the flesh is it then improper to say the seed which is Christ came in the flesh and was in that person that was born of the Virgin Mary seeing that as he was so manifest in the flesh he was the true Christ without any of J. W. his blind distinctions who after he hath granted that the spirit of holinesse in that person is the Son of God by eternal Generation he saith that the humane nature also of that person is the Son of God by temporal Generation and yet there are not two Christs but one c. Did you ever hear such Doctrines as these which are all one as if he had said that the Spirit of Holinesse and humane nature are both one or that Divine and humane are both one when as they are two distinct things that which is humane is of the earth as the first man was as Humane is of Homo which comes of Humus the ground of which man was made as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Humanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terra aut Humus but that which is Divine is from above as Christ is who is Lord from Heaven Now though this Christ in time took part of that which the Children had viz. flesh and bloud Heb. 2.14 yet we never read that Humane nature is Christ nor that the flesh and bloud is Christ by temporal generation for to assert that is all one as to say that Christ who is Lord from Heaven took upon him Christ in time but Christ in the flesh we read of and own neither do we read in the Scripture that the soul of Christ is a humane soul for is not his Soul divine and immortal What is humane and immortal both one Or hath he two Souls in one body or person of such differing kinds And if the humane nature be Christ and all mankind be of the same substance with Christ according to that nature as J. W. saith page 116. Then it followes that the humane or earthly nature of all mankind is Christ and then they that would know Christ and be saved by him they must own their earthly or humane nature to be Christ or the Son of God and look to be saved by it did ever the Apostles preach such a Christ as this they that cannot see J. W. his ignorance of Christ his nature soul and spirit they are in grosse darknesse Now though we deny J. W. his unscripture-like and blind distinction from which it follows that either there must be two Christs in one person or else that humane and divine are both one which no ingenuous person will own and though we deny his vainly imagining a humane or carnal Christ like himself yet still we own the true Christ according to the Scriptures who according to the flesh was of the seed of Abraham and David and according to the Spirit is declared to be the Son of God with power by the Resurrection and that he was the word which was made flesh and dwelt in the Disciples John 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his death as concerning the flesh and his Resurrection and Ascension according to the Scriptures of Truth we own and that he is Glorified with the Father in the same glory which he had with the Father before the world began and as in that state his nature body soul and spirit are spiritual divine and immortal at the right hand of power for as he had power to appear in the transfiguration and after his Resurrection to appear in divers forms and amongst the Disciples when the doors were shut John 20. so now he being glorified with the Father in that his transcendent glory he is in a further state then in the dayes of the flesh when his body was subject to hunger cold or other sufferings upon earth and he is not to be supposed to be like unto corruptible man or a Christ of the same substance with sinful polluted men though he be the same Christ still the same to day yesterday and for ever not divided and is the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth who is ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things with his fulnesse who hath said that no man hath ascended up to Heaven but the Son of man which came down from Heaven which is in Heaven John 3.13 Eph. 4.9 10. Psal. 68.18 J. VV. saith p. 27. what do they lesse then say I am Christ which say I speak to the Light in thy Conscience which shall eternally witnesse me what mean they by this word me which they say is eternally to be witnessed is there any thing that is eternally to be witnessed but the eternal God and his Son Jesus Christ Answ. If J W. did not know what we mean that is to be eternally witnessed as appears he did not then he should not have judged us with directing people unto our selves or with saying we are Christ therein he hath judged us falsly for that which is eternally to be witnessed is Christ who speaketh in us Mat. 10.20 2 Cor. 2.17 4 5. 13.3 who may speak in his own name and such as would stop his mouth from speaking where he is manifest are of Antichrist And also J. W. his accusing us with not confessing that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh and with onely saying he is come into our flesh c. These are as false as the rest of his slanders against us and therein hath he contradicted himself for before he accused us for saying that Christ is the seed spirit or Light in that man which was born of Mary what then do not we confesse Christ come in the flesh and must we deny Christ come in our flesh Then seeing that Christ come in the flesh is a general word not onely including that body which he took upon him in the womb of the Virgin but also the flesh of all his people who are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone Eph. 5.13 And the following of the Light within thereby to attain unto Righteousnesse doth not at all render the death of Christ in vain as J. W. imagines for the Saints in walking in the Light knew the bloud of Christ to cleanse them from all sin and purified their souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 1 John 1.7 And this was not any making of the death of Christ in vain but by the Light or Spirit of Christ a witnessing the end fulfilled in them for which Christ suffered that they might live unto him and how should any hear Christ in all things Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 as J. W. saith unlesse they follow the Light of Christ within for wch preaching J. W. in his rage hath called us men of Belial p. 30. so what grosse ignorance and confusion is he in And as for Christs saying if the Light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse Mat. 6.23 This hath relation to that
I known any of us ever set his feet upon the Bible in contempt and abuse of the Scriptures as he saith though it is very true there was one Richard Stokes in the North of England that was then an Anabaptist so called and so yet for ought I know that did in contempt and scorn tread upon the Bible in the presence of many witnesses so it may be J. W. mistakes one of his own friends and thinks he is one of ours for it is not delightful in us to abuse the Scriptures nor are we filled with rage against the Word of God nor do we foam out disdain against the Scriptures these things are utterly false 2. This Testimony we have often given concerning the Scriptures and here again I give it upon this occasion The Scriptures are writings in which are contained many words of God and may be properly called the words of God declared by writing and as they were given forth by the Spirit of God and no whit altered in Translation they are a perfect Testimony of God and his works of Christ and his Salvation and of the Experiences and Testimonies of the Servants and holy men of God and also in the Scripture is contained many words of the Devil and the words of wicked men so that the Scriptures are a true Testimony as they were first given forth of all these things and we believe that the Scriptures were spoken forth by the holy Spirit as the holy men of God were moved thereunto and whatsoever is written ought to be believed and received for Truth and a true relation given by the Spirit of God but the Scriptures cannot properly be called the Word of God for they are words and writings and admits of alteration and change and therefore cannot properly be called the word of God but onely a Declaration of the Word and of that Truth which lives and abides for ever and which must be believed and practised for Salvation and the Scriptures do say that the Word of God was in the beginning but the Scriptures began but to be written by Moses which was many hundred of years since the beginning and therefore the Scriptures cannot be the word of God which was in the beginning Again the Scriptures do say that the Word of God made the world and lives and abides for ever but the Bible the Scriptures did not make the World nor can abide for ever but will passe away as we see daily Books wears away though the Truth therein declared of shall abide for ever and therefore the Scriptures are not the Word of God which must endure for ever and thus we do distinguish and we would have all to do so between the Book the writings which are most properly called Scripture and that Truth Salvation Word of Life and the things declared of in Scriptures the one endures for ever the other not the one is the Word of God the other a Testimony of it and thus we distinguish and yet not denying the Truth and Life and Salvation and Redemption nor the Christ which the Scriptures speaks of but fully acknowledging that they are infinite and everlasting and the Scripture declare of these things but are not the things themselves neither do we deny to ascribe all lawful Dignity and Title and Reverence to the Scriptures but yet we cannot account them what they are not nor give that honour to them which God gives not nor which he appointed them to receive though further we do acknowledge there is no other Gospel nor way of Life and Salvation nor no other Christ for Redemption and Eternal Life nor no other Truth for substance but what is declared of in the Bible which we do account as I have said as it was given forth by the Spirit of God to be a true Testimony of all these things this and such like Testimonies we have often given concerning the Scriptures yet still acknowledged Christ Jesus to be the word of Eternal Life he and no other and yet this confession we make not contrary unto or to oppose but according unto the Scriptures and our Testimonie concerning the Scriptures is so well known both by word and writing for these many years that I need not here say much more in this case onely that the Scriptures all along calls Christ the Word of God and no where that I know of in the Scriptures doth it call it self the Word of God but a Declaration and a Treatise Luke 1. Acts 1. And whereas J. W. saith Is not the Truth exprest in the Scriptures eternal and incorruptible and what lesse then an Almighty hand hath preserved that Book and this is devised deceitful Doctrine to teach all men to hearken to the Light within them thereby to turn away their minds from the Scriptures And he mentions that Scripture the words of the Lord and every word of God are pure and the entrance of thy word gives Light and my words shall not passe away and whosoever shall be ashamed of my words c. page 208 c. Answ. To all this I answer why is J. W. so blind as to bring this in opposition to us as if he confuted us in something we held contrary to this when as it is nothing so for we say the same as these Scriptures testifie that the Truth expressed in the Scriptures is eternal and incorruptible yet the writings which are properly Scriptures will corrupt and change and alter and we do know the hand of God hath been in preserving of that Book to this day and our benefit by the Scriptures are not the least of others as I might instance in divers particulars and we confesse fully to the Truth of all these Scriptures cited by him and there is not any one of them opposite to us in any thing that we hold but why doth he secretly here weave in his slander as if we did direct People to the Light within them thereby to turn their minds from the Doctrine of the Scriptures which is utterly false for we direct People to the Light of the Spirit of God within them not contrary to or to make void the Scriptures to them but according to the Scriptures and that they may come to the fulfilling of them and witnesse the Truth wrought in them whereof they speak and therefore his secret slander is turned out of doors and further he falls out in high tearms that God will punish such severely as do speak against the Scriptures and do disdain and reproach them and that do add to or take from them and against such as do vent their rage against the Scriptures and tread them under their feet as the Adversaries of Christ the Preachers up of the Light within do saith he who are Blasphemers of God and his Truth when they cast the Scriptures on the ground and call the Scriptures lifeless c. page 212. Answer These Threatnings and Judgements do not belong to us as not being guilty of his charge so
THE Son of Perdition REVEALED By the brightness and light of the Son of God in his Saints And the Preachers of his Light within and their Doctrines Principles concerning the mysteries of God the weighty things of Salvation Vindicated and Cleared from the Reproacheâ— Slanders Calumnies cast upon them by the spirit of Satan and Antichrist which hath largely appeared in one Joseph Wright who esteems himself one appointed by the Flock of Christ for a Defence of the Truth of the Gospel as is apparent in his Book intituled A Testimony for the Son of man and against the Son of perdition c. which he hath given forth against them that preach the Light within But herein his Pride Insolency and Impudency are Reproved and his bundle of Errors Blasphemies Confusions and Slanders in his book against the Light and the Children of it Discovered And the eternal Truth in its own clearnesse touching many weighty Principles of the True Religion made manifest for the satisfaction of the people and of all that are doubtful By the Light of the Son of God in his Servants Geo. Whitehead Edw. Burroughs LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1661. A Table of the Chief Heads of the following Discourse 1 COncerning the Light within Christs coming in the flesh and dying for all men 2 Concerning the Nature and State of Christ of the soul of man and of the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature 3 Concerning the Resurrection from the dead 4 Concerning that Light in the Consciences of people which the Preachers of the Light within appeal to and the subject of their Exhortations by which men are converted and edified 5 Concerning Ordinances 6 Concerning Quaking and Trembling 7 Concerning the sufficiency of the Light and the Annointing within to teach all that do believe 8 Concerning meeting together and silent waiting upon the Lord with somewhat about Back-sliders and the spirit that acts them 9 Concerning Humility and Vnity 10 Concerning destroying the Whore discovering secrets and sufferings c. 11 Concerning the Word of God and the Scriptures and the Word and the Writings truly distinguished 12 Concerning the Infallible Teacher and that it is the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and not the Scriptures The Epistle to the Reader FOR as much as it hath pleased the God of Truth and Righteousness most gloriously to appear in these last dayes in the hearts of his people according to his promises of old who hath said That he would exalt his Mountain upon the top of all Mountains and his House should be established and his Kingdome should be set up spiritually in the Hearts of the Children of men and he hath promised to dwell in men and to walk in them and write his Law in their Hearts and put his Spirit within them and they should be his People and he would be their God and he alone would be their Teacher and Comforter and his Day-star should arise in their Hearts and the Light of his Glorious Gospel should shine in their Consciences These things hath the Lord promised and he is a fulfilling of them in these our dayes in and amongst his People Blessed be his Name for ever for he hath opened the eyes of the blind and caused them to see and Light is risen out of obscurity and darkness is passing away and the Light of the Day even of the Day of God is approached nigh unto his People and Life and Immortality hath he brought to Light in his People by the Light of his Glorious Gospel which shines in their Hearts and they are become the Temple of the Holy One and his Habitation is with them and his Promises are fulfilled and fulfilling abundantly this Day our Eyes have seen our Ears have heard and we have tasted of the VVord of Life which is revealed in us and these things we cannot but bear witness of and testifie concerning them unto all the world that they may partake with us of that heavenly virtue and be satisfied therewith for evermore through faith in Christ Jesus and receiving of him to dwell in them that they may not be reprobates for all in whom Christ is not are reprobates as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth But notwithstanding though the Lord hath promised these things and is now fulfilling of them amongst us to his Glory and Honour yet that adversary the Devil and Satan doth not cease to make opposition against this good work of the Lord if it were possible to prevent and stop the purpose of the Almighty in his proceedings of fulfilling his promises unto his people and it is not unknown through these parts of the world how many and divers kinds of oppositions the Devil hath made through his Children against the VVork of God What woful Persecution of these late rears hath been brought forth upon the Innocent people in whom the Lord is fulfilling his Promises What cruelty exercised What reproaches and slanders uttered And what obstructions and oppositions hath been made of these late years against an Innocent people t is hard to be exprest every City and Town and Country must bear witness of that cruel Persecution and hard dealing that hath been exercised upon the Innocent people and for no other end but for Truth and Righteousnesse fake and from no other cause but from the enmity of the seed of Wickednesse in the ungodly world for the end to oppose and stop the work of the Lord and these things are so God and Angels and Saints do bear witnesse And also the opposition hath been great against the work of the Lord not onely by outward open opposition and persecution through prophane and cruel men but also by the Professors of Religion of our age even of such as have cryed the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we and such as have professed Ordinances Churches and Fellowships and that have thought themselves to be men of Wisdome and Conscience even such as these have lift up their hands against the Lords Work and have consulted and imagined mischief against the Lords interprize for as the prophane World have persecuted by cruel reproaches and abuses Imprisonments and unjust dealing as aforesaid so also have the professors and wise men of this Generation Preached and Prayed and written Books and published their principal Reasons and Arguments against the Way of the Lord and all this in the opposition to the Work of the Lord an evidence hereof is manifested by Joseph Wright in his Testimony for the Son of Man so called in which Book he hath fully opposed and gain sayed the Truth of the Gospel and the People bearing witness thereunto amongst whom the Work of the Lord is blessed and prosperous yet hath he partly out of Ignorance and partly out of malice set himself in opposition against the work of the Lord and against his Truth and people as aforesaid And his
Brethren as if his Book could not be answered but he had confuted us so and so highly unanswerably and it s said by some that he was a whole year or more in bringing forth the said Book whereby it is proved a Monster and being brought forth its now imperfect and effects not the end propounded by its Author well upon these reasons at my first spare opportunity I have looked thorow his Book and a dear friend of mine while I was absent hence in the work of the Lord elsewhere begun the work for me and hath answered a part of it and it is published with no other end nor intent but onely to discover the Truth and to reprove falshood and if it prove effectual to any as to inform them to a distinguishment between Truth and Errour to discern the difference between the one and the other and if any be edified in the Truth hereby I have my end and desire and if it shall work through the Spirit of God any conviction in the heart of our adversaries and if Io. Wright shall see what he hath done and repent my end is fulfilled but if not I am satisfied in what I have done finding it to be my duty to send forth this Answer in pursuit of and to detect J.W. his slanders and reproaches errours and contradictions And now I must commit the serious Reader to the grace of God and to the Spirit of sound Judgement that thereby he may read and weigh the one and the other and that he may justly Judge by the rule of equity and Scripture proof the difference of the controversie and the Right Truth and Justice of the one and the errour and falsity of the other that he may be edified in this matter for the end that he may follow Truth and Righteousnesse as it is discovered to him and deny deceit and falshood where ever he shall meet with it And thus I shall leave the Reader to the serious view of the whole matter as hereafter it followes London the 9th day of 7th month 1661. Being a true friend to all that love Truth and Righteousnesse and one that loves his Enemies Edward Burroughs A Preface To the People called Anabaptists who are herein concerned for the clearing of the Truth to them and others who scruple concerning it or the Light of it within FRIENDS WHat a sad thing is it that you that profess the Name of Christ and to be his Flock should be so unwise and shew your selves so indiscreet and irrational as to discover such a spirit of bitternesse and enmity especially in this day of Tryal both of you and us against such as are conscientious towards God in what he hath made known though in Judgement differing from you as here that spirit of enmity and malice is plainly discovered in what hath proceeded from it in this Book called A Testimony for the Son of Man c. Subscribed by one Joseph Wright who it appears is accounted no mean man amongst you for he accounts himself so nearly related to you whom he calls The beloved Flock of Christ who are the People called Anabaptists which he intends that he saith he hath been appointed by many of you though unworthy for a defence of that Truth of the Gospel which you profess but if you were in the Truth of the Gospel you would not have appointed such a Reviler and Insolent man for a defence of it nor of you in it as this Jos. Wright hath clearly discovered he is as is clearly manifest in his Reviling Reproaching and Slandering such as he calls Preachers of and to the Light within all men whom his Book is contrived against he intending the suffering People called Quakers who own and walk in the Light of Christ in them against which Light he hath also so greatly manisted his enmity as if he could not contain his Malice nor these many sad Aspersions and black revilings in his Book which he hath produced from the Spirit of Antichrist and Blasphemy in him and though he hath appeared in his Pride Presumption and boasting Spirit and as one appointed by you for an eminent defender of your way as if he were some wonderful Champion and great Warriour yet by the Light which he hath reproached is he discovered and his weakness and folly made manifest and he seen to be as feeble a Warriour and Child of Babylon as ever formed a Weapon or lifted up a hand so publickly as he hath done against the Israel of God and if you were in Gods fear and true humility and well considered your own state and the state of such as are reviled by this your Defender you would not own nor suffer such Babylonish Bratts and dirty frothy stuff to proceed from amongst you as this said Book of J. Wrights considering these things First These are Suffering times which both you and we are in and how especially we are lyable to suffer for our Consciences in our obeying that Testimony committed to us not onely by mens reproaches but also by Acts of cruelty and Persecution inflicted upon us because we cannot deny the Lord in what we are perswaded he requires of us 2. Such Revilings Reproaches as J. Wright hath spread forth against us in the sight of our Persecutors tend rather to add afflâ—ction to us and to stir up our Persecutors in cruelty against us then otherwise Seeing that he hath so much accused and reviled us under the names of workers of Wickedness forerunners of the man of Sin Lyars Blasphemers Deluders with many more reviling names which falsly and unjustly he hath cast upon us chiefly for Preaching up the Law Light within men which is the Light of Christ and in all his mater there is no just evidence against us wherein he hath manifested himself as a partaker with the persecuting Generation who smite against us with the fist of wickednes wch his work tends to encourage and strengthen whilest he is smiting with the tongue like the wicked who shoot their Arrows against the Righteous and casting out his mire and dirt upon such as fear the Lord and walk in his Light Thirdly If you truly weighed your own state and minded the rule of equity in your own Consciences To do to others as you would be done by you would not spread abroad such reviling Books and bundles of confusion as tend to cause others to suffer who are concientious towards God in what they know knowing that in these times if you be true to your own Principles you are lyable to suffer also for your Consciences by such as would assume to themselves a power to be Judges in matters of Conscience and Religion though they dare not own themselves to be infallible in their Judgements notwithstanding Fourthly Considering how many have opened their Mouths and published their Books and Pamphlets against us and how little all their work hath effected or brought forth against us and how we have in the testimony of
he means such who sometimes have been amongst us and professed and confessed to our Doctrines and waies and yet afterwards have turned from us we do confesse such there may be even such who may have tasted something of the Power of the Lord and of his goodnesse to their souls and have cryed out and trembled because of their iniquities yea and have been called out from their Kindred as he speaks and yet some such have turned aside again to vanity and then have been ready to make Lyes and frame false reports and to tell them for their own advantage to excuse their own revoltings thinking to defame us as so bad and so evil that with a more credit to themselves they may turn from us and some such like persons hath been J. W's informers if he hath not invented the lyes himself And though there be such revolters and false-hearted Hypocrites in the world yet the way of the Lord and his Truth is alike precious unto us immutable and unchangeable though Back-sliders walks not in the way thereof but seeks to asperse it when they turn aside from it but let such persons be marked some such we do know and they were wicked and prophane before they came among us and coming among us possibly were convinced of their sins and touched with judgement and sorrow for sin but now being turned from us again they are more prophane then ever and the Devil is entred again with the unclean Spirits worse then before and their latter end is worse then their beginning as the Scriptures says of such and some such as these are J. W. his converts and his brands pluckt out of the fire and such to tell stories and he to publish them are suitable correspondents but Truth is over them both and the way of the Lord is pretious and prosperous notwithstanding all the malicious oppositions that is in the hearts of his Enemies whose Judgement is such that they call Truth Errour and Errour Truth and calls that the work of the Devil which is of God and that the work of God which is of the Devil and the saying is true upon them a foolish People that have eyes and see not hearts and understand not And whereas J. W. hath been opposing the Light within and both the Preachers and followers of it thereby proving himself to be neither Preacher of the Light nor follower of it and therefore neither Minister of Christ nor indeed a Christian for whosoever doth not preach the Light and word of God within is no Minister of Christ nor in the example of his Apostles as is manifest at large in this Book and whosoever doth not follow the Light of Christ within and walk by the Spirit of God which is a Light in the heart is not in the new Covenant nor a member of the Church of Christ and such a one J W. is directly concluded to be from his own words who hath opposed such as preach and follow the Light within as if all such were in delusion and he hath denyed that the Light within is sufficient to lead to repentance from sin and pardon of sin and to comfort in God for the soul But he hath found out one that doth all this that shews sin and that judges for sin and that leads to mourn and grieve for sin and takes sin away and blots it out to wit the Devil as he saith if you will believe him pray you do but observe his story page 169. 170. He tells you there a large story but he names neither the Person nor the place nor time where and when it was which we demand of him in his next of one that preached the Light within as he sayes that the Devil did so and so with him and that the Devil set all his sins that ever he had done in all his Life before him as if they had been written in capital Letters then the Devil laid them all to his charge and did judge him for them and that the Devil made him to mourn and grieve and weep and made the tears come from his eyes for his sins this done as J. W. relates then the Devil took all his sins from him and said I have blotted out all thy Transgressions and the Devil let him loose from all his bonds and then the Devil commanded him to tell what God had done for his soul c. Now let any sober man judge that hath ever read the Scriptures ' whether this be a likely story for the Scriptures say that it is God that sets mans sin in order before him and it is God that judges men for sin by his Spirit of Judgement and it is he that causes men to mourn and grieve for sin and it is he that takes away their sins and blots them out by the bloud of Christ and that looseth man from his iniquities and brings them to declare what he hath done for their souls and it s our Faith that it is God through his own Son that works all this and not the Devil and the Scriptures say the same Psal. 50. Isa. 4.4 Dan. 9.24 John 5.27 1 John 1.7 But J. W. his story is contrary for he relates that its the Devil that doth all this and by this you may judge of this story and the Truth of it and also do but observe the temper of J. W. his Spirit and you shall see through his Book he opposeth the Light of Christ and the anointing within as if they were not sufficient for the effecting these things but he hath found you one that can do these things and who think you but the Devil and that can discover sin and condemn for it and lead People to Repentance and take away and blot out Transgression c. He hath brought you a story for the proof of it which we believe he credits to be true else he would not have brought it for the proof of his matter as he hath very pertinently done as he supposes and further as his story goes this Person that the Devil dealt thus by when he would have preached the Light within the Devil caused his mouth to shut that he should not preach it c. From which it follows that the Devil and J. W. are both of one mind for J. W. opposeth the Light within as the Devil does from which we have the more occasion to stand faithfully in preaching the Light within seeing both the Devil and J. W. do oppose it though afterwards his story relates that the Devil made him preach what God had done for his Soul and if this be a likely story let wise men judge Oh the Ignorance and Impudency that is fully manifest in J. W. that hath given his Faith to believe that the Devil convinces men of sin and judges them for it and takes away their sin Thus much in Answer to his story till his next return that we may know by him the Person and the place in whom and where
let the judgement be to himself for we are not guilty but he guilty of wickedness in charging us so falsly like as if he had given up himself to rail and accuse the innocent for be it known to J. W. we esteem as well and truly of the Scriptures as he doth And thus I count it a sufficient answer to deny his false Charges and to turn back his own sentence to him again God will punish him severely for his wickedness CHAP. XII Concerning the Infallible Teacher and that it is the Spirit of God and not the Scriptures NOw I shall proceed to J. W. his Proofs That the Scriptures are an Infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation c. To which I Answer this is a false assertion for first the Scriptures as he hath confessed are subject to change and alteration and that which is so is not infallible for that onely is infallible which admits of no change nor alteration but such are not the Scriptures the writings and therefore not infallible though it is alwayes acknowledged the Truth and Way of Salvation declared in the Scriptures are Infallible Secondly This assertion seems absolutely to deny the Spirit of God and its Teachings which is given in the new Covenant unto all that believe for God hath promised I will put my Spirit within them and pour it upon them and they shall need no man to teach them but as that spirit teacheth them And the spirit was promised by Christ that it should be given to lead into all Truth and be the Everlasting Comforter and it is the spirit that quickeneth and gives Life and Sanctifies and Teaches to do the Will of God all this the Scriptures testifie and not as if the Scriptures were the Teacher the Comforter the Leader but the Scriptures say the spirit doth all this but J. W. has accounted the Scriptures to do all and accounts not of the Spirit to do any thing for he hath hardly mentioned it in this case and thus his folly and weakness hath appeared in giving the Scriptures Authority above the spirit and as it were dis-throning the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and exalting the Scriptures in its place but we say that its the spirit that works all things in order to mans Salvation God works in us to will and to do all good things by his spirit that he hath given us according to the Scripture and not contrary to it for the spirit is Infallible which gave forth the Scriptures but the Scripture is changeable in translation and interpretation as we see by experience and therefore not infallible And though J. W. say First The Scriptures do make mention of all Works of Righteousness which ought to be observed by the sons of men Secondly And the Scriptures do most severely forbid all works of wickedness which ought not to be done Thirdly And the Scriptures declare of the Promise of Peace and Happiness which ought to be imbraced Fourthly And the Scriptures speaks of the punishment which God would inflict upon sinners Those are four of his Reasons page 216. by whith he would prove the Scriptures to be the Infallible Teacher of Salvation Answer Though it be true that the Scriptures do declare of every work of Righteousness which ought to be done and of works of unrighteousness which ought not to be done and of the Promises of God which ought to be embraced yet it is the spirit of God that teaches men to perform and observe that Righteousness which ought to be done and to deny that wickedness which ought not to be done and to receive the Promises of God though I say the Scriptures declares of these things yet it is the spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures that teacheth and leadeth into these things that the Scriptures speak of and it is that spirit that is the infallible Teacher and the Scriptures are onely a declaration of the things which the spirit is infallibly to teach and as for thy fourth Reason though generally the punishment of sinners is declared in Scriptures yet it were an easie thing to mention particular punishments for particular people upon particular occasions which the Scriptures do not make mention of for I am of that mind that some of his Fraternity are at this day under a punishment for their sin which the Scripture makes no particular mention of and if he scruple it in his next return J. W. shall have particular instance in our next reply so that this reason is partly true and partly false also Deut. 28.61 t is signified that there are Plagues and punishments for sinners which are not mentioned in the Book of the Law and as for thy 5 6 7 and 8 Reasons to prove the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher all of them are much like the former and the same answer in kind may be said as thus we acknowledge the Scriptures declares sufficiently for Truth and Righteousness and against deceit and unrighteousness and of the Promises of God and threatnings for sin c. Yet still this proves not the Scriptures in themselves infallable to teach infallibly but as I have said it is onely the Spirit of God that is the infallable Teacher into all that Truth which the Scriptures declares of and by the spirit men receives power to be the Sons of God and to do his Will and not by the Scriptures and thus we give the Spirit of God its prerogative and priviledge and the Scriptures also what belongs to them but we dare not give that dignity to the Scriptures which belongs to the Spirit of God thereby abridging the Spirit of God of what belongs to it and setting up the scriptures in opposition to it as J. W. hath clearly done for want of knowledge and understanding in the Mysteries of God Again he saith The Scriptures are very far in Authority and clearness before any spirit or light in any mortal man in the world page 218. Whereby he hath clearly given more dignity and authority to the Scriptures then he hath to the Spirit of God and so hath set up the Scriptures above the Spirit which is direct errour if not Blasphemy that he should say any thing is far greater in Authority and clearness then the Spirit of God which dwells in mortal man even in his Saints and thus the result of J. W. his Reasons and Arguments about Scriptures is a clear denyal of the Spirit of God and setting the Scriptures above it furthermore he saith VVhatsoever doth make manifest is Light the Scriptures doth make manifest the Mystery of Salvation therefore the Scriptures is Light Again he saith That the Scriptures are the more sure word of Prophecy which Peter speaks of which was as a Light which shined in a dark place the Commandements of the Lord is Pure and the VVord is a Lamp unto the Feet Then he speaks of the powerful Operation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures upon the Hearts of such as believe
which doth convince and convert and turn from darknesse to Light and how can their Doctrine be from the same inspiration which is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures page 219 220. 222. Answer Here Joseph Wright hath jumbled some illiterate Logick which may be proved false as thus the Scriptures its true doth declare of the things that ought to be done and believed and the things that ought not to be done as to the general part of things Yet there are many particular Actions and things which the Scriptures do not make manifest and we would have J. W. to leave a little room and work for the Spirit of God and not thus utterly to reject it for the scripture saith it is the Spirit that reveals the Things of God and the Mystery of Salvation and not the scriptures viz. the writings and that sure word of Prophesie which Peter speaks of that was as a Light shining a dark place was something more sure then the very words which Christ spoke with his mouth to them which were written by Matthew and the light which shone as in a dark place to which they were to take heed was more sure to them then Christs words which were written and were scriptures and thus J. W. may see his mistake and perverting of scriptures if he will be but sober and reasonable and that the Commandement of the Lord is Pure and the word is a Lamp we do not deny but gives as full witnesse of as J. W. can do and therefore he needs not cite these scriptures to oppose us for it s thy malitious Spirit that opposeth us not the scriptures for we acknowledge to the truth of these scriptures by the Spirit which gave them forth which is greater then the scriptures and as for the powerful operation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures it is not of themselves that they do operate in any but it is by the Spirit that gave them forth which worketh in the Hearts of Believers to comfort and refresh with the Love of God and it is the spirit according to the scriptures that doth convince and convert and not the scriptures without the Spirit as J. W. would say and it was the Gospel that Paul Preached that turned them from darkness to Light and not the writings which say that the Gospel is the Power of God and not the writings and it is meer ignorance in J. W. to intimate that our Doctrine is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures this I shall account amongst thy slanders and it is not the least of them And whereas thou flyest out high in high words against us That we must consider and leave our inventions else sin will lye at our doors and our bloods will be upon our heads c. and there is no less then four lies in thy last page but these words are to thy self and not unto us for we are not the persons concerned we follow not vain inventions but we are saved out of our blood through Jesus Christ and for J. W. now to exhort us to repentance when as in page 47. he hath given absolute judgement on us without limitation That the mist of Darkness is reserved for ever for us This is a direct contradiction which shews what spirit he has been guided by in all his work And thus we have searched and examined J. W's whole work from the beginning to the end and given an answer to the material parts thereof saving that we have not mentioned many lies and slanders which we have passed over and do reserve them till we come face to face otherwise till our next reply and what we have written we must commit to the judgement of the Spirit of God in all sober persons who may for their own edification compare his work and ours together and truly weigh each of them in the ballance of equity and to the spirit of found judgement and to the Fear of the Lord all are committed and commended in the reading and considering and judging of these things Last of all for a final Conclusion for present if it be supposed by J. W. that this is not a sufficient Answer to his Book I do propound unto him this further in order to the satisfaction of any sober persons if any be doubtfull in this case That first both of us may agree to appoint a convenient time and place for a meeting to dispute it out face to face that which yet remains in controversie between us 2. This being done that all his Friends and ours that are doubtfull or desirous of such a thing may have knowledge of it 3. That in such meeting no foul reflections nor impertinences nor bitternesse of Spirit be allowed on either part but discretion and moderation 4. I shall first take in hand to prove a very great number of Lyes contradictions and falshoods in his Book 5. Then I shall hear his Defence for himself and his Objections against any thing in ours and answer them and after this manner shall be our proceedings if we do meet It s true times and seasons are unsuitable for such a meeting and work yet rather then any Detriment should fall upon the Truth or the cause of preaching the Light within be endangered to harm I am willing to hazard the greatest adventure hoping we may do such a thing if necessity require in that Wisdom and Prudence as may not offend any This I shall leave as my farewell to my Antagonist at this time and thus seal up the whole sum E. B. THE END ERRATA IN the 6. page of the Preface line 5. for contra read contrary in the 7â— page of the Preface line 27. for this work read his work in the 2. page of the book line 9. read we vindicate l. 14. read and his pleading against free-grace to all confuted p. 3. l. 29. for own while r. one while p. 6. l. 31. for strife r. self p. 17. l. 29. for arising which r. arising with p. 27. l. 9. for then r. their p. 31. l. 13. r Ignorant of it p. 48. l. 22. for receive r. reverence p. 50. l. 11. r. tell Lyes * Witnesse Jer. Ives who openly swore to get himself out of prison after he had written against swearing for which some of them called Quakers openly witnessed against him also divers others of the Baptists did swear for fear of suffering as also the said Jer. Ives and John Tombs and Hen Den who have long been Teachers did divulge their deceitful stuff in their books for swearing as those that sought to betray the simplicity of God in others of their brethren who were more conscientious then themselves who could not with a safe Conscience swear though some through the deceit of their Teachers were diverted from the Truth in their own consciences
oppose with might and main and this I found to be the principal Subject of his Treatise because of which I considered the great ignorance of this man that would appear upon such a subject in such great opposition against it whenas no one Truth is more full and clear throughout the whole Scriptures then this Doctrine of the Light within both in the old Testament and the new as first of all Deut. 30.11 12 14. where Moses the servant of God did preach to aâ—l Israel in general boâ—h good and bad the word that was nigh them in their hearts and be exhorted them to bear that word that was within them and to do it and this word was in every one of them to which Moses did exhort them to hear it and obey it and thus its manifest that Moses was a Preacher of the word of God and his light within men Again Jer. 31. God promised to make a new Covenant with the House of Israel I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall know Me saith the Lord from the least of them to the greatest and they shall need no more every man to teach his Neighbour but the Law in their inward parts and his Spirit within them should teach them And thus it is plain the Prophet Jeremiah was sent with a Message of God to Preach the Promise to wit the Spirit of God put in the inward parts and his Law written in their Hearts and thus was he a Preacher of the Light and Law of God within men And David said Thy Law is within my Heart Psal. 49. Again Luke 17.20 21. When they asked Jesus Christ concerning the Kingdom of Heaven he said The Kingdome of Heaven is within you and in divers other places his Parrables signified That the loast Groat was within and that the Pearl was within and that the Seed of the Kingdom of God was sown in their Hearts Mat. 13.19 and Rom. 10.18 By all which and many other places it is an evident truth that Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul were Preachers of the Kingdom of Heaven within men and of the Seed of the Kingdom which was sown in their Hearts and of the Word of God within in the Heart and so it may be said Christ was a Preacher of Light within for he told them of his Word abiding within them John 5.38 and they had not the love of God in them 42. vers John 14.20 And Christ said I am in my Father and you in me and I in you and if my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and thus it is as clear as the Sun at noon day that Christ was a Preacher of the Spirit and of the Light and of the Word and of the love of God within men Again the Apostles preached the same 2 Cor. 13. Chap. and the fifth Jesus Christ is in you saith the Apostle except you be reprobates and Phil. 2.13 It is God that works in you said the Apostle and Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you and 1 John 2.14 And the word of God abideth in you and verse 24. Let that abide in you which you have heard from the beginning and Ephesians 3.20 according to the power that works in us and 2 Tim 1 14. The Holy Ghost which dwells in us and 1 John 4.12 God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us and thus throughout the whole current of Scripture I might bring multitudes of proofs the Apostles were Ministers and Preachers of the Light within the word of God within the Love of God within the Holy Ghost within Christ within yea and God within the Saints yea if this will not serve to prove that it is the Ministry of Christ Jesus to preach the light and word of God within men I should yet bring many more proofs out of the Scriptures to manifest that Christ and his Apostles preached the Light within men not onely in the Saints but in unbelievers take one Scripture more 2 Cor. 4.6 The Light hath shined in our hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God and thus it is clearly proved out of the Scriptures against J. W. that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles were Preachers of the Light and Truth and Spirit within And when I considered at large this same subject of his whole discourse it appeared somewhat strange to me that any reasonable man should draw up such a Subject to make a whole Book of opposition against it like as it he had never read Scriptures seeing he had thus stated his matter intendedly against us called Quakers thinking by steering such a course be should confute us in some errours whenas it s fully manifest that he hath steered his course in direct opposition to the Scriptures and the Truth therein contained and therefore we may conclude of his ignorance and errour who hath thus justified the Truth of our Principles and Doctrines while he hath thought to oppose them and confute them as errours and so overthrown himself 3 I considered concerning returning an Answer to his Book and I found it meet that it should be answered for the end to clear the way of Truth from his false and foul aspersions which were made up by whole groces in his Book and also least he should glory and vaunt himself in his solly as if none were able to answer him nor to detect him of falshood though I was not hasty in falling aboard upon him and that for divers reasons First because my occasions were then very many and weighty and that of far greater moment to be prosecuted then to leave them for answering of him 2. Because I saw no great occasion of present hast to fall upon him and to detect his unworthy work for as to my own particular I could have let his Book have passed without an Answer and all his Lyes and Calumnies and Falshoods passed without hurt to our particulars for we are satisfied in the Truth of our way thousands of us blessed be God notwithstanding all mens opposition 3. Because I would not willingly and hastily have given our publick enemies occasion to mock and scorn at us while they beheld us as it were tearing one another and contending one against another to the weakning of our selves and strengthning of them nor should I but upon this occasion have appeared publick in this manner against any suffering people for it hath ever been my quality to comfort the afflicted and sufferers rather then to adde affliction to them but upon this occasion I am forced to with-stand the insolency of Io. Wright to reprove his lyes and slanders and that publickly to the view of the world and it could not well be avoided so upon these reasons with some others the Book lay by me divers weeks till at last I have taken it under hand for I have heard a report of some boasting amongst J.W. his
Water Baptism nor is it of necessity for Salvation and thus you confound your selves and thy confusion and idolatry as much appears touching these things thou hast busied thy self about as any that ever opposed us And let all that read this further mark thy confusion and see thy deceit in thy so absolutely judging us for the mist of darknesse for ever and giving such a final sentence of condemnation upon us as if there were no hope of Salvation or remedy for us when as in thy Epistle to us thou hast told us thou shalt onely receive a sober Antagonist or else expect our renouncing our errour repenting believing and obeying the Gospel Now if either of these viz. either a sober Antagonist or repenting believing and obeying the Gospel be to be expected among us then there remains some hope of Salvation for us and that we are not given up for destruction or for the mist of darknesse for ever as thou hast judged us without any restriction or exception and thus all may see what an unjust Judge thou art and how thou are spoiled in thy wicked ends and designs and what an irrational man thou art so absolutely to judge them for the mist of darknesse for ever whom thou hast expected to believe and obey the Gospel if not a sober Antagonist or at least wise thou hast pretended it truly its high time for thee to repent for thou art far from the Life of the Gospel or its faith and obedience who notwithstanding hast accounted us more proud then others for judging or reproving yet in such a high degree hast set thy self to be a Judge as to judge such as preach the Light within for the mist of darknesse for ever though thou hast pretended to have an expectation of Repentance Faith and Obedience from such as thou hast so judged And you Baptists were wont to exclaim against others for judging though now you can so peremptorily judge such to be rewarded with the mist of darknesse for ever who do both preach and own the Light of Christ within which they that follow shall not abide in darknesse but shall receive the Light of Life The Lord open your eyes who have been deceived and misled by such blind guides and defenders as J. W. is that you may escape out of their snares and come out of the darknesse and confusion wherein they have led you that you may know the Light of the Truth to open your understandings and to guide your feet into the way of Truth and the path of the just which is the shining Light that shineth more and more untill the perfect day in them that believe and obey the Light of the Lord and his Truth in them CHAP. VI. Concerning Quaking and Trembling THe next particular observable is about Quaking and Trembling and about this J. W. makes a great stir with several vain stories And in p. 154. He saith It is a woful visitation for it doth not come with a still soft voice but with Earthquakes and rending the Rocks putting the poor creature into a woful condition for oh what quakings and shakings tremblings and fearings what pulling and dragging is at that time as if the very heart must be pulled out and all the bowels torn in pieces and one limb rent from another and when the unclean spirit hath pronounced such woes terrours and judgements as long as he thinks fit which by them is called Hell then the said Spirit speaks peace to them c. And also sayest that this Spirit speaks with a vocal voice in the bottom of the bellies of them that aâ—e possessed therewith burrying the creature up and down with motions revelations and commands c. Answ. To all which we answer J. W. hath here shewed not onely ignorance of the works of the Lord and his waies but hatred and malice against them and hath uttered many reviling words against that which he knows not and if he had lived in the dayes of old when the Servants of the Lord quaked and trembled and roared out because of the terrour of the Lord that was upon them what would he have said surely no lesse of them then he hath done of us at this day and would have called it an unclean spirit and a woful visitation and condition and therefore we shall first prove out of the Scriptures that there was such a thing as trembling and quaking and roaring out even as men distracted among the Servants of the Lord in generations past and then shall vindicate such a thing in these our dayes upon this reason That God and his works and discoveries are the same in this age according to the manifestation of his power amongst his People as ever they were So dreadful was the appearance of God that Moses saw that he said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 and David roared out by reason of the disquietnesse of his heart and his heart panted and his strength failed and there was no foundnesse in his flesh nor any rest in his bones Psal. 38. and his flesh trembled because of the Judgements of God Psal. 119.120 And it s said while I suffer the terrours of the Lord I am as a distracted man Psal. 88.15 And Ezra said I rent my garment and my mantle and pluckt off the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down astonished and there were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel Isa. 9.3 4. And Jeremy also said that he trembled and his bones did shake and he was like a drunken man Jer. 23.9 And the Prophet Habakkuk said my belly trembled my lips quivered at the voice rottennesse entered my bones and I trembled in my self chap. 3.16 and St. Paul was among the Corinths in much trembling and exhorted the Saints to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 And thus it is manifest throughout the Scriptures of both Old and New Testament that the Saints and Servants of God did tremble and were astonished and were as distracted persons and there were earthquakes among them rending of the rocks and quakings and shakings and tremblings and fearings as J. W. his words are and the appearance of the Lord was wonderful and wrought wonderful effects and operations upon them though this same J. VV. seems ignorant of like as if he had never read the Scriptures though in place elsewhere he speaks highly of them yet 't is manifest he is not in that Truth and Power of God which they declare of but is a scorner and reviler and one with the prophane wretches that believes not the Truth of the Scriptures but scorns at the work of God and such as tremble and quake at his words whom he regards Isa 66. And seeing that the Scriptures do thus plentifully prove such an operation as quaking and trembling and trouble and terrour through the manifestation of the Power of God we cannot but for the name of the Lords sake
and given up to hardness of heart he would never thus grosly have belyed us and these lies must be his onely proof for he can give no better testimony that we are proud in heart the Lord rebuke his lying tongue it s enough here onely to deny his lies for most of the particulars are before spoken of to wit of the Commandements and Promises of Christ of the Immortality and the Resurrection but he goes on in his accustomed manner of falshoods and sayes we acknowledge not any superiours and that we wholly neglect Faith and Gospel Obedience and that our hearts are too high to submit to anything of the Spirit Faith and Obedience and that we have an eye of scorn and disdain all which are lies and thus J. W. goes on like as if he had devoted himself to tell a lies and studied to frame falshood seeing that every page which I have now under hand carries in it number of lies but he charges it to be the pride of our hearts because we will not put off our Hatts This is false also as much as the rest for though we cannot put off our Hat is in Honour to any mans person nor give them flattering Titles of honour yet this is not from the pride of our Hearts our God knows but from another ground as I could demonstrate were it the present case of controversie But being brought by J. W. as a proof of this matter therefore now I pâ—sse it so that his onely proofs that we are not more humble but more proud then others which is his present assertion is poorly and weakly mannaged with Proofs and Arguments of absolute deceits and falshoods who hath not one better proof from his Pen then a lie to prove his proposition and thus I passe this particular commiting him to the reward of God according to his work which must come upon him one day and as for the matter of our Humility we commit the cause of that also to God who judgeth more justly then vain man Now I come to the second Particular of Unity and J. W. saith Our Vnity he doth absolutely deny for Vnity in the truth we have not but in Iniquity for we do not hold the Head Christ Jesus and we are not in Vnity but in confusion we are not Vnited unto Jesus Christ by Faith and intimates that we deny Jesus Christ his Person and contemn his Ordinances and trample his word under their feet and this do the Preachers of the Light within in saith he for saith he We are not at Vnity among our selves but one Preaching one thing and another Prints the contrary and he speaks of one that affirmed that the Bread and Wine spoken of in Scriptures appointed to be eaten and drunken in remembrance of Jesus Christ is not Temporal nor External but Spiritual and Eternal Another he saith should Print that that Bread and Wine is common such as may be eaten by unbelievers at their Feasts thus are we divided from the Truth and one from another saith he For some do hold that Bread and Wine were to be received until he came by which we understand until he come in us and thus the Preachers of the Light within are divided in Doctrine because one sayes the Bread and Wine is Eternal another saith it is visible and Temporal and one Teacher calleth another Dog and hath disproved each other c. page 183 184 185. Answer To all this I answer in opposition to his charge we are in Unity and Fellowship with the Lord in Spirit and one with another in him notwithstanding J. W. his seeming detection as if it were otherwise and his charge is high that we have not Vnity in the Truth but in Iniquity and his proof for it is like the proof of the former assertion to wit absolute lies for he saith we do not hold the head Christ Jesus nor are United to him by Faith nor have any accesse by him and that we deny him and his Person and contemn his Person and trample his Word under feet these are falshoods altogether and by this means he proves his point that we have Vnity in Iniquity and not in the Truth t is wickedly affirmed and as wickedly proved by one of Satans Messengers who hath set himself to oppose the Lords Truth and his People and that by his Masters order and in his Masters way who was a Lyar from the beginning Thirdly And now I come to his Charge That we are not in Vnity among our selves which he has proved according to his accustomed manner For what if some did say though he names none that Christ broke Bread and drank Wine with his Disciples Temporal and Visible Bread and he also broke Bread and drank of the Cup with his Disciples which was Spiritual and Eternal and Invisible and these may be both affirmed without any contradiction Christ did eat of the Bread with his Disciples which might be eaten at unbelievers Feasts and Christ did eat of the Bread with his Disciples which unbelievers could not eat of both these are true and hath no such weight of contradiction in them as J. W. ignorantly supposes and what would he say of the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Iohn the one saith God is a consuming fire the other saith God is Love and of the Prophets one of whom said God is angry everyday and another said there is no anger in God would not J. W. had he lived in their dayes have said the Prophets and Apostles were divided among themselves and as for some calling another Dog and disowning one another and yet are all Preachers of the Light within though he mentions neither the time place nor persons and therefore because in other cases he speaks so falsly of which I well know therefore I may have jealousie this is false also But however suppose a deceitful person that never knew the work of Regeneration should speak of ye Preach of the Light within may not he be called a Dog and disowned and yet no division among us for such are not of us but contrary to us and we are onely divided from them and not among our selves and had J. W. lived in the Apostles dayes what would he have said when some of the Apostles withstood others in some controversies would not he have said ye are dissemblers ye have not Unity among your selves but are in confusion and so and so and also when some deceivers got up and Preached Christ and the Gospel pretendedly for filthy lucre and for covetousness and had the form of godliness and were sometimes conversant in the Churches but the Apostles cryed against them and disowned them though they were among the Churches and Preached the Apostles words but were the Apostles therefore divided and deceivers and in confusion because of some such amongst them Thou ignorant man I tell thee nay no more are we though Hypocrites may get the words of Truth from our mouths for such are not of us