give his Relation in the third Page saith If R. H. could have been quiet and let him alone he had not said or done any thing after the said-Dispare at Croton ended Reply By this J. C. would perswade his Reader that R. H. and the Quakers have lost by medling with him and that they have brought this Stuff to their own Head But sure it is the Quakers have not lost but gained Truth prevailing but the poor Unskilful Skirmisher both Rude and Distracted and that by his own Confession hath lost by medling with the Quakers this is very evident to many sober Impartial People I may say to some that once looked upon J. C. to be what he was not viz. a Minister of Christ but having discovered him like a Serpent in the Grass have turned 〈…〉 whom the Quakers both 〈…〉 and Writing have pro◠〈…〉 and Deceiver and this is 〈…〉 him yet this proud Vain boast◠〈…〉 and hardned in Error drowned in 〈◊〉 â—â—ceit which is as a Consumption to him wasting his Reputation amongst many sober Men and spurred on with Envy and Malice against the Truth and the Friends of it he is crying Conquest and Victory like a Man besides himself as well as the Truth a distracted Man Why not distracted in this as well as in his Prayers Would any but either a Foâ— or a Man distracted after he had left the Stage being sufficiently proved before he went a Lyar and Deceiver be so â—dacious and desperately Wicked as to publish to the World that he had over thrown the Quakers But what if a Man should query Hath John Cheyney with running away overthrown the Quakers A Fool might quickly Answer Yes but sure a Wise Man would be more deliberate he would not believe that such a Victory could be obtained by him that fled but rather the contrary not a Conquest to him that perks up and cries Conquest before he begins nor yet he that runs away and cries Victory when he is gone but rather he who having 〈…〉 Encounter and defeated his 〈◊〉 â—nds his Ground when his Adâ—â— fled Now that the Quakers were not overthrown there are some Hundreds of People can witness who were at that Dispute and know it right well who likewise knew that R. H. however it was with J. C. did not forsake the Stage and leave his Opponent thereupon And if I should not have put Pen to Paper I am satisfied there are some Hundreds of People who were there that day would not believe the Relation J. C. hath published of that Dispute but judge him to be a Lyar You for the Truth 's sake and for the sake of many Simple-hearted People who were not there but may take things upon Trust and judge my Silence a Consenting that J. C's Relation is true therefore as briefly as I may without wrong to the Truth I shall examine his Relation being now come to it J. C. p. 3. saith He divided the matter of his Dispute and Charge against the Quakers into 1st Matters of Doctrine 2dly Matters of Practice I think it pertinent to the matter here to insert the Charge I â—…t J. C. upon to prove viz. That the Quakers Religion is against God's Spirit this was the first Branch of one of the seven Changes recited before To prove this Charge J. C. asserted That the Quakers Religion held forth Blasphemy viz. That the Soul of Man is God and to prove it quoted G. F's Great Mystery p. 90 92. Reply I denyed that the Quakers held Man's Soul to be God and renounced that Doctrine as Blasphemy whereof G. F. and the Quakers Religion are clear Now J. Cheyney in his Relation says Having nothing that they could object but only that Fox doth not expressly say that the Soul is God Reply In this J. C. is a Lyar G. F.'s words I owned and said they did admit of no such consequence as that Man's Soul is God But I told him he wrested and perverted G. F's words and meaning as he did the Scriptures G. F. queried of the Priests Is not the Soul coming from God Infinite I affirmed the Breath of Life which God breathed into Man the Life and Spirit which came forth from God the Life of Man's Soul or by which Man became a living Soul was infinite and G. F's words as intended were sound J. C. affirmed There was n othing come forth from God which is infinite and without beginning I replied The Son of God came forth from God yet the Son of God was infinite and without beginning to which J. C. was silent This my Answer was according to Scripture John 8.42 Jesus said I proceeded forth and came from God this was he who said John 17.5 O Father Glorifie thou me with thy own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Verse 24. For thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World John 16.27 28 30. For the Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from the Fathar and am come into the World Again I leave the World and go to the Father by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Again J. C. asserted There was nothing in Man that is infinite I replied The Breath of Life breathed into Man the Spirit of God in Man is Infinite This was according to Scripture Gen. 2.7 And breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and â—hat the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Mat. 10.20 The Spirit of the Father which speaketh in you Mark The Spirit of God was in Men dwelt in them spoke in them so according to the Scriptures God's Spirit which is infinite dwells in Man and speaks in Man even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 So there is something in Man that is Infinite Now Reader is not J. C's assertion There is nothing come forth from God which is infinite and without beginning and that there is nothing in Man which is infinite plainly manifest to be contrary to Scripture Hath not J. C. denied the Son of God who came forth from God to be Infinite and without Beginning Hath he not also denied the Spirit of Trust which proceedeth from the Father to 〈…〉 Infinite and without Beginning 〈…〉 is not J. C. a Lyar against the â—criptures a Lyar against the Son 〈…〉 and a Lyar against the Spirit of Truth And is not this Blasphemy to deny Christ the Son of God who came forth front God and the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father to be Infinite and without Beginning For J. C. said expresly There was nothing came forth from God which 〈…〉 and without Beginning And is not J. C. a Blasphemer in denying the Son of God who came forth from God and the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father to be Infinite and without Beginning Let the Reader judge I have
believe and also that this Breath of Life cannot Transgress or be in Transgression though the Motions of it in the Soul may be quenched and it grieved for so it is when Man hearkens unto and takes Counsel at the Serpent who first drew Man from God's Counsel and thus as it is written God is grieved with the Wicked every day His displeasure or grief is because he would have Man to hearken to his Voice and be saved but Man will not as God complained of old They rejected all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof In this latter sense taking the Soul for that Life or Breath by which Man lived or became a living Soul this as G. F. saith p. 68. is infinite which he must needs intend as his own words do import being taken in their own proper and gennine sense It appears in G. F's Controversie with the Priests about the Soul that he takes up the word Soul and speaks of it under three Considerations 1st The Soul of Man in Transgression in Death 2dly The Soul of Man in the Restoration in Life and 3dly He speaks of the word Soul as being that Breath of Life which came forth from God by which Man Lived or Became a Living Soul which Breath and Life is of God's Being and Infinite as I said before Thus it appears that the Spirit of God the Light of Christ within the Breath of Life and the Quakers Religion and G. F. are all clear from J. C's wicked Charge and J. C. is a Lyar whose Work hath been both by Disputation and Writing to prove that the Quakers assert Man's Soul to be God and so charge God to be guilty of Sin because Man's Soul Sins therefore God Sins This Wicked Blasphemous Assertion and Consequence he would have fastened upon the Quakers which we do utterly deny But J. C. hath failed in his purpose and the Quakers are clear of holding Man's Soul to he God and J. C's false Charge That the Quakers Religion is against God's Spirit remains unproved and like to remain unproved What J. C. hath done is this He hath brought one wicked Charge to prove another by and both alike are utterly false And what J. C. intended Vnjustly to have fastened upon the Quakers is it not in a great measure justly fallen upon his own Head For whereas he says The Quakers do plainly hold Man's Soul to be God therefore when Man 's Soul Sins God Sins is it not clearly evident that J. C. plainly holds the Light within the Light of Christ in Man wherewith Christ lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 something of God in Man Light and Spirit to be Man's Soul to have a hand in Sin to be guilty as being himself and in Hell to be a felf-tormenting Light I shall give some Quotations out of his Book entituled Quakerism Subverted and query a little thereupon and so leave it to the Impartial Reader to judge Pag. 21. of the said Book J. C. saith Every Man hath a Light within him and so we say that Jesus Christ is the true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 P. 28. Hath not every Man a Light within him Mark given him to be his Guide his Monitor P. 27 28. In every Man there is something of God and something of Satan Flesh and Spirit Light and Darkness Upon which I query If something of God in opposition to Satan Spirit and Light in opposition to the Flesh and Darkness is it not the Spirit of God who is a Spirit John 4.24 Is it not Light of God who is Light and in whom is no Darkness at all 1 John 1.5 J. C. says it is something of God Spirit and Light is it not then the Light and Spirit of God according to Scripture 1 Cor. 12.7 Pag. 34 35. he says If the Light within never did err nor can err it is the same to say the Soul of Man never did err nor can err P. 35. When we say The Light smiteth or convinceth excuseth or reproveth it 's but the same to say The Soul doth return upon it self Upon which I query Whether that which Convinceth and Reproveth the Soul for Sin be not the Spirit of Truth which reproves the World of Sin According to John 16.8 10. And if the Spirit of Truth which Convinceth and Reproveth the Soul for Sin then whether he doth not plainly hold the Spirit of Truth to be Man's Soul Pag. 34. he saith The Light hath a Hand in all Thought-sins inward Heart-Sins Tongue-sins and Life-sins Pag. 36. Every Sin I commit the Light within is guilty as being myself Pag. 34. The Light within in Hell is turned to a self tormenting Light Is it not clearly evident from these Quotations out of his Book that J. C. hath asserted the Light within the Light of Christ in Man wherewith according to John 1.7 Christ lighteth every Man that cometh into the World something of God in Man Light and Spirit to be Man's Soul To have a Hand in Sin to be himself guilty of Sin and in Hell to be a self-tormenting Light And is not this Blasphemy And is not J. C. a Blasphemer And if J. C's Religion hold forth and maintain this Doctrine Is not J. C's Religion guilty of Blasphemy And if J. C's Religion be guilty of Blasphemy Is not J. C's Religion against God's Spirit And hath not J. C made a Pit and digged it for the Quakers and their Religion and is not J. C. and his Religion fallen into the Ditch which he made Let the Reader judge The next thing in J. C's Relation that here I shall take notice of is in pag. 6. he saith The Quakers do utterly make void the Scriptures this saith he was prov'd at the Dispute Reply Was ever any pretended Gospel-Minister more void of shame than is this J. C. to publish such Lyes to the World What 's more false than to assert we make the Scriptures void And What 's less true than to say he proved it O wicked Man of slander in the one and shameless impudent Liar in the other I do believe I might have the Testimonies of some hundreds of People who were Auditors at the said Dispute that J. C's Relation is false if I needed thereunto But it may be he thinks the Title of a Minister of Christ will give him Credit where his Lyes are broached with People to believe what he says is true especially against R. H. by him stiled a Sect-Master R. H. expects to fare no better from him than the Disciples of Christ did from his Generation the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites who called them pestilent Fellows Seducers Enemies to the Law and Scriptures all which J. C. is guilty of against the Quakers as the Generation he is of was against the Disciples so it is evident he is in the foot-steps of that Generation J. C. might have remembred the Truth was by his fore-Fathers in whose steps he
Peter alludes 2 Pet. 1.20 21. No Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation Mark for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost The Apostle here speaks of the Prophesies of the Scripture what was spoken in the Motion of the Holy Ghost Now that all that was spoken and is written in the Bible was spoken in the Motion of the Holy Ghost there being something spoken by wicked Men in the Bible which was my assertion J. C. doth not affirm But J. C. will have it That every word in the whole Bible was given by the Inspiration of God to the Holy Pen-Men who were inspired to write them Reply This alters the state of the Controversie betwixt us which was about speaking forth what afterwards was Recorded in Scripture viz. what the Serpent and wicked Men spoke who called Christ Beelzebub a Samaritan and said He had a Devil c. It was not the Historical Relation that we were about but of its being spoken before Recorded we were arguing I said The Serpent the Devil and wicked Men spoke words which are recorded in Scriptures and none of them spoke those words in the Motion of God's Spirit But though it be a little beside the matter I query How J. C. will prove yet I deny not that the holy Pen Men of Scriptures had God's Spirit and were assisted by it in the recording the words of wicked Men that every Pen-Man that writ of the Scriptures writ not a word but what was opened in him by the Inspiration of God which he neither heard of Man nor received from Man but in the Immediate Revelation of God received it and by Inspiration writ it Or whether some of the Pen-Men saw not with their outward Eyes several things which they writ of and heard not with their outward Ears several words which are written in the Scripture which they heard of Men According to Luke 1.1 2 3 4. Acts 1.1 23.16 to 23.1 Cor. 1.10 11. Gal. 2.11 c. Gen. 42.29 45.9 to 28. Judges 16.17 18. 2 Sam. 1.5 to 17. 18.10 c. Esther 4. J. C. in page 21. saith R. H. in the Dispute did openly affirm That God did no where command us to walk according to the Scriptures and the Laws and Doctrines of the Scriptures but all are to walk in the Spirit and after the Spirit and according to the Spirit wickedly opposing the Spirit and his Holy Laws He was quickly silenced c. Reply In this I may truly say John Cheyney hath far exceeded not only the bounds of Truth but Honesty in forging Lyes and publishing a false Accusation and Slander against me to render me odious in the sight of good Men But sure I am notwithstanding J. C's wicked Lyes false Accusation and Slander which I hope will find no more acceptance with good Men than his Hypocritical Praying Dissembling and Lying hath with God as in his Prayer-Book p. 141. that I never so said neither ever so intended For first it is against my Principle the Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth such who stand in the counsel of it and are freely given up to be led by it This Spirit is in the inward parts and that is some-where and God by it in our inward parts commands us to walk Holily Righteously and Godlily in this World to observe his Precepts and keep his Commandments love God above all things and our Neighbours as our selves and to do to all Men as we would they should do to us this is the Law and the Prophets and to own the Precepts Doctrines Laws and Commandments contained in the Scriptures and fully to believe That God who by his Spirit gave them forth through his Prophets commanded that People should keep them and walk in his fear and be Witnesses of the fulfilling of them and walk and live in that Holy Life the Scriptures declare of and this walking is according to the Scriptures Secondly It is contrary to my Practice But lest J. C. or any other if I should speak what I might speak in the Truth concerning it should judge me to boast concerning my Practice I shall say thus much It is such as in measure becomes the Gospel fearing God eschewing Evil and this is according to Scripture And for my Conversation in the World to them who know me and know it also I shall leave it for them to speak further thereof as they find cause whether it be not in measure according to the Conversation of those who in times past walked not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 I did and I do assert as before That the Spirit of God is the Rule of Saving Faith and that the Apostles did not direct People to the Scriptures to be the Rule of Saving Faith or say Walk in the Scriptures they are the Rule For although the Apostle commended the Noble Bereans for searching the Scriptures c. so did he for receiving the Word with diligence but he did not direct the Bereans to the Scriptures to be the Rule of Saving Faith But the Apostle and Apostles directed People to the sure Word of Prophesie which was nigh in the Heart 2 Pet. 1.19 Rom. 10.8 And turned them from Darkness to Light from Satan's Power to the Power of God Acts 26.18 To the Vnction of the Holy One the Anointing within which teacheth all things 1 John 2.27 To the Spirit thereby to mortifie the Deeds of the Body that they might live Rom. 8.13 To walk in the Spirit Gal. 4.16 Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh I say because I thus asserted and also proved the Spirit to be the Rule of Saving Faith and not the Scriptures and the Apostles directed to the Spirit for the Rule and not to the Scriptures to be the Rule and that they did not say Walk in the Scriptures they are the Rule but Walk in the Spirit I say because I did prefer the Spirit to be the Rule of Faith before the Scriptures yet owned the Scriptures in their place Therefore J. C. hath impiously charged me that I said God did no where command us to walk according to the Scriptures yet in Contradiction to himself he grants I affirmed All things are to walk in the Spirit after the Spirit and according to the Spirit all this is very good and if I said it I own it But here is his Contradiction in allowing I said All mast walk in the Spirit and after the Spirit and according to the Spirit which are Scriptural Expressions he grants I affirmed All must walk according to the Laws and Dctrines in the Scriptures for the Spirit which he grants I affirmed all must walk in after and according to viz. the Spirit of Truth commands and leads to keep those Doctrines and observe those Laws and Precepts in Scripture which concern a Holy Life
Christian Husbands and Wives are to walk c In the same page That they quite Subvert all the Rules of Duty between Ministers and People c. In the same page That they pluck down Prayer Root and Branch In the same page That by the Quakers Doctrine we may all pray none or pray Curses and Blasphemies In page 22. again That the Quakers Religion doth pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines and Rules of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God c. In page 13. That the Quakers say Every Man may make as good if not a better Bible than this we have In page 17. That the Quakers are guilty of affirming The Light in every Man to be a part of God as a drop of Water fetch'd from the Ocean is part of it In page 23. That there are no People do more Oppose and Subvert the Spirit than the Quakers In the same page That if the Quakers should practise their own Doctrine they would pass all that ever have been before them in Wickedness All these are gross Lyes and wicked Slanders whereof the Quakers and their Religion are clear And that no Lye may remain upon the Truth the Light and Children thereof I add That the Light of Christ within Man wherewith Christ the true Light lighteth every Man is the Life of the Word the Light of Men John 1.4 The Spirit of God given to instruct them Neh. 9.20 Ezek. 36.27 The Manifestation of which Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 Reproves the World of Sin John 15.8 And maketh manifest all things that are reproved Ephes 5.13 For that is the Spirit of Truth which reproveth and convinceth of Sin and the Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Christ for Christ is the Truth John 14.6 And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God for the Son and the Father are One John 10.30 5.18 to 27. One Lord one God and Father of all Ephes 4.5 6. Christ and God is Light John 1.4 9. 8.12 9.5 1 John 1.5 The Lord our God is one Lord Deut. 6.4 God is a Spirit John 4.24 The Lord is that Spirit which giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 17. The changing of Man from Death to Life is by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 I the Lord search the Heart and try the Reins even to give every Man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doing Jer. 17.10 The Spirit saith I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your Works Rev. 2.23 The Spirit searcheth all things 1 Cor. 2.10 Hereby it is evident the Spirit of God is one with God and Christ and so God Infinite Omnipresent who is One Lord and his Name One Zach 14.9 who sees all things there is nothing hid or can be hid from God's Spirit all things being known and seen by the Spirit of God Man's Thoughts are shewed and told by it and whatsoever thing is reproved it sheweth and maketh manifest And that which makes manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Well then the Spirit of Truth is the Light of Christ within Man which makes manifest and sheweth whatsoever thing is reproved by it which declareth to Man the Thoughts of his Heart and giveth to every Man according to his Works which reproveth and convinceth Man of Sin and leads into all Truth in which we called Quakers have believed and walk in even in the Light and Spirit of God and Christ and so witness the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all Sin and the Light and Spirit of Christ leading us on together into all Truth in which blessed Light we have Fellowship with God who is Light and one with another 1 John 1.5.7 And so are of that pure Religion which is undefiled before God and unspotted of the World James 1.27 This blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within leads us to do unto all Men that which is right in the sight of God and all of us that walk in in it walk according to the Precepts Doctrines and Commands of God contained in the Scriptures and witness in measure the fulfilling of what is therein written for our Learning that the Man of God may be Perfect c. And the keeping of the great Commandment which is Love So then this blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within born witness to and walked in by us called Quakers which indeed is both our Rule and Way doth lead and guide us not to oppose God's Spirit for then we should oppose our Rule and Way which is the Spirit of God nor to pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines Precepts and Commands of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God contained in the Scriptures of Truth as J. C. hath slandered us but to live and walk therein and up thereunto and manifest both our Love and Honour to the Spirit of God and Esteem for the Scriptures of Truth in living that Holy Life the Scriptures declare of and the Spirit of God commands which Holy Life lived by us through the Spirit fulfils and justifies the Scriptures of Truth and exalts and glorifies the Spirit of God over all for God alone is worthy for ever and ever Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are led and taught lead them to teach Treason and Rebellion which J. C. most wickedly hath charged the Quakers withal but the Light teacheth and leadeth them to live peaceably and quietly under the Government where they are placed and to seek the good of all Men to Pray for Kings and them which are in Authority that under their Government they might live in all Godliness and Honesty a Quiet and Peaceable Life to Exhort one another to Love and good Works and to teach Fidelity and Obedience to the Governments and Governours appointed by God that both Magistrates and their Governments may be submitted unto and obeyed by all People that there-under live by doing or suffering what cannot for Conscience sake God-ward be done and that whoever may answer the King and his Government in suffering for Conscience God-wards not to seek Revenge nor the Hurt of the King or his Government but to leave Judgment to God alone who disposeth of Kingdoms and Thrones Government and Kings at his pleasure and to Pray to God to perswade the Hearts of Kings to fear him to be Encouragers of Piety and Godliness but to Discourage all Wickedness and to Honour Christ the Lord the true Light over all who purgeth the Conscience from dead Works and fills it with the Mystery of the living Faith that over Conscience Christ may only Rule and Govern whose Right it is that in so doing their Government may be blessed to their Comfort and the Benefit of the People and the Honour and Glory of God who is King of Kings and
often express it and truly so was he to me every Day every Way and in every Respect no Tongue nor Pen can relate the full of that Comfort and Joy we had in God and one in another Yet we find such hath been the Pleasure of God concerning them he hath loved to try them in the most near and dear Enjoyments that it might be manifest he was loved above all that no Gift or Gifts may be preferred above the Giver but that he may be all in all and over all who is and is to come God blessed for ever and ever And truly there hath been great Care and Watchfulness one over another and over our own Spirits to see that our Love though great was bounded and kept within its Compass the Truth being its Original the Alpha and Omega also Although it hath been the Pleasure of God to try me in the removal of so great a Blessing from me sure it is that I may be the more inward to him and have his Love always in my Remembrance who gives and takes away and in all Bless his Name My Soul travels that I may always follow his footsteps of Self-denial in all things that I may finish my Course in this World to the Glory of God as he did and have my part in that Mansion of Glory with him eternal in the Heavens though it be my Lot to stay for a time in this World of Troubles yet I have hope in Immortality and Eternal Blessedness when time in this World shall be no more My dear Husband was a Man very Laborious in his time though he had several long weak Fits of Feavers and Agues yet when a little well regarded the Lord's Business above all Besides his Travels about home and here in England he travelled through Scotland and twice in Holland and Germany since we were Married and had great Services for the Lord in many Places as I doubt not but Accounts may be given and through Mercy for two Years last had his Health well and is gathered to his place like a Shock of Corn in its due Season and rests with the Lord for ever I have sometimes considered the suddenness and manner of his Removal although it was ordered by Providence that I was far remote at that Time in in the Service of Truth which was with his free Consent and Approbation being brought on my Way by him so far as Talk-Hill in Staffordshire where we parted in great Love and Sweetness the Glory of the Lord resting upon our Spirits in which Breathings ascended up to the Lord for each other And though I saw not his going away yet have seen in what he went that it was full of Zeal and Fervency in the Love of God and Life of Righteousness So in pure Submission to the Will of God I conclude this short but true Relation of my Worthy Dear Husband whose Name and Memorial is blessed and will live and be of a sweet Savour in the Hearts of the Righteous through Ages I am Truths Friend and a well-wisher to the Souls of all People Eleanor Haydock Penketh the 15th of the 3d Month 1697. Ashort Testimony to the Lord's Kindness and to the Life Ministry Sufferings Services and Death of our Worthy Friend Roger Haydock who departed this Life the 11th Day of the 3d Month 1696. WE are deeply affected and bowed in Soul in a sense of the Lord 's free Love and Goodness unto us in looking upon and visiting us in the time of our Uncleanness when we were unworthy of the least of his Mercies Oh! then was his Arm revealed for our Help Redemption and Salvation a Work of so great Kindness as ought ever to be had in Remembrance in that neither we noâ— any of the Children of Men can sufficiently set forth so great a Favour the Concern is of great Moment the only begotten Son of God laid down his Life to effect it We Travel in our several Measures that we and all the Lord 's gathered People may ever dwell in a Worthiness that we may be in the Lords hand Instruments to work the appointed work of our Day And under this tender sense we found our Hearts open to give the Salutation of unseigned Love to all our dear Friends where these may come with this brotherly Exhortation That you may all stir up one another to the Duty you owe unto the Lord that as a Church and People of our God's peculiar gathering you and we may be presented to him without Spot or Wrinkle And dear Brethren the dealings of the Lord with his Instruments and faithful Servants and the removing of them from us hath considerable Weight upon our Spirits and raiseth a holy Desire in us that we and you may not abate but encrease our Zeal Diligence and Labour that the Lords good Work begun may not stop but go on and prosper and that the great Lord of the Harvest may never want faithful Workmen Next hereunto O Reader We recommend to thy perusal this following Account of our said Friend Roger Haydock First As touching the manner of his Life we having several of us known and conversed with him from the time of his Convincement can say of it His Conversation was without Covetousness of Self-denial he was a good Pattern in Habit Plain in Meats and Drinks very Temperate and in his Actions and Concerns Careful that what he did might answer the better Part in all and justly offend none Walking he would often say he preferred before Talking and laboured that others might walk as they had Christ for an Example Secondly As to his Ministry though we need say little because it was known in most places where these may come We have from good Experience this Account to give That he preached the Gospel freely both in this and other Nations always possessed with a Care that Life and Vertue might put him forth and manifest him to his Auditors very weighty and deep things did often drop from his Mouth and although he had sometimes sharp Arrows to shoot at Babylon and against all Hypocrites and Double-Minded yet many times a Living Sweet Consolating Stream was conveyed through him to water the tender Plants and very often a Morsel to the Poor and Needy Very tender and kind to his Fellow-Labourers yea to the least Child that from a right Concern opened a Mouth for the Lord and for the sakes of such did many times sit whole Meetings through in Silence very kind in that Respect to Strangers yea such was the Care of this good Man that Friends might truly reap benefit in their Meetings that in many of our Week-day Meetings he used to wait amongst us in Silence that none might too much depend upon Words or be surfeited through the multitude thereof And when at any time he had upon him a Concern to visit Churches in remote Parts his manner was to lay before and wait for the Concurrence of this our Meeting which many times occasioned
a weighty Sense of his Service to spring among us Many were convinced by him We have not heard of any of his Travels but some became Seals of his Ministry in all this as he did so do we attribute the Glory to God whose chosen Vessel he was Thirdly As this our said Friend was called to Believe and to Receive a part of the Ministry so did he joyfully embrace Sufferings as a part of his Calling and on the account thereof we several of us having been his fellow-Prisoners can with much certainty Testifie that he never turned his back or gave ground to Truth 's Adversaries in his Testimony but chearfully suffered Bonds as well as Spoil of Goods as the Lord permitted him to be tryed therein We can further add that all his Sufferings he underwent with great Simplicity as well as Patience the Lord's hand alone without Carnal Contrivance being truly regarded eyed and depended on for his Enlargement so that he was made to Triumph in the Lord for his Deliverance Fourthly The next part in which he was evidently manifested to us to be a Workman who needed not to be ashamed was his singular Care and watchfulness over the Flock of God amongst whom he was not only a good Apostle a Minister of the Spirit but a careful Over-seer an Instrument to Prune Dress Fence in and keep Clean that the Church of God might be kept in its Beauty and wear its own Livery even even the White-Linnen without Spot or Wrinkle We are truly sensible his Care and Labour tended to this He was a very seasonable and constant Attender of these our Meetings as well as others oftentimes was he opened amongst us in a short Testimony in God's Wisdom suitable to the occasion Cautious that neither he nor any amongst us might obstruct the Days Service by enlarging therein Weighty and Clear he was in handling the Concerns of Truth yea studious to propagate its Interest with all his Strength very Zealous that nothing might remain in the Churches either to be a stumbling-Block or occasion our Posterity to enquire why these things were left All Superfluities of Meats Drinks Apparel and Furniture as well as Feastings at Births Marriages and Burials and other needless worldly Customs he lived to see put a stop to and which he in the Lord's hand was made an Instrument to effect He would with Gravity Clearness and Plainness go through weighty matters and in handling was very Righteous for though he was of an humble Condescention to hear the mind of the least Member yet would he not submit the justness of a Matter or lessen his Judgment or the Stroak of Truth upon it for the Interest of either Friend or Brother and as ready he was to submit himself where he either mis-apprehended or was mis-informed In this manner we cannot forbear to tell it was he conversant amongst us a good help in Government for which sake we truly honoured him and on behalf of the Concern the Lord had laid upon him relating to the Discipline of the Church we can say to the Praise of God that what he recommended to Friends Practice in places abroad as he fell in their Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings not taking effect to be complyed with in his Life-time hath since his departure from us been put in Practice by them and a Benefit found thereby so that being Dead he yet Spâ—aketh his Life and Spirit Bent and Inclination have still their Motion in the Minds of many Much more might be truly said to the Praise of that Vertue that dwelt richly in him but our design was Brevity in this Undertaking and our only Aim therein the Exaltation of that Grace by which he was what he was to God his Church and People Lastly As to his Death It was sudden and surprizing to us in that not above three Days before it he seemed in full Strength both of Body and Mind and bare amongst us a living Testimony to that Universal Grace and Sufficiency of it by which we were called and in which all have Life Salvation and Peace and exhorted Friends to avoid every thing that would gender to Bondage c. The Day following he fell Sick as was supposed of a malignant Fever which continued violent upon him for about two days and a half and then dyed in the Presence of many Friends His Body was accompanied by a great number to Friends Grave-Yard in Penketh after the interring of the Corps was a very large Meeting many more than the Meeting-House could contain several Testimonies were born and a solid Weight of Divine Goodness over-shadowed the Meeting so that we may say Precious in the Eyes of the Lord is the Death of his Saints And now tho' our loss of so faithful a Friend and Fellow labourer cannot but affect us very nearly yet in this we are satisfied that in the good Pleasure of God he is taken from us And tho' he might according to the Course of Nature have lived many more Years yet as to his Growth and Ripeness we can say of him He died in a good Old Age having lived to behold his Ministry and Services crowned with the Conversion of many to the Faith and Establishment therein And we are under a full satisfaction that his Rest is glorious amongst his Fathers even faithful Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the Followers of the Lamb there to Sing Praises to God on high who is Worthy for ever and ever Given forth from our Mens-Meeting at Hartshaw the 18th of the third Month 1697. Signed on behalf of the Meeting by Richard Cuttan William Barns George Burch Joshua Crosby John Bispham Robert Tompson Robert Haydock James Laithwait Henry Mollineux John Burch Joseph Coppock John Johnson Richard Tarbuck Gilbert Thompson A few Lines by way of Testimony from Friends in Cheshire concerning Dear Roger Haydock Deceased THough we believe that many Testimonies will be given from several Faithful Friends concerning that good Man yet we that have reaped so great a Benefit from his Labours in Testimonies and other ways cannot keep wholly Silent concerning him For soon after he had received a Gift for the Ministry he found himself concern'd to visit This County and where in his first appearance he was very gladly received for he proved very Serviceable to many that waited for the Redemption of Zion and greatly helpful in strengthening and incouraging those whose Faces were turned thither-ward Thus meeting with so pleasing a Reception in his early Visits found himself ingaged to come often amongst us and he greatly grew and was filled with the Life and Power of God and his Service was much inlarged and very many were awakened that had fallen asleep in a kind of Self-security who were ready to cry out What shall we do to be saved For they were prick'd to the very Heart So prevalent was his Testimony so powerful was Truth And indeed several were Convinced and with great gladness received the Testimony of the Word of
Life who with those many more that were greatly supported and strengthened by his Labours as Living Epistles can set to their Seals to the Truth of his Apostleship Now our County being thus alarmed and stirred up and the beauty of many pleasant Pictures fading and Truth prospering and inlarging it self in many places The Men of the Long Robe begun to be angry for now some Member or Members withdrew from their Assemblies and joyned themselves to the poor despised Quakers This so inraged them that they made their Pulpits ring with the Noise of the Danger of the Growth and Infection of Quakerism and Exhibited their Black Charges against us and our Principles at random to frighten poor People from receiving the Truth of God Some of which being taken notice of occasioned several Publick Disputes in this County And in Vindicating of our Holy Profession against these our Opposers this our Friend of whom we are writing did more particularly appear And truly the Lord's Presence and Power appeared with and so enabled him that he not only clear'd up those Truths clouded through their Envy but so manifestly returned their Charges upon themselves that some were Convinced by those opportunities and several Confirmed In all which he behaved himself as a Man for God The Remembrance whereof is very sweet to many of us to this moment And indeed all along to his end he forgot not his Fatherly Care over us so that above many others we are really indebted to his Memory who hath been greatly Serviceable to us and hath done Valiantly His Travels have been considerable in this and foreign Nations of which we might inlarge but shall leave it to other Pens as also to speak of his Parts and Accomplishments which were very considerable And not to be tedious shall only add He Lived well and so he Died and his Work being finished was taken from us in the strength of his Age of whom the World was not worthy And was attended to his Grave by some Hundreds and many good and publick Testimonies were born to the Praise of that Power that had raised him up to be so serviceable to the Churches of Christ to the great Comfort of those many Mourners present at his Interment and he being Dead yet Speaketh Sign'd at our Quarterly-Meeting at Nulon-juxta Middlewich the 14th of September 1697 on the behalf of the Friends of this County By us Thomas Welch Sen. John Crosbey Thomas Rowland Richard Yarwood William Janney John Kennerly John Bradley John Bancroft Ralph Brock Thomas Buckley John Hobson Henry Murrey Joseph Maddock John Finnerley John Lamb Thomas Hyld Thomas Pott John Walker John Hough Shadrach Welch William Harrison John Merrick William Crames John Jarvis Thomas Butter Samuel Traford Thomas Welch Jun. Joseph Towers Peter Pricksley John Lorrance William Hancock Richard Davis Jacob Lawrance Hugh Buttler Esther Hall Mary Gandy Mary Hall Mary Bangs Eliz. Maddock Elinor Hyde Hannah Ashton Eliz. Williamson Elin Fornelly Ann Welch Mary Merrick Esther Crosbey Rachel Butter Rebekah Traford Ann Davis Katharine Lamb Martha Lamb Samuel Rilence Joseph Endon Hugh Burgis Tho. Williamson Roger Roe John Dutton William Hyde Richard Parkey Henry Maddock Benjamin Bangs Mary Peacock Maible Hancock Rebekah Pritchley Tabitha Ardern Rebekah Backley Ann Eaton Eliz. Ashbrook Eliz. Lawrance Martha Broadhurst Eleanor Cooke Esther Merrick Nehemy Bradley Hann. Littlemore Mary Worthington Margaret Garsell Elizabeth Welch Alice Rowland The Testimony of Thomas Camm concerning our dear Deceased Brother and Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ Roger Haydock IT is such as Die in the Lord who are Blessed being gathered to their Eternal Rest with the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and freed from Tears and Sorrows and manifold Sufferings Travels and Labours and whose Works follow them whose Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life amongst the Living and is a sweet Savour and blessed Memorial to after-Ages And though we that are yet left behind may have loss in that they are outwardly removed from us yet ought therein to be content since it 's the good pleasure of the Almighty and the great Gain of them who are swallowed up in the Joy of the Lord unspeakable of which number it 's my present Sense and Testimony our dear Friend and Brother R. H. is one and has finished his Course here with Joy who in his day was a Man of God a faithful Man for the promoting the Interest of God his Truth and Righteousness given up to spend and be spent in the Service of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in all Faithfulness and Sincerity as well as plentifully Furnished thereto by him that hath the Infinite Treasures of Wisdom and Divine Knowledge and gives freely thereof to the Humble and Sincere in Heart and richly was this dear Man of God furnished for the Work of the Ministry which he was called to and found Faithful in for many Years to the finishing of his Course here and a Blessed Effect his Living and Powerful Ministry had upon the Hearts of many not only in turning them to the Lord's Way and Truth but also in Confirming Building up and Establishing many therein Being one of those Scribes commended by our Lord who are well instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven and bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old for the Instruction and Building up others many in this Nation and many others where he Travelled can Testifie and bear Witness unto Who are the Living Seals of his Ministry having good cause with thankful Hearts to bless the Lord on the behalf thereof It 's not with me to inlarge into the particular Travels and Labours of this Faithful Servant of the Lord in this and several other Nations supposing that may be the Work of others But as I well knew him and had an intimate and inward Acquaintance with him from the time that it pleased the great God of Eternal Glory to call sanctifie fit and furnish him to the Work of the Ministry which is most of Thirty Years by our often and frequent Travels together in that Work and Service in most parts of this Nation So that which I have in short to say and testifie herein with respect to God's Glory Service of his Truth and People and Discharge of Duty to and on the account of so Dear so Faithful and so greatly Beloved a Friend Brother and Companion is from Tried and long Experience and certain Knowledge as I felt it to spring and live upon my Mind in that Love and Life in which my Heart was firmly United to him as was Jonathan's to David Very shortly after I had the Heavy Tidings and Sorrowful Account of his being taken out of the Body and so removed from us as to outward Appearance under which Exercise I could not but mourn and say Ah my Brother I have a Loss of thee the Flock and Family of God has a Loss of thee and other Worthies at this time removed The Lord be intreated to
pour out a double Portion of his Spirit upon us lest behind and raise up many more that so his Work may become Prosperous in the Earth Amen Oh how Comfortable is the Remembrance of that perfect Love Nearness and Unity that we enjoyed together without the least Jarr which made our Service and Labour together very easie and pleasant and our Conversation together very sweet And know that he was Open-hearted Free and Faithful to his Friend a great Lover as well as Promoter of Love Peace and Concord amongst Brethren able in Advice sound in Judgment tender and kind to the Weak every way ready to serve and help the Needful in every respect of a truly Humble and Lowly Spirit giving Preference to others especially Elders although a Man that had a kind of Greatness or Presence in a Manly Carriage or Deportment from which some might mistake him that knew him not in the Root of Life and Truth Fervent in Spirit Zealous for the Promotion of the Interest of Truth in a Godly-Discipline and Gospel-Order amongst all Friends and his Care and Labour that all might be found in the Practice of the pure Religion professed That so Zion might become Glorious the Praise of the whole Earth and the Church and Family of God be kept Pure and Chaste to shine forth in her Splendor the Eclipsing whereof in any respect I know was ever his Exercise and under the Exercise thereof have simpathized with him in Sorrow and Mourning whom I knew esteemed of and preferred the Peace Prosperity Wellfare and Increase of the Glory of Zion God's People far above his own His Natural Parts were great and augmented by a good and liberal Education All which being Sanctified as well as Inlarged by the Power of Truth made him both Honourable and Serviceable in the Church of Christ in many respects And tho' he be Dead yet Lives and Speaks amongst us and is Enjoyed in that Life which never Ends. And as he has turned many to Righteousness he now shines as a bright Star in the Firmament of God's Power and his Name will be of Lasting Remembrance amongst the Living T. Camm H. M's Testimony concerning our dear and faithful Friend Roger Haydock Deceased AMongst many of the Lord's Worthies whom in this our Day Age and Generation he hath endued with Wisdom Courage Valour and Prevalency in Innocency and Righteousness to make War without Carnal Weapons against the Spiritual Enemies of God and of his Son Christ Jesus the Lamb without Blemish that taketh away the Sin of the World this our dear Friend Roger Haydock was not one of the least who before I knew him was at the Challenges of Priests that opposed the Truth to which he bore Testimony several times engaged in Disputations as Defendant for the Truth professed and lived in by him and the People called Quakers against the false Charges of the Priests One Passage whereof being related to me by one of the party adverse to him when I was a Stranger to the Truth and to Roger Haydock tended to my Convincement and in hopes it may likewise be of good effect to others I shall here insert it viz. My Neighbour told me he had been at a Dispute between Mr. Cheyney as he called him and a Quaker whom I have since known to be Roger Haydock and and that Cheyney among other things charged the Quakers for not using Baptism of Infants Then I asked him how the Quaker answered to that He said Indeed the Quaker behaved himself very moderately and civilly in his way and answered That there was no Proof in the Scriptures of Truth for it and that it was only Men's Invention and by Man's Tradition that they held it and considering how they used it who professed the Scriptures to be their Rule which did not warrant them therein it appeared in them to be ridiculous both before God and Man Then I asked him What Proof Cheyney brought for it He answered to this effect That he did not understand that Cheyney brought any Proof for it This Relation induced me to seek for what Proof could be found for it because I had been taught that my Infant-Baptism was the Foundation of my Christianity thereupon diligently searching the Scriptures and after that reasoning with my Teachers I plainly saw there was no Proof from the Scriptures nor Authority from Christ to be found for it and that therefore my Foundation was unsound and the Building upon it dangerous and ruinous Therefore in a deep Sense of my want of a Foundation that could not be moved I left the Builders upon Infant-Baptism and earnestly sought unto the Lord who in his own time Revealed in me that Foundation which standeth sure even the Rock of Ages the Foundation of all the Generations of the Righteous that great Mystery hid from many Professors which is Christ in Believers the Hope of their Glory who Baptizeth them with Spiritual Water and Fire a Manifestation of whose Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal which inwardly Reproveth the Disobedient but Comforteth the Faithful who in it have true Unity and Fellowship one with another And in this I was in the Lord's time acquainted with this my aforesaid dear Friend and faithful Servant of Christ whose Service the Lord made of good effect to me by the aforesaid Relation of one that was as an Adversary to him and that a considerable time before I knew him for about the time that I left the aforesaid Builders my Teachers he was concerned in the Lord's Service in Ireland in the Year 1680. He was Laborious in the Service to which the Lord by his Grace had called him and for which he had fitted him in giving him largely to know and understand the deep Mysteries of his Kingdom and filling his Treasure with the durable Riches and Righteousness thereof And as he plenteously and freely received of the Lord so it was his delight and great Concern in the Counsel of God freely to give and impart Spiritual Gifts to others that many might be enriched with the same And therefore through great Travels Sufferings and Exercises he cheerfully went in the Lord's Service who blessed his Labours so that he was Instrumental in the Lord's Hand for the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power to God He was neither sparing of Himself nor his Substance to serve the Lord the Giver who blessed him as well with Temporal as Spiritual Blessings of both which he was very free in the Love of God to communicate having an especial Care over the Poor that none might want and a tender respect to the least appearance of Good in any that it might be incouraged He was concerned for the general Good of all but especially Serviceable in the Church of Christ being as a Pillar in the House of God firm and stable supporting the Weak and edifying the Houshold in Love His Ministry attended by the Lord's Power hath often hit my Condition
is resisting the Holy Ghost Holy Spirit as they did called a Sect and no doubt but the Apostles were accounted Sect-Masters by J. C.'s Predecessors as well as R. H. is stilled a Sect-Master by him for the Truth 's sake which prospers and prevails R. H. can bear it and J. C. hath discovered Himself and manifested his Folly But perhaps he thinks whatever he says or writes whether Slander Lye or Scoff his Coat will bear him out but if so his thoughts will deceive him for there are many will not so take things upon trust neither from him nor any of his Brethren either because of their Black Coat or White Coat but him will reprehend and judge for his Slanders Lyes and Scoffing Sure I may say a lying spirit hath entered him and acts him and it is against that spirit my controversie is I have Love and Good will to the Creature for the Scriptures were that day owned by us in their place as they have ever been by us since we were a People to God's Praise J. C. had Will enough to have proved all he hath said but he wanted Power Truth being stronger than all Neither had he so much Skill as Baseness nor Honesty as Impudence He laboured by indirect means to accomplish his wicked End but fell short and instead of Glory reaped Shame And why may I not use his own Expression published to the World only instead of the word Foes put in Opponent and say In this J. C. came poorly off as when he prayed his Opponent being too hard for him There were several that Day his Baseness and Wickedness being discovered and laid open cried against him and one called aloud unto him and openly asserted J. C. to be a Lyar and offered to prove it to his Face and said He was No Quaker But when J. C. had produced the Baptist's Book which he would have made the People to have believed was one of our Books out of which he brought a Quotation I asked to see the Book he refused I pressed again to see it not so much questioning the Book as that he had wronged the words in reading them he again refused I promised if he would let me have our Friend 's Bood to read the Quotation my self I would do the like for him with any Book I produced if requested when he saw I would not be satisfied but pressed still to see the Book then he confessed It was the Baptists Book and impudently asserted the Quotation was right and that they had truly stated our Friends Assertion But his dis-ingenuity thereby appear'd he being laid open and many saw him baffled in his Undertaking He also gave other Forged Quotations which he would have had the People believe were our Friends Assertions yet all would not avail to prove the Quakers Religion was against the Scriptures A Second Branch of the afore-cited Charge which in order to prove he asserted That the Quakers made the Scriptures useless and utterly void alledging That if the Scriptures were not the Rule of Faith they were useless and utterly void quoting the Second of Timothy 3.16 To which I replied I deny the Quakers do make void the Scriptures but that they own them I affirm and that they are profitable to the Man of god But there is no Man of God without God's Spirit it is the Spirit of God that makes a Man of God and it is the Spirit of God which was the Rule to the Man of God before the Scriptures were written and that which was the Rule to the Man of God is the Rule to the Man of God that which gives Faith is the Rule of Faith and that is the Spirit of God which gave Faith and was the Rule of Faith before the Scriptures were written Yet this makes not the Scriptures useless for the Man of God who walks according to this Rule the Spirit lives the Life the Scriptures declare of And to such a Man the Scriptures are profitable though he cannot set the Scriptures above the Spirit which gave them forth yet owning them in their place hath a more real esteem for the Scriptures than that Man who cries them up for his Rule yet walks contrary thereunto and short of the Life the Scriptures testifie of John Cheyney saith in the same Page R. H. would not say that the Scriptures were no Rule at all But he affirmed that they were not the Rule Reply This grant of J. C's proveth I did not make the Scriptures useless and void I asserted as before That the Spirit is the Rule of Doctrinal Saving Faith for that which is more universal than the Scriptures which was the Rule of Faith before and ever since the Scriptures were written to wit of saving Faith is the Spirit which gave Faith and ruled it and gives Faith and rules it for what it was it is and what it is it will for ever remain because unchangeable And I further add That that which the Saints walked in was their Rule and that was the Spirit Gal. 5.16 Walk in the Spirit c. Yet is not the Scriptures made void but fulfilled This is but a false Suggestion of J. C. That Scriptures are either the Rule or useless for he that walks in Spirit comes in measure to know the Scriptures fulfilled It is the Spirit of God which gives saving Knowledge and that which gives saving Knowledge is the saving Rule One to all God's People throughout all Ages of the World since Adam was created his Rule before he fell his Rule as he came up again in the same Life from which he fell Enoch's Rule in which he walked with God before the Scriptures were written the Prophets Rule who spake forth Scriptures by God's Spirit who were Prophets before the Scriptures they spoke forth by God's Spirit were written the Evangelists Rule who set forth a Declaration of those things which were most surely believed amongst them having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first Luke 1.1 3. Mark they had perfect understanding of all things they writ before they writ them the Apostles Rule who were Apostles before their Epistles were written the Rule of all the Holy Men of God since the Apostles days for there is no Holy Man of God without God's Spirit He that hath not the Spirit of God is none of his Rom. 8.9 He that hath the Spirit is to walk in it Gal. 5.16 25. He that walks in the Spirit it is his Rule he asketh Counsel of God as by Vrim and Thummim hath an answer from God takes Counsel of God and is covered with a Covering of God's Spirit such have comfort in reading the Scriptures being come in measure to the fulfilling of them in measure witnessing what their Elder Brethren the Prophets and Apostles declared of their Experiences as they did tread in their Foot-steps for One is the Way for the Righteous in all Ages Christ the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 No Man
comes to the Father but by him In the same Way and by the same Rule viz. the Spirit in and by which they walked who had not the Scriptures walked they who gave forth the Scriptures not only before they gave forth the Scriptures but afterwards in the same Way and by the same Rule have they walked do and shall they walk who have come do or shall come to live the Life the Scriptures declare of and not one of these who lives the Life the Scriptures testifie of make the Scriptures void as J. C. falsly suggesteth who thereby hath manifested his Ignorance both of the Scriptures and of the Power of God being one of those unlearned who wrests the Scriptures to their own Destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 And for his saying The Scriptures were proved the Rule it is false For the Spirit was proved the Rule and yet the Scriptures not made void J. C. in page 10 11. to prove W. P. and R. H. confute themselves and so saith he down goes the whole Body of Quakerism affirms That Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith Historical and Saving Faith are not opposite where-ever there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same There is the same Law and Rule to wicked Men as to godly Men the same Scripture which breeds Historical Faith breedeth Saving Faith but neither one nor the other without the Spirit of God Reply Now if this Tale he true that Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and that upon this point Down must go the whole Body of Quakerism Then I argue thus He that hath Historical Faith hath Saving Faith if they be one as J. C. says they are and not opposite then there is no difference betwixt a Dead Faith and a Living Faith a Faith without Works and a Faith that hath Works J. C. saith They are not two nor opposite where-ever saith he there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same Is it not as broad as long where-ever then there is Historical Faith there is Saving Faith for saith J. C. They are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and the Rule is one and the same But doth not this contradict the Scripture and give the Apostle James the Lye Who saith Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain Man that Faith without Works is dead James 2.19 20. What saith J. C Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith What is this but to say the Faith of vain and wicked Men and the Belief of Devils and the Faith of God's Elect are not opposite not two Faiths but one Faith J. C's assertion plainly holds forth this Doctrine That there is no difference nor opposition between Historical Faith and Saving Faith Faith without Works and Faith which hath Works Dead Faith and living Faith the Faith of Wicked Men and the Faith of God's Elect. I will not say J. C. is a Ranter in Practice But let the Reader judge whether J. C. be not a Ranter in Principle For J. C. cannot deny but that Devils and wicked Men believe there is a God and that the belief of Devils and wicked Men is not saving and that wicked Men whose Faith is not saving but vain believe the History of the Scriptures Now whether the historical Faith of vain and wicked Men and the saving Faith of God's Elect be not opposite be not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith let Truth in all People judge Likewise observe how grosly J. C. contradicts himself for he says Neither the one nor the other doth the Scriptures breed without the Spirit of God If they be one and another they are two if they be two J. C. gives himself the Lye who before said They were not two but one and he makes God's Spirit the Author of them both And again he saith The Spirit in both concurreth and maketh use of the Scriptures in this he concludes them to be two for J. C. saith In both that is in both Faiths Historical and Saving Again J. C. saith Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths are not opposite Now the Verb are is plural and speaks of more then one So all along though J. C. deny them to be two he concludes them to be two Faiths and wofully contradicts himself and instead of throwing down the whole Body of Quakerism is sadly confounded Historical Faith is one thing the Drunkard Lyar Whoremonger Deceiver may have it or he that hath made shipwrack of that Faith which is saving and of a good Conscience may yet have historical Faith that is he may acknowledge there is a God But Saving Faith is another thing this Faith all Men have not 2 Thess 3.2 but God visits all with his Spirit and Power in order to give saving Faith but many resist the Visitation of God and perish in their Gain saying the Destruction of all such is of themselves and the Lord God is Clear Of historical Faith the History may be a Rule but of saving Faith the Mystery is a Rule The Spirit gives saving Faith and the Spirit is the Rule of it and this will stand over the Head of J. C. and his Ranting Principle And in his bold attempt he hath neither hurt W. P. nor R. H. nor the Quakers but has manifested his Distraction and given himself the Down-fall and his Confusion is laid open that the Reader if unprejudiced may see what an Unskilful Confounded Babylonish Builder J. C. is J. C. saith pag. 15. The Quakers prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures and call their own Writings by this Title The Word of God This was another thing asserted by J. C. at the Dispute to prove the Quakers Religion against the Scriptures Reply I answered at the Dispute and again say The Charge is false the Quakers do not prefer their Writings above the Scriptures of Truth nor call them The Word of God neither did any place in their Books which he read and were owned nor Quotation which he hath given in his Relation prove any such thing I owned and we own and dearly esteem the Scriptures of Truth Friendly Reader This false and malicious Charge of John Cheyney's is lately clearly answered by William Gibson in his before-mentioned Book entituled The Life of God which is the Light and Salvation of Men Exalted which Answer take as followeth By which thou mayest see clearly that the People called Quakers do not prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures Concerning the Holy Scriptures or Bible and concerning the Quakers Books JOhn Cheney in thy 8th and 9th page of thy Premonition to thy Sermons of Hypocrisie thou chargest the People called Quakers That they esteem their Books and Writings to be of Equal Authority with the Scriptures or Bible
Answ We truly and dearly own the Scriptures or Book called the Bible but the words contained in that Book are not all of equal Authority one with another See thy own Testimony concerning the Scriptures or Bible which is as followeth The Scriptures are not God Christ nor the Spirit but Laws and Doctrines Histories and Reports given by the Inspiration of God I say The words which God spake unto Man saying Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Were and Are of greater Authority than those words which as History or Relation declare of the Wars and Battels of the Jews and other such Historical Matters and of greater Authority to and among Christians than those words that related to Circumcision the Blood of Bulls Goats and Rams and the Ashes of an Heifer c. these being Shadows and to pass away And the words of Christ who said to his Disciples I am the Vine ye are the Branches as the Branches cannot bring forth Fruit except they abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me And without me ye can do nothing My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you These words are of greater Authority than the Relation or Histories of the Apostles outward Travel by Sea or Land and they are of greater Authority than those words that speak of Paul's Cloak that he left at Troas mentioned in 2 Tim. 4.13 and all other such Historical Matters The People called Quakers do prefer and esteem the Book called the Bible or Holy Scriptures above any outward Writing or Book extant upon the Earth because of the Verity and Plenty of deep heavenly Sayings uttered by God unto Moses and the Prophets through the several Ages of the World and particularly and eminently through the heavenly Man Christ Jesus who was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows and filled with the Spirit without measure Nevertheless we do affirm that the Spirit of God in this Age hath moved several of us to write Books which have been Instrumental in his Hand for Good unto many with respect to their Immortal Souls God the Holy One changeth not neither is he to be limited and all our Books and Writings are not of equal Authority one with another some treat of our inward Experience of the Work of God in which are contained words that do direct Man and Woman to the Manifestation of the Spirit of God which is given them to profit withal to the Grace of God which brings Salvation to the Light wherewith Christ lighteth every one that comes into the World Some others of our Books do treat of our Sufferings and outward Exercises c. which though all of them be true yet some are of greater weight than others And Destruction comes upon People because they do not believe in and obey the Light Grace and Spirit of God which he hath given them to lead them out of Sin into all Truth Those who read our Writings without Prejudice may receive Good thereby as by Instruments which God makes use of and such who do so they will return the Glory to God as we do And those who read our Books in Envy and Malice the Murdering Spirit blinds their Minds and God doth condemn such And for J. C's saying He proved by Arguments the Scriptures rightly to be called by this Title The word of God Here the Reader hath no more but his say so which I deny to be any proof at all neither did he prove it but in this also is a Lyar. J. C. saith The Quakers acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Words of God by their own Confession every Scripture Word is God's Word Reply This is a dark Consequence J. C. hath drawn Though we own God's Words in the Scriptures to be his Words yet this doth not follow that we own every word in the Scripture to be God's Word For in the Scriptures there are words of the Serpent who is called the Devil and Satan words of wicked Men as well as God's words and words of good Men And hath not J. Cheyney here manifested his Falshood Let the Reader judge J. C. further saith R. H. in the Dispute denyed all Scripture to be given by Inspiration of God and would read the words 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable leaving out Is c. Reply J. C. himself grants the word is not to be expressed in the Original Text but that the Original Text is read thus All Scripture given by Inspiration of God c. the word is not being expressed why then should R. H. be blamed for reading it according to the Original Text which was before the English Copy or Translation Yet there is extant some old English Bibles in which this Scripture is thus read All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable c. And the word is and also the Conjunction and about which J. C. quarrels so much are left out But it seems J. C. will rather skirmish with his own Shadow than have nothing to do For what he grants to be true R. H. must if he can reach it be stigmatized as some Blasphemer But this way of skirmishing will never hurt R. H. nor stain his Reputation amongst good Men. R. H. acknowledged and doth acknowledge All Scripture given by Inspiration of God to be profitable c. But J. C. is Angry with him because he will not say All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God though he grants the word is not to be expressed in the Original Text therefore R. H's Reading is true And that all Scripture which is as much as to say All Writing is given by Inspiration of God I think J. C. himself If considerate will not assert for All Writing contains or comprehends every Writing that is written not only in the Scriptures of Truth the Books of the Prophets Evangelists the Epistles of the Apostles and other Writings of Truth extant but all other Writings extant of what matter or subject soever they treat If J. Chayney grants this that all Writing viz. all Books of what nature or kind soever that are written printed and published to the World are not given by Inspiration of God as sure he will then he grants all Scripture is not given by Inspiration of God for All Scripture comprehends all Writing and all Writing includes all Books that are written and all Books that are written are not profitable to the Man of God for Doctrine c. Then he must needs grant the Apostles Meaning was according to the Original Text with which the old English Bibles agree to wit All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable c. This sense the Original Text will bear without any wrong to the Truth or the Apostle who spoke it forth To this the Apostle
This is so evident a Truth that whosoever hath an Eye to see with may run and read And for his saying We wickedly oppose the Spirit and his Holy Laws I say He wickedly Belyes and Slanders us for we own the Spirit in its place and the Scriptures in their place not opposing them And whereas he saith He quickly silenced me It is a Lye like the rest and he that published it is a Lyar whom having rebuked for it I leave it J. C. page 18. saith As to Matters of Practice he did before all the Assembly charge and prove them to be such as Paul describes Rom. 16.17 18. Men that serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own Belly and by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of the Simple Reply That J. C. did charge the Quakers to be such as Paul describes c. I grant it being the second of the seven Charges in his fore-cited Paper of Charge that was disputed upon that day but that J. C. proved the Quakers to be such I deny and at the Dispute did sufficiently clear the People called Quakers from that wicked Slander and impious Change wherewith J. C. most impudently Charged them But J. C. relates the Argument whereby he proved as he vainly imagines the Charge against us in that we are Apostates and Turn-coats from the true Faith This is his Argument Reply That we are Apostates and Turn-coats from the true Faith is a Charge as false as the other which he intended this to have been an Argument to prove and this hath been J. C's accustomed way in essaying to prove his Charges against the Quakers viz. One false Charge by another Charge no more true than the former The true Faith is the Gift of God this we are not turned from it is delivered unto us as it was delivered unto the Saints it was their Victory and is our Victory even our Faith our Faith stands in God's Power we live by it The Just shall live by Faith Hab. 2.4 This is the true Faith by which the Just lives we are turned from such as have not the One Faith Ephes 4.5 For all Men have not Faith 2 Thess 3.2 And from such who having in some things the Form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof according as the Apostle exhorted some in his day 2 Tim. 3.5 And we are justified by the Lord in so doing So that J. C's Argument is a false wicked Charge we are not turned from the true Faith but from such as have it not But J. C. says He did with sober compassionate Zeal and a warm affected Heart make Challenge to R. H. to give any one Reason for their Apostacy Reply Sober Compassionate Zeal c. J. C. might well have omitted to mention who rather appeared sometimes that day like a Stage-Player than a sober Disputant I might say like one acting the Fool 's part in a Play at times he rather behaved himself than like a moderate Man such words as these in an airy spirit he vented forth I 'll be with thee anon Thou hadst better have kept that word in Thou hast now put a Weapon into my Hand I never thought of with these and the like Expressions stirring up some People to Laughter and putting them into an Expectation he would do some great Matter But alas Their foolish vain Hopes with his fond Conceit were both frustrated for when he had room to speak he acted but like a Fool with his wooden Sword made a Vapour but effected nothing save Shame to himself Now as to his Challenging me to give any one Reason for our Apostacy I answer No wise Man can expect that I should give any one Reason for our Apostacy who are not Apostatized but have the Evidence of God's Spirit that we have the Faith delivered unto us that was delivered unto the Saints for that were to give a Reason for what we are not Nay I am perswaded none but a Novice or a Fool would require it But this is not the first Distraction besides his being Distracted in Prayer J. C. hath run into J. C. saith R. H could give no Reason at all nor had any mind to argue it but shifted it off That the Quakers Religion Ministry Worship and Churches were opposite to theirs And if his Reader will take his word for it he saith He hath given R. H. and his Fellows an Argument at Croton which could not be answered or gainsaid by any of them then nor can they ever answer it Reply That the Quakers Religion Ministry Worship and Church are opposite to J. C's Religion Ministry Worship and Church J. C. hath asserted and if he do believe it what needs further Proof But would not J. C. have been shifting from the Charge and broaching new Matter He would sometimes have been begging the Question to have wrested me from the Charge but keeping him to the Point not giving him leave to Catechise me having put him upon the Proof of his Charge I kept him to it not suffering him to start new Arguments to lead from it he failed in Proof and came off with Infamy As to the Argument at Croton it was there gain-said and answered therefore J. C. is a Lyar who said It could not be answered or gain-said the Invalidity of which Argument may be seen in the former part of this Treatise where I have run it through J. C. saith He repeated the same Argument at Arley Dispute but that I declined the Arguing of it and was utterly unable to maintain my own Religion and to take off the Charge That the Quakers are Belly-gods and Flesh-servers Reply I declined not the Argument for the Validity of it but because it led from the Charge J. C. had undertaken to prove viz. That the Quakers were Belly-gods c. And it being gain said and answered already I shall pass it by only note to the Reader that J. C. said at Croton You own'd the Doctrine which was according to the Ten Commandments Lord's Prayer and Creed To which I replied The Doctrine of the Commandments which is To love God with all the Heart with all the Soul Might and Strength is owned by us and the Doctrine of the Lord's Prayer which is That the Will of God may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven we also own But that you who preach this for Doctrine live up to it we deny and therefore are turned from you And as to the Creed we believe in God and in Christ To this J. C. replied not I suppose that in all his Notes he had nothing writ in Defence of his Cause in this point and perhaps being accustomed to lean upon his Crutch he would not venture to go without it But however it was whether he would not or could not I shall leave it with the Impartial Reader to judge Yet sure I am his Silence was so far a Consent to my Assertion that all unbiassed Hearers could do no less
divided but remains indivisible over all through all and in you all as saith the Apostle And that every Man is enlightned with the Light of Christ and that the Light of Christ in every Man is perfect not liable to mutation or alteration And although every Man be lighted with the Light of Christ which is perfect yet every Man loves not the Light neither believes in the Light and because every Man hath not Faith in the Light every Man cannot please God for without Faith it is impossible to please God and every unbelieving Man who loveth his evil Deeds hateth the Light because it manifesteth his evil Deeds and he that hateth the Light can neither speak nor write by the Inspiration of God and he that speaketh or writeth and not by the Inspiration of God can neither speak forth nor write better or so well as the Prophets and Apostles of God and Christ who gave forth the Scripture of Truth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost So then every Man cannot make so good much less a better Bible than that which we already have This the Quakers affirm and so J. C's Slanders and Lyes are turned upon his own Head and he noted for a gross Lyar. The Light and Spirit of God and Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are taught and led leads and teaches them to practise that Doctrine maintained by them and to do unto all Men as they would all Men should do unto them and to love God and Christ who is Light with a sincere Heart fully and to love their Neighbours as themselves and one by one and every one of them called Quakers who stedfastly walk in the Light and Spirit of God and Christ do practise that Doctrine maintained by them and shew it forth in Life and Conversation as well as Word and yet are clear and in the Light ever shall be clear of J. C's wicked Slander viz. That if the Quakers should practice their own Doctrine they would pass all that ever have been before them in Wickedness And in the Light which hath manifested and yet will further manifest J. C. and all such lurking Hypocrites the Quakers shall shine forth in Doctrine and Practice to the Praise and Glory of God who is in them and over Heaven and Earth blessed for ever Again J. C. in pag. 14. saith Supernatural Verities and Mysteries are punctually set down in the Scripture and no where else and that there is nothing within us or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them Reply To say That supernatural Verities and Mysteries are punctually set down in Scripture and no where else is contrary to the Scriptures for God hath put his Law in his Peoples Inward Parts and writ it in their Hearts according to his Promise Jer 31.33 Supernatural Verities are written upon the Table of Man's Heart 2 Cor. 3.3 And the Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 And whatsoever is to be known of God is manifest in Man Rom. 1.19 So was before the Scriptures were written and after part of the Scriptures were written yet unknown Rom. 2.14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shews the Work of the Law written in their Hearts Now the Gentiles who had not the Law doing the things contashed in the Law doth hold forth and prove that they knew something of God manifest in them and plainly shew forth the Works of the Law written in their Hearts And so then it is clear that supernatural Verities are punctually set down else-where than in the Scriptures and that the Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience But J. C. affirms without any limitation That supernatural Verities and Mysteries are punctually set down in the Scriptures and no where else and this is false Doctrine And yet J. C. hath in another place contradicted it and given himself the Lye for in pag. 8. of his Skirmish he speaks of Precepts contained in Nature and else where in his Books of the Law of God being writ in Mens Hearts which is somewhere else besides the Scriptures But Contradictions Lyes and false Doctrine are so frequent in his Books and the strength and substance of them answered and laid open in several Books lately printed in answer to seven of his confused self-contradictory and Blasphemous Pamphlets this cuts my Work the shorter to the said Answers I refer the Reader for further satisfaction to one entituled The Life of God which is the Light and Salvation of Men Exalted another Skirmisher defeared and shall yet further reply to the remaining part of this Position which is as followeth J. C. saith There is nothing within or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them Reply That the Scriptures much less any thing derived from them are God who is Omnipresent and Omnipotent which the Scriptures are not I deny For God is a Spirit an Infinite Substance an independent Being whose Being is of himself who was God Omnipresent before the Scriptures were written and is God Omnipotent who without the Scriptures can do of himself whatsoever he pleases and who shall say unto him What dost thou Now God being a Spirit Omnipresent present every where Omnipotent he can make known supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them But J. C. hath affirmed the contrary in his Position Whereupon I thus argue He that affirms That there is nothing within or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them denies God who is Omnipresent to be Omnipotent and is a Blasphemer But J. C. hath affirmed That there is nothing within or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them Therefore J. C. denies God who is Omnipresent to be Omnipotent and is a Blasphemer J. C. saith p. 24. Because I have some Portion of the Genuine and Catholick Spirit of Holiness I am mortally Hated by them and yet I am as ill or more if more can be Hated of many of mine own way who agree with me in Opinion Reply Hypocrites formerly had high Conceits of themselves Luke 18. verse 9. to 13. of whose Generation this J. C. both by Disputation and Writing hath been and is manifested to be one and his Fruits plainly shew of what spirit he is For in his Prayer-Book in pag. 139 141 143 145. he saith I Tremble to have my Luke-warm Prayers abhorred by God c. Alas My Hands are feeble in Prayer often do I compel my self unto it I am Distracted in it I am soon weary I come poorly off I