commanding them to be more Sociable and Man-like Answ. This is Untruth for G. F. gave them no such Command this is a base Reflection upon thy Neighbours for they were Sociable and Manlike afore And as for brutish and dogged Roger may keep at home for he had not so much Civility as to speak to G. F. when he was at Providence but snarling behind his back Base and Vn-manlike And did not we Bow and Vncover our Heads in Prayer c. before G. F. came to New-England R. W. But thou say'st of G. F. uncovering his Head and Bowing to the people and passing through the midst of them with his Hat in his Hand with much Respect and Civility and he blames others that did not so c. Therefore thou Concludest that either the Former Spirit or the Latter is not of God Answ. According to thy forged Lies or false Reports Neither did G. F. Vncover his Head nor Bow to the people when he past through them it is not his Practice though he might take his Hat in his hand when he was Hot and walked through the people And G. F.'s putting off his Hat was in Reverence to the Lord the God of Heaven and not to Man R. W. Thou say'st The Pope lifts up himself as God over the Scriptures and He is Sole Judge c and dispenseth of Oaths and Marriages c. Answ Might not R. W. have kept this at home with his New-England-Priests that They must be the Interpreters of the Scriptures and so Over the Scriptures For doth not R. W. cry out against us for Want of Meanings and saith We take it Literally and we are Fools and Silly and will not own your Meanings And therefore do not thou claim the power of the Expounding as the Pope doth AND are not the New-England-Priests and Professors both the Dispensers of Oaths and Marriages Pope like But we neither Swear nor Marry none but are Witnesses to them R. W. For dost not thou say We admit of no Interpreter but Our selves Answ. Nay R. W. It is not Self that Interprets Scripture we tell thee they were given forth from the Holy Ghost and it is the Holy Ghost that leadeth into all Truth of them which the Papists and ye cannot endure to hear of and so are of one Birth that persecutes him that is born after the Spirit R. W. And thou say'st That we said We would be tried by the Scriptures and yet thou say'st We admit of no Interpreter c. Answ. Then the Scripture it self is not the Trier but the Meaning which the Interpreter giveth must be the Judge according to thy sense How is the Scripture the Judge then as thou say'st And so the Meaning is set up and not the Spirit and this makes the Confusion in the whole World and is not this One with the Pope And we say The Spirit of God is the Interpreter of its own words that gave them â—orth R. W. And thou say'st over and over That the Papists and Quakers said that there would be no Loss if the Scriptures were gone out of the World Answ. These are but thy own words to prove thy false Charges that thou say'st We most horribly and hypocritically trample the Scriptures under our proud Feet R. W. And whereas thou say'st Thaâ— the Quakers and Papists most Insultingly lift up themselves against the Servants and Children of God all the World over that bow not to their Images Answ. R. Williams hath mistaken himself it 's he and the New-England-Professors and the Papists for never did the Quakers force any to their Religion by WHIPS c So they are Brethren in Iniquity And so the tender Babes have been TORN and received MARKS in their Backs with your WHIPS and the BRAND with your Hot Iron and your CVTTING OFF EARS and your Immodest STRIPPING of Women and Maidens at your Whipping-posts NOW we do Charge R. W. and all his New-England-Priests where ever Christ or the Apostles or the Church in the Primitive Times did Strip Men and Women Young and Old as ye have done O! ye have been a Shame to Christianity among the very Indians R. W. saith And say not the Quakers as the Pope c. All that believe not in their pretended Light their Repentance Holiness Zeal Preaching c. is nothing Answ. The Papists do not own the Light for Papists do not believe in the Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World no more than thou and you of New-England And so in this thou canst not compare us with the Papists but thee that callest the Light of Christ which Christ bids us Believe in that we may become Children of the Light an Idoâ— and a Fancy But thou and they that do so are in a blind Zeal and cannot see Repentance And what is your Holiness and Preaching good for without the Light of Christ that shineth in the Heart that should give the Knowledge of him AND we do profess and preach Christ that Died without the gates of Jerusalem without us and yet is
Lord Jesus Christ but we would haue them to mind the Grace of God that hath appeared to them and the Light and his good Spirit that they have grieved and believe in the Light of Christ which thou callest an Idol And we know Sweet Odors cannot come from a Spirit of Persecution But R. W. saith But G. F. will be found to adore an Image and Crucifix for the true Lord Jesus c. Answ. Nay R. W. thou art nearer that Condition who callest the Light of the true Lord Jesus an Idol which we never heard the Papists that adore Images and Crucifix did He is better built upon the Foundation of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles R. W. Thou say'st For doth not this proud Censor know that Men may be true Saints in their persons Answ. So not in their hearts if they be true Saints in person is that Sufficient R. W. and yet be subject to sudden Falling Fits Answ. But R. W. and the New-England-Priests did David walk with God with a perfect heart when he committed Adultery and Murther And whether these Actions did not defile his Persâ—n And if so then how can they be True Saints in their Persons Surely R. W. would be a Saint and a Ranter and the rest of the New-England-Persecutors And R. W. was finding Fault with the Ranters but I never heard any bring such Sayings of the Ranters before R. W. AND thou speakest of Peter denying c. But the Scripture saith If the Righteous fall they shall rise again but the Wicked shall fall into Mischief And R. W. it appeareth that he was never out of the Fall yet who saith There is no Motion nor Voice to be heard within of Heavenly things and supernatural Light and calleth the Light which John bare Testimony of a Frantick Light and an Idol R. W. And thou say'st After Christ's Ascension Peter played the Hypocrite and the Dâ—ssembler Answ. But where doth Paul call him a Hypocrite and Dissembler as thou dost Read Gal. 2. and let him see if Paul there calleth Peter Hypocrite And R. W. Thou bringest the Fathers in Godliness and famous Kings in God's Church of their Incivilities of many Wives and Impiety of Worshipping c. Answ. How canst thou say these are Fathers in Godliness when thou chargest them with Incivilities and Impieties For Godliness cannot be Impiety and Vncivil thou canst not make Godly when they acted these things But the Prophets writing these things as the Apostle saith were writ for Examples and Warnings that we should not follow such things for the End of the Prophets and Apostles Writings of such as fell and rise was that God's People should shun such Impieties and Evils and not for the Wicked to make use of the Scriptures to plead for Sin and say Such a one did such a Sin and strengthen themselves in the Evil. But the Apostle saith They were for our Examples to the Intent we should not lust after Evil things as they also lusted So here the Apostle doth not grant any Allowance for the Best to Sin as thou by the Conparison of the Goldsmith seemest to infer who giveth his Allowance as thou say'st to the best Gold c. But God giveth no such Allowance Christ's Command is to the Contrary And G. F. in all his Book never called them that were truly Humble and Able Godly and Conscientious Vipers Serpents Cains false Prophets Pharisees dumb Dogs c. Reprobates c. But must we not tell a Pharisee that he is a Pharisee Persecutors they are Persecuting like Uipeâ—s and Serpents did not Christ call them so Yea such were the Great Church of the Jews like the New-England-Church And doth not the Apostle say Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And thou that callest the Light an Idol and Christ within a Fancy and so art not thou a Râ—probate And have not the New-England-Priests and Professors manifest themselves to be like them that Killed their Brethren for Religion and about Sacrifice And greedy dumb Dogs doth not Isaiah call them so that can never have enough the Shepheards that cannot understand they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Let all People look whether all the New-England-Priests do not seek for their Gain from their Quarter And are not they Dogs and have not they TORN the FLESH of the Lambs of the true Lord Jesus And are they not Dumb as to God for thou say'st There is no Voice nor Motion within in Heavenly things in matters of Supernatural Light to be listen'd to or hearken'd to R. W. Thou say'st again That G. F. denies the Scriptures to be the Word of God Answ. This hath been answered over and over We tell thee what the Scriptures say of themselves to wit The WORDS of GOD Exod. 20. Revel 22. And thou therefore say'st Thou can'st not prove them in plain words of Scripture that they call themselves the WORD And if thou wast an Orator as thou say'st thou would'st not speak such a thing over so often because of which we are fain to Answer thee in so many pages And do not Scriptures signify Writings R. W. And thou say'st G. F. saith that every Man in the World hath that Spirit that gave forth Scriptures Answ. This is Answered over and over But R. W. doth not the Holy Spirit that leadeth the Saints into all Truth reprove the World of Sin c. John 16 8. though they do not or will not receive it R. W. And that all Saints are Acted by the Spirit Immediately that moved the Prophets and the Apostles Answ. And what then will R. W. deny the Saints from having the Spirit to Act them as the Apostles and Prophets had R. W. Thou say'st All this tends to nullify and vilify the Holy Scriptures Answ. This is thy Ignorance Can any Confirm and Establish the Scriptures without the Spirit that gave them forth But what must we Infer from R. W's words That he and his New-England priests have not the Spirit as the Prophets had that gave forth the Scriptures to lead them into all truth And That the Holy Ghost doth not reprove the World And this to prove himself and his New-England-Teachers degenerated from the Doctrine and Spirit of Christ and his Apostles and only to have the Form of Godliness and denying the Spirit and Power thereof R. W. And thou say'st again G. F. saith in his Book The Scriptures are not the Word of God and speakest Concerning every Word that proceedeth from the Mouth of God Answ. Then they are Words if they be Every Word and Every Word of God is fresh Food to us And his Saints we know but your Imaginations we cannot feed upon And R. W. Also the word Trinity and Sacrament Oh! how Zealous is this Fox for the purity of Language Why may not the word Humane be used as well as Sabboth c. which are Hebrew words as well as the word Bapâ—ism c.
Spirit to cause the Elder women to Instruct the Younger as Occasion calls them from home and is it not their Duty and do'st thou make this a Comparison with Abraham in the Case of Isaac as thou say'st surely no for it is the Duty of all Christian Women in their Families To instruct their Children But what is this to Daughters Prophesying for did not Priscilla Instruct Apollo as well as Aquila and doth not the Apostle speak of Women that Laboured with him in the Gospel Phil. 4 and were these only their Families or as occasion justly called them from home Did Mary Magdalen and other Women preach Christ's Resurrection As occasion called them from home or as Christ sent them and did not they confess and preach Christ at other times as well as in times of Persecution and all true Christian Believers that Believe in the heart with the mouth they will make Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10. R. W. And thou bringest T. H. that saith The Sight of the God-head without Faith in Christ is the foundation of all false Worships And G. F. Answers to T. H. Can any see the God-head or have a sight of the God-head and not see Christ and have Faith in Christ and who hath Faith in Christ do not they see the fulness of the God-head and dwell in Christ And were not their minds turned To that of God in them which declared the Invisible things of him from the Creation of his Eternal power God-head which the Apostle found fault withal c. Rom. 1 let all Examine and Judge Read the Scripture and try R.W. Replyeth to G. F. and saith I have Conversed with all the Indians of New-England c. and I have read Rom. 1. often and I find that first theris generally in all Man-kind in the world a Conviction of an Invisible and Omnipotent and Eternal Power and God-head and thou say'st That this Conviction doth arise from the Creation c. And then thou tellest what men hold c. Answ. Do'st not thou here speak contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine for doth not the Apostle say Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them and God hath shewed it unto them why do'st thou speak contrary to the Apostle's Language and say'st It riseth from the Creation And must not that which Is general in all Mankind in the world be the Spirit of God which Convicteth them of the Invisible and Omnipotent and Eternal Power and God-head and yet thou say'st There is no Voice nor Motion to be hearkned to in Heavenly things in matters of Super-natural Light p. 83. for the Apostle saith That which may be known of God so it is Of God which God hath shewed unto them therefore God will Judge the world in Righteousness who acteth contrary to that which he Sheweth them Rom. 1 19. R. W. saith I find not that every man or men by all their Natural Light or Wit or Christ within could find out how the world or himself man or woman were Created though Naylor telleth us in Print that if never a Letter of the Scripture had been writ yet their Spirit could tell them all things Answ. We do believe thee that thou and All men in their Natural State or Natural Light cannot find out the worlds nor how they were made c. because that Solomon saith The world is set in thy heart c. Eccles. 2. And whereas thou say'st Nor the Light of Christ within In that thou speakest Ignorantly for the true Light of Christ which is Life in the Word by which All things were made this Light that shineth in their hearts giveth them the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus the Word by whom All things wâ—re Created And as for I. N's saying that If they had not had the Scripture yet the Spirit of God teacheth them all things and why not Did not the Spirit of God teach them all things that gave forth the Scripture and is not the Spirit of God the same which led the holy men of God to give forth Scriptures which the Holy Ghost now leads into the Truths of them And the Apostle saith By Faith we understand the worlds were made by the word of God c. Heb. 11. and so by the same Faith it is understood now in the same Faith Moses describeth it who saw him that was Invisible and saw Christ who is the Author and Finisher of this true Faith which Faith thou and the New-England-Priests are erred from as is manifest R. W. Thou say'st All men confess that the Will or Mind of God is pure and as they could come to know it it is to be adored and kept and observed and that it was ever and is wickedness to sin against it Answ. Then must not this be the pure Spirit of God that maketh them to confess to his pure Will or Mind and to confess that it was ever sin and wickedness to sin against it R. W. And thou say'st None for all the Light and Spirit in every one could ever find how Sin and Death and Sorrow came into the world nor how such Inclinations and Dispositions of sin came into themselves Answ. Then thou art out of the Faith and Spirit and Light that Moses was in and the Apostles for the Apostle that turned people from the Darkness to the Light of Christ Explaineth it Rom. 5. And do'st not thou think that he saw it with the Spirit of God within and the Light of Christ which lighteth every man that cometh into the world and that Moses did not see it with the same Light of Christ and the Spirit of God because thou say'st None for all the Light and Spirit in every man could find it And such that did understand Visions and Dreams and the Scriptures c. it was by such as Obeyed the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God Revealed such things to them R. W. And further thou say'st Thou findest in all Men a Conviction that God is just and powerful and doth bring Plagues and Punishments upon persons for gross sins as Adultery and Murder c. Answ. And before thou confessest more General That it was ever and is wickedness to sin against it to wit the Mind of God pag. 28. And will not this Teach them to Resist the Devil that Teacheth them to Forsake sin and will not that Teach them to Glorifie God as he is God if they obey it and what is all this that thou hast spoken in thy Answer here to the purpose for sometimes thou grantest what G. F. saith in Rom. and then thou speakest slightingly of the Light of Christ and callest it Natural which is from the Spiritual man But all that see their Happiness and their Blessedness in the world that is without End they must see it by the Divine Light of Christ and do Resist the Devil with the Faith that Christ is the Author
of R. W. And thou say'st Hence according to G. F. 's Opposite all Man kind have invented so many false Gods false worships c. yet out of no more Love to God then the Lamb beareth to a Lyon c. and then thou quotest the Philistines Samaritans and Sechemites c. Answ. Thy words are General All Man-kind all the world over What! did Methuselah and Jared and Lamech and Abraham and Moses and the Prophets and the Apostles Invent did they Invent any False Gods for thy words are All Man-kind have Invented so many false Gods and Worships all the world over What! is there no part of the World free hath not God his Seven Thousand still as he had in the days of the Prophets that Do not bow their knee to Baal 1 King 19. And did not all those that Invented all those false ways and worships go from that of God In them which God had shewed unto them R. W. And then thou say'st The Sechemites for fear of Lions or hope of Gain will be of any Worship or Religion as most this day in the World will be yea all and every soul except to whom in and from the Holy Scriptures the Holy Spirit Revealeth the Incomprehensible Mystery of a Mediator Answ. Then they are not All Man-kind And as for Being of any Religion for hope of Gain that thou and the Priests might have kept at home for the Gain that Gods Servants got that were sent to preach the Gospel among you was Gallowses Whips Prisons and bad Language And they that own the Holy Spirit to Reveal Christ the Mystery the Mediator which Holy Spirit leadeth into all Truth they will own us and not them that talk of it and live out of it R. W. And then thou bring'st I. H. his saying The Justification and Redemption by obeying the Light within is a Mystery of Iniquity G. F. Answ. He that believeth is justified from all things and cometh not into Condemnation for he hath the Witness in himself and that lets him see to wit the Light of Christ the Redeemer the Saviour the Light which walking in it he is cleansed from all sin So no Mystery of Iniquity for the Mystery of Iniquity is out of the Light and none seeth Justification and Redemption but with the Light which cometh from Christ who hath enlightned them To this R W. Replyeth and beginneth with his Foul Language and saith This is subtle but being examined it will be a Mystery of Hellish Iniquity and lighter then Vanity it self Answ. Poor Man he might very well have kept this at home And then he goeth on and saith G. F. confoundeth Justification and the Light of Christ and Faith and Obedience after his Babilonish wont all in a Juglers Box within together so that the English of it is Faith is Christ Obedience is Christ Justification is Christ c. And then thou say'st It is true Figuratively Answ. If it be True Figuratively why do'st thou call it Babilonish and Juglers Box and Lighter then Vanity and Hellish Iniquity but G. F.'s words are plain enough as they speak but thou that art in the Hellish Iniquity and the Juglers box c. may'st Cavil at them R.W. And because that G.F. saith None see Justification Redemption which cometh from Christ who hath enlightned them but with the Light within R. W. saith That G. F.'s words may be in plain English thus rendred None sees Christ and Christ but with the Christ within which cometh from Christ who hath Christed him Answ. Now Reader see if G. F.'s words speak as he Maliciously saith For can any see Christ Jesus their Sanctification Justification and Redemption but by the Light which Christ hath enlightned them withal for with the same Light they see their sins and Christ their Saviour and Redeemer c. And thou say'st It is a Mystery or a subtle Trick of Hell to call Faith Obedience and Obedience to the Light Justification c. Reader read G. F.'s words and see if G. F. hath either mentioned the word Obedience or Faith p. 29. So R. W. Inventeth words and then he called them a Mystery and a subtle Trick of Hell to call them as he hath invented them which is his own subtle Trick of Hell for there is no such word in G. F.'s Answer And then he calleth it True sense and saith True Sense as Mony answereth all things but we cannot deny the Apostle's Doctrine how that Christ is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and thy Distinguishing of Heavenly matters is like thy Distinguishing of G. F.'s words as hath been shewed before in thy Contradictions R. W. And then thou say'st It is another Gospel and yet not another but is a Dream and dead Picture of an Image or an Idol to put-in our Obedience and Working Answ. What Contradictions and Confusions are these and what work makest thou about Obedience for G. F. hath not mentioned the word Obedience but thou fightest with thy own words but seeing thou makest such work with Obedience read Rom. 1 5.6 16.16 19. and 2 Cor. 7 15.10 5 6. 1 Pet. 1 2. R. W. And then thou say'st I know they Father this Bastard upon the most-Holy God himself saying It is His Obedience His Righteousness and His Working in the room of the Death and Blood-shedding the Sufferings and Merits of the Lord Jesus Answ. I did never hear so many foul words and such Perversions from any man in my Life the Reader may see in R. W.'s own Book there is not the word Obedience in G. F's Answer which he replyeth to And we do say that Christ Jesus was Obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Phil. 2 and the Apostle saith As by the Disobedience of one Man many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of One to wit Christ many were made Righteous And the Saints are Obedient to Christ's Faith and Spirit c. R. W. And then thou goest on and tellest of Laban changing wages c. and then thou tellest us of the Papists and Jews c. and the Bargain of Do this and Live and a Bargain of Saving our selves and a Bargain of Flying out of our selves only to Gods Mercies in the Mediation of Christ Jesus and then again render our selves so Holy so Obedient so Righteous so Loving so Chaste so Meek so Patient so Temperate that in thought word or deed we sin not And this our Holiness is Christ and God and Spirit and Justification c. Answ. Reader did'st thou ever hear how he hath jumbled things together here Where did Christ and the Apostles use these words as Making of Bargains with his People it's like R. W. thinketh he is Wiser then they that gave forth the Scriptures and their words are too simple for him to speak but R. W.'s Scoffing Expressions here do not touch us he may apply this at home And this we say Every one that followeth Christ must Take
up his Cross and deny himself he that will be his Disciple and they must Die with Christ if they Live with him and suffer with him if they Reign with him and his Spirit teacheth Temperance Patience and Holiness yea to deny that which is Unholy both in Word and in Thought And the Righteousness of Christ Jesus is our Fine Linnen and it is God and Christ that doth justifie by the Spirit who art thou that dost Condemn And where did we say that Our Holiness is Christ and God though we cannot deny Christ to be Our Holiness c. who deny Self-holiness R. W. And thou say'st I know the Writers of the Quakers make this high Obedience to be the Crown of some high Saints among them as the Papists do and that others come not so high are taken by the fleshly Spirit and Repent and Confess and be more watchful as they say in a Contradiction of J. Naylor Answ. These are most horrid Lyes and Reader see if G. F. speaketh any of these words in his Answer to T. H. as to the Crowning of high Saints like the Papists for their Obedience or Making their Obedience a Crown for it is the Lord Jesus Christ that Crowneth his Saints that believe in his Name and grow up in his Grace and Truth And as for a Fleshly Spirit and Repent and Confess this you may apply at home for we own no Repentance nor Confession but what is made by the Spirit of God in which we have Unity and for Exhorting to the watchful that is Christ's Doctrine And it is no Contradiction to say He that is born of God cannot sin for the Apostle John explaineth this in his Epistles better than thou can'st which the Quakers own which thou makest a great Jumble about For the Apostle saith He that believeth is born of God and overcometh the world and is not that the world in mens hearts and he writeth to Young-men and Fathers which had Overcome the Wicked one and to Little Children that they sin not and if any man sinneth we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is a Propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the whole World 1 Joh. 2. R. W. Thou say'st Yet again in a horrible Mystery of Iniquity they exclaim against the Protestants for saying A Child of God cannot fall from the true Grace Finally or Totally Answ. Here are no such words in G. F.'s Answer to T. H. Or how hangeth this together thou say'st They say He that is born of God cannot sin then how Can they Fall from the true Grace But what say'st thou to them that Crucifie the Son of God afresh and do despite against the Spirit of Grace and turn it into Wantonness and these are such as do not Own the True Grace of God which is their Teacher though it hath appeared to them nor do not Believe in the Light of Christ Jesus but hate it And If the Righteous Fall they rise again but the Wicked Fall into Mischief R. W. And thou say'st Here is a Mystery of Hellish Iniquity in that they confess such a Man Christ to have been and his Blood-shedding the Types and real Predictions and Figures of him a real Death Resurrection and Ascension yet upon the point by a Devilish Chymistry evaporate all these and leave nothing but a Christ within as God and Man whose Name is now Light c. Motions within Answ. As for Hellish Mystery of Iniquity and Devilish Chymistry thou may'st keep at home for according to the Scriptures of Truth we do believe Christ Jesus his Birth Sufferings Resurrection and Ascension who fulfilled the Prophets and the Types and Shadows of him And what must we not call God and Christ as the Scriptures call them for God is called the Light and Christ saith I am the Light And though Christ is Risen and Sitteth at the Right hand of God yet he doth dwell In his Saints his Temple according to the Apostle's Doctrine as you may see 1 Cor. 6. and 2 Cor. 6. And what must not God's people Obey the Motions of the Spirit of Christ and his Light and to take heed to it by which they may see Christ their Saviour and Justification and Salvation and the Lord their Righteousness and the Apostle stirred up to Perfection and to Holiness which all the Saints are to follow R W. And thou say'st It is a Hellish Mystery of the Devil to Cosen poor souls with a Notion of the Difficulty and Hight of their profession and of Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth which they say no body in the world doth but they Spirit within Answ. Our good Profession which we make is of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour who hath enlightned us to follow him and his Worship that he hath set up in Spirit and Truth and they that quench the Spirit and hate the Light and will not come to Truth cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth John 3.4 And this Truth and Spirit of God is Within people and thou or they that draw people from the Truth in the Inward parts and Spirit within you draw them into the Hellish Mystery and Cosen poor souls as thou speakest of for coming to Christ and his Worship And whereas thou say'st Thou toldest them of an Image in the Bed but David was gone c. but this is thy own Condition And then thou say'st That their Religion is one of the Easiest in the world Nay thou never trod the Path thou do'st not know what it is the Gallowses and Goals and Whip-Stocks manifest whether Our Religion be Easie. R. W And whereas thou tellest us What will delight our Ears and Minds to wit various Tunes of Musick c. Answ. But that which Delighteth Vs is the Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Ghost and the Joy of the Lord is our Strength And that which thou applyest to Us thou may'st keep at home it 's thy own and none of ours R. W. And thou say'st If a poor soul give way an Inch and lets in one thought of yielding to the Voice of a Spirit within they are filled and ravished with Curious Notions of Justification Holiness and Righteousness God and Christ and the Spirit within them Answ. How endlesly do'st thou speak against the Voice of the Spirit of God in his People And the Apostle exhorteth Not to walk after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8 1 2 5 6 9 10 11 13 16 26 27. Rom. 12 11. and 1 Cor. 6 20 34. 1 Cor. 12 13. Gal. 5 5 16 18 25. Eph. 4 3 5 9. Phil. 1 27 That you stand fast in one Spirit Phil. 2 1 If any fellowship of the Spirit c and those are the Poor souls that do not hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And they that Obey the Voice of God and Christ must Obey the motions of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit leadeth to Holiness
Darkness to Light turn People to the God of the World what Blasphemy is this R. W. But thou say'st The Scripture is but a Dead Letter the true Christ is within thee he will turn thee from thy Sins and make thee Perfect as he is and he is come in us Ten Thousand of his Saints c. Thus thou mockest Answ. R. W. hath not proved that the Letter of the Scripture is Living for Christ saith Search or Ye search the Scriptures but ye will not come unto me that you may have Life for they are they that Testifie of me they Testifie of the Life but Christ doth not say They are Life or Living And doth not Christ shew People their Sin else how doth he Convince them of their ungodly Deâ—ds And doth not Christ say to his Apostles Be ye Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect and what dost thou kick against this Doctrine We do confess that Christ Liveth in our Hearts and if he live not in your Hearts you are Roprobates the Apostle saith R. W. And whereas he scoffingly saith 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 And then thou say'st What is in all this but the noise of Fenny Bitter in Hollow Canes c what is here but that two Common Businesses may reach to 1. The Conscience of Good and Evil which every Savage Indian in the world hath 2. The Whisperings the Blindings and Cheatings of the Devil in Samuel's Mantle Answ. Here the Reader may see that R. W's Words are nothing in Answer to G. F's Assertion But what must we infer from R. W's Words but that the Preaching of the Word of God in the Heart and Christ within People except they be Reprobates and God Walking and Tabernacling in his Saints and the Spirit of God to lead his Saints into all Truth that they may be his Sons and the Light that shineth in their Hearts that giveth them the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus and the Worship of God that is in the Spirit in which he seeketh People to worship him These Doctrines saith R. W. are such a Conscience of Good and Evil as every Savage Indian in the world hath And further he saith These Doctrines are the Whisperings Blindings and Cheatings of the Devil pretending saith R. W. Vowing and Swearing to be the Word of the Lord to be Jesus Christ yea and that to your Feeling c. This is an Horrid Lie he knoweth it in his own Conscience for we neither Vow nor Swear but Christ Jesus the Word we feel to our Comfort and Salvation but what Comfort in this Doctrine hath he to poor Sinners And after this thou Contradictest thy self and say'st That Christ Jesus is the Door of Hope to poor Sinners here thou grantest what G. F. asserts and what thou hast been Cavilling against and so Contradictest thy self which is frequent with thee But Roger is the Worship of God in Spirit and Truth a Temporal and Visible thing prove this by Scripture and prove to us by Scripture That God and Christ and his Spirit is called a Conscience of Good and Evil and whisperings and blindings and cheatings in Samuel's Mantle Also pag. 74. he saith to this purpose Natural Men until Chang'd and Born again do but prate as the Devils do but in Contradiction to that he saith pag. 79. That it is by Outward hearing or reading and inward Convictions of Natural Conscience God hath passed Sentence of Eternal Death R. W. must this then be an Inward or Spiritual Hearing of this Sentence And when People come to see their Sins by the Light of Christ then People Cry out to Christ the Saviour the Gospel the Good News for Salvation from him they Receive this Gospel their Healing and Setteth them out of Prison and free from their Sin and with his Light it is they see themselves Blind and with his Light they see his Spiritual Eye-Salve and his precious Blood which Cleanseth from all Sin But these are too good and soft Words for thy foul Spirit and full Stomack who hast cast out so many Lies against God's People R. W. And thou bringest-in Ellis Bradshaw Fol. G. F. 224. saying There is more Words than one G. F. Answ. God is the Word and the Scriptures are the Words which Christ fulfilleth And R. W. replyeth As the Design of the Bloody Pope and Jesuites are to kindle Wars between the Protestants that the Protestants may do the Papists work so deals the Devil the old Serpent with Christ Jesus and the Holy Scripture which are but one in a Sense as the Sun and the Sun-Dial his end is to tear down the Sun-Dial c. under pretence that the Sun is within them and they need no Dials or Clocks no Visible thing that is Temporal c. and so to destroy the Person and Commands of Christ as Visible and Fleshly pretending all to be Light and Spirit Answ. Reader what is this to G. F's Answer But R. W. have not the New-England Priests and Professors done the BLOODY Pope's work as thou call'st him and art not thou a doing it and would they be so careful of the Scripture but that they make a Trade of it and under a pretence of Scripture and Dials without do the Devil's work to throw at the Spirit and Christ in Peoples Hearts and tear him out there if you could But I must tell thee R. W. that as to Christ himself and his Person though he was Dead yet he is Alive and Dies no more and he is out of your Reach and you cannot persecute him any more though they and thou may persecute him in his Members that keep the Commands of Jesus And as to Visible and Fleshly pretending and the Visible and Temporal things thy Clocks and Dials which are thy Helps to know the Invisible know this thou may'st pore on them till thy Eyes rot in their Holes and never know the Lord Jesus Christ but by Revelation R. W. Thou say'st The word Dabar in Hebrew and Logos in Greek signifie the Word c. and that it is a Metaphor to say God is the Word for God is no more a Word than he is a Man or a Spirit c. Answ. Dost thou not here gain-say John's Doctrine who saith The Word was God and wilt thou give Christ the Lie that saith God is a Spirit Joh. 4. but prove this by Scripture that John did say That it is a Metaphor to call God the Word Then dost not thou Contradict thy self and say'st The Man Christ Jesus is called the Word but was not he called the Word that was called God and did not this Word take Flesh did Christ suffer and die as he was God or according to the Flesh since 't is said The Word liveth and abideth and endureth for ever Thou say'st That G. F. confesseth that
of Christ's mouth that which is not of him was not that of Christ that he breathed upon his disciples when he said Receive ye the Holy Ghost what was that a Figure of if not of a Participation of his own Breath Life and Spirit and if so it seemeth this that cometh out of Christ's mouth must be his breath By the Brightness of his Coming and the Breath of his mouth he shall destroy the man of sin that is by his Spirit what now Roger is it not Christ's Breath that goeth out of his Mouth that destroyeth and is it not his Breath his Spirit doth not both the Hebrew and the Greek say so wherefore the Sword with Two Edges that cometh out of Christ's mouth is the Spirit by which he destroyeth and will destroy the man of sin and all such scornful men as thou art if you repent not R. W. Theâ—e great Interpreters are confounded in themselves for in Ephes. 4. the Spirit must be the Sword but in Hebr. 4. Christ must be the Sword with two edges being the Word of God and not the Spirit Answ. Thou writest as if thou ravest there is no such passage in Ephes. 4. Next for Hebr. 4 there is no such thing as making Christ the Two-edged Sword For the words are That the Word of God is sharper then any Two-edged Sword but that the Scriptures are not Christ and the Spirit as thou wouldst have it neither can they pierce even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow nor are they a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart this were to make the Scripture a Spiritual and Invisible Being yea an Omnipresent one yea God For they declare that he that searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins and telleth unto man his Thoughts the LORD OF HOSTS is his Name Thou art like the Apostate Jews that by thinking to Honour the Scripture dishonour God Christ Spirit and Scripture too But thou callest us Juglers for shifting from Christ to Spirit and Spirit to Christ again what Vnsavoury Words hast thou Is not Christ Jesus called the Word of God and is he not called the Quickning Spirit and is not the Spirit Christ's Spirit and can Christ be separated from his own Spirit but thou art Ignorant of that Vnion being in the Death and Alienation from Christ and his Spirit R. W. But it is Objected by G. F. That the Spirit was before the Scripture and gave forth the Scripture I answer What then G. F. is before his Book and gave it forth is it not therefore G. F's Word and Writing but G. F. himself Or is not the King's Majesty before his Declaration to the World is it not therefore the King's Word or is it the King himself Answ. What I say is true and R. W. shall not be able to deny it if he own plain Scripture For before the Scriptures were the Word was it was In the Beginning so were not the Scriptures The Word was with God and was God so were never the Scriptures All things were made by it that were made but nothing was ever Created by the Scriptures therefore not the Word of God but Words Again the Word of God that came to the Prophets was not the Written Word yet the Word therefore the Written Word was not that Word but a Declaration of that Word and came from the Word so that which was before the Scriptures and from whence they came is the Word and not themselves So that what thou Alludest to confoundeth thy self G. F. is before his Writing and the Writing is not G. F the King is bâ—fore his Declaration and the Declaration is not the King In like manner the Word is before the Scripture and the Scripture is not the Word but a Declaration of that Word and the Words of that great Word So we are for the Form of Sound Words that proceed from that Divine Word that dwelt in Enoch Abraham and the Patriarchs before the Scriptures were and in the Holy Prophets and Apostles before they gave forth the Old and New-Testament-Writings which they directed the Antient Saints to and desired that it might dwell richly in them R. W. Thou say'st This Immediate Inspiration of the Holy Scripture from the Spirit makes it a Word so powerful a Standard Touch-stone or Weights so perfect for the Tryal of all Spirits Writings Doctrines Religions Worships Actions c. Answ. The Immediate Inspiration of the Holy Scripture is no Scripture-saying neither can the Scripture Inspire Thou bringest-in From the Spirit if thou meanest that they are Given forth by Inspiration we own it if thou intendest more 't is Erroneous for Inspiration is by the Spirit of God only Now the Scripture is a Sâ—aled Book to thee and thy Generation neither knowest thou the Meaning of it for it is only given to the Spiritual Man to Discern he that is lead and guided by the Spirit but thou shuttest the Spirit out the Scripture is sufficient Wherefore thou art ignorant of the Scriptures for they are not to be learned but by the Spirit that gave them forth they are shut up from all the Wisdom of this World therefore the Jews understood them not but persecuted Jesus by them as they dâ—rkly imagin'd as thou dost us and thought in them to find Eternal Life and not in Christ whom they discerned not as thou dost not the Children of Light But do the Scriptures try Spirits they say the Anointing is to do it whom shall we believe But Roger Tryal of Spirits is more than Tryal of Doctrines Writings and External Truth What! if a Man profess all the Doctrines of the Apostles and were outwardly not to be condemned in his Conversation yet might have a Deceitful Spirit to gather to himself and endeavour to supplant the true Servants of God and an all occasions use the Words of the Prophets and Apostles and say Thus saith the Lord but God never spoke by him how wouldst thou try this Spirit and this Power what Chapter or Verse would give thee a Savour and Discerning of the Spirit of this Deceiver this Wolf in the Sheeps-Cloathing to try not the Words but the Nature Life and Spirit that useth them But it hath ever been the Devil's Way in his Instruments since the Scriptures were given forth to pretend to Stand up for the Scripture when the Design is to war against and undervalue the Power Spirit and Anointing endeavouring to bring it into Disgrace But the Lord beholds these things and he will overtake such Evil Instruments with his Judgments and his Power and Spirit and Seed of Life and Holy Anointing which the Scriptures of Truth testifie of shall appear more and more and go over all R. W. Thou say'st further But the Pharisees saith G. F. had the Scriptures but they had not the Sword of the Spirit I answer The Jews had and have and so the Turks have had much of it the Papists and the Quakers
New-England-People must not we Love one another and Esteem one another and Love Enemies and Pray for Persecutors R. W. would have us to observe the Conspiracy of Korah c. which was consumed by Earth and Fire Answ. If R. W. had done this and the New-England-Priests he and they had never Conspired against God's People but let them take heed of the Judgments and is it not come upon some of them since R. W. writ this Book And let the Reader see if R. W. have touched upon G. F's Answer which saith They that do not bring People to the Light of Christ within are of Korah and Dathan c. and the Priest saith They that bring People to the Light of Christ within are as Korah Dathan c. And now what must we observe from R. W's and J. B's Doctrine but that They that turn People from the Light are not Korah and they that turn People from the Darkness to the Light are Korah So then the Preachers of Christ the Light within are Korah and the Rebellers against the Light of Christ within are not Korah and they that will not believe the Doctrine of R. W. and the New-England-Priests must be Korahs Dathans c. by them and must be Punished Goods SPOILED IMPRISONED BANISHED WHIPT BVRNT in the Hand and EARS CVT OFF c. And are not ye herein worse than Korah And a great deal more Railing Language thou hast here not worth the taking notice of R. W. Bringeth George Johnson from G. F's Fol. 262. saying The Americans were never ordained for Grace and Salvation and the Grace of God never appeared to the Americans G. F. Answ. Which is contrary to the Scripture which saith The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto 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 Judah and that he may be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And many in America have received Truth and Salvation R. W. replyeth To the Covenant or Bargain of Ged with Man First and Secondly I have spoken Thou say'st Thou hast spoken but thou hast proved no where in the Scripture where it is called a Bargain And also thou say'st Thou hast spoken to the Figurative Calling of Christ to the Jews and Gentiles and that this blind Soul taking it Literally 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 as also with a known Contradiction to Experience which saith The whole World lies in Wickedness Answ. R. W. saith G. F. hath contradicted themselves I say Nay For R. W. saith that G. F. is a blind Soul and taketh Christ the Covenant literally for he calleth Christ the Covenant Figurative but he hath not proved it by Scripture neither told us what Christ the Covenant Figureth forth and then in plain Words contradicteth himself in the same page saying Christ is the Light the Covenant c. as the Sun in the Heavens to all the World And G. F. doth not say that any are saved but who believe in the Light as Christ commandeth and so have Faith in him this is no Contradiction to Christ our Foundation And God saith I will give thee for a Covenant to the people Esa. 42. and what THEE is this if it be not Christ And I will give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the Earth Esa. 49. and thou blasphemously callest this Covenant of Life which lighteth every man that cometh into the World our New black Image of Light within R. W. why dost thou Blaspheme against Christ and his Light which shineth in our hearts to give us the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus where was ever any of the Antichrists and false prophets thy Fore-fathers so gross as to call the Light of Christ a black Image R. W. And thou callest the Light of Christ Jesus within a false Light and Spirit which we would infect the Indians with Answ. What doth R. W. and the New-England-Priests preach to the Indians if it be not Christ his Light Spirit and doth the Light of Christ Poyson and Bewitch People with Hellish Sorceries And what must we understand by R. W's Words but that he draweth them from the Light of Christ and his Spirit but the Apostle was sent to Open the Eyes of the Blind turning them from the Darkness to the Light And do not they that Draw People from the Spirit bewitch People read Gal. 3. R. W. saith What G. F. means by saying Some in America have received Truth and Salvation I can but guess at it is known that he owns nothing of God in the Indians or English until they bow down to their Idol Answ. Let the Reader see and consider the Wickedness of this Man against the Light of Christ and the Grace of God which G. F. saith hath appeared to all Men which bringeth Salvation and are not the Indians Men And God hath given Christ for a Covenant of Light to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth and this Covenant of Light and Grace he enviously calleth our Idol and saith We own nothing of God in Indians or English So let the Reader read my Answer to G. J. and judge but such as hate the Light of Christ which they should believe in and turn the Grace of God unto Wantonness which should teach them and bring them Salvation how should they be saved Now by this the Reader may see what R. W. and the New-England-Priests have brought the Indians and the People to seeing to turn People from Darkness to the Light of Christ and to Preach the Grace of God by which the Saints were saved Poysoneth and Bewitcheth People with Hellish Sorcery and to bow down to Christ the Light and his Grace is to bow down to an Idol as you may see his Blasphemous Doctrine in his Reply to G. F. And many more Malicious Words are here which are not worth the taking notice of R. W. Bringeth John Owen G. F. Fol. 263. saying All Truth concerning God and our selves is to be learned from the Holy Scripture the Word of God G. F. Answ. There was Truth learned before the Scripture was Written and the Scriptures of Truth are the Words of God which end in Christ the Word and there are no Truths learned but as the Spirit doth lead into all Truth And many have the Scriptures but know not Christ and the Truth c. so he hath thrown out Christ and the Spirit R. W. replyeth and calleth it a Childish Answer and saith There was Truth and Spirit and Christ and Light before Scripture So here R. W. and J. Owen are in Confusion they Contradict one another And further R. W. saith That the Scriptures nor
from his Spirit and resist the Holy Ghost But thou say'st The Men and Women in the World have never seen or heard of any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness What! have they never heard of Christ the Sun of Righteousness I believe there is Millions of Men and Women in the World that will say thou art a Lyar. For were not the Apostles to Preach the Gospel Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousness to all Nations and doth not the Apostle say The Gospel was preached to EVERY CREATVRE VNDER HEAVEN whereof he was made a Minister Col. 1 23. and the Apostle saith Have they not all heard YES VERILY Rom. 10 and the Prophane Mouth thou speakest with is thy own If they hate the Light of Christ and quench his Spirit that God hath poured upon them and erred from his Spirit then they are not like to See him indeed and will not Hear him in the Spirit and his Light they will not See him nor Hear him like the Pharisees and thou R. W. And why dost thou fret thy self about the Light and the word ALL and EVERY MAN but thy Spirit is the Sect-maker and would not have ALL nor EVERY MAN who art opposite to the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine Peter saith It shall come to pass in the last Days saith the Lord I will pour out my Spirit upon ALL FLESH to wit Sons Daughters Young-Men Old Men Servants Hand-maids Joel 2. Act. 2 and John saith This is the true Light which was Life in the Word which lighteth EVERY Man that cometh into the World And Paul saith to Titus The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto ALL MEN and Christ bid his Disciples To go into All Nations to Preach the Gospel unto Every Creature and the Apostle saith That the Gospel was Preach'd unto Every Creature under Heaven But R. W. saith Men and Women in the World who have never seen or heard of any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness and yet thou say'st pag. 28. I find in all Mankind a Conviction that God is IVST and Powerful and again I find all Men confess that the Will or Word or Mind of God is PVRE I find that First There is Generally in all Mankind in the World a Conviction of an Invisible Omnipotent and Eternal Power and Godhead and pag. 102. Men and Women in the World have never seen or heard any Glimps of the Sun of Righteousness thou say'st how now R. W. dost not thou Contradict thy self here dost thou Divide the Word here as thou accusest me is this New-England's Great Oratour And so as for Vnclean Beast and Proud Fancy and Vainly and Wickedly deluding and Soul-Cheating thou might'st have kept this in thy own Bottle R. W. Thou say'st G. F's 2d Answer here is to wit The Spirit of God shall lead the Saints into all Truth and R. W. saith I observe here how like a Skittish Jade this Wild Soul runs in and out c. before he brings in the Spirit of God poured out upon the Common World and now he brings in the Spirit leading the Saints the next word he concludes is Every Man in the World to have the Spirit c. Answ. Dost not thou confess that the Holy Spirit testifieth that he is the Comforter of the Saints and is he not the Leader also and dost not thou confess that the Spirit is the Reprover of the World p. 102 103. then hast not thou made thy self the Skittish Jade thou speakest of and Running in and out are not these Vnsavoury and Vnseemly Words out of an Old Man's Mouth that professeth Christianity And if the Spirit of Truth doth Reprove the World and God hath poured his Spirit upon All Flesh then is not this the Common World and if it be upon All Flesh is not Every Man come into the World else how will God Judge the World in Righteousness according to the Gospel Thou confessest That the Holy Ghost is a Reprover of the World and that he Reproveth the World in his Threatnings and Judgments and doth not he then Reprove the World for its Unrighteousness Judgment and Unbelief also and if thou didst not Resist it it would Reprove thee for thy Vnrighteousness False Judgment and Vnbelief as Christ saith R. W. Dost not thou say The World mocks at this Holy Spirit Banisheth Imprisoneth and Murdereth such in whom the true Spirit of God appeareth And further thou say'st It is Lying Peor tells us That all the VVorld without Distinction have the Manifestation of the Spirit of God to profit withal There have been Persons professing the Order of the Holy Ghost yet are far from the Savour of the Holy Spirit Answ. This is thy own Condition R. W. and thy own New-England-Professors who Resist it as Stephen saith Act. 7. and Mock at it and BANISH IMPRISON and MVRTHER such in whom the Spirit of God appeareth this hath been the Practice of the New-England-Priests and Professors to the Dishonour of Christianity And doth not the Apostle say God will pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh WITHOVT DISTINCTION as Peter saith and is not this All the Men and Women of the World what Flesh dare say but they have the Reproofs of God's Spirit when they do Ill except it be such as R. W. and R. W's Professors that quench it and have erred from it so thou may'st take thy Lying Peor to thy self And so it is thou that art resisting and fighting against the holy Spirit of God And can any profit in the things of God without the Manifestation of the Holy Spirit that is given to profit withal and Peter and Paul say to All flesh and to Every Man so it is their Doctrine thou oppossest not with the Spirit but with the dark fleshly mind And thou tellest a story of Babilonish Orders and of Absolom which if thou did'st see that thy own Condition in the Light of Christ thou hatest it would be better for thee R. W. Thou say'st Oh! what Reproofs of God's Spirit hath G. F. and others of their Leaders had in and by so many Excellent Opposites and Scriptures and Arguments which G. F. here trampleth under his Prophane Feet without any Savour of the Spirit of God Answ. R. W. thou highly extollest the Ranters here Tim. Trav. the great Ranter one of our Opposites but thou hast manifest thy Spirit and what thou takest part with-al against the People of God And we have a Savour of the Holy Spirit of God and in it can Savour our Opposites or Old Persecutors Spirits not to be of Christ and it hath been the Evil Spirit is in thee and them that hath stroven against us And we know you may bring Scripture to a wrong End as the Devil did to Christ and the Lord hath given us Power over the Devil's Spirit blessed be his Name for ever and he hath blasted it and brought down which was up in Oliver's Days that Persecuting Spirit And we do own the Scriptures letâ—it
shameful Lie And then concludes That they were his Witnesses that he had long said with David and he humbly hoped he should make it good that he hates and abhors Lying Providence in New-England Richard Scot. SOME TESTIMONIES of Ancient and Modern Authors concerning the LIGHT SCRIPTURES RULE and the SOUL of Man Testimonies concerning the LIGHT within MVnsterus Castalio Vatablus Drusius Clarius Codurus upon Iob 24 13 and Chap. 25 3. They â—re of those who rebel against the Light Vpon whom doth not his Light arise say That this Light is of the Divine Wisdom and Fountain of Light Alluding to the Psalmist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Mat. 4 19. The People that sate in Darkness saw great Light Also see Erasmus and Camerar upon Ioh. 1 4 9. Orpheus His Hand reacheth to the end of the Sea his right Hand is every where then within Of him alone are all things Clem. Alexandr Strom lib. 5. Thales thus There is but one God he is Glorious forever he knows Hearts and tells Thoughts He maketh the Teller of his Thoughts God as in Amos 4.13 Pythagoras thus GOD resembleth Light and Truth he is One He is not out of the World he is the Salt of all Ages ONE HEAVENLY LIGHT and Father of all things only Wise Invisible yet Intelligible Jambl. Iust. Mart. Heraclitus thus God is not made with Hands Pythagoras What things are agreeable to God cannot be known unless a man HEAR GOD himself Again Having overcome thy rebellious Appetites thou shalt know the Cohabitation of the Immortal God and mortal Men whose work is Immortality Eternal Life Trin. de Animâ Mundi Sophocles speaking of the Precepts written in Man's Heart saith God is their Father not Mortal Nature neither shall they ever be abrogated for there is in them a great God that never waxeth old Again saith he This is with respect to Man's Conscience a Divine a Sacred Good God the Overseer Oedip. Tyr. Clem. Alex. Str. l. 5. Socrates had the Guide of his Life within him and preached as he was moved by it even in the Streets and died for reproving the Corruptions of the Athenians in Manners and Religion Plotin taught That Man had a Divine Principle in him which maketh a True and Good Man Hierom called it a Domestick God The Good said Socrates shall be united to God in an In accessible place the Wicked in convenient places suffer due Puniâ—â—ment Iustin. Martyr in his Apology saith God hath built to himself a natural Temple in the Consciences of Men. Clem. Alex. Admon ad Gent. It is the Voice of Truth that Light will shine out of Darkness Therefore doth it shine in the Hidden Part of Mankind Strom. l. 5. Man cannot be void of Divine Knowledge who naturally partakes of Divine Inspirations Lactan. de Cult Ver. The Law of God is made known to us The Law is pure and unspotted Reason diffused through all the World Athanasius contr gent. The way to attain to the knowledge of God is within us which is proved from Moses who saith The Word of God is within thy heart and from this Saying of Christ The Faith and Kingdom of God is within you Minutius Felix saith God is every where not only very near us but infused As is observed by Grotius Crit. Tom. 7. on Acts 17 27. Testimonies concerning the SCRIPTURES LVther taught That the Spirit is required to the understanding of the whole Scripture and of every part thereof Again The Scriptures are not to be understood but by that very Spirit by which they were wrote Tom. 3. fol. 169. Iohn Bradford thus answered the Arch-Bishop of York We do believe and know the Scriptures as Christ's Sheep not because the Church saith they are the Scriptures but because they be so being thereof assured by the same Spirit that wrote and spake them Book of Mart. Vol. 3. p. 298. W. Tindal a faithful Martyr in Hen. 8. his time writes thus It is impossible to understand the Scriptures more then a Turk for him that hath not the Law of God written in his Heart to fulfil it Again Without the Spirit it is impossible to understand them W. Tindal's Works p. 319 and p. 80. B. Iewel against the Papists hath this Passage Flesh and Blood is not able to understand the Holy Will of God without special Revelation therefore Christ gave Thanks to his Father and likewise opened the Hearts of his Disciples that they might understand the Scriptures Without this special Help and Prompting of God's holy Spirit the Scriptures are unto the Reader be he never so Wise or well Learned as the Vision of a Sealed Book Calvin saith It is necessary that the same Spirit that spake by the Mouth of the Prophets should pierce into our Hearts to perswade us of the Truth of what they delivered Instit. lib. 1. cap. 8. Beza saith That the understanding of the Scriptures should be fetch'd from the same Spirit that dictated them Beza in Nov. Test. 2 Pet. 1.19 Peter Martyr taught That the Spirit is the Arbiter by whom we must assure our selves for understanding of the Scriptures that thereby we must discern between Christ's words and a Stranger 's Quoting Christ's words My Sheep know my voice and follow not a Stranger And among other Scriptures he quotâ—s these The Spirit searcheth out the deep things of God The Comforter shall declare all things that I have said unto you The spiritual Unction shall shew you all things Com. Loc. part 1. pag. 6. Again The Spirit of God reveals the truth in the holy Scriptures Com. loc p. 2. cap. 18. Again in an Oration to the Vniversity of Strasburgh concerning the Scriptures he expresseth himself thus The School of this Philosophy is Heaven Again We must remember that the Teacher hereof is the Holy Ghost Doct. Ames a Great Father of the Independents upon 1 Ioh 2. saith We require no more the Anointing of the holy Spirit doth teach the faitâ—ful to understand those things which they received of the Apostles there from to understand those things which are necessary to Salvation for these things those Believers had received of the Apostles With more to the same purpose in that Chapter lib. 1. c. 5. Thes. 32. contr Bellarm. H. Bullinger asserts in his 4 Decas and 8. Serm. dedicated to K. Edw. 6. That Men fetch'd the understanding of heavenly things and knowledge of the holy Ghost from no where else then from the same Spirit Doct. Owen saith The only publick Authentick and infallible Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures is he who is the Author of them from the breathing of whose Spirit it derives all its Verity Perspicuity and Authority Exerc. 2.7.9 T. C. an Antient and Considerable Baptist saith There is the Law and Testimony in the Spirit as well as in the Letter The Law of God is in the Heart there it is written and there it testifieth the Truth of God and if any Man speak not according to this Rule it
without Distinction have the Spirit of God to profit withal 63 69. R. W. pag. 182 183 Swearing Paul Swore after Christ and the Angel Swore c. So the Quakers Light that denies Swearing is of Satan and not the Light of Christ. Giles Fermin pag. 119 120 Why may not Paul call God to Record 122. R. W. pag. 121 Sword The Sword of the Spirit the Word of God 161 155-157 159. pag. 158 Saints see Christ. Savor of the Spirit 183. Scriptures the Gospel 174. A Written Pardon ib. Separation see Gospel Jews Serpents 106. Sight 74 79 90. Sight of Sin 145 146. Sinai 197. Sinful see Spirit Sorceries 168. The Spirit the Leader 182. The Reprover 182 183. Supper within 33 94 118 pag. 126 128 T. TEacher They need no Scriptures no Teacher 154. R.W. pag. 69 Teaching We must not look for an Immediate Extra-ordinary Miraculous Teaching from the Lord. 202. R. Sherlock pag. 153 G. F. affirms That the Teachings of the Lord are not Mediate but Immediate and This great Wrester of Holy Scriptures saith They shall be all Taught of God 63 100 R. W. pag. 153 154 Teeth There is a Generation whose Teeth are as Swords pag. Id. 163 THEE and THOV They can Thee and Thou and Disrespect all Superiors c. 43 44 69. pag. Id. 36 Tindal W. Without the Spirit it is impossible to Vnderstand the Scriptures pag. 95 Tongues The Scriptures may be Vnderstood by the Help of Tongues Fol. p. 84. 96 97. Helps 149. M Bine pag. 93 If no Knowledge of Tongues then no Preaching Translating Reading c. which the Devil aims at with all his Might 98 99. R. W. pag. 94 95 Turk Their going to the Turk and Pope as they pretend pag. Id. 99 Sol. Temple 53. Titles 113. Rabbi 115. Father 116. Tongues Helps 149. Trembling 197. See Kingdom Trial pag. 130 160 V. VOice I dare these Self-Confidents to particularize any Scripture where the Spirit of God directs any poor Soul to Listen and Hearken to a Light and Voice within him affirming that this is the Hearing by which Faith is wrought 68 85-88 107 108 184 198 206. R. W. pag. 86 87 W. WEapons They prate against Carnal Weapons 45 137 139. New-England Weapons 31 32. R.W. pag. 34 Wolf When he turns the Wolf into a Lamb then we are Meek c. 111 152 189. pag. Id. 75 Woman The Woman is the Weaker Vessel and not so fitted for Manly Actions c. 57. pag. Id. 58 Women to pretend to be Preachers in Publick Assemblies 154. pag. Id. 59 Women to have no Commission by Christ to Preach c. are forbidden c. Vnnatural Boldness pag. Id. Ib. Womens Vailing to make much more for their Silence in Praying and Preaching pag. Id. 60 They to Instruct other Women as Occasion calls them from Home pag. Id. 61 Word There is more Words than one 30 88 94 147 150. Ellis Bradshaw pag. 149 God is no more a Word than he is a Man or a Spirit 84 94 156. R. W. pag. Ib. Whether the Written Word of the Prophets of which Peter speaketh be not a more Sure Word of Command and Comfort to us 74 155. pag. Id. 54 55 God calls his Mind his Word his Writings his Word c. pag. Id. Ib. Words Surely there shall be no other Words in their Mouths than what were the First Messengers c. 40 41 73. pag. Id. 47 World I find not that ever any Man or Men by all their Natural Light or Wit or Christ within could find out how the World or himself Man or Woman were Created 126. pag. Id. 62 63 Plato grants a Creation c. Aristotle asserts the World to have no Beginning nor Ending pag. Id. 51 52 The World in Men 's Hearts 67. Worldly Advantages pag. 152 153 Worship Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth they say no Body in the World doth but they 31 33 36 37 93 111 112 130 166. pag. Id. 68 They Worship a Dumb Devil in their Dumb Meetings c. and Listen pag. Id. 132 Writing What Fancy is it to Hearken ta a Pardon to a Writing within c. 19. pag. Id. 56 57 His End is To destroy the Coming of God 's Holy Records and Writings to poor lost Men to their Salvation 22. see Scriptures pag. Id. 94 Woods 143 189. Works 198 200 see Duty False Worships 63 64 121 122 130 147 148. Wrath 78 pag. 100 101 Y. YEA Yea Yea Nay Nay pag. 120 Z. ZION The CHVRCH of CHRIST is come to Mount ZION the City of the Living GOD c. pag. 13 14 A New-England Fire-brand Quenched OR An Answer to a Lying Slanderous Book Printed at Boston in the Year 1676. by one Roger Williams of Providence in New-England which he Dedicateth to the KING with Desires That if the most-High please Old and New-England may flourish when the Pope and Mahomet Rome and Constantinople are in their Ashes c. R. W. ANd in his Title-Page he begins thus George Fox digged out of his Burrowes Or an Offer of a Skirmish upon R. W 's 14 Proposals made this last Summer 1672. unto G. F. present on Rode-Island and that G. F. slily departing the Disputation went on as aforesaid And in his Narration of the Conference or Dispute he again asserts that he challenged G. F. by writing and all his Friends then met at Rode-Island and that then G. F. withdrew And farther in his second Page says he sent his Paper of Proposals unto G. F. at Newport And in the 4 and 5 pages he says he sent his Paper to Capt. Cranston Deputy Governour of Rode Island And further scornfully says The old Fox thought it best to run for it and leave the work to his Journey-men and Chaplains c. And in the 22 and 23 Pages he further says Within some few days after the Deputy Governour had delivered his Paper to them the strange Quakers as was agreed with G. Fox c. Answ. How dare R. W. to Dedicate such palpable Lies to the King For this R. W. never spoke to G. F. nor did G. F. receive any Letter from this R. W. and yet he impudently says p. 23 As was agreed with G. F. Nor did G. F. receive any of these 14 Proposals from him though he says These 14 Proposals were made last Summer unto G. F. and that he digged him out of his Burroughs Which Proposals G. F. not only never received but never saw nor so much as knew of them though R. W. scornfully and falsly says G. F. slily departed and that G. F. hath pluckt in his Horns as J. T. did c. But in this doth R. W.'s wickedness farther appear in that J. T. might have received Letters from him but G. F. never received any from him nor knew R. W. farther says He sent his Proposals to G. F. to Newport and yet pag. 4 says He sent them to the Deputy Governour Cranston But G. F. never so much as received or saw
Heart and Bowels of Christ be run through with a Sword who can but tremble to hear those Words We do charge R. W. and the New-England-Priests that say The Scripture is their Rule to give us Chapter and Verse for these Words that we may see where they be written that we may Search for them Is the Incomprehensible God and Christ his Son whom he hath given all Power in Heaven and Earth unto and at the Rigâ—t Hand of God so light unto you and of so low a Value doth R. W. own any God or Christ but whose Bowels and Heart may be run through with a Sword and is not that a false God and Christ We tell him the true Christ and the living God is far above his Reach and Sword and his unholy Hands And is not this Blasphemy to say The Living God and his Son Christ Jesus who is at the Right Hand of God can be run through with a Sword we tell him He dieth no more but such as thou art Crucify him to themselves a fresh Imprison and Persecute him in his people as Christ saith in Matth. And we own the Scriptures and the Saints and the true Christianity and not for this wicked End as thou wickedly speakest And as for thy Ladders and Scaffolds and a many such Ill favour'd Comparisons that thou hast in thy Book might'â—t have kept them for thy self with all the rest of thy Vngracious Expressions R. W. The Merchants desire to see Effects c. the Jews Pharisees the Papists and the Quakers do not own the Perfection Answ. But R. W. where are thy Effects of thy Religion and the rest of the Priests where are the Effects of true Christianity where are the Effects of the Fruits of a Good Spirit for this is not the Language of the Spirit of God but of the Evil Spirit is but of the Effects of the Pharisees and Papists thou speakest of which are Envy Bloodshed and Murther And ye persecuting his Servants with Tongue and Hand and HANGING his people these are not the Effects of the Good Spirit but of the Evil One as the Apostle hath described it in the Scriptures And as for the Effects in the Practice of Religion in any Duty that may appear for with whom dost thou Meet and Pray and Preach or whether or no thou art not found in the Manner of them whom the Apostle condemneth and exhorteth the Saints not to have Fellowship withal Heb. 10 25. we think thou may'st forbear to upbraid any thy self bringing forth so little Effects but Effects of an Evil Heart and Vnbelief according to the Apostle's words And is not the Authority of the Scripture the Holy Ghost that moved the Holy Men of God that spoke them forth which lead the Disciples in all Truth of them which we witness For dost not thou say They are of no Value without the Spirit of God set them home to the Heart as in Append. p. 94. And so if they be of No Value then that which maketh them Valuable is the Power and Spirit of God and then that must be the Authority of them R. W. But thou say'st The Quakers and Papists call the Scriptures a Dead Letter and say'st They are of no Value c. as before Answ. And as for the Papists thou had'st better join'd them to thy self they are nearer thee then we are And where did we ever Throw Dirt at the Holy Scripture and said It was a Nose of Wax and a Leaden Rule let the Reader see if there be any such words in G. F' s Answer or any other Books And truly if any make a Nose of Wax of them twisting them up and down it is thy own Condition thou giving Meanings of them this Way and that Way and findest fault with us because we take them Literally And 2 Cor. 3. that is nothing to the purpose If the King giveth a Pardon for Death in Writing this cometh to a Man and preventeth his Execution But what must we infer from R. W.'s Words here That every Man that hath the Writings of the Scripture hath the Pardon of Eternal Death and why doth he cry against Papists then and all others for they have the Scriptures therefore they have the Pardon So in this R. W. stoppeth his own Mouth and shutteth out Revelation of the Son of God which Scripture speaketh of and Revelation of Faith Revelation of Grace Revelation of the Gospel Revelation of the Spirit which is the Seal of all Believers of the Pardon from Eternal Death by the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Witness with themselves by which they can set to their Seal that God is True in all his Promises and Figures and Shaddows of his Son Christ Jesus Blessed forever R. W. Bringeth G. F. Fol. p. 47. Joshuah Miller saying It is an Error if not Damnable to say Christ is the Means and that there is no other Means of Salvation G. F. Answ. And Christ saith No man can come to the Father but by me and he is Able to save to the uttermost and He shall be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth saith the Lord. And saith the Apostle God is in Christ reconciling the World to himself And He that hath the Son hath Life the Father and Son are one and there is no Salvation in any other And R. W. replieth and saith His Adversaries would not Suffer him to meddle with the Sense of G. F.'s words But G. F.'s words are Plain enough and what doth he give a Sense of that where is your Nose of Wax now Yet he thinketh not that a man of Wisdom would call it an Error to say That Christ is the Means to Salvation Then he falleth a-railing and saith For this Wretched Juggler to wit G. F. subtily confounds the Instrumental Causes of Salvation with the Efficient in God the Father the Meritorious in God the Son Christ Jesus Answ. How can this be when G. F. saith God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself and God saith He shall be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And the Apostle saith Eph. 1 17. In whom we have Redemption through his Blood Forgiveness of Sin according to the Riches of his Grace And R. W. saith I know this Juggler meaneth not a Christ nor his Blood nor his Death as we mean but an Imaginary Christ c. Answ. This Knowledge of thine and this Meanes of thine is false the Lord knoweth it and the Imaginary is in thyself But R. W. saith Christ's Messengers are said to Save Answ. And what then is not this through Christ R. W. Secondly Thou say'st The Scriptures are said to make Wise to Salvation Answ. But why will not R. W. put in THROVGH FAITH as though the Scriptures can Make Wise to Salvation without Faith Thou say'st R. W. A Man may be God's Means to Save his Wife and she her Husband Answ. And is not this Means FAITH which Christ is the Author of And thou
thy Railing Language for thou who hast him so often in thy Mouth its like thou art more acquainted with him than with Christ and his Light And R. W. must not be called a Railer not He but it 's We must be the Railers but see if he findeth any such words here in G. F.'s Reply to Enoch Howet And R. W. bringeth Francis Duke Fol. pag. 189. saying Wheâ— Christ told the Devil that Man should not live by Bread alone buâ— by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God That waâ— Beâ—ieving the Scripture and this Word of God in the Scripture was the Ground of Christ's Faith and so to all that are his G. F. Answ. Many may have the Scripture and never hear the Voice oâ— God as the Jews Joh. 5. and they said they believed the Scriptures though they were out of the true Belief But receiving the Word from God is as they that gave forth the Scriptures which Man liveth by and not by Bread alone and so knoweth him who was before Scripture was given forth And for saying That the Scripture was the Ground of Christ's Faith he was afore the Scripture was writ and so fulfilleth their Words and is the Author and Finisher of the Saints Faith which was before the Scripture was given forth he by whom the World was made is the Author of the Saints Faith that bruiseth the Serpent under his Feet c. And R. W. Replieth and falleth a-railing and saith How Notorious for Tautologies are these Brutish Clamors shall we believe their Notorious Lies c. and so goeth on railing and crieth Childish c. Antient Doting Women c. so full of Idle Repetitions and crieth How brutish and impious viz That a Man may have the Scriptures and yet not be in the Belief therefore the Word of God was not the Ground of Christ's Belief and again The Devil and the Wicked Men may have the Scriptures and not Believe in them and therefore Christ Jesus and the Saints Believe them not neither Answ. This is a False Inference of thine as to say Christ and the Saints did not believe the Scriptures the Reader may see there is no such thing in G. F.'s Answer and dost not thou confess That many they may have the Scriptures and not overcome the Devil p. 101. But did those Jews that Persecuted Christ and his Apostles and Prophets Truly Believe in Christ Now as for Tautologies and the Doting Woman with Idle Repetitions thou may'st apply to thy self for how often in thy Book dost thou call over and over the Light of Christ an Idol a Frantick Light And read pag. 109. in Append and there thou may'st see thy Tautologies Quakers Papists Papists and Quakers Papists c. where he mentioneth the Quakers and Papists a matter of Twelve times over as though R. W. would fill up his Book with it and let the Reader see most of the Pages throughout his Book whether he hath not done the same And R. W. may note how often David and the Holy Men of God go over the same thing and the Apostles mention often the Name of Jesus and if R. W. and his New-England-Priests do say That these are Notorious Lies that which G. F. saith as the Reader may see in his Answer viz. Many may have the Scriptures and hear not the Voice of God This is a Notorious Lie by R. W. as in Joh. 5. And the Jews would say They Believed Scriptures though they were out of the True Belief and Receiving Christ the Word of God and Christ in plain Words told them They were of their Father the Devil This is another Lie of R. W. and the New-England-Priests But Receiving the Word from God is as they that gave forth the Scriptures that received his Word which Man liveth by and not by Bread only And these R.W. calleth Notorious Lies and so knoweth him that was before Scripture was given forth to wit Christ and these R. W. saith are Notorious Lies And they say that Christ was before the Scripture was writ and fullfilleth the words to wit the Scripture This is a Notorious Lie shall we believe those Notorious Lies saith R. W. and is the Author and Finisher to wit Christ of the Saints Faith Shall we believe these Notorious Lies c. And R. W. thou say'st Shall we believe their Notorious Lies that the Light within gave forth the Scripture and that they speak and write as they are moved by the Spirit when their Writings are so weak c. Answ. Let the Reader see if there be any such thing in G. F.'s Answer That the Light within us gave forth Scripture but it was the Holy Ghost in the Prophets and Apostles that gave forth Scriptures and with the Light of Christ we see them and are led into all Truth by the Holy Ghost And again as for Tautologies R. W. may read his pag. 84. of his Book and see where he 11 or 12 times goeth over Juggler and Cheater Juggler and Cheater c. in one and the same page R. W. beginneth with Railing Let Heaven and Earth hear and abhor the Sophistry of these Deceivers they would fain have no such Christ as Man a Christ without an Out-side Christ c. And then thou contradictest thy self and say'st That We confess that there was such a Man or Person who came according to Gal. 4. Answ. Which we really believe and we do not Cloak nor Cross our Principle in saying That Christ was afore the Scripture but thou wrongst G. F.'s words again For his words are not That Christ bruis'd the Serpent's Head before the Scripture was but Christ was before the Scripture was who bruiseth the Serpent's head for all things were made by Christ as the Reader may see pag. 102. And doth not Christ say Before Abraham was I am And as for Sophistry and Deceiving and speaking of an Out-side Christ those are thy own Railing Words not ours and doth not become an Old Man nor Christian. R. W. Let any of these Jugglers answer if they speak honestly If there was really such a Man called Jesus at Jerusalem c. Answ. R. W. beginneth with Railing here but seeing he querieth of us we shall answer him and all the World We do believe there was Such a Man who was born in Bethlehem Christ Jesus suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem after the Scripture was written who was tempted of the Devil and the Devil brought Scripture to him and Christ Reproved him with Scripture and Overcame him by his POWER And Christ died and rose and fulfill'd the Prophets and at the Right Hand of God who is the same that Descended the same that Ascended But where doth R. W. prove by the Scriptures and the New-England-Priests That the Scriptures were the Ground of Christ's Faith this we must have Scripture for before we can receive it from R. W. and his New-England priests to wit That the Scripture is the Ground of Christ's Faith and
the Ground of the Saints Faith and yet he saith The Scripture availeth nothing is of no value without the Spirit c Append. p. 94. And further we say If the Scripture was the Ground of the Saints Faith and the Scripture availeth nothing without the Spirit How was it that the Pharisees and the Papists whom thou mentionest so often had not Faith from that Ground for they all say they believe Scripture But what must we Observe from R. VV.'s Words here That the Scripture is the Ground of Christ's Faith and yet he will acknowledge Christ was before Scripture and Abraham Isaac and Jacob Abel Enoch and Noah had Faith before Scripture was written And now if Christ be the Author and Finisher of the Saints Faith and they are to look unto him I query Whether he be Scripture if it be the Ground of the Saints Faith And the Spirit of God which lead his Saints to give forth Scriptures leadeth into all Truth of them And the Spirit and the Scriptures are not at Odds one with another neither did we ever set them so as thou us in Effect chargest neither can the Children of God know the Scriptures given forth by the Spirit of God but by the Spirit of God within which thou scoffingly callest a Secret Whispering Voice within contrary to Scriptures And the Voice that owneth not the Scripture is not the Voice of the Spirit of God that gave them forth both before Christ's Coming in the Flesh and since And R. W. As to the Spirit 's Leading into all Truth the Sons of God thou answerest and say'st Is not Fox here in his Burrough not distinguishing betwixt the Extra-ordinary Leading of the Holy Apostles appointed to be the Eye-witnesses of Christ's Death and Resurrection c. Answ. What must we Infer from R. W's Words That because the Leading of the Apostles and Preaching the Resurrection of Christ Jesus by the Holy Ghost that others therefore were not reproved by the holy Ghost and must not every Son of God be led into all Truth to know Christ and his Resurrection but G. F. doth not say that all were Messengers and Apostles c. 1. Cor. 12. And thou â—urther sayst Yet all God's Children are Regenerated and Sanctified and dost thou not say in another place They must have a Combate all their Life and thou sayst That God's Children are Guided and Built up together an Habitation c. And then R. W. must not the Spirit of God be within and if so then thou ownest the Quakers Principle and confessest that which thou all this while hast been fighting against And as for what David said if he had been in thy Day thou wouldst have cried against him as thou dost against us who said I have hid thy Word in my Heart R. W. And this is the Devil's the Old Fox his Devilish Subtlety to make the Cloak of the Spirit 's extra-ordinary Assistance c. and the Angels Extra-ordinary Protection a Ground of Christ Jesus and his Servants flinging themselves down from the Pinnacle of the Temple and thou pretendest to tell us from God that this will be the Break-neck of the People called Quakers without Repentance every Soul of them Answ. How now R. W hast thou not here given rash Judgement against the Assistance and Protection and Sufficiency of the Spirit of Christ and his Grace which God saith is Sufficient to Paul in his Trouble And hast not thou broken thy own Neck here and falln down from the Pinnacle who dost not look at the Grace of God and his Light and Spirit to be Sufficient Is it sufficient to condemn them that Erre from the Spirit and turn the Grace of God into Wantonness And God sent an Angel and brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and Exod. 23 20. Behold I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the Way vers 23. For my Angel shall go before thee and bring thee c. and Chap. 22 24 And behold my Angel shall go before thee And was not this Angel sufficient to bring them into the Land of Canaan if they hearkened unto him and is not Christ Sufficient by his Light Power and Spirit to bring us out of Spiritual Egypt and Christ saith to his Sheep that hear his Voice I give unto them Eternal Life and they shaâ—l never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my Hand John 10 28. But R. W. how canst thou say Thou passest thy false Judgement upon us from the God of Truth and yet sayst There is no Voice nor Motion within to be lissen'd or hearken'd unto in Heavenly Things in Matters that are Super natural pag. 83. R W. Thou say'st Our Principles and Practices are fâ—ll of Contradiction and Hypocrisy Answ. Our Principles and Professiâ—n are Holy and Pure and Contradictions and Hyppocrisy thou might'st have kept at Home for we Profess the Lord Jesus Christ and all the Prophecies and Things in the Law that Figured them forth and the Things in the Law as truly as the Prophets and the Apostles did Profess him and own all that is Written in the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation And we own the Worship in the Spirit and Truth and are in it that Christ set up Sixteen-hundred Years since and the Religion that the Apostle describeth above Sixteen-hundred Years since which is Pure and Vndefiled before God And the One Faith which Chriâ—t is the Author of and the One Baptism and the One Spirit into One Body and One God and Father of All who is above All and through All and in you All as the Apostle speaketh And the Lord Jesus Christ who was Born of the Virgin Conceived by the Holy Ghost c. and Preach'd and Suffered under Pontius Pilate before whom he made a Good Confession and Died and Rose again and is at the Right Hand of God and remaineth in the Heavens till all things are Restored c. who will Judge the World in Righteousness and Reward every Man according to his Works and therefore no Salvation in any other Name but in the Name of Jesus c. And let New-England-Professors see if our Principles and Practice Life and Doctrine hath not Out-stript theirs let the Witness of God in them Answer And R. W. saith He told us of False Gods and Worships and Prophets c. but this is nothing to the Purpose to prove his False Charge for we are Not to Believe thee and the False Prophets but to Try them but thou say'st We must Try them with Fire it self Answ. Yea R. W. Ye and the New-England-Priests did Try us God's True Prophets with FIRE whom ye Tried with your HOT IRON when ye BRANDED them and your GALLOWS when you HANGED them And so ye are TRIED not to be in the true Principles and Profession of the Apostles and of Christ. And didst not thou say afore That the Scripture was to Try and what R. W is the Scripture now become a FIRE where
set themselves in the place of God and call themselves Holy and High but it is himself that is the Aged And was not our patience manifest in bearing thy Cankcred Spirit which utter'd forth all these railing words against us let the people Judge R. W. And thou say'st Why should they not sâ—t Silent even Scores and Hundreds of them possessed with a dumb Spirit as in a Form and Order of Christian worship waiting for the Spirit Answ. R. W. Had better been Silent who hath brought forth such an Evil work and to have VVaited upon Christ as we do who speak as the Spirit giveth us Vtterance Which was the practice of the Church of the primitive Times which thou art erred from and now scoffingly callest Dumb Spirit because thy Railing Spirit were not fed with words according to thy Will And this is a False Charge of thine VVe wait for the Spirit But we VVait for the Signification and Motion of the Spirit for the Holy men of God spoke as they were Moved by the Holy Ghost But thou say'st There is no Voice nor Motion within that is to be turn'd to lissen'd to or hearken'd to in Heavenly Things as page 83. And now Is not R. VV. gone into the Darkness and from the VVay of all the Holy Prophets and Holy Apostles and Holy Men of God that Spoke when they were Moved by the Holy Ghost And is not R W. in the Steps of the Jews that Christ speaketh to that had neither heard the Voice of the Father at any time nor seen his Shape R. W. Thou sayst The Protestants both English French and Dutch have manifested against the Papists and therein against the Quakers That Repentance is a Turning of the whole Soul from all Sin as Sin to all of God as God Answ. What must we infer from his words in this place If that R. W. and his New-England-Priests and others be Turn'd so from all Sin by the Repentance to God as God that they are as Pure as God as Holy as God as Righteous as God and yet he findeth Fault with this in the Quakers But we must try R. W. by his Fruits and his Protestants especially in New England if their Repentance and his be not like to the Papists and how dare R. W. speak of this Repentance when he Blasphemeth so much against the Light of Christ and calleth it an Idol and a Frantick Light But that which he casteth upon us is come upon himself who like the Pharisees of Old their Conversion and Sin is from one Sin to another and their Swelling Pride of a Dropsie and Tympany c. as he scoffingly speaketh of of his Conceited Faith Repentance Justification Sanctification Mortification c. all this he might have applied at home and to his New-England-Priests who all along proveth himself and his New-England Professors to be the very people in the things he Chargeth upon us And it were well if ye could see nothing but Hell and Damnation in your selves as thou speakest of but this ye cannot See until ye come to the Spirit and Light of Christ which thou callest Blasphemously an Idol and a Fancy and therefore art not like to See the true Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ and his Light And thou sayst R. W. How do they Superciliouâ—â—y and Pope-like belch out as from Hell God I thank thee that I am not like these Publicans Answ. R. W. and his New-England-Priests might have kept this at home with his superciliouâ—â—y as he calleth it if he had found such a word in G. F.'s Book he would have roar'd and made some work at it and shewn it in print but Roger hath not hit our Conditions but himself And R. W. Thou sayst How instantly do they rail revile condemn and curse breath out Fire c. as Fire Brimstone from the mountains in Sicily c. against all that oppose them far from the Teaching of Christ and his first Messengers as Lambs c. Answ. Let the Sober Reader look in R. W.'s Book and see how he Condemneth himself and his Practice But how doth R. W. Rail against the Papists and Mahomet yea Protestants too as Formal and hath not R. W. and his New-England-Priests done more than Breathing out Fire from the Mountains of Sicily who have Hang'd and Burnt with an Hot Iron O! he and they might shame if they had any in them thus to upbraid the People of God called Quakers and to tell them they be in Cain's Nature and Core's and Balaam's and the Pharisees and Jezabel's and the Whore's that drinketh the Blood of the Saint's when Yâ— have done it and persecute for Religion like Nebuchadnezar this is not Railing And to tell R. W. when he calleth the Light of Christ an Idol and a Fancy and tellest him he is a Blasphemer this is not Railing And when R. W. saith A Bowing to Christ his Light and Spirit is a Bowing to Satan as in pag. 116. to tell him he is a Blasphemer against Christ's Light and Spirit this is not Railing But we do not matter what he and the New-England-Priests say against us but it woundeth our Souls and Spirits to hear the Son of God in whom he is well pleased to be thus blasphemed by such that falsly calleth himself a Christian And Christ did not Rail when he cried Wo against the Blind Scribes and Pharisees calling them Whited Walls and said They were of their Father the Devil nor the Apostles who called such as he Evil Beast and Slow-Bellies and cried Wo against such as went into the Way of Cain Neither did they Rail against Elymas and Simon the Sorcerer which Spoke Truth unto them But thou that givest us Names to the Lambs and Children of God and hast no Motion within of Heavenly things of Supernatural Light art degenerated from the Spirit and Practice the Saints were in in the Primitive Times I and J. B. do maintain and preach true Repentance towards God and Faith in Christ Jesus as the Apostles did And thou sayst He continued above half an hour though not so long as W. Edmondson in preaching this Doctrine But why did'st not set it down and thou confessest They delivered many holy Truths of God p. 119 R. W. Thou goest about to Prove Our Faith is False Answ. But we shall see if R. W. hath not prov'd his own and his New-England Priests and professors Faith contrary to Christ's and the Apostles and the Faith of God's Elect which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of And is not R. W. erred from this Doctrine and Faith who maintaineth with Fr. Duke The Scripture to be the Ground of Christ's Faith and the Saints pag. 102 103 104. and so erred from the Apostles in the Primitive Times who said Look unto Jesus the Ground Author and Finisher of Faith He did not bid them Look to the Scripture the Ground Author and Finisher of Faith but to Christ. And R. W. thou sayst That thou wouldst demonstrate
truth And as for Caring no more for Jews or Gentiles than Foxes for Lambs and Chickens to make a prey of them and our pretences of Soul-kindness to be Soul-cruelties this R W. thou might'st have kept at home and the New-England Priests And for telling all Man-kind that they have Christ in them c. in this thou wrongest us For we turn them to the Light which Christ has enlightned them withall that they might with it see Christ and receive him and come into the Covenant of grace and so we turn them as the Apostle did from Darkness to Light c. And where was this Darkness and where was this Light for did not the Apostle which turned both Jews and Gentiles to the Light turn them to the Covenant of Grace And the Lord saith I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou may'st be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and doth either Jew or Gentile know their Salvation but by this Light of Christ And where thou slightingly say'st twice he means the New Covenant and he means Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and when it comes too he means no other Christ but a Spirit and then thou bring'st in Humphry Norton but bring'st no proof what he saith therefore that is turned back upon thee But where did'st thou ever read in any of the Quakers Books that they said That it was a Spirit that dyed at Jerusalem as thou say'st we mean And then thou say'st This will be found an Evil Spirit as one saith c. and this is thy own lying Evil Spirit that is out of the truth for Christ Jesus that was born of a Virgin the man Christ Jesus who suffered according to the flesh and dyed without the Gates of outward Jerusalem and was buryed and rose again and sits at the Right Hand of God and yet manifest in his People by his Spirit is gathering us by his Spirit to his Heavenly Jerusalem Glory to his Name for ever R W. And thou say'st That G F. slights the Scripture with a But It is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith and he slights he Novelty of it saying There was Faith before there was Scripture and then thou say'st It 's wonderful what an aking Tooth against the holy Writings of God the old Serpent and all the Wolves and Foxes of this world have â—ad who have more or less damned and cursed it and longed to have it out of the world Answ. We own and esteem the Holy Scriptures of truth which the holy Men of God were moved to give forth by the Holy Ghost but we cannot own them to be the means and Author of our Faith for Christ Jesus is the Author and finisher of our Faith which is the Gift of God as they that gave forth Scripture said And thy Slanderous tongue belyes us in saying What a Tooth-ach we have against the Scripture or the Holy Writings of God or that we would have them out of the world or ever cursed them or slighted them but we Esteem them and can bless the Lord for them For the Jews had Scripture of the Old Testament who were not in the Faith of Moses and the Prophets and Christ bid them Search the Scriptures for they testified of him Joh. 5 39 40. but they would not come to him that they might have Life who is the Author of their Faith But they thought to have had Life in the Scriptures as I K. and R W. think the Scripture is the means of Faith and then do not you throw out and leave off God and Christ and holy means and Author of Faith c And doth not the Apostle bid them Look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of their Faith Heb. 12 2 and God deals to every man the measure of Faith Rom. 12 3. so let God and Christ have their Glory And had not Abraham and Enoch Faith before the Scripture was written and is the Scriptures the means of Faith or Christ or but a Declaration of Faith or is it Faith it self R W R W. And thou say'st The Jews Turks and Papists c. and Quakers make use of it the Scriptures for their ends Answ. But why did'st thou not put in thy self and the New-England Priests thou might have left out the Quakers for thou belyest them For do not your Priests make a trade of them for their Bellies or their own ends for if the Priests Means were taken away there would be little Vsing or Preaching of the Scriptures by them But all that fear God know that thou wrong'st us in saying that we make use of them for our own ends as the Lord God knows For we prove by Scripture that Jesus is the Christ and Preach him freely as the Apostles did and have suffered Persecution and Spoyling of Goods and Death it self amongst you New-England Priests and Professors and yet thou would'st have the Magistrates to Punish us manifesting thy Birth of the Flesh as it 's said before R W. And further thou say'st None can rightly use it but as a Blessed Candle Lanthorn or Torch sent down from Heaven into this dark Dungeon of the world to guide us out unto the saving knowledge of God and Eternal Blessedness with him Answ. Where doth the Apostle call the Scripture of the New-Testament a Candle a Lanthorn or Torch I say that none can Vse the Scriptures aright but with that Holy-Ghost that leadeth into all the truth of them and gave them forth through the Holy men which received them from God and spoke them forth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and we can praise God for them who have the comfort of them and the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ. And hast not thou here set up the Scriptures instead of Christ for Saving knowledge and a Guide and instead of the Holy-Ghost and the Jews which had the Scriptures resisted him that gave the Saving knowledge R W. saith How doth this follow that if God hath appointed the Holy Writings as means that God and Christ are thrown out Answ. As being the Author and Finisher of the Saints Faith when as you make them the Means and not God and Christ. And if the Scriptures be the Means of Faith then what Means had Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Moses before the Scripture was written if the Scripture be the means of Faith R W. Thou say'st Cannot there be a Harmony between the First and all Subordinate Causes Answ. Yes if thou meanest the Scriptures of Truth R W. And further thou say'st Did Moses throw out God because he took the Rod in his hand when he wrought all those Wonders and did Solomon because he used so many Means in Rearing the Temple as Moses about the Tabernacle Or Sampson when he used the Jaw-bone of an Ass or Christ throw out his Father when he made use of Clay and Spittle Answ. Solomon's Temple and Moses's Tabernacle and the Jaw-bone of an Ass were not the
forth who called them the Holy Scriptures of Truth And thou needest not tell us What the Pope and the Jews and the Turk have and the Jews had the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets but would not receive Christ the Word R. W. And thou tellest of a written Pardon sealed with a broad Seal of a King or State and say'st What a fancy is it for a Condemned wretch first to hearken to a Pardon within to a King within a Writing within a Seal within and to slight the true Pardon in the King's way to be Conveyed from without to the Mind and Spirit within and to lose his pardon and deliverance as thousands of poor cheated souls must do Answ. The King 's written Pardon to Condemned men setteth them free but the Written in Scripture doth noâ— set men free nor Pardoneth mens Sins and Trespasses but it is Christ that dyed for their sins and shed his Blood for them and this the Scriptures testifie of that he hath purchased them with his Blood and he is the Offering for Sin And if the written Scripture be the Pardon of Sin of the Condemned World as the King 's written Pardon is for Condemned persons then all that have the Scripture have their Pardon by thy meaning but pag. 64. thou say'st The Scriptures avail nothing without the Spirit of God set it home upon us so here thou contradicts thy self And Christ saith Search the Scriptures for they testifie of me and in them you think to have Eternal Life but you will not come to me that you might have Life So the Life is in Christ and he that hath Christ hath Life and they that have not him have not Life and they that have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his though they may have the Scriptures And they who had their Garments made white it was by the Blood of the Lamb and not by written Pardons and they that are the true Believers in Christ the Light and are in the New Covenant as Heb. 8. he blotteth out their Sins and Trespasses in whom God writeth his Law in their hearts And 1 Cor. 15 3. Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scripture so it is not a written Pardon though the Scriptures declare this And Christ dyed for the Vngodly Rom. 5 6. Christ dyed for us 1 Thes. 5 10 So he it is that Pardoneth And the Apostle said This is a faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1 15. so it is God and Christ that doth Pardon and Forgive Sin Col. 2 13 and Luk. 5 20 and they that witness this their Sins are forgiven them For the true Believers are Sealed with the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God is within and hear the Voyce of Christ their Shepherd Thy sins are forgiven thee and so have their Testimony of pardon within and so come to be built upon Christ the Rock and Foundation So it is one thing to have the Writings and another thing to have the Seal of the Spirit of Christ as they had that gave forth the Scriptures and they that are Sealed with it have the comfort of God and Christ and the comfort of the Scriptures c. R. W. And thou bring'st R. H. which saith It is against the Light of Nature for Women to preach c. And G. F. Answers R. H. and saith Contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine the mind of God and the Prophets who said God would pour out of his Spirit upon All Flesh and his Sons and Daughters should prophesie So that he is a Limiter of the Holy One a Quencher of the Spirit in Darkness and this is above the Light of Nature And R. W. Replyeth and saith What is the Light of Nature but that Light in which every man cometh into the world with as the Quakers speak which differeth from the Light of Beasts c. Answ. What is this to G. F's Answer for G. F. and the People of God in Scorn called Quakers which thou in Scorn callest Foxians do not say That the true Light which is the Life in the Word which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world which is a Light to be revealed to the Gentiles as Simeon speaketh is a Natural Light or Light of Nature For this is the Super-Natural and Light from Heaven which John speaketh of in the Scripture and as God said I will give him for a Covenant and a Light to the Gentiles and he shall be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and where doth John or the Apostles call the true Light which is Life in the Word which Lighteth every man that cometh into the world a Natural Light or Light of Nature And then thou goest on and tellest a great Tale of the Natural Light in man which is nothing to the purpose to G. F's Answer R. W. And then thou say'st It 's true that in Religious and Christian matters there is no respect of persons with God as of man before the woman otherwise then to Order Natural and Civil And thou say'st It 's true the Wisdom of God preferreth some Women before thousands of men c. as Lady Jane and Q. Elizabeth c. And thou say'st Christ appearing to Mary Magdalen and other Women and sending them to carry the first Tydings of his Resurrection to his Apostles c. and Mirjam and Huldah c. Prophecying before Christ's coming and at his coming according to Joels Prophecy his Spirit on his Daughters as well as his Sons c. yet this favour of God towards Women destroyeth not the Order which the God of Order or Nature hath set in those Bounds Limits and Distinctions between Male and Female c. Though the Holy Scripture were silent yet Reason and Experience tells us that the Woman is the weaker Vessel that she is more fitted to keep and order her House c. And the Lord hath given a Covering of longer hair to Womâ—n as a sign of covering Modesty and Bastfulness Silence and Retiredness and therefore not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments Answ. Here doth not R. W. contradict himself Though the Apostle doth say That the Woman is the weaker Vessel and it is so known yet is not Christ and his Spirit as strong in the Female as he is in the Male For thou say'st There is no respect of persons with God as the Man before the Woman and God preferreth some Women before thousands of Men as Lady Jane and Q. Elizabeth and Deborah and yet thou say'st Women are not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments These were Manly Actions and Godly of Q. Elizabeth and Deborah c. And then thou sayâ—st She being the weaker Vessel she is more fit to keep and order her House and Children c in Silence and Retiredness c. but in this thou confoundest thy self for these were Fitted with
be out of whose Mouths it be though we cannot own their Meanings nor have Unity with such as hold up the Truth in Vnrighteousness And as for Trampling we trample nothing that is good under our Feet that is thy own Condition but we do own the Appearance of God in all People But R. W. thou say'st Without any Savour of the Spirit of God and yet thou say'st I find in all Mankind a Conviction that God is Just and Powerful and I find Generally in all Mankind a Conviction of an Invisible Omnipotent and Eternal Power and Godhead yet thou say'st Without any Savour of the Spirit of God read pag. 28. 102. thy Contradiction And thou say'st It pleaseth God to strive with Men by Preaching but not by such as thou and the New-England-Priests are that stir up the Punishment Persecution and HANGING R. W. Thou askest Why David complaineth Psal. 53. that all the Children of Men not one excepted are Unprofitable c. are Abominable to Spiritual Matters and Heavenly Things and further thou say'st until the Spirit of God comes and truly change the Heart and whole Frame of Nature until then we are as profitable as Hogs and Moles in a Garden c. and as devouring Foxes amongst the true Lambs and Chickkins of Christ Jesus Answ. R. W. thou hast writ thy Condition and the New-England-Priests there to wit the Devouring Foxes and Hogs of the Lambs of Christ and his Chickkins For mark the Word VNTIL the Spirit of God change their Hearts c. and we believe your Hearts and Natures are not changed but you are Vnprofitable for how can it be when thou say'st There is no Voice nor Motion within in Heavenly things in Matters of Supernatural Light to hearken to to turn to to listen to p 83. And was David's Complaint of the Children of Men Vnprofitable And doth not David bid All that hath Breath praise the Lord and how can they Praise the Lord if there be nothing of the Spirit of God in them And do not they quench that which God hath manifested in them which God hath shewn unto them and which convinceth them of an Invisible and Omnipotent and Eternal Power and God-head so is not this Conviction of the Spirit of God in them and will not the Lord pour out his Wrath upon all the Heathen that call not upon his Name And now is there not a further Manifestation in these Last Days by Christ who Enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World and the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to All Men and God poureth out his Spirit upon All Flesh but from this Spirit Grace and Light in all Men thou art erred from and canst not endure to hear of it R. W. Bringeth Hugh Archbal G. F. Fol. 328. saying Christ doth Enlighten none but those that do receive him G. F. Answ. Contrary to John 3. which speaketh of them that hate the Light and are Enlightned and will not come to it because the Light will Reprove them so he that hateth the Light is Enlightned will not Receive Christ. To which R. W. replyeth and after his wonted manner with foul Expressions saith G. F. abuseth 2 Cor. 4. saith Joh. 1. is not Enlightneth but Lighted and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signify both c. They which hate the Light are Enlightned no question but with the General Offer of Mercy as of a Candle or Sun to the Eyes of a Blind Man which is yet their Condemnation c. And before thou say'st There is a Higher Light which some are affected tinctur'd and Enlightned with and yet not the True and Saving Light that in Heb. 6. where some Persons as the pretended Quakers c. have seen much of the Nature of God of his Holiness and Justice c. and had a Tast of the Joys of the Next World Answ. If ENLIGHTNING and LIGHTED signify both then do not oppose it And here thou confessest They that hate the Light are Enlightned as well as the Believers in the Light it is the same Light but thou say'st It is a General Offer as a Candle or the Sun to the Eyes That is an Outward Light and a Blind Man can neither see Candle nor Fire and so that which he doth not see is his Condemnation according to thy Doctrine But is this according to Christ's Words Joh. 3. are his Words no more than a General Offer as a Candle or the Sun to the Eyes of a Blind Man for Christ saith One Hateth the Light and the other Loveth the Light and bringeth the Deeds to the Light that they may see they are wrought in God so that is not Natural which giveth the Knowledge of God which shineth in his Heart as in 2 Cor. 4. which I do not abuse but it is thou that abusest it And Christ saith This is the Condemnation the Light is come in the World and Men love Darkness rather than the Light because their Deeds be evil here Christ giveth the Reason for the Light discovereth the Darkness and their evil Deeds or else how should they know them For Every one that doth evil hateth the Light mark Every one neither cometh to the Light least his deeds should be reproved and so by the Light he knoweth this Evil Deeds and knoweth he doth Evil and knoweth he hateth it and that is his Condemnation And this is more than a Candle or the Sun to the Blind Man's Eyes that cannot see it and every one that doth the Truth cometh to the Light so it is the same Light that he that doth Evil hateth and he that doth the Truth loveth and this is the Light of Christ. And how darest thou say the Light was or is not Saving Hebr. 6 was not the Holy Ghost Saving and the Word of God Saving or is not the Word of God Sufficient to reconcile to God and the Holy Ghost Sufficient to lead into all Truth But thou say'st In Hebr. 6. the higher Light which enlightneth and yet not the True and Saving Light we charge thee to make this good all the New-England priests by the Scripture That the Light spoken of in Hebr. 6. is not the True and Saving Light it's like thou never tryed'st it But thou art such as they that are fallen away from the good Word of God and resist the Holy Ghost and become a Hater of this Light though thou hast tasted of the Gift and Crucifiest the Son of God a fresh to thy self as the New-England-priests and puttest him to open shame and then HANG punish and persecute others where he is manifest I tell you your Earth beareth Thorns and Bryars and read what will be your End Heb. 6. R. W. bringeth James Dorram saying The Believer is not in Sin as the Vnbeliever is he sinneth not as the Vnbeliever doth And in another place he saith That the Law is the same to the Believers that it is to the Unbelievers
and thou art as dark about Christ that enlightneth every one that cometh into the world as thou art about the Temple who callest them Excellent Natural gifts in Noah Moses and Solomon R. W. And thou goest on and say'st What are those to a sight of my utter Inability to pay or all the Creation for me one farthing to God's Justice c Answ. It 's Christ that hath Shed his Blood and Tasted Death for all men and Enlightens all men and he is above the Heathen Philosophers in the first Adam and so all must believe in him the Light who hath enlightned them for Life and Salvation And many more slighting words there are in thy pretended Answer which are not worth mentioning And how do'st thou Magnifie the Gifts of God to many whom thou say'st neither thou nor G. F. is worthy to hold the Candle to when thou art setting up the Wisdom of the Heathen Philosophers with the Light in them which is the first Adam above then any man hath now as I. M. thinketh And what is this to know Christ and the New Creature and he the Quickning Spirit and the New-Covenant for they that Magnifie Christ will do as John did Bear witness to Christ who enlightens every man that cometh into the world R. W. And thou say'st Who knoweth not how full the world is of Admirable men and women that are not Christians and yet what a base Esteem hath this proud Spirit of all men yea of all Christians too that dance not after his foolish pipe c. Answ. Here thou abusest G. F. and the Quakers again if it be them thou meanest who hold forth the Universal Love of God to all Man-kind through Christ Jesus who shed his Blood and dyed for all and enlightens all and his Grace hath appeared to all and we exhort them to Believe in the Light that they may become Children of the Light And the Grace of God will teach them and bring their Salvation if they do not turn it unto Wantonness and do'st thou call this sound Doctrine Foolish Pipe R. W. And whereas thou bringest I. M's words The Prophets are more certain then any other Revelation And G. F. Answers Was not the Son of God Revealed c. and did not he Come in the Volumn of the Book to do the will of God and so they that had the Prophets and the Law to wit the Jews knew not the Son c. And R. W. Answereth and saith To pass by G. F s. Un-English and Non-sense c. Answ. It 's like this may be Non-sense to him though there may be some fault in the Printer but Charity would have past this by as I have often done in R. W.'s Book R. W. And thou say'st that G. F. knoweth not that the Question is not here whether Christ be the End of the Law and the Prophets c. and whether Christ was not more Revealed at his coming c but whether the Written Word of the Prophets of which Peter speaketh be not a more sure word of Command and Comfort to us then any now to be expected c. Answ. I. M. says The Prophets are more certain then any other Revelation and what is this to R. W's Questions And I say Christ being revealed which is the End of the Prophets and the Law c. He is a More and a Certain Revelation c. for he is the Salvation and the Foundation that the Law Typed forth and the Prophets Prophesied of for he is the Substance For many may have the Law and the Prophets in words as the Jews had and not receive the great Revelation of Christ Jesus and many have the New Testament of the Apostles and Christ but Christ says plainly None knoweth the Father but the Son and to whom he Revealeth him though they may have the Prophets like Jews and know him not But thou say'st But whether the Written words of the Prophets of which Peter speaketh be not a more sure word of Command and Comfort to us then any now can be expected What is this to the Revelation of the Son of God And thou wrongest Peter's words for Peter saith also We have a more sure word of Prophecy not of the Prophets as thou hast thrust in whereunto you do well that you take heed unto as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in your hearts And is this Sure word of the Prophets of Command and Comfort to you more then any can be expected what do'st thou not own Christ the End of the Prophets a greater Comfort and a Revelation then the Prophets who is the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles But what dark place is this that the Light shineth in that people must take heed unto until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in their hearts for we say that all the Prophets of God did fore-tell of Christ which the Apostles and Peter preached Christ the Fulfilling of them praised be his Name for ever R. W. And thou say'st That God called his Mind his Word his works his Word his writings his Word and his Providence of Mercy and Judgment his Word in a way of Condescension to our Capacity c And this thou comparest with Rulers and Masters of Ships word c. or Records and Deeds with Hands and Seals c. And then thou say'st The word of God in the mouths of the Prophets written for after-generations c. and then thou tellest that the Jews have their Talmud and The Turks their Alcoran and the Pope his Decretals and the Protestants the Written Word or Scriptures Answ. Thou hast made many Words here if God's Work his Creation c. be his Word and if Scriptures which signifieth Writings be his Word and thou confessest the Word was in the Prophets which is true none opposeth that But the Scriptures of Truth are called the Words of God as Exod. 20. and in the Revelations and Christ calleth them Words Joh. 5 47. And if any man hear my Words Joh. 12 47 48. 14 23. John 15 7. My Words abide in you Jer. 5 14. I will make my Words in thy mouth fire Isa. 51 16. I will put my Words in thy mouth And Job 42 7. After the Lord had spoken all these Words So here you may see they are called the Words of the Lord and Christ's Name is called the Word of God Now the Apostle saith Through Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God but where doth R. W. prove that God's Works are called his Word he hath given no Scripture for this And why do the School-Masters make Books for Children and tell them that Scriptures signifies Writings as in the English School-Master and other Books and you say They are the Word and give them the Title that belongeth to Christ and why cannot you give them the Title that the Holy Men of God gave to them which gave them