to those in whom he is in light in power and grace as he will Therefore neither we nor any others have infallible judgments in all things at all times but we are subject to Errour and in many things we do not apprehend and speak aright of God of Christ of the Spirit of the Saints of our selves of the mysteries of the Gospel which are some of those things which are eternal As God said to Iobs Friends Ye have not spoken of me the things that are right as my Servant Job hath and Iob himself did darken Counsel by words without knowledge when he spake of God Notwithstanding that fallible mind and judgement that is in all men in some things and at some times yet because the Rule that is left men to judge by is an infallible sure and certain Rule which cannot deceive men and because it is a plain Rule in many things and easily understood Prov. 1. 4. and because the principles of Religion and fundamentals of Salvation are so clearly revealed in the Scripture that Babes in Christ may come to the knowledge of them therefore both we and all the Saints may in some things have an infallible judgement and may judge of things eternal with a judgement of Certainty both respecting God Christ Faith Repentance Resurrection of the dead eternal judgment and many other things How else could there be any preaching if persons could not know infallibly that in some things they hold forth they speak the Truth And how could any thing be assuredly believed if the word of Faith in the true sense of it could not infallibly be held forth and judged of And how could any Person be at a certainty concerning his own Salvation And how could any Christian seal the Truth of Christ with his blood if some things could not be judged of with an infallible judgement But whether any person having not the Spirit can have an infallible judgement to judge of things eternal by the knowledge they may get from the Scripture is the drift and scope of the question if I be able to make a judgement of it They think that none can infallibly judge of things of an eternal nature but such who have the Spirit and that we are persons that have not the Spirit and therefore cannot judge of them nor of their way and that they themselves have the Spirit and that judgement belongs to them only both of persons and of things we are but in our first birth and are carnal and know not things of an eternal Nature they are in the second birth and are spiritual and can judge all things and all men for hitherto tends a great part of a large Letter sent unto us from them by which I come to prove them in this question In answer therefore unto this I must distinguish of infallible judgement There is an infallible Judgment which may be made from the Scripture without the Spirit and there 's an infallible judgment which cannot be made from the Scripture without the spirit The Judgment that may be made from the Scripture without the Spirit infallibly respects the Doctrine which the Scripture contains to be received believed by men that they may be saved what they be and what manner of life it is that Persons ought to live that would come to Life eternal these things are clearly and plainly laid down and may easily be taken up by unprejudiced Persons who have unballanced spirits though they have not the spirit Upon this account it is that the Apostle John would not have every Spirit believed but would have the spirits tryed whether they be of God but how must they be tried unless by the Scriptures for every one will pretend the Spirit and there are many false Prophets who have the spirit of delusion and are gone forth into the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. For if the Scripture were not the judge of the Spirit in this case so far as concerns Doctrines and Manners which men have Received and learned whether they be of God or no or whether the spirit of the Devil hath not inspiried them therewith all men living would be put upon desperate uncertainties which is the Spirit that gives our the Truth and which is the spirit of Errour And they would be confounded through the multiplicity of spirits each spirit pretending to Truth and crying down the contrary as Errour Therefore the Scripture alone being of the Spirits inspiring is a light sufficient to shew the Doctrine what it is and the commandment precept what it is to one that will attend unto it without any further inspiration of the Spirit else in vain were the Scriptures at the first inspired But then again there is an infallible Judgement which cannot be made without the Spirit that is whether those Doctrines and Rules of Life which are clearly contained in the Scripture be Doctrines which proceeded from God whether God spake with Moses sent Christ to declare what he hath declared inspired the Apostles in speaking and writing what they have spoken or written or whether all these spake of themselves It is the Spirit of God alone that can give assured satisfaction concerning this The Jews and their Rulers though they saw the Miracles yet they know not Christ to be the Messiah for had they known him they would never have crucified the Lord of glory These are among those invisible things which are revealed unto us by the Spirit as the Apostle tels us 1 Cor. 2. 8 9 10. It is easie for any man that hath his reason and hath not the Spirit by reading the Scripture to conclude that Scripture makes Jesus the Son of Mary to be the Son of God and the Christ But for any man to beleeve it and build upon it as a sure truth of God this is from the Spirit flesh and blood hath not revealed this but the Father which is in Heaven Christ told Peter so Mat. 16 16. The conclusion is That the Scripture is the foundation of an insallible judgement concerning things contained in them and not the Spirit but both Scripture and Spirit must concur to give in the certainty of those things that are there contained that they may become a sure rock to be built upon for no one can say assuredly and by a spirit of Faith that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. Quere 5. Whether you be above the Apostle and able to Concerning perfection what may be granted and what not judge his condition because you say he was not perfect who said he spake wisedom among them that were perfect Answ This Question relates to a passage in our Answer to a Letter of theirs which pleaded for perfection which we had the sight of which fell into their hands and hath occasioned this Question The words of our Answer are these He might have discerned that Paul expressly denies perfection in reference to himself Phil. 3. 12. His Question hence is Are you
our own upon such Scriptures which they have given out which is not their sense but that which is Jeft to us is to find out the sense and meaneing which they have put as in Re2 13. 18. after some mystical things had been held out in which there was a meaning but hard to be understood it is is said Here is Wisdom let him that understandeth count the Number of the Beast that is let him set all his Wisdom and understanding that he hath on work to search it out Nevertheless it is not to be understood that the meaning which the Apostles intended in the Scripture which they gave out doth perpetually follow the sound of the Letter for the Letter contains contradiction many times in it but the Apostles meaning as he interprets himself hath sweet congruity in it without contradiction Querie 3. Whether Plagues be not added to them who add Concerning adding to and diminishing from the Scripture In what sense it is to be understood to the Prophecies Written in the Book And whether his name be not diminished out of the Book of Life who diminisheth And whether you can witness this name yea or no Answ It is plain and clear from Rev. 22. 18. that the Evils are great and terrible that are threatned against adding and diminishing But what this adding and diminishing is that hath such woes belonging to it is the question If expounding the Scripture and interpreting it and shewing the sense and meaning thereof be the adding or diminishing that the question intends against which such a fearful Sentence is pronounced then it would reach Ezra and those others with him mentioned Nehem. 8. 7 8. For they read and they gave the sense and caused the people to understand the reading And Christ also gave the sense of those words in Isai 61. 1 2 3. and declared how they were fulfilled in himself and he expounded Moses and the Prophets their Writings to those two Disciples who were travelling towards Emmaus And Philip guided the Eunuch in his reading unto the right sense of the Prophet Isar in Chap. 53. 7 8 9. He shewed the Prophet spake not of himself but of another via Christ Acts 8. 31. 34 And what was preaching the Gospal ordained of God for And why were Gifts given unto men but that the People might be brought to Knowledge and might come to understand the Scriptures Therefore the Apostles were much exercised in opening those sealed Prophesies which were often read and never understood which respected Christ and in proving out of them that Jesus was the Christ Therefore the interpreting of Scripture is not adding to it so long as it is not any private interpretation that is given which a mans heart hath found out and his fancy hath imagined but such an interpretation as agreeth to the Spirit of the Scripture in other places 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. and such as accords with the Analogy of Faith Rom. 12. 6. that is holds Proportion with the Doctrine of Faith as it is laid down in other Scriptures This is not adding but adding is when the sufficiency of the Scriptures to build men up to salvation and to make them perfect throughly furnished unto every good work is not acknowledged and thereupon Traditions Canons and Doctrines and Commandments of men are brought in and annexed and imposed upon the people As of old by the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ so often conflicted with and by the Roman Synagogue and by some of that stamp amongst our selves And when Persons assume an Authority and Power to themselves to be the Judges of the Scripture and expunge what they please out of it and introduce into it what liketh them and what sense they give unto it whether it agrees or not agres with other Scriptures yet that must be the sense of of it and none must question it Whereas Scripture it self ought to be its own interpreter else there would be no plain standing rule to try truth by but the Truth of God must be subjected to the various and opposite fancies of men And when Persons pretend the Spirit and say they have dreamed and come with their apprehensions and say it is made out so to them or it is so given in to them and though there be never so much repugnancy in it to other Scriptures yet that must be the sense by which means the Spirit of Truth comes to suffer many affronts in this Age This is adding And indeed the rigid adhering to the letter of Scriptures and to the sound of words therein without admitting a wholesom sense such as accords with other Scriptures is adding which is the way of all Seducers and Deceivers to make their blasphemous doctrine the more vendible For the letter of Scripture in some places without searching out a sound sense will countenance Papists Arrians Ranters and whom not in their Tenents This is the introducing of another Scripture then that which is Scripture indeed and it is properly such adding to the Scripture against which such plagues are denounced Let these Persons who are called Quakers look to this for it is their grand imposture wherewith they beguilc the people they bring the Letter where it serves for their purpose as the Papists were wont to bring their hoc est corpus meum This is my Body to prove the bodily presence of Christ in the Sacrament And these press upon the people the Letter and cry out upon the Ministers of Christ and say they are lying Priests and they lead the people in darkness and so by the Letter destroy the sense of Scripture and bring in another sense which is not Scripture-sense and so themselves are found both adders to and diminishers from the Scripture Querie 4. Whether you have an infallible Judgement to judge of things eternal yea or no Concering Infalibility in judging how fat men may have it and how far not Answ The first state of every man is darkness the natural man understands not the things that are of God they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. When any man is brought from darkness to light even then he knoweth but in part Paul himself was in some darkness now we see through a glass darkly said he of himself and others 1 Cor. 13. 12. Those to whom John wrote who had the annointment to teach them all things and of whom John said that they knew all things which was but an hyperbolical expression and did import only much knowledge to be in them 1 Ioh. 2. 20 21 27. yet those were not all light without any darkness but they were such who might be deceived and were subject to errour therefore the Apostle warns them of Seducers not withstanding the unction that they have received They had not an infallible judgement but might be mistaken in some of the things of God though they had the Spirit for the Spirit gives himself out
understood from their writings though we have not seen with our eyes even as Timothy was commanded to preach and shew what he had heard of the Apostle who yet himself had not heard nor seen nor handled any thing of Christ and he must commit them to faithful men who had seen no more then he and they must teach others also But this Question holds affinity with the seventh Question to which I refer the Reader onely I shall add this that if the persons that make these proposals do glory over us because we have not thus seen Christ and do give it out that he hath appeared to them and that they have seen him and heard him and heard him and that he is with and in them let them seriously consider whether it be the true Christ the same whom Iohn heard or saw with his bodily eyes and handled with his bodily hands which they have seen or a bodiless Christ of their own framing And whether their seeing of Christ be not like Saul his seeing Samuel who indeed saw the Devil in Samuels shape and talked with him and had fellowship with him but saw not Samuel Querie 10. Whether you have this word which was from Concerning the manifestation of Christ what it is And concerning preaching from the letter how far it may and must be and how far not the beginning and this lâ—fe manifest unto you which was to the Apostles And if it be why do you take a Text from the Letter and Preach from it and shew the People the Letter Answ This word and this life which is Christ was manifested in flesh Ioh. 1. 14. The Word was made flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in flesh And this Word and this life in flesh was manifested to the Apostles for there was a glory of Christ in flesh in reference to his mighty works which were done in flesh which never any else did but he Ioh. 3. 2. chap. 15. 24. And this glory was as of the onely begotten Son of God and this glory they beheld and all Saints have beheld it and do behold it but not with bodily eyes as the Apostles did but with spiritual eyes with the eyes of Faith 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom though ye see not yet believing ye rejoyce c. They did not see at that time for Christ was ascended neither do Saints as yet see because the Heavens do yet contain him but they believe and believing is called a seeing in Scripture Ioh 8. 56. Abraham rejoyced to see my dayes He did not live to see it with his bodily eyes but he saw it by Faith by which also the Apostles had the sight of Christ else they could have seen but the outside of glory and have been dazzled therewith as the rest of the Jewes were which saw him and were not ' able to judge whose glory it was that they saw In this spiritual sense Christ is manifest to us so many of us as believe and we have seen him by faith and he is in us by his Spirit and is life within us as a living Word that quickneth us Notwithstanding this we take a Text from the letter because the whole will of God and minde of Christ is left us in letters and blessed is he that readeth and considereth thereof as it is contained and declared in letters Revel 1. 3. And Christ himself who was manifest to himself did take a Text from the letter to preach things that respected himself which the letter contained And Philip he took that Text in the letter which the Eunuch was guided to read and preached Christ from it And though preaching be from the letter that though we make something that is written or something that is comprehended in letters the foundation of our preaching upon which we bottom and build our discourse yet we preach not the letter but such spiritual truths as are contained in it respecting Christ as Christ preached the glorious truths of himself And Philip preached those blessed mysterious truths which concerned Christ which have a vertue and power in them from the Spirit which accompanies them and which is given to the Elect whilst such truths written in words and letters are preached to them by which such persons are quickned who were before dead in trespasses and sins 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. For if the Gospel which is now left us in words and letters in the Evangelists and Apostles Writings be hid from any it is hid to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that believe not least the light of the glorious Gospel should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. And indeed this Gospel as it is now upon record in letters and is become as such a standing rule to men is hid from this Generation of men so far as we can judge who are the propounders of this Question and their design is to hide it from others and to draw all persons off from all that is written to depend upon an unwritten word some word immediately dictated to them within them proceeding from him who is as they say the Word from the beginning and is the life and is manifested as they give out within them as to the Apostles And in this sort of men doth the Devil shew his spite spleen and malice against the holy Scriptures Querie 11. And shew me where the Prophets did take a Concerning preaching from a Text and the justification of it And what anoyntment Ministes have to Preach Text and preach from it but only Christ read a place and said it was fulfilled who said he was anointed to preach and which of you can witness you are anointed to preach by the living God yea or no Answ The Prophets took not any Text to preach from it because they were to lay the foundation of preaching unto others Ephes 2. 20. and other were to build upon it all that they should preach and therefore it was that the Priests and Levites did preach out of the Prophets they read therein and gave the sense And the Apostles proved all things from the Prophets which they preached And though they did not preach from one particular Text yet they preached from many Texts for they cited many to confirm their preachings And the Apostles also as wise master-builder sinstructed immediately by the spirit did in their Doctrine perform the same work 1 Cor. 3. 10. viz. did found the Faith of Believers upon their Preachings and Writings And the Ministers of the Word which were to succeed them are onely to put their superstructure to it bottoming upon that ground-work which they have laid and therefore it is that both they and we take a Text that the weight of our building may be laid upon it and that all may see and be convinced that we preach not our own dreams but what we have warrant for from the Writings of the Apostles and Prophets with and to
whom God spake and that the truth of our Doctrine may be read of all men being engraven upon such Scriptures which we make choyce of and by this means also the idle extravagances of mens wits and fancies which will never convince the conscience throughly are prevented But why is the taking of a Text quarrell'd at when yet it is confessed that Christ took a Text And doth he not therein justifie us What if the Prophets did not yet if Christ did will not his example bear out our practise But these men make light of this pattern detracting and diminishing though they know the danger of it mentioned Revel 22. 19. from the fulness of that Scripture that declares it Luk. 4. 16. to 23. They say that onely Christ read a place but the Evangelist saith That as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read and that then there was a Book delivered to him and when he had opened the Book he found the place that he would read and then closed it again and gave it to the Minister They say that Christ said it was fulfilled and as if this were all they mention no more but the Evangelist saith That the people wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth And these things are obvious from this Text they mention First there were publike places to meet in which were called Synagogues Secondly there were dayes set apart for service to be performed to God in such places which are called Sabbath dayes Thirdly there was a Minister whose work it was to read out of some book of holy Scriptures to the people to instruct them thence Fourthly it is manifest that Christ approved of all this and he liked this way so well that he himself did go and do likewise and did accustom himself to the same course of teaching the people as that which was edifying to them so that it was not once only done that Christ took a Text but oftend one his custome was to read some portion of Scripture and to preach out of it And it is evident that Christ did not onely say This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears but many gracious words proceeded from him tending as must needs be supposed by any man that hath but the use of his reason to clear it up to their capacities how that Scripture in every part of it was fulfilled by opening and unfolding the many branches of so plentiful and large a Text and shewing how all things therein related unto were accomplished in himself which might be a subject of many Moneths discourse as Christ might have followed it But these men object that Christ was anoynted to preach and demand which of us can witness that we are anoynted to preach by the living God Christs anoynting was not by the pouring of any oyl upon his head after the manner of the High Priests anoynting Psal 133. 2. which was but a shadow of a more excellent Unction which Christ had And the Prophet Psal 45. 7. doth but allude thereunto But his anoynting was by the donation of the Spirit and the gifts and graces thereof Ioh. 1. 32 33. ch 3. 34. by which he was enabled to the execution of such Offices and works to which he was called in redeeming a people to God and especially to preach the Gospel which in a very excellent and glorious way he effected Luk. 4. 22. And all the Saints receive the same spirit and gifts and graces every one according to the measure of such a part which they fill up in the body and are Kings and Priests and Prophets to themselves as Scripture calls them But those persons especially whom God calls out to be to the body in place of eyes to guide them and direct them God gives more of his grace and influence to as appears from Eph. 4. 8. He ascended up on high and gave gifts to men viz. such men as he placeth in his Church for the work of the Ministery and for the perfecting of the Saints till the end of the world therefore Christ is not anoynted alone but all whom he calls to the Ministery are anoynted also with the same spirit and gifts and graces onely he hath the preheminence and hath an anoynment above his fellows for he received not the spirit by measure as those who are his Ministers and servants now do Psal 45. 7. Ioh. 3. 34. Querie 12. Tell me why you sing Davids Conditions and Concerning singing of Scripture Psalms the Lawfulness and necessity thereof Experiences in Meeter and when you read them Hats you put on and when you sing them Hats you put off Answ Davids conditions and experiences are many times our own conditions and experiences and then we sing them not as Davids meerly but as our own by a spirit of Faith making application to our selves of what we sing out of David But many times it s otherwise that something of Davids inditing and of his state and containing his experience is the matter of our Psalms which we cannot so fitly apply to our own condition and temper and many stumble at this and are offended but it s from some darkness in themselves for Psalms are for instruction by the very design and scope of of God who dictated them and enjoyns them as the Titles of very many of them shew And the Apostle enjoyns the Saints to teach and admonish themselves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Song and what ever the matter of them be one end or use of them must be instruction to our selves from them as from any other parts of Scripture And the reasons of singing them are such as these 1. God would have us in our meetings to rejoyce in him which is done in singing 2. God would have his word to be familiar to us Col. 3. 16. it must dwell in us and this must be shewed in singing and would have us so much to delight in it and to finde such sweetness in it that we should make our selves spiritually merry with it 3. Because singing is that which raiseth the Spirit refresheth the heart moves the affections very much God would have the Spirits of his people to be raised and refreshed in the deliberate meditation of his Word what ever the subject matter be For therefore it is that the Psalms which David and other Saints compiled to be sing consist of subjects of greatest diversity and variety Some are Historical some Prophetical some are Hortatory some are Precatory others Deprecatory others Laudative or Psalms of prayse and the soul should take pleasure in all and have the heart raised in the meditation of all Do we not observe how a prophane carnal spirit will compile Songs of every kinde of matter and will make it self merry therewith And shall not a spiritual heart sing every thing that is a Psalm and is Divine and Spiritual with an elevated and raised minde Object But why most
what hours were spent in their publike service nor Concerning hours in the publike service whether those hours that were spent were spent together and at one entire meeting without intermission and parting or whether they divided their hours according to the pattern and example which they had in the Offerings and Sacrisiees of the Old Testament which were not at once and together but at discontinued times there was a morning and an evening-Sacrifice which were offered about the third and ninth hours and there was a great expediencie in it that there might be some bodily refreshing betwlxt the times and the necessity of Nature was provided for in it and Sabbath-exercises were distinguished thereby from Fasts and upon this accompt it is equitable that Christian service should be carried for time after such manner but herein Christian Prudence hath the Principal stroke for we do not judge our selves Scripturally obliged to so many hours or so distributed that some should be in the forenoon and some in the afternoon but for conveniencies-sake we practise it yet not precisely keeping to an hour And for hours in Families we Concerning time spent in holy exercises in Families have read how holy men of God have carried it in their milies Abraham commanded his children and his houshold after him and they did keep the way of the Lord Jacob he reformed his Family and purged away the Idols and all the filth from it that they might more purely serve the Lord together Josbua resolved that he and his house would serve the Lord now he could not resolve it in reference to secret worship which each apart was to perform to God but it refers to Family-duties and service which should be on foot amongst them together And David would walk not in his own Person alone but in his house with a perfect heart And there is a Prophesie that respects Families mourning apart which is to be accomplished in the dayes of the Gospel Zach 12. 12. to the end And there is a Promise made where two or three are gathered together suppose in a Family or any other way Christ will be in the midst of them and where Saints are together in a Family the Spirit of God within them will be a Spirit of Prayer within them and will bring them together and there cannot be Family-duties but there must be a time to perform them in and if morning and evening be taken for them it is most congruous First because occasions wilt then best permiso for it will be before the works of these Callibas be begun and it will be afree they are finished Secondly all things are sanctified by prayer and so will their is bours be in the morning and their rest in the evening But where or when doth a good heart dispute against these things a spiritural heart will rather dictate to a Person to apprehend the opportunitigs unto prayer and all other spiritual duties both apart and with others and will practise what was commanded in reference to preaching will pray in season and out of senson at times which conâ—â—eiency makes cheice of and at other times also will put up all manner of prayers and at all times as occasion requites And where Saipts are together they will encourage one another and say come let us joya together and pray and seek the face of God in prayer and in other duties also and in Families especially will this be done Querie 17. Whether you do not seduce the People to araw Concerning the Spirits teaching in what way to expect it And whether the outward must be denyed that the inward may be received them from the anointing within them when as John saith they need no man teach them but as the anointing and the Promise was Eternal Life to him that did abide in the anointing Ans The scope and intent of this Question is to overtura all out ward teaching by men to erect an immediate teaching of the Spirit in the room of it It is to carry men off from Gods outward Ordinances to wait for secret Inspirations of God and indeed it is to subject men to Satanical delusions instead of the Spirits suggestions For that which is insinuated is this viz that the drawing of any people to attend upon any out ward instruction becomes in effect a withdrawing of them from the annointing or from that inward teaching of the Spirit which indeed hath not one syllable of truth in it For John the Baptist did draw the people after him so did Christ so did the Apostles to hear the Word of God which they preached which was an outward word an outward teaching did they withdraw such Persons from the inward teaching from the annointing within them or were they not rather drawn to the annointing within them by attending and giving heed to the outward preaching did not the Spirit of God accompany their outward preaching did not John come in the Spirit and Power of Elias in his outward Ministery and were not many turned from their disobedience to the wisdom of the Just and could this be without the Spirit was there not an admirable power of the Spirit attending both Christs teaching and the Apostles preaching did their outward instruction withdraw the people from the Spirit or did they not rather convey the Spirit to them Is not the Gospel as it is presented to men in an external way said to be the administration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Gal. 2. 5. And were not many annointed with enriching gifts by that Spirit which is the Spirit of the Gospel which comes along with the Gospel preached How then are any seduced by being being brought to the hearing of the Gospel preached or are not they rather seduced who are drawn off from the external Means and Ministery by which the Spirit is given and Faith is wrought to wait for the receiving of the Spirit without any Word to conveigh it to them which Spirit when they have it is not the Spirit of Truth but of Delusion as is confessed by one of their own newly redeemed out of such hellish captivity under which these poor Creatures are held Object But they produce a Scripture which seems to erect and set up one only Teacher which is the Spirit and to throw down and cast under foot all outward Teaching which is performed by men John saith to them he wrote 1 Ioh. 2. 27. That they needed not that any man teach them but as the annointing teacheth them of all things and is Truth Answ First This is not spoken of all men but of those 1 Ioh. 2. 27. Answered viz. ye need that no man teach you but as the anointing teacheth you all things who are come to Christ and had the Spirit that they needed no man to teach them But what must they do that have not the Spirit how must they obtain it if not by the Word of the Gospel which conveys it therefore an outward teaching
is necessary for such Secondly The Apostle seems to speak of such an annointment which they had received which had already taught them by which they should abide in Christ and not be seduced as those words shew Even us it hath taught you you shall abide c. Now indeed the Spirit of God hath taught us of all things in the Scriptures which were of his inspiring whereto if we attend we shall abide in the Truth and not be misled by Seducers and to this teaching of the Spirit in the Scriptures we need not that any teaching of man should be added but as we are taught in them Thirdly The words You need not that any man teach you but as the annointing teacheth you are hyperbolical expressions there is an excess in them as in many places of Scriptute as where it is said If all things should be written which Jesus said and did the whole world would not contain the the Books that would be written The meaning is there would be very many Books written if all should be written And in vers 20 of this very Chapter the Apostle tells them that they knew all things it is an excessive speech for no one knoweth all things but God Christ himself as man knew not all things who yet had the Spirit not according to measure but beyond it the meaning then is they had much knowledge and knew many things and so they needed not that any man teach them that is they knew so much already of the Doctrine of the Gospel that if onely they persevered in that which they knew they might be kept without much teaching it is to be understood in a comparative sense not in an absolute consideration as to exclude all teaching but to exclude much of that teaching which others do require and it respects the abundance of knowledge which they had in comparison of Believers of former times before the Gospel was revealed as from the Prophesie from which these words of John were fetcht appears Jer. 31. 34. They shall teach no more man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord Knowledge should so abound in the dayes of the Gospel that they should not need teaching so much as in the times of the Law For it points at the days of the Gospel after Christ should be revealed of which Christ saith That he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven should be greater then John the Baptist who yet was greater then al the Prophets so exceedingly should Light shine in Gospel-times but that teaching should be absolutely excluded was not the Apostles meaning for though they never did need it less yet they never had it more then in the days of the Apostles and of the Primitive Churches For there were many who were eminently gifted besides Pastors and Teachers who did teach And it is to be observed that the Spirit was never given so plentifully in any Age as in that Age wherein so much outward teaching was so that there is no such measure of reception of the Spirit that can thrust out outward teaching while we are here yea and John himself thought there was need of teaching while he tells them of an unction that they had received and that they knew all things and needed not that any one should teach them for vers 36. he saith These things have I written unto you in reference to them that seduce you that is least you should be carried away from the Truth by them he taught them to stand fast in the Truth they had received Fourthly It holds forth that they were not neither should be Babes which knew nothing themselves were able to judge of nothing themselves but do depend wholly and really upon others to teach them and were led wholly as others guide them in this sense they should not need teaching for there was a light set up in their souls and they had the Spirit of God which is a light and enables them to discern with such clearness that they believe not because others tell them so but because they can look into the Truth themselves Concerning the last words of that question viz. that the Promise was eternal Life to him that did abide in the anointing because there is no such Scripture that saith so and because no course we take in our teaching doth tend as hath been shewed to withdraw from the anointing therefore I shall not insist upon them Querie 18. Whether you do not bewitch the people and draw them from the Spirit of God within them to observe those Sacraments and Ministery maintained and other practises in Church-meetings things which God never commanded to tell the people of a Sacrament and following your outward Teaching who stand praying in the Synagogues and are called of men Masters which Christ dâ—d forbid Mat. 23. And have the chiefest places in the Assemblies Whether these be not called Antichrists which act contrary to the Commands of Christ yea or no Answ In this Question besides the repetition of former things they strike at Sacraments at the teaching and praying of Pastors and Elders for to them they speak in al their questions at the posture of standing in prayer at the places of meeting calling them Synagogues in a derisive way at the Title of Master which is put upon them and charge them with ambition in assuming chiefest places which they say such take I must clear up the truth in all these particulars First Concerning Sacraments there are no Ordinances on foot amongst us which we call by that name though there Concorning Sacraments might be a defence for it but there are Ordinances which others call Sacraments and we call them Seals of the Covenant which are to confirm Faith in the Covenant of God concerning Remission of sin by the blood of Christ and other Grace of the like nature which is vouchsafed in Christ and they are Baptism and the Lords Supper and they are both of them instituted by Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23. and they both point at Christs Death and the shedding of his Blood Rom. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 26. Mat. 26. 28. and they serve to Seal Remission of sins by Christs Blood Act. 22. 16. Mat. 26. 28. and indeed both of them are to put us in remembrance of Christ and that which Christ hath instituted who dares abrogate And those that destroy the Seals therein attempt the destruction of the Covenant for Seals are the ratification of Covenants or at least they do despise Gods grace of condescendency who for the cause of our weakness in belief of his Covenants vouchsafeth to grant us Seals to confirm them And Gods Covenants have never been without Seals and though there hath been change of Seals yet Seals are as old one or other of them and are to last as long as the Covenants and the Lords Supper
expresly till Christ come 1 Cor. 11. 26. And let all take heed least slighting Seals and gracious Covenants they be hereafter accompted despisers of Gods Grace which will be reckoned amongst the greatest sins Secondly Concerning our outward teaching I have declared already in part the necessity of it It is the ordinary way Concerning outward teaching and Ministery by which a people that are in darkness are brought to light Mat. 4. 13 14. Act. 26. 16 17 18. It is the way and means by which the deep and profound and many most sweet and necessary Truths of Scripture come to be understood Acts 8. 30 31. It is the means which God hath appointed for the bringing of men to Faith Rom. 10. 14 17. It is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1. 16. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who do believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. Upon which accompt it is that the Apostle concludes wo unto himself if he preach not the Gospel of Christ 1 Cor. 9. 16. It is the means of exalting Christ which made the Apostle so much to rejoyce that Christ was preached though from an envious Spirit Phil. 1. 18. And hence it is that God in all times and ages in which he hath had a Church hath had such which have preached and taught the people as James observed in that speech of his in the Councel Act. 15. 21. Moses saith he of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogue every Sabbath-day And must Christ be worse provided for then Moses no Christ himself was a Preacher of himself Luk. 4. 18. Mat. 4. 23. and he gave Commission to his Disciples to preach and sent them into all the World for that purpose Mat. 18. 19. and in them he commissioned others in all Ages to the end of the World for he promised his presence to the end of the world and consequently not to them only which were not to continue so long but to such also who should succeed them impreaching If any one should attempt to make this place invalid by interpreting the words which are translated to the end of the World to be meant only to the end of that Age because of the diversity of the sense that is put upon the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated World and sometimes signifies Age to shew the weakness thereof I shall only give this hint these words together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used for the end of the World in a plain proper sense in many places of Scripture as Mat. 13. 39 40. aâ—d cap 24. 3. Heb 9. 26. and I know not that they are together used in any other sense Secondly It seems to be too gross and wicked to restrain Christs presence to an Age much more the things that are given in charge to be preached and observed vers 20. as if one only Age were to observe Christs Commands for howsoever the Apostles were the Persons that immediately received the Commands and had the Promise yet there is a further scope in Christs words and a clear intimation of the continuation of the work by others who should succeed after they should cease to be For sutable to this is that charge which Paul gives to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 13 14. I give theâ— charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Iesus Christ c. that thou keep this Commandment without spot irrebukably until the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ Was Timothy to continue til the appearing of Jesus Christ or is there not another thing implyed viz. that Timothy should have successors in that work to whom Paul gives the charge as well as to him and lays it upon them to keep the same Commandment And because it is one work Paul speaks to them all as to one man and so did Christ in the Commission above mentioned And Christ ascended up on high and gave gifts to men and he appointed some Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery and for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the falness of Christ Eph. 4. 11 12 13. that is till all Saints come to a State of Perfection so as neither to be subject to errour nor to sin which is not attainable in this World Christ was born in weakness and littleness of stature as other men and he grew up to a perfect man the Apostle alludes to this Saints are growing up whilest they are here in knowledge and in all spiritual Gifts and Graces till nothing be wanting of that proportion which God hath appointed for them which is not in this life And Ministery must last while Saints are in their growing state while any thing is wanting of the measure they must come unto Object But ministerial gifts are not now to be found in the world such which the Ministers of the Gospel had in the Primitive times the Apostles were not to go forth into the world but were to tarry at Ierusalem though they had a Commission to Preach the Gospel in all Nations till they were first endued with power from on high that is till they were annoynted with the holy Ghost as was done at the time of Pentecost as is mentioned Act. 2 1 2 3. c. then had they the Spirit given them and were enriched greatly with gifts by which they were enabled to discharge that service they were called unto so Gal. 3. 5. the person that preached the Gospel had the ministring of the Spirit but now no such gifts therefore no such work ministerial as was then nor any such Officers as Pastors Teachers c. as was then Answ First When the Apostle Paul layeth down the qualification of Bishops or Elders for they are one he mentions many things respecting a good conversation and some other things respecting a right dispensation he must be â—ound in the Faith and setled and established in the Truth and mighty in the Scriptures that he may convince gainsayers and inclinable to communicate what gift he hath by an aptness to teach and he must be good and upright in his life in all things But not one word proceeds from the Apostle of any extraordinary gifts wherewith he is to be endued but a total silence in that point Now if such an anointment had been necessary with such an absolute necessary as that without it there could be no Bishops no Pastors and Elders of any kind at all how comes it that the Apostle omits the mention of so main a thing which is made the principal when he nominates many other things Therefore that anointment which the Apostles had and thole gifts wherewith they were enriched they served for other ends then to qualifie them
for the Ministery Or if some of them were Apostles qualifications which were to go into all the world to preach the Gospel and did therefore stand in need of tongues yet they were not Pastors and Teachers qualifications which are fixed to certain places and people Such gifts as were then given were testimonials that Christ was received to the Glory of the Father and did sit at his right hand and that all power was given him to Heaven and Earth according as he spake when he was upon the Earth Secondly There might be as forcible an argument fetch against all Christianity if words be taken up in the Letter in which they run as against Ministery Mark 16 17. Those signs shall follow them that believe in my name they shall cast out Devils they shall speak with new tongues and many other things it is said they should do and they did so in the Primitive times very many of them and perhaps all had one extraordinary gift or another as 1 Cor. 12. 7. The man ifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall to one in one kind and to another in another kind And therefore when Paul met with Disciples at Ephesus the first Question that he asked them was whetherthey had received the holy Ghost since they believed As if suchgifts of the holy Ghost had been so connexed to Faith that they could not be separated the one from the other shall we therefore reason from hence that because these signs are not now accompanying those that profels Faith that there are no Believers to be found in these latter Ages We may as rationally and with as much and more colour of Scripture reason after such manner as these persons do against Ministery Besides the Apostle speaks of Ministery which some persons have received Rom. 12. 7. and requires a waiting upon it and he that teacheth must wait upon his teaching and he that exhorteth must wait upon his exhortation Here is not only an outward teaching allowed which the persons who shaped these questions oppose but an outward teaching by office is enjoyned which some others that are no Quakers are ready enough to withstand For if it should be meerly by a gift which some will grant though they deny Office How comes it that the Injunction is to wait upon it For though it be not expresly in the Original yet it is necessarily implyed that there may be sense made of it and how comes an injunction of maintenance Gal. 6. 6. from him that is taught to him that teacheth if teaching be not by Office be not waited upon and made the special work of some persons And how comes the Apostle to raise a living to some persons from their preaching when he saith that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel and saith also that so the Lord hath ordained it 1 Cor. 9. 14. and if persons make it not their office and wait upon it as upon their office if only they preach by vertue of a gift that they have or think that they have and exercise it at their pleasure will the Apostle have such men live upon the Gospel that so preach it Or why doth the Apostle fetch an argument from them that served at the Altar whohad their livelihood thence to prove a living upon the Gospel Preached if such who were to Preach the Gospel were not Ministerially and by office to do it For those who lived upon the things of the Temple and upon the Altar were Priests and Levites and Ministers of the Old-Testament Were all these Directions and Instructions which respect Office Temporary and Transitory Then may the whole Gospel in all the Injunctions and Commandments of it be made a Temporary and a Transitory Gospel Or can any rational person conceive how Preaching is like to be kept up and to be on foot any long time if some persons be not appointed to wait upon it and if it be not laid upon some persons as their work Or what certainty can the people be at concerning supply that way if none be engaged to it And how weakly is Preaching likely to be carried when none attend upon it nor give themselves over unto it The Apostles who had incomparable endowments beyond any who live now did yet give themselves to prayer and to the Ministry of the Word And shall not those who fall greatly below them be much rather wholly devoted to that service when as the work is so weighty if it be carried as it ought to be that it requires the whole of man But I believe these dayes wherein there is such arguing against Ministry and such pleading for the Preaching of gifted men were Prophesied of by Paul 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. where 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. which respects the heaping up of Teachers opened he saith that the time shall come when they will not endure sound Doctrine But after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the Truth and they shall be turned unto fables It is observed that the Greek word that is translated heaping doth import three things 1. An ardent study to acquire many Teachers 2. A rash and heady gathering together of many Teachers without any solid judgement exercised 3. A confused multitude of such as are gathered together imployed And it may be further observed what manner of persons they be that shall heap together Teachers after this manner and what grounds they go upon First They are such who will not endure sound Doctrine Secondly they are such who please their own lusts and fancies in the Teachers whom they heap together to themselves Thirdly They are such who have itching ears who affect to hear many and no one nor a few will serve their turn they hear one and another without being satisfied after the manner of those who have an itch upon them Fourthly They turn away their ears from the Truth and are turned to Fables that is any thing that is new though it be a very fable and have no truth in it is thirsted after by them old truths will not please so well they leave them and turn after these It is also worthy to be considered how Teachers come to be multiplyed that there is such an heap of them why the wantonness loosness and vanity of the spirit of the People which will not endure the strictness of the care and vigilancy of Pastors and Teachers and have also itching ears shall multiply them and pile them up one upon another like an heap the lusts of the people make many Preachers more then any thing else And these persons that are so wanton that they must have many are yet such who will not have some viz such who are solid and preach the Truth For this Text saith they turn away their ears from the Truth where it is solidly held forth and are turned after fables Nothwistanding that there is a
Dear friend Christian I have sent you a little book read it without partiality and you may see deceit discovered My wife desires you to present her service to her Master and Mistress and all the children and her love unto you and all the servants We are both well and our child grows fast As for me as I begun with my dear love unto you all so I end For I dare not complement because it is a Custom of the World Farewell A Copy of an answer to the forementioned Letter written in the name of the Church of Duckenfield now meeting in Stopport and sent unto the wife of Richard Waller for the setling and establishing of her in the faith of Christ being a member of the forementioned Church wherein all such Scriptures which were brought to prove an absolute Perfection and Quaking are Interpreted and the true sense given to them and freed from such corrupt fense for which they are alledged Sister Waller YOu are very precious to us though your miscarriage against God and us hath been very great We are apt to hope that the Lord either hath or will convince you of the sin you committed in your unadvised Marriage Which you so selfwilledly carried on against us And when your heart is kindly humbled we know you will give praise to God and justifie us And then we shall conceive as much can see of joy from your repentance as we have done grief from your sin We cannot yet think otherwise but that you do belong to the Lord And if so he will not suffer you to have rest in any evil way you have gone in till he have made you truly sensible and sorrowfull after a Godly manner which if ever you once manifest to us we shall with as much tenderness own you as in any time heretofore For you are very dear to us and our bowels do very much yearn after you Especially since we heard of a Letter which your husband wrote to Duckenfield which some of us have seen by which we discern what deadly poyson he hath sucked in to the undoing of his poor Soul if God be not very mercifull to him and bring him to Repentance And you also through your nearness of Relation to him are exposed to multiplicity of Temptations to forsake the faith of our Lord Jesus and to turn aside to such Satanical delusions which he is carried away with We do conceive hope that as yet the Lord hath kept you by observing one passage of his Letter which holds out your desire that your service may be presented to your Master and Mistress therein owning the relation they stood in to you and you to them which he declares against making it the worlds way and not Gods Our desire and prayer to God for you shall be that he will yet keep you even to the end And who can tell but that the Lord may bring out a great deal of good to your soul by this evil of your Husbands fearfull apostacy which his Letter holds out God may open your eyes thereby to see your sinfull haste which you made in that Marriage He may humble you for rushing upon it against Counsel he may make you to know that he was angry against you by leaving him to such fearful error of way He hath laid a sore affliction upon you by giving up one so near and dear to you to such fearfull Temptations You have offended God through him and now you must be chastned in him Be awakned be awakned and consider the Lords righteous hand in this matter The person whom you have chosen God seems to have forsaken at least for a time he is become the Devils Captive O fear you and repent you least he also forsake you But we hope better of you and our prayer is that you may be setled and established in the truth We foresee that you will be strongly sollicited He that thought himself bound to tempt persons by his Letters at so great a distance what alluring ways will not he take to cause you to forsake your integrity and to turn aside to such fleshly deceits of Satan take heed you be not bewitched with pretences and quotations of Scripture presented in the Letter there lyes the greatest danger The Devil tempted Christ by telling him that it was written and his Instruments will use the same fleights They will put false Glosses upon Scripture while they deny all senses to be put upon Scripture to deceive themselves and others thereby The Apostle Peter saith 2 Pet. 3. 16. that some that are unlearned and unstable do wrest Scripture to their own destruction and he doth warn them lest they being led away by the error of the wicked do fall from their own stedfastness by such means And we also do beseech you to beware of this Snare viz of Scripture abused by misconstructions It is a misconstruction when the construction is made to follow the sound of the words though it be never so much repugnant to other Scripture You know that all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim 3 16. And that holy men spake as they were Inspired by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. Now God is a God of Truth and the Spirit is a Spirit of Truth and cannot speak contrary things nor contradict himself therefore if there be any seeming contradiction in Scripture taken in the Letter of it we must seek after a right sense by which the seeming contradiction may be removed Your husband produceth many Scriptures to prove an absolute perfection without sin And the first Scripture he mentions is Phil. 3. 15. Let us saith Paul speaking of himself and the Philippians as many as be perfect be thus minded He Collects from hence that the Saints here have such a perfection that excludes all sin Alas poor Creature We thought he had been better acquainted with his own heart But he might have looked a little higher in the Chapter upon ver 12. and have discerned that Paul expresly denies Perfection in reference to himself Not as though I were already perfect saith he Was Paul perfect and yet was he not perfect In the Letter there is a contradiction But Paul speaking by the Spirit of God cannot contradict himself therefore we must look after the sense of the word Perfect It is many time taken for sincere 2 Kings 15. 14. Asa took not away the high places that was his failing Yet his heart was perfect In what sense perfect Was it perfect without sin Not so For it was his sin that the high places were not taken away But perfect that is Upright He did not serve God in pretence but in truth They say we must not give the sense of Scripture but must take it in the Letter but that is contrary to the examples of Scripture Those in Nehemiah 8. 8. read in the Book of the Law and gave the sense and it is necessary sometimes to avoid contradiction which is in the Letter to
give the sense The sense of that place in Phil 3. 15. Let us so many as be perfect be thus minded is this Let us so many as be Sincere Upright and halt not betwixt Moses and Christ betwixt the Law and the Gospel be thus minded that is minded like to Paul as he had given them example For that was the Scope in that whole Chapter he had left the Law and all confidence in Mofaical Ordinances and followed Christ But yet was not perfect therein as to be without defect in that but was upright and sincere therein and he presseth them as many as were perfect that is upright to be as he was to do likewise and yet not to think that they can be so compleat as not to need to follow more and more after Christ but to be still striving as he was This is clearly the sense by which your husband may understand his error As for all other places to give a particular Exposition of each Quotation will take up more time then we can well spare at present but as need shall require upon intimation given us we shall be willing to hold forth the sense of any Scripture you shall doubt of hereafter as the Lord shall help us and we hope with Truth comparing Scripture with Scripture that one may not oppose another Onely in general it is good to take notice that is Scripture there is mention made of a Comparative perfection Those who stuck in Moses his Rites and could not get past them were not so perfect as those who were clearly bottomed upon the Gospel And to this Perfection Paul endevoured to bring the Colossians and Philippians and all that did believe Col 1. 28. And those who were Babes in knowledge were not so perfect as those who had their senses exercised to discern betwixt good and evil of which Heb. 6. 1. And there is a perfection that respect Justification and not Sanctification Heb. 10. 14. By one Offering he hath for ever perfected them that are Sanctified that is he hath perfectly justified all the Saints by dying once when as all the legal Offerings though repeated day by day could not do it But there was still a Conscience accusing for sin And there is a perfection that respects rather the number of Graces then the measure of them and respects rather duration and continuance to the end then any height or strength in the act of performance as Jam. 1. 4. Let patience have its perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing This perfect work of patience is the work of patience perpetuated and lasting to the end He that endureth to the end shall be saved Mat. 10. 22. Mat. 24. 13. And being entire and wanting nothing respects the filling up and compleating the rest of the Graces that they had with this Grace of patience exercised to the end as in 2 Cor. 8. 7 Therefore as ye abound in every thing in Faith and Utterrance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us see that ye abound in this Grace also When all Graces be in Saints and do abide in exercise to the end then there is a kinde of Perfection in Saints And the Scripture doth frequently stir up the Saints to endeavor after perfection When yet it saith not that is is to be attained unto in this life 2 Cor. 13. 9. We wish said the Apostle your Perfection and Heb 6. 1. Let us go on to perfection And the Apostle himself was not Perfect but going on towards it Phil. 3. 12. Not as though I were already Perfect But I forget that which is behind c. and so follow on towards it The Apostle Paul tells us that while he was here he did see through a Glass darkly and that now that is in this life he did know but in part and if but in part where then was perfection And the Apostle John tells all Saints 1 Joh. 1. 8. that if they say they have no sin they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them And the Apostle James faith that in many things we-offend all he and all others did offend And he faith he is a perfect man that offendeth not in word that is he would be comparatively perfect that could only bridle his tongue but who can do it at all times we perceive your Husband cannot for then he would never have uttered such reproachsul words against godly men calling them Priests and saying they are found Lyars his Conscience will tell him that some of them are such as fear the Lord but he faith if Perfection be not here we leave an hole for Satan and when will it be if it be not here in this Life Alas alas is he left so soon to so great darkness as not to believe another Life and World after this that he asks when it will be if not here It seems Satan hath had an open door to enter into his heart and fill it with such fogs and mists of Darkness he might have read and weighed the Apostles words in 1 Cor. 13. 9 10 11. Now we know in part but when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away and he might have considered that distinction of time contained in these words Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face this now is here and this then is after this life But he strengthens himself in that place in 1 Ioh. 3. 9. He that is born of God sinneth not but his Seed remaineth and he cannot sin This he urgeth but he considereth not that the same Iohn saith that which is contrary to this viz. Whosoever saith he hath no sin deceives himself and the truth is not in him A sound sense therefore must be brought out of Iohns words else Iohn will be found a Lyar against himself and against God as your Husband endeavours to make him denying sin to be there in whom Christ is made manifest from this text but the meaning is of sin in course perfisted and continued in without true repentance and turning from it he that is born of God cannot so sin for the seed of Truth and of Grace within him will not let him so sin for after such manner the wicked of the world sin but the Saints cannot so sin there will be smitings of heart in them and they will ask and enquire what they have done and will repent and turn to God as Iob did David did Peter and all the Saints have done Now concerning quaking and trembling there is a multiplying of many Texts of Scripture without knowledge for none of them can be applyed to justifie the practice of those whom they call Quakers The first Text that they alledge if it be taken in the Letter as they take all Scripture doth destroy them and their practice viz. Heb. 12. 26 whose voice then shook the Earth but now he hath promised saying Yet once more I shake not
ever perfected them that were sanctified out of your own mouths you are judged Friends the Apostle Paul did not tell you these words but you are theeves that steal his words For he spoke to the Saints which had an understanding when he bad them forget those things which were behind which you need not give a sense to his words and wrest them to another meaning that is your condition which James speaks of for you live in the nature by whom Offences come that is but a form and the Robber to apply his words except you had a Principle within you that told you so And Iohn saith if they say they have no sin they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them But saith he if you confess your sins he is faithfull and just to forgive and to clense from all sin and if you walk in the light as he is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin But here you are not in this light onor cannot witness this blood no not the confession of your sin but in the generation of the Pharisees gathered Churches separated from others contending against Christ Who said a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit and witnessed a good Conscience before Pontius Pilate and where Christ is made manifest he hath destroyed the works of the Devil and he that is born of God sinneth not and he that sinneth is of the Devil Hereby are the children of God known from the children of the Devil And in that Generation you are pleading for the sin and not for the faith which purifies the heart But that mind and servant must serve its own master whom you contend for So every kingdom stands for it self yet you have one of the beasts colours of profession which makes you to appear beautifull as ever the Harlot did under a pretence of the true worship of God which is a stranger from the Spirit of God as you utter it forth which the Saints were guided by Friends you give Exposition of the Apostles words which he gave no such exposition but spake plainly he was a perfect man that could bridle his own tongue and I know none in your Church and Generation can do it Herein thou shewest thy self and thy Religion to be vain For he that hath not power over his own tongue his Religion is vain and thy self no Minister of Christ For he was a Minister of Christ that said so but you are evil beasts and slow bellies which the Scripture speaks of Are they not hirelings as the Priests were are they not called of men masters and have they not the chiefest place in the assemblies are they not lyars which pretend to be in the same state the true Prophets were in you are in the same nature which justifies them who are for condemnation and God will condemn that high wisdom of yours the Apostle said as he is so are we in this present world which of you can witness that there is no hole for Satan But friends look within and you shall see he keeps the house you plead so much for him Friends in that life you live in you cannot see it For none can see God and live therefore are you blinded Fogged and Misted with the corruptions of the dark mind therefore take the alass alass to your selves and pitty your own selves he that believes is born of God and he that is born of God sinneth not and he that is born of God overcomes the world and this belief you shut your selves out of and do make it appear that you do not believe to that in your Consciences I speak Friends as touching Johns words let flesh be silent for giving senses upon them for that fills the world full of imaginations and fancies For you are the Lyars which would draw something out of his words and give another meaning to them and shew a contrary spirit and the wresting of the Scriptures but all such as you are discovered where the life of them is made manifest who wrest the Scriptures and give your own sense and meaning upon them and so bewitch them by your craft and draw them from waiting upon God to have them fulfilled so that mind judgeth all to be deceit which is not according to your own lense and so calls light darkness and evil good Friends you strengthen your selves with that Scripture as he that saith he hath no sin deceives himself and the truth is not in him And here you stand up for the Devils kingdom For you have not confessed your sins yet If you confess youâ— sin he is faith-and just to forgive and to cleanse from all sin but these thinge you know nothing of but shew forth your corrupt mind and your selves of them which the Scripture speaks of Friends here you have uttered forth your folly without knowledge and understanding and make it appear that you never heard the voice of God for his voice shakes the Earth First you must witness the Earth shaken before you witnes the Heavens and make it appear that an your knowledge is notionary and earthly and yet standing and of this World and the world by their wisdom know not God and there you are to that in your conscience I speak here you thrust your selves out of the Church of God and shew forth your ignorance not having the form of the Letter For Paul when he came among the Corinthians he was with them in fear and weakness and much teembling that their Faith might stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of Words but here are you not and the Corinthims received Titus trembling and he that was a Minister of Christ exhorted the Saints to work out their salvation with fear and trembling for it was God that wrought both the Will and the Deed and the Assembly which assembled to Ezra had all trembling hearts and Iobs flesh trembled and Davids flesh trembled and his bones quaked and Moses when he heard the voice of God he trembled Habbakuk when he heard the voice of God he trembled Hear the word of the Lord all you that tremble at his Word when your Brethren hate you and cast you out and say 〈◊〉 the Lord he glorified he shall appear to your joy when they shall be ashamed and in that Generation you shew your selves to be not knowing the Power of God not the Scriptures but err so shutting your selves out from the life of them that gave forth the Scriptures making your selves openly to appear blind Friends besilent as giving senses of shaking and of removing of things without you for it is the eâ—â—th within you and the Corruptions within you which plead for the Devils kingdom so much which must be removed and that bufie minds which are giving senses upon the Saints Conditions for eternally you know nothing Friends as touching Moses Condition when any one witnessestlie same Condition you cannot own it but are cavelling about words neither can you
witness that you are made free from the Law for the Law hath power over a man as long as he lives The Saints that did witness they were made free from the Law by the body of Christ witnessed this quaking and trembling which you with your serpentine wisdom would give senses upon them and despise but he shall not enter into the Kingdom Did not Habbakuks lips tremble and his belly quake And did not the Prophets knees knock together and quake David and Ioh their flesh trembled and so must all proud flesh he laid low and the loftiness of man be brought down and your imaginations and God alone be exalted the power that makes you to quake and tremble is now made manifest which you know not for if you did you would not give so many senses upon the Scripture and the same Power is now made manifest as ever was praised be the Lord for ever As they that saw the outside of the Vision as you speak so you see the outside of the Letter and would flie from them who have the power of the Letter as Daniel had so you see the outside but not the inside as Daniel did if you did you would not utter forth your solly ignorance and weakness the same Christ they do witness to be made manifest that makes proud flesh to tremble and the same operation and death to be brought conformable to Christ they witness but this power working in them as thou sayest thou knowest not and whereof you speak that you know them whom God spake to by Angels and Visions whom he wrought wonders by but only by a history-knowledge by Paper and Ink and there you shew your selves to be lyars for them whom you do accuse which you call Quakers the wonderous Works of the Lord are made manifest among them though that Christ wrought Miracles among the people yet they said he did it by Belzebub the Prince of Devils and thou shewest thy self to be in the same Adulterous Generation that the Scribes and Pharisees were which would have a sign or a wonder but there in none shall be shewed to thee but the sign of Jonas for an adulterous Generation seeks for a sign and there thou art Friends you say there is nothing in all the Scriptures makes out of the people meeting together as concerning trembling did not the Corinthians tremble when Titus came to preach among them and did not the Assemblies that came to Ezra tremble there is nothing in your minds of God born up in your understandings to judge withall so in your'own conceits you are satisfied and doth not the Lord say I will shake all Nations and let all the Inhabitants of the Earth tremble so ye shew forth the ignorance of the form for the power of it you cannot own nor believe where it is operating and working Friends you have uttered forth many lyes and slanders and scandalous speeches lay your hands upon your mouths blush and be a shamed who art in Cains nature murdering the righteous ones in your hearts and spewing forth your venome against a harmless people was it not the practice of the Saints to wait alone upon God for counsel for wisdom for grace and for the Spirit and being guided by the light of God they waited upon God and the Apostle exhorts them that they should take heed to the light within them until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in their hearts and no Prophesie of the Scripture came by the Will of man so it was of no private Interpretation but Holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost this moving you speak not from neither know therefore as dogs fnarle and bite them who are guided by the same Spirit and wait for the same Spirit by which we have unity with them in the same Spirit and you shew your selves to be in the number of them who use their tongues and say he saith when saith the Lord I never spoke to them but you speak a vain divinatition of your own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord gathering your selves together against the Lord and against his annointed but I am satisfied that I see your folly and weakness uttered forth which doth blind many but God is raising up a light which will discover you the Doctrine of God they own but your Doctrine which is of man they deny And if these be your Ordinances which you speak of as sprinkling Infants and telling people of a Sacrament these we deny for God never commanded them and if you draw people to these things which God never commanded you bewitch them for the Galathians were bewitched which were drawn to act these things God had not commanded when the substance was come so you do bewitch them to follow your Traditions from the sight of God within them And as touching Magistrates you are false accusers which the Scripture speaks of which have the form and not the power For all who are brought into the Truth do labour with singleness of heart unto God and not with eye-service and their souls are subject to the power of God and Justice they own and honour in their soul which cuts down filthiness and corruptions which are alive in you which makes you to give forth so many false accusations upon a harmless people who wait for the restoring of the Kingdom and the overturning the World and the Kingdoms of it and the Image of the Devil defaced in man and the Image of God renewed in Righteousness and man brought into his being from whence he was fallen and so you are yet under the dominion of Satan judging truth errour and blasphemy as ever they did which had the form and not the power in whose steps you walk seeing you have uttered forth your folly so and filthiness and call your selves the Church of Christ his Church is not a sinful Church for that you stand up for but his Church which he hath purchased with his blood is without spot or wrinkle or any such and yours is but an imitation therefore slander not the Church of Christ as they which say they are Iews and are not but are Synagogues of Satan and there you are I charge you by the Lord that you read this among all your Churches as you call it and as you will answer it before the Lord for to that in your Conscience do I speak From some Friends in the Truth whom the World calls Quakers in Lancashire Annotations upon this Reply and an Extraction of the unsavory passages contained in it THe greatest part of this Reply contains nothing but reproachfull and villifying expressions and is extremly censorious of us as of persons who have nothing but darkness in us and is self-magnifying as conceiving themselves onely in the light and having themselves and they onely the spirit And some small part of it makes mention of the very self same Scriptures which Richard Wallers Letter doth contain and of some few