the consequence of placing the Rule of Faith Knowledge of God and Salvation only upon the Scripture and not upon the Light of Christ within Pr. Ibid. Vnto the Law and the Testimony is no Rule for Children to walk by Page 65. By no means the Law and the Testimony mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah may now be our Rule Hath not this man Quaked to purpose Answ He still wrongs and abusively derides the Quaker for children are not so taught that the Law and the Testimony is No Rule for them to walk by whether it relate to the Law and Testimony of God as outward in Scripture or inward in the Heart whether to the Law and Testimony of God by Moses as in Tables of Stone or to the Law and Testimony of Christ as in fleshly Tables of the Heart we cannot say of either that 't is no Rule at all for every Command or Precept from God or Christ whether it be upon outward or inward Record is a Rule in it self for Instruction by the Spirit 's Assistance The Law and Testimony as given by Moses and as in Tables of Stone were a Rule to Israel after the Flesh yet not to exclude the Word nigh them even in their Hearts or their hearkening to the Voice of God for that was through all Dispensations The Law and Testimony of the New Covenant written in the Hearts of spiritual Christians under the Guidance of the holy Spirit must needs be their Rule now who Worship God in Spirit And further the Commandment which is a Lamp and the Law which is Light and the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy are not only the Principal Rule in the Hearts of Spiritual Christians who are the Evangelical Israel and Inward Jews but also of more Universal extent as to Nations then the Scriptures are For when even those Gentiles who have not the Law and yet do by Nature the things contain'd in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2.14 15. So that the Scripture could not be their Rule who had it not but the Law and Light of God and his Christ in their Hearts And the Law and the Testimony within contain the Substance and Truth of what 's written in Scripture and will the more clearly and livingly appear and be read in the Heart as the Vail of Darkness Sin and Corruption in man is removed and taken away in his Conversion and coming into the New Covenant Dispensation On the words To the Law and to the Testimony I would Query If this Testimony could be the Books of the New Testament which this Prophet Isaiah referred them then to No sure how could they when those Books were not then written Yet whoever obey and follow the Law and Testimony of the SPIRIT of Life in Christ Jesus within such cannot Oppose Slight nor Invalidate any thing of holy Scripture but have real Union therewith and be in the Life Practice and Fulfilling thereof Pr. Ibid. The Spirit that doth infatuate the Quakers is the foolish Guide whom this Quaking Father would have his Child to follow Answ What Blasphemous Folly is this against the Spirit of Truth which the Quaker would have the Child yea and all Men to follow which 't is Horrid Blasphemy to charge with being an Infatuating or Foolish Guide whereby he hath also abused and slighted Christ's Testimony and the Scriptures which testifie of the Spirit of Truth to guide into all Truth Pr. Ibid. This Quakers Faith to undermine the Scriptures to render them good for nothing for saith he the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things therefore the Scriptures to be minded in nothing Answ He hath herein abominably belied the Quaker and perverted his words though he himself has cited but a few Lines before in the same page 36. viz. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints were made Witnesses of This is no undermining nor rendring them good for nothing Again from minding the Spirit alone in all things it follows not that the Scriptures are to be minded in nothing He might as well have said that nothing else upon any account is to be minded but the Spirit alone howbeit that the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things as the Principal and most Eminent Rule is true yea 't is to be minded even in the reading Scriptures or else they cannot be rightly understood Pr. p. 37. The Quakers ill Spirit is to be minded in all things this alone is the true Discerner betwixt Truth and Falshood but pity those poor Children that have no better guide to follow Answ When the Quakers speak of the Spirit of Truth this Priest will have it the Quakers Ill Spirit thus he Blasphemously perverts still But that the Spirit of Truth is both the true Discerner and Giver of true Discerning betwixt Truth and Falshood I suppose he dare not deny S. XVI Pr. pag. 38. As for those Priests that do warrantably use the Common Prayer-Book either in the King's Chappel or else-where to speak this Quakers mind or sense they are a company of dull Ignoramusses they cannot pray at all a sad Case except it be in the Quakers Dumb Meeting or amongst those that are acted by the Spirit of the Hat Answ The Quaker so called was speaking of such Priests and Teachers as pray not with the Spirit nor with Vnderstanding and of some that cannot pray at all but as they have Made Prayers by others in a Book to read and such it seems he renders those Priests in the King's Chappel and else-where so dull as that they cannot pray without Book for he has made the Application with such a Reflection As for our Meeting which he Scornfully terms Dumb we therein wait upon God in his holy Fear and have regard to the Motions of his good Spirit in his Worship and Service both in our inward Attention Meditation Souls breathings unto God Preaching Praying to and Praising our God who is a Spirit and to be Worshipped in Spirit Truth I take his telling of the Spirit of the Hat also to be in Scorn and Contempt nothing at all of any serious Sence or Argument in it he should have explain'd himself therein Pr. p. 39. According to this Quaking Rant is not the King's Majesty basely reflected on Hath he not a dull Clergy to minister in his Presence Is not this Church whereof he is a Nursing-Father in a bad Cafe Answ I think this Priest hath Reflected on the King and his Clergy to purpose while he has rendred them such as do not pray with the Spirit or as cannot pray without Book for such was our Friend writing of about which this Priest takes all this occasion And why does he call the King a Nursing-Father of the Church He rather means as he would have him the Nursing-Father of the Clergy that they may feed upon the Fat
False Doctrines Errors or Popery we have only his Ipse dixit or Say so no Proof but what will make against himself as one Guilty of Popery both in Spirit and Principle a Persecutor and therefore Popish if not a Papist A Spightful Incendiary against an Innocent People who has acted the part of a Popish Incendiary Pr. Pag. 2. My Design is only to remedy that Flatus or windy Spirit that troubles them Answ We own no such Physicians as he who is thus possest with a Scornful Spirit and Diabolical Flatus or Inspiration of Satan which cannot trouble nor hurt us as we attend on God in his Divine Breath or Spirit of Life given us Pr. Let not the Quakers nor any others believe that by Answering Books according to their Folly I do write one Syllable against the holy Ghost or that I have scoffed the Quakers as being the Servants of God I know very well Pietas non Patitur Ludum pag. 2. Answ It appears he is Conscious to himself of Scoffing the Quakers however and the Spirit by which they are led but not as being Servants of God or as led by his Spirit How then As Poor Deluded Quakers led by an Erronious Spirit Is this his Kindness of Love to Undeceive us or his Pity towards us thus to Scoff and Scorn as he has frequently and most shamefully done against us O Insolency How has he answered what he says that Pietas non patitur Ludum Godliness admits not of Sporting with it is not to be played with and therefore the Impiety of this Mocking Agent about Religious Matters and about the Spirit is the Greater The Proverb he here makes use of is like that Ludere cum sacris Sanctis miscere profana which the Pious and Serious minded could never allow of Pr. Their silly Quakerism Their Praters by their Followers are fondly doted on p. 2. Answ He Mocks on still Rails and Reviles but Reasons not as a man of any Piety or Religion Pr. Ibid. Mahomet's Pigeon and the Quakers Spirit are both alike Answ This Comparison only suits an Atheist and a Scornful Fleshly Mind that 's void of the true Spirit 's Guidance which the Quakers believe and own Pr. p. 3. I look for hard measure from my Neighbour Quakers for this Kindness of Love to undeceive them Answ He may very well expect some dislike from his Neighbour Quakers for his Scoffing and Railing against them and shewing his Malicious Persecuting Spirit while he most Falsly and Hypocritically pretends Kindness of Love to Undeceive them Pr. Ibid. I have already been sufficiently without any just Cause black marked by them a Judas a Persecutor of God's People a black Devil a Porter of Hell c. Answ If his Neighbours know him to be a Persecutor yet he will not own that 't is the People of God he persecutes he can easily equivocate here and say 'T is the Deluded Quakers that I have appeared against and not Gods People but if he persecute or use them hardly where is his Pity and his Kindness of Love to the poor Deluded Quakers as he deems them But if any has compared him to a Judas a black Devil a Porter of Hell doubtless 't was not without some great Cause the concern'd Persons can give account and remind him Pr. Ibid. I am not in the least induced to retaliate Answ To retaliate what Ill Language or black Marks and such he has plentifully retaliated O Gross Hypocrisie Pr. Ibid. The Readers Patience will be sore put to it to read such Impertinent Rude Ignorant Blasphemous Corrupt stuff Answ Such stuff has this Adversary frequently uttered as will further appear to his great shame Pr. p. 5. Is it not high time for the King 's Sacred Majesty to arise and Judge Answ Here he smells of a Popish Persecuting Spirit that would incense the King against us but 't is an Implicite Reflection upon the King as if he knew not his time when and what to judge without the Priests Instigation § II. Pr. Ibid. W. P 's false Spirit doth put him upon writing in good Earnest against Christ God-man a Distinct Person without us Answ This man's Lying Spirit hath put him upon a Slander against W. Penn who hath not written against Christ as God-man without us but demanded Scripture only for the Terms Distinct Person without us which yet he has not produced Take W. P 's own Explication in the Case viz. 'T is granted Christ is a Distinct Being from the Saints we never said that Christ was not as well without us as within us we never set any Limitations to Christ's Presence This our Adversary has quoted and yet renders W.P. as denying the thing intended i.e. Christ God-man which is a gross abuse Pr. p. 5. The Quakers Light within is not of God for it prompts them to write dishonourably of God the Son Answ Our Light within is Christ's Light we own no other and it cannot prompt us to any such thing against himself Pr. p. 6. The Quaker ushers in his Pestilent Discourse with some Truth concerning the Scriptures which serves as a Blind for Fools Answ Pestilent Discourse is a Slander charg'd upon us but not proved The Truth of the Scriptures we have always desired through God's Assistance sincerely to improve in Principle and Practice in Obedience to the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth and enables both to the Understanding Belief and Practice of those Truths recorded in Scripture Pr. Ibid. That the Spirit of Truth doth alone give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of Faith and Practice this is the Real Quakers Vpstart Rotten Doctrine this Quaking Dotage is not yet Thirty Years old This is the Real Quakers Golden Image before which all if they are so silly should fall down and Worship Answ First True discerning is a Gift of the Spirit of Truth whether of Spirits or States Secondly Every one that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3.21 And Christ saith Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light And therefore Christ's Light within ought to be the Rule of Faith and Practice 't is the Convincing and Discovering Rule and Guide And this is no Rotten Doctrine no Quaking Dotage or Golden Image as this Dark Priest both Scornfully and Blasphemously words it to his great shame like a Dark Rebel against the Light who knows not the ways of it because he hath not abode in the Paths of it Pr. p. 7. That this Quaking Fondling the Light within them may be set up for the Rule of Faith and Practice Answ There is no true Faith and Practice without divine Illumination enlightning the Eyes of the Understanding how ever he scoff and abuse the Light within His Envy is so great against the Quakers that he will not so much as assent to the Divine Principle of Light in man which flowes
from the Life in the Eternal Word In him was Life and the Life was the Light of men § 3. Pr. Ibid. W. P's best Reason assisted with his Light within is Fondly at work to prove that the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave forth the Scriptures Answ Seeing he deridingly opposeth this we must take him as believing or speaking the contrary viz. That not the Light and Spirit of Truth within but the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave them forth Gross Ignorance as if the Scriptures were the Primary Dictater and Revealer of Scriptures and not the Light and Spirit of God within Contrary to plain Scripture Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God Surely the Scriptures could not be the Rule before they were but the Holy Spirit was both the Mover Rule and Guide in giving them forth Pr. Ibid. Its matter of Lamentation that the Quakers false Light and their lying Spirit do counterfeit the true Light and holy Spirit to decry the Scriptures from being the Rule of Faith and Life Answ It s matter of Lamentation that such blind Guides as this should keep People in Darkness from the true Light and holy Spirit under pretence of the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith and Life Which though this be a main Article of his Faith yet for this very Point he has not produc'd any plain Scripture that saith the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Life Which if he cannot produce such proof for they are not that only Rule but rather a Rule or Instruction subordinate to the true Light and holy Spirit as directing to it Pr. p. 8. Surely this Quakers Light within burnt dim in his Socket the Light within is no such Infallible Teacher as the Quakers brag of like the Papists infallible Judge it s not without its gross Mistakes Answ See how again he blasphemously scoffs against the Light within in his Comparing it with the Papists pretended Infallible Judge wherein he is grosly mistaken but so is not that Divine Light of Christ within which we profess believe and own In him was Life and that Life was the Light of men Though men may Err yet this Light cannot § 4. Pr. Ibid. The real Quaker is for Go teach baptizing with the holy Ghost and with Fire If this be not to turn People from Light to Darkness from God to the Power of Satan let the sober-minded Reader judge Answ The true Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel in Spirit and Power wherewith Christs Ministers were and are endued was for the Conversion and turning People from Darkness to Light and from Satans Power to the Power of God which does no whit fall short of a Spiritual Baptism or dipping into the Name Power and Life of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Go teach baptizing them into the Name c. was a Commission by divine Power and Authority and in the same was fulfilled by Christs presence with his Ministers Lo I am with you alway even unto the End said he and therefore it was by virtue of Christ's Presence with them that they were made Instrumental in baptizing with the Spirit And this was not to turn them from Light to Darkness as most ignorantly is alledged by this Priest Pr. Pag. 9. Surely W. Penn was as Oxford to Lick Glass-Windows Answ A scornful Detraction which shews the Pride of the Priest's Heart Pr. Ibid. It is the Judgment of a real Quaker that Water-Baptism is none of Christ's Institutions and that Paul was of the same mind which is a most gross mistake Answ No Mistake at all that Christ sent not Paul to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel as he himself expresly saith 1 Cor. 1. And this he gave as his most general Reason why he Baptized no more of them than he did And surely his Commission was not short of the rest of the Apostles Wherefore Water-Baptism was not included in it § V. Pr Ibid. That the real Quaker confesseth himself guilty of a base Doctrine viz. That â—ustification by that Righteousness which Christ fulfilled WHOLLY without us is a Sin pleasing Notion Answ No such Confession of Guilt by the Real Quaker who confesseth to Christ's Righteousness both without and within as 't is received by Faith unto Justification or making men Righteous for he cannot own that men can truly be reckoned Righteous or Just while they have none of Christ's Righteousness within them or while his Image is not at all renewed in them nor they in any Degree sanctified None are justified without living Faith in Christ Jesus Therefore none are justified in an unsanctified State so not wholly without them especially if Christ's living Faith be the instrumental Cause of our Justification or Causa sine qua non without which there 's no real Justification he that believes not is condemned already though Christ who is the Author of Faith be the Principal Cause of Good to us Pr. Ibid. The Papists call it a Putative Righteousness This Justification by Christ's Righteousness imputed by Faith which is a comfortable Doctrine is basely murthered betwixt these two Thieves Answ He has here maliciously as well as basely slandered us called Quakers in his Comparison for we never denyed Christ's Righteousness as imputed or reckoned to us by Faith taken in the Real Scripture Sense But some Professors reckoning of it to men in an Unbelieving Unconverted and Unsanctified State or when no Good is wrought in them in which State I suppose he dare not directly say Men are justified for without Faith its impossible to please God and yet he says little or no less if he tell us that men are justified and acquitted before God by a Righteousness of Câ—aist WHOLLY without them for that leaves no room for Christ's Righteousness to have any place within them for their Justification And is not this a Sin-pleasing Notion I would ask what that Righteousness that Christ fulfilled wholly without them was Did it not consist in his Obedience to the Father and fulfilled in his Sufferings and Death If this then has compleated Justification wholly without men then it must be compleated for all Mankind for whom he dyed And he dyed for all men tasted Death for every man for the whole World What then are all men yea the whole World that lies in Sin compleatly justified by this Priest's Doctrine they must if it be effected wholly without them See now what Sin-pleasing Work our Adversary's run into whereas Christ dyed for our Sins and rose again for our Justification Therefore 't was not wholly accomplished by his Death Pr. pag. 10. We are accounted Righteous before God ONLY for the Merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith That we are JUSTIFIED by Faith only is a most wholsome Doctrine Answ Here he joyns Faith to the Merit of our Lord in the Matter of Imputation but then says We are justified by Faith
has not told us very likely 't is by some severe means as Hanging the Quakers and Burning their Books this Priest hath Malice enough for both as if that would prevail more to the safety of Souls from Error then all the Priests Preaching or Arguments 'T is evident how little Interest they have in mens Consciences But then this course would honour the Quakers with Martyrdom and raise greater enquiry after their Religion and then it will be time for Persecuting Clergy-men to be silent Pr. Ibid. Books not so dangerous as this is have been burnt by the hand of the common Hangman Answ He smels still strong of the old Where 's Cup Envy and Persecution But the Impartial Readers will see that his Book is more fit for such Execution 't is so filled with Scorn and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ Jesus within Pr. Ibid. The Author is gone to his Judge so this Book deserves a black mark for his sake and its Pestilent Doctrine Answ Malicious and Blind Presumption thus finally to condemn the Author as he has the Book as if he were infallibly sure that he is gone to utter Damnation But see his Ignorance and Falshood in his proofs Pr. Ibid. This Quaking Primmer begins with a Lye to corrupt Children's Minds the Light within which is no express Scripture phrase is indeed a meer Fancy the Real Quaker's Idol Answ Gross Ignorance and Blasphemy the Light within is no Fancy nor Idol 't is the Light of Christ within God's inshining in our Hearts that we profess that mens Minds may be turned from Darkness that 's within them to the Light of Christ within That God hath shined in our Hearts is express Scripture Pr. p. 28. It s false Doctrine to make the Light within to be the Teacher of the Fear of God Answ The Light of Christ within teacheth to depart from Evil and to do good to speak and practise Truth and therefore the Fear of God is taught by it Pr. Ibid. In this Quaking Primmer little Children are taught to take heed to the Light within them that the Scripture the more sure Word of Prophecy may not be regarded by them as their Guide or Rule of their Lives Answ The more sure Word of Prophecy mentioned 2 Pet. 1.19 is explained in the same place what it is Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto A LIGHT that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your Hearts And therefore it is a Light of Christ within which directs and guides unto his inward Appearance who is the bright and morning Star It could not be the Scriptures of the Prophets that was intended by this more sure Word for they could not be more sure than that Voice which Peter James and John heard from the Excellent Glory when they were with Christ in the Mount Nor yet more sure than the Apostles Testimony Wherein then lies the Comparison but in that Divine Word or Light of the Son of God being more general and more near to them than that Voice though both true This Word doth shine in many dark Hearts that never heard that Voice Pr. pag. 29. Gross Popery here is Deliverance from Condemnation not by Faith in Christ's Merits but by obeying the Light within their worst Guide Answ Here is gross Ignorance and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within still Christ did not oppose his own Merit Deserving or Dignity by exhorting his Hearers to believe in the Light that they might become Children of the Light and if we walk in the Light as he i. e. God is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 and this in relation to the Divine Light for God is Light vers 5. Therefore this Light within is that whereby men may know the Benefit of Christ's Blood and Merit But this Priest has here branded Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies herein with gross Popery Pr. Ibid. Quakerism serves as a Stepping-stone for Popery in this Church and Kingdom Answ If Papists had not greater Hopes of making many of you Clergy-men swallow down Popery for Preferments and Self-ends than they have of the Quakers they would not be so confident in their Attempts 'T is easie for them to suppose that a Temporizing Clergy man whose Conscience is benumbed either by Avarice or Covenant-breaking is a fit Agent to introduce Popery gradually under some hidden Disguise or Cloak as this Adversary can cry up the Church of England and cry down Popery while he looks and steers his course directly towards Rome both in his Rage against dissenting Protestants and asserting divers Popish Doctrines Ibid. Qr. Primmer p. 13 14. Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus believe them not that turn you from the Light for they are not the Ministers of Christ Pr. answers Here you may observe how this Quaking Primmer is mainly designed to foist these new Vessels by this bad Liquor put into them Other Teachers whether Arch-Bishops or Bishops Priests or Deacons are but Deceivers no Ministers of Christ to whom little Children are here taught not to hearken nor believe them Answ How plain is it here that by his making the Application to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Priestsor Deacons he has granted them to be such Teachers as keep Persons from the Light of Christ Jesus and turn them from the Light for such are they that little Children are taught not to hearken to nor believe viz Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus c. Pr. pag. 30. Abominable False Doctrine that the holy Scriptures are not the Way to know the Truth Ibid. God's Ministers teach that the Scriptures are the way to know the Truth Answ Christ saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life and the Spirit of Truth shall guide you into all Truth Where do the Scriptures say They are the Way Surely they are not Christ nor the Spirit but testifie of both which is no decrying of the holy Scriptures to allow the Spirit the Preference Pr. Ibid. These Quakers are strangely fond of the Light within so as to cry down the Light of God's own Word This Quaking Dotage Answ No Fondness nor Dotage in crying up the Light of God's living Word within which is nigh in the Heart which is not to cry down the Scripture as is falsly supposed I have hid thy Word in mine Heart that I might not sin against thee 't is a Light unto my Paths and a Lanthorn to my Feet saith David Qr. Primmer p. 16. Such are Deceivers who preach for Money and Tythes such cannot lead you out of Transgression for they are in Transgression themselves for Christ said to his Freely ye have received freely give and Paul made not the Gospel Chargeable but these Priests that preach for filthy Lucre deceive people Pr. The Priest answers
pag. 30. In this Quaking Primmer here is a base Charge drawn against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England Here these Quakers have fired their Beacon that the Youth of this Church may have timely notice to beware of their best Soul-Friends Here the silly Sheep are slightly counselled against their Keepers that the Quaking Wolves may the better prey upon them Answ Here the Priest rages and rails but defends not himself and his Brethren from the Charge of such being Deceivers as preach for Money and Tythes and who being in Transgression not able to lead others out of it only he sayes 'T is a base Charge against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England as if he had told us all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England do preach for Money and Tythes and then cryes out Quaking Wolves as if that were enough to clear him and his Brethren and to be a deadly Blow to the Quakers Who is it cannot see such Impertinency Malice and Railery He tells us They are God's Priests and Ambassadours by whom God doth beseech his Rebel-Subjects to be reconcited but proves it not we have only his Say-so He should have proved his own and their Call to the Ministry We deny that they are immediately called of God either to be his Priests Embassadours or Mouth How should they be so Called that deny Immediate Teaching and Inspiration and especially such who scoff at the Light within and the Spirit 's Teaching as this Adversary doth And for a mediate Call I deny that they have it from the holy Apostles or primitive Church of Christ in their dayes Pr. pag. 31. Here little Children are taught to look upon all Teaching Priests as so many Deceivers as those Hirelings that preach for Money and Tythes which is a Lying Slander Answ No this is mis-stated for they are taught to look upon all such as preach for Money and Tythes to be Deceivers Hirelings c. Pr. Ibid. According to the baseness of these Quaking Lines its a shame for the King 's sacred Majesty the Defender of the true Faith that such base Priests should be owned by him Answ Here for a shelter he would make the King a Patronizer of the Priests Cause how Base soever any of them are in Preaching for Hire and Cruel in Persecuting and Imprisoning People for Tythes he thinks he argues stoutly in their Defence to tell us The King 's sacred Majesty owns them when alas his Majesty knows not a tenth part of their Baseness and Cruelty who are guilty of persecuting his peaceable Subjects for their Bellies and filthy Lucre. And rather than not have their Covetous Ends answered they 'l throw a Man in Goal for the Value of a Tythe-Pig they are so cruel and hard-hearted many of them that they value a few Tythe-Piggs more than they do Mens Liberties or Lives I am perswaded such Priests will bring no Honour to the King Pr. Ibid. Devilish Lessons that the Scripture is not the Word of God Answ No where doth the Scripture call it self the Word but in the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God c. and his Name is called The Word of God John 1. Rev. 19.13 Yet what the Scriptures call themselves we call them so and own them to be Pr. pag. 32. To say that God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are Three Persons but One God this is to speak we know not what c. Ibid. To say with the Church of England In the Vnity of this Godhead there be Three Persons of One Sâ—â—sâ—ance Power and Eternity the Father the Son and H. Ghost is in this Quaker 's Account the Doctrine of the World Answ That in the Unity of the Godhead there 's Father Son and Holy Spirit of One Substance Power and Eternity we do own and confess according to the Scripture but that these are Three distinct or separate Persons as some have called them we have no Scripture Proof for these Terms Why does not this man bring us plain Scripture-Proof in this Case seeing he professes it to be his only Rule of Faith Has he not given here great Advantage to the Papists to tell him that the Church is his Rule and not the Scripture in this great Article of his and their Faith Pr. pag. 33. To prepare little Children to slight them i. e. the Scriptures as being unable to bring them to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth according to these Quaking Lines St. Paul was mistaken when he said that the Scripture was profitable for Doctrine Answ 'T is no preparing any to sleight the Scriptures to testifie of Christ his Light and Spirit of Truth as being the Way to know God whom no man knows but by the Son 's revealing him And God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus This is not said of the Scriptures though as given by Inspiration of God they are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Instruction that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnisht unto every good Work Herein Paul was not mistaken for the Man of God is Divinely Inspired unto the right Understanding and Use of the Scriptures Therefore this Inspiration is the Ground of Divine Knowledge The Scriptures are profitable by the help of this through the Blessing of God hereby have we found Profit and Comfort in reading the Scriptures which no man can without the BLESSING of GOD by his Spirit Pr. Ibid. To Exalt the Quakers Idol the Light within little Children are here taught to slight the holy Scriptures as a Duâ—â— Book Answ Here is both horrid Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within and a gross Lye that little Children are so taught to slight the holy Scriptures for they are told in the very words cited by this Priest That the Scriptures of Truth do declare of God Christ and the Spirit of Truth and this is not to slight the Scriptures thus to own their Testimony on the behalf of God his Christ and the holy Spirit The holy Scriptures may be made instrumental for our Profit and Confirmation through the Divine and Gracious Assistance of the holy Spirit but not of themselves or without it His Comparison between Popish Catechisms and ours and his telling us of Papal Quakers that make their Followers two-fold more the Children of Hell are both False Infamous and Slanderous and nothing like any rational Proof urged by him but a continued persisting in his Abusive Railery and Reviling for which the Lord rebuke him § X V. The Priest's next Quarrel and Railery is against William Smith's two Treatises Primmer and Catechism Pr. pag. 33. Both Primmer and Catechism are the fittest for Smithfield to receive the Hang-man's Imprimatur Answ This same Envious Spirit that is still finding Work for the Hang-man to
burn such Books for testifying of the Light of Christ within would no doubt both Hang and Burn us if it had but Power but God be thanked for putting a Limit to it Pr. pag. 34. The Light Within this Quaker 's Fondling is the Child 's only Tutor to help him to know God his Way and Truth Answ You may see his Rage is still against the Light Within which neither he nor the Devil shall ever be able to suppress if they had Power to imploy the Hang-man against us I would ask him and his Brethren if they think that any can know God his Way or Truth without the help of Divine Light surely they cannot by continuing in Darkness Pr. Ibid. As for the Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God as St. Paul saith is able to make wise to Salvation Answ Pauls words are these And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS But these words Through Faith which is in Christ Jesus the Priest hath disingenuously left out as if the Scriptures of themselves without either Faith in Christ or Light from him could make wise to Salvation whereas this was writ to Timothy a man of God a man in the Faith and Knowledge of God a man that was partaker of the Gift of the holy Ghost in him to whom it was said Neglect not the Gift that is in thee the Vnfeigned Faith that is in thee stir up the Gift of God which is in thee c. So that the Scriptures alone without Divine Assistance and Faith in Christ Jesus could not make him wise to Salvation but the holy Spirit alone could nor be of that profit and advantage to him but as he partook of that Faith which is in Christ Jesus For Christ himself was the principal and chief cause of saving Wisdom and Knowledge in whom all the Treasures thereof are Quakers Primmer pag. 5. Such as are not Christs Ministers have their Power and Authority from Man and each man a place of settlement called a Parish In that Parish they have Tythes and a Law made by man to compel it and if any for Conscience sake cannot give it them then they Sue and Imprison them and Spoil their Goods and these are Wolves Child that are let loose among the Lambs to rend and tear them c. Pr. The Priest Answers p. 35. By this Quaking Father the Children of this Church and Kingdom are basely taught in a ridiculous manner to despise all Gods Ministers of what degree soever throughout this whole Kingdom from the Kings Chappel to the meanest Congregation we are all alike none of Christs Ministers like Jeroboams Priests or Baals Prophets this Quaker saith we derive our Authority from Man The Consecration of Arch-Bishops and Bishops the Ordinantion of Priests and Deacons is no more but an Humane Invention for they have their Power and Authority from Man Answ I shall need say little to these Passages untill he gives us a better Consutation to clear himself and his Brethren than only are-citation of our Friends words or his bare telling us that they are God's Ministers I deny that the Children are here taught to despise Gods Ministers when they are taught to deny such Priests as Preach for Hire and Divine for Money and Persecute Oppress Imprison spoil People in their goods for Tythes I deny that such derive their Authority from God or that the Consecration and Ordination of the Bishops who are called Lord Bishops who by their Office are made Great and Rich in the Earth and their Parish-Priests can shew any higher Power and Authority then what 's Human or of man whether they be set up by Pope or Prince and many Thousands are of the same mind with me as being dissatisfied concerning them Let them therefore shew us any Divine Authority or Power for their Consecration Ordination and Commission that we may be convinc'd thereof according to the holy Scriptures Otherwise it s but a pitiful begging the Question for this Priest to cry themselves up as Gods Ministers Ministers of Gods Word or Gods Priests and to boast of the Kings Power on their side and the Kings Chappel and the Arch-Bishops and Bishops as if that were sufficient to prove that they are Divinely authorized and impower'd while this is his great Refuge he has the King and Bishops on his side and they own the Priests therefore the Consecration and Ordination Power and Authority is not Human or of Man but Divine What Real Christian or Rational man will own such Arguing as this to prove the Commission Divine And verily this is the best Logick and strongest Argument I can â—ather or naturally infer from this Priests Method to prove his Call Power or Authority to preach in the Name of Christ Pr. Ibid. An Hour-Glass measures the time of their Preaching which their Eyes are oft upon In this Quâ—kers Eye they are no better than so many Hour-Glass Preachers Answ 'T is strange this Man should cite this passage against the Priests practice and give us no better proof for it then only the Recital of the Charge and telling us 'T is a silly scandalous Charge and that it is a shame that such base things should not signally be taken notice of as if to incense the Magistrates to punish us for saying The Priest Preaches by an Hour-Glass were Confutation enough for us and proof sufficient for such a Practice But what Scripture has he for preaching by an Hour-Glass Come Priest bring us plain Scripture for this your practice or else never pretend the Scripture to be thy Rule of Faith and Practice Quakers Prim. p. 10. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints are made Witnesses of but the Spirit is the Rule unto them that gave forth the Scriptures The Priest Answers p. 36. The Youth are taught by this Quaking Father that the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith and Obedience Answ Come Priest seeing 't is an Article of thy Faith that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Obedience and not the Spirit as appears by the Tenor of thy Writing let us have plain Scripture to prove this great Article of thy Faith to wit that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Obedience If thou hast not plain Scripture for this then it follows not only that the Scripture is not the Rule of thy Faith and Practice but also that thy Position or Article in this case is unsound as well as Unscriptural and inconsistent with it self that the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith c. and yet no Scripture to prove they are so But that they testifie of Christ as the Way the Truth the Life the Light and that the Spirit of Truth is that which guides into all Truth this is Scriptural And further 't is very Uncharitable to condemn all Nations that have not the Scriptures and that is
thee to thy Shame Why dost thou hunt after the Blood and Lives of a peaceable People Thou hast wickedly compared us to the Jesuited Papists We have approved our selves better Protestants and more peaceable Subjects than such Temporizing Priests and Malicious Incendiaries Let Shame cover thy Face whoever thou art thou Scornful Malicious Person thou Unconscionable Mercenary Wolvish Priest that makest Lyes thy Refuge I have Matter against thee and where-withal to answer thee with a good Conscience and therefore I charge thee home who for thy own Fame and Advantage seek'st the Destruction of others flatterest and daubest with Men in Power for thy own Ends hast mens Persons in Admiration for Advantage a Raging Wave of the Sea that foamest out thy own shame Thy Abusive Persecuting Deceitful Work will redound to thy own perpetual Infamy and Reproach Pr. pag. 51. To mount this Quakers Folly to its full height to say to the King's Majesty May it please your Majesty to any Peer of the Realm Your Grace Your Honour to any great Man Your Excellency Your Worship c. these are according to this Quaker such Expressions of Civil Honour as were never spoken by any holy men of God Answ Thus the flattering Temporizer goes on to ingratiate himself but where any Holy men â—n Scripture did use these Complemental Titles and Terms of Honour as Your Grace your Honour your Excellency your Worship c. he shews us not but only Reviles the Quaker for his plainness and simplicity in standing out of these out-side Complements calling him Rude Quaker p. 54 whose Discourse serves to beclown all Courtiers that do honour the King in their Words and Gestures Thus he would make us believe he were highly Courtified and very expert in Court-Complements but I tell him plainly that the plain honest Quaker is more acceptable at Court among Noble Men who are men of Parts and Moderation then an Hundred such flattering creeping Temporizing Priests such as he who can Flatter Creep Cringe and Daub for their own ends and have mens Persons in Admiration for Advantage especially if they want an Augmentation or fat Benefice to creep beg flatter and complement for with Your Grace Your Honour Your Excellency Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir But what he means by Your Worship after his pleading for the Hat and Knee-honour Scraping and Titles he explains not If all this out-side Honour of his result in the Worship of a Creature as it seems to do then we may see whither it tends that it is both to Honour and Worship mens Persons which is to have them in high Admiration for Advantage to set them in the place of God and Christ to whom Worship only belongs As in the case of Mordecai the reason he renders for his not bowing to proud Haman in his solemn Appeal to God as we have it in the 13th of Esther in Apoc. his words are these Thou knowest all things and thou knowest Lord that it was neither of Malice nor Presumption nor for any desire of Glory that I did this and not bow down to proud Haman For I would have been content with good will for the Salvation of Israel to have kissed the Soles of his Feet but I did it because I would not prefer the Honour of a Man above the Glory of God and would not worship any but only thee my Lord And this have I not done of Pride ver 12 13 14. Whereby 't is evident that this Bowing the Knee was as now the putting off the Hat in Prayer to God is a Token of Homage Honour and Worship due and performed among the Jews to the Lord God and so they esteem'd it As Peter said to Cornelius Stand up for even I my self am a Man Acts 10.26 as much as to say This Bowing or Homage belongs not to me but to God It s said in Esther the third All the King's Servants that were at the King's Gate bowed their Knees and Reverenced Haman for the King had so commanded concerning him But Mordecai bowed not the Knee neither did Reverence v. 2. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not the Knee unto him nor did Reverence unto him then Haman was full of Wrath. Though the Persians manner was to kneel down and Reverence their Kings and such as they appointed in chief Authority yet Mordecai would not do it to this Ambitious and Proud Man see the Margin on the place which if our Adversary had been in that Court 't is probable he would have taken Proud Haman's part and Accused and Vilified Mordecai as he has done the Quakers and have said unto Mordecai as the Kings Servants did Why transgressest thou the King's Commandment But 't is not bowing the Knee only unto a Proud Heady High-minded Man as the Priest supposes of the King that will satisfie this our Adversary but he must have flattering Titles and Complements as Your Grace Your Honour Your Excellency Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir c. He is forgetful of that Serious saying of Elihu viz. Let me not I pray you accept any mans Person neither let me give flattering Titles unto man For I know not to give flattering Titles in so doing my Maker would soon take me away Job 32.21 22. The Lord shall cut off all flattering Lips and the Tongue that speaketh proud things Psal 12.3 And this I have further to say of Hat-Honour Bowing Kneeling Scraping to persons Titles of Honour flattering Titles c. that no humble-minded Christian can take any delight in them nor desire or expect them And as for the Proud and Lofty who seek or look for such Honour and Complements 't is really matter of Conscience to us as well as 't was in Mordecai not to gratifie them or answer that proud Spirit in these Vain and Heathenish Customs knowing that God will debase and stain the â—ride of all Flesh that has a Life in them § XIX Pr. p. 55. All Swearing is condemned by this Quaker as that Sin which reacheth to the Damnation of Hell Answ 'T is no otherwise Condemned by the Quaker then by Christ Jesus Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. And his Apostle James James 5.12 But above all things my Brethren Swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by ANY OTHER OATH but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into Condemnation Yet we distinguish in the Case 'T is more Condemnable in such as know Christ's Doctrine and Prohibition in the Case to Swear than in such as are Ignorant of it though not excusable in either Pr. Ibid. All the King's Subjects who have taken the Oaths of Suprem and Alleg. by taking these Oaths have done that which comes of Evil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Devil the Evil one P. 56 Which of the King 's sworn Subjects have minded the Spirit of Truth when they took those Oaths have they not done that which comes of the Evil one Is not this â—are Quaking stuff
think to be saved hereafter No no. And after the words We is coming upon you all he leaves out who are Proud you must all give an Account before the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is Terrible to the Wicked Behold the Day of the Lord cometh which will burn as an Oven and all that are Proud and all that do Wickedly shall be as Stubble Thus far J.P. And next after these words The Lord abhors all your Profession and your Hypocrisie the Priest leaves out these viz. It is not Profession that he seeks for it is Practice it is not the Sayer but the Doer that shall inherit it is not all that say Lord Lord that shall inherit but he that doth the Will of my Father The Lord looks for Fruits c. And next after these words You serve the Devil with your Hearts and Actions the Priest leaves out who is King of Pride and here you are in the broad and casie Way in the first Nature which is in the Fall separated from God whose Kingdom is not of this World Thus far J. P. See now how plain it is that J. Parnel does not threaten them with Destruction or Hell without Exception or meerly for being called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen Gemlewomen Madam c. but plainly shews them the Destruction and Misery that those Evil Courses Ways and Practices which too many live in lead to and that they that live or continue in Pride and Covetousness cannot escape Destruction is Evident For without Conversion there is no Salvation Again how plain that J.P. proposeth the Conditions that God requireth in order to a Reformation and consequently the Salvation of the same persons whom he Warns in these words viz. The Lord abhors your Hypocrisie 't is not Profession that he seeks for 't is Practice it is not the Sayer but the Doer that shall inherit The Lord looks for Fruits as before cited Again the Priest p. 73. in his Citation out of James Parnel's Book p. 34 35 36. he leaves out Let your Mouthes be stopt all you who act in Vnrighteousness And next after the words Away with all your Profession he leaves out and now Repent and then follows Tremble before the Lord and then he also leaves out Come down all you High and Lofty Ones and then follows Howl in Sack-cloth and Ashes And after the words p. 34. Who are for the Fire the Priest leaves out these viz. For Fruit he is come to seek for Therefore profess him no longer in words but now Repent and Return from all your Vnrighteousness for know you not that no Vnrighteous Person shall inherit the Kingdom of God No Vain Person nor Drunkards Swearers no Lyar no Proud no Covetous ones none who delight in Pleasures Sporting Rioting Chambering and Wantonness no Vnholy Vnclean Thing must enter Thus far James Parnel Now let all serious Readers judge how basely and fallaciously the Priest hath dealt with J. Parnel and the Qrs. on his Account to render him as Pronouncing Absolute Sentence of Damnation for evermore upon all that are called Pag. 74. Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen c. Pag. 75. as dooming them all without Exception to the Fire of Hell pag. 75. And not only so but the Priest has forged this as an Article of the Qrs. Faith viz. Article 45. We Qrs. do believe That all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam are all accursed of God and shall be cast into Hell and that they are no better nor shall fare better then Lucifer Dives Haman Pharaoh Herod and the rest of their Fore-Fathers pag. 154. And to this very purpose he has forged Three Lying Articles in the Qrs. Name viz. his 45th 46th 47th Article Wherefore I testifie against this Priest as an Arrant Forger and one that has dealt most Basely and Knavishly with our deceased Friend's Testimony herein For in the reading of his Books he could not be Ignorant First That it was the state of Dives Haman c. and those that continued therein that were liable to their End to wit Destruction and that they that live in these Evils Pride Covetousness Oppression Excess c. do incur Destruction Secondly That our Friend warned them all to wit the Great Ones with the Priests and People to Repent and to Return from all their Vnrighteousness c. But this the Priest was willing to leave out and take no notice of that he might render the Qrs. more Odious and incense the great Ones against them as guilty of great Vncharitableness Religious Foolery Melancholly c. says because they are not Trembling Qrs they must all to Hell Mind this Melancholly Qr. how he hath packt them up for Hell pag. 73. We may rather say Mind this Deceitful Scornful Priest that has thus forged and play'd the Knave and fordidly abused the plain Testimonies and serious Warnings of a deceased Servant of the Lord and then Scoff at Trembling But the Day will come that the Fearfulness and Horror that will surprize such Hypocrites Atheistical Spirits and Abusers of Truth and Religion will cause him to Tremble and Quake and his Reward will be according to his Works and the Glorying of such in Wickedness will be their shame It s time for this Hypocritical Scornful Priest to Repent J. Parnel's plain Testimonies and Warnings both to High and Low without respect of Persons shall rise up in Judgment against this Temporizing Daubing Flattering Priest that hath so foully and shamefully abused and perverted them to incense the Powers against us like one of Jeroboam's Priests against the Lord's Prophet see Amos 7.10 13. even in as great Envy as Amaziah shewed against Amos to Instigate the King against him Hath this Priest shewn himself against us for warning the great Ones He may see that J. Parnel was not such a Minister as could Daub and Flatter great Persons for a fat Benefice or Augmentation nor such an one as could have their Persons in Admiration for Advantage like those Covetous Temporizing Priests that can renounce and break their Covenan◠Turn from the Directory to the Common-Prayer Wheel about with the Times Sail with every Wind to save their Livings or procure fat Places or Benefices Creep Cringe Complement and Flatter great Persons Pag. 95. and give their Flattering Titles of Your Excellency Your Grace Your Honour Your Lordship Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir c. as this Priest has taught and all for their own Ends and Advantages § XXV Whereas the Priest is offended at J. Parnel distinguishing between the Letter and the Life as between the Shadow and the Substance p. 70 71. The Priest hereupon saith That the Scripture by this Quaker is unjustly term'd the Letter p. 76. Whereupon I ask him if the Apostle doth not distinguish between the Letter and the Spirit in these Scriptures Rom. 7.6 That we should serve in Newness of the Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter
Spirits who further manifests his Folly and Ignorance in his Discant or Paraphrase upon Nicholas Knights Book Entituled A Comparison between the true and false Ministers Printed 1675. After this Priest hath told us that in this Quaking Book the false Ministers of England are thus described and after several Descriptions given of them the Priest cites these following in his pag. 142. which I recite directly as he has done viz. Tythes are only claim'd by false Teachers I ask him where did true Ones or Christ's Ministers ever claim them They deny the Doctrine of Christ enlightning every one with a saving Light and that truly for it is a Quaking falshood They deny the manifestation of the Spirit in all they reproach the true Ministers of the Light and justly because of their Folly They are Persecutors of the Children of Light but the Quakers have no Truth nor Righteousness to be persecuted for They deny that any are made Perfect from all Sin in this Life which they ought to do Observation Observe that these Words within the Crotchets are the Priest own very words wherein first he hath blasphemously charged the Light of Christ who is that true Light which lighteth every man that comes into the World John 1.9 2dly He has reproached the true Ministers of the Light in directly charging them with Folly 3dly He has slandered the Quakers in saying They have no Truth nor Righteousness 4thly He counts it a Duty to deny that any are made Perfect from all Sin in this Life herein he has justified the false Teachers against Christs Doctirne and Work who taught his to be Perfect and is come throughly to purge his Floor to sanctifie wash and cleanse his Church and People that there may be no spot in his Spouse But this work of Christ the false Teacher denyes he says they ought to deny it The Lord deliver People from such blind Guides § XXVIII Pr. p. 101. You see that the Quakers are accused justly for asserting a perfect freedom from all Sin on Earth of this false Doctrine this Quaker is a sorry Champion Answ Such a freedom from Sin must be on Earth or never there is no Purgatory after Death and no unclean thing shall enter into Gods Kingdom If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 Unto him that loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 Blessed are the Undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord Psal 119.1 They also do no Iniquity ver 3. And this was on Earth therefore no false Doctrine Pr. Ibid. Nothing less than a perfect freedom from all Sin on Earth was the End and Aim of Redemption by Jesus Christ to deny a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life is according to this Quaker to make Christ only a part of a Redeemer and to establish a middle way betwixt Earth and Heaven in which to be made free from Sin Answ Our Saviour Jesus Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from ALL Iniquity and Purifie unto himself a peculiar People Zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 By one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified Heb. 10.14 This was the End and Aim of Redemption by Jesus Christ who therefore is not only a Redeemer in part but wholly wherefore to deny such freedom from all Sin in this Life is to suppose Christ only a Redeemer in part some middle place to be freed from Sin in after Death Pr. Ibid. To assert this great Truth that there is no perfect freedom from Sin to be attained to in this Life is as the Quaker doth basely speak a great Delusion of the Devil Answ 'T is a great delusion of the Devil to assert that there is no perfect freedom from all Sin to be attained in this Life and contrary to Scripture-Testimonies before cited Pr. p. 102. That if they lay hold on him by Faith their Sins shall not be imputed to them though they Sin daily that the Righteous man sins seven times a day Answ Here he hath accused true Believers and the Righteous man without exception both with sinning daily and sinning seven times a day such a Champion is this Priest for Satans Kingdom against the Righteous for which he has no rule in Scripture that we know that saith The Righteous man sins seven times a day but that a Just man falls seven times and rises up again Prov. 24.16 Here 's neither sinning nor day mention'd he may fall so often into Trouble Affliction and Suffering Psal 56.1 and not into Sin and rise up again out of his Troubles The Lord knows the dayes of the Upright and their Inheritance shall be forever Psal 37.18 Also in Zachariah's Prophecy of Christ and his Salvation he saith That we being delivered out of the Hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the dayes of our Life Luke 1.74 75. And thy Testimonies are very sure Holiness becometh thine House O Lord forever or to length of days Psal 93.5 Pr. Ibid. That their Sins shall not be imputed to them that believe in Christ though they sin daily Answ Sinning daily is neither consistent with true Faith in Christ nor with the estate of the Righteous and blessed of the Lord to whom Sin shall not be Imputed see Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is NO GVILE unto which the Apostle refers Rom. 4.6 7 8. Pr. Ibid. That the Righteous man doth sin often in one day that the Holy men of God have sinned that do deny a perfect freedom from all Sin attainable in this Life Answ His Charge against the Righteous man without exception is refuted before as contrary to Scripture and indeed 't is Antichristian Sin pleasing and Impious thus to plead for Sin against the Righteous and 't is a great aggravation of this Impiety to accuse the Holy men of God with denying a perfect freedom from all Sin to be attainable in this Life Come Priest thou that say'st The Scripture is thy only Rule produce us plain Scripture to prove this thy Charge which is general against the Holy men of God where ever they denyed such a freedom from all Sin to be attainable in this Life either bring us Scripture-proof for this or else forever be silent and deceive the People no longer Pr. Ibid. To speak this Quaker's mind without being perfectly cleansed from all Sin no man can witness Christ to be his Redeemer nor that he is come to destroy the Works of the Devil nor can he witness that Christ is come to redeem him Answ The Priest hath here utter'd his own mistake and not the Quaker's mind For every true
there should be one Head Christ one Teacher one Lord one Lawgiver one Faith one Baptism one Light one Life one Way one Shepherd and one Sheep-fold one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Family one God and Father of all in this true Church This is not strange to the Church of Christ which is Constituted of true and living Members of one Body who live by the Faith of the Son of God and are new Creatures in Christ Jesus who are gathered and baptized by one Spirit into one Light Life and Power and so into one Body according to Scripture seeing the Priest is so ignorant of these things I desire him to read these Scriptures at leisure Isa 33.22 Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. Heb. 8.8 9 10 11. John 6.45 Isa 54.13 1 Cor. 12.13 see also Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. which is directly to our purpose for this Unity and Perfection in the true Church so much condemned and derided by our Unchristian and Atheistical Adversary § XXXI Pr. Ibid. The true Church is now only to be found among the Poor Deluded Qrs. Most of these Vnities heaped together by this Qr. must be understood according to the Notorious false Principles of all Qrs. A Quakerized Vnity Answ We do not say this true Church is only to be found amongst the Poor Quakers or this Unity as relating only to a Visible Society among us 't is of more Universal extent than any Visible Society of Persons but that there is an Invisible and Spiritual Union known to all the faithful among us and that as we are a People gathered by the Power and Spirit of Christ we are Members of that Church which he is Head of and that his Power has more manifestly appeared with us in our Testimony for him and in upholding us chearfully to suffer for the same than with other Societies in our Day as also to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and Man this we are satisfied in and that the Lord's Power has more Eminently appeared among us in our Societies and Assemblies than among other Professions Societies or Assemblies in our day else we should not keep together in a Society we should not be a Church nor in such an Union nor Assemble together if we did not really believe and were satiâ—fied that the Lord owns us and is with us as we are a People And let this Caution be taken by the way That whoever go out from us separate themselves and turn into Emnity Malice or Wickedness after they have seen and tasted of the great Power and Work of the Lord among us they fall into a worse and more dangerous state than thousands are in who never had this Knowledge Wilfully to sin against such Knowledge is far worse than to be in the time of Ignorance wherein God winked their latter End is worse with them than the beginning it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteâ—usness than after they have known it to turn aside from the holy Commandment Turks and Indians who confess and adore an Eternal Deity and live honestly according to what they believe and know are more acceptable to God yea and the most ignorant among them shall sooner find Mercy and Salvation with him than either the Rebellious Back-slider the Hypocrite Careless and Unfaithful under the Profession of Christianity among what People soever And though we do not Exclude all who are not yet gathered into an outward Society with us from having any share in that inward and invisible Life Spirit Faith Union or Salvation which we are made partakers of For there are those that Wish well to Zion that have a love to her and a drawing towards her that God hath regard to them and will prosper in their honest Desires And there are those that are Not against us that are for us Luke 9.50 And God hath a regard to Inward Sincerity and honesty of Heart though clouded under various Forms and Professions There are those that have a Simplicity and Innocence in their Heart towards God and are free from Enmity against his People that yet are not come to have their Understandings so clear as to come into an outward Society and compliance in all things with the gathered and chosen of the Lord that yet have a secret breathing unto him in Spirit whom he will in his own time gather unto himself as Christ saith Other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice and there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd John 10.16 However I would not be mistaken though all are not come to that visible Society and open Testimony which God hath gathered us into and brought forth publickly among us through many deep Sufferings and Reproaches yet I do not own nor believe Salvation by any other Christ Gospel Light Spirit or Power than that which we have received from God and â—eat Witness unto through his Son Christ Jesus The Way of Life and Salvation is but one Truth is but one the Light of the Lord of the Lamb and of his holy City is but one wherein the Nations of them that are saved shall walk and the holy fear of God and working Righteousness which in every Nation they that experience are accepted springs from this one Divine Principle of Life Light and Truth in the inward parts which God hath given to mankind wherein Christ is spiritually and effectually received to Salvation which is but one in all though different in degrees of Discoveries and Knowledge thereof among the Sons of men Howbeit thus far there is an Universal Union among all People saved of the Lord when in the way of Salvation that there is not an Envy nor an evil mind in one against another but a certain degree of Innocency Love and good Will all which springs from that one universal and divine Principle of Life Light and Grace in the Hearts which we testifie of Pr. p. 118. This Quaking Vnity belonging to the true Church of God hath no Scripture-bottome to stand on no Christian Writers of any Century did ever describe the true Church of God after this Canting rate Answ The Unity belonging to the true Church and the description thereof I have sufficiently proved by H. Scripture and according to true Christian Experience Testimony and therefore this Adversary may be ashamed of his scornful Taunting and Idle Atheistical and Impious Triffling Reflections on these serious Occasions and remember the Proverb cited by himself Piet as non patitur ludum he will find one day that he has an heavy Account to give for his acting the part of a Mountebank and Stage-player Gamer and Sporter about Pious and Religious matters his casting his Scurrilous terms upon us and calling that Canting which hee 's not able to Confute This will not excuse his Prophaneness Levity Scorn and Contempt which God will rebuke As for his slighty Reflection upon
6 7 10 12. Pr. Art 10. We Q. do believe that Jesus our Saviour is not the Son of Mary nor the Son of the Substance of the Father Answ These are both Gross Lyes the point is cleared before We never denyed but alway believed Jesus our Saviour as Miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Mary and born of her As also we never denyed but ever believed him as he is the Eternal Son of God to be of his Fathers Substance § 13. Pr. Art Ibid. That Mary is not the Mother of God its Popery to call Mary the Mother of God Answ This he has set down as part of the Qrs. Unsound Faith and therefore his Faith is That Mary is the Mother of God 't is not Popery to call Mary the Mother of God The rest of the Forgeries in this Article are answered before § 13. Pr. Art 12. We Q. do believe that Deliverance from Condemnation is not by believing in Christ who dyed to save Sinners by his Blood but by obeying the Light within Answ This is a Gross Perversion and Forgery again Christ and his Light within are not to be divided in the matter of Faith or Salvation We never opposed Christ who dyed for Sinners or Faith in his Name by believing or in obeying his Light within For he that believes and walks in his Light believes in his Name and thereby partakes of the Fruit of his Death and Blood to cleanse from all Sin § 14. Pr. Art 14. We Q. do believe that there is no Knowledge of any Truth to be gotten by the Scripture Answ Here is a Falshood and Perversion again for we do believe that a Knowledge of some Truths may be gotten by the Scripture and more especially through the Blessing of God enlightening the Vnderstanding in the serious reading the Scripture but no saving Knowledge is gotten by the Scripture alone without the Blessing of God by his Spirit enlightening the Understanding § 14 15. Pr. Art 29 30. We Q. do believe that there is no outward Civil Honour due to the King to Magistrates and Men in Authority or any others Answ False again 't was never an Article of the Qrs. Faith we have fully exprest the contrary even upon outward and Civil Accounts as in paying our Taxes Customs and Duties and actually submitting to Authority as Christians in all cases consistent with the Peace of our Consciences and passively in suffering in cases wherein we could not be active for Conscience sake But it is the Hat and Knee Honour Bowing Creeping and Cringing Flattering Titles and Complements which this Priest is doting upon 't is not the substantial Honour Dignity Estimation or Reverence that his Contest is for but what 's meerly Complemental and pleasing to the fleshly Mind and Pride of Man § 17. Pr. Art 47. We Q. do believe that all Lords Ladies Knight◠Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Young and Old Rich and Poor c. who are no Qrs. are the Children of the Devil Fruitless Trees for the Fire to be cast into the Lake that there they must lie for evermore c. Answ His Falshood and Knavery herein is sufficiently detected before in his leaving out the general Conditions of Mercy and Salvation proposed to the Wicked viz. Repentance Fersaking their Iniquities c. without which they are liable to Destruction and Misery which are in their way see Sect. 24. 'T is a plain Lying Forgery to make their being No Qrs. the Condition of their Destruction as if we should condemn all to utter Destruction who are not formally Qrs. so called We never went about thus to confine the Mercy of God For there are both Thousands of Infants that dye Innocent as also many Thousands of Persons that have a Degree of Innocency being free from Envy and Malice against us and others and many in Dark Times and Dispensations that having a Secret Sincerity in their Hearts to God who never were Reputed Quakers nor formally gathered into an outward Society with us that yet may and do find Mercy and partake of the common Salvation tendred in Christ Jesus to Mankind But No Fallen Sinful or Poluted Man or Woman can find Salvation without Repentance or Inward Conversion by the Grace of God that has appeared to all men that they may be taught to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts § 31. But now more briefly to sum up and recite some more of the Priests Lyes Wicked Forgeries and Falshoods in others of his Articles I shall thus proceed Art 54. That there are no Right Magistrates but Qrs. and such Quaking Magistrates c. This is a Knavish and Idle Forgery § 25 26. Art 54. That not Thouing one another is a Damning Sin is a Lying Forgery again § 17 26. Ibid. That all Superiority Nobility Honour Breeding c. are under the Curse of God is a Perverse Lye Ibid. That there is no true Nobility true Gentility but in us Qrs. that Honour is only due to us Qrs. These are Knavish Forgeries still § 26. Ibid. That any of us despised Qrs. is more Noble than either King or any Nobles after the Flesh because of the Noble Seed in us No Article of the Qrs. Faith but the Priests Forgery Ibid. That all Noble men Gentlemen Superiours Men of Honour Breeding c. are Bastards An Odious Forgery to render us Odious See § 17 18. Art 58. We Q. do believe that it is the Devil who tells men that Christ dyed for all This is a Horrid Lye Wicked Slander and Most Abominable Forgery for that Christ dyed for all men we have alwayes believed and owned as testified by his Spirit in his holy Apostles and Scriptures § 9 10. Art 59. That they who said they believed that that was the Christ who dyed at Jerusalem and that he dyed for their Sins and rose again and sitteth at the Right Hand of God were no Christians in Truth This again is a Wicked Perversion and Falshood and also a Curtailing of J. Parnel's words as the Priest has more at large cited them pag. 105 106. as if the Qr. denyed these things relating to Christ whereas 't is spoken of such false Christians as had the History or Profession of Christ but were not in the true Knowledge of God or Christ but under Anti-christ's Reign yet under a Gospel Profession looking at God as a God afar off only and sotting up Idols Temples False Teachers Hirelings c. § 26. Art 66. That to know God according to the Scripture is no true Knowledge of him This is a gross Lye and Forgery again for truly to know God by the Revelation of his Son is according to Scripture though given by Christ § 14 15. Art 72. That all true Quakers have the same Gift of the H. Ghost or gift of Miracles that the Apostles had The last is a gros Lye for though true Quakers confess and own a partaking of the Gift of the holy Ghost yet pretend not the
same as to Miracles or to equalize themselves therein with the Apostles though God hath wrought Wonders and Miracles among them and by some as Instruments in his hand Art 78. That to redeem and make free from Sin is done with the Body of Christ which we have told you is the Church A Perversion still as if the Church only did redeem and free it self whereas 't is Christ in and with his own Body that redeems his Church which is that Body of his whereof he is Head Though he has an intire peculiar and glorious Body yet the Church as united to him and Members of his Body comprehensively make up one Indivisible Body in the compleat and mysterious Union and Fulness of himself § 32. Art 81. That that man looks upon Christ with a Carnal Eye that looks upon him to have a true Body Which is a lying Forgery still Christ hath a true and Spiritual glorious Body whereof the Saints are Members in the spiritual and mysterious union wiâ—h himself § 32. Art 83. That Fellowship at the Lords Table is very wicked Is also a perverse falshood for ye cannot eat at the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils Covetous Priests and Wicked People though they have the Sign or Shadow yet are short of the Lord's Table and partake not of the Flesh and Blood of Christ nor of his Supper while they shut him out of their Hearts § 16. 25. Art 89. That Vnquakeriz'd Christians do worship an unknown God A Forgery still none of our Terms or Creed but false and fleshly Christians do so Worship § 31. There are divers more Forgeries Perversions and Falshoods in the Priests Articles which for brevity's sake I omit and shall now give the Reader an Account according to my second Proposition before stated of some Truths set down in the Priests Articles which are not according to his Faith he having given them all the Title of the Quakers Vnsound Faith And thus I proceed viz. Pr. Art 2 3. Now we Quakers do believe that the Spirit alone doth give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of our Faith and Practice Answ We do believe that the Spirit of Truth is all-sufficient for those Ends 't is given for and leadeth into all Truth that true discerning of Spirits is a Gift of this Spirit and that we ought to walk in the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit as the chief Rule of our Faith and Practice which things it seems this Priest does not believe he believes not that the Spirit alone doth give true Discerning or that the Divine Light thereof ought to be his Rule He believes the Scripture to be the Rule of Life without the Light within as he has told us p. 120. § 14 15. Pr. Art 21. We Q. believe that we are to mind the Spirit alone in all things Answ We do believe we ought to mind the Spirit of Truth in all things both in reading Scripture for a true understanding thereof and in our Words and Actions but this Priest does not believe he ought to be so mindful of the Spirit his mind is more upon Flesh than Spirit § 14 15 23. Pr. Art 34. We Q. do believe that the Name Sunday is Heathenish that every day is the Lord's day Answ Then this Priest does not believe the Name Sunday is Heathenish or proceeded from Heathens or that every day is the Lords thus ignorant he has shewn himself § 20. Pr. Art 35. We Q. believe that they are no truly faithful Christians who deny that there is a perfect freedom from all manner of Sin to be had in this Life that their Faith is not the true Faith if it doth not cleanse them from all their Sins Answ This Priest therefore believes that they are truly faithful Christians and in the true Faith who deny a Perfect freedom from Sin in this Life and whose Faith does not cleanse them from their Sins which is contrary to the Belief and Faith of truly faithful Christians who know the Heart-purifying Faith and the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all Sin and such could say He hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood But 't is not done in this Life saith the Priest When then In the Life to come it must be But Where must it be in a Purgatory between Heaven and Hell That 's Popish Doctrine § 21. and 28. Pr. Art 36. We Q. do believe that the Scripture is not the Light nor the Word nor the Life nor the Judge nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits Answ This being also included in the Qrs. unsound Faith by the Priest we must take it for granted that he believes the Scripture is the Light the Life the Judge †Contrary to Psal 50.6 Isa 33 22. Acts 10.42 Heb. 12.23 James 5.9 the Rule the Guide the Tryer of Spirits which Terms by way of Eminency most properly belonging to God to Christ to the holy Spirit to the divine Light * John 1 c 11.25 c. 14.6 might not the Priest as well have told us that the Scripture is God and Christ § 22 23 § 14 15. Pr. Art 37. We Q. do believe that the People and Teachers are Ignorant of Christ who seek Life in the Scripture where it is not to be found Answ So then this Priest therefore believes that Eternal Life is to be sound in the Scriptures and they who seek it in the Scripture do know and find Christ the Light and Life Eternal therein which is contrary to Christs own Testimony John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life § 22 23. § 14 15. Pr. Art 50. We Q. do believe That they are all Heathens and no Christians who are so baptiz'd i. e. with Water and cannot witness the other Baptism i. e. the Baptism of Christ Answ This Priest then believes that they all are no Heathens but Christians who are Baptized or Sprinkled with Water when Infants though they cannot witness the Baptism of Christ at such an easie rate can he make Christians contrary to Christs own Testimony If I do not wash thee thou hast no part in me and except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God § 16. 25. 29. Pr. Art 51. We Q. do believe that Sacramental Bread so called is Natural that the Cup is such like and that which they call the Lords Supper is a Shadow Answ This being also included in the Qrs. Vnsound Faith we may take it for granted that the Priest does not believe that the Bread and the Cup which they call Sacramental and the Lords Supper are Natural Carnal or Shadow What then that they are Supernatural Spiritual the Substance the Body and Blood of Christ yea That the Bread broken