than the first This is for thee James Jackson Author of the strong Man Armed cast out Thou sayest in this thy Book that the strong Man Armed meaning the Devil is cast out of thee and Christ a stronger than he is come in and dwells in his stead this by the way plainly contradicts this Principle and great Doctrine of thy Friends the Quakers That Christ is in every Man and woman Thou confessest the Devil was in thee whilst thou Lived'st so wickedly as thou hast told us but now if Christ a stronger than he be come and entred into thee how was he there before according to this Scripture which says when a stronger than he cometh which plainly implies he was not there before but the Devil was there before and kept the House But now consider this well suppose it be so indeed That the Devil this strong Man Armed was cast out or in policy went out for a time intending to come into his House again and Fortifie himself in thee his House in a stronger hold and with greater strength bringing in seven other Spirits worse than himself more Subtile and Politick Fortifying themselves in a way of Hypocrisie and Religion the other hold of Profaneness not being so sure as this for now thou art perswaded as thou tellest us all is well with thee thou art a New Man a Converted Man as we see and Read thy long story to that purpose I Advise thee as thou lovest thy Soul and Regardest thy Eternal Welfare take heed lest this Scripture be not fulfilled in thee and upon thee for thou lookest as like one of those spoken of and intended in this Scripture as can be beware lest thy last state be not worse than thy first 8. Another Argument proving that Christ is not in all Men and women is this Christ is not in any Man or Woman who have not Faith Prop. 8. But the Wicked and ungodly have no Faith Therefore Christ is not in the wicked and ungodly The Apostle Prays to be delivered from unreasonable and wicked Men for all Men have not Faith 2 Thes 3.2 Now Christ is and dwells in those in whom he works Faith for he is the Author and Finisher of Faith in all his People and he dwells in them by Faith Eph. 3.17 He Prays That they may be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner Man That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith 9. Another Argument Denying the Quakers Assertion and Proving the Truth is this Christ is not in any Man or Woman Prop. 9. but in those to whom he doth communicate his Nature and Image But Christ doth not Communicate his Nature and Image to Impenitent and ungodly Men and Women Therefore Christ is not in ungodly Men and Women It is impossible that Christ should dwell in any Soul and not Manifest his Presence there by making Impressions of his own Nature Image and Likeness And therefore where he comes he doth Communicate his Image more or less 1 Cor. 15.48 As is the Heavenly such are they also that are Heavenly v. 49. And as we have born the Image of the Earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly And 2 Pet. 1.4 There are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises That by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature 10. Another Proposition confirming the same is this Christ is in none but in those onely who are joyned to him as Members of his Body Prop. 10. But wicked Men and Women are not joyned to him as Members of his Body Therefore Christ is not in wicked Men and women This Truth may be Illustrated and shadowed out unto us by a plain Similitude between Natural and Mystical Fruit-trees Similitudes of things with which we daily Converse obvious to our Natural Senses are very helpful unto us to shadow out and Illustrate Spiritural things which are Dark Abstruce and Difficult as they lye in intricate Spiritual Notions which without some plain Similitude would be discerned but dimly as in this particular As VVindows are to a House so are Similitudes to a Discourse They both let in Light VVe know the Root Body Boughs Branches and Twiggs of a Fruit-tree are all joyned together and do make but one Body or Substance And that the Root gives no Sap Life or Nourishment but onely to those parts of the Tree that are Vnited to it all those Boughs and Branches are Nourished from the Root they Receive Sap Spirit and Life the Innate Intrinsecal Form and Virtue of the Tree is in all the parts But the Virtue and Influence of the Root is not in any other Branches or Boughs which do not grow upon the Root though they are never so near this Tree though they are contiguous and mixed among or hang among the Living Branches yet they have no Life in them no Sap no Virtue from the Root because they are no parts of it Even so it is here in this Mystical Fruit-tree Christ and his Members his People who are Members of his Body they Receive Life Nourishment and Virtue from him he is in them by his Effectual Operations But as for others who are not of his Body who are not joyned to him by Faith wrought by the Spirit he is not in them they receive no Virtue Life or Nourishment from him he doth not Communicate himself to them as he does to his own People his Members for he is in them and they in him 1 Cor. 12.27 Ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church And Col. 2.19 From the Head all the Body by Joynts and Bands having Nourishment Ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God This is plain from Christ's own words John 15.1 2 c. I am the Vine and my Father is the Husbandman Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit be tâ—keth away and every Branch that beareth Fruit he pâ—rgeth it that it may bring forth more Fruit. Ver. 4. Abide in me and I in you Ver. 5. I am the Vâ—ne ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit for without me ye can do nothing Thus have I drawn these Ten Pieces of Ordnance out of Gods own Magazine and levelled them against this Idol this false Christ the Light in every Man and Woman and it is sallen and broken and Christ the true Light set up and Worshipped in its stead by all that Worship God in Spirit and in Truth How dreadful is the Case of these People the Deceived ones among the Quakers who set up an Idol instead of Christ and Worship it and Teach others so to do thereby forsaking the Fountain of Living waters and digging to themselves broken Cisterns that can hold no water Well might the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Jude also call them Wells without water and Clouds without water 2 Pet. 2.17 Jude 12.
THE Strong Man Armed not Cast Out BUT Removed to a Stronger Hold VIZ. FROM PROFANENESS to HYPOCRISIE OR An Answer to a Book Entituled The Strong Man Armed Cast Out and his Goods spoyled Or The Poor Man sitting at Jesus's Feet Cloathed and in his Right Mind Written by James Jackson formerly a Parish Priest and afterwards a Teacher among the Independents And now Walking with the People called Quakers as he Testifieth of himself In which Answer is plainly Discovered the Ignorance and Darkness the Delusions and False Apprehensions of this James Jackson Concerning himself and the Churches and Assemblies which he Disowns and Separates from And also the Erroneous Interpretations and Applications of the Scriptures which he mentions in his Book Herein are also Discovered several Characters plain Marks of those False Teachers that the Spirit speaketh expresly should come into the World in these last days Written for the Vindication of the Truths of the Gospel the Stablishing of those who are in the Truth and the Reducing of those who have Erred from it And in all for the Exaltation of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ By R.a. Austen 1 John 3.1 Try the Spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the World Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Jer. 8.9 Lo they have Rejected the Word of the Lord and what Wisdom is in them London Printed for Peter Parker at the Leg and Star over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1676. The Epistle to the READER IT is certain that these are the Last Times and that many False Prophets are gone out into the World Deceitful workers Ministers of Antichrist transforming themselves into the Ministers of Christ It is time therefore and our Necessary Duty to try the Spirits whether they are of God and verily here is one as dangerous a Person with as subtil insinuating Doctrine as I ever yet met with VVhen I had Read his Book and Observed how he Exalteth and Magnifieth himself and those of his way as the onely Holy People in the World and Separateth from all the Godly their Societies and assemblies of all perswasions without Exception and not onely so but also vilifieth them Ranking them with the wicked and unregenerate world and how he asserteth and maintaineth a false Principle That the true Light meaning Christ is in every Man and Woman and is sufficient being believed in and Obeyed to bring them to Salvation and that whosoever will not Receive and own this Doctrine are accounted by him Enemies to Christ VVhen I considered these things with many other Lies in Hypocrisie and Blasphemies mentioned in his Book my Spirit was vehemently moved within me and I said in my self Shall this uncircumcised Philistine thus come forth and Challenge and Defie the Hosts and Armies The Light within shall be in Hell for ever p. 31. The Quakers draw people to Idolatry ibid. The Quakers are under spiritual Judgments p. 32. The Quakers Perfection in sin p. 34. The Quakers imperfection in grace 35. 1 In knowledge ibid. 2 In Faith and Hope 36. 3 In Love ibid. Paul preacheth Christ and not the Light in every man and woman p. 38. The Devils fundamental doctrine p. 39. Obstinate Quakers to be rejected p. 41. The Quakers sin is like the great sin of the hardned Jewes p. 42. Advice to the hearers among the Quakers p. 44. The Quakers great Idol near falling p. 45. Ten Arguments proving the Light within is not Christ p. 46. The Quakers Humility p. 56. The Quakers Vnity ibid. The true Vnity of the true Church 59. 1. One Body ib. 2. One Spirit ib. 3. One Hope 60. 4. One Lord. ib. 5. One Faith ib. 6. One Baptisme ib. 7. One God ibid. The Quakers Patience p. 62. A false perswasion of Conversion p. 63. The Light within converts none to the Lord. p. 65. Natural Light is Spiritual Darkness p. 67. This Scripture Joh. 1.9 grosly mistaken p. 68. The Quakers Doctrine is directly-contrary to the Scriptures p. 70 Conscience is a natural light 72. Christ the true Light is really in believers and in none else ib. The Scriptures are the word of God p. 74. The Scriptures are Gods Love letters to mankind p. 77. Characters of false Prophets whereby they are known p. 78. 1. Departing from the Faith p. 79. 2. Character Giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils p. 80. 1. Against Christ ib. 2. Against the Scriptures ibid. 3. Against the Church 81.4 Resting upon their own Righteousness ib. The third Character of false Prophets Lyes in Hypocrisie p. 82. The first Lye in Hypocrisie p. 83 The second Lye in Hypocrisie ib. The third Lye in Hypocrisie p. 84. The fourth Lye in Hypocrisie ib. The fifth Lye in Hypocrisie p. 86. The sixt Lye in Hypocrisie p. 88. The Quakers Railing accusations p. 89. The fourth Character of false Teachers their Consciences are seared with an hot Iron p. 91. The fifth Character of false Teachers denying the Lord that bought us p. 92. The Apostle Peter and Jude both agree in the same Characters of false Teachers p. 93. Enoch Prophesied of these ungodly men p. 100. The Quakers have spoken many hard speeches against Christ ibid. The Quakers separation from Christ and his people proves they are no Christians p. 101. A Lying Spirit is gone forth among the Quakers which seduceth them p. 105. Births of the Spirit and of the Flesh p. 106. Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins p. 108. The false Opinions of the Quakers spring from Pride and Ignorance p. 109. The Quakers deceive weak and simple minds p. 110. The Quakers shall not long continue to deceive p. 113. Good Counsel to the Quakers p. 115. Leave the Quakers Meetings p. 116. Come to the Assemblies of the Saints p. 117. THE Strong Man Armed not Cast out BUT Removed to a stronger Hold VIZ. From PROFANENESS TO HYPOCRISIE WHen Man at his first Creation came out of the Hand of God he was then a Holy and a Righteous Creature But we all know to our sorrow he lost that Holy state and now and since then he is by Nature a Child of Wrath and an Enemy to God in his mind afar off from him and most unlike unto him So that there is no Recovering that Holy and Happy Estate again to have Fellowship and Communion with God but by Regeneration and Conversion from this Carnal state to a New Spiritual state by true Repentance and Faith in Christ wrought by the Mighty Power of the Spirit of God in those whom he according to his determinate Counsel and foreknowledge calleth in due time unto himself in whom he by degrees destroys the works of the Devil the Image of the first Adam and Creates and works the Image or Nature of the Second Adam Jesus Christ in Righteousness and true Holiness or as it is in some other
Expressions in Scripture he casteth out the strong Man Armed that keepeth the House and Divideth the Spoyls when this stronger than he cometh he turns out this first strong Man though Armed and in his strong Hold of every Faculty of the Soul and Enters himself and takes Possession of the Soul and turns all to his own Use and Interest even for his own Glory the Exaltation of his Free-Grace and that for ever Now here comes this great Question to be Debated and Determined The Author of the Strong Man Armed Tryed Concerning the Person here mentioned James Jackson Author of the Book Entituled The Strong Man Armed cast out which also Comprehends and includes all others of his Mind with whom he hath now joyned himself He is strongly perswaded it appears That the strong Man the Devil with all his wares and works is cast out and that Christ is entred and dwells in his stead He tells us in his Epistle to his Friends and Relations what an Vngodly Dissolute Debauched and Extravagant Course of Life the had Lived against all Counsels Admonitions Reproofs Vows Promises and Engagements breaking all these as so many Bonds and Fetters alluding to the poor Man that was possessed with Devils and bound with Chains and Fetters and brake all in pieces and no Man could tame him So did he to the grief and wounding of his dear Friends But the Lord working mightily and Revealing his Son in him he saith and making a wonderful and great Change he would not eat his Morsels alone but thought it his Duty to Communicate these things to his Friends and Relations and to tell them what great things God hath done for him and hath had Compassion on him in turning him from Darkness into his Marvellous Light and from the Power of Satan into the Kingdom of his dear Son So that now our work is to bring him and his works to be Weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and to try them by the true Touch-stone whether they be true Metal or Counterfeit for many Foolish Builders Build upon the Sand and not upon the Rock Yea and some that Build upon the firmer Foundation yet they Build much Wood Hay and Stubble instead of Gold Silver and Precious Stones 1 Cor. 3.13 but every Man's work shall be made Manifest for the Day shall Declare it because it shall be Revealed by Fire And the Fire shall Try every Man's work of what sort it is Now this Fire is the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures if Men speak according to his Mind and Will then it is the Truth but if they speak or Act otherwise then it is not according to Truth but is from a False Spirit That is either from the Devil the Spirit that worketh in the Children of Disobedience or from a Man 's own Spirit or from both Therefore that we may know which to follow when Men Differ and Contend about things this is the sure and onely way according to the Apostlâ—s Counsel to try the Spirits whether they are of God or not 1 John 3. But it may readily be asked how shall we know the Spirits which is which which is the true Spirit and which the false when they speak in men different things who disagree in their Sayings and Apprehensions I Answer That the Spirit of God speaking in any Man How to know the true Spirit from the false Spirit or if any Man speak by the Spirit of God he speaketh according to what he hath already spoken and not contrary That is according to what he hath already spoken in the Scriptures by those Holy Men of God that wrote the Scriptures and were Inspired by the holy ghost and if any man speak contrary to what the Spirit of God hath already spoken and Revealed in the Scriptures he is a Lyar and speaketh from a false Deluding Spirit and not by the Spirit of God The Apostle Paul tells us plainly 1 Cor. 2.13 We speak things which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual Paul had the Spirit of God and spake and taught by the Spirit of God But if a Natural Man one that hath not the spirit of Christ in him doth go about to compare spiritual things with spiritual things he is sure to mistake and speak Erroneously For the Natural Man as he there saith perceiveth not the things that are of God neither can he know or perceive them because they are spiritually Discerned That is they are seen in the Light and by the Discovery of the Spirit of Christ the true Light and not otherwise So that this being laid down as a Ground and Foundation an Infallible truth as it is we may then proceed to the Examination and Tryal of the Spirits and Doctrines of Men for no Man speaking by the spirit of God will or can speak contrary to the Scriptures if he do let it be Rejected Paul saith If any Man Preach any other Gospel than that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed yea if an Angel from Heaven bring any other Gospel than that ye have Received and is written in the Scriptures let him be Accursed He saith not onely let him or them be Disowned and Rejected but let him be Accursed so Zealous was he and so shou'd we be to hold fast and maintain the Doctrine of the Gospel the Scriptures given out by God himself spoken and written by the Men of God in their Day and Generation by the immediate Dictates Teachings and Movings of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God so that as was said whatever Spirit it be in whomsoever that speaketh contrary or not according to the Scriptures is to be disowned and rejected as false and erroneous Now therefore here comes in the Tryal of Particulars the several Doctrines Opinions and Practices of Men of any perswasions whatsoever Either they speak according to the Spirit of God in them or from some other Spirit if they speak from the spirit of God in them then it must needs be according to what he hath already spoken as was said for he is one and the same Spirit and changeth not But if it be otherwise then it may be said as Paul said of some in his Time This Perswasion cometh not of him that calleth you Gal. 5.8 it cometh not from the Spirit of God but from a false and Deluding Spirit And here now is thy Tryal and thy Judgment James Jackson Author of the strong Man Armed cast out and all that are of thy Mind and Way who speak contrary to what the Holy Ghost hath spoken already in the Scriptures as is hereafter shewed in several particulars First 1. Strong Man Armed p. 3. That Spirit in thee Declares to all People That thou art now Converted and turned from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God that thou art changed from a wicked Profane course of Life unto a Holy Life walking with a Holy People and that thou hast
left off to be a Parish Priest yea and after that hast left off from being a Teacher among the Independents and hast disowned and forsaken the Congregations and Assemblies of the Independents and art now come and joyned with the People called Quakers And thou tellest us That these are the onely Holy People of God upon Earth and that all other Churches Assemblies and Congregations Naming the Presbyterians Independents Baptists and others are out of the way and that though they differ in Forms or Perswasions yet they agree in the same Faith Foundation and Root Answ For Answer hereunto briefly I shall not speak to Reproach thee or rail upon thee or any of thy way as thou hast done against many of the Precious Saints in the Churches of Christ saying of the Independents whose Assemblies thou hast forsaken That there was sufficient ground for thee to separate from the Tents of those ungodly Men Strong Man Armed p. 8. their Teachers who are no better than Filthy Dreamers Blind Guids and Belly-gods which belch out nothing but Lies Slanders Blasphemies and evil speeches against Christ his Ways Truths and People and this thou sayest thou seest and declarest against them in the Light I say I will not bring against thee Railing Accusations as thou dost against others but the Lord Rebuke thee and that Lying Spirit in thee and Convince thy Spirit of the Truth Concerning thy leaving off to continue a Parish Priest thou didst well but thou hadst done better if thou hadst never undertaken it for there are too many such Priests like the Priests of Old the Sons of Eli who by reason of their wickedness made the Sacrifices of the Lord to be Abhorred There are many in these Days of the same Tribe who make the Gospel of Christ his Ways Truths and People to be evil spoken of yea they make the Name of Christ to be Blasphemed and his People Reproached even through them and by their means And making others who are the true and Faithful Ministers and Ambassadors of Christ to be evil spoken of Reviled and Disowned for their sakes and because of them yea more They Occasion Separations in all parts of the Land Wo unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam for a Reward and get into the Priests Office that they may eat a piece of Bread that they may get a Living by it Many of them more sit for the Cart or the Plough than the Pulpit having neither Gifts of Nature nor of Grace fit for the Ministry Men that never learned Christ were never taught of God and how then can they Teach others Nay instead of Instructing others in the ways of Life and Salvation they by their wicked Examples draw them down to Hell they are the worst of Men upon Earth I have Indignation against such and am greatly grieved for the Misery of those poor Ignorant Souls of their Parishes who are like to perish for lack of Knowledge the Blind leading the Blind both will fall into the Ditch The Lord Remove them or Reform them and give Pastors after his own heart according to his Promise And for this I Commend thee James Jackson that thou didst leave off thy Profaneness and also deceiving the People as a Parish Priest But now take heed The Strong Hold of Hypocrisie is stronger than that of Profaneness lest thou art not yet deceived in the state and condition thou art now in lest the false spirit be not too subtill for thee lest Satan that strong Man Armed having quit one strong hold be not got into another that is stronger than the former for certain it is the Devil's power and policy in a way of Gross wickedness and profaneness is not half so strong a hold as the strong hold of Hypocrisie Where Reason Natural Conscience all outward Occurrences Moral Civilized Persons all can readily Reprove and help to draw a Man out of such an Estate but the strong hold of Hypocrisie and Erroneous perswasions and Practices in a way of Religion is more Dangerous and a stronger Hold where nothing but the spirit of God and an enlightned Vnderstanding to discern the Truth of the word of the Gospel can Instruct a Man especially when a Man hath passed through many or divers States Forms Opinions and perswasions and at last hath pitched upon one that he Judges and Concludes doth Exceed all the former if yet this be false and he know it not he is then in greater Danger than ever seeing his own Natural Reason and his Ignorant dim-sighted Conscience confirmed by the strong delusions of Satan that spirit that worketh and Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience do all concurre and joyn together and hold the poor soul in Bondage under Darkness which is by many taken for the true Light of Christ I say Take heed of being deceived in these things thou and thy Friends for I say the strong hold of the Devil in a way of Profaneness is not so strong as his strong hold in a way of Hypocrisie or false Worship this is Evident both by Scripture and Experience Christ told the Pharisees who were Zealous in a way of Hypocrisie That Publicans and Haâ—lots great and gross sinners in a way of Profaneness should enter into the Kingdom of Heaven before them Mat. 21.31 And that I may shew my true Love to your souls whether you will Accept it or no I will Endeavour to shew unto thee and them things in a clearer Light than yet shines in you Thou sayest the strong Man Armed the Devil is cast out of thee and Christ a stronger than he is come in and now keeps the House How is this made manifest Thy saying so does not prove it but thy Sayings and thy Doings prove the contrary and this I shall make good both by positive Scripture and by Example If any Man be in Christ The New Creature doth Evidence it self where it is he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 He that is Converted and changed from the state of Nature to the state of Grace out of whom Satan is cast and Christ come in he is New in his Vnderstanding Will Affections yea New in his whole Life and Conversation But now it appears plainly that thy Vnderstanding is still Old the same Ignorance Blindness Darkness remains upon it as is in all Natural Men and this is seen and manifest by thy false Interpretations of Scriptures and Secondly by thy false applications of them in Applying those Scriptures to the Saints true Believers Members of Christ as do belong only to the unregenerate World such as are yet in the state of Nature neither art thou changed in thy Will and Affections they are not yet New but according to the Old Nature in all unregenerate Persons as plainly appears in that thou shewest forth no true Love to the Lords precious People Members of the Body of Christ but contrariwise disownest them and
separatest from them nay more thou dost Revile them and falsly speak evil of them as is plainly seen in many passages of thy Book And as for thy Love and affections towards Christ it is Love but onely in Tongue in Word and Profession onely not in Truth Thou professest that thou Knowest and Lovest him but indeed thou denyest him in denying of his People and disowning of them for he hath said He that Despiseth you Despiseth me nay more Thou and those of thy way Deny and dishonour Christ in that ye set up his Creature and Adore it and Worship it for Christ and call it Christ in you and so make the Creator and the Creature all one Now seeing thou art an Old Creature still both in thy inner Man and outward Man in thy Conversation How canst thou think thou art changed or that the Strong Man Armed is cast out but rather that he is Removed to a stronger hold Nay Paul's Example a Looking-Glass further Let us try by another Touch-stone whether thou art true Gold or no Paul we know was once in a Carnal state in a state of Nature in Darkness but was Called and Converted And we see he shews forth and manifests to all that his state was changed for he soon after prayed earnestly to God and he Preached the Gospel he stood up Zealously to Preach that Jesus which lately before he persecuted in his Members He Banished them and Imprisoned them and did many mischiefs to them yea and thought verily he did well and that he ought to do many things against Jesus of Nazareth and this was from the Light within which thou and thy Friends say is in every Man and Woman and which ye adore for God and Christ But when he was Converted this Light was known to be but Darkness by the true Light Jesus Christ when he shined into his soul when this Sun of Righteousness arose it scattered his Darkness Now Compare thy Change and Conversion as thou callest it with Paul's Conversion for his was true and see how like thine looks to his or how unlike it and thereby thou and others may gain Instruction Thou and others may plainly see how much thou art Deceived in that thou thinkest and say'st The strong Man armed is cast out of thee Do but look thy self in this glass of the Example of Paul and thou wilt see thy self like him as he was before his Conversion as like him as one Man can be like another But if thou lookest thy self in the Example of Paul after his Conversion then thou art no more like him than an Ape is like a Man perhaps some dark shadows and simple Resemblances some seeming likeness but nothing of Truth or Reality in any Spiritual Respects Paul before his Conversion Raged against the Saints and was very bitter against them but afterwards when he was enlightned and Converted he joyns himself to them is one with them and counts it a great and precious Priviledge so to be He Preached to them that Jesus whom before he knew not but Persecuted him yea he is tender of them and Nourisheth them and Cherisheth them as a Nurse Cherisheth her Children Now consider with thy self James Jackson dost thou do so dost thou shew forth these clear Evidences of Conversion and a New state as Paul did if so then thou hast good grounds to believe that the strong Man is indeed cast out if thou say it is so then tell me what meaneth this Bleating of the Sheep and Lowing of the Oxen which I hear What meaneth thy loud out-crys and Clamours against the Lords People thy Railing Accusations against all the Churches and Congregations that are not just of thy Mind Is this Cherishing them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children as Paul did Paul Fed the Young ones and the Weak with Milk and tenderly dealt with them untill they were able to Digest stronger Meat Thou regardest not the Weak nor the Young no nor the Strong but Cryest them down all as Deceived Persons in Darkness in Babylon as Paul did before his Conversion So this proves thee to be like him before hÃs Change and consequently that the strong Man armed is not yet cast out of thee but removed to a stronger hold If thou say Nay but I Own and Love and Cherish the Holy People of the Lord unto whom I am now joyned which is a good Evidence of my Conversion and Change It is Answered That if it were supposed and granted that those People with whom thou walkest were indeed the People of the Lord as I hope many of them are who know not their false Doctrines for I will not be severe as the manner of some is to Condemn all for the Errors of some amongst them yet art thou far short of Paul's Spirit who owned all the Saints though under Different Forms To the Jews he became as a Jew to the Greeks as they to those under the Law as under the Law to those without Law as without Law he became all things to all in such Indifferent Un-commanded things as Forms are that so he might gain them to Christ But thou cleavest to a few and many of them under strong Delusions and there thou helpest to strengthen their Deceived Minds in Errors Deâ—eiving and being Deceived Why art thou not a Follower of Paul herein as he beseeches all to be as he is a Follower of Christ Now Christ Owns Loves and Accepts all his People under all Forms being United to him as Members of his Body Worshipping of him in Spirit and in Truth So the Apostle tells us In every Nation though they are not one in their Forms there being several in this Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Now how are we Followers of Christ or of Paul herein if they are not Accepted of us also The Apostle Paul was Exercised with such proud Proud Professors in Paul's Time Reproved self-conceited troublesome persons in his time as are now in ours and he deals with them and Reproves them even for this very thing that I am now speaking of that is Highly esteeming of themselves and Despising others as we see 2 Cor. 10.7 some High Proud Persons that Commended themselves and valued themselves above Paul and those that were of his Assemblies they thought that they themselves were the onely people of the Lord but as for Paul and his Followers they had no such perswasion of them But the Apostle Reproves them and tells them they have as good grounds and Reason to think as well of him and those with him as of themselves 1 Cor. 10.7 If any Man think that he is Christs let him think this again that as he is Christ's even so are we Christ's let them have as good an Opinion of us as they have of themselves for they have as good grounds for it But saith he they are a People that look upon some things in Themselves but take no Notice of any
good in Us and so they Measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves among themselves and in so doing they are not wise v. 8. Howsoever we know our Measure and our Time our Gifts and Graces that God hath gìven us and although they think highly of themselves and but Meanly of us yet we know that not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth as v. 18. Is it not so in our Days are there not a People among us who have high esteem of themselves and that think of themselves more highly than they ought to think that account themselves the onely Holy People of the Lord and all others to be of the World and cast off and disown and separate from all other Societies Communities Congregations and Churches of the Saints and people of God in all the World and Measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are thereby grosly mistaken and misled they Commend and Applaud themselves above all other People as being in the right and true way and all others out of it but not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth and approveth he shall stand and be accepted v. 18. Now let us consider the ground and cause of all this Apostacy from the Faith what it is whence is it that many have such high thoughts of themselves and Despise others better than themselves The Apostle tells us and the Spirit hath spoken it expresly and plainly that in the last days which are these we now Live in Men shall depart from the Faith that is from Faith in the Doctrine of the Gospel not from Justifying Faith and shall give heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils they having once departed from the Doctrine and Truths of the Gospel they shall then give heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils they shall slight and make light of the Scriptures and then shall give heed to seducing spirits a spirit within them yea many spirits are watchful to insinuate into such a mind as take no heed to the Scriptures for in such a Frame of Mind what should direct them what Touch-stone or Rule of Tryal can they have when the Scriptures are laid aside of what spirit speaks in them In such a case Men often think it is the spirit of God when it is but a seducing spirit who hath Transformed himself into an Angel of Light and resembles the spirit of God under the pretence of Holiness and Truth In some things that are like Truth it Resembles it but is not so And hereby their Weak and Dark Minds are missed and deceived For the Devil does often in many things speak the very Truth but it is with an intent to deceive in other things that are of greater Moment and Consequence like cunning deceitful Tradesmen who bring forth and shew some good and right Commodities that so amongst these they may put off their counterfeit Wares the better and with less suspition Now The Spirit within known by the Scriptures know this That men shall not be able to know the false seducing spirit from the true but by the Fruits and effects of it and by trying it by the spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and by these it may be known and not otherwise And hence it is That many in our Days finding and feeling strong impressions and impulses in their minds and not Examining of them and trying of them by the spirit speaking in the Scriptures do erre grosly and are mis-led by them both in Doctrine and Practice They give heed to and are carried away with the present Impression moving in their minds looking upon it immediately by and in it self as Christ the true Light speaking in them when oft-times it is a seducing spirit Quest But if it be asked How then shall we certainly know the Impressions of the seducing spirit in our minds and the Impressions of the Spirit of God Answ The spirit of God which is given to them that Believe Instructeth them how to know its own Operations First by Comparing these immediate Impressions in the Mind with what is already written in the Scriptures dictated by the same spirit concerning the same things now in the Mind or Judgment therefore we ought to compare them together and Examine whether they agree and are one and the same if the Impressions of the Spirit in the mind be contrary to the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures we may then be sure it is a false and a seducing spirit but if it be the same with the Spirit in the Scriptures and confirmed thereby then it is the true spirit The Spirit of God gives more especially to some of his People the Gift of discerning of spirits As we see 2 Cor. 12. To another he gives the Discerning of Spirits And it is by this means afore-mentioned And Secondly Causes known by Effects we may know the true spirit from the seducing spirit by the Fruits and Effects of it we may know Causes by the Effects as in Nature so also in Grace And therefore when we are doubtful what Spirit it is that speaketh in us or others let us try it by the Effects the Fruits that it produceth for every Tree is known by its own Fruits The Effects and Fruits of the Spirit of God are such as the Scripture tells us of in many places as in the 5th Gal. The Fruits of the Spirit are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Patience Humility Temperance c. Our Lord Christ the Head who was filled and Annointed with this Spirit above his Fellows what Effects did it work in his Humane Nature as our Mediator he tells us Mat. 11.28 he is Meek and Lowly in heart and again 2 Cor. 10.1 I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ What wonderful Humility did he shew forth in all his Life amongst us and in that astonishing Example of Washing his Disciples Feet And though he were a King yea the King of Kings yet behold he came Meek and Lowly Riding upon an Asse and so tender of his Young Lambs his Weak ones that he carries them in his Bosom and gently leads such as are Young and tender he will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Though Faith be but as a grain of Mustard-seed it shall be watered to grow up and increase to more strength Now the like Effects the same spirit works in his Members in every one in their Measures Paul fed his New-born Babes with Milk and not with Meat because they were not able to bear it and cherished them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children often weeping over them Travelling from place to place to strengthen the New gathered Churches Teaching and Instructing them in those two great and chief Doctrines Faith in Christ and Love to all the Saints So the Apostle John the same spirit brought forth the same Fruits and Effects in him 1 John 1.
I have no greater Joy than to see my Children Walk in Truth And Teacheth Love Vnity Peace Fellowship and Communion with all the Saints And so are all the Children of God thus inclined by the same spirit they shew forth the same Fruits and Effects in their Degrees and Measures But now on the contrary consider The false seducing spirit brings forth in its Followers the quite contrary Fruits and Effects as we plainly see amongst Men And hence are those high and proud Conceits and Apprehensions of themselves their Ways their Doctrines as better above and beyond all others being free from sin and become perfect saying in Effect stand further from me I am Holier than thou Despising that Low Childish Doctrine of sin abiding in us in the remainders of it whilst we Live though the Power and Dominion of it be Destroy'd I say these Fruits and Effects spring from a Cause like unto them whereby we may safely conclude what the Cause is so again when we see Men Separating from others better than themselves leaving and forsaking other Assemblies and Congregations sound in Doctrine and Holy in Life and Conversation excepting common un-avoidable Infirmities we may be sure hereby that this is from a seducing spirit not from the spirit of God whose contrary Fruits and Effects we heard before As Solomon The true Spirit is for Unity the salfe Spirit for Division by his Wisdom given him of God plainly Discerned and knew the true Mother from the false by this very thing by this clear Evidence She that was for Vnity and for preserving together and Nourishing the parts and Members of the Child was the true Mother But she that was for the Dividing of the Child and separating the Members of it he knew by that she was the Harlot and not the true Mother Just so it is in this Case The true spirit is for Vnity Love Fellowship and Communion with all the Members of Christ as Occasion and Opportunity is but the false seducing spirit is for separation and Dividing the Members of Christ's Body upon one pretence or another And herein it is too manifest that not onely some in our Days are more grossely guilty but also many of the true Members of Christ have been deceived and carried away very far by this deluding and seducing spirit through the remainders of Pride and self-love in them and have thought it their Duty to separate from others of their Brethren upon slight weak and insufficient grounds and Causes by which they have greatly Displeased and Offended their Head Jesus Christ and wronged their fellow-Members And as an Evidence of his Displeasure and a just Correction upon them he hath permitted a People in these days to separate from them all and to disown them all which I am perswaded is one End God hath in suffering these People to appear in this day which as from God is a just Retaliation to do to them as they have done to others the same Measure they have meeted to others of their Brethren is now Measured to them again Seeing no Rules in Scripture nor Councels nor Intreaties of their Brethren would perswade or win them to be of one mind and to keep in Fellowship together this now comes at last as the greatest and sharpest Reproof and Correction of all the former I hope and desire they will consider it and Learn from it to hear the voice of God's Rod as well as of his Word and be Instructed thereby And now having Tryed the Author of the strong Man armed cast out and proved that the strong man is not cast out but removed to a stronger Hold let us proceed further and make it appear also by divers other Proofs and Evidences taken out of his own Book which also are sufficient to convince all others of his Mind and Way that they may plainly see if the God of this World hath not blinded their Minds and hid plain and clear Truths from them the false and unsound Foundations which they Build upon as well as the Wood Hay and Stubble which they Build withal both as to their Opinions and Practices in esteeming themselves the onely Holy People of the Lord in this Day and Despising and Condemning those that are indeed the People of the Lord. First then 1. The Quakers Attainments above others This Author tells us what he and the People with whom he now Walks have attained unto above all others from whom they separate The People the Quakers he saith Build upon a true and right Foundation 1. In the Foundation the Rock of Ages Christ in us the hope of Glory but all other Professing People in the World Build upon the Writings of Men and all of them are strangers to that one Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures See strong Man Armed c. p. 12. In Answer to which I say plainly That if this were Truth which He hath spoken I would separate also and Build upon the same Foundation which he says they Build upon But he hath herein spoken falsely and that in a double Respect 1. In Respect of themselves 2. In Respect of other Professors the Churches of Christ As for themselves such of them as Build upon the Foundation the Light within every Man and Woman and believe in it and Obey it and look for Salvation from it as they Profess to do such Build upon a false and unsound Foundation and not upon Christ the onely true Foundation Secondly As for the other Professing People from whom they Separate he hath belyed them also grossely in saying they Build not upon Christ the true Foundation for it is the chief and Fundamental Doctrine which they Preach and Teach in all their Assemblies and Congregations according to the Word and Gospel of Christ And upon which we are sure many thousands have Built by the Guidance and Teaching and Operations of the spirit of the Lord and are by the same spirit joyned and Vnited in a firm and everlasting bond and Vnion to Christ whereby we have Light Life Vertue Strength Wisdom and all Grace from this Root and Fountain our precious Lord Jesus Christ This Author proceeds further 2. Strong Man Armed p. 13. and tells us That the Faith of the People called Quakers is the Faith of the Son of God Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it it renews the whole Man 2. The Quakers Faith By this Faith sin is subdued slain and Mortified perfectly the heart purified the World conquered the Soul Sanctified Justified and Saved perfectly But the Faith of all others is an Vnholy Dead Imperfect Faith it Sanctifies but in part as they say and so will never save to the uttermost Thus far he Answ Here is another double gross untruth both as to themselves and others If their Faith be the true Justifying Saving Faith of God's Elect then it would Evidence it self by the Fruits and Effects of Faith which the Scriptures speak of and all the Saints
Experience in their Measure as might be made evident in particulars It would as it does in all true Believers purifie the Heart and work by Love to God to his People to his Word and Ordinances to all the things that are of God But fine Words and Professions will not prove or evidence true Faith This Author does plainly manifest to a Spiritual Eye that that which he calls Faith in himself and in such as are like him is but presumption wrought by the great Deceiver the seducing spirit in weak Ignorant Proud Hearts and Minds for it hath not purified their Hearts neither doth it work by Love but on the contrary their Hearts are yet Dark Blind Ignorant of God of themselves of the Truths of God of the People of God they know not the Difference between Nature and Grace They call Natural Conscience and Reason which is in every Man and Woman by Nature God Christ his Spirit the true Light which will Save and Justisie whosoever hearkens to it and believes in it I say Faith hath not Purified their Hearts from this Blindness and Ignorance nor from Pride Self-love and many other Corruptions Manifest and Evident in and amongst them as any gross sins or Abominations are in the Profanest Persons in the World Neither does this Faith of theirs which they boast of work by Love Love to God Love to all his People to the Law and Word of God as it did in David O how I love thy Law it is my Meditation continually Psal 119. but they Love not the Scriptures neither are they led by the spirit speaking in them but by a false spirit speaking in themselves contrary to the spirit in the Scriptures And as for their Love it is but a self-love it confines it self to their own party that say as they say and do even as they do that are one with them in the same things and in the Pride of their Hearts reject all others though the most eminent Saints upon the Earth How far then is this Faith of theirs which they boast of accounting it far better than all others from purifying their Heart perfectly as he there says that hath not yet purified it from these groâ—â— and apparent Corruptions and sins as Ignoranâ— Pride in a high Degree Self-love Hatred Despising Disowning Scandalizing and Separating from the Lords People of all perswasions though Select Congregations and Precious in the sight of the Lord and dear as the Apple of his Eye O the subtil strong seducing spirit is got into a strong Hold indeed and Fortified himself therein that can make them Speak and Declare these Lyes in Hypocrisie and these Doctrines of Devils as the Apostle calls them 2 Tim. 3.1 Thirdly This Author of the Strong Man Armed cast out goes on 3. The Quakers Knowledge and tells us what Knowledge the People the Quakers have attained unto above all others and saith it is Spiritual and Experimental from the immediate Vnction of the Holy Ghost and proceeds not from hear-say but Divine Revelation this is Life Eternal to know God which is Light yea the Father of Lights and that the Light within is the Son of God This is that Mystery that is hid from the Wise and Prudent and Revealed unto Babes They know him not but say it is the Devil or at best but the Light of Nature and so they know not whence it is and yet he hath enlightned Thousands and it was never known that the Devil or the Light of Nature Converted any to the Lord. For Answer hereunto Quakers put Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light I say it is a very dreadful thing for any Man to put Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness as this Man does a Dreadful Woe is Denounced against such Isa 5.20 Woe to them that call Evil Good and Good Evil that put Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness If therefore the Light in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness Mat. 6.23 But the Light in Thee James Jackson is Darkness That is to say Thy Vnderstanding is Darkned and Blinded not onely by Corrupt Nature as all Unregenerate Men and Women are but Darkned also by the Prince of Darkness as is Manifest by all thy Writings that thou put'st Darkness for Light For the Minds of all natural Men are dark yea darkness it self they cannot see Spiritual things no more than a Blind Man can Distinguish Colours or than a Man that hath his sight in a dark Dungeon can Discern or Distinguish of Objects The Natural Man perceiveth not the things of God neither can he know them because they are Spiritually Discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 Such an understanding and knowledge hast thou and others of thy Principles and Ways Thou and they it seems have attained to this Knowledge which others though the most Wise of other Perswasions have not attained to That the Light within is the Son of God whom he hath sent and that this is in every Man and Woman and to know and abide in this Light is Life Eternal I am grieved for this thine and their Ignorance though thou callest it Knowledge Now if ye will Hearken to the true Light indeed he will drive away and dispell this Darkness and shine into the Heart and give the Light of the Knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Thou despisest the Knowledge of all others that comes by hear-say meaning the Scriptures as it plainly appears thine thou sayest is by Immediate Revelation But let me ask thee and them how comes any one to know Christ and to Believe in him but by the Scriptures How shall they Believe in him of whom they have not heard but by the Word of the Gospel Rom. 10 As for Immediate Revelations we are not to Believe any of them further than as they are Consonant and Agreeable to the Scriptures which the Holy Spirit of God hath already spoken else we may believe a Lye from a false Spirit Witness thy own Case with many others also who have listned to Immediate Revelations and prefer them before the Revelations of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures which undoubtedly will be your undoing except ye Repent and see your Error for in thus doing ye prefer the Devils Doctrine before the Doctrine of Christ Yea ye shut out the sayings of Christ and take in the sayings of Satan If we have no way to try the Spirits Three Spirits speak in Men. how shall we know what Spirit it is that speaketh in us for there are three distinct Spirits that speak in Men at certain times Sometimes the Spirit of God moves and works in Meâ— he dwells and abides in his People but not in his Enemies he sometimes Reproves wicked Men the World of sin Righteousness and Judgment Secondly There is the seducing spirit he also moves in the Minds of Men both in the Godly and Vngodly He moved David and prevailed with him to his hurt This spirit all are to Watch
and War against daily He sometimes moves to that which is Good as well as to Evil but with an intent to deceive thereby he subtilly mixeth some Currant Coyn with the Counterfeit that it may the better pass without suspition Thirdly Many things proceed immediately from a Man 's own spirit his Vnderstanding Reason and Natural Conscience many things are wrought and Forged in this Mint according to a Mans Natural Faculties Now how shall a Man know from which of these spirits things proceed Tryal of Spirits and whether they be good or not or what they tend to but by some known fixed perfect Rule and what is that but the Scriptures The spirit of Truth having given them as a Light to our Feet and a Lanthorn to our Paths even â—o our inward Paths the Movings and workings of our Hearts as well as to our outward Paths in our Conversations He that shall take heed to the Immediate Revelations and Motions in his heart and follow them and not take heed to the Revelations of the spirit in the Scriptures to compare them together shall be sure to erre in this thou James Jackson and many more of the Quakers are sad Instances and prooss of this Truth at this day for if the seducing spirit once perceive that any Person will take heed to Observe and follow the Dictates and Motions within him and never try them by the Scriptures he may then suggest what he will and never be Discovered but Obeyed as God especially in all those things that have a shew and Resemblance of good in them and which weak and Ignorant Minds are not able to Discern or Distinguish partly by Reason of the Lowness and Weakness of their Natural Parts and Faculties and partly by Reason of the Weakness of Grace and small Measures of Light if any at all be here And Observe this also for a certain Truth Light of Nature sees some Sins and some Duties That Natural Conscience in all Men and Women does Rebuke and Reprove them for many gross Evils which they at any time are guilty of If they Commit Murder or Theft or Cheat and Deceive their Neighbour or such like this Light within every one is sufficient to see these to be Evil and that they ought not to be And this Natural Light within will also secretly move them to some things that are good and Honest to do to others as they would have others to do unto them It shews them that Meekness Patience Temperance Chastity Charity and such like Moral Vertues are good and commendable in the Lives of Men and when they follow after these things as many Heathens have done then their Consciences or the Light within will Excuse them and they have Peace in so doing But if they do those other gross Evils then this Light within will Accuse Disquiets and Disturb them But this Light within can never Discover to them Spiritual Evils and sins Light within sees not Spiritual sins As Pride Self-love Vnbelief Hypocrisie and such like neither can it lead them to see or Discern Jesus Christ or the things of Christ Revealed in the Gospel the things of the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof without the Light of the spirit of God and the Scriptures All this is but Nature it is not Grace neither is it Christ the true Light as this Author of the strong Man Armed cast out and his Followers do call it and contend earnestly for it and account it true Knowledge and such a Measure and Degree of Knowledge as no other Professors have attained to but themselves as he there tells us Whereas indeed they have not yet reached to the very first Principles of the Oracles of God And therefore thou James Jackson did'st well to leave off to be a Parish Priest and to be any longer a Teacher among the Independents As thou told'st us I wish thou would'st also leave off to be a Teacher any longer among the Quakers or rather a Seducer And first go and Hear and Learn and be Instructed in the saving Knowledge of Christ as the Scriptures have Revealed him lest thou be one of those who will Cry at the last day Lord Lord have we not Prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name done many Wonderful Works And then thou hear among others that Dreadful Sentence Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity I know you not I own not your Teachings your Prophecyings or Declarings in my Name ye have Blasphemed my Name and caused my Name my Gospel and my People to be despised amongst many by your means ye Disowned Reproached and Separated from my People and in as much as ye did it unto these my Brethren ye did it unto me You the Teaching Quakers The Quakers guilty of these two great sins are guilty of those two great Evils that the People were guilty of in the Prophet Jeremiah's Time Jer. 2.12 The Prophets Prophesied Lies unto them and Taught the People to forsake the Living and true God and to look unto Idols and the Lord pleads with them about it and tells them such a thing was never heard of amongst any People or Nations that they should Change their God but this sottish People who had no understanding they changed their Glory for a Vain thing for that which cannot Profit And it is such stupendious Folly and Madness that he calls to the very Heavens to Behold it and Admire it ver 12. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid Be ye very Desolate saith the Lord v. 13. For my People have Committed two Evils They have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Now Consider ye have even done thus Ye have forsaken the Living and true God the Saviour of sinners all that do Believe in him and rest upon him and his Righteousness for Justification and ye have set upon an Idol Natural Conscience and trust to it and your own Personal Righteousness and Obedience for Life Justification and Salvation and what are these but as their Broken Cisterns that can Afford no Refreshing in a Time of Need Take heed then and be Instructed thou and they and Teach no longer this False Doctrine that the Light in every Man and Woman is Christ the true Light seeing it is but a Creature and in every one by Nature Will ye Debase and Degrade Christ by calling him a Creature Or Deisie the Creature by calling it Christ the true Light It is true it is from Christ he is the Creator of it as of all other Creatures in the World the World was made by him and without him was nothing made that was made John 1. How then can it be Christ Is the Carpenter the house that he hath Builded Or is the house the Carpenter Are they both one and the same Is not the Carpenter a Man and the house his Workman-ship Is not God the Creator of all
are come to Perfection to Perfection in Sin to the highest Degrees of sinning your Iniquities are even full or very near it for how can ye rise Higher what steps are there for you yet to ascend up unto above what ye have already attained Ye have already denied the Holy one and the Just our Lord Jesus Christ that bought us ye have Crucified the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame yea ye have trodden him under foot and counted the blood of the Covenant as a common thing and done despight to the Spirit of Grace denying his true Operations in his People and also Blasphemously Attributing the Inspirations of the Devil unto the Spirit of God in your selves ye have despised the Word of God the Scriptures the Gospel of our Lord Jesus and therein the tenders of Rich and free Grace in the Covenant of Life and Peace and preferred your own vain Fancies yea the subtil insinuations and inspirations of seducing spirits before the clear truths of the Gospel of Christ and resting in your own Righteousness for Justification and what can ye do more or worse Ye have also Despised Rejected Disowned and Separated from the people of the Lord all the particular Churches Congregations and Assemblies of the Saints yea and Reproached them also and uttered many hard and bitter speeches against them and that for seeking to do you good in turning you from the ways of sin and Death And being lifted up in your selves in the height of your Pride and vain Minds ye have thought and said of your selves that ye are the most holy people upon Earth yea the onely people of God upon the Earth And what can ye say or do more or worse than these things Have ye not attained the highest degrees of sinning even to such a Perfection as the Nature of Man is capable of or that Satan can bring it unto and therefore we witness your perfection in these Respects But as to Perfection in Grace The Quakers Imperfection in Grace as ye vainly think of your selves and would have others to esteem of you also ye are at the remotest distance that may be 1. In Knowledge seeing that ye have not as yet laid the Foundation of the Knowledge of Christ Yea are Ignorant even your Teachers of the very first Principles of the Oracles of God ye know not the difference between Nature and Grace ye are not yet able to distinguish between Natural Light in the Conscience of every Man and Woman and the true Light Jesus Christ but mistake the one for the other Ye are not able to discern the workings of the Spirit of God and the seducing spirit but mistake the one for the other Ye are so Ignorant and Blind that ye think and say Men must be Justified by the works of the Law a Man 's own personal Obedience and not by the Imputed Righteousness of Christ by Faith quite contrary to the Gospel of Christ a deadly damning Doctrine Herein lies your Perfection in Knowledge And as for your Perfection in Faith and Hope 2. In Faith and Hope how can ye believe or in what or in whom do ye Believe seeing ye have denyed Christ the Object of Faith to all true believers denyed him in his Death Righteousness Merits and in all that he hath done and Suffered for his People these things are herein and by others made manifest against you by your own Writings 1 Cor. 13. And as for your Perfection in Love 3. In Love the chiefest of all Graces ye are far from Perfection in that also All the Love ye shew forth is but self-love to your selves and among your selves Every particular Person thinking and esteeming of himself more Highly than he ought to think and would that all others should esteem highly of him also And as for any Love to others it is but to your own party such as say as ye say and do as ye do And because they poor ignorant silly people are willing to hang upon your Lips the Teachers and to take all for granted that ye say as if your sayings were the Oracles of God for that ye Love them They esteem more of the sayings of their Teachers than of the sayings of God as one of them not long since expressing her desires to have some of her Friends Books one said to her she had the Scriptures she might employ her self there She Answered That the Bible indeed is a good honest thing but she had rather Read some of her Friends Books So we see That in all these things ye have Witnessed perfection as ye call it which indeed is at the furthest distance from perfection so far as not yet Witnessing the first beginnings of Grace in you But as for the other kind of Perfection that is Perfection in sin in the highest degrees of sinning ye do Witness it and have given many clear and manifold Proofs and Evidences of your perfection in that Respect and we all that fear God who know your deadly Principles do joyn with you in this Testimony and do Witness also that ye have Witnessed Perfection O how have ye Despised the Free Grace of God and Neglected great Salvation tendred in the Gosspel which all the Saints so highly prize and value seeing God in Christ doth vouchsafe to condescend so low to poor sinful Dust and Ashes in the sweet terms of the Gospel Offering Peace and Reconciliation Happiness and Glory to all those who will Accept thereof yea even Intreating and Beseeching of Miserable sinners to come in and be Reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5.20 We as Ambassadors for Christ as if Christ did beseech you by us be ye Reconciled to God How then shall they escape who Neglect so great Salvation Surely such as are deeply wounded and under the sight and sense of sin death and hell the Wrath of God the Curse of the Law they highly prize the Terms of the Gospel the Covenant of Grace the sweet and precious promises of Life Rest and Peace But those that are whole see no need of the Physitian as it appears ye do not that can make so light of the terms of Free-Grace and Love through Christ as we find ye do by many passages in your Books Where shall we find in all your Books and Pamphlets such Doctrine as the Apostle Paul Preached Paul Preacheth Christ and not the Light in every Man and Woman and wrote in all his Epistles by the Inspiration of God he set forth Christ crucified in all places where he came and instructed the people in that Fundamental Doctrine 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified Paul lays aside and slights all things for Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may
win Christ Ver. 9. And he found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith We can hear no such Doctrine as this amongst the Quakers nay the very contrary slighting the Person of Christ and the Righteousness of Christ Imputed to Believers who of God is made Righteousness to them And setting up their own Righteousness and the Perfection of it which may be made appear by their Books And yet they tell and so deceive their simple silly Hearers that they do Declare Christ unto them the Light within every Man and Woman that is God and Christ the Saviour of the World But will this serve their turn to put the Name Christ upon one of his Creatures Will Christ allow any to take away his Name and his Glory and cloath an Idol with it and then say they Declare and set forth Christ This is the way to divert and draw off the minds of poor Ignorant People from Christ as he is Revealed in the Gospel This is the great Fundamental Doctrine of the Devil The Devil 's Fundamental Doctrine The chief point of Doctrine that he Teacheth his Disciples That is to say To Deny Christ Eo disown him according as the Gospel hath Revealed him and then to set up something else in his stead Let them call it Christ if they will that 's no Matter to give it the Name so it be not Christ he knows it will deceive Ignorant Minds the sooner the more easily For thereby he knows they do but Mock Christ and disown him the more and also the more provoke him that Men should give his Name and Title to any thing and disown himself as these Men do They call the Light within Christ but deny Christ himself as the Gospel sets him forth Now this the Devil knows is enough to serve his turn and destroy them and therefore he still keeps the Eye of their Mind upon this and makes them look upon it through a Multiplying Glass and shuts the Eyes of their Mind against Christ as he is Revealed in the Scriptures The God of this wicked World hath Blinded the Minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them And if the Gospel be hid from them it is hid to them that are lost We see in all their Declarings in all their Books and Pamphlets this is the Main and Chief point to Teach their Hearers to take heed to the Light within to the Witness of God within with variety of Expressions to that purpose But what do we hear in all their Books and Teachings concerning Christ that was Promised long before he came into the World of Christ that was born when the fulness of time was come of Christ that Lived amongst us and Preached and Taught amongst us the way of Salvation of Christ that Dyed for us and rose again and Ascended into Heaven that is now at the right Hand of God making Intercession for us of Christ that shall shortly come again in glory and yet in his Humane Nature to Judge the World in Righteousness This is the Christ that the Gospel Declares and that all true Believers know and own and Teach plainly and clearly without Equivocations and subtil Evasions as these false Teachers among the Quakers use to speak of him and whom all believers have Received by Faith who dwells in them and they in him But what do we hear of all this in the Teachings of these Men among the Quakers Nay on the contrary their Doctrines in their Books and Pamphlets that they frequently send forth do Directly Oppose these things And therefore we may safely conclude their Doctrine is the Doctrine of Devils for if all the Devils in Hell should combine together and joyn their Cursed Craft and Malice against Christ and the Souls of Men they could not bring forth a more Damning Doctrine than this is For to Deny Christ is to deny all What then shall we say to these Men or of them Surely Obstinate Quakers to be Rejected seeing these things are so That they have thus denyed the Lord that bought us and Preach up another Christ and maintain and uphold this their Idol in Opposition to Christ as the Gospel hath Declared him and slight and Despise the Scriptures we have grounds to conclude they are Men of Corrupt Minds of Seared Consciences Idolaters and Hereticks Now the Apostle by the Inspiration of God gives us a Rule 1 Tim. 3. Reject an Heretick after once or twice Admonished but these Men have been often Admonished Pleaded and Disputed with and they regard not Admonition they resist the Truth and the Spirit of Grace and Truth speaking in the Scriptures and in and by his People they will not hear they will not regard the Counsel of God But in their Ignorance and Pride they despise both God and Men and do prefer their own Idle and vain Fancies and Satans subtile false Insinuations before the Teachings of the Spirit of God If God should work a Miracle and raise up the Apostle Paul from the Dead to Declare against them and their Doctrines they would no more regard him nor his Teachings than they regard Tho. Hicks in his three Dialogues Between a Christian and a Quaker or than they regard any other Messenger of Christ who pleads with them and lays the very truths of God before them as it is Revealed by the Spirit in the Gospel We are assured of this from Luke 16.31 If they will not Hear Moses and the Prophets neither will they hear though one should rise from the Dead So if they will not hear Christ and his Apostles in the Gospel if they will not hear the Scriptures neither will they be perswaded to imbrace the Truth though one should be sent to them from the Dead Nay if Christ himself should come and speak to them in that mean state and condition that he was when he conversed among us here below these People would regard him no more than the hardned Jews did in their Day For they Reject and Deny him now his Doctrine and his Person in his Merits Righteousness Satisfaction c And so would do if he were Personally present So that my Judgment is Let them alone they be blind Leaders of the blind they talk of a Light within but the Light in them is Darkness and it is a great darkness a double darkness more than a single Natural darkness as is the state of all Mankind by Nature but also a darkness added to that even a darkness as a punishment or a Judgment a Judicial darkness Natural darkness is the sin of man but this darkness is the Judgment of God That because they regard not the Truth they will not receive it in the Love thereof therefore hath God given them up to strong delusions to believe lies That seeing they will not believe
God and Father of all c. First one Body 1. One Body All Believers in all Ages of the world past present and to come in all Nations Kindreds and People Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth under all Forms do make this one body And this one body hath but one Spirit 2. One Spirit as the Members of the Natural Body have but one Soul to Actuate and Enliven them so also in the Mystical body they all are quickned taught moved and led by that one Spirit which is the Promise of the Father and of the Son Thirdly The Members of this one body having one spirit have also one hope even the hope and expectation of all the good things promised in the Gospel 3. One Hope Eternal Life the enjoyment of God for ever Fourthly Another Bond of Vnion in the true Church 4. One Lord. is One Lord even our Lord Jesus Christ unto whose Laws and Commands all his People are Subject Fifthly One Faith That is 5. One Faith the true Justifying Faith of Gods Elect wrought by that one Spirit apprehending that one Lord for Justification by him alone Paul calls it the Common Faith Titus 1.4 Titus mine own Son after the Common Faith Sixthly Another Bond of Vnion in the true Church 6. One Baptism is one Baptism 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all Baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Greeks whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit This one Baptism makes all Believers truly one Seventhly The last bond of Vnity of the true Church 7. One God is One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all All Believers are born of God and are all Partakers of the Divine Nature among the Lords People none of them have a better Nature than another as to the Truth but as it differs in the Degrees or Measures to some God is pleased to Communicate a greater measure to some a lesser Measure of Gifts and Graces that one and the self-same Spirit Divideth to every Man severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 We see here these seven Bonds are the true Bonds of the true Members of Christ his Body the Church and are here mentioned and laid down by the Apostle as strong Reasons and Grounds why all the Members should endeavour to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and not Divide and Separate one from another seeing they are all Members of one Body and have but one Spirit among them all and have all one hope all of them but one Lord one Faith one Baptism all but one God and Father here is good Reason then they should be one among themselves in Vnity Peace Love Fellowship and Communion one with another as Opportunity serves So that the Author above mentioned hath little Reason to boast of that kind of Vnity that is among the Quakers if he consider these things Sixthly 6. The Quakers Patience The Author of the strong man Armed cast out further tells us That the Patience and Faithfulness of these People in doing and suffering the Will of God is Remarkable for the World is against them though as he says they are the onely Innocent and harmless People upon the Earth and because there is more of God amongst these People the Quakers than others therefore are they hated of all Men and every where amongst all Religions evil spoken of Answ In Answer whereunto I say That Patient suffering for Well-doing is very Acceptable with God and shall certainly have a great Reward from God the Apostle Peter saith 1 Pet. 3.14 If ye Suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye But there is a Suffering sometimes for Evil doings and Evil sayings And it is better if the Will of God be so that we Suffer for well doing than for evil doing v. 17. Now it is true These People the Quakers have been Sufferers as well as others but for what have they Suffered Has it been for well doing for doing the Will and Work of Christ They will say Yea for doing the Will of God but it follows not therefore that it is so Christ will rather say unto them who Required these things at your Hands Nay he hath forbidden them your False Doctrines and Opinions your Disownings Despisings and Separations from the Precious People of the Lord in all the Societies Assemblies and Congregations in the Land your Disturbing of them and Railing against them whilst they are about the work of the Lord ye your selves being drawn or driven by the Seducing Spirit have done his work and not the Lords work and have sometimes Suffered for it And herein ye boast and think your Patience is great and that ye suffer according to the Will of God But know That it is not the Suffering but the Cause that makes a Martyr It is possible a Man may give his body to be burned and that is more than to be Imprisoned and yet not suffer for Righteousness-sake 1 Cor. 13. Though I give my Body to be burned and have not Love it profiteth me nothing Jesuites and Papists have sometimes suffered for their false Principles and Practices and so may others and so have you Therefore speak no more of your Patient sufferings untill ye know that ye Suffer for a good Cause for well doing untill ye Suffer for Christ and for Righteousness-sake Thus I have gone through the several particulars wherein the Author of the strong man Armed cast out says He and the People called Quakers do Excell all other Professing People in the World wherein it appears to all Men that have in them the Spirit of God how grossely these People are Deluded and blinded by seducing spirits that they give heed unto which making strong Impressions in their Minds they are Seduced and carried away with them never Examining of them and Trying of them by the Scriptures and so are easily Deceived And it is a most dreadful Condition that they are in and an Evidence of the greatest and sorest Judgment of God that the Nature of Man is capable of on this side Hell a Judicial blindness and hardness of heart upon any Man or Men is the greatest of all Judgments And this is the punishment that God often lays upon Men that will not hearken unto him that Despise his Word and Ordinances his Worship and his People That will not Receive the Truth in Love that they might be saved Therefore God doth send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye that they all might be Damned who believe not the Truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness That which doth confirm this man James Jackson A false Perswasion of Conversion Author of the strong man Armed cast out that he is truly Converted by the Light within which he says is Christ is this for that he finds such wonderful Effects in himself as he Accounts them he is
People fat and blind their Eyes that seeing they may see and not perceive Not that God put in any more blindness into Mens minds but withholds his Grace and denies his Spirit but permits the Evil Spirit the god of this unregenerate World to blind the Minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them And seeing that the Light of the Gospel does shine so Gloriously in this Day and ye Reject it and Despise it we have cause to be perswaded you have in you this double Darkness and Blindness notwithstanding all your Pleading for the Light within Ye know not what ye say nor whereof ye Affirm Thou and thy Friends as thou callest them do quite mistake that Scripture This Scripture John 1.9 grossely Mistaken whereupon ye ground your Opinion and Perswasion concerning the Light within John 1.9 This is the true Light that Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Thou and they put a meaning and sence upon it though in other Scriptures brought against you ye disown all meanings yet here ye make use of a meaning but it is a false one For it is not said that Christ the true Light is in every one that cometh into the World but that he Lighteth every one that cometh into the World Take then the very words and the genuine sence is plainly this That Christ the true Light doth Light every one that cometh into the World and That in two Respects First by an Outward Light and Secondly by an Inward Light The Outward Light is by the Sun in the Firmament with the Moon and the Stars this Outward Light all Men and Women have that come into the World in all Nations Tongues and People Secondly Christ enlightneth them by an Inward light also by the Light of Reason Humane Vnderstanding and Natural Conscience by these Lights also he Lighteth every one that cometh into the World according to that Scripture aforementioned And so much and no more is intended by it as it concerns every one that cometh into the World He is called the Father of Lights having Created divers Lights of several kinds But now as it concerns Believers the peculiar People of God the true Light Jesus Christ enlightneth them with another Light besides the former which none but they onely are partakers of The other Lights are but Darkness to this Light yea the Scripture calls them Darkness in Comparison of this true Light Jesus Christ himself the Son of Righteousness when he arises upon the Soul he makes things manifest and clear which before were hid in Darkness 2 Cor. 4.6 God who Commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ But as for the Wicked and Vngodly all Vnbelievers which are the greatest part of the World they have not this Light in them as thou James Jackson and the Teachers among the Quakers do affirm and contend earnestly for But they are of the Number of those which the Holy Ghost saith by the Mouth of his Servant Paul in 2 Cor. 4.4 The god of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Look well unto it that ye be not of the Number of these blind ones blinded by the Seducing Spirit which is got into your own blind Minds and which ye call and Blasphemously say is Christ the true Light in every Man And verily this is one sad Sign that ye are indeed of that very Number even because ye disown the Gospel of Christ the Scriptures of Truth spoken by Christ himself and by the Holy Ghost Saying and Affirming they are not the Rule to Christians in Faith and Obedience neither do ye submit to have your Spirits Tryed by them but trust to the Light within which is but Darkness as to Seeing and Discerning of Spiritual things For Spiritual things are Spiritually Discerned And know and consider this That if the Gospel of Christ be not Received and submitted unto but Neglected or Rejected then it is hid from such And in such a Case the Apostle Paul saith 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid it is hid from them that are lost whom Satan hath blinded lest it should shine unto them Thou The Quakers Doctrine is directly contrary to the Scriptures James Jackson and other Teaching Quakers teach that Christ the true Light is in every Man and Woman in the World But this is directly contrary to plain and positive Scripture For before Conversion and Regeneration all Men and Women are in Darkness and Darkness in them yea are Darkness it self in the Abstract Eph. 5.8 Ye sometimes were Darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord Walk as Children of Light And 1 John 2.8 Darkness is past and the true Light now shineth Heb. 10.32 After ye were Illuminated ye endured a great Fight of Afflictions Paul knew that all Men were in Darkness and Darkness in them And therefore his Preaching was to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan the Prince of Darkness to the Living God Yea our Lord Christ himself the true Light saith John 1.46 I am come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness plainly implying that before Men Believe they abide in Darkness And again he saith John 12.35 Yet a little while is the Light with you Walk while ye have the Light Now if Christ had been the Light still remaining in them in every one as the Quakers Teach Christ would not have used these words Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while they have the Light It 's like these Quakers would have Answered him boldly and Ignorantly enough We have the Light within us it is always in us and with us and abides in us and in all Men and Women in the World Go whither thou wilt for we have the Light within us still continually For certainly these Men would no more have owned him nor his Doctrine had they been contemporaries with him than they own him now in these Days And we know they have Denyed him both in his Person and in his Doctrlne as appears Manifestly in their Books and Writings besides Denying of him in Denying his Members It is Evident then That the Teaching Quakers do Deceive the Poor Ignorant Simple People their Hearers with this Doctrine about the light within and speak concerning it directly contrary to the Doctrine of the Scriptures And these poor simple People silly Women as the Apostle calls them 2 Tim. 3.6 finding and perceiving there is some Light within that Discerns some things to be good and moves unto it and on the contrary denies some evil things and will not consent to known Evils They do hereupon conclude that this
have rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdome is in them So then here we see plainly they that speak not and write not according to the Scriptures they have neither wisdome nor Light in them Consider this ye deluded People among the Quakers that give more heed to a dim natural light within darkned also by deluding spirits than to the Light of the Scriptures though the Sun of Righteousness shine Bright and Gloriously in them The Apostle John hath marked out such men for wicked men 1 John 4.6 We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of Error What can be more plain hereby then it is Evident what sort of men these are in this Generation who will not hear the Prophets and Apostles speaking by the Spirit in the Scriptures he that will not hear Vs is not of God but on the contrary he that heareth us that is obeyeth us and is ruled and guided by that which we have spoken and written he is of God and is guided and taught by the Spirit of God which God hath also given to them that believe And farther This truth is also spoken by our blessed Lord and Savionr Christ himself even from his own mouth Joh. 8.47 when the Proud unbelieving Jewes such another proud self-conceited People as are now in our dayes would not receive his doctrine he tells them plainly what they are ver 47. he that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore heard them not because ye are not of God Tremble and Quake at this Dreadful word ye seduced People of the Quakers who will not hear nor be guided by the Scriptures the written and declared word of God Ye are here pronounced by Christs own mouth his Prophets and Apostles that ye are not of God That is ye are not born of God ye are not born of the Spirit for that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit ye are not regenerate ye are not believers ye are no members of Christ ye are not taught of God nor led by his Spirit but by a false Spirit When Paul wrote to Timothy he commended him for that he had known the Scriptures from a child which were able to make him wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 And sayes that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness ver 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes But these men are so farr from being furnished to all good workes that they are reprobate to every good work they having cast-aside the Scriptures they can never be furnished any other way to any good Work Let us consider how great a favour it is from God that we have the Scriptures The Scriptures are Gods Love-letters to Mankind which are Gods Love-letters to Mankind indited by his own Spirit and written by his own servants to woo them and win them to accept of his own and only beloved Son in marriage that there may be a Contract and an everlasting Vnion between them and so they may become the Spouse of Christ the Lambs Wife And that although they have no Beauty nor Comeliness upon them yet that he will accept of them notwithstanding their Deformity if they will but but consent to the motion And Oh who would not consent to such a wonderfull condiscension in the Great and Holy God to such poor miserable creatures as we are blind and deaf deformed foul and filthy poor and needy wanting all things that might make us acceptable in his eyes But though it be so yet he hath promised that he will make us Comely and Beautiful and Rich with Ornaments and a Crown of Glory and no good thing shall be wanting to them that love him Therefore all these things considered let us have the Scriptures in high esteem and walk by them for we shall be judged by them at the last day But what a sad case are they in then who deny them as a Rule to walk by and disown them And if so great a curse shall be the portion of those who take away any part of the Scriptures as that God will take away their part out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the things that are written therein Rev. 22. what shall we think will be the Portion and Punishment of those who take away all the Scripture at once and make it as a void thing and deny them to be a perfect Rule to Christians of Faith and Obedience and do instead thereof direct men to a blind guide that had need of a guide it self for that it sees nothing of the true way the truth and the life without the Scriptures Now because the spirit of God who indited the Scriptures Characters of false Prophets whereby they are known and spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets and Apostles and Christ himself also in his own person hath told us That false Prophets and Teachers should be in the later dayes and should seduce and deceive many And so subtle shall their carriage and their Doctrine be like their Teacher that they shall deceive if it were possible the very Elect And because also we know that these are the last times the last daies even these dayes wherein we live in which dayes these false Teachers foretold should come it is our duty therefore and it highly concerns every Christian to try the Spirits because even Now many false Prophets are in the world among us Let us consider and examine than who these false Prophets and Teachers are how they may be known What Marks and Characters there are set down in the Scriptures whereby these men may be known for the Spirit of God hath marked them out whereby they may be discerned from other men even whereby they may be known to be the very men foretold that should come in these last dayes Our Lord Christ hath bid us take heed of them Luk. 13.23 Behold saith he I have foretold you of these things Let us therefore consider some particulars as marks of these men First then that in the Epistle of Paul to Tim. 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils 1. Some shall depart from the Faith 1. Departing from the Faith Now what kind of Faith is here meant it is not a true and justifying faith for that none can depart from but it is a Temporary Faith some shaddows and fancies resembling faith such a faith as our Lord Christ speakes of Mat. 10. They believed for a while but in time of Temptation fell away 2. They also cast off and departed from Historical Faith for they regard not what is written in the Scriptures either concerning Faith or Practice
This is thus proved to be a Lye There is no true Faith but it is known by its Fruits works or Effects it Purifies the Heart and works by Love Love to God Love to all his People to his word and Gospel to all that is of God and from God Now it is very Manifest by the Fruits that the Quakers bring forth in their Doctrines and Conversations that they have not the Faith of Gods Elect it is but presumption a shadow of Faith whereof the Devil is the Author their Instructer in other Doctrines also And it is likewise on the other side manifest that Multitudes of other Professing Christians whom they Despise have true saving Justifying Faith by the Fruits and Effects of it in their Hearts and in their Lives and Conversations Fourthly The Fourth Lye in Hypocrisie Strong Man Armed p. 13. This is another Lye in Hypocrisie They say the Knowledge that the Quakers have is a Spiritual and experimental Knowledge by Divine Revelation But the knowledge of the Priests and Pastors of all other Religions in the world is but Ignorance they know not Christ but call him Devil or at best the Light of Nature This is thus proved to be a Lye and that a double one Many of the Teaching Quakers are very Ignorant even of the very Principles of the Doctrines of Christ they were never Taught of God we perceive it plainly by their Discourse and writings O the wonderful Darkness and Blindness that is upon their Minds A thick vail of Ignorance as all Natural Unregenerate Men have but their Vail is double Natural and Judicial The Natural Man hath not the knowledge of Christ nor of the things of God he cannot know them in that state because they are Spiritually Discerned and known 1 Cor. 3. These People know not the true Light Jesus Christ they know not the difference between Natural Light and Spiritual light but give and ascribe that to the Creature which properly belongs onely to the Creator They know not the way of Justification by Christ but Blasphemously slight it as we find in their Books And Teach that Men are Justified by their own works directly contrary to the Scriptures whereby at once they deny Christ and the whole Gospel and the whole Design of God in the Covenant of Grace They know not how to Distinguish or Discern between the Suggestions and Inspirations of a Seducing Spirit and the workings of the Spirit of God in Mens Hearts neither do they know nor give to their Hearers any Directions how they may Try the Spirits whether they are of God or not but plainly bid them Hearken to the Light within give heed unto it and follow it and it will lead them to Salvation which gives wonderful Advantage to Satan the Seducing Spirit to work in their minds even what he will seeing they have no way to Discover him he being Transformed at such a time into an Angel of Light and in many things resembles the Spirit of God And those Ignorant Teachers know no way how to discern him having slighted and laid aside the Scriptures whereby one Spirit is known from another being destitute also of the Spirit of God So that upon this very Account both they and their Ignorant simple Hearers are under strong delusions giving heed unto Seducing Spirits and thence it is that their Teachings Books and Pamphlets are so false and so directly contrary to the Truth of the Scriptures And yet we see they boast of their Knowledge and esteem themselves more Wise and Knowing than all others Fifthly The Fifth Lye in Hypocrisie Strong Man Armed p. 14. Another Lye in Hypocrisie is this The Quakers say their Humility does far exceed all others it is the emptying themselves of all their own Righteousness Wills Wisdom and self-exaltation and is a Real Inward Spiritual abasement and subjection to the Life Power and Kingdom of Jesus Christ But O how contrary to these words nothing but words are all their Doctrines and Declarings to the People and in all their Pamphlets if we compare one thing with another For they do but deceive their simple unwary Hearers with a flourish of some good words and expressions now and then that so they may the more readily Receive the deadly Poyson that is mixed therewith They sometimes Profess in words that they own Christ and the Scriptures but in deed and reality they deny both as is abundantly proved against them and made manifest unto all And in this very particular Lye in Hypocrisie this that I say appears plainly For whereas he here says they are the most humble People in that they empty themselves of all their own Righteousness Wisdom and Self-exaltation and have in them a real spiritual Abasement and Subjection to Christ whereas the quite contrary appears in the Substance of their Doctrines Witness Edw. Burrough's Works in Folio p. 33. where he says plainly God doth not Accept any where there is any failing or who do not fulfill the Law and Answer every Demand of Justice So William Penn Sandy Foundation p. 29 30. Obedience to Justification saith he ought to be as Personally extensive as was Mans Disobedience to Condemnation In which Real not Imputative sence those various terms of Sanctification Righteousness Resurrection Life Redemption Justification c. are most Infallibly understood for saith he further Impute or Imputing signifies no more in Scripture but to express Men Really and Personally to be that which is Imputed to them whether as guilty or remitted for saith he any to be Justified from the Imputation of anothers Righteousness is both Ridiculous and Dangerous whence came that usual saying amongst many Professors of Religion That God looks not upon them as they are in themselves but as they are in Christ We see now here plainly what Doctrines the Teaching Quakers bring forth and how much it savours of Humility and Self-abasement according to this great Lye in Hypocrisie afore-mentioned This their Doctrine shews they are swelled with Pride to the very highest pitch of Pride that Self-love and Satan to blow it up can raise them Here they Account themselves perfect and able to Answer every Demand of Justice and will not be beholding to Christ for the Imputation of his Righteousness this is the Humility of the Quakers But O Miserable Creatures are they and more Miserable are they yet like to be whose Humility is the height of Pride and whose Righteousness is nothing but the grossest sin and wickedness and who have not the Righteousness of Christ Imputed to them which is the Righteousness of God and perfect as well as Inherent Righteousness Created of God but yet imperfect This Doctrine of theirs is a gross Lye in Hypocrisie and the Grand Doctrine of Devils and therefore let it be accursed yea I say again let it be accursed for ever And as for the Teachers of it they shall be accursed also except they Repent The Grace of Humility hath the quite contrary Effects
were enlightned and led by him they would make a Difference and separate the precious from the vile but they do not Distinguish between the Righteous and the Wicked but Condemn them together and so are Abomination to the Lord So that thereby it is plainly seen that they are not of God that they are not as his Mouth to the People as they pretend Jer. 9. It is the Seducing Spirit we may be sure that doth bely and Reproach the Lord's People and his Works and Operations in them By this and other Characters afore-mentioned we may be as sure who the Men are as if their Proper Names whereby the World knows them from other Men were Recorded in Scripture For as the Lords People may certainly know that their Names are in the Scriptures and are Written in Heaven in the Book of Life Gods Eternal Decree and Secret Counsell by Seeing and Reading their Natures Properties and Qualifications in the Scriptures to which Eternal Life is promised I say they may know thereby that they themselves are the Persons as certainly as if their Proper Names were there Recorded whereby they are known amongst Men So on the contrary of Wicked and Ungodly Men they are also known in like manner by their Natures Properties and Qualifications We know who hath said Births of the Spirit and of the Flesh That which is Born of the flesh is flesh and that which is Born of the spirit is spirit We may know of what it is Born by the Birth that is brought forth Satan he broods upon the Carnal Spirits of wicked Men and begets false Notions Opinions and Principles we may know they are of his begetting by their Form and shape when they are brought forth Principles of Pride self-love false Notions and other Deformed shapes when they are Conceived then after a while they are brought forth they are born they are Published and Declared in Discourse Preaching Writing or Printing the Births of Mens minds their Fleshly Carnal Minds are brought forth into the World and they are so like their Father the Devil that thereby they may be known who was the Father of them So on the contrary That which is Born of the spirit is spirit the spirit of God dwells in his People and he daily works and moves in them he Inspires them with Truths according to the Mind of God which the Spiritual Mind Conceives and brings forth in Prayer Preaching Discourse and Writings and these Conceptions are Born and brought forth into the World to the View and Knowledge of all And that which is thus born of the spirit is spirit or spiritual it is Truth According to the Mind of the spirit for he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit one with him of his Mind The Saints are Unanimous of the same Mind with God as Wicked and Unregenerate Men are unanimous with the Devil they are of his Mind and he of theirs for he Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience The Devil speaks against Christ and so do they though they will own him in Words in Form in Shew and Pretence yet in Deed in Works really they deny him The Devil will own the Scriptures in words as he does Christ in words and say Thou art the Holy one of God so will those who are one spirit with him but will deny him really and according to Truth The Devil will own the Scriptures and Argue from them to attain his ends but never to prove a Necessary Truth So false Teachers are unanimous with him in these things for he that is joyned to the Devil is one Spirit even as he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit How great then is the sin of these Men Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins who Conceive in their Minds and bring forth the Births of the Devil as all Doctrines of Devils are Surely These Spiritual sins are greater than fleshly sins as Drunkenness Gluttony Adultery Murder c. If Robbery or Murder of a Man be so great a sin what is it to Rob God and to Crucifie and be guilty of the Blood of Christ Though for these and such like when Men will not be reclaimed from them God often gives them up to a Reprobate Mind Rom. 1. Even so he does also for these spiritual sins false Opinions Doctrines and Principles Concerning Christ his Natures Righteousness Merits and the things of God when they will not be Instructed but hate to be Reformed and change their Mind when they will not hearken to the Truth but still resist it disown it contradict and Blaspheme when the Truths of the Gospel have been often Offered and tendred to them yet they will not hear nor regard but rather believe Lyes than the Truth then God gives them up to strong delusion to believe Lyes and to hearken and give heed to seducing spirits this is a very dreadful state indeed they draw these spiritual Judgments upon themselves by these spiritual sins The Quakers setting up this Idol The Light within every Man and Woman is a greater sin in them than for Jezebels false Prophets to set up Baal and Pray unto it and trust in it instead of the God of Israel May it not Ironically be said to them as Elisha said to those false Prophets Cry aloud for he is a god as ye say but he is but a Blind god he hath Eyes indeed but he cannot see Ears but he cannot hear Hands and Feet but he cannot move to help or do any thing for those who Trust in him without help from another If these Men will not be pleaded nor perswaded out of their Vain Ignorant sottish Opinion of the Light within every Man and Woman being Christ let Men endeavour to Shame them out of it for it hath not so much as a shew or shadow of Truth in it but is plainly a most dreadful delusion of the Devil and a great Blasphemy against Christ This Opinion of theirs The false Opinions of the Quakers spring from Pride and Ignorance with other of their false Principles springs from Pride and Ignorance And this the Apostle Observes concerning such Men 1 Tim. 6.3 4. If any Man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness Ver. 4. He is Proud knowing nothing but Doting about Questions and strife of words whereof cometh Envy Strife Railing Evil surmisings Ver. 5. Perverse Disputings of Men of Corrupt Minds and Destitute of the Truth c. Such kind of men were also in the Apostle Johns time as we see Rev. 3.17 They were Proud and Ignorant They thought themselves Rich and had need of Nothing whereas indeed they were poor and miserable and blind and naked It is our duty to discover these kind of people to try them and to make them manifest to the world as much as may be for their false Opinions of God of Themselves and of Others is
Like Swine they trample Pearls under their Feet and turn again and rent you Being Men of Corrupt minds and Reprobate concerning the Faith their minds are Corrupt Carnal Filthy Defiled with false Notions Erroneous Opinions and Conceptions of things according to their dark carnal apprehensions mixed also with Satans false glosses and deceitful appearances in their minds and so they become Reprobate concerning the Faith That is without Judgment or any true Vnderstanding in Matters of Faith according as the Scriptures have revealed them But it follows ver 9. They shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men as theirs also was After they have done their work and filled up the measure of their Iniquity and fulfilled the Scriptures what was fore-told of them then they shall be Discovered and made manifest and that to all men even to their own party also as well as to others who have been long deceived and seduced by them they shall then fall off from them by degrees and leave them and forsake their meetings They shall be known to be deceitful workers their folly shall be made manifest as theirs also was that is as the folly of Jannes and Jambres the Sorcerers or Magicians which deceived the People for a while with false shews and appearances of things which were not so in Reality and Truth afterwards they were discovered to be but a Cheat and deceitful workings So these men with all their Counterfeit Coin and Deceitful Wares which they expose and offer to People in the dark and which they will not by their good will bring unto the Light of the Scriptures which would make things manifest unto all yet they shall in due time be brought to the Light their folly shall be made manifest unto all And is not this Scripture in a great measure fulfilled already even at this day The Men these false Teachers their Opinions Principles and Practices have been of late time more than ever before laid open and their Folly and gross Ignorance and Errors made manifest unto all and so will be still more and more See three Dialogues between a Christian and a Quaker by Tho. Hicks where they are made Naked before all Men to their shame God hath of late time more especially stirred up the Spirits of some of his People to search into and Examine their Opinions and Doctrines and to try them by the Scriptures spoken by God himself and they find that these Men have spoken contrary to what God hath spoken The Doctrine of these false Teachers is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ made known to us in the Gospel they are detected discovered and made manifest to all except some of their own Party Friends as they call them who it 's like are so Charmed by them as that they will not hear nor hearken to any thing that is said against them or their Principles though spoken according to truth Nay they will not hear God himself speak for they Neglect and Despise the Scriptures and prefer their own simple Pamphlets before them Now Good Councel to the Quakers seeing these things are so I shall in sincere Love and Pity to the Souls of these People the Quakers give them my Advice and Councel according to Truth whether they will hear it or whether they will reject it I am perswaded there are some amongst them who have true and real intentions and desires after the truth to hear it and to do it and therefore there is some hopes of such that if they would give themselves to search the Scriptures concerning the Principles of their Teachers and be earnest with God to give them his Spirit to Open their Vnderstandings they might clearly see the gross Folly and Errors of these Men and that they would read other mens Books wherein they are concern'd as well as their Friends Books thereby also their Light within would be the clearer But whilst they Neglect or Decline the means of knowledge no marvel though they remain Ignorant and are seduced My Advice and Councel is further Leave the Quakers Meetings That you would leave the Assemblies of these Men separate your selves from their Congregations and Meetings Now is separation seasonable according to the Scriptures separate from them because they have separated from Christ and from his Church and People they are gone from the truth and are turned unto Fables and they give heed unto seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking lyes in Hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron so that they will not hear nor hearken to the Truth as it is in Jesus They slight and despise the Scriptures and therefore what Light is in them what Wisdom is in them Nothing but Darkness and Ignorance improved also by subtil seducing spirits which except they speedily Repent will draw them down into the Bottomless Pit And next I advise you Come to the Assemblies of the Saints Come and joyn your selves to the Lord and to his People come into their Assemblies Societies and Congregations there ye shall hear Christ truly Preached and set forth according to the Gospel whereby your minds may be enlightned to see the Beauty of Christ indeed with all his Benefits and Priviledges purchased for his People and this may make you fall in Love with him and to chuse him for your Lord and Husband O take heed of forsaking or Neglecting the Assemblies of the People of the Lord as the manner of some is it is a very Dangerous thing See the Consequences of it which the Apostle tells us of in the 10. of the Hebrews it is a Sign or forerunner of that great sin the sin against the Holy Ghost as it is there set forth Come then to the Assemblies of the Saints for the Lord is among them and in them and Communicates himself unto them he reveals his Mind his Secrets to them that fear him Ye are now in a dry and barren Wilderness where there is no Water no Water of Life your Souls will be lean and starved for want of Food for want of the Bread and Water of Life unless ye come unto him that ye may have Life your teachers themselves want this having forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters and run to broken Cisterns which hold not a drop of Water The Light within is but Darkness to the true Light Jesus Christ Your Teachers themselves want water being Wells without water and Clouds without water carried about with winds Therefore come to the Fountain of Living waters to the Fountain of Gardens that waters all the Gardens all his Churches and every particular soul and their souls are as watred Gardens and as springs of water whose waters fail not For there is in them a Well of water springing up unto Eternal Life Come then and be partakers of these Priviledges be one with Christ and with his People and ye shall be enlightned by Christ the true Light indeed and Life indeed who will guide you and lead you into Green Pastures by the Rivers of waters who will feed you with the Bread and Water of Life unto Eternal Life FINIS THere are lately Published Three Dialogues Between a Christian and a Quaker wherein are faithfully Represented some of the Chief and most Concerning Opinions of the Quakers together with their Method and Manner of Reasoning in the Defence thereof Also the Quakers Appeal Answered All Written by Tho. Hicks Sold by Peter Parker at the Leg and Star in Cornhil against the Royal Exchange