that do good that beholds by faith And so what is not of faith is sinne Pr. He saith He is in heavenly places and yet in the shadow of death with the earthly See page 38. Answ He that is in heavenly places is in Christ Jesus a new creature And he that believeth in the light shall not abide in darknesse so comes out of shadows And he that believeth abideth not in the condemnation and so comes out of the shadow of death though they have sate in the shadow of death before belief and comes out of the earth and so hast proved thy self not a true believer which comes out of the shadows and death Pr. He saith To purifie the members as reckoning it our redemption our righteousnesse all such purity is sin blindness and idolatry page 40. Ans And the Apostle calls Christ our redemption and our sanctification and our righteousnesse and so we can truly say Christ is ours and no idolaters And them that cannot say Christ is their sanctification redemption righteousness and mortification is in the idolizing and sin Pr. He saith The way to attain the spirit of Christ is not by waiting on the light within c. see page 52. Answ Christ saith believe in the light that ye way be children of the light and he that is a child of the light cometh to the birth born of the spirit And Christ doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world And as many as received him he gave them power to become the sons of God And none hears faith but who hears the light within which is Christ within who is the Author of it by which the spirit is received Pr. He saith That doctrine or spirit that calls to the Light within doth but build up the worship of the world c. page 53. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who said The light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ Jesus And Christ saith they that worship God must worship him in truth And he is the light and he is the truth that doth enlighteth every man that comes into the world and this throws down all the worship of the world And I say none comes out of the worships of the world and the doctrines of the world but who comes to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightned every man c. that shines in the darkness and the darknesse comprehends it not Pr. He saith To believe in God as in the Light within men redeeming from sin is to deny the witnesse of the Son and have neither Son nor Father c. page 54. Ans Which I say none owns the witnesse of the Son but who owns the Light which comes from the Son with which he is enlightned Nor none knows the Father nor the Son nor receives them but who receives the light which Christ the Son hath enlightned them withall nor knows God to be a Saviour but by the Light within Pr. He saith They that seeke for righteousnesse by obedience to the light within differs nothing from the Jewes but onely in the copies of the Law c. See page 56. Ans None sees the obedience of Christ the second Adam the end of the Law and copies of it but with the Light within which comes from Christ Jesus that brings in righteousness and ends sin and transgression who is the end of the righteous Law with which light man sees the weakness and unprofitableness of it and the types and the shadows of it which Christ is known in the light within who ends it Pr He saith To rest in hope that I am saved from sin and wrath by the blood of Christ the head and while conscience condemns for sin this is to hope against hope c. See page 57. Ans Such as are saved from the wrath by Christ the head and his blood they are saved from their sins And then they that are saved from their sins how can conscience condemn for sin and the wrath come upon them for sin and they that are saved from the wrath they are saved from their sins But where conscience doth condemn for sin there is wrath and he cannot witnesse a cleansing nor salvation wrought out nor saved from sin but is in the false hope and not in the true hope which goes against hope for the true hope is Christ within Pr. Whereas thou speaks of Christs working and giving an example c. page 67. Ans Yet thou and the rest are offended at those people that are called Quakers who say Christ was their example And so ye can allow what ye speak your selves but if another speak the same words it is an offence to you Pr. He saith Such as preach redemption by the light in every man are not of God c. See pag. 70. Ans The redemption of Christ the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And every man that cometh into the world that seeth his redemption it is by the light which he that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world hath enlightned him with which is Christ the Redeemer the Saviour the second Adam the way to the Father who shall make every tongue to confess him to the glory of God but thou that hates the light art condemned Pr. He saith Not the light in every man but the words of the Prophets and Apostles is that which leads to the Lord Jesus c. See Page 82. Ans Many may have the words of the Prophets and the Apostles but none comes to that which leads to the Lord Jesus but who comes into the light and life that the Prophets and Apostles was in which Christ Jesus is the end of who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Therefore every man that cometh into the world must come to the light which Christ hath enlightned him withal before he come to the end of the Prophets and the Apostles Christ Jesus the Lord of life and glory Pr. He saith The Scriptures are the image of Christ and he that seeks for God out of the humanity of Christ he shall lose both God and himself c. See pag. 82. Answ The Scriptures are writings and the writings will not endure for ever and the image of Christ is the image of God And all who be in the life that gave forth Scriptures be in the image of Christ which was afore Scripture was and all that have the Scriptures out of the life that gave them forth they have not the image And he that is out of the truth may have the Scriptures but he is out of the image all are who be out of the truth but who be in the truth be in the image And God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe And who knows the Son knows the Father And he that hath found the Son hath found the Father also And he that seeks after God out of Christ shall
and then hold them in his memory Pr. He saith Every man that cometh into the world hath not the light of Christ in him c. page 16. Answ This is the true light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and it shines in the darknesse and the darkness comprehends it not Now this light reproves where it is come to where it is hated and their deeds be evill and not loved it is their condemnation and so is not that which reproves them in them which doth make manifest the heart and are not those that do quench the spirit the wicked and those that are led by the spirit are not these the good And is not here both â—ood and bad Thou art that darknesse that John speaks of that cannot comprehenâ— the Light which shines in darknesse like the Pharisees Pr. He saith There may be a light to convince people of sinne and yet not within them Ans There is no people convinced of sin but they are convinced within themselves and with the light within them and it is the light that makes manifest to a man when he is convinced It answers to something and reacheth to something in their particulars though the words be spoken without them from the Light Pr. That every man in the world should not have his sins pardoned c. page 17. Answ Christ gave himselfe his body for the life of the world he was the offering for the sins of the whole world and paid the debt and made satisfaction and doth enlighten every man that comes into the world that all through him might believe and he that doth not believe in the offering is condemned already Pr. He saith It is an errour to say that every man hath a light within him to teach him to worship God c. page 18. Answ Every man that cometh into the world having a light from Christ Jesus the truth Every man that cometh into the world being in the light which Christ Jesus the truth hath enlightned him withall and walking in it he shall worship God aright in the truth and come into that the Devill is out of and worship God in the spirit But none worships God aright but who be in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man with that cometh into the world For who is in the light is in the truth for it is truth And all other worships out of the Light is as the Devill is and there thou art condemned with the Light Pr. He saith That is the errour that he chargeth us with that the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world it is an errour to say it is within every man c. page 19. Answ Which he is ignorant of the Scripture I will give him a covenant of light to the Gentiles a leader unto them and a new covenant to the house of Israel and Judah and this Covenant was written in their hearts And as I said before the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehends it not And where the light shines out of darknesse it shines in the heart He that hates the light is enlightned and he that loves it and that reproves the evil deeds of him that hates it which is within him and it is in the Saints heart Pr. He saith It is miserable darkness to direct people to the Light within them c. page 26. Answ Which was the Apostles doctrine he was sent to turn people from the darknesse to the light And he told people that the light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus And Christ bids them walke in the light and believe in it and they be in miserable darkness that doth not Pr. He saith It is a known errour to say that a man was in hell and in heaven c. page 21. Ans Who in this shews his ignorance of Scripture for it gives testimony of men that did witnesse that they had been in hell in the nethermost hell and witnessed again they were in heaven and sate in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and such were in heaven as is spoken of in the Revelations Pr. It is an errour to say they have perfection and they themselves not perfect c. And to say they have communion with the body and blood of Christ at the Gentiles Table c. page 23. Ans There is many of the servants and children of God whose meat and drink is the body and blood of Christ that comes among the Gentiles and their Tables to witnesse against them yet neverthelesse they have communion with the body and bloâ—â— of Christ And many may witnesse Christ the perfection in words though they are â—ot in it as the whole world doth yet who are in Christ are in the spirit and are perfâ—â—t So that it is one thing to be in the thing and another thing to have sight of the tâ—â—ng and another thing to professe the thing without the sight Yet I say the sight that â—eeth Christ is perfect and sees perfection and the faith is perfect whereby he comâ—th to the knowledge of the Son of God and to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Pr. He saith The writings of the Scriptures may be burned but the Word of God contained in them cannot be burned c. page 34. Ans If he had said the word that it speaks of or testifies of he had spoken proper like Scripture But to say the Word is contained in the writing and the writing saith it testifies of Christ the Word And there is a proof to thee that the Quakers are sent of God who speak to thee of the Scriptures right as they are Pr. He saith It is a lye to say every man hath the light of Christ c. page 44. Ans Contrary to John who saith every man that cometh into the world is enlightned And as many as receiveth him to them he gives power to become the Sons of God And he that believes in the light shall not abide in darknesse but shall have the light of life and so it is sufficient And he that doth not believe is condemned already and he hath it to believe in or to condemn him Prin. He saith Thousands stumble because they have no light in them c. Page 44. Answ They are such as hate it and doth not receive it which hath enlightned them and not walking in it and so is their condemnation and it shineth in the darknesse and the darkness comprehends it not And so they are in darknesse and there is the unregenerate state Pr. He saith The Pharisees were farre enough from having the Kingdome of heaven within c. page 45. Ans Contrary to Christs words who said it was within them Pr. He saith It is a notion to say the light of Christ is in every one c. page 47. Ans Which is contrary to Johns
Father as well as Master c. See page 68. Answ Thou hast in this denyed the doctrine of Christ and slights it who saith be not ye of men called master for yee have all one Master which is Christ and ye are all brethren And thou hast shewed thy selfe out of the Brother-hood and there is a birth to be born which can call no man Father upon earth which thou art ignorant of Pr. He saith There is lawfull respects of persons and it is said God himselfe is the respecter of persons and the Quakers overthrow all authority because they do not respect persons because they deny that page 71. Answ God is not a respecter of persons as saith the Apostle for his Covenant he gives to the Gentiles as well as to the Jewes And the faith of Gods elect is held without the respect of persons and he that respects persons commits sin and transgresseth the Law And so thou divides not the word aright Pr. He saith False Prophets shall arise and damnable heresies and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by which the way of truth shall be evill spoken of Ans The Apostles saw them come up the false Prophets that brought in the damnable heresies that was covetous c. and many followed their wayes And the false Prophets goes from the light that Christ hath enlightned them withall and raveneth from the Spirit and gets the sheeps cloathing and through their covetousnesse makes a trade of that and you are such which causeth the truth to be evil spoken of which are come up manifest since the days of the Apostles Pr. And the Quakers are not to be received into their houses nor bidden God-speed and such as creeps into houses leads silly women captive laden with sin and led away with divers lusts Ans The Apostle saw such as crept into houses and saw such as transgressed the Doctrine of Christ that was not to be received into houses and saw the deceivers that walked after their ungodly lusts before the Apostles decease and such as led people always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth as it is manifest now in the world they are learning 40. 50. or 60. years and yet there is a cry among them that they must have the body of sin while they be upon the earth and live in their sins and none can be without it and this is the height of your doctrine it leads too which is now in the mouths of all people that be under your teaching that teach that Doctrine and yet you will say the work of the Ministry is for the perfecting of the Saints to the edifying of the body of Christ till all come into the unity of the faith unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And this work ye have denyed your selves to be in but such that are as Jannes and Jambres how should it be otherwise that ravened from the spirit of God inwardly that went forth from the Apostles that be covetous that keeps people alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth So you are them that keeps people from the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and keeps them in spiritual Aegypt Sodome and Gomorah where they be always learning having the forme of godlinesse and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth and this to you all will be a sad cup at last And as for all thy lyes and slanders in thy Book which are not worth mentioning they will come sad upon thy selfe one day for the grievous lyes thou hast uttered in it unto the Nation which thousands in the Nation that are not under the name of Quakers knows and sees the contrary to what thou hast published but they will fall upon thy own selfe and be thy own burthen And then thou shalt say when thou feelst thy owne works burn thou hadst better have been silent and not have published forth thy folly and made thy name to stinke and brought thy name upon record who hath made lyes thy refuge but the haile is come and coming that will sweep them away William Thomas called Minister of the Gospell of Vbley His Book called A Vindication of the SCRIPTVRES and MINISTERS His PRINCIPLES followeth Pr. HE saith Christ directs to looke for life in Scriptures because they testifie of him and that the Scriptures are the ground of Faith and the Saints rule And again We are justified by Christ without us and not within us See his Epistle Ans The Scriptures many had and searched them and found not life in them for Christ is the life and if men have all the Scriptures and have not Christ they have not life And so Christ did not say they should have life in Scriptures but he saith they thought to have life there and they testified of him And they would not come to him that they might have life How ignorant art thou of the Scriptures and of Christs words to divide them on this manner And Christ is the Author of the Faith And many if they have Scriptures they have not the ground of faith untill they have Christ the Author of it and God the giver of it which is able to make wise unto salvation through the faith which Christ is the Author of For Enoch and Abel c. had faith before the Scriptures was written and so before thy ground was And the Saints had a rule before the Scriptures was written for the spirit was their rule that led them into all truth and to speak forth Scriptures that is the rule that mortifies circumciseth baptizeth and leads into all truth The Word of God that fulfills Scriptures leads into all truth that is the truth that leads into all truth Now the Scriptures cannot lead into all truth but it testifies of that that doth so And if Christ be not within people they are reprobates And is a reprobate justified And if Christ be within is not the Justification there redemption and Sanctification witnessed Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Pr. He saith We consider how few there be in the Church that belongs to God See his Epistle Answ This is your owne Church which is not the pillar and ground of truth For who be in the Church of Christ the pillar and ground of truth where there is not a spot nor wrinkle nor blemish nor any such thing they are them that belong to God they are living stones built up together a spirituall houshold but this thou art afar off Pr. He saith We willingly acknowledge we are fallible men that may be deceived and to finde infallible Teachers is against experience None pretends infallibility but the Pope See page 9. He saith The Scriptures is the Well and living Fountaine from whence living waters have been drawn this hundred or thousand years page 8. Answ If every one that hath the Scriptures hath
edifies the body of Christ is infallible and immediate that which brings to the knowledge of the Son of God is infallible perfect and immediate that which brings to a perfect man to the unity of the faith is infallible and immediate and perfect that which brings to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ is perfect and infallible and immediate And the infallible and immediate you having denyed yee have shut your selves out of the worke of the Ministry in the Apostacy As for the rest of the lyes and slanders in thy Book will be thy own burden which uttereth forth thy own folly and it toucheth not the Saints but falls off like dust they are of no weight And the day is come that tries mens works infallibly what is for the fire and what not Jeremiah Ives His Booke called The Quakers Quaking His Principles follows c. Pr. HE saith Have a care of slighting your watchmen lest the Lord remove them into corners Answ Christ the Teacher is witnessed who is the end of Moses the Prophets the Covenant of God with his people in which people know God if all their Teachers were removed into corners And they that have their Teachers in corners their houses are left desolate from the Covenant of God they are strangers So in this thy ignorance appears of that Teacher that cannot be removed into a corner who is the salvation to the ends of the earâ—h Pr. He saith It is an errour to say the Light within is equall with Scripture and Gods Word Ans Christ within is the Light and he is above Scripture and Gods Word which was before Scriptures was given forth Pr. He saith Is it any more a Nick-name to call a man a Quaker that quakes by the power of God page 3. Answ Yes if the power of God doth make that to quake and tremble that must quake before the salvation be wrought out and man come out of the Fall of Adams state in the transgression in the earth and darknesse corruption and pollution and death he must know the power of God that shakes that which is to be shaken before he knows that raised up that cannot be shaken which the world is ignorant of though they have the form of it And the first nick-namer of the Quakers that ever I heard was a corrupt Justice in the year 1650 whose name was Gervase Bennet in Darby that ever named the people of God with the name of Quakers though the mighty power of the Lord God had been known years before Pr. He saith It is an errour in those men that will allow nothing to be called Gods Word but Christ page 6. Ans Christs name is called the Word of God his name is above every name and over all things he must have the preheminence words and names Yet I say the Scriptures of truth given forth from the spirit of truth are the words of God Gods words which Christ the Word fulfilled by him in whom they end who was before the words was spoken forth Pr. He saith It is an errour to say they are immediately sent of God and to have an immediate call from God to goe out of their Countries to preach the Gospell c. Page 9. Answ Thou and all you that speak or preach or go to people but not by the immediate spirit and a call from God are them that run and the Lord never sent you and you profit not the people at all as all the fruits in the Nation declares upon the house top Therefore are yee wrangling and envying such as are immediately sent from God and left their Callings as the Saints did and Prophets I say none can preach the Gospell upon the earth but who is in the immediate call for the Gospell is the power of God and that is immediate The Prophets Christ and the Apostles which gave forth the Scriptures they all spoke by the immediate spirit of God and all that be not in that they are not able to know the Scriptures as that unsavoury Pearsival saith he hath not the infallible spirit yet he will bawl of the Scripâ—urâ—â— that was given forth from the infallible spirit Though the Devill wandered from â—â—e trâ—th that compasseth the earth though the Pharisees compasse Sea and Land thâ—ugh the false Prophets and Antichrists have gone over Nations Now all these may get Scriptures but be out of the life of them Such makes Proselytes Devils Disciples and Messengers But such as be in the power of God and life that gave forth Scriptures that comprehends and fathoms the world they are in that which the Devils Antichrists false Prophets mother of Harlots and all their proselytes that have Scriptures out of the life they be in that which they are all out of Such are the Quakers therefore doth all the world rage against them who witnesse that which cannot be shaken Pr. He saith It is an Errour to say that every man hath a light within him that wil teach him to worship God aright page 18. Answ Christ the truth who hath preheminence doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which shall make every tongue to confesse him to the glory of God which if they love the light which cometh from Christ the truth who is the life it will teach and direct every man to worship God in the truth in that which untruth is out of So every man having a light sufficient to salvation for it cometh from the salvation Christ the power of God the salvation to the ends of the earth And this light will let every one see the Son of God beyond all externall meanes wisdome knowledge whatsoever It is that which darknesse cannot comprehend this light which John bears witnesse of which is the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world which the Jewes and Levites stumbled at which set all Jerusalem up in an uproar as it doth the wisest Priests and Professors in this age And no one upon the earth shall ever know Christ but by the light which he hath enlightned him withall If he have all the Scriptures that speaks of him come already as the Pharisees had that spoke he was to come yet if they hate the light they shall all be snared and stumble and fall and split themselves upon the Rock And such as are now stumbling at the light which every man that cometh into the world is lighted withall are the builders with the words which saith Christ is come as the Pharisees did with the words that said he was to come And so both these builders reject the corner-stone and stumble at the elect stone laid in Sion and none seeth God but with the light they be enlightned withall And all the preaching of the Apostles the substance of it was to bring people to the Covenant of Light both Jewes and Gentiles to whom he was promised And all upon the earth that be from this light that doth enlighten every
them you keep with clubs and staves lest any should be moved from the spirit of the Lord to speak amongst you from the Lord. And your Parishes and Flock which you undertake to prove to be a true Church alack for you that people should be so impudent to say these are pillars and ground of truth or the Steeple-houses be the pillars and ground of truth A company of Drunkards Swearers covetous proud persons given to pleasures you are like them that said they were Jewes and were not but the synagogue of Sathan a nest of unclean birds Pr. We expect not perfect unity till we have perfect knowledge and holiness Ans Have you cryed up your selves to be the ministers of Christ all this while and have not perfect knowledge perfect holinesse perfect unity The least unity is perfect in the spirit and the least knowledge and the least holinesse in the spirit and this you acknowledge you have not perfect unity perfect knowledge perfect holinesse and this hath been the cause you have kept all people since the Apostles in blindnesse out of the unity in that which is unholy who say you have not the perfect knowledge for the least of holinesse is perfect and in the holinesse is the unity in whith is the perfect knowledge though in the least degree and this thou hast confessed you have not and we doe believe you and so out of thy own words thou and you are proved unsanctified for who are sanctified have perfect unity perfect knowledge perfect holinesse Pr. I use notes as much as any man when I am laâ—y or busy c. Ans This is it which holds up your lazy minds which you gather out of books selling it again by the hour-glasse and make that day you call sabbath your market day selling both prayers and preaching who have not the spirit of the Lord to lead you to speak as it moves and to lead you to all truth as it did the Disciples so it is lazynesse indeed that hath set up your notes and reads them by the glasse for money and who have learnd seven years out of books Colledges and then gather up out of your authors books in notes and thus make a trade of them and then teâ—ls the people you are sent and it is the word of the Lord which it is but the reading of books and yet you tell people you never heard the voice of God if any aske you thus deluders are judged out of their own mouths who have a law if any are moved of the spirit of the Lord while they are reading their notes or speaking before or after none to speake against what they have gathered out of their books and studies which was not the works of the true ministry but the worke of those who were out from the true spirit and so were ministers of the letter and old authors and notes Pr. He saith They are unmercifull men that say more glorious dayes are appearing and that the Saints shall rule the world Answ In this thou hast judged thy selfe and there need no more words be spoken to it And the rest of thy lyes and slanders in thy Book which are not worth mentioning they will fall upon thy own head John Cole His Book printed 1658. His Principles in it as followeth Pr. IT 's a common thing for the young Harlot to say minde the Light within Answ The light which doth enlighten every man which cometh into the world all Harlots draws from and be out of it and such may beget proselytes and father them upon God which are not in the Truth but the day is come that all things are made manifest and by it doth appear and the light which every man which cometh into the world is enlightned withall is the offence to all the evill doers who be out of salvation and the Covenant of God and none sees salvation but by it Pr. The young Harlot can but mend evill old Adam by her exhortations and instructions and doings and threatnings and she doth fright some to her obedience Ans The Harlot is in that which evill old Adam is in in the transgression and so they which be harlotted from the spirit of God cannot mend and instruct the transgressor they themselves being in the transgression They may tell them of the Saints words and speak them as the Devill doth who is out of the Truth but thou John Cole art fallen into the earth and there art quarrelling And as for the rest of the stuffe in thy Book which is not worth mentioning but when thou feels the root and tree burn and fall into a fire about thee and thee in it then remember thou hast not that which doth not savour withal as thy confused childish workâ— do appear which in print thou hast published to the world Alexander Rosse his Booke which he calls A view of all RELIGIONS His Lies and Principles Pr. GOd is not in the quaking of the body Ans Was it not God that made the body of David to quake and Daniel and Habakkuk and Job and the mountains quake at the giving forth of his Law And doth not God say He doth not shake the earth but heaven also Now dost not thou manifest thy selfe to be one of them that cast them out that tremble at the Word and tells them that God is not among them And as for Alexander Rosse his lies and slanders in saying the Quakers said Christ had failings and distrusted God which thousands of thousands that can witnesse to thy face thou art a liar it is a sufficient proof to them that thy book is made up of such stuffe of lyes which is thy view from the Creation And the rest of thy Book is much like unto that and the false prophets studying a divination of their owne brain to get money by we deny but such as divide the word aright we own and all that pray and preach and sing for money and make a trade of the Scripture to get money by we disown but such as pray and sing by the spirit we own and all your Readings for money we deny but who reads freely we own and all your Seremonies we do deny and are come to the substance Christ Jesus before the world was made Pr. The leaves of a tree are not the fruits thereof and yet without them the fruit would not prosper Answ Art thou a fit man to give a view from the Creation of the World who erres thus in Naturals For pluck off the leaves of the Vines and see if the grapes will not prosper Art thou a fit man to give a view of Religion and blasphemy and errour from the Creation who art not able to give a true view of the Naturalls Pr. Thou sayest It is horrid blasphemy to say the Scripture is not the Word of God and to say the soule is a part of God Answ The Scriptures are the words of God in Exodus and the four Books of the
of the first Adam O mystery of deceit the deceitfull unfolding by antichrist to say that Christ sayeth the houre is coming now is that neither at this mountain nor as Jerusalem shall the Father be worshipped but he that worships him must worship him in spirit and in truth Answ Thousands in the Nation may witnesse the work the Quakers hath wrought and thousands are convinced of you to be the gain-sayers of the truth and the ante-christ come up since the daies of the Apostles and all your praying reading and meditations is but the first Adams state in the fall where the mystery of deceit is for yet you are not come to own the light Christ Jesus the second Adam that doth enlighten every man that comes into the world and so you be the ante-christs standing against Christ the light the truth and so are not come into the worship of God in the truth and in the spirit but are crying up at your Masse-houses is God worshipped as the Jewes did the Temple and Samaria the mountaine at Jerusalem which Christ saith not at Samaria nor the Mountain nor Jerusalem nor the Temple but in spirit and in truth and so we say not at your Masse-houses nor at Samaria nor Jerusalem neither not the Mountain but God hath seeked us to worship him in spirit and in truth and therefore you rage that hate the light Pr. They reckon their perfection and happinesse to be deprived of all the spirit doth neither so act or so teach and I was kept from this temptation and they that are overcome by it are brought into bondage a vaine deceitfull waiting for a power when the Apostles saith ye must pray without ceasing and not quench the spirit the Thessalonians they must cease from their owne words and wait for the immediate striving and working of the spirit as they fancy it Ans This thou calls fancie who saith the spirit of God doth not teach men nor so act to be deprived of all things Yes I say to thee thou must be deprived of all things before thou come to happinesse and thou art in the bondage and in the temptation that hath not forsaken all things and come to Christ the onâ— thing and thy praying and prophesying and not waiting for the spirit and power for to pray withall art in the fancy and following thy owne Spirit and out of the perfection of Christ Pr. It is blasphemy to say we must fill up the sufferings of Christ Answ And so thou art unlike the Apostles anâ— hast not drunk the cup of the wrath and judgement of the Almighty and that you must drink before you come to know the â—eed of God come from under all the power of wickednesse in thee and that is the world And Christ who bore the sin of the whole world felt it and was under it and was offered and over it all and makes his enemies his footstool Pr. The false interpretation of the enemy he saith that every mans work must be tryed with fire what sort it is and you shall hardly gain a speech of one sort or other sometimes from the Quakers and this thou cals dumb devill Answ And thus thou shewest where thou art who hath not known a time to be silent before thou didest know a time to speak and the dumb devill hath been found amongst your selves your Priests for when many of the Quakers have been moved of the Lord to come to speak to you in your Pulpits you have proved the dumb devils turned your backs and have gone your waies and spoken never a word to them and thy works and all mens shall be tryed by the fire and that is not perverting scripture as also saith the Apostle and thou never hast past through the wrath of God but it is yet to come and the sufferings of Christ thou knowest not Pr. And it will be a lye and delusion for the spirit when it sanctifies the hearts to go about to tear their hearts out of their bodies when Davids bones was broken and his flesh would scarce to cleave it is far from me to think that this was under the apprehension of wrath shall a man think that he suffered for his sanctification Answ The spirit of God teares out the old hearts and so before men be sanctified throughout he must know suffering and his wretched state yet Sanctification that brings him peace in the end and life And Davids condition thou art ignorant of and knows not for he was sensible of the wrath before his sins were removed as far as the East is from the West and he had joy and peace but trembling and quaking is become a mock and scoffe amongst you for there is a trembling and rejoycing and there is a trembling in the sorrow Pr. When the Quakers are commanded many times to go they have not that leisure to dress them this is a hard Master surely not Christ therefore by Satan for the Lord is not wont to do things ignorantly to deceive his servants and they are brought to fast from all manner of food three nights and three dayes most feeble wretched creatures contrary to the Law of nature so they are not capable of bearing the glory of God so Ministers of Antichrist and they are made to deny their callings and possessions I would eat more then I desired because I would give no offence Answ In this thou hast shewed thy ignorance of the Scriptures and Christ for he that is on the house top let him not come down to put on his cloaths And they that went on his message were not to take two coats And when they went on his message they did not goe to dresse themselves with boot-hose-tops and double cuffs and ribbons and rings as the Priest doth and what God doth it is in his wisdome beyond the ignorance of man-kinde and they that receive it must be in his fear And Christ is not a hard Master as thou thinkst because some goes not dressing them in their apparell which goes to do his command but thou who art wicked and sloathfull hath so judged with the wrong and false judgement and many of the Saints have fasted till they might number their bones and Christ fasted and this was not contrary to the Law of nature and did not make them uncapable of receiving the glory of God Neither was it Antichrist and thou who art of him canst eat and drink more then thou hast desire because thou wouldst not offend others and that is contrary to the Law of nature And the Saints forsook their callings and possessions and the world but you Priests runs into great possessions which you get out of poor peoples labours so like the false Apostles and Antichrist not like Christ and his Apostles Pr. They have a glosse put upon Christs words to his Disciples when he bids them that they should take no care what to speak it should be given them in the same hour And of their gâ—ing naked I
Errors and found in them did not they set up the Tithes and the Masse-houses and the Colledges where thou wast made a Minister and give you the names of Rectors and Curates and your means to your Colledges and old Masse-houses art not thou found in them and among them their errors false Church great whore since the true Church went into the wildernesse among them that drinks the blood of the Saints with sheeps cloathing having not the spirit as the sheep had nor in the nature so in the Error Pr. Thou saist The Scripture speakes of God after the manner of men Ans The Scripture speakes of God after the manner of the Spirit and to the spirit whereby men might receive him and know him by the spirit which naturall men cannot Pr. Thou Queries to know whether the Holy Ghost be a distinct person and the worship of God in three persons Ans Art thou going about to confute the Papists errors and hold them up and justifying of them which the scripture doth not Mat. 28. but the Papists common prayer book and old Cannon book speaks of three persons but the scripture speakes of Father Son and Holy Ghost and thou speakest of Christ but yet are not come to the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man which comes into the world withall and thou speakest of Adams being the Image of God and yet art not come to Adams state as he was in the beginning so therefore knowes not redemption and knowes not predestination nor election but found in Adams state in the fall and reprobation thou speakest of Ordinances and yet art a transgressor of the commands of Christ who art called of men Master and an imitator of the Pharisees doctrines thou speakest of the Church but art found one of those that are dressed with the whores rags since the true Church went into the wildernesse thou speakest of the Magistrates yet not in the higher power which goes over all sin and transgression which answers the transgressed in every man upon the earth thou speakest of Dogs and evil workers seducers and Hereticks who are doing their work as your Goales and prisons may witnesse in the Nation and whole Christendome the fruits of Dogs and evill workers and seducers and hereticks which was not Christs worke nor the Apostles Thou speakes of the Common wealth but yet art out of that which is the generall good to all men Christ the light of the world who is the saving health all power in heaven and Earth is given to him in whom men have wisdome by which all things was made and created to order the things by the wisdome by which they were created thou speaks of Souldiers and yet art not come to Iohn a man sent from God but art one from the Colledges the Papists houses since the Church went into the wildernesse and men made by the will of man who have been set up by the dragons power so art not come to the Light that Iohn came to bear witnesse to that did enlighten every man that comes into the world so art short of rectifying solderie who stops up the eye by which they should see thou speakest of the error of the Quakers who art found in the error thy selfe not come to see that which must be shaken before that do appear which cannot be shaken nor come to the trembling of the Devills not knowing the strong man bow himselfe that hath kept the house who is at peace who is the author and ground of the error and not he that is stronger then he that kept the house made the Devil tremble shake the Earth where he hath had his foundation yea and the heavens also thou also speakest of the first birth whose habitation is in the earth and propriey there who made me a divider of mens inheritances me who am the end of the Law for the Law is just among you to devide to every man his right but I who am the end of the Law redeemes you from under the Law and out of the earth but you who are found in this first birth in the earth have set up your tenthes and keeps people in the ninths your greediness of it your presence declares thou speaks of mine thine in collections so selfe you are found in and your coldnesse incollections the blind and lame Fatherlesse and widdowes the streets in London declares you and the countries abroad yet you are all Christians and baptized and you weare rings and scaries and points and others crying for bread thou speakest of buying and selling c. who art arming thy selfe to hold up the honour of the beast which was simple words spoken and as for your buying and selling the fruits of the great whore hath declared it selfe made merchandize of souls and all other things out of the Law of equity which who acts in acts in the will of God thou speakest of good morrow and good evening and would blind the world though thou broughst scripture for it and makes them believe it is the Quakers error to say the contrary the morning is good and the evening is good and all is good that God created and made as it was in the beginning but by transgression they come to be vile and evill going out of the truth as things were created and standing in the truth are all blessed thou speakest of giving of thanks and craving a blessing and yet you say you must have a body of sin whilst you be upon earth so your thanks and your blessings is from the unclean lips in the mouth that blesses and curses and so proceeds from the bad fountain thou speakest of Christian Magistrates and higher powers and thou speakest of saluting and honoring and bowing downe before men who art not come to Christ the power of God who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him being not come to the light that doth enlighten every man that comes into the world and hath all power who subjects all Magistrats to himselfe who doth enlighten them to see him and you are not come to the Angels state that said to Iohn see that he did not bow to the Angel but worship God Iohn who saw all the World worshipping the beast in the old time they had bowed to the Angell but Christ is come to whom the Angels must bow and who is in him hath life and worship and that is honourable which is in the truth for who honours God God will them honour but honour to a fool is not seemly but like snow in summer and thou speaks of Christs Freemen and thy choosing it rather then to serve Idolatrous Masters and these Freemen that have chosen their freedome and cannot serve you Idalaters who are spirituall Egypt to worke in the earth for you to make you brick to set up your building you persecute them as Idolaters you Imprison who have the forme of godlinesse and denies the power who will talk of the words but deny the
and true ministers and equall and according to the false prophets and deceivers Secondly Againe you are not according but contrary to the true ministry and Ministers of Christ in practise for they were led by the spirit of the Father which dwelt in them and they preached the Gospel by the spirit and spake as the spirit gave them utterance and went up and down the world through Nations converting people to the knowledge of the truth and what they had handled tasted seen and felt of the word of life in them that they declared to others and preached the Gospell which they had not received from man nor by man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in them But your practise is not such but contrary for the spirit of this world leads you and it you follow in all your works in your preaching praying and in your whole worship in forme and tradition what you have studied for out of books and old Authors you preach to people and what ye have noted in a book that you preach by an hour-glasse and not as the spirit of God gives you utterance and you seek out and enquire after great benefits and much money by the yeare and where there is much Tithes and Gleab-lands and such like thither and to such a place you goe and seeke after to be Ministers there and there you remain 20. 40. more or fewer yeares as you can agree with the people and while they will give you so much as will content you and maintain you your wives and families as you say respect not whether any be converted to God by your preaching but people remaines alwaies in blindnesse and ignorance generally and without the knowledge of God for you preach other mens words and what you have collected in your imaginations from the Saints words an hour by a glasse leaning upon a soft cushion and for money and and hire preaching to the people and this is your manner of practise and Ministery in these Nations but thus did not the Apostles nor Christs Ministers but the contrary and by your fruits and works it appeares that you are not followers of that spirit that Christ and his Ministers were guided by neither are lawfull successors of the Apostles but by your fruits and practise you manifest that the Lord never sent you nor Christ never called you into his service to be his Ministers for in all your practises and in your whole performances of worship you differ and doth not agree but are contrarie to what the practise and worship of Christs Ministers and Churches were in the daies of the Apostles this I charge upon you in the Name and by the Authoritie of the Lord God and am able to prove it against you face to face or otherwise to shew that you are not of the same spirit but contrary to the Saints and Apostles of old and so not true succeeders of them nor lawfull Ministers of Christ as to all people it is and shall be made manifest Thirdly You disagree and are contrarie altogether to the true ministrie and to the Apostles in respect of your maintenance and wages for the wages which Christ allowed his Ministers was into whatsoever house they entered that was worthy they might eate such things as are set before them for the workeman saith he is worthy of his hire and the Apostles eat onlie of the fruit of the vineyard that they had planted and of the milk of the flock which they kept by a free gift of the people which they had begotten to the faith and to whom they sowed spirituall things it was but as a small matter if they reaped their carnall things yet as a free gift they would doe it and the Apostle said he would not make the Gospel of Christ chargeable And in this manner were Christs Ministers and Ministrie in wages and gifts upheld and maintained outwardly in the world But your practise and maintenance is not such but contrary as is fullie made manifest for you will have so much by the Yeare promised to you in Tythes money or Gleab-lands or stipends and of drunkards and swearers and prophane wordly people who are not sheep of Christs flock nor plants of his vine-yard you will have so much of each of them and of every man in such a compasse as you call your parish and if any either out of covetousnesse or good conscience cannot pay you you sue at Law and cast into prison for wages and spoile their goods and take treble nay some times 5. double damage and through violence and injustice and cruelty are you maintained in such a manner and not as the true Ministers and Apostles of Christ were but in a way and manner quite contrarie as it is manifest and so herein it is proved that you are not lawfull successors of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ Fourthly Againe you follow not the Apostles and true Ministers of Christ but are contrarie to them in doctrine as this following vollume will clearly manifest which for this very end is collected from your own mouths and pens that all men may see what you are and what you hold and professe and being truely laid down and answered let your selves and all sober men compare your doctrines and sayings with the doctrines of the Apostles and they may see you agree not with them but are contrary to them and now friends to all you that professe your selves to be Ministers of the Gospell I do hereby declare unto you in the name and authority of the Lord that we have controversie with you and a great charge against you in all these things in your call in your practice and in your maintenance and in your doctrines and our mouthes hath the Lord opened and they cannot be shut from declaring and crying against you as such whom the Lord never sent but are contrary to Christ his prophets and Apostles in all your waies and practices and the hand of the Lord is certainly against you and his power and dread wil come over you and lie upon your consciences Now Reader whosoever thou art that reades this following volume if thy mind be sober and thy heart right towards God thou may come to a good understanding of the ground and cause of this great controversie between the Priests and the professors of this Nation and us who are in scorne called Quakers for it is not unknown to Nations of this great debate and battel now for some yeares of continuance in this Nation no man can be ignorant what putting in prisons and what persecuting and what preaching and printing against us and what reports and same hath been through this Nation for some yeares past and the Quakers so called have written and spoken and printed against the Priests and their worships and waies and doctrines and declared against them as deceivers and false prophets and such as never were sent of God on the other hand thus have the Priests and more
and deceivers were throughout all ages and this I charge upon it in the face and view of all men to whom this may come for this we saw concerning it in the beginning and our first assurance And as for other places and orders of men and callings we saw them also corrupted and degenerated and evil and iniquity abounding among all sorts of people and blindness and darkness covered the face of the earth and of the world and all people were in their transgressions and making void the Law of God and that it was time for the Lord to work and to arise to ease himself of his adversaries and as for all Churches so called and professions and gatherings of people we beheld you as all in the Apostacy and degeneration from the true Church nor being gathered by the spirit of the Lord nor anoynted thereby as the true members of Christ ever were but to be in a form and in forms of righteousness without the power and in Immitations without life and perfect knowledge so that all the practices of Religion we beheld without power and life though some had a sencerity in them and a zeal and a desire towards the Lord yet all people erred in Judgement and none were guided in Judgement by the Eternal spirit and because of the error in Judgement that made their zeal blind and their performances of righteousness not accepted though acted in some sincerity and zeal because they were not guided in practice and led in Judgement by the spirit of the Lord which onely leads into all truth and none are in the truth but are who led onely thereby so that we beheld all profession but as coverings with figg leaves while the nature of transgression stood uncondemned not crucified Also then we saw not only the performance and practice in Church state and in Religious orders were corrupted but also Goverment and Magistracy and all things in civil state were not aright in the sight of the Lord nor as the Lord required neither as he had ordained in the beginning for Government we know as ordained of God is to punish and limit and terifie all evil doers and to preserve and defend all that do well and that mens consciences are to be left free to be ruled by the Lord alone and guided by his spirit and that outward power and civil Magistrates and Lawes so called ought not to be Lord or Ruler in mens consciences nor over them but we beheld how unrighteousness and iniquity and sin and wickedness was strengthened and encouraged in the Government and by such as were in Authority and how the fear of God and the exercise of a good conscience was abused so that it was turned backward from what it ought to be them that did well were punished and limited as transgressors and the evil doers were set free and not made afraid so that we could truely cry truth was fallen in the streets and justice and true Judgement turned backward and equity had no place to enter and the innocent was devoured through want of true and just Judgement and the needy was spoiled and made a prey and thus it was framed for no sooner had we opened our mouthes but the Magistrates begun to put us in prison and execute great injustice upon us and became oppressors of the innocent and laid grievous unjust burdens upon us grievous to be born and true justice and judgement was neglected and wrong judgement brought forth and good Government abused and men in authority not ruled by the Lord neither ruling for the Lord among men and thus it came to passe upon us through the corruption and degeneration in Government and Magistrates which we saw to be as it was fulfilled by them to wit not as the Lord required nor as he in the beginning ordained it but quite the contrary and this we saw in the beginning when the spirit of the Lord was poured down upon us and power from on high was revealed to declare against all the the abominations of the Earth and to make war against all corruption in all orders and places and men Then being prepared of the Lord and having received power from on high we went forth as commanded of the Lord leaving all relations and all things of the woâ—ld behind us that we might fufill the work of the Lord into which he called us and with flesh and blood nor any creature we consulted not nor took councel of men but of the Lord alone who lifted up our heads above the world and all fears and doubtings and was with us in power and dominion over all that which opposed us which was great and mighty and gave us power over it all and to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of Iron and this is the saints honour and the word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare and caused the deaf to hear the blind to see and the heart that was hardned to be a wakened and the dread of the Lord went before us and behind us and terror took hold upon our enemies And first of all our mouthes were opened and our spirit filled with indignation against the Priests and teachers and with them and against them first we began to war as being the causers of the people to erre and the blind leaders that carried the blind into the ditch and against them as the fountain of all wickednesse abounding in the Nations and as being the issue of prophanes for from them hath prophaness gone forth in all nations and against them we cryed a loud as being redeemed from their mouths who had made a prey upon us as they do upon all that follow their waies and in steeple-houses we did visit them often and in markets and other places as the Lord moved and made way for us shewing unto all them and all their people that they were not Lawfull Ministers of Christ sent of him but were deceivers and Anti-christs and such whom the Lord never sent and we spared not publikely and at all seasons to utter forth the Judgements of the Lord against them and their waies and against their Churches and worships and practices as not being of God nor commanded by him by which they deceived the world and this was our first work which we entred upon to thresh down the deceivers and lay them open that all people might see their shame and come to turne from them receive the knowledg of the truth that they might be saved and this we did with no smal opposition nor danger yea often times we were in danger of our lives through beating abusing punishing haling casting over walls striking with staves and cudgelâ— and knocking downe to the ground besides reproaching Scorning revilings and houtings at and scoffings and slanderings and all abuses that could be thought or acted by evil hands and tongues and often carried before Magistrates with grievous threats and some times put in the Stocks and whipped and often
imprisoned and many hard dealings against us the worst of tongues or hands could execute sparing life of this all the North countries may witnesse and all these things are sustained and suffered from people and Rulers because of our faithfulnesse to the Lord and for declaring against the false deceivers for nothing save onely the hand of the Lord and his power could have preserved us and carryed us through all this neither for any reward outward whatsoever or advantage to our selves would we have exposed our selves to that sufferings and violence and dangers which befell us dayly but the Lord was our exceeding great reward through all these things and kept us in the hollow of his hand and under the shadow of his wings and gave us dominion in spirit over all our enemies and subdued them before us and though Rulers and people were combined against us and executed their injustice and violence upon us yet the Lord made us to prosper and grow exceedingly in strength wisdom and number and the hearts of the people enclined unto us and the witnesse of God in many stired for us for to that in all consciences in our words and sufferings and waies we did commend our selves to be known and approved And in the beginning we were but few in number onely a few that thus were carried on and dealt with all and that had received the power from on high in such a measure and for such a work and no sooner did the Lord appear to us and with us but the Devil and his power rose up against us to destroy us and it wrought in Rulers Priests and people and all the waies and meanes invented by the Devil that could be executed by his servants were brought forth to quench the work of the Lord and to stop our passage in what we were called to did ye but perfectly know as we perfectly found the craftinesse and policie and wickednesse of the Devil how to overcome this new borne babe and how to root out for ever this plant that was newly sprang forth it would make you admire and wonder with admiration all the priests and Rulers were in an uproar the Priests they petitioned to the Magistrates and run up down from one sessions and Judicatory to another took wicked oathes and slandered the just with lies and reproaches on purpose to incense all people against us and the Magistrates gave forth warrants for the apprehending of some and made their orders to break our meetings and that we should not meet in the night season and such men might not passe abroad and such stirr and opposition vvas made against us it can hardly be expressed or declared there was uproars in steeple-houses and uproars in markets and often haling before Magistrates and abused and threatned and slandred and all manner of evil done and spoken against us and great injustice cruelty and oppression acted against us where ever we came and all through the meanes of the Priests who spared not to enact and conceive mischief against us and sought dayly to the Magistrates for persecution preaching in their Pulpits and praying against us and setting daies apart to seek their God against us crying with out ceasing in publike and private heresie heresie Error and blasphemy that we were deceivers witches and seducers such like the worst they could say and Imagine to stir up the hearts of people against us and running often to the Assize and Sessions and Counts to complain and in forme upon false oathes against us and through them were the whole countries in a rage and madnesse Rulers people often imprisoning and abusing and resisting us with violence banishing us out of towns and putting of us out of our Innes and often threatning to burne the houses over our heads the whole company of rude people in a town often gathering and besetting a house or Inne about where we were entred to lodge in our travels we were often exposed to dificult and hard travels and journies giving our selves to the Crosse to take it up against all earthly often drinking water and lying in straw in barnes after a hard daies journey and yet for all these things the power and presence of the Lord was with us and we were carried on in much boldnesse and faithfulnesse in courage and without fear or doubtings through the often hazard of our lives many waies in uproars by evil men and in markets and Steeple-houses and also in travels by robbers and every way were we exposed to dangers and perrils but through all over all were we carried and are preserved to this day And after this manner it came to passe concerning us and much more might be said but this is in short declared how we were intreated and dealt withall by Priests Rulers and People through all the Northern counties of England in our first going forth through which counties we first Journied out of Westmerland through Cumberland Northumberland and into some parts of Scotland and Durham York-shire Lancashire Chesshire c. and in all these counties much opposition we had and exceeing sufferings and cruell dealings from men of all sorts every Goal may witnesse in every county how any of them seldome were without some of us or our friends imprisoned in them this six yeares and scarce one steeple-house or market in all these counties but may witnesse what beating what bruisings strikings and halings and abusings and perils we have suffered and sustained and not one priest in all those counties can cleare himselfe from hatred and malice and from envying of us and doeing mischief in words and works or thoughts or desires against us nor scarce one Justice nor any officer of the peace can be excused in all them counties from plotting and acting injustice upon us and threating and enacting cruelty against us And I call Heaven and Earth to record and the Light in every mans conscience and do appeal to that in all sorts and places of people that by all sorts of people we suffered evil and unjust works and actions and words from them and let the witnesse of God in all mens consciences in all the North give testimony what dealings and cruelty we suffered and how we have been dealt withall and also of our patience and Innocency under all what they have done to us But notwithstanding all what was acted against us and spoken maâ—â— hundreds of the honest and sober people owned us and also many rude and ungodly persons were converted to the truth I say many hundreds in all these counties in two yeares time were brought to the knowledge of the Lord and to own us all which time we laboured and traveled in patience giving up our selves to live or to die and to all manner of sufferings and reproaches and hard trials that we might fulfill faithfully what we were called unto sufferings without from open enemies and from our own kindred and relations and sufferings within for the seeds sake
Scripture and then Judge in your consciences and do not they suffer many hard and cruel things even all manner of evil spoken and done against them falsly for the Name of Christ are you ignorant of their great sufferings through this Nation and what do you think is their suffering for evil doing or is it not for righteousness sake what harm do they do to any by work or word why are they reproached and mocked and scorned and why are they put in prisons and whipped and thus sorely abused is it for any evil doing or is it not because they are the servants of the Lord compare their fruits with the Priests fruits their conversation with the Priests conversation and see whether be liker the Apostles and these things I leave to you that you may come to consider and judge justly of all things for the Lord God is risen and his light in peoples consciences is shining forth and it shall answer to what I say in this world or in the day of Judgement when we and all mankind shall appear and come forth to tryal and every mans work shall be tryed and all shall receive according to their deeds And so gladly would we be made manifest to all the world if that after the reading of this book any be unsatisfied still in this matter And if any especially of the heads and Rulers have doubts or Jealousies raised in them concerning us and the Priests and that they further would be satisfied and resolved for that end let any wise men propound for full satisfaction of all sorts of people that we with the consent of the chief in Authority that have power in this Nation who may preserve peace and safety among people and thereby to stop all Jealousies may freely and chearfully four ten twenty thirty more or fewer of us give as many of the wisest and ablest of the Priests and Professors a meeting for dispute at any place in England at what place time and for what continuance as they shall ascribe and consent unto and to dispute and controvert betwixt us and them any such thing and every such particular as shall or may be objected by any of the heads and Rulers or other grave understanding men wherein they are doubful betwixt us and would thereof be satisfied that by such dispute and opening of such causes objected full and real and total satisfaction may be given to the whole Nation and every particular man and member therein Otherwise Let the Priests or professors or any of them object what they can against us in our principles profession faith and practice and our whole Religion And if they shall affirme and alledge any one or more things against us that any principle we hold or practice we profess in any part throughout all our Religion are false Principles and false practices and not according to truth nor the scriptures but shall affirme that our Religion is not the true Religion nor we of the true Church of of Christ and they shall have free liberty to give their best proofe and reason for what they affirme and alledge yet by the strength of Christ and in the power and authority of God and according to the scriptures we shall confute all their proofes and strongest reasons and on the contrary we shall joine our Principles doctrines and practices and all our Religion and every part and particular thereof to be the very truth and agreeing with the scriptures and according to that shall maintain by lawfull arguments and plea that our Religion and worship and all that we professe and Practice is according to the mind of the Lord and justified of him and that whatsoever is and may be spoken against us upon that account is utterly false and to be condemned and upon this we will ingage with them and with any of our enemies of what sect and profession soever to the intent onely that truth may be manifest and embraced and deceit and Errour discovered and denied And also upon such an engagement we should agree to have the liberty freely and soberly to object against the Priests concerning their Ministry their call their practice their maintenance and their fruits and effects and concerning their Church and principles and worship and whole Religion and shall hear patiently all that can be said in defence thereof by any or all of them and shall prove by the spirit of the Lord and according to the scriptures that their ministry is not the true Ministry of Christ nor they true and lawfull Ministers of the Gospel but shal manifest by evident arguments that their call practice maintenance fruites and effects are not according nor agreeing but contrary and differing to what the true Ministry was and its call practice maintenance fruites and effects were in the true Apostles and among the true Churches and furthermore by the Grace of God we shall prove their Church their worship and their whole Religion in all parts thereof to be degenerated from what the true Church was and the true worship and true Religion in the daies of the Apostles and true Churches of old and these things shall we make manifest by faithfull and sound arguments according to the scriptures that all the earth may know and all people perceive who is in the truth and of the true worship and Religion and who are in the contrary and whether the Priests and that which they professe and practice for Religion or the Quakers and that which they professe and practice for Religion be of God and according to him and whether are contrary that the end of this long travel and war and controvercy may be desided and justly ended between us and all people may be resolved and satisfied concerning us and them that do oppose us And let all the Priests and professors lay aside and give over their houses of correction and imprisoning people and whipping of them and stocking of us and dealing in this manner of violence and cruelty as for years by-past they have done in defence of their Religion and resisting of ours and let them lay aside their carnall weapons and fighting against our persons and imprisoning of us about our Religion and let them come forth in sound arguments the best they have and let us see what spiritual weapons they have to resist us and defend themselves let us try whether their spiritual weapons or ours be the strongest and the most powerfull and mighty let theirs that are so prevaile against the other be it ours or theirs and this is the way to try the truth and to make all things manifest and to deside and end all the whole controversies between us and them which hath been great this many yeares and let the truth be set up and exalted where ever it is and all deceit thrown down to the ground and let us war with the weapons of the spirit against errour and false religion one in the other but le ts not hurt creatures
319. Some of the Principles of the Priests of Bishoprick p. 321. Daniel Roberts teacher to the baptists in Reading his principles p. 323. Timothy Trevers his Principles p. 324. The Doctrines and Principles of the Priests of Scotland p. 327. The Principles of 15. Priests of the Isle of Weight p. 361. W. S. his book called the Parsons guide p. 369. Thomas Hodges of Soldren in Oxfordshire his book called a Scripture Catechisme p. 369. Several Scriptures Corrupted by the Translators p. 373. An ANSWER to many Principles held forth by some of those called Ministers Teachers and Professors in England taken out of their severall Books with their names at them And also several other Sayings and Writings of the Priests and Professors of this Nation gathered up together and Answered Samuel Eaton who calls himselfe a Teacher of the Church of Christ at Stockeport in Cheshire In his Book called THE QVAKERS Confuted sent to the Parliament SAITH in his Epistle to the Parliament then sitting at Westminster That they are not to judge of Saintship according to the large charity of some who are truly good c. Ans So here is another Doctrine then Christs was who said The tree is known by its fruits and by their fruits ye shall know them And the fruits of the Spirit is known from the fruits of the flesh Again in the conclusion of his aforesaid Epistle he begs a pardon of the Parliament for the thoughts of his heart that he hath spread before them and so puts them in the Popes place Likewise in his Epistle to the Reader because Richard Waller witnesseth his Teacher within and bids others to minde the Light within them and that he was come off of all other Teachers c. he judgeth this to be delusion Contrary to John the Apostle who saith Ye need no man to teach you but as the same anointing doth teach you which is truth and is no lye John 2.27 And again in Heb. 8. Ye shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him from the least to the greatest for the Lord will write his law in their hearts and put his spirit within them c. Prin. He saith he doth not believe that there is any substantiall essentiall or personall union betwixt the eternall Spirit and believers Answ Although the Scripture saith the spirit dwels in the Saints 1 Cor. 6. and he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 1 John 1. As though the Saints had not union with God which the scriptures saith they have Prin. He saith It is palpably false and blasphemy to say that Saints know all things and have power to work miracles to the glory of God Answ Contrary to the Minister of Christ John who saith But yee have anoynting from the holy one and know all things 1 John 2.20 And Christ said Greater things then these shall yee do that believe in me Prin. He saith Though we believe that the spirit of Christ dwells in the Saints yet we assert the spirit of Christ to be distinct from the Saints c. Answ How are they led by the spirit how are they led into all truth And how are they sanctified by the spirit and their unity in the spirit by which spirit they have unity with God by which spirit the Saints worship him And he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his And so they are distinct from it but they are not so that have it and be in unity with it and one with another with God Prin. He saith Although there be the same spirit in all the Saints that gave forth the Scriptures yet all Saints have not the same inspiration of the spirit that the Prophets and Apostles had so as that they should be able to give forth infallible truths and immediately discover the pure and clear will of God as the Prophets and Apostles did Answ In this his Ignorance of the spirit he hath shewed and of the holy Ghost And himself is the false spirit gone out into the world For the spirit of truth shall lead into all truth and bring to memory Christs words and doth inspire into them the things of God and doth reveal to every one according to their measure Pr. The Spirit doth not communicate according to the capacity in the creature Ans Then there is none can divide the word aright and God gives to every man as he will and reproves the world and leads the Saints into all truth Prin. He saith they had not known the signification of the words of Christ but by the Evangelists c. Ans I say he nor none knows the signification of Christs words by the Evangelists words but by the Evangelists spirit and the same inspiration which thou saist thou looks not for Pr. He saith The Scriptures do give their own sense and is a standing Rule c. And yet thou said a little before in page 4. They are darke and are left to you to give a sense Ans Here then thou confoundest thy selfe and the spirit of God is the standing rule which leads them to speak forth scripture and not others words and the Prophets and Apostles words did not lead to speak forth scripture but the spirit Pr. He saith They that have the anointing within them had not an infallible judgement c Ans And John saith They know all things and bid them try the spirits whether they were of God And said they had the spirit of God which spirit is infallible and gives an infallible judgement which spirit was to try the false Prophets that was gone out into the world Pr In some places thou said the Scriptures were dark and hard to be understood Ans And here thou saith it is plain and easily to be understood page 8. Mark thy confusion for the Scripture is not understood without the spirit Pr. He saith there is an infallible judgement which may be made from the Scriptures without the spirit page 9. Ans Who can judge infallibly without the spirit Christ told the Pharisees who had the Scriptures They were of the Devill and judgement they had neglected and he did not own their judgement to be infallible And the Apostle saith what they knew who are separate from the spirit they knew naturally as bruit beasts Jude 10. 19. â—hough they may speak high words in hypocrisie And there art thou with thy infallible judgement as thou said without the spirit which is proved fallible and there is no infallible judgement to be given that stands without the spirit they that judges without the spirit will judge amisse and not infallible as the Jewes did of Christ and as the naturall bruit beasts did which Jude speaks of there art thou Pr. And he further saith there in the same page That the Scripture is to be judge of the spirit and a light sufficient to
the spirit and to wait for secret inspiration of God is to subject men to satannicall delusions c. page 40. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who said holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost and they were to wait for the revelation as in Peter and all be in the Satanical delusion that be not in the immediate teachings from the spirit And every one that hath this spirit and the leading of the spirit hath that which is immediate Pr. He saith the Prophets and Apostles drew people to an outward word c. Ans Now is that which lives and endures for ever outward and did not they bring them to Christ the power of God which is the end of words which is immediate Pr. He saith Is not the Gospel an external way c Answ No the Gospel is a living way which is revealed within and is the power of God to salvation Pr. Are not they seduced saith he who are drawn off from the externall means by which the spirit is given and faith wrought to wait for the receiving of the spirit without any word to convey it to them which spirit when they have it is not the spirit of truth but of delusion c. page 41. Ans The spirit and faith is not conveyed to any man without the word and they are seduced that rests in the externall from the eternall and the spirit is not given by external means neither is faith wrought Pr. And he saith They need not any mans teaching them but as the spirit in the Scriptures teaches and they need not that any teachings of man should be added Ans And so by this he hath thrown out himself from being a Pastor and all other Pastors and Teachers and the spirit is not in the Scriptures but in them that gave it forth And the spirit which gave forth the Scriptures which was in the Saints opens the Scriptures again and leads into all truth Pr. And he saith there is an excesse in that Scripture which saith Ye need no man teach you but as the anointing teacheth you Ans And here he makes as if John did not mean as he spake and would make John as false as himself who spoke truth Pr. And he saith the Apostles sayings to the Saints And ye know all things he calls it an excessive speech for no one knows all things but God page 42. Ans So contrary to John and would make him a lyar the Minister of God So he is in the false spirit gone out into the world Contrary to 1 John 2. who knew all things Pr. He saith Outward teaching is the way and meanes whereby the deep and profound and necessary truths of Scripture come to be understood but not immediate page 44. Ans So he hath denyed the spirit to open the Scriptures immediate inspiration by the spirit and its teaching and set up an outward in the room of it Here his spirit is tryed again gone out into the world For salvation is immediate and the means that brings to it and none knows the Scriptures by outward teaching but immediately by the Lord God Pr. And he saith Ministeriall gifts are not now to be found in the world such as the Mininisters of the Gospel had in the Primitive time Ans Therefore no such work ministerial now as was then nor any such officers as Pâ—stors Teachers c. as was then Ans He hath preached himselfe to be one of the false spirits which went forth from the Apostles into the world And yet he saith Christ is with them to the end of the world And yet saith no hearing of his voyce nor seeing him nor handling of him so he hath confuted himself and hath shewed you he hath quenched the spirit among you all Pr. He saith that the Apostle was silent in that point that men must be endued with extraordinary gifts Ans Which the Apostles Epistles prove to the contrary who saith without faith ye cannot please God which is a gift and an extraordinary gift and saith He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his which is an extraordinary gift So you are another Ministry and other Pastors and Teachers and that which is another gift then the Apostle is not the gift of God Pr. He saith How comes the Apostle to raise up a living to some persons for preaching when he saith That they that preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel c. page 48. Ans It was contrary to the Apostle to preach to raise up a living for preaching but saith they were not to preach for filthy lucres sake But they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel that is not as you raising Livings making a trade of the forme and denying the power which is the Gospel Pr. Here he cries out against gifted mens preaching and saith Paul prophecyed against them page 49. and names them to be such as have itching eares Ans As he is gone out from the Apostles and so cries up his imagined gifts his own gifts which the Apostles did not cry against but said every one must minister that had received a gift and thou art one of the itching eares gone out from the Apostles Pr. He saith that their Synagogues commonly called Churches were not ordained for any spiritual uses as for serving God in them c. pa. 51. Ans Which is contrary to all the professed Teachers in the Nations who say they are ordained for the use and service of God and cals them Churches but to this I believe he will call his words back again Pr. And to break Christs command be not of men called Master Ans He calleth it a civil honour Pharisee-like a teacher of the Pharisees And here he hath proved himselfe not to be a guide of the way and the governor of a mans life for that title Master belongs to Christ and not to any man These are his words and the signification which he gives of that title there See page 52. And yet he dare presumptuously take it and plead for it which Christ denyed in the Pharisees and so impudently break Christs command and so hath shewed that he walks out of his Doctrine and is a transgressor and no Minister but an Antichrist Pr. He saith the Apostle never bred up any that they needed no man to teach them pag. 53. Ans And so giveth John the lye who saith Ye need no man to teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you And the Apostle who saith ye need not say every man to his neighbour know the Lord c. and denies the effectual work of the new Covenant But all shall know him from the least to the greatest Hebr. Pr. He saith Paul denies perfection to himselfe Ans Paul did not deny perfection to himself nor others but his work was to the perfecting of the Saints but your work is to keep men from perfection and that hath been the Ministers work since they apostatized from
contrary to Christ who is the Saviour of the soul and men are justified through faith that is within in the heart which is held in a pure conscience and Christ is in the Saints who is their justification and the Apostle preached Christ in them and where he is there is justification and who hath his light and receive him not there is condemnation Pr. And he saith The Quakers are deceived because they say Christ is within them kept down by something within them Ans Corrected by the Apostle who saith to the Saints Christ is in you the hope of glory and he was prest down as a Cart with sheaves and Christ was in prison and they visited him not and hungry and ye fed him not and thou never knew Christ formed in thee nor the reigning of the seed which is the Heir of the promise of God How was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world buâ— among such as thou art And reprobates may talk of justification in whom Christ is not who witness him not within he is not your justification Pr. And his principle is that the place where Christ shall come to judgement is at the mount of Olives on the East side of Jerusalem Ans Thou hast put him far enough off from thee and hast not yet judged thy self and Christ is come to judgment and so art one of the false Prophets who bids people look for him beyond the Sea loe here be there But who are come to Christ the light the life they need not go forth who abide here are sealed by the spirit puts not off the good and evill day Pr. He saith It is a delusion of the Devill and a dangerous doctrine to bid people follow the light within them Ans And they be in the dangerous doctrine and the delusions of the Devill that draws people from the Light within and thus he doth oppose the foundation of God the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world And the doctrine of the Apostle who saith the light that shines in their hearts must give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus So he is one of the Devils ministers opposing the foundation of God drawing people from that the Apostles drew them too for no one comes to the Kingdom but who comes to the light within them Pr. He saith That every man hath not the spirit of Christ within him Answ And John said Every man that cometh into the world is enlightned And Christ said I will send you the comforter the spirit of truth which shall lead you into all truth and he shall take of mine and give it unto you and he shall reprove the world of sinne the spirit shall Mark all people here is Saints here is Disciples here is the world get from under this how thou canst for under reproof thou art come and that which doth reprove the world is manifest to them and the wicked quencheth the spirit but the Saints are led by it and here are all men Pr. And again thou sayst That it is a filthy errour to say that that light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world will lead man to the Kingdome of righteousnesse and peace Ans Thus he is splitting himself against the Rock and striking against the foundation which every man that cometh into the world being enlightned that through it he might believe and believing in the light he might not abide in darknesse and this he makes insufficient which he that doth not believe in the light is condemned And thus the spiritual Sodomite and Aegyptian is blinde raging about the door and no man comes to the Kingdome of Righteousnessâ— and peace but by the light within and so he is in the filthy errour himself denying the light and hating it Pr. Thou sayst Christ is the light of the world and yet not in every one that cometh into the world Ans So corrected by John who saith he doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And the light shines in darknesse and the darknesse cannot comprehend â—t and he that hates the light is enlightned and will not come to it because it will reprove him that which doth manifest to man an understanding of reproof is within him and that condemns him hating it and the Saints believed in the light and they abode not in darkness which the unbelievers do and stumbles which the others do not Pr. And he saith Christ was not in his Disciples when he sâ—id I am the light of the world Ans And so is corrected by Christ who saith I in you and you in me Pr. He saith They that will come to justification they must go to Christs grave without and to Mount Calvery page 9. Answ And the Scripture saith ye need not go up to heaven nor to say who shall go over the sea for us and bring unto us that we may hear it and do it but the word is nigh in thy heart Deut. 30. so corrected by the Scriptures And the Angel said unto them that went to the grave without Why seeke ye the living among the dead he is risen and the Saints sits with him in heavenly places and need not go to Mount Calvary for him Pr. Hâ— saith The light wherewith Christ doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world is but a creature and is not a spirit pâ—ge 10. Ans And John saith all things was made by him made by the light in him was life and the life was the light of men And this shines in darknesse and the darknesse cannot comprehend it but all stumbling at the foundation of God which was before any creature was made who is the power of God Christ Jesus the light and the Prophets and Johns doctrine they stumbled at who saithâ— the light is a creature by which all things are made and created and so art corrected by the Scripture Pr. He calls the light conscience and a poor dunghill creature that will convince of sin Ans Which light was before conscience was or creature was or created or made light was He made the Sun the Moon c. and the light was before these were made and he is both life and spirit too for that which convinceth of sin is above the creature which checks him and reproves him and lets him see when he goeth astray from the Creator and that 's the light of Christ with which all men may see their salvation with that which lets them see their sin Pr. He saith The law doth not lead men to Christ but under the curse page 17 Answ That is to them that transgresse it Solomon said the law was light And David said the Law was a light unto his feet and a Lamp unto his paths and so led him from the curse them that do it which Christ is the end of and redeems from under it Pr. He saith It is not faith and works together that justifies in the sight
of God but it is faith and good works that justifies in the sight of men onely and saith Works will not justifie in the sight of God And he saith that works is onely but to justifie their faith to be true before men Answer Abraham was not justified to men only by his obedience but to God and where there is faith there is justification which works by lâ—â—â— And the Saints faith and works was not only to justifie them in the sight of men for the work of God is to do what he saith and his will which who doth not are not justified in so doing but to be beaten with stripes who seeks to be justified by their faith and works in the sight of men are dead faith and works both Pr. He saith They are no Christians that doth not hold Christ absent from his Church but Antichrists Ans Which is contrary to the Scriptures which say they are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone and they are as nigh together as husband and wife And thus he is ignorant of the great mystery Christ and the Church which Christ is the head of Pr. He saith That the light wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world is not the spirit of Christ page 19. Ans And so makes that which comes from God and Christ not spirit as he is God and thus the man is beating the ayre He saith Christ was God that lighteth every man c. And yet saith he not with the spirit how then cometh men to be condemned not believing it and so thou hast reproved thy selfe and art blinde and into the Ditch fallen Pr. And again thou sayest Though Christ as he is God doth give every man a light which is conscience otherwise called nature Ans A d so thou hast given those new names to the light of Christ contrary to the Apostles as thou mayest read John 1.2 John doth not tell us that is conscience or natural light as thou doth and the light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall which was before all things and by it all things was made So it was before any Naturals was and is that which gives all men the wisdome of God to order the Naturalls so by the Scriptures thou art reproved Pr. And he saith Christ will not give his spirit to the world Answ And Christ said he will send his spirit to reprove the world and that is sent to them and that which doth reprove them iâ— manifest to them in the world to their own understanding and in them which spirit leads the Saints into all truth There is no man reproved but it is within him manifest to his understanding And if he quencheth the spirit that reproveth him he is not lead by it and that is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world and men love darknesse c. And this thou calls not spirit Now this is the condemnation of them whose consciences are seared and of them who have the created and made and natural lights the Sun the Moon and Stars which light was afore they was Pr. And thou saith The Scripture plainly denies that conscience can justifie though it may condemn See page 23. Ans Which is contrary to plain Scripture where the Apostle saith Rom. 2.15 Their consciences either accusing or excusing And again saith he Herein do I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men And the light condemns which you call conscience Pr. He saith that the Gospell is called the ministration of life but not of condemnation Same page Ans But they are condemned that obey not the Gospel of Christ And the Scripture speaks of a savour of death unto death and a savour of life unto life and the Gospel is so the power of God Pr. He denies that Paul bid the Saints listen within c. see page 25. Ans When as Paul said that the light which shined in their hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And it was the treasure in the earthen vessell and Christ was within them And the ingrafted word that was able to save their souls And the hidden man of the heart And he had revealed his Son in them and many other Scriptures And he saith he served the law of God with his minde And yet thou saith he did not bid any listen within And he saith the word was in their hearts to obey it and in their mouths And can they obey that and not listen within and do that and not have their minds stayed upon the Lord Pr. He saith the light doth not shine in the consciences of them that be lost See page 26 Ans But John saith the light shines in darknesse but darknesse cannot comprehend it and there is that of God in the children of disobedience and reprobates as in Rom. 1. and 2 Chap. Pr. And he denies that every man hath the light Ans Contrary to John who saith that is the true light which inlightneth every man that comes into the world John 1. Pr. He saith It is a counterfeiting of the new birth for men to follow the light wherewith men coming into the world are inlightned withall c. Answ Which none comes to the new birth but who comes to the light which every man that comes into the world is lighted withall which believing in is a child of the light Believing and receiving comes to receive power to become the Sons of God Pr. He saith To say that Christ is risen within there is no Scripture to prove it See page 28. Ans Doth not the Apostle say Christ formed in you And Christ in you the hope of glory which hope purifies as God is pure And Christ within doth he not arise there before all waves be still and shall he not arise with healing under his wings How ignorant of the Letter are the Priests grown much more of the mysterie Gal. 4. and Malachy Pr. And whereas thou saith thou art confident that while some would perswade others that they have no sinne their consciences will tell them they lye see page 41. Ans The Apostle told the Romanes that they were made free from sin and the Romanes did not tell the Apostle that their consciences told them he lyed as thou saith Pr. He saith the body of Christ is out of the sight of all his Saints c. see page 47. Ans And the Apostle saith They sate with Christ in heavenly places and the Saints are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone and the Church which he is head of is his body And every one that eats his flesh knows his body given for the life of the world and the body of Christ is not out of the sight of the Saints that are in the Church Therefore you Ministers and Teachers that say Christs body is out of your
sights are not Saints neither are you of his Church which is his body neither have you eaten his flesh nor know that which is given for the life of the world but are out of the sight of the Church which is his body Pr. And thou saith they shall have a greater judgement without them then they shall have within them c. see page 48. Ans And the Scripture saith If ye judge your selves ye shall not be judged of the Lord. Pr. And that place in Jude he brings to prove that all men have not the Spirit c. See page 49. Where he saith They walke after their own ungodly lusts these be they who separate themselves being sensuall and have not the spirit who went in Balaams way Ans Who shews that they went forth from the spirit and turned the grace of God into wantonnesse And this doth not make for thee to thy purpose but rather against thee and the same spirit that reproves the world leads the Saints into all truth Pr. He saith That God did not give the Law that people should live in it c. See page 49. Answ And the Scripture saith that they that did the Law had life and were justified by it For do this and live saith God to Moses and therefore thou wouldst make God a lyar who cannot lye who saith that God did not give forth his Law that men should have life Is not the Curse and the Death in the transgression of it Christ is the end of the righteous Law who is the light that doth enlighten every man that doth come into the world which believing in it he comes to be a child of Light Which light thou blasphemously calls conscience or Naturall which is Christ the Light the foundation of God which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world that with the light they might see Christ who hath enlightned them the foundation of God from whence light comes And the Apostle saith the law is spirituall and just and good and he it was that was the carnall and so thou art the carnall not yet come to the Law which is spiritual Pr. He saith He that will but observe the motions of that light which every man hath within him say they so as to obey and close in with it to follow it shall undoubtedly save himselfe from the wrath to come Now this is clearly a great errour as thou saist See page 50. Ans Contrary to Johns doctrine and Christs who saith the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is the true light that men through the light might believe Therefore be they enlightned and he that believes in the light shall not abide in darknesse nor in errour nor in condemnation but shall have the light of life Saith Christ I am the light of the world And saith moreover believe in the light before they be children believe in the light that ye may be children of the light So every man is enlightned with a light before they be children with the true light He that believes in the light is a child of the light he that doth not believe in the light the light condemns him Pr. And whereas thou saith The Law gives not life nor justifies See page 50. Ans It is false thou art mistaken in the Scriptures and rebuked with them The Law gives life to him that obeys it and lives in it and he that doth it lives and is justified the doer of the Law and not the hearer only and it is righteous and just and good But Christ Jesus the Law and the spirit of life which is the end of Gods righteous Law is the justification to life Gods righteousnesse who is the end of the other law And the Apostle Paul saith The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Pr. And thou would make it an errour to say the Saints are saviours of the world See page 50. Ans The Apostle said when he writ to the Saints he should save himselfe and others and this was by the power of Christ And Jude saith others saving with fear but hating the garments spotted with the flesh Now thou art a deceiver and not a Saviour both of thy selfe and others and ignorant of the power and the spirit Pr. He saith there is no such Scripture as saith the light within the conscience See page 52. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who saith the light shines in their hearts and is not there the conscience 2 Cor. 4. And Christ saith they will not come to the light lest their deeds should be by it manifested they by it reproved and this is not conscience nor nature And the Apostle Paul saith Our rejoycing is the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but in the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world Pr. The new Covenant which God promised to write in their hearts he calls that the law by nature see page 52. Ans And thus he is stumbling at the corner stone and errs in his judgement for that which orders nature is above nature and all naturallists and transgressors do call it naturall Doctor Glisson's Paper concerning James Parnels death in prison which the Lyes that are in it are not worth mentioning but upon themselves will fall but here is one of their lying slanders taken off as followeth who strikes at the Rock splits themselves and the blood of that Innocent lies upon their heads Pr. IN the Preface he saith That the most knowing part of these Quakers have received their principles from Rome c. Ans It is false for the Instructions which they have received is from Christ who was glorified with the father before the world began and before Rome was or revilers either which makes the world to rage The corner-stone the light which lightens every man that comes into the world before it was which makes the Beast and the false Prophet and the Pope and you to arme themselves against the Lamb and his light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world withal And the Priests Instructions have been from Rome to set up their Schools to make Miinsters and Temples East and West with a Crosse at the end of them and the Tenth which they imprison men to death for and their preaching by the hour-glasse and naming their Colledges and Masse-houses by the Saints names Your Instructions have been from Rome to do these things but the Lamb shall have the victory glory to the Lord in the highest for ever George Emmot who calls himself a spirituall Quaker converted Who is turned with the Dog to the vomit and gone in the way of Core exalting himself and gain-saying Truth and gone in the way of Cain into his first birth turned against the second DId God smite thee for thy pride Did God let thee see the
Christ and the Apostles and the Scriptures are owned by them in scorn called Quakers and the light it speaks of who out of the apostacy are come and so from among the apostates And as for the lyes and slanders in his Book that are not worth mentioning but they shall turn upon his own head whose immodesty hath discovered them Pr. In his Preface to the Reader He saith It is an expression of a darke deluded minde to say that God is not distinguished from the Saints Ans But God and Christ is in the Saints and dwell in them and walk in them and he is a Reprobate and out of the Apostles doctrine Pr He saith We have broken the everlasting Covenant of God Answ Because we own the teaching of God by his spirit and the light which doth enlighten every one that that cometh into the world which is the covenant of God Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the rule of life See page 4. Answ Contrary to Christ who said the spirit should lead them into all truth And they that are the sons of God are led by the spirit of God And the Churches was to hear what the spirit saith for the spirit led them to speak forth Scripture Pr. Again he saith It is a contradiction and a confused sencelesse thing to preach the word of faith in the mouth and in the heart see page 6. Again he saith Most senseless is this profession of Christ in the mouth and believing in him with the heart God that made all things These are his words page 8. Ans It is not a senselesse profession to preach the word of Faith in the heart and in the mouth and to say God will dwell in you and the word is in the heart and in the mouth The word is God and thou art senselesse and fallen in confusion in the contradiction out of the Apostles doctrine and the Apostle saith Christ in you and with the mouth confession is made to salvation Pr. And he calls it a Notion to say that Christ lighteth all and therefore the light is Christ. Ans So here he is kicking and spurning against the light Christ that lighteth every man that cometh into the world which is the Rock the foundation of God the corner-stone which is fallen upon thy head and all be in the notion that be out of it Pr. He scoffs at the Quakers because they say they have the word of God in them Ans Christ his name is called the word of God Pr. He saith God blessing or blasting his owne Word to some according to the different ends intended by himselfe see page 9. Ans Now the Word of God is not blasted God never blasts his own Word but it is they that are blasted that disobey the Word For the Word of God doth its service and accomplisheth the end which it goeth forth for and doth not return in vain And it is the sword of the spirit and that is not blasted It is a hammer and a fire and it lives and doth endure for ever So thou art blasted who saith the Word of God he blasts and art to be cut down by the word of God for thy blasphemy Pr. He saith the Quakers are deceivers because we say that Christ is not in outward observations and formes And John Bunyan saith that he is distinct from the Saints and would have him in the forms c. see page 13. Ans And we say he hath triumphed over the Ordinances and blotted them out and they are not to be touched and the Saints have Christ in them who is the end of outward forms and thou art deceived who thinks to finde the living among the dead and Bunyan is deceived who said he is distinct from the Saints and so you are a company of pittiful Teachers Pr. He saith Every true Christian doth believe that the holy Scriptures alone is to be the object of faith c. page 17. Ans So he hath thrown out God the giver of it and Christ the Author of it for many have the Scriptures and deny Christ the Author of faith and object Pr. He asketh Did you ever read of law and testimony in the heart c see page 18. Ans Yea God saith I will write my law in their hearts The law was in Davids heart the law was in the Apostles heart The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy and that is in the heart See Heb. 8. Rev. Pr. He saith The covenant of God is not to all in the Church of Christ see page 19. Ans Which is contrary to the Scriptures for where the Church is there is the Covenant the head Christ Jesus And God saith I will give him for a covenant to the Gentiles those are the heathen And I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah and these are called the people of God And therefore thou art in the fall in ignorance and a man without understanding and affirms thou dost not know what and silence would become thee better then to publish thy shame in print for they are not in the Church of God that be not in the covenant of God Pr. And he saith The Scriptures is the sure and perfect rule page 20. Ans And the Scripture saith Christ is the Bishop of the soule and God hath all souls in his hand And many have Scriptures but their soules the Bishop of them they know not but they remain in death and the life they want that gave it forth and so are all on heaps about the Scripture one with another and calling them the rule and the spirit And the spirit of God that led them forth to speak forth the Scripture was the rule to the Saints and holy men of God but they that be in the transgression will kill one another about their words and the spirit leads to see them again and brings them into unity with them and God Pr. He saith It is blasphemy to say that Christ is in them as God and man c. see page 23. Ans How are they of his flesh and bone And doth not the Scripture say Christ in you and God will dwell in you and walk in you And are not the Saints of his flesh and of his bone And are they not partakers of the divine nature Pr. He saith It is a fancy to say the eternall word of God is in them see page 26. Ans Thou art in the fancy that the eternal word is not in and witnessed and under the fire and sword and hammer to be hammered down And so art corrected by the Apostle who saith Let the word of God dwell in you richly The ingrafted word which is able to save your souls and immortal word which is immortal Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the only rule of knowing God c. See page 26. Ans Christ saith none knoweth the father but the Son who spoke among them that had the Scripture and so he
and have overcome them but the Lamb and the Saints shall get the victory Pr. And thou tels us of a Creed and Catholique Faith commonly called the Apostles Creed which except a man believe this Creed and Catholique Faith he cannot be saved c. See page 16. Ans Who taught thee all this language Where did the Apostles teach thee any such things as the Catholique Creed The Apostle teacheth us no such things as a Catholique Creed didst thou not learn this of the Pope who apostatized from the Apostles And the twelve Apostles taught thee no such Doctrine as the Catholique Creed and thou saith they signed it Nay the Pope signs thee that Creed and the Sacraments the Pope signes thee that And we are come to the foundation of God which was before the Pope was and we gad not Thou shouldst not tell lies to say they gad that come unto God the Elect of God Gods Elect and Christ the light is the salvation before thee and the Pope was Pr. And thou saith Doth any forsake the Ministry to follow a new light c See page 17. Ans That Ministry that doth deny the Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world as this gadding Tribe of Ministers and Professors have done since the dayes of the Apostle and do so by denying the Light they deny the foundation of God The Light we own which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened withall which is the foundation of God and them deny to be any Ministers of Christ that denies the Light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world and his Ministers we own Pr. And thou saith do not forsake the Temple and truth of God to follow the bleating of Jeroboams calves in Dan and Bethel c. Ans Now whither art thou gadded Art not thou gadded in this from the Apostles Doctrine to the Temple which the Apostles brought the people off from where is thy light now How ownes thou Christ who keepes people to the Temple and tels them of Jeroboams Calves in Dan and Bethel where is there any people gadding thither whether hast thou not lost thy reason and sobrietie to publish thy madness to the Nation And did not Christ say the Temple should be thrown down Mat. 24. And Stephen witnessed against it and was stoned to death and thou art calling people to it and your Popish Masse house which you call your Temple you have set up since the dayes of the Apostles is like unto the Idol set up at Dan and Bethel Pr. And he saith your Ancient Divines are them that have entered in at the door c. See pag. 20. Ans How can you and your Ancient Divines enter in at the door when you deny the Light that doth enlighten every man that comes into the world which is Christ the Door Therefore it makes you to gad up and down without light in the dark Now is the stone fallen upon you and the rock you are splitting your selves against it Now shall the Saints know the Song of the Lamb rejoycing over the Beast and the false Prophets Pr. He saith the written word the ingrafted is able to save the soul c. See pag. 21. Ans The Ingrafted word is able to save the soul but the letter the written words are not The Pharisees had the written words but stood against the Saviour of the Soul And how art thou gadded here in thy Judgement how art thou like to own the word that saves the Soul when thou denies the Light Pr. He is stirring up the Magistrate to persecute his own mouth condemns him who pretends love c. Ans And thou that gads abroad in thy mind to stir up the Magistrate to prosecute art not in the life of the Apostles nor Christ but in the Spirit of the false Prophets and Antichrists and one in that which all persecutors come from out of the truth Pr. Again thou saith we ought not to Judge c. See pag. 23. Ans Let all people that read thy Gadding tribe see if thou doth not Judge and so comes under Judgement by thy own words And the time was come to the Apostles when they went on to the eternall Judgement which we own But this is not for such as are crying up Temples and Persecutors nor stumbling at the Light your measures are all too short of your whole gadding tribe that be from the light that every man is enlightened withall that comes into the world Pr. Again thou saith the Apostles was to call the Ministers of Christ mediately and the Immediate call from God is not enough c. See pag. 24. Ans So thou hath set up the Mediate before the immediate and judgeth the immediate and not sufficient But thou art corrected by the Scriptures and the Apostle corrects thee who saith I have not received it of man nor by man and bad others look at Jesus the Author of their faith And the Apostle doth not say that they was to call men mediately he doth not teach such Doctrine that their Ministers was called mediatly nor send them forth so but it is thou that art gaded from the Counsel of God and the Apostle confutes thee who said he was not of men nor by men and all that went forth from the Apostles went forth by the immediate power of God who was the Church of God and by the power of that But you are the mediate fallen from the Apostle and made by the will of men But now with the immediate you are all comprehended Pr. And thou brings many Scriptures to oppose Christs commands and the Apostles Doctrine which saith be ye not of men called master c. See pag. 28. For thâ—â—â— saith Christ doth not mean as he speaks for thou saith the meaning is not that it is unlawful to be called master Ans Here thou shewes whither thou art gadded one that teacheth to break Christs commands But the wo that is denounced in the same Chapter where the command is belonges to thee So an Antichrist that teacheth to deny Christs commands and dispiseth his Authority And one that calls him Lord but doth not the thing that he commands but it is not such that enters into the Kingdom of God and this thou shalt witness at last when thy words falls heavy upon thee Joshua Millers Booke called Antichrist in man the greatest Idol Which is a fit Title for himself who cals that Antichrist and Mistery of Babylon that justifies within Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith we are Justified by faith in Christ Jesus which is in the heart As for the rest of his slanders and Lies in his book they are not worth mentioning but these that follows Pr. ANd he cals them devout men that denyed the light that hath enlightened every man that cometh into the word c. He saith the Quakers are the most saddest and deplorable Spectacles of revolted Professors that ever I heard or read of since
word of life And was this without the faith of Gods elect or sense Therefore in this thou may see in this how uncapable thou art to divide the word Pr. He saith They that put spirituall working for the grace of Christ they destroy Christ Jesus See page 11. Ans They do not destroy Christ Jesus that put spirituall working for the grace of Christ for the works of the spirit doth not destroy Christ for where the works of the spirit are there is the grace of Christ Jesus and none owns Christ but who be in the works of the spirit and his graces and they destroyed Christ and deny him that be out of the works of the spirit and his graces are spiritual workings Pr. He saith The sight of the God-head without faith in Christ is the foundation of all false worships c. See same page Ans Can any see the God-head have a sight of the God-head and not see Christ and have faith in Christ And who have faith in Christ do they not see the fulnesse of the Godhead dwells in him Christ And was not their minds turned from that of God in them which declared the invisible things of him from the Creation of his Eternal Power and Godhead which the Apostle sound fault withall Let all examine and Judge and read the Scripture Rom. 1. and try Pr. He saith obedience to Christ within is a sentence of the Law not of grace and denying Christ overwhelming the afflicted in sorrow without hope and turning the feet of the lame out of the way And bids beware of such Doctrine c. See page 12. Ans If people must beware of the Doctrine of the Apostles who hath told them Christ was in them except they were reprobates And Christ was within them the hope of glory to whom he Preached For they turn people out of the way who keep them reprobates without hope and is a denying of Christ that Preacheth not Christ within and a keeping people under the Law which Christ is the end of and where Christ within is there is obedience which is the end of the Law and there is grace Pr. He saith the Justification and redemption by obeying the Light within appears to his understanding to be a mystery of iniquity c. See page 13. Ans Thy understanding must come to nought for he that believeth is Justified from all things and comes not into condemnation and he hath the witness in himself And that lets him see his Redeemer his Mediator and Saviour the Light which walking in it he is cleansed from all sin and so no mystery of iniquity for the mystery of iniquity is out of the Light none sees Justification and Redemption but with the Light within which comes from Christ who hath enlightened him Pr. He saith the Ministration of grace cannot he known by the Light which Christ hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withall c. See page 14. Ans Contrary to John who saith as many as receiveth him to them he gives power to become the Sons of God and no one knowes the Ministration of grace but by the Light which comes from Christ the Covenant of grace Pr. He saith none can know the mystery of God in Christ with the Light in them c. See page 14. Ans Which is contrary to Scripture I will give him for a Covenant for a Light to the Gentiles he shall be my salvation to the ends of the earth saith the Lord. So this was the salvation so it gives the knowledge of the Ministery of salvation the Light that shines in the heart gives the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus who is the mystery that shines in the heart of them that believe in it and them that do not are condemed with the Light And so they are reproved with the spirit of truth which leads the Disciples into all truth which spirit the world cannot receive for they do not receive the Light and so are not like to receive the Spirit of truth Pr. He saith the Light of Christ in natural man knowes nothing of the spirit c. And the Scripture was the Image of Christ without c. See page 14. Ans Scriptures without are writings and endures not for ever but the power Christ the power of God endures for ever And who ever is in the Light cometh to know Christ in the spirit him who is the life And it leads the natural man from his natural state that believes in it For all by nature are the children of wrath who believes in it it leads from the nature and from the wrath which who believes in it is made free from the wrath to come and they that believe not in the Light are reproved by the spirit and that which reproves them is manifest to them and so they know it Pr. He saith to affirm the Light in the conscience which we say is the Light of Christ the way or guide to Christ whereto onely to attend is a darksome fleshly and most legal principle and calls it grave wherein Christ is buried c. See page 15. Ans Which is contrary to Christs Doctrine who saith he that believes in the Light shall not walk in darkness but have the Light of life And he that does believe in the Light hath entered into his rest and come to the Sabbath out of the grave and out of the legal and out of the fleshly and out of condemnation And none comes to the Son Christ but who comes to the Light which comes from him which he hath enlightened them withall Pr. And again he saith to say the Light in every man is Christ the Redeemer is a two-fold errour c. See same page Ans Contrary to John who saith this is the true Light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And he was in the world and the world knew him not So shewes himself to be one of the stock of the world that knowes not him that was and is in them the Light of the world and the world knew him not which he that believeth in the Light hath the Light of life and he that receiveth the Light receiveth Christ the Redeemer And he that receiveth Christ receiveth his spirit And he that receiveth not the Light that he is enlightened withall receiveth not his Redeemer but hates him it is his condemnation and he is in the errour Pr. He saith the Light within was not given for righteousness neither could it reveal or give life c. page 16. Ans Contrary to Christ who saith he that believes in the Light shall have the Light of life So thou art unskilfull in the word and Doctrine of Christ and Christ within is given for righteousness who reveals the Father and gives life and they that have not Christ the Light within are reprobates Pr. He saith the Light within knowes nothing of the precious Gospel Mystery
These he calls Errours Ans All your Temples set up imitating the Temple of Solomon built since the dayes of the Apostles are Idols for God never commanded them And have not the Papists had them And have they not been Masse-houses Beast-houses and are they not Is God worshipped in Temples made with hands Is not he worshipped in the spirit and in the truth And the Scriptures are words of the Prophets and Apostles and Christ they are words and so called in the Scripture they are not called the written word but words and Christ the Word cometh to fulfill them And all you that doth not speak from the Word if your Declaration be not from it you are the spirits gone out into the world apostatized from the spirit that was in the Prophets Christ the Word and the Apostles that doth not speak from Christ the Word in you And the Letter written in paper and inke now paper and inke is not spirituall but that which it speaks of is spirituall And thou to a single and you to a single makes it appear that neither thou nor you never learned your Accidence yet neither are perfect of the Bible what it saith For neither the Bible nor the Accidence teacheth to speak any such language as you to a particular Therefore ye are pittifull men to go to instruct the Nations cannot endure sound righteous words and simplicity of speech but stumble at it And again God will dwell in you and walk in you and your bodies are Temples of the holy Ghost And Christ is in you except you be reprobates saith the Apostle And again God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soule For that which came out from God was the cause that man became alive a living soule and is not this of God And God who hath all soules in his hand and Christ the Bishop of the soule And is not that of God which comes out from God Is not that of his being the soule which he hath in his hand and so divine and is not Christ in man And doth not Christ say they must eate his flesh And so if they must eate his flesh is not his flesh in them and have they not the spirit And how can any eate Christs flesh if his flesh be not in them And doth not the Scriptures say that he was manifest in the Apostles flesh And how can ye call him Christ in man without the man be there And sprinkling Infants which the Scripture doth not hold forth but a thing got up since the dayes of the Apostles not witnessed by Scripture they cannot shew by the Apostles that it was one of his marks but a tradition of men an invention of men and then they may all see such as say they have not a command to do it if it be not a mark of that beastly spirit that is erred from the Apostles who is out of the power And Christ saith be not yee of men called Master it is his command for yee have one Master even Christ and ye are all brethren So thou that opposest the commands of Christ and teacheth men to practice the contrary thou and you are Antichrists and shew your spirit of errour from Christs spirit Now let all read and see if this man divides the word aright to people Pr. He saith They have an unction need not that any man teach them And waiting for the Spirit to come down upon them by inspiration and give them utterance And he saith they sit silent and not whisper among them And they do not own Davids Psalms to be sung See page 12 13. these are errours saith he A. Was it not the Apostles Doctrine that they need no man to teach them but as the same anointing teaching them that abide in it And was not they seducers that drew from it 1 Joh. 2. And did not the Apostles wait for the receiving the Holy Ghost the Comforter the Spirit of truth And did not the holy men of God speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and so the Gospel and the things of God was revealed to them what they had heard and seen and was revealed to them and spoke as the spirit gave them utterance and prayed for a door of utterance and others was to pray that they might have a door of utterance given to them when they was to Preach And to sing Davids Psalms without Davids spirit people sings not with the understanding now in all these things have not ye shewed and made manifest your spirits to be all the false spirits gone out into the world from the Apostles Spirit holy-mens spirit that spoke forth the Scriptures as they were moved and waited for the Spirit which led them into all truth and revealed to them the things of God so you that be out of this Revelation and Preach against this you have Preached up your spirits out from the Apostles and declared your folly to all the Nation And then because they wait in silence and not a whisper among them Is not that agreeable to the Apostles Doctrine and the Prophets Is there not a learning in silence And was not whispering forbidden by the Apostle And doth such things as these offend thee and so thou hast shewed thy spirit Pr. He saith they meet in the night and they make their object of their teaching of Ministers and Tithes and of the pure light that is in every man that cometh into the world And for any man for to know what is in him by looking at him or upon him or discern his soul this he suspects to be an evil eye And he saith that the learned men and Ministers and Physitians to be in the power of Satan c. page 16. 17. 18. Ans Here again ye have made manifest your power who are gone forth from the Apostles into the mystery of Iniquity which hath wrought long since their dayes And now is the power of God made manifest which breakes down the mystery of Iniquity and raiseth up the mystery of godliness that of this power neither the learned men Physitians or Ministers are able to Judge of it but as they do own Christ the power of God Formerly in the dayes past as the learned Rabbies Judged of Christ so do they Judge of the power now so not strange to us And the Saints met in the night yea till mid-night And we do deny the Ministry that takes Tythes and say the Priesthood is changed and the Law is changed by which is was made and the Commandment disanuled that gave tithes and the Priesthood changed that took them Heb. 7. And we say Christ is come a Priesthood after the order of Melchisedeck the similitude and likeness who ends the similitude and likeness in Christ is the end of similitudes and liknesses and wars in whom is peace So no tythes paid to the similitude and likeness But all is to come to the Son and to hear the Son and honor
would not endure sound Doctrine such as was given to fables and had the itching ears and heapes to themselves teachers and those forsook the faith which such have now since the dayes of the Apostles reigned whereby none among them comes to be out of all teaching that they need no man to teach them and that they need not say know the Lord and to see the glory of God None comes into the everlasting Covenant into the power out of the form and none cometh to know all things by the anointing in them but they are all on heapes about their heapes of teachers and itching ears and so cannot endure the sound Doctrin that any should come into the Covenant of God that they need not to say know the Lord. That is the sound Doctrine to come into the Covenant of God Christ Jesus the substance of all the Prophets glorified before the world began to learn of him who is the way to the Father the truth and the life and the heaps of teachers are all erred from him and the Apostles and so from the true teacher Christ Jesus who saith learn of me And there people would destroy one another about their teachers which Christ teacheth otherwise to love their enemies and so there is men following their imaginations and not the Lord and reprobates concerning the faith in which is the unity and there are you Pr. He saith Paul did not commit the Church to the light within them for he told them deceivers should come c. page 39. Answ Paul when that deceivers was come and false Apostles among the Church of the Corinthians he told the Corinthians that the light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and so hear thou shewes thy ignorance of Scriptures and of the Church and of Pauls Doctrine whose work was to bring them to the light within them when the deceivers was got up and so committed the Church to the light within them and told them that that would give them the knowledge c. So they that draw people from the light within are the false spirits that the Apostle speaks of that went out into the world before the Apostles decease which led the world after them by whom the way of truth came to be evil spoken of for the Apostle told them that the Light that shined in their hearts would give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and not their teachers without them as you do who bring them from the Light within them and so act contrary to the Apostles Pr. He saith to bring people to the Light within is dispising the word again he saith the Light that is in a man is not able to lead him to happiness c. page 50. Answ No man cometh to happiness but who cometh to the Light within which cometh from Christ the happiness of all man kinde the Redeemer the restorer of man kinde out of the fall out of the first Adams state to God into the second Adams state who is the Covenant of God with man in which they have peace So in this Light stands every mans happiness and he that hath the happiness hath Christ the light within him and the peace with God And the light within which cometh from Christ the word is not against the word nor Scriptures which are the words but it ownes them and with them hath unity and no one sees the word but with the Light within And as for all the rest of thy unsavoury expressions and childish speeches is not worth mentioning And thou hadst better have let silence have covered thee then to have published thy nakedness to the Nation for thy words will be thy burthen in the time of thy necessity the witness shall answer in thee Ralph Farmers Booke called Satan enthroaned in his Chair c. His Principles follows Ans Which is a Title sutable to himselfe discovered by the children of the day who is his Seeds-man as to the Nation he hath declared But them that be in the Truth Love and Peace he doth not touch Pr. HE saith We do not pretend to infallibility as you do which is lying and hypocriticall c. Ans We do believe you that in the infallible spirit of God you are not but in the false fallible spirit gone out into the world that went forth from the Apostles who had the spirit of Christ And so how can you be Ministers of the Spirit and not the Letter if ye be not infallible For who be in the spirit are in that which is infallible This I say none be Ministers of the spirit nor none be in the spirit nor none have the spirit of Christ nor the holy Ghost nor the spirit of the Father speaking in them but who have that which is infallible and in that which is infallible And they be in the lying spirit and hypocrisie that be out of it and all the false spirits that is gone out into the world So ye do well to confesse that ye have not the infallible spirit yee are not infallible and so no Ministers of the spirit And how can they but delude people that are not infallible and are none of Christs which have not the spirit which is infallible and are not Ministers of the Gospell which is the power of God which is infallible Pr. He saith We are foretold that false Teachers that shall bring upon themselves swift destruction and evill men and seducers which wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived should come And there should come false Christs and seducing spirits and the doctrine of Devills speaking lyes in hypocrisie such as deceive the hearts of the simple with their feigned speeches c. See page 39 40. Answ Hast not thou here brought forth thy ignorance of the Scriptures which saith the seducers and the false Christs and the false Apostles the Doctrine of Devils and the feigned words and fair speeches which deceived the hearts of people came up before the Apostles decease and doth not thou in this shew thy spirit to be that spirit that went out into the world not able to divide the word aright but art telling people they are now come when as the Apostles saw they was come before their decease which since the dayes of the Apostles all the confusion hath been among them and you that deny the light are in distraction And yet ye that be not infallible in the infallible spirit but fallible are crying to people they are come but now and so grow until ye are worse and worse And thee and the Priests of Newcastle and many of the rest of you are crying against such as say Christ is their example And yet many of you have published to the Nation in print that Christ is an example and the men are respected who speak them and not the words simply as they are in
is the eight day and so not one in seven And if the Saints-sat in heavenly places with Christ Jesus And if the Saints in heaven must have a glorious body and Christ an humane body which I say is earthly how doth this agree with Scripture that says Christs is a glorious body And is it an earthly body the Saints eats when they eat the flesh of Christ And is not people in their first state in the earthly before they come to witnesse a spiritual body like unto his glorious body How do you divide the word aright and they that have the spirit of Christ their spirits are in heaven and they have unity with the Father Pr. We have no such immediate converse with God now as to see him face to face page 42. Ans We do believe you have not who are gone from the spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in ravened from it since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy and so are not in the counsell of God and are out of his teaching and instruction and so farre off of having fellowship with God for who have fellowship with him comes to see him and you are not of Abrahams seed who saw God face to face but are of the Pharisees stock who never saw his shape John 5. Pr. And you say In the last dayes false Prophets should arise and shew signes and wonders and if it were possible they should deceive the Elect. And the coming of the man of sin is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders c. page 44. Answ Christ said they should come the false Prophets and the Antichrists which John saw were come yea many Antichrists were gone out into the world And the Apostle Paul saw the man of sin before his decease the coming of him with the lying signes and wonders which since the dayes of the Apostles in this night of Apostacy they have rul'd and reign'd the man of sin with his lying signes and wonders and these are not the true signes but lying And when they were ravened from the spirit of God they got the sheeps cloathing inwardly ravening wolves which if it were possible they would deceive the very elect which went forth from the Apostles in the apostacy and since they have deceived the Nations the wolves the inwardly raveners though covered with the sheeps cloathing And here these things have been among you in the apostacy And the Apostates have reigned and rul'd and have had the dominion since the dayes of the Apostles But now with that which ye all have ravened from are ye made manifest and comprehended So this man of sin with his lying signes and wonders who ravened from the spirit of God as the Devill did who went from the Truth is he that compels all his members to plead for the body of sin while they be upon earth and so to keep them out of the faith of Gods Elect that gives the victory over the world And such he cannot deceive nor none of his members that ravened from the spirit of God Pr. He saith The Quakers the despising the fashions of the world contemning the honours and pleasures thereof and their sober carriage and deportment among men and willingnesse to suffer all these he calls wickedness See page 49 50. Answ But it seemeth this practice sobernesse denying the fashions of the world and contemning of honours and pleasures thereof and the sober carriage offends him and the world and the rest of the Priests and Professors and to deny their lusts which they be in Pr. He saith The Devill is not an Adulterer page 51. Answ Did the Devill abide in the Truth And did not he go out of it Are not all that go out of the Truth of him Adulterers who begets his own image and is the foundation of adultery Pr. He saith The light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is a naturall light or law page 56. Ans Which light is the end of the Law Christ Jesus before any naturall light was made or created for all things that was made was made by him and he doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world who is the end of the Law Pr. He saith the light will not bring men to salvation page 56. Answ The light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is Christ the salvation to the ends of the earth Pr. He saith again The light is not sufficient to lead men to salvation page 60. And to witnesse Sanctification within and Justification there is to confound justification and sanctification And grace and justification is a created thing and the sight within is meer darknesse which the Quakers speak of See page 61. Ans The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall comprehends all darknesse and leads out of it and there is no occasion of stumbling in it for as many as receives him to them he gives power to become the sons of God And the light is not darknesse but he that saith the light is darknesse is out of the light in the darknesse And Justification and Sanctification within doth not confound it without but is the same that is within as is without And grace is the gift of God and Sanctification both Christ Jesus who was before any creature was created and the grace comes from the Throne Pr. He saith They are the unstablished people that are running after every way of errour that owns the Quakers in these Nations page 62. Ans In that the Nation will witnesse against thee for them that own the Quakers it 's known that they have been the most knowingest seeking people that have been in the Nations and the most sincerest people and none comes out of errour but who comes to the Quakers light which they follow which is Christ Pr. He saith That Christ hath a humane created soule See page 63. Again and the light in the conscience to be Christ is a false Doctrine And the Quakers seeke to bring people from all other teaching but the light within them page 65. Answ The soule of Christ is witnessed But to say it is humane earthly and created when the Scripture doth not teach us that doctrine we cannot own your words nor believe but deny them And Christ is the light in the conscience which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world who was before any creature was which he that receiveth it comes to him to be his Teacher and feels him reign And every man must come to the Light which Christ hath enlightned them withall c. who is the Covenant of God to feel the Law written in their hearts and in their mindes to bring them off all other Teachers whereby they need not teach one another nor to say Know the Lord. Pr. He saith Men may be called of men Master and it is but a cavill to deny it And they may deny to be called
the fountain hath the Devill the fountain for he can bring Scriptures Hath he the Fountain and Well of living waters Nay we say God and Christ is the fountain of all good And saith David all the springs are in him And so many may have the Scriptures and yet want the waters want the fountain which hath had them since the dayes of the Apostles which have had them this many hundreds of yeares in the Apostacy the sheeps cloathing and have known no other Fountain but it nor no other Well So there hath all the leannesse of soules been among people that they have not known the Fountain of whom they learned that gave forth Scriptures And we do believe you that yee are fallible men that say the Scriptures is the well and fountain of living waters and you are not infallible And it is contrary to your experience to be infallible And we say the Pope is not infallible neither though he be your Father the Ancient Yet we say he and you are apostatized from the infallible spirit that the Apostles was in in which we are come with which ye are seen and judged So not to have the spirit of Christ Jesus not to have the spirit of the Prophets and Apostles not to be led by the spirit of truth into all truth not to be in the spirit not to speak as ye are moved of the Holy Ghost But to be such as ravened from the spirit of God inwardly and have gotten the sheeps cloathing ye and the Pope and so have devoured Nations for this many hundred yeares so have all been like ravening Wolves For who witnesse these conditions that they were in that gave forth the Scriptures they witnesse infallibility an infallible spirit which is now possessed and witnessed among those called Quakers glory to the highest for ever That your folly now should be made manifest the morning is springing in the night of apostacy is going So I say the Devill false Prophets Antichrists Deceivers Beast mother of Harlots none of these can witnesse an infallible spirit nor the Well nor Fountain but the Letter though they may get all the sheeps cloathing and come in likenesse of a Lamb or a Sheep to deceive people withall But being out of the spirit that Christ the Prophets and Apostles was in that gave forth Scriptures they are not infallible as they were but with that they are all judged out which will answer that which they are all gone from where the key is known and the Well was and is in believers Pr. And the Scriptures is the rule and the Quakers dream of the Light to be their Rule to walk by Page 14. Answ The word of God which lives and endures for ever which came to the Saints of old which caused them to give forth Scriptures and to write them which fulfills all the words again is the Rule which word was spoken to the Saints before Scripture was written which lets all people see that declaration and fulfils that declaration to them Christ the leader of the people the Covenant of God who is the light and they are in the dreams that denyes it Pr. He saith But Christ by his Magistrates hath appointed Tythes a maintenance for his Ministers Page 21. Answ Since the dayes of the Apostles the Pope did give Tythes and other Magistrates that followed him and he hath had the tenths of the Tythes since this night of apostacy and the reprobation hath been from the Apostles Doctrine And many have had the sheepes cloathing but have been raveners from the life that they lived in that gave it forth so have not seen to what state and condition the Scriptures was spoken from and to being out of the life they was in that gave it forth And sees not the substance Christ Jesus who came to end the first Priest-hood and the Ministers that took Tythes tolerated by the first Covenant which the Apostle witnessed the end of an everlasting Covenant and another ministry and another maintenance to them which since the dayes of the Apostles such as are ravened from the spirit of God have lost the maintenance the Apostles and Christ gave and so set up another Tythes and a ministry which is neither agreeable to Jewes nor Gentiles nor Christs but more darker But the night of apostacy is going over the true Light shines and the light of the living springing in Pr. He saith The immediate spirit excludes the word to be the rule Page 38. And the word and the spirit he saith are different things And the Pharisees thought right that eternal life was laid up in the Scriptures Page 39. Answ Christ told the Pharisees they would not come to him that they might have life and he was the life and he was the way and no one cometh to the Father but by him he doth not say he was scripture but he bids them search it for it testified of him and no one hath life but who are in him And the word and the spirit are one and the spirit doth not exclude the word nor the Scriptures for they was given forth from it and ownes them again with it are they seen given forth in time fulfilled in time cannot be broken and the Saints life is hid in Christ who ends them Pr. He saith Men are saved but not by Christ within us Page 42. Ans How is mans salvations wrought out but by the power of Christ wihtin How is the old man destroyed but by Christ within How is the Justification felt but by Christ within And the seed Christ made manifest that suffered without is made manifest within there is redemption and life He that hath the Son of God hath life redemption to God out of the first Adam and who feels Christ within feels salvation and who doth not are reprobates though they may talk of him Pr. He saith It is a fond signe to depend upon an unwritten word immediately within themselves and say from that word is the life manifested within Pag. 43 And Christ is not come to them in the flesh and he saith Timothy had the gift of God freely and Elders are called ordinarily and not Immediately This call ordinary is common to all Ministers to continue to all ages in the Church Page 47. Ans All they that have not the unwritten word in their hearts which is immediate knowes not the word of faith knowes not the word of reconciliation knowes not the Ingrafted word that is able to save their souls knowes not that which lives and abides and endures for ever knowes not eternal life neither have they it that hath not the word the immediate word within them knows not the immortal seed And such be in the fondness and have the Scripture and put that for the word which is words And since the dayes of the Apostles in your Churches your Ministers your Elders your makers of your Ministers have been all mediate and so it is ordinary as ye call it But
Answ None knowes nor is made Ministers of Christ by Arts nor by Languages let them get all the Languages upon the earth they are still but naturalists and men learning anothers mans natural Language and he hath learned but that which is natural and he knowes but that which is natural what another natural man can speak and all their Arts is there Now that which makes a Minister of Christ is beyond the natural yea all the natural Languages upon the earth and seeth before they was let it cost them never so much yea gold and silver a wedge of gold and silver to get naturals and the most precious things upon the earth cannot purchase nor make a Minister of Christ that which makes them is the Spirit of God nor none knows the Scriptures but with the Spirit of God given forth from the Spirit of God Nor none knowes the errours but by the Spirit of God Now if all men upon the earth have Scriptures in every one of their natural Languages yet none of these knowes the errours nor none of these knowes the Scriptures without the Spirit of God from which they was given forth Pr. He saith If the Magistrates could find out any other way for maintenance for Ministers they would part with tythes which have been this many hundreds of years Page 9. And there is many Ministers will not take their Tythes but they compound with the people for their Tythes And we dare not trust the people for maintenance But we see care hath been taken for us many many hundred years before we were born c. Page 10. And why doth not the Quakers charge us with idleness as well as with taking wages Answ Are ye not all a company of idle fellowes bred up at School in the filthiness of the earth pride and filth and when ye come out ye raven after great Benefices and troubling Parishes and stirring up the people to envy against one another like a company of mad-men and suing and hailing people up and down to Courts for maintenance Are not these the works of belly-gods And is the Magistrate the Lord of the vineyard that he must allot Ministers maintenance and the labourers Hath not Christ told his Ministers what they must have already And was not the Apostles to go forth without any thing and to trust the Lord and the people which you dare not trust them And trust to the Gospel which ye dare not trust the Gospel to maintain you but you have a set Benefice or augmentation or a Magistrates power to give you maintenance before you go out to a Parish Oh how are ye biting and devouring one another for such things as was not accounted of or esteemed among the Saints who suffered joyfully the spoiling of their goods by such devourers as you are And is that your deceit to compound with people for their Tythes and is that your cloak then to say you do not take Tythes and since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy since the power of God the Gospel hath been lost hath tythes been set up which men should have Preached and lived on So you that have had the form of godliness denyed the power the Gospel ravened from the life of God your Gospel will not maintain you and ye cry help Magistrate help Law cast into prison summon up to Courts and this hath been your work for many hundred years for maintenance And so all sober men that stands and looks on are ashamed of you Thus the poor people are deceived with your false covers wolvish spirits you have gotten the sheepes cloathing upon your backs but now is the vials and hail storms fallen upon your heads which makes many of you gnaw your tongues and now is the thunders coming out and plagues which makes many of you free your selves Pr. He saith False Apostles and deceitful workers and Satan transforming himself into an Angel of light c. Page 11. Answ Christ said false prophets Antichrists the inwardly ravenors in the sheepes cloathing should come the Apostles saw they was come before their decease which was devouring as most of the Epistles declare of them the Apostles saw them before their decease that made a prey upon the Saints that served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies now since the dayes of the Apostles hath the world run after them and they have devoured the world and they have gotten the sheepes cloathing upon their backs therefore have ye deceived the world Now you have been the skirts and the suburbs of this great City the day hath declared you your City is besieged and the Lamb and the Saints have conquered it by whom the Saints have been slain and their blood drunk In which City hath a trumpet sounded and the piping hath been and the mourners have gone about the City But now is come Lamentation desolation and wo to her and all her Merchandize that hath builded up and thrown down whereby the world is brought into confusion the faith and truth and life and love being reprobated out of and from that the Saints was in that gave forth the Scriptures that which the Apostles saw coming in before their decease which Christ said should come hath ruled and raigned since their decease until this day that Christ hath come and made it manifest Pr. He saith the devil could not do mischief in the Church where the candle is burning and light shining but he gets on his garbe and the weakest of children are carryed about with every winde of Doctrine pag. 17. He saith the prince of darkness is transformed into an Angel of light he walketh in the Churches pag. 18. Answ The Church of Christ is the pillar and ground of truth which truth the Devil is out of and abode not in it he walkes on the out side and is not in the Church and so children thou knowes not that are heirs of the Kingdom of Christ and are of his Church the pillar and ground of truth And the devil and false prophets and mother of harlots though they have all the sheepes cloathing yet cannot get into the Church where the candle is and the burning shining light with all his Garbe as thou calls it Let the whore be arrayed never so gorgiously who hath ravened from the spirit of God that 's the Church the pillar and ground of truth that be in the spirit of God the Candle is burning and light shining this the whore and the Devil and the wolves and the false prophets and Antichrists and beast is out of raging on the outside in the earth so the Church is the pillar and ground of truth the Church of Christ and here the elect is known that cannot be deceived And the Devil and the Prince of darkness though he transform himself into an Angel of light yet he doth not walk in the Church for the Church is in God the pillar and ground of truth and out of that he is and all
which since their dayes they have had the reign over the world But now to that which they ravened from and into the truth the Devill abode not in is the Saints comâ— and the Lamb reigns that is the substance of the Scriptures the end of the Scriptures that hath dominâ—â—â— Glory in the highest for ever And as for all the reviles lyes slanders vilifyings hard expressions in thy Book they will fall upon thy selfe and to thee they will be sad and thou shalt feel every one of thy owne words shall be thy burthen and they shall come home unto thee cramed into thee again for thou must eat thy own dung and drink thy own pisse that comes from thee for all that in thy book is but dung in the day of thy Judgement the witnesse in thee shall answer All along thou hast shewed thy ignorance of the spirit that is poured upon all flesh that 's infallible for whosoever prayes or hath a humility or sings and not by the infallible spirit they sing not with the understanding nor pray not with the understanding And under the Judgement of God thou hast brought thy self and all thy generation Thomas Collier his Booke called a Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an Enquiring Christian In it his Principles are as Followeth Pr. HE saith that the Scriptures is the absolute rule of Saints that are endued with the spirit and faith page 7. Answ Such as were endued with the spirit and faith before the written Scripture was they had a rule and they knew the seed and they knew the promises and they knew Christ more then the Pharisees that had the Scriptures nay more the the Apostates since the dayes of the Apostles that have the Scriptures and the Epistles and Revelations For by faith they saw the glory they was in the Foundation they saw Christ the everlasting Covenant and that is the foundation still Christ Jesus him by whom the world was made before it was made and all that have the Scriptures and have not him they can do nothing And that which ruled the Saints before the Scriptures was written is the Saints rule after the Scriptures is written to know the Scriptures what is written and to know God of whom they learned that gave it forth or writ it with that they know to what state and condition it was spoken And the spirit is the record and he that hath all the Scriptures and wants the true record which is the spirit he cannot know all things Pr. And the Scripture is the New Testament of the Saints rule and the rule of Judgement page 10. Answ The Scriptures given forth from the Spirit of God people knowes not to what state they were spoken but as they come into the spirit that gave them forth And besides the Epistles was written to the Saints in several conditions according to their growth and some of them grew higher then others for some of them the day-star was not risen in their hearts and some of them was children of the Day So that still was the rule that led them to give forth the Epistles and revealed to them the states and conditions of the Saints and to ages and to generations and to Nations and the condition the world was in and should come upon it that was the rule and is the rule by which all these words are seen again and there is the record of the Spirit of God And he that hath found the true record the Spirit of God with that he shall know all the Scriptures and is come within the book where all things are written and which writes all things forth the spirit Pr. He saith the Scriptures is that word which makes the Devils to stand in aw and tremble The written word for after generations by which mens souls are brought to Christ pag. 14 15. again that the Scriptures is the sword of the spirit pag. 16. Answ The Pharisees had the Scriptures which Christ said was of the Devil and was swallowed up in his power and they stood against Christ the life the substance The Devil came with Scriptures who is out of the truth to tempt Christ the Word but the Word the substance of Scriptures hammerd down the devil and Pharisees that had got the Scriptures but were out of the life that gave them forth And they have the sword that have the word of God which was before the Scriptures was given forth and they be in that the Devils be out of So if the Devil and wicked men bring Scriptures they hammer them under and redeem the Scriptures out of their ungodly mouthes And the written word brings no soul to Christ the life but who comes to the life that the written words speak of and so it testifies of him the â—iâ—e that brings them to Christ that gave it forth Pr. God is willing that all should be saved but he worketh not all into a saving condition page 21. He saith it is true there is a spirit and life in the Scriptures pag. 22. Answ The spirit and life is not in the Scriptures but the spirit and life the Scriptures testifies of and the light Christ Jesus the salvation to the ends of the earth doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world with a saving light And the light which every man hath that cometh into the world is saving but many hating the light and not coming to it which hath enlightened them they neglect their salvation and slight their salvation and not believing in it they walk in darkness and come not to the light of life But they that believe in it come to the light of life and abide not in the darkness And the grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men such as turns it into wantonness and walkes despitefully against the spirit of grace ownes it not for their teacher but sets up teachers according to their own lusts so turns against that which brings their salvation and walks despitefully against it and followes their own lusts and tramples upon the Covenant of grace and the blood of the new Covenant And all that see the Bishop of their souls Christ Jesus the Saviour of their souls it is with the light that cometh from him and God wils that all men should be saved Pr. He saith to use Christs name to catch souls when indeed it is but Jugling and to stab him and crucifie him a fresh pag. 42. If Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world c. If this were truth then Christ died in vain and in vain hath Christ spoke of himself saying I am the way the truth the life the light c. pag. 45. Answ Such as do not believe that Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world are such as mentions his name and haters of the light that cometh from him these be in the Jugling state deceivers of souls and people And none sees Christ the one offering but
it hath no unity And there is no true peace untill they come into the Kingdome which stands in joy in peace in righteousnesse Now where the body is standing and the root of sin in the heart not a perfect victory The Circumcision is not known that puts off the body the victory is not known while the body stands which the Apostle withessed the body of sin put off by the circumcision of the spirit which was in the inward man and he thanked God through Christ who had victory who was manifested in his flesh to condemn sin in his flesh that he through him became the righteousness of God And the life that he lived was by the faith of the Son of God And such as are made free from sin and dead to it and cannot live no longer therein these had the peace And such have not the peace where the body of sin is standing and sin in the heart there is the war But such as stand in the faith which purifies the heart and comes to witnesse the Circumcision of the heart they come to have the heart purified and the victory over the body as the Apostle declares Pr. He saith James Naylor deserved to be hanged page 5. He saith I tell my people they cannot be free from sin a perfect freedome from the being of corruption in them while they are on this side heaven pa. 9. And your speaking against Ministers and speaking in Markets is as bad or worse as to bait a Bull page 8. And he saith The Steeple house is the Church Ans The Ministers of Christ and the Prophets of the Lord which spoke his word which spoke in Synagogues and in Markets in high wayes and under the hedges and upon the mountains which disturbed the world and all professors upon the earth that had the words of truth which was out of the life and disturbed the Heathen that knew not God And all such Ministers of the Letter that have it and not the spirit that gave it forth are disturbed by the Ministers that be in the spirit that preach and speak forth the substance of the Scriptures And we know you and do believe you who saith your people shall not be made free from their corruption and tells them the Steeple-house is the Church and say the creature deserved to be hanged to be such at inwardly ravened which Christ said should come John saw was come and the whole world hath been after you that are wrestlers against flesh and blood and strikes at creatures in stead of striking at the power that captivates Creatures and so have kept people under the bondage of corruption and led people alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth and kept them in spirituall Aegypt Sodome and Gomorrah in filthinesse and telling of them the Masse-house is the Church the Steeple-houses Was it not a place for the Masse set up for the Masse with a Crosse at the end of it Look is it not on yet And is the Masse-house become thy Church thou mayst thank the Papists for that Was not the Pope and the Papists the setters up of all your Masse-houses and Colledges which have gotten up since the dayes of the Apostles among you inwardly ravenors from the Church which is in God and so have gotten up the Masse-house for your Church and there ye do keep up people telling them they must have corruptions while they be upon the earth So ye are Ministers of corruption which is contrary to the Apostles who said they sate in heavenly places and had escaped the pollutions of the world and they were children of the day not of the night and the true light shined So you that are ravened from the spirit of God have got up the Masse-house got people thither and telling of them they must have their corruptions and they must have sin and they must not be perfect while they are on this side heaven Now they can but have sin and can be but imperfect if they never came at you nor at your Masse-houses Now you are the Devills Messengers and Ministers that preacheth up sin and corruption and imperfection that people must be in and have sinne while they be upon the earth But the Ministers of Christ preached up perfection to be perfect and overcoming sin and made free from sin and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin and they had faith which gave them victory and the Circumcision that puts off the body of sin and the new Covenant that blotted out sin and transgression And such Ministers as you that make a trade of Scriptures as the Scripture it selfe the Prophets the Apostles and Christ doth make you manifest your fruits to be contrary to them that gave forth Scriptures So with it are you disapproved and judged with the life that gave it forth Pr. He saith And it seemes to me to be no more sin to bait a Bull then any other recreation And he saith The Quakers came into the Steeple-house and bid people to look to the light within them and to tell him that he was an Antichrist and blinde guide And saith I had rather be a hireling such as Christ hath hired in his Vineyard and receive a penny then some of the Quakers that go naked in the markets Answ The Quakers who be in the power of the Lord God have been moved of the Lord God to go into the world among Apostates who are ravened from the spirit of God and so are the Wolves that tears and rends and are ravening up and down for your Benefices and would eate one another out if you could and swallow one another like the fishes to the Sea Are you contented every one with your penny from Christ Are not you all fighting and striking and smiting and casting into Prisons for meanes for Tythes which ye do no work for Is not Christ come and hath found you smiting and striking your fellow-servants eating and drinking like Sodome and living in pleasure like the old world some having two hundred some three hundred pounds some lesse some more is here equall a penny Are ye like Christs Vineyard dressers Husband-men in the Vineyard Blush and be ashamed The stones are thrown now at Babylon and dasheth her children to pieces And Sion is building and the Tabernacle of David is rearing up Come up ye Saints and Prophets the Lamb and the Saints hath the victory And all those upon the earth and you all are the blinde guides and Antichrists who guides not people to the Light within and bids them not look at that but leads them from the Light within ye lead them in the darknesse and you are from the light in your own particulars and so the blinde guides for the fleece for the earth out of the Apostles Doctrine and Christs who brought people to the Light and bid them believe in it who told them the light that shined in their hearts would give them the
the Father and over it gives victory And the word material the Apostle doth not call it so but precious and Jerusalem is come down from heaven and witnessed among the Saints heavenly Jerusalem and the Babes knowes their mother And who are in Christ and Christ in them see it possesseth it But all such as are against the light within which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world are the Antichrists the false prophets the wolves which have gotten the sheepes cloaâ—â—ing which may deceive the world but not the elect as thy book hath declared â—hee And such Christ said should come and John saw was come and since the dayes of the Apostles the world hath gone after them And they inwardly ravened from the light and so have gotten the Kingdoms of the earth into a profession and form which are now standing against the Light within and gathering against the Lamb and the Saints that are in the light and is the light which they ravened from making War against them but the Lamb and the Saints shall get the victory Pr. He saith And the righteousness of God wrought by Christ for us which need not to be wrought over again in us pag 58. And that Christ our Justification should be in us that dyed and suffered that ascended this he cals a fancy to fancy him in a particuler person Page 59. Answ Whosoever hath not Christ within are Reprobates and whosoever hath Christ within hath the righteousness Now Christ that suffered Christ that was offered up is manifest within and the Saints are of his flesh and of his bone and eat his flesh and drink his blood and not another The Christ that ended the Priesthood ended the offering ended the Temple ended the Law and the first Covenant the seed of God Christ Jesus this manifest within he that hath him hath life Justification Sanctification and Redemption And so Christ the same to day yesterday and for ever who is the hope and the Author of their faith And so all be in the fancy that be out of the state of witnessing Christ that suffered within them and rose again and who be in this they be out of the fancy and shadowes and comes to see where there is no changing but possesseth righteousness glory substance the end of their faith and Christ their hope that remains that abides Pr. He saith There is something of God in man that will render the light which the Quakers speakes of natural Page 67. Answ That which is of God in man captivated viz. life and immortality who are not come to the light will not render the light when he cometh to it through the Gospel naturall which the darknesse now cannot comprehend though in it it shines and that of God in man will not call Christ the light naturall which the Quakers speaks of Pr. He saith Yee may remember in the last times false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and shall bring in damnable heresies c. and will shew signes and wonders and if it were possible they would deceive the very Elect. And such as follow strong delusions and believe lyes and be damned who obey not the Truth nor receive it in the love of it page 68. Answ Christ said false Prophets should come Antichrists should come with signes and wonders which the Apostles saw was come which inwardly ravened and went forth from them which since the dayes of the Apostles they have got the sheeps cloathing and the world is gone after them and have deceived the world by their lying signes and wonders and have brought them to be all on heaps about Religion And the damnable heresie and the lying signes and wonders and strange delusions yee may look into the whole Christendome among your selves and your own stock of Papists For none obeys the Truth but who owns the Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which cometh from Christ the truth and all false Prophets are from that and all Antichrists are from that which hath reigned since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy and inwardly ravened have gotten the sheeps cloathing which have made war against the Saints and overcome them but now to that which they ravened from are the Saints come And the woman hath been in the wilderness and the man-child is brought forth to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron And all such now that inwardly ravened from the Light are standing up against the Lamb and the Saints But the Lamb and the Saints have the victory and the rejâ—ycing over the Beast and false Prophet is come who kills and slayes with the sword which is the words of his mouth And the Saints which are with him their weapons are spiritual And none lifts up the Son of God as the Serpent was lifted up in the Wildernesse but as every one is in the Light that the Son of God hath enlightned him withall and then they know him that draws all men after him Thomas Moor In his Booke called An Antidote c. Are these Principles following Pr. HE saith God doth not give the Revelation of these things now immediately as he did by the first Apostles nor in such manner as he did to the Prophets of old See his Epistle Answ All that have the Scriptures and are Ministers and not by the same power and spirit as the Apostles was in knows not the Scriptures and all who be in it are in the immediate and in that which reveals and in that which fathoms all the Ministers of the Letter who saith God doth not give forth now immediately as he did to the Prophets and Apostles Since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy such as have ravened inwardly from the spirit of God the time of Antichrist Beast and false Prophets reign and the mother of Harlots who have had the sheeps cloathing such immediate Revelation hath been hid from them and such should continue untill the words of God was fulfilled and the fulfilling of the Prophets But now is the fulfilling of the words of God and that come into which the Prophets and Apostles was in with which that is seen and known and him that hath been slain from the foundation of the world Pr. He saith To looke to the Light within that is in opposition to looking at Jesus That the light in every man is naturall And if yee turne your eye inward ye shall presently see their mover and teacher and this he calls foolish and Antichristian And saith That no man hath in him as of him that light spirit and wisdome in the inward parts See his Epistle Answ All upon the earth that ever comes to the knowledge of the glory of God they come to the light in them which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which light was before any naturall lights was made or created which light gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and
Christ come in the flesh and say the light within them is Christ when at the best it is but the light of nature And this is the spirit of errour and darknesse and their light is become darkness See page 63 64. 68. Ans The light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is Christ and none can confesse him in Truth nor see him nor lift him up as the Serpent was lifted up in the Wildernesse but who be in the Light which cometh from him And by this thou hast overthrown thy self for them that confesse the light in them to be Christ which Christ saith he is the light these doth not deny Christ come in the flesh And the Devill may confesse the Son of God and the Jewes may confesse him he is come as the Apostates confesse him he is come But none of all these knows him in the flesh confesse him come in the flesh or knows his flesh or the flesh of the Son of Man but who be in the Light that comes from him that doth enlighten every man c. which light was before any naturall created lights was made glorified with the father before the world began and in the light walking it leads into the day where there is no night which light is Christ the Covenant of God and such here cometh to know darknesse past Now I say neither Apostates nor Jewes whose cares were stopt eyes closed to that of God in them and the Apostates that are inwardly ravened having sheeps cloathing which are Babylon which are the Harlot who ravened inwardly from the spirit of God brought the world after them which was the mother of them all None of all these can confesse Christ come in the flesh but onely from the Letter for these knows not his flesh the Devill is out of the truth and truth is a top of him The Jewes eyes must be opened and their eares unstopt before they know his flesh The Apostates must come all to that which they have ravened from inwardly before they come to know Christs flesh and are of his flesh and eate his flesh and confesse that Christ come in the flesh who is the offering and the sacrifice of the whole world that makes the peace between God and man and perfects for ever them that are sanctified The top-stone layd a top of all sin and transgression Death Hell and Grave bruised the Serpents head Here is no Babylon nor here is no Antichrist and this the Quakers confesse with the Light within them And all upon the earth are Antichrists and knows not Christ not Christ come in the flesh that be from the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and owns not that but denies it And all Sects Bishops mother of Harlots Antichrists Popes Cardinals and Clergy Babylon Romish Whore which is gotten up since the dayes of the Apostle inwardly ravened having had the sheepes cloathing they are not like none of these that are ravened to own the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And so Babylon and so Harlots and so waters and so from the Rock Pr. And he saith the Whore will confesse Christ come in the flesh Satan transforming himself into an Angel of light he maketh the fountain of waters bitter the sweet promises the water of life which maker glad the City of God like wormwood and changeth the taste of them Page 72 74. Answ Antichrist the mother of harlots false prophets which went forth from the Apostles as in Johns Epistle These will confesse Christ come in the flesh as ye do and all Sects upon the earth else ye could not deceive the Nations but as ye get the sheepes cloathing So ye have brought the Nations tongues people Languages and multitudes to be like waters But these are the waters which now begins to grow bitter for neither the Devil nor Antichrist nor false prophets nor mother of harlots who are gone from the Truth and are inwardly ravened though they may have the sheeps cloathing they cannot touch the waters of life nor the fountain to make them waters better that makes glad the City of God For ye that inwardly ravened which got the sheepes cloathing are as the Devil which went out of the Truth get Scriptures and their confession of Christ is as his is which since the dayes of the Apostles the world hath been after them The inwardly raveners have gotten the Scriptures who are out of the Truth which the Devil who is out of the Truth the deceivers of the Nations And there the beast false prophets Antichrist mother of Harlots deceivers man of sin Devils messengers and Ministers damnable Heresies their tongues are waters their peoples are waters their Nations waters and multitudes waters all on heapes about Scriptures destroying one another about the prophets words the Apostles words Christs words Ministers maintenance Now the Devil the Beast false prophets and Antichrist is taken and mother of Harlots and cast in the Lake of fire and Babylon confounded and the everlasting Gospel shall be Preached to every Nation kindred tongue and people And as for all the rest of the stuffe in thy book thy pack of confusion Babylons children it will fall heavy upon thy self and be thy own burthen and presse thee under which in the day of thy Judgement thou shalt remember that I am a friend to all soules There is neither Jewes that professeth a Christ was to come nor Christians that professeth a Christ is come nor none upon the earth though ye have all the Scriptures knowes the flesh of Christ but who ownes the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world For the Jewes knew not the flesh of Christ though they had Scriptures but crucified him whose ears were stopt and eyes closed to that of God in them the Gentiles knew not the flesh of Christ who was astray from the life of God neither do those called Christians know the flesh of Christ who are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God in them though they have gotten all the sheepes clothing and talk Christ is come and died at Jerusalem as the Jewes could say of him to come and to be born at Bethlehem yet they could not confesse him come in the flesh nor did not know his flesh no more do these Christians know his flesh though they have all the form of godliness But who cometh to the seed Christ himself they know it in them then they shall know the one offering a top of all the worlds Sects for the sins of the whole world which none knowes the flesh of Christ nor Christ nor as God was in Christ but as every one comes to the light with which they are enlightened which who hate it knowes him not but it is your condemnation and that ye shall all feel at last So the one offering which is Christ is set over the whole world and his flesh the world knowes not nor
by the spirit of God no one knows the Scriptures and the things of God but as God unto them doth reveal by his spirit which in this thou hast shewed thy ignorance of that spirit guided the Saints to God the Father of spirits which revealed unto them the deep things of God with which spirit again the Scriptures are known And the spirit which always rules the Saints and guides them up to God and to speak forth the Scriptures They did not deny the Saints words spoken before them but was in unity with them in the spirit and so came to the spirits of just men which none doth but who are come into the Saints rule that gave forth Scriptures And so people have had the Scriptures but inwardly ravened from the spirit thou and the rest of thy fellows and have been all on heaps about words and so voyd of the revelation that they were in that gave forth Scriptures For all are unlearned upon the earth that are not in the immediate inspiration as they were in that gave forth the Scriptures and in the tongue of the unlearned like the Aegyptian Sea Pr. He saith Printing was a rare invention and it was the gift of God page 21. And onely Gods servants preached by the written Copies and since by the printed volume page 22. Answ That which is invented and men have invented it is not the gift of God and men only preaching from the Copies written and since by the Volumes printed in this hast thou shewed that you have had only the sheeps cloathing and that hath been it which hath made you Ministers For they that were the Ministers of the spirit their only preaching was not from copies and volumes that did not make them Ministers but what they had received from the Lord that they declared forth and was not Ministers of copies and writings only But the copy and writings of the Scripture had you them in the life that gave them forth you would have gathered people into the unity which being ravened from it you bring them all upon heaps Pr. The letter or writing of the spirit of God is the Law and touch-stone page 23. He saith the Scriptures is the spirituall sword page 26. And the Scriptures is the ground of all Saints actions And have not I written unto thee excellent things in counsell and knowledge page 32. Answ The Pharisees had Scriptures and had not the spirit that gave them forth so they wanted the Word of God the sword of the spirit and they stood against the substance of the Scriptures And they had Scriptures but they were out of the Saints actings for they turned against the Just And so doth all upon the earth that have the Scriptures but out of the spirit that gave them forth they are out of the ground of the Saints actings And none knows the excellent things written of knowledge nor counsell but who be in the spirit that gave forth Scriptures Though they have the Scriptures in their own knowledge and wisdome yet they understand not the excellent things written but as they come into the spirit that gave them forth So thou art a man not dividing the word aright and many may have the Scriptures yea the whole world may have the Scriptures and not being in the spirit that gave them forth they break into Sects among one another And the Devil may come with Scriptures but hath not the spirit to fight withal who is out of the Truth Pr. He saith Women are excluded from speaking though endued with more then ordinary gifts and they are not allowed to teach page 34. And the Canon of the Apostles is the key to open the Scriptures And the sure word of prophecy is the Scriptures page 38. which is a more sure word then an immediate voyce from heaven He saith the word which the Apostle speaks of to the Romans in the mouth and in the heart is the Gospell promises without Deut. 30. And the Scripture Books Chapters is the light that shines in mans heart and the new Creature is too narrow for a rule page 44. A. The new creature is subject to the Law of God for he is in Christ who is the end of Law Types Figures Shadows Parables and there is rule direction counsell wisdome and the old man cometh to be subjected which is not subject to the Law of God and here comes the blessing and the peace of the Israel of God who walk according to the rule of the new creature for he walks in the life that gave forth Scripture which the old man walks out of And he may say the Scriptures is his rule but he is not subject to the witnesse of God in himself nor owns not the light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned him withall but doth the evill and loves the darkness which light is his condemnation And the law is light and the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy And many may have the old and new Testament and stand against the light the spirit of prophecy within And many may have the Scriptures Books and Chapters and stand against the Light Christ Jesus that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world And so put the Letter for the Light and walk from the light in their own particulars which should lead them into a new life Such comes not to know the new life nor the blessing of the Israel of God And the woman the Evah must be silent for she was first deceived and the woman Jezebel that calls her selfe a Prophetesse that must not be suffered to teach or to usurp authority But Christ in the male and Christ in the female is beyond the first Adam or Evah or she that calls her selfe a Prophetesse or the great whore that reigns over the Kings of the earth there is all their languages under Christ in the Females shall comprehend this as well as in the Male and give judgement and the daughters shall prophecy as well as the sons And such as limit or quench the spirit in the Males or Females are them that are apostatized and ravened inwardly from the spirit of God and despise prophecy only have the sheeps cloathing such as thou and you and knows not the spirit but are ravened from it the spirit of God that hath power over all flesh and so makes your selves ignorant of it are such as quencheth it in others And the spirit of God in the Apostles being witnessed it opens the Scriptures is the key lets to see what hath been since the dayes of the Apostles and rul'd and reign'd and had the dominion the Wolfe in the sheeps cloathing which have deceived the Nations and such as have led the world and brought them all upon heaps and have never heard the voyce of God and have published it in the Nation in print nor the voyce of Christ and have not the same infallible spirit as the Apostles had and no immediate revelation nor inspiration
as they had so these have taken away the key of knowledge from among people since the days of the Apostles and as for the word Canon ye may go to the Papists The Apostles shewed the fulfilling of the Scriptures that Christ was come and the Apostles saw what Christ said should come which inwardly ravened went forth from them which the world hath gone after which now we with the same spirit the Apostles was in which you all ravened from do see ye and what hath reigned since the dayes of the Apostles Now is the fulfilling of the Prophets And the word was in the Apostles and in the Saints yea the word of faith and this comes to fulfill the Scripture this word of faith which was preached in the heart and in the mouth and which was promised before And the light was in the Apostles heart that shined and the sure word of prophesie that did let see and foresee was in the hearts of people which led them to give forth Scriptures and that which fulfills the Scriptures the prophesie is of Christ who ends it and the spirit led them to speak it forth the spirit of prophesie which many may have the Scriptures and not have the more sure word of prophesie And many may have the Scriptures as the Pharisees had and stand against the Revelation of the Son of God from heaven which is surer for he was before Scripture was who ends the Scriptures for many may have Scriptures and be out of the life and not know him the Revelation of the Son of God as the Jewes did not and so say the Scriptures is more sure then Revelation from heaven so more sure then the Son of God who is greater then all and the Scripture was given forth by Revelation and none knowes it but by Revelation Pr. He saith Christ doth not give to every man the light that leadeth to the Father and there is not in every man that redeeming light which leadeth to the Father And it is false to say the light which John speakes of is a salvation light he saith the light in every man is but the candle light of natural understanding pag. 56. And the light which every man hath is a low common benefit and no drop of this immortal seed pag. 57. 58. Nor is the light which every man hath his Mediation And I call the light which every man hath natural pag. 59. And the light which every man hath teacheth nothing of the way truth and life of Jesus Christ. pag. 60. And the light which is in every man is opposite to Scriptures pag. 61. This is the light which is in every mans conscience which is but natural And the Apostle saith he warneth every man and teacheth every man that he might present them perfect in Christ Jesus But he saith the Apostle did not warn every man he did not levell the Saints light with every mans page 62. It is not meant that every man is enlightened but the Church Page 63. Answ I am the light of the world and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world saith Christ the life So the light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall wil let them see the life which it cometh from will let them see their salvation Christ Jesus will let them see their Mediator will let them see the truth for the light is truth which cometh from Christ the truth And the light is Christ the way the truth the life that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world In him was life and the life was the light of men in him by whom the world was made which light was before any natural lights was the Sun Moon and Stars are natural lights and these was made by Christ the light who doth enlighten every man c. which men having a light from him by whom the world was made by whom all things was created who was afore any things was created Le ts them see before any created light natural light made lights which gives every one the knowledge of life which lets every one see the salvation to the ends of the earth which lets every one see the Covenant of God that love it and believe in it they come to the life Christ him from whence the light cometh The light is of the immortal seed of Christ Jesus one with the Saints light the Saints believe in that the world hates and receives that which the world hates so it is the worlds condemnation it is the condemnation of them that hate it And so was he promised a Covenant to the Gentiles aswell as to the Jewes and so doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world according to Johns witness and testimony to the Priests and Levites which came from Jerusalem to examine him So the Priests now examine us in this age and professors which the Quakers are witnesses of and bears testimony to which Paul warned every man and taught every man that he might present them perfect in Christ the light So the light is one with the Saints light that condemnes the unbelievers And the light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened withall that through it he might believe and who believes in it and receives it he hath the light of life and they become the Sons of God and who hate it it is their condemnation and they are against Scriptures but the light is not against Scriptures but ownes them And so the light is not so low as ye esteem it for it was before any thing was made or created as for the word Trinity there is no Scripture for it without ye finde it in the Common-prayer Book And the light in the converted shines out of Darkness in their hearts and gives them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God c. And the light in the unconverted shines in the Darkness and the Darkness comprehendes it not Pr. He saith that the light without the Scriptures is no light Pag. 64. And to call the light that doth enlighten every man the word of God is contradiction And there was no light before the Scriptures which is now revealed in Scripture pag. 64. That God is light not the light in every mans conscience pag. 68. And the best light that every man hath is but created Not one man in the world knowes God till he finde him in Scripture pag. 69 The Lord Christ the Eternal Son the Essential word of the Father is more in Scripture then in every man or any man pag. 70. They that speak from the Scripture rightly understood speak more from Christ then they that speak from the light within them Answ The light was before Scripture was given forth the light was before the Created lights was and makes manifest all created lights for all created lights was created by it and all that ever had the Scriptures and are not in the light that doth enlighten every man that
his decease Therefore he chargeth Timothy to Preach the word in season and out of season which word is immediate And so since the dayes of the Apostles ye have reigned of Timothy and Titus and transformed your selves as Apostles as the Ministers of Christ and gotten the form the sheepes cloathing the outside but no immediate Revelation we do believe you really it is so So you are all Ministers of the letter in your own lusts for the word of God is immediate And ye are ignorant of the grace of God which is brought at the Revelation of Jesus And ignorant of the Son of God who reveals the Father And ignorant of the spirit of God which reveals the deep things of God to the Minsters of the spirit But Revelation is ceased say you and the rest of your generation do discover it And thou sayes they went after the fableâ— itching ears immediate Revelation Nay they that went from the immediate Revelation and turned into fables they had itching ears as all whole Christendom may witnes the itching ears how are they itching abroad their ears without and cannot endure sound Doctrine and all inwardly ravened from the light which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world whereby with which every man might see the Authour of his faith in which is the unity And how have you broken into Sects and heapes and into fables and heapes of teachers after your own lusts and there burning after them and broken wedlock with Christ and ready to burn and prison one another about Ministers maintenance Churches as whole Christendom discovers it But I say it is better to marry then to burn Pr. He saith That this God who is the Creator is eternally distinct from all creatures pag. 53. That Christ being God onely in one mans person remains a distinct person from all creatures and Angels Page 55. Answ This is contrary to Scripture The Saints bodies are the Temples of God and he will dwell in them and walk in them and he will be their God and they shall be his people and this is to them that witnesse the new Covenant and Christ in you the hope of glory and he is within you except ye be reprobates And them that eat not his flesh and drink not his blood have no life in them and they that eat his flesh have his flesh in them And the Saints are not distinct from him for they sate with him in heavenly places and he is in them and they in him And Christ in you the mystery the hope of glory and he is the head of the Church and so not distinct Pr. He saith God is distinct in his being and blessedness from all Creatures And that God who is the Creator is eternally distinct from all creatures Page 62. Answ God is a spirit and he dwells in his Saints and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him In him we live and move and have our being who is in all and through all and over all God blessed for ever And the spirit of the Father speakes in the Saints and he makes his abode with them And the Saints have fellowship with the Father and the Son so not distinct so these keep people from unity with God and out of his knowledge which the knowledge of God shall come to cover the earth as the waters cover the Sea And while any are separated from the Lord it is their misery and distinct from him they are from the Spirit of God in their own particulars and are not Saints But such as come to walk in the spirit they have fellow-ship with him and lives in his presence and seeth his face and behold his glory and stands in his Councell and hears instruction and they are one he that sanctifyeth and they that are sanctified are all of one And so God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself though sin and iniquity had separated who breakes down iniquities bonds and brings light life and immortality to the light through the power which is the Gospel whereby fellowship and unity comes with God and not distinct and his blessing and blessednesse felt for they that have unity with God they have unity with his blessing and they that have fellowship with God know his blessedness Pr. He saith if any man that cometh into the world have a sufficient light within him to lead him unto salvation then there is no absolute need of a Saviour and this is to offer violence to Christ Page 73. 74. Ans Every man having a light from Christ the Saviour of the soul him by whom the world was made before it was made which none sees the Saviour but with the light which comes from him And none seeth the offering and the blood of the offering but with the light which cometh from him the blood of the second Adam the Lord from heaven And all that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world knowes not Christ nor salvation But they being from the light and out of the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall they are out of the truth as the Devil is And so he can confesse Christ without as they do not within now none seeth salvation the Saviour Christ Jesus but with the light which he hath enlightened them withall that is within Pr. That the holy Scriptures is the rule of knowing God Answ The Pharisees had the Scriptures but knew not God knew not Christ nor none doth but who be in the life that they was in that gave forth Scriptures with which they learned of God the Father of life and stood in his Councell Pr. He saith Christian wouldst thou have another righteousness then that of Christ wrought in thee I know thou wouldst and must have if ever thou be saved then the righteousness of Christ wrought within thee for thy sanctification but to rely upon another righteousness for thy justification the righteousnes of Christ without thee pâ—g 70. And it is a blasphemous opinion and filthy puddle for to say the righteousness of Christ within And I had rather be a Papist then a Quaker Answ The righteousness within sanctification within hath been lost since the dayes of the Apostles in the Apostacy amongst you and the Papists And they that witnesse a righteousness within sanctification within they are not in the blasphemous opinion raking in a puddle And I know that thou hadst rather turn to the Papists then to the Quakers for they was your root which ye came from the Papists who first erred from the faith and so lost the righteousness within and justification and sanctification And I say none comes to witnesse salvation and to be saved but who witness Christ within their sanctification and justification and redemption and the others are reprobates And all upon the earth that can talk of a righteousness without them and sanctification and justification without them and a Christ without them and not within them they
are reprobates for Christ is the righteousness of God and the sanctification and the justification of man from the Law and its works who stands between God and man So he is the redemption who Redeemes man out of the fall which he fell into and he doth sanctifie him and he doth justifie him and this is all found within and this not being found within he is reprobate And so none are saved but who witnesseth this within They have the letter the wolves the sheepes cloathing the ravenors inwardly from the Spirit of God and those are them that denyes it within Pr. He saith The spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared as with a hot Iron forbidding to marry and abstaining from divers meats Page 73. Ans Before the Apostles decease he saw these things come up and the spirit speakes this mark it speakes exprestly Now since the Apostles decease the things have been fulfilled the faith hath been departed from the unity among all Christians hath been lost in all Christendom on heapes have they all run destroying one another about the Scriptures Churches Ministry yea for maintenance from the spirit ye have departed to speak so out of the unity of it which is the bond of peace which should have kept peace in all Christendom and all the Professors of Christ it should have kept them in peace and in it is the unity From that ye have ravened you and the Papists and all Sects upon the earth So some forbiding of meats and forbiding to marry whose consciences are feared as with a hot iron The Devils Doctrine speaking lies in hypocrisie and giving heed to seducing spirits you are the spirits that inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God that deny immediate Revelation and hearing the voice of God immediately these are the seducing spirits and keepes all people in the burning and heating lusts from the marriage of the Lamb all the seducing spirits doth that deny Revelation immediate inspiration hearing the voyce of God immediately from heaven now as ever And therefore their fruits declares they are burning one against another destroying one another about their Religion and Ministry their consciences seared as with a hot iron tenderness lost and gone destroying people and casting into prison for their bellies for maintenance for Tythes So ye have got up your Church which was a Mass-house and Tythes and sprinkling Infants who have had the time of compelling others to worship But the day is breaking the light is springing life is rising and glory is appearing your Torment is coming and you can be no longer hid Pr. He saith Beware of false prophets there shall be false prophets among the people which shall bring in damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them bringing upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these resist the Truth but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs was Answ Christ said Antichrist should come false prophets should arise to his Apostles before their decease they saw they was come as Peter and John declares already in the world whereby they knew it was the last time and they went forth from them the Apostles and in the Revelations the whole world went after them that the Nations come to be like waters and the peoples waters and their tongues waters and multitudes waters so many followed their pernicious wayes by whom the way of truth hath been evil spoken of by you and them both And they brought up the damnable Heresie and are as Jannes and Jambres being men of corrupt minds and are Reprobates concerning the faith But they shall proceed no further for now is their folly made manifest and shall be made manifest to all men Doth not the very heathens cry out against Christendom of the hardness of their hearts and of their unrighteous dealings of their actions and causeth the way of truth to be spoken of by you that are called Christians Is not the damnable Heresie among you Are not you run into all heathenish wayes to set up Temples and Tythes and Priests and Schooles and Colledges and never heard the voyce of God as ye confesse as may be seen in this book Is not all this trumpery and trash come up and fables among the Papists and you since the dayes of the Apostles And do not you deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world The grace of God which brings salvation which hath appeared unto all men to bring every man to a teacher And doth any one know the Lord that bought them but who owns the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Doth not all deny the Lord that bought them that doth deny the light Doth any see the Lord and his blood that bought them and purchased them but with the light that cometh from him And are not you all as Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses to have kept the people in Egypt Are not you all denying the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world And was not all them that inwardly ravened got the sheeps cloathing which Christ said should come which the Apostles saw was come went forth from them the whole world went after are not all these in the witchcraft Sorcery Inchantment Negromancy wizards familiar spirits witches that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Hath not Babylon the mother of Harlots Beast false Prophet unclean spirits Dragon and Antichrists and deceivers all these been up since the dayes of the Apostles And the great whore that deceives the Nations drest with the sheepes cloathing and hath not this been the mystery of Iniquity which hath ruled since the dayes of the Apostles That cryes prophesie is ceased and slayes the Prophets and none can keep the commands of God and made War against them that keep the commands of God and calls the Scriptures the testimony and the Law and makes War against them that have the Law in their hearts and the spirit of prophesie and hast not thou manifested thy self to be of this number and of the stock of the great whore that hath drunk the blood of the Saints and Martyrs and the Prophets Pr. Art not thou crying to Magistrates Help stop the mouths of Blasphemers In page 23. And stirring up the zeal of the Magistrates and shewing them the zeal of the Jewes Magistrates how they did tear their clothes off at blasphemers in thy page 31. And saith thou could rejoyce that they would breath such an ayre throughout all the English Quarters and wouldst not that the Quakers should have Countenance from the Magistrates Answ Now thou hast made
to make our reconciliation to God to be wrought by our improving the light within and renewing the image of God in us is damnable doctrine to take men off from going to the fulness of Christ at the right hand of God and send them to look to a light within which they say is in every man is a damnable doctrine this is to forsake the fountain of living waters and dig to themselves broken Cisternes dangerous principle is that of perfection by improvement of the light within Answ The imputation to a believer is owned and this imputation is within for he that believes is born of God and hath the witnesse in himself now Abraham believed and the Romans and to such the imputation was spoken in the belief and Abraham saw his glory who is Christ Jesus the righteousness it self and the Apostle sayes ye are now nearer then when ye believed and again he sayes Christ is in you and God will dwell in you and walk in you so such as hath Christ in them they have the righteousness it self without imputation the end of imputation the righteousness of God it self Christ Jesus No man knowes the reconciliation and his reconciliation made with God but by hearing and doing the word of God that 's in the heart and mouth which divides thy bad words Hammond and thy bad thoughts that 's the word of God and cuts them down and Hammers them down and burns them up that 's the word that sanctifies and reconciles to God and makes clean and the word is Christ called the word of God and Christ is the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and that is it that renews man into the image of God for the light that comes from Christ is the Image of God the light of the glorious Gospel which is the Image of God and so this is within and thou that knowes not this within and feels it not thy lips are polluted and art in the damnable doctrine and the light that shines in the darkness and thou cannot comprehend it and indeed thou art too proud high and loftie and thou must be brought down the Lord God will abase thee and no man comes into the image of God and renewed and hath reconciliation with God but which comes to the Light which Christ the Word hath enlightened him withall and that 's within and they that believe in it have the witness in themselves and they that do not the light condemns them And the light that every man that comes into the world is enlightened withall doth not take them from Christs fulness at the right hand of God but the light le ts see him lifted up and there 's none upon the earth comes to Christ at the right hand of God to receive of his fulness but who comes to the light which Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world withall that 's the eye the light with which he sees Christ and in that he receives him and comes to be engrafted in him in the Vine Christ Jesus And so thou that drawes men from the light within which Christ hath enlightened every man that comes into the world withall thou drawes them from Christ at the right hand of God that they cannot receive this his fulness and so thou takes away the key of knowledge from people who art in the doctrine that 's damnable that 's from the light to be condemned and none comes to the Fountain of living mercies but are all broken Cisterns that are from the light within them which comes from Christ the Fountain of living mercies which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that with it all might come to see the Fountain and believe in it so they that do not are condemned And no one knowes perfection nor comes into the perfection of Christ but are in the dangerous estate where thou art which doth not come into the light which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world for the imperfection comes by the first Adam and Eve and the Devil going out from the truth the perfection comes again by Christ to destroy the Devil death and his works and sanctifies man and reconciles man again to God which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world that in the light all men might see the perfection of God Christ Jesus which none doth but such as come to him the Light Pr. That there is so much light in every man that will reveal Christ and save them that believe in it and that an Indian hath it and to send to this to lead to perfection and to neglect the Fountain of wisdom at the right hand of God is a soul-destroying principle Ans The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened withall is saving to them that believe in it tâ—ey are saved them that do not are condemned and this leads to perfection the light to the Fountain of wisdom Christ Jesus the light of the world to know the Bishop of their souls and all that are not come to the light in their own particular which comes from him that doth enlighten every man that comes into the world their principles are destroying which are thine that stands against the light thou art Antichrist kicking against the light with which Christ hath enlightened thee wiâ—hall no man knowes a Saviour nor sees salvation but as every man comes to the light wiâ—h the same light they come to see Christ the light and Saviour to save them from their sins and that light is sufficient I will give him for a Covenant of light to the Gentiles and I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and Judah them that had the old and here 's all the world and he shall be my salvation to the ends of the earth and the Gentiles was heathen call them Indian or what thou wilt I will give him for a Covenant to the Gentiles a leader of the people which many Gentiles have found their leader the Covenant of light and in this light Jew and Gentile are one and in unitie if ye walk in the light as he is in the light then have ye followship one with another and this breaks all your Sects the Covenant of light Between Jew and Gentile and brings them to one in believing in the light Prin. That light that is in every man is the Reliques of the first Covenant of works which cannot reveal Christ as Mediator Answ The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened withall which is Christ by whom the world was made ends the Covenant of works the creation was made by him and he was before it was made so he is not a created light But that by which all things was created and thou art in thy works the Covenant of works and thy created lights that calls the light that enlightens every man that cometh into the world Christ Jesus a Covenant
of works or natural light which was before the Covenant of works was or a natural light was created which ends the Covenant of works and thou art to be judged for thy words and with that light every man sees the Mediator believing in it if not it condemnes him Pr. That all the light they have is but the light of a natural conscience and that is a blurr'd one too Nay how comes it to passe that in old England we see so many hundreds that manifest no other light but a natural conscience and New England that have conversed with the Indians and never saw the least breaking forth of the light Answ The light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world by whom the world was made was before natural conscience was or natural light either or the blurr'd light as thou cals it And many of the Indians do shew forth more in their conversations of the light then you do and as for old England what have you been doing all this while if you see so many hundreds manifesting no other light but a natural conscience But how should they manifest it when you keep them from it your work is to keep them from the light within But now there 's thousands that are manifesting the light on the house top by which the world was made which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and you Ministers of Satan out of the light and truth are them that stands against it for the Devil that went out of the light and truth who sowed his seed in the hearts of people he would not have them to own the light in them and he would confesse a God without him and so he teaches them in whom he sowes his seed not to have the light within them the seed Christ the tree of righteousness the root of God Pr. I charge the Quakers to shew one Scripture that bids look to the light within the old trick of Errour the righteousness of faith doth not direct people to look for a Christ within this Scripture bids weary laden souls go to Christ is this to the light within them I am amazed at their ignorance Answ The righteousness of faith brings people to look at Christ within and what abundance of ignorance hast thou shewed who hath been a teacher of the people these many years and shews how contrary thou art to Christ and the Apostles in doctrine for in 2 Cor. 4. the Apostle tels the Corinthians the light that shined in their hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus this was the work of the true Apostles when the false Apostles and Devils Ministers and messengers was got among them for the Devil is out of truth and so are his messengers and they will draw people from the light within and blind their minds that they should not come to the light within to see the glory of God in the face of Christ from whence it comes so thou dost conclude thy self among the Devils Ministers and false Apostles and messengers and no wearied soul that is burdened that comes to Christ who is the souls rest but first comes to the light within which comes from Christ who is the souls Bishop with which light they see him he shines in their hearts it gives them the knowlege of him and the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and thou that leads them from the light within leads them from Christ and the glory of God who should save them from their sins and give them ease rest and peace Pr. I said looking to the light and living upon the light within will lead men to Hell and going to and living upon a muddy puddle of natural light That Christ is the light in all in a saving manner I deny for Christ to be the righteousness of men in Justification differs and to send a man to live upon a light within it not to send him to Christ and if he live upon it upon the light as it is Justication it is a plain Covenant of works Ans There 's no man lives but in the light which comes from Christ the light by whom the world was made in whom was light and this light is the life of men and this light and life is manifest in us for he that hath the Son of God hath light and life he that receives not this though he be enlightned hath not life that hates it such as lead people from it go from it in their own particulars they lead people into hell into its gates it prevails against them but who be in the light the gates of Hell cannot prevail against them and believes in it they are not condemned and so they live in the muddy puddle and goes into the naturall light that denies the light within which Christ hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world withall they live not upon the life but in the muddy puddle of darknesse and are Antichrist out the light and are against it in their particulars and against them that walke in it and such are unlike the Ministers of Christ Every man that cometh into the world is enlightned with the saving light and he that believes in it is saved he that doth not is condemned There 's no one comes out of the covenâ—nt of works but by the Light within which Christ the covenant of God hath enlightned him withall And there 's no one lives out of the covenant of works but who lives in the Light and who lives in the Light lives in Christ and Christ in him I in you and you in me and who hates this Light they live not in Christ it condemns them for they be in their owne Covenant oâ— works Who believes in the light hath entered into the rest and ceased from his owne work as God did from his And righteousnesse and justification is one where Christ is known and felt in man they are both felt in one For Christ the righteousnesse of God and the justification and Christ in you and see if thou canst read this who sayes they differ Pr. What warrant have you to go out to the Quakers Shall a man go hear the Jewes and Popish Masse because Paul bid try all things No no. Answ Paul bid us quench not the spirit and where the spirit is not quenched they may try Papists Jewes Protestants who quenches not the spirit but who quenches the spirit and draws people from the light within they draw from that they should see withall then you stuffe them up with old Authors and lying stories as you print abroad Pr. Christs revealed Will is the word of Reconciliation Answ The Scriptures is not the word of Reconciliation But Christ is the word of Reconciliation who reconciles man to God and satisfies the Father and gives men peace with God and this the Scripture declares And as for the Ministers of Newcastle who hath
for it is the earth shall help the woman Answ The courtesie the Saints received which was from them whose hearts was opened that the Lord had opened by his power that is not condemned But your taking Tythes of people you do not work for and casting into Prison till death for not giving it you How are you like the Apostles or like the Ministers of Christ or like the woman thou speaks of the Church that was persecuted Now you persecute this signifies she was persecuted And you persecute for meanes and hale up and down in Courts and Sessions and will take treble damages treble tythes of them you do no work for and so you will not stand to the courtesie of people nor wait for the power to open their hearts but are in a power that will take it by compulsion and by violence away from people So you have given judgment against your selves and are not of the number of them the Lord opened their hearts that ministred to their necessities and so unlike the Ministers of Christ that received the courtesies of the people whom the Lord opened their hearts Pr. Thou saith When people have no guide but what is within and that this principle be rooted it will turne all into Babel And thou questions whether it be not a principle of sedition to say that every man hath a light within him Answ All people in the world runs into Babel and Babylon and are building up and throwing down and so goes into confusion about Law and Gospel Prophets Christ and the Apostles words when they be from the spirit within of truth to lead them into all truth and up to God the Father of Truth of whom they learn that gave them forth and with that spirit are they seen in which spirit is unity which is the bond of peace And the light which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world leads all men out of sedition and they be in the sedition that denies it and sayes to the contrary and in darknesse and cannot comprehend it as John sayes which says this is the true light that enlightens every man that cometh into the world And Christ says Believe in the light And the Prophets said God gave him for a Covenant of light to the Gentiles and a new Covenant to the Jewes and he shall be the Leader of the people and salvation to the ends of the earth and every man that comes into the world is enenligtned He that believes is saved and he that believes not is condemned already Pr. Thou queries When the Act of the Commission for the Ministry was repealed since Christ said he would be with them to the end of world And thou saist It is not said simply they shall teach no more every man his neghbour but it is added Know the Lord. Thou saist that every man is enlightned onely with a naturall reason and the elect are enlightned with a saving knowledge Thou saist I bring John 4.23 to overthrow all outward worship Thou saist You can praise God with your bodies and spirits Answ The 7th of Matthew Matth. 24. Christ said false Prophets should come and should be inwardly ravening wolves having sheeps cloathing and John said they was come Chap. 2. Chap. 4. And in Revel All that dwelt upon the earth went after them and such killed the Saints When they had gotten a head they killed the Saints and the true Ministers and they that were of the false killed the true and since those dayes the false hath reigned which hath wrestled with flesh and blood prisoning killing the creatures and warring against them and not with the Principalities and spirituall wickednesses and powers of darknesse and such hath been out of the power the Gospell the Apostles were in hath killed them that kept the testimony of Jesus the spirit of Prophecy And it is said plainly Heb. 8. They shall not teach every man his neighbour nor every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the greatest to the least saith the Lord And so thou perverts the Scriptures and art judged by them for it that belies them And the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is the same Light that the Elect lives in which the world not believing in the Light Christ Jesus the Elect and covenant of light and life and peace promised to the world they are condemned already but he that believes in the Light is saved so that saving is sufficient And Christ sayes they that worship the Father must worship him in spirit and in truth Not at Jerusalem not at Samaria nor at the Mountain So say I not at your Masse-houses with a Crosse at the end of them which the Popes set up and you since the dayes of the Apostles So they that worship God must worship him in the spirit and in the truth Truth doth not change neither doth the Spirit and these be them the Father seeks to worship and hath found many And Christ overthrows the outward worship at Samaria and Jerusalem and the Mountain and so do we at your Papists Masse-houses and tell you God is worshipded in the spirit and in the truth and those are the true worshippers that God seeks to worship and that will stand when Masse-houses Samaria and Jerusalem is down the spirit and the truth that remains In the mouth of the wicked praises is not comely And as for your singing Davids conditions or the Saints conditions given forth from the spirit when you confesse you are not in the spirit as they was that gave them forth So then judged with it to be such whose mouths the praises are not comely that be in another state then they where that gave Scriptures forth And Adams state before the Fall thou knowest not but art found in the steps of the Pharisees and Papists As the Pharisees got words of the true Prophets and Moses out of the life so the Papists and you have got the words of Christ and the Apostles and be out of the life and persecuting them that be in the life as the Pharisees did and killing the just the just being imprisoned in your own particulars as it was in the Pharisees And you with your dark eyes have looked upon the Scriptures ever since the apostacy and ravened from the spirit of God the pure eye and so with that you are comprehended felt over and seen over and with that shall the principle of God in you all be answered that you are apostatized from the Apostles in life and power and doctrine and so are in heaps about their words out from that which is the ground of communion the bond of peace And all thy confusion in thy Book is thy own garments who with it is for the fire the witnesse in thy conscience in the day of thy condemnation shall witnesse it Thomas Tillam his Booke called The seventh-day-Sabbath His Principles answered as Followeth Pr. ALl
not worth mentioning but the Scriptures are owned And Iohn art thou finding fault because men wears no hatbands and eats and drinks bread and water and casts by their pride Now thou mayst see who thou hast taken part with and who is the scoffer and sheweth thy self and who is thy Master short of all good And as for all your bad names and misconstruing of Scriptures it will come upon your selves and thou hast shewed in all thy Book that thou art not able to divide the word aright nor an instructer of Babes Pr. And thou saith that Christ dyed for the sins of the elect Answ And the Scripture saith he was an offering for the sins of the whole world and who shall lay charge to Gods elect whom he justifies Pr. And thou speaks of God destroying men for their ignorance and they shall finde no favour in the day of judgement Answ Whereas the Scripture saith in the time of ignorance God winked at but now he commands all men every where to repent and every man that cometh into the world is enlightned And the spirit of truth shall reprove the world of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement which leads believers into all truth And the grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men but they turne it into wantonnesse which is the Saints teacher And this shall make every tongue to confesse to the glory of God and every knee to bow at his name which is the Emanuel and so none shall plead ignorance as thou saist who art in the ignorance thy selfe but inexcusable because convicted and hast rejected the tender mercies who hast lifted up thy selfe against the Saints and the Lamb but a stone is set over thy head that shall grind thee to powder and the Saints shall have the victory and the Kingdome that is an everlasting Kingdome the witnesse in thy conscience shall witnesse against thee for all thy hard speeches and let thee know that you and thou had better have been silent then to fight against the Lord the Lamb and his Saints that 's the word of the Lord God to thee and you all When ye are judged the witnesse in all your consciences shall answer W. P. his Principles in his Book intituled according to truth that quakes not trembles not nor quailes Pr. THey say If the Apostles had been put to preach upon a short Text or methodically as by a long practice in the Church it is expected from us that they might oft times have studyed for it Answ In this you have shewed your spirits and made manifest you are voyd of the revelation from God and your ignorance of the Scriptures for the holy Ghost shall not speak of it selfe but take of his And the Apostles what they had seen and heard they declared And Christ what he had received of the Father he declared and the spirit that which speaks in the Church and it shews the fulfilling of the Scriptures and it keeps not people long in Texts as the world doth that wrests Scriptures up and down and keep people in sects and so there is the spirit leading into all truth and the spirit of the Father speaking within and the holy Ghost that moved men to give forth Scripture that teacheth to divide the word aright which is the spirit of prophecy in the Church not studying Pr. They say Every man that hath the spirit in some measure doth not attain to the great height and degree that they did that gave forth Scriptures that therefore may not lawfully and infallibly teach as they did Ans Every man that hath a measure of the spirit of God in the least measure or degree it is infallible and so far may they teach infallibly and know Scriptures but they cannot know all Scriptures but as they attain to the full measure of the spirit of the Prophets and Apostles and to the measure and stature and fulness of Christ and if they do not attain to all this they are not able to know all the Scriptures and the work of the Ministers of God was to bring people to this to the measure and stature and fulnesse of Christ and saith Let every one minister as he hath received the grace And take heed of any of you going beyond your measure and them that deny the grace of God appearing to all men cannot minister Pr. They say The greatest part of professors in the visible Church were and are always earthly minded nor can rightly value spirituall and heavenly things Ans In this you and your Ministers hath shewed your fruits like Balaams which withers and are earthly such as Jude speaks of that separateth themselves sensuall and had not the spirit but went forth from the Apostles that are got up since the days of the Apostles Church and Ministry like Priest like people and to be such as was coming up before the Apostles decease as he speaks on in Timothy which minded earthly things like Teacher like People that preach themselves thorow with many hurtfull lusts while they coveted after money they lost the faith and so came people to be all on heaps out of unity in the earth being out of the faith of Gods elect so this is all in the apostacy since the Apostles Pr. And he saith That he is not a hireling that takes wages The wages are allotted to him for his worke Ans But do not all you preach for hire and is it not for hire you preach Now the least in the truth may see you Is there ever a Priest in the Nation but he is hired to work or if he have it not he will not stay Now to prove that you do preach for hire where many Steeple-houses in many Parishes that hath no Priest thither you go not because there is but a little Benefice and they have soules as well as others and where there is agreement for so much a year thither you go is not this for hire and so the Prophets words fulfil'd the Priests preach for hire and all these great sums of money which has lifted you up and gathered a great deale of it out of poor mens labours this hath been the undoing of you all and Nations and many poor people because they cannot put into your mouths but now is God come to judgement upon you all in the apostacy apostates Pr. And thou calls the Steeple-house a Church Ans Which is the Church which is come up since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostacy for the Church is the people of God the elect seed which Christ is the head of who in the midst of this Church doth sing praises which is the pillar and ground of truth without spot or wrinkle Whereas the Steeple-house you call your Church will spot wrinkle and blemish and decay and fall down and wicked men may prevail against it but the gates of Hell cannot prevail against that Church which is built upon the rock Pr. And thou sayst Thou dost not
but hear you have laid aside the Holy Ghost how knew they before they gave it forth hear thou hast denyed Revelation of the spirit for though a man has all the writings yet he knowes nothing of God but by the the Spirit of God nor sanctification nor justification which is Christ and the light which comes from him Pr. You say You are fallen into the last times prophesied of by Christ and you are to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints Answ The faith delivered once to the Saints ye are out of in respecting persons and are Apostates from it and the last times which Christ spoke of should come which John saw was come when the false prophets which Christ prophesied of was come which went forth from the Apostles which since their days the world went after them and now from them is the Lord God bringing his people to the rock of ages into the faith they are out of Pr. Foolish man would have his righteousness in himself Answ Every one that hath Christ hath the righteousness of God wrought in him and none owneth the righteousness of Christ but who owneth the light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world and they are foolish that know not this and the righteousness of faith in them Pr. It is blasphemy they say and colourable pretences to witness an infallible spirit in them Answ The spirit that leads the Saints into all truth is infalliable and that shall reprove the world and he that hath the spirit of Christ hath that which is infalible and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his but are in the colourable pretences Pr. They say The Scriptures is the quick and powerful word Answ Many may have the Scriptures and the form and deny the power and the Scriptures are words of God and the word is God and this word is in the heart which led them to speak forth Scripture And many Scriptures they bring to oppose the Doctrine of Christ who saith be not ye called of men Master for ye have one Master even Christ to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confesse to the glory of God will men receive worship when Angels would not receive it but bad them worship God Pr. They say They rail and cavil at the lawful maintenance that God hath ordained for them Answ God hath suffered the beast to make havock and spoil the Saints goods but where doth God ordain that you should take Tythes and treble damages Easter reckonings and Mid-summer dues and that you should sue men at the Law and cast them in prison till death where did God command this they that Preach the Gospel should live on the Gospel and they bring glad tidings to people and this is not glad tidings to cast into prison till death and hale up and down to Courts and Sessions for outward maintenance if these men bring glad tidings let the spiritual judge or whether they do not make their folly manifest to all men that can but read the Scripture Pr. They say Such as trust in their own inherent righteousness compasse Sea and Land to make prosolytes Answ It was so in the dayes of the Pharisees it hath been so since the dayes of the Apostles since the beast and the false prophet got up who deny the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Gods righteousness Christ and such as denyed the light had the form and such gather people into the form of Moses the Prophets Christ and the Apostles words establishing their own righteousness and denying the righteousness of God the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world and all you that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world hath troden the blood of the Covenant under foot and you tell us of humane and inherent righteousness which the Scripture tels us no such words and as for all the rest of the lies in the book we let them go home again upon their own heads and every word shal be their own burthen and that in your conscience shall witness and the Scriptures are owned by the Quakers and denyed by you but owned for your own ends that deny the light A BOOK Entitled The Quakers Cause But no name is found in it but is a Book of darkness railing and lies is come to light and because some who leave father and mother and wife therefore he rages who is out of the Light and Doctrine of Christ And the Principles are as followeth Pr. SUch as forsakes husband and wife to do the will of God this he cals a breaking of relations Ans And thus ignorantly speaks evil of those things he knowes not Thus ignorant of the command of Christ and the Scriptures but hath shewed himself to be a member of the world and not of Christ who saith he that doth not forsake father and mother wife and children is not worthy of me Pr. He saith Because he saith thou to God it doth not follow that he should say thou to his earthly father to speak to God as he doth to man Answ Now minde what proud flesh would have of whom thou hast learnt to speak you to an earthly man or to a particular person which the Scripture hath taught no such Language nor the accidence that which teacheth thee to give more to man then to God is the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God teaches to speak righteously and when there is but one not to say as of many and so there is thou to one and you to many And so here is the form of sound words that cannot be condemned now you may see where your Original stands which cannot endure the form of sound words Prin. He saith To be justified by grace which is Christ in them this is a kind of Popery Answ Contrary to Scripture and the Apostles Doctrine Before the Pope was and them either which saith Christ was in them who are justified by faith and faith was in the heart and justified in the spirit and who witnesse the spirit the spirit of grace and by grace ye are saved and that which saves justifies and being justified by grace and thou that art of the Pope and in the Apostacy denies this Pr. To say Christ is within is never to mention Christ without Answ There 's none knowes Christ within but he knowes him without the same yesterday to day and for ever and there 's none knowes him but they know him within revealed of the Father which is beyond flesh and blood Pr. And he sayes To run upon new birth self-denial light within Christ within man if this be not a kinde of Popery and a fair gate for Rome he is deceived Answ Light within Christ within new birth self denial is out of your works and Romes which was the Doctrine that the Apostles held forth and the Saints witnessed Christ within
light within and new birth such were they that came into the the Kingdom of God over the Kingdoms of the world and because some have been moved of the Lord to go naked among you a figure of your nakeâ—ness and want your cloathing at which you rage that you may appear more naked of the spirit of God And as for all thy lies and slanders and hard expressions in thy book though thou hast hid thy name yet truth will bring thy works upon thee and make the witnesse in thee to answer who and which is for the fire and to thee this shall be thy burden who art like a man that scorns and scoffes and thou hides thy self Pr. And thou sayest That good woman called which went naked Answ Thou hast justified her to be good and thou canst not say that that which was good called that which was good beastly or bad that went naked which was your figure then thou talkest of higher power and honour of men like thy brethren the Pharisees and not like one that knew the higher power which respects no mans person and the good women are those that fear God that have the adorning of the hidden man of the heart that hath the Aray of Sarah John Jackson Entitled Stength in weakness His Principles are as followeth Pr. ONe thats kept groaning and waiting for the adoption for the adversaries assaults and contests within her and yet she 's in the kingdom thou sayest and union with Christ and spiritual Son-ship Answ Spiritual Son-ship and in the kingdom and yet groaning for adoption how hast thou brought thy self to the light to be judged for the least in the kingdom was greater then John he that 's in the kingdom is in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost and thou sayest in the Kingdom of grace groaning that is but a notion of the Kingdom that keeps them groaning for adoption Pr. And as thou sayest false prophets and Christs and dâ—ceivers many should come if it was possible to deceive the very elect Answ Yea Christ said they should come to his Apostles which before their discease they did come and went forth from them which Christ said should inwardly raven and get the sheepes cloathing which since the dayes of the Apostles all the world went after them as thou may read in the Revelation and now are people but coming from them to the Rock and now shall the everlasting Gospel be Preached to them that dwell upon the earth over the heads of the beast and the false prophet and they shall be taken and the Lamb and the Saints shall have victory Pr. He saith I hope you will not condemn the generation of the righteous because they are not perfect Answ That which condemnes is righteous it condemnes that which is not perfect and that which is righteous is perfect and the generation is righteous and not to be condemned Pr. A son or daughter that 's translated into the kingdom of the dear Son hath filthinesse pollutions of flesh and spirit to put off and the members to be mortified Answ How is he translated into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God or grace if he have that before mentioned to put off and what is he translated out of that when he is translated into the Kingdom he hath filthiness of flesh and spirit and members to put off and to mortifie there after he is translated into the kingdom the which filthiness of flesh and spirit and unmortified members comes not into the kingdom for they are mortified in their passage to it for no unrighteousness enters into the Kingdom and as saith the Apostle nor no unmortified thing comes into the Kingdom of God for it consists of joy and peace in the Holy Ghost and unrighteousnesse and all filth of flesh and spirit and unmortified is without it Pr. It is the comforter that convinceth the world of sin but all men have not the spirit neither are they convinced so of their unbelief Answ Every man that cometh into the world is enlightened that he may believe in the light and he that believes in the Light receives the Comforter and he that believes not in the light the spirit of truth reproves him for his unbelief for his righteousness and his judgement and I say the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is sufficient believing in it and shall have the light of life and shall not abide in darkness and come to the rock Christ and all being in the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world shall in the light see their salvation to the ends of the earth and need not say lo here or lo there and as for all the wrangling stuff in thy book what he said and what she said and what sayest thou a garment to cover you had been better silent and not have laid open your nakedness to the Nation I say unto thee this stuff and bush will burn in the fire and the witness in thee shall answer which shall witness me and judge thy contentious spirit which shewes you are far from the Kingdom and silence had Preacht more and the patience then the strife which stands in self justification and to justifie that â—o be mortified and put off which never came there And all men that doth not believe in the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world the spirit doth convince them and is manifest to them and in them A Book Title Page called Hosanna to the Son of David But the Book is namelesse and so reviles and rails and hides himselfe in the darke and his intent and drift in his Book is to make the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world a Covenant of works or Law without which Christ the Light is the Covenant of God the end of the first Covenant and its works and end of the Law to Jewes Gentiles in which they have peace one with another and with God And secondly he goes about to make the Comforter above Christ the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which Christ the light saith that he will send to them that hath the light the Comforter and he shall take of his and give to them and not speak of himself which Christ had not spoken of himselfe but as he heard and saw of the Father he spoke And the rest of his Principles are as followeth Pr. THou saist The lying murtherer he hath sent forth his Instruments which goes under the name of Quakers and disguised with piety and purity to preach the everlasting Gospell and they hold forth a light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world what it doth in every man and what it is in every man and how it will lead men to purity and righteousnesse and from drunkennesse and taking Gods name in vain and check them when they do wrong and make manifest all ungodlinesse
the glory of God And the Law was in their hearts and the Word was within them and the annointing and such had the gifts for the worke of the Ministery for perfecting the Saints for the edifying the body of Christ till they all come to the knowledge of the glory of God and to a perfect man in Christ Jesus Pr. He saith Christ is without his Saints in respect of his bodily presence Answ How then are they of his flesh and of his bone and eate his flesh and drink his blood And how have the Saints his minde and spirit and he with them and they with him and sit with him in heavenly places and he is the head of the Church how then is he absent Ye poor Apostates from him who feels not Christ with you but he is with the Saints and they feel him Pr. He saith Salvation and faith are the gifts of God distinct from Christ Answ They are all of him and from him and with him And how is he the Author of Faith in whom it ends from whence it comes Pr. He saith The light which discovers sin and iniquity in mans heart is not Christ the light the door Ans The first Adam was the door where all sin and transgression entered Christ the second Adam the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world saith I am the door the way the life which finisheth sin and transgression and brings in everlasting righteousnesse and the way of life out of death which Light discovers sin Pr. He saith To call Christ the light the gift the door the way is to take the Gardiner for Christ as Mary did Answ Christ the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world we do not put him for the Gardiner We know him and as many as receives him he gives them power to become the sons of God and this thou sayest is not used power but prerogative authority and thus thou art wresting Scripture So thou should have been more meek and low in thy heart and then thou wouldst have bridled thy tongue and so have learned of Christ and so come to the light the sure foundation out of the errour of thy wayes and have kept in the footsteps of the flock and if thy tongue had been shorter and thy bridle streigher then wouldst not thou have mixt the Covenant of God with mans spirit and have compared it to the Law of works which Christ the light which doth enlighten every one that comes into the world is the end of And mans spirit in the Fall is polluted and his body but as the light is believed in and the minde changed his spirit is sanctified and his body and so comes to be a childe of the Light and his spirit witnesseth with our spirits that we are the Sons of God And none owns the Door Mediator the Life the Way but with the light which Christ doth enlighten every man that comes into the world withal which light is the door the way and the life Ellis Bradshaw His Booke called The Quakers quaking Principles which he directs to the PROTECTOR His Principles are as Followeth Pr. HE saith That Christ who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world by an immediate illumination not the Elect themselves to bring them to salvation Answ Doth not Christ say I am the way the truth and the life And he is the Door and no man cometh to the Father but by him and learn of him This is my beloved Son heare ye him saith God And is not he the new Covenant in the heart by which men need not say Know the Lord And there is no other name by which men can be saved but by the name of Christ who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all through him might believe And he that believes in the light abides not in darknesse but hath the light of life and they that believe not in it but hates its the light is their condemnation and the light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world is the salvation though men neglect it which the Elect walk in which condemns the unbeliever which is immediate and no man sees salvation but who comes to the light Pr. He saith The Word that was made flesh is visible and the Word is the Letter and they never received the spirit of life from it and that 's the Quakers errour Ans Such as had the Scriptures which was the words of God to them in old time and the ordinances the Apostle calls carnall which the Jewes stuck in and would not come to him that they might have life not to Christ And so if men have all the Scriptures and have not Christ they have not life For the Devill he may have the Scripture and hath he life therefore And the power of God Christ his name is called the Word of God The Word of God lives and endures for ever and the Spirit is not in the Letter and the Letter is not the Word which was made flesh and they be in the errour that thinks so for the Word is invisible Pr. Paul adviseth not onely to the Light within but is bidding them bring his cloak books and parchment and give attendance to reading Answ The Apostle did tell the Saints that the light that shined in their hearts might give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and bids them walk in the light And Christ bids them believe in the light and they should not walke in darknesse and there is no other name under Heaven by which men can be saved but by the name of Christ And the Scriptures none sees the substance of them nor the fulfilling of them but who walks in the Light whom God speaks to by his Son who is the end of the Prophets and there is the true reading and knowing of all books and pâ—rchments which none knows the Scripture but by the light which comes from Christ in whom they end Pr. And again thou sayst there is more words then one Ans God is the Word and the Scriptures of Truth are his words which Christ fulfills Pr. He saith They have fellowship with the Father but not in the like measure of the gifts of grace the Apostle had Answ Then you are not like none of you to understand the Apostles words nor to be judges of them but as you do come into the like measure and gifts as they was in else you will not be able to judge of their conditions nor know their words Pr. He saith There is no man justified through the faith in Christ that owns the Scriptures to be but a dead letter But that ownes them to be the Word of God in which there is spirit and spirituall life as words of eternall life Answ The spirit and the life is not in the Scriptures but was in them that gave it forth and many have the Scripture and not the
your darkness cannot comprehend it though it shines in your darkness So for you to talk of Saints judging the world and medling with such things who are to be judged with the Saints who are that darkness that cannot comprehend the light that shines in you who have not light to comprehend the Saints that be in the light who have the just weight measure and balance who are the Judges of the world reaching measuring answering agreeable to that of God in every man And are stumbling at such as are become the Sons of God Adopted Sons and heirs and of the flesh and bone of Christ and of his mind and spirit who are in the possession of the Scriptures the durable life of the Saints which makes you darkness that cannot comprehend the light in your own particulars to rage which none comes to witness Sons-ship heir-ship Sons of God but who comes to the light in their own particulars and receives it and with it comprehends darkness It expels it away sees over the night and are the children of the day And you five Priests have shamed your selves that do not know the soul from eternity to eternity Pr. It is blasphemy to say the soul is a part of the Divine Essence Answ Ye may read in this Book how the rest of the Priests that are called Ministers some of them say Christ is humane the soul is a creature some again say it is part of the Divine Essence it is immortal and again it is appetite and pleasure and in this now is their confusion made manifest The soul is that which came out from God and is in Gods hand which hand goes against him that doth evil and transgresseth against the Principle of God that is in him which goes against the lust which Wars against the soul which hand the soul being in praises God the hand felt the power felt that turns against that which Wars against it here the soul magnifies God and the soul rejoyceth in God the Saviour the soul praiseth God here is Gods pleasure The living Lord taketh pleasure in the living soul and appetite and pleasure are humane these are not immortal which the soul is and so you five have judged your selves to be blasphemers who said the soul was part of the Divine Essence and yet 't is blasphemy to say so Pr. Christ is to rule as a King but in all he doth not Answ Those and you that hate the light will not hear him nor have him to rule over you and them such are for the sword and to be slain before him Pr. And the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world is not sufficient to salvation nor gives a light sufficient to bring to the Gospel know the Mediator and that light which hath enlightened all men withall is not the way but a created light by Christ Answ The light which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world all lights were made by it and created and this is the eye of the soule which gives to see Christ the Bishop of it from whence it comes and this light is the Covenant of God which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and this light doth let see the Mediator the salvation the Gospell And all that be from the light are out of the truth they that went out of the truth the god of the world hath blinded their eyes lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine in them which is the image of God So created Lights were created by it and none knows the truth but by this light and all mens professions be but from that nature that be from this light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world which all men must come into before they come into unity with God And none can know the Mediator nor Christ by the created and made lights which were made by the light Christ but as they come into the Light by which they were made that gives them the wisdome of the Creation and lets them see how they were made and so they that hate the Light receive not the spirit of God but remain in their natural state and what such know they know as naturall from Books Authors and Studies So men come not to the Author of their Faith Christ who hates the Light Pr. How ridiculous is it to say Christ dwels in all so in all Answ Christ is the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and the Scripture saith Christ he is searching the hearts of the wicked and trying their reins and bringing to them their thoughts to the light that shines in the darknesse and the darkness comprehends it not He was in the Saints and the Saints were in the light so he is in all over all and through all and blindnesse darknesse comprehends it not who fills heaven and earth If thou goest to the utmost parts of the earth he is there if thou goest to the deep and to the nethermost hell he is there where wilt thou flye from his presence Have not the holy men of God found this Are all ye Ministers of the Letter so ignorant of the Letter so short and come short of the state that gave it forth And I say such as sit under the shadow of darknesse shall feel if they do but hearken listen and such whose hearts be bad shall feel him searching of them and knocking such as go down to the nethermost Hell and to the utmost parts of the earth they shall feel him if they never stirred forth present and should not need to wander for a habitation but should feel their habâ—tation Such then should come to know their soules progresse which is an inward travel before it come into its Bishop Christ the rest him by whom the world was made before it was made and was glorified with the Father before the world began Pr. And it is an errour to say that the righteousnesse of Christ justification sanctification and redemption that this is all within Answ If Christ be within if not they are Reprobates and reprobates can talke of Christ and them that be out of the truth and the life they can talk of Christ and bring the Scriptures but who have Christ within they have sanctification redemption and justification they have the wisdome and power of God for Reprobates are talkers without for he that hath Christ hath all the other redemption sanctification wisdome righteousnesse is spoken to man and the work is known within as he comes out of the fall of the first Adam Pr. Its errour to say the light that discovers sin justifies Answ The light which is the Covenant of God that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world discovers sin makes it manifest blots it out justifies sanctifies redeems and condemns them that hate it Pr. It 's an errour that the light within men will bring men to the feare of God and lead men
was never the way to beget to God but that which strikes at the power which captivates creatures reacheth to the witnesse in prison and brings people into unity with God and one another in the spirit which is the bond of peace Pr. To love the Word for the good parts that in regard of the Christian is a dangerous thing and in regard of the Word of God a dishonourable thing Answ Where the good parts are not in the Christian that is a dishonourable thing to the Word and causeth the Word of God to be evill spoken of As the whole Assembly of you Ministers have done by your bad conversations earthly covetous impatient spirits that cannot endure any should speak but your selves in your places so by you hath the Word of God been dishonoured and not honoured for the Apostles did write that they were to shew themselves Patterns and Examples to the Flock of God in life and conversation that the Word of God might not be evill spoken of Now where the Word is evil spoken of and the bad parts in a Christian proceeds this grieves the righteous and causeth the truth to be evill spoken of and the Word makes them vessels of honour in whom it is Pr. Now when Christians leave the Word and Sacraments and Sabbaths it is a dangerous pride lifting up the Light within as they do Answ The Christians that denyed the Sabbaths and witnessed Christ the substance the rest said The light that shined in their hearts would give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And they lifted up Christ the Light and they walked in him the Covenant of God and of light to the Jewes and Gentiles come which who walk in it are in peace with God and unity one with another and have the light of life and rest and all be in the dangerous state that be out of that And as for the word Sacrament there 's no Scripture for it but one of the Papists common words and the Light brings off it and the Jewish Sabbath Pr. Buy the truth and sell it not not pleading for sufficiency of a common light and leaving their Callings as the Monks and their books flying abroad their wings unclipt and no mention of eternall salvation from the wrath to come And he saith he loves the word Sacraments Sabbaths and Ministry Answ Christ came to put an end to the Jewish Sabbaths and the Apostles preached their end and forsook all for Christ and so to revile such as are in the same power and to call it by the unsavoury expression Monkish thou and yee are more like to that that tells us of Sacraments which is from the Monkish holinesse And for speaking of clipping the wings of our Books that flies abroad that 's another unsavoury expression and shews that spirit that it is not able to resist that spirit that gives forth the Books As for the Word and Ministry that thou hast shewed thy selfe against though thou professes the Scripture to be the Word And those are the words of God which Christ the Word fulfilled and this the Ministers of Christ witnesse And ye never read that the Ministers of the Gospell said they loved the Jewish Sabbaths and held up the Sabbaths those were the Ministers of the Law that held up the Sabbaths which Christ the Rest came to put an end to by which the world was made before it was made glorified with the Father before the world began And you sell the Truth and take the world which deny the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world which is sufficient to him that believes in it Pr. We exercise and order our preaching for the getting of money and maintenance And the greetings in the Markets is but that which humanity requires nor to be called of men Rabbi else Christ would not have taken it Must a Minister lose the members of his Church and the maintenance of his place both at once Answ Christ said to his Disciples they should know the false Prophets by their fruits and said be not ye called of men Master to his Disciples for one is your Master even Christ and denyed the Pharisees greetings in the Market which thou calls humane right And the Apostles ordered not their preachings to get money by them but they laboured to keep the Gospel without charge and the Ministers of Christ brought the people off the Jewes Assemblies and their maintenance both And yee that be found out of the Apostles Doctrine in the apostacy such as come from you that you do no work for how can you expect that they should give you maintenance or how can you in righteousnesse take maintenance of them that you do no worke for So if ye lose the members will ye take the maintenance which of the Apostles did so Nay is it not the way to gain members to deny the maintenance Is not that the way whereby the power of God may be known that raiseth the seed of God whereby the hearts of people may be opened and whereby the seed is known And the Apostle declared against such as taught for filthy lucre and made merchandize of the Word and that which thou calls humanity which is your earthly right seeing your conversation is in earth and not in heaven Pr. It cannot be concluded that there is a light in every man teaching unto Christ and unto salvation And if Christ put a light in every man that cometh into the world to guide him unto the Father and unto life I deny that to be true for that 's a naturall light which is onely the light which Christ the Word communicates to all men Nay the light that all men have though it seem to make them to know God as God yet it is not sufficient to make them to know that there is a Father or a Son or the holy Ghost that there is a Gospell And saith I am the light of the world that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that is both Jews and Gentiles And he that walks in the light shall have the light of life Now here lyes the deceit Answ The light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall the Câ—venant of God to Jewes and Gentiles which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which they that walk in the light walk in Christ and come to see before any naturall light was And he that walks in the light shall not abide in the darknesse but shall have the light of life and with the light he shall know God he shall know the Son he shall know the Gospell he shall know the holy Ghost and that light is not naturall And he that knoweth God knoweth the Father and none knows him but with the light of Christ Jesus who reveals him for God is the Father And I will give him for a Covenant a light to the Gentiles a new Covenant
to the house of Israel and Judah which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world a leader of the people a leader of them from death to life to God out of the fall the first man Adam a bringer in of righteousnesse peace and joy and truth and grace to all that believe and receive him but them that hate the light it is their condemnation The light Christ the Covenant of God is the leader of the People out of the fall out of all deceit unto God and it is sufficient It is the end of the Prophets and the Apostles teaching the fountain of life in which every one sees life Pr. Hath every man a light sufficient to bring him to God when none comes to God but by Christ If there be a light sufficient within for the enjoyment of life For direction to the Father the fountain of life the holy Ghost saith Ye shall teach no more every man his neighbour ye need not that any man teach you He doth not speake absolutely and strictly Answ Jewes and Gentiles who witnesse the new Covenant of God promised the Law in their hearts it is absolute they need not say to one another Know the Lord in the Covenant of life and peace with God in him by whom the world was made before it was made But they that have these words in a form are they that set to themselves heaps of Teachers And the teachings of the Apostles to all Nations were Ambassadors of this Covenant declaring the substance to the bringing of people off all Teachers that they needed not be taught by any man to know the Lord and the light Christ which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world is sufficient to guide to eternall life and he that believeth in it shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life and shall come out of condemnation and he that hates it abides in darknesse and knoweth not whether he goes And it is sufficient to let every man see his salvation For I will give him for a covenant of light saith God he shall be my salvation to the ends of the earth the Covenant of light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Pr. What Christ and the Apostles saith swear not at all neither by heaven or earth or any other oath They did not mean as they spoke but that men should swear and they did not speak against all swearing And the Quakers may blush for it is as if God should speak as he meant by Moses in the Law Answ Christ and the Apostles meant as they spoke to what state and condition they spoke the words was truth to that state if it was by parables or patterns or figures Now Christ being the end of Oaths and Types saith Swear not at all who is the Covenant of God the end of the Prophets of Abraham of David of Solomon of Jacob of Joseph Oaths and swearing and Angels which must bow to him who sâ—ith swear not at all And the Apostles preached this Covenant this Oath of God Christ Jesus and the Apostle that was in the Doctrine of Christ bid them above all things my brethren swear not at all but in all your communication let your yea be yea your nay nay for whatsoever is more cometh of evill And they spoke as they meant for they came into condemnation that broke the doctrine of Christ Now Apostates and Hypocrites and false Brethren may swear that be out of the light the Covenant of God that have the form of godlinesse and denies the power and such be Antichrists against his doctrine and wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction and say that Christ and God and the Apostles did not mean as they spoke which God did mean as he spoke when he spake to Abraham And Christ meant as he spoke when he said swear not at all And the Apostle meant as he spake my brethren above all things swear not at all Pr. We are Ministers under the new Covenant and have the allowance of the Gospel and the tythes being onely designed unto us we may with a good conscience take it And the tythes are not in themselves Ceremoniall Abraham paid tythes to Melchisedeck If there be not a maintenance setled out to the Ministery we know we cannot subsist to do service to their soules without a worldly support a sufficient maintenance They call us greedy dogs because nursing Fathers and Mothers have provided for our nourishment a maintenance for us To work or to beg are two straits whereof the world might be ashamed but especially the Saints Answ The world would not be ashamed nor the Saints to see you work who have taken the peoples bread for whom you do no work and the Saints do witness against you The Prophets Christ and the Apostles declares such to be greedy dogs that can never have enough And Christ came to put an end to tythes before the Law to Tythes in the Law to a Priest-hood made by the Law which had a command to take Tythes who is a Priest-hood for ever after the order of Melchisedeck who was the similitude and likenesse and not after the order of Aaron who continues a Priest for ever And so when the first Priest-hood was ended Tythes and all ended and the command that gave them and the Priest-hood and the Law which was made when Christ reigns over the house of Jacob who asore Abraham was I am that Abraham paid tythes too the similitude and likenesse which Christ is the end of here the Rock and the substance This is my beloved Son hear him saith God who was in the bosome of the Father So they that know him come to preach the Gospel and live of the Gospell who breaks down the earthly part and opens the hearts of people who breaks down the earthly part and reaches to the seed And as for your nursing Fathers and Mothers such as give you maintenance else you could not continue your Ministery without a worldly support That is it which hath held you up long and who are fain to fly to the old worship among whom the Tenths were payd and so roving up and down in sheeps cloathing for your owne ends to get maintenance and if that falls your Ministry falls And your nursing Father and Mother was the Pope the Pope was the Author that set forth your Tenths at the first since the apostacy from the Apostles and the Apostles doctrine hath been lost Therefore that life the Apostles were in is people now come to by which ye are seen and comprehended And a worldly support is not that which holds up the Ministery but Christ which is with them to the end of the world and they that preach his Gospel live of it and they are far above shaming the Saints or the world either for maintenance but ye have both shamed your selves and the Saints are ashamed of you and many of the world and your own
of glory Pr. He saith It is a Devillish doctine not to forsake quaking and trembling Answ So in this thou mayest say it is Devillish doctrine to say salvation must be wrought out by trembling and quaking so thou shewest thou never knew salvation for before men have salvation wrought out they must know trembling and quaking and so thou hast shut thy selfe out from Moses and Davids condition and such as the Lord regards and trembles at his word Prin. He saith Flesh and bone cannot be a measure in one and a measure in another Answ Whereas the Apostle saith we are of his flesh and of his bone Here thou art contrary to the Apostle and that was more then one that had the flesh of Christ and his bone and his spirit Pr. He cries Oh Luciferian pride to save souls Answ What good doth all your preaching do Here thou spoilest all the rest of the Priests and shews thy selfe to be contrary to the Apostles who watched for the soul and saved souls that turned people from a multitude of sins Pr. He saith God the Father never took upon him humane nature Answ Contrary to the Scripture who saith God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe and art ignorant of the great mystery God manifest in the flesh and his name is called the everlasting Father As for the word Humane which is from the ground it comes from thy own knowledge which is earthly and Christ took upon him the seed of Abraham and David according to the flesh and this is Scripture-Language Pr. He saith The holy Ghost is a person and that there was a Trinity of three persons before Christ was born Answ Thou knowest not him that is in the Father and the Father in him glorified with the Father before the world began And the Scriptures doth not tell people of a Trinity nor three persons but the Common-prayer-Masse-book speaks of three persons brought in by thy father the Pope and the Father Son and holy Spirit was always one Pr. He compares immediate revelation from heaven like unto the false Prophets dreams And again he saith the Scriptures is the word of God Answ Here he fights with the rest of his fellows who saith Scriptures signifies writings and writings are not God but the Scriptures of truth are Gods words which Christ the Word fulfils They are not the word of God which thou hast blasphemously affirmed but Christ is the word of God and they be out of the feare of God and the spirit and knows not the Son nor the Father that denies Revelations but are among the false Prophets and false Dreamers Pr. He saith The Scriptures are the Word except you dare to deny Christ is God And he brings a Scripture Let the word of God dwell in you richly Answ So he makes the Scripture Christ and God and he doth not say let Christ dwell in you but means the Scripture and God dwels in you And the Apostle said Let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith and God will dwell in you but thou saith Christ doth not dwell in them personally Doth not Christ dwell in his Saints as he is in the person of the Father the substance and are not they of his flesh and of his bone Pr. They that hear the Word of God do not hear the Son the holy Scriptures are the mediate Word of God Ans Now all people where ever did you read of a mediate word of God Doth not the word of God endure for ever and is it mediate And that he calls God heavenly Father and never heard his voyce nor his Sons and denies immediate teachings and he that knows the spirit that gave forth Scriptures hears the Son Pr. He saith God limits the supream holy one by the inspired writings of the Apostles and that is his third dispensation of his minde to men And he saith they are taught by inspired Scriptures which is mediate not by Letter which is litterally the Letters or Letter Answ Inspired Scriptures and yet mediate the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy and the Spirit inspires which the Letter doth not and Gods teaching is by his spirit and the holy one is not limited by the words of the Apostles who fulfils them and many words the Apostles spoke which he did not write Pr. And he calls the Devill the tutor to say not made Minister of the Letter Answ So we speak the Apostles words and he makes the Devill the Apostles tutor who said the letter killeth but the spirit gives life who was not a Minister of the Letter but of the spirit said and sayes this that makes the Devill the Apostles tutor which is a lye and his own and the Devill is the Tutor of the Ministers of the Letter and not of the Spirit who can run into it who is out of the truth Pr. He speaks of a morall Law Answ Which he hath no Scripture for the Scripture speaks no such thing but darkens counsell by his words Pr. He saith The Scripture contains the mediate inspired teachings written word of God that was and is God Ans Which the Scriptures say the heaven of heavens cannot contain him and God and Christ was before any written words was and the mediate teaching of the whole Scripture-letter he speaks of which he calls God and Christ and all the mediate teaching is carnall and the Scriptures doth not continue the immediate teachings of Gods inspiration but testifies of those things Pr. He saith The written word is the sword of the spirit And he makes another rule besides the Scripture's false Answ Which we say is the spirit that gave them forth whereby peace is known upon the Israel of God And the Pharisees had the Scriptures but had not the sword of the spirit the Scriptures testifies of the sword of the spirit Pr. He saith It is a lye to say the Saints shall judge the world Answ So he would make Christ and the Apostles lyars and would take the judgement from the Son and make Christ at a distance from the Saints so he is ignorant of the Saints and Christ both and knows not the time of the Saints judging when the Lord is come but stands in the counsels of his own heart and in the hidden things of darknesse Pr. He saith No Saint can be a judge of the world Answ Contrary to Cor. 6. where the Apostle saith Do ye not know the Saints shall judge the world And they abide not in the truth that affirms it as thou saith so hast shewed thy ignorance and one of them that is judged by the Saints Pr. He denies the Son of God to be revealed in man onely by adoption and cries against equality with the Father Answ And that is contrary to the Apostle who had the Son of God revealed in him And the Assembly of Divines gave forth a Catechisme which children old and young was to learn and said the holy Ghost and Son was equall in substance
and David with sin which God justified and said Job did not sin with his mouth Though Paul did cry out of the body of sin yet he found victory over the body of sin and knew the redemption which the creatures waited for the liberty of the Sons of God and said they were made free from sin in Rom. 6. and they were justified from all things and by the one offering for ever he had sanctified Because the Quakers own the light Christ and are come into the spirit that gave forth Scriptures and heard the voyce of the Son of God and denies all them that sayes they have not heard the voyce of the Son of God and Christ to be in them Therefore he saith they have forsaken the truth because they deny them that have the forme and are out of the life and despises and denies the power that shakes that which is to be shaken for no one knows salvation but by the light Pr. He said God did not come in his spirituall Essence with his Son on the earth And he saith that God the Father was not in his spirit with his son upon the earth Answ And the Scripture said the fulnesse of the God-head dwelt in him bodily and the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father I in thee and thou in me so he was not alone but the Father was with him Pr. He saith The Quakers are lying deluders in saying the Kingdome of heaven is within them Answ That 's contrary to Luke 17. which saith the Kingdome of heaven is within you Pr. And he hath not heard of any other people in the world taught immediately by Christ but the Quakers Answ And the two witnesses which he calls them he brings against truth which opposed truth in London So shewing what he and all people are taught by a mediate use of the Scriptures all may judge where that is and the Devill rules such that be from the immediate and all that are not taught immediately are not taught by God nor by his spirit Pr. This sort of people that are for immediate Revelation and it is dangerous for any man to trust to immediate Revelations and preach Christ within man and the two Witnesses preached Christ without And this he saith is a hellish snare to please every mans pallate Answ And thus he may charge all the people of the Lord who were taught and are taught of the Lord And thus he fights against them that were taught immediately and his teachings and mans teachings are mediate and they are in the snare that be out of the immediate teaching and all that know God and the Son are taught immediate by the spirit that is immediate And so it is not a very strange thing that he should give forth so many ill-favoured railing expressions which his Book is stuffed full withall against the people of God whose work in it is to charge the Elect with sin but we say the Lord rebuke him Pr. And he saith The Saints are not any time without sin even when they were borne of God Ans So not knowing the creatures coming into the liberty of the sons of God nor the birth born of God Pr. And saith Sin is in the saints for their humiliation Ans Contrary to the Scripture which saith Christ is their humiliation and bears their sins and destroys it which humility is not like mans being brought down by sin for sin exalts Pr. That the inward man and the power of God in man never brings the outward man so subject as to be without sin Answ This we say God wrought salvation by Christ alone without mans works and who believes in him are saved and who doth not are condemned and the power of God and Christ subdues the sin in man and destroys it that man becomes the Temple of God His Query is Whether God could not have saved man without Christs dying Ans God can do what he will who was in Christ reconciling himselfe to the world and Christ did not save the world without God And thou hast shewed in thy Book stuffed with lyes how thou hast been tormented and of the filthy ayre come out of thee And the Devill was in thee and thou saith thou art saved by Christ without thee and so hath recorded thy selfe to be a Reprobate and ignorant of the mystery of Christ within thee for without that thou dost not know salvation And these before mentioned be thy Principles which thou to the Nation hath published in print and all sober people may judge thee as for thy lies they are not worthy mentioning neither are they worth reading of them but upon thy own head they will fall and a heavy weight and burden thou must bear who goes about to sow discord among the brethren but the accuser of the brethren is cast out but the witness shall answer me in the day of thy judgement Christopher Wades Principle in his book called Quakery slain irrecoverably who himself hath slain irrecoverably and the same judgement wherewith he judgeth us he hath brought upon himself and the Quakers are recovered out of his snare and hath taken him in his own and hath chained him and bound him Henry Hagger's Book called The holy Scripture clearing it self His Principles in it as followeth Pr. DAvid never boasted of perfection nor Paul nor John and such as say they are free from sin it is their whole work to carry away poor souls from truth Answ There is none comes into the truth nor no soul comes out of the deceived estate but who comes out of the sin and is made free from it as the Apostles speaks of to the Romans such as served God in a new life was made free from sin and God said Job was a perfect man and eschewed all evil mark all and David said he had seen the end of all perfection and Paul spoke wisdom among them that were peâ—fect and said the life that he lived was by the faith of the Son of God though the Apostle had cryed out of a body of sin ye the saith he was manifest in his flesh to condemn the sin in his flesh and through Christ he hath victory and witnessed the Circumcision that put off the body of sin and saw where there is no condemnation Pr. The Scripture is the sure word of prophesie and the Scripture will bring men to the knowledge of God Answ The spirit is the rule that gave forth the Scripture and the Word of God gave them to discern and to savour who spoke the word of the Lord and who stole their word from their neighbour when the Lord had never spoken to them where the spirit was in the prison where the spirit was out of prison with whom they had unity and who had the form of godliness but denyed the power and who was the false spirit that went out into the world and the Antichrists and the false prophets and such as was turned from the
Christ within them here is two for if it be not the same Christ that ended all types and figures and shadowes If it be not him that is within they have not the possession the substance nor the comfort of the true Christ but who hath not Christ the end of the tipes shadowes figures in them they are among Ante-christs and false Christs and they that have the forme of godlinesse can confesse a Christ without them and notwithin them Pr. Again he saith The Saints have a glorious light within them but imperfect and it is an error to say they have an infallable light within them that they must follow which wil shew them all things and to Judge of Scripture that it must be fulfilled in them and these are them that are brought up in darke places of the earth that are as Sauls that goe to the witch and not to the Law and testomeny Ans None comes to the Law and to the testimony though they have the old and new Testament but who comes to the light in them for the Law is the light and who comes to the spirit within them which is the spirit of prophesy all that goe from this they goe into darke places of the earth and such are they that goe into the pathes of Sau l to such spirits that goe from the light within them and the spirit that is the testimony of Jesus and the light and the glorious light of the Saints which they are inlightened withall is Christ which is perfect and they are changed from glory to glory and so the light which thou saist the saints are in and yet not perfect and yet glorious minde thy words consider thy measure thy Judgement the infallible light which every one that comes into the world is inlightened withall is the leader of the people and the light they are to follow and it is the way to the Father out of the way from the Father that is in the first Adam in the transgression which light is Christ the second Adam that every man that comes into the world is inlightned withall and they who follow this and believe in it and walketh in it abideth not in darkenesse but have the light of life and the light within and the spirit of God within that gave forth the scripture is the tryall of the scripture of truth for men without that may wrest the words and wrong translate them so the light within the spirit of God is the Judge of the scriptures and knowes scripture which gave it forth and is the rule and ruled and led them to speak them forth and is the rule that leades them again to open them again and to lead into all truth as saith Christ Pr. He saith That which they set up above the scriptures is heathenish and the scriptures is the ground of Faith without it faith cannot act and faith hath no bottom to rest upon but scripture and scripture is more then faith the sure word of Prophesy the balme of the conscience it satisfies doubts heales wounds discerns the thoughts Ans The Pharisees and the chief Priests they were not healed except they came to Christ they found no rest for their soules though they had the scripture yet they came not to Christ the light which was before the scripture was given forth The Pharisees had the scriptures they had not faith stood against the author and the ground of it Christ so they had not faith the Pharisees had the scriptures but it was Christ and God that shewed them their thoughts so the scripture knew not their thoughts but who are in the spirit that gave forth the scriptures it is that which shewes mens thoughts Enock Abraham had faith and had not scripture all are heathens that are not in the light which was before scripture was written though they have all the scripture and the holy men of God acted in the faith in obedience to it before the scripture was given forth and they were all in the faith that gave forth the scripture and they did not act as from the scripture but from the spirit of whom they had learned who is the author of faith which the Just lives by and God and Christ the substance of the scripture Pr. And the scripture is an infallible rule of worship Ans The Jews and Pharisees they had the scripture and the Apostates since the daies of the Apostles they have had the scriptures been out of the life that gave it forth they want the rule which is the spirit in which God the father of spirits is worshipped that was the rule which all the holy men of God was led by to give forth scripture in which they worshipped God for the Pharisees had the scriptures not the spirit which gave them forth that worshipped they did not know what they wanted the rule the spirit of God that was in them that gave forth the scriptures in which they should have worshipped God so saw not the substance the ground of faith and author of faith Christ Jesus Pr. They will not put off their hatâ— they write thee and thou one to another they will not say master Ans The honour of the hat the putting of it off is an earthy honour of the earthly Adam in the fall in the transgression which Christ the second Adam the Lord from heaven not of the earthly comes to redeem man out of the sin and transgreâ—sion receives it not he will none of it but have the honour that comes from above cometh to stain that honour below and sees it a marke of an earthly honour of Adam in the transgression and not of the second the heavenly and as for thee and Thou you to a number and Thou to a singular who stumbles at this shews they have neither learned Accidence nor Bible so short of the spirit that spoke the sound words that connot be condemned and speaks proper which is the plant of renown and as for being called of men Master which Christ saith be not you ye have one master even Christ you are all brethren they be in the error that slight his commands and tramples them underfeet and hypocrits that after they have trampled his commands under foot and after makes a profession of his words Thomas Leadger thou professeth thou esteemes the scripture highly above ordinances above Angels and is not this scripture which saith be ye not called of men Master and Christs command yet thou denyes scripture and tramplest them under thy feet Pr. The scripture is the lanthorne of obedience and it directs men to Jesus and he cals the scripture the word of God the sum of truth and they could not have knowne there had been a Christ or a mediator or grace or glory or worship or father or spirit or light but as it is declared in scripture Ans I do believe you who are got up since the daies of the Apostles in the Apostacie inwardly ravening
Principles as followeth Priest of Cockermouth in Cumberland Pr. HE said He would come to Christ and never own the light within him Answ None comes out of transgression to the second Adam but who comes to the light within which is the way to the Father and that is it which gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which comes from him Pr. George Larcum said I would to God I had power thou shouldst be severely punished Answ Here thou hast shewed thou art limited and thy weapons and thy Armour and art not a Minister of Christ in the armour of God the shield of faith nor shod with the Gospel but such is the Priests and false Prophets who got the Magistrates into the forme that denyed the power of God on their side that they might be ready to help the false Prophets against the truth when ever it ariseth Thomas Warwicke Priest came to the meeting of those called Quakers on a Green and struck John Grave and plucked him off the Green and his wife struck and beat sore and drew blood of friends And the same Priâ—â—t said If the Law were rightly executed thou might not stand there it would cut off all your necks Thomas Dentham Priest called me out of the meeting to him and said he would stand to prove his practice and then he went his way and bade the people take me away hang me and at his words the people did beat me and pulled the hair off my head John Grave witnesse Answ You shew your selves not to be Ministers of Christ â—ut to be such that ever was out of the Saints life who was found in the spirit of murderers and persecutors of him you are that is out of the truth would drink the bloud of the Saints this is the mark of the Beast and false Prophets that would kill creatures and wrestle with flesh and blood Pr. That the Devill is a Minister of Christ in some sense Answ Christ the seed of the womâ—n bruises the Serpents head and destroys death and him that hath the power of it and destroys the works of the Devill and judges the Prince of this world and takes him together with the false Prophets and the Beast and casts them alive into the lake of fire that he shall deceive the the Nations no more and so he will not suffer the Devill to minister and thus the Devill and his Apostles are bound under with the Truth which he is out of Pr. The Scribes and Pharisees were Ministers of Christ in the same sort as Moses was when Christ commands to hear them though in a lower degree of manifestation Ans The Scribes and Pharisees were not as Moses for Moses was in the life and light with which he saw Christ The Pharisees had the words of Moses and the Law and Prophets but out of the life that Moses was in and the Prophets though got up in Moses Chair they stood against Christ and saw him not as Moses did whom Christ cryed woe against So they were not the Ministers of Christ but against him who was the end of the Prophets John Owen who calls himself a Minister of the Gospell his principles as followeth in his Catechisme which he gives forth 1657. Pr. ALl truth concerning God and our selves is to be learned from the holy Scripture the Word of God Ans There was truth learned before the Scriptures were written and the Scriptures of truth are the words of God which ends in Christ the Word and there is no truth learned buâ— as the spirit doth lead into all truth which comes from Christ the truth which was before the Scripture was written And the spirit of truth leads into all truth of the Scripture And many has the Scriptures but knows not Christ the Truth but as the spirit leads them and reveals them and so he hath thrown out Christ and the spirit Pr. There is one God in three persons c. Ans Where doth the Apostle tell us of three persons but tels us of Father Son and holy Ghost but thou out of the Masse-book and old Common-prayer-book who are the mutterers about three persons Pr. I am conceived in sin and borne in iniquity Answ Then thy Parents were not believers so children unholy for by nature children of wrath that is in the unconverted state in the transgression unbelievers for they who by nature are children of wrath are not borne of the believers for the unbelievers are sanctified by the believers else were their children unholy but now are they clean Pr. We have not kept the Commandements of God but are all sinners and transgressors of them Ans We do believe thee John Owen and the rest of you who call your selves Ministers of the Gospell and yet have not kept the ten Commandements and would conclude all men in with you to be sinners and transgressors of them Nay John was separated from you who said He that loves God keeps his Commandements But what are not you false-witness-bearers that calls your selves Ministers of the Gospel and coveters after other mens goods houses c Are not you committers of Adultery and stealing Are not you murdering men in holes for goods like a troop of Robbers as the company of Priests did in the day of the Law and Prophets Do not you live in dishonouring your parents and God and taking it to your selves And do not you all come short of keeping the Sabbath bearing of burdens making a fire gathering your meat when you should be at rest Are not you all taking Gods holy name in vain both in Pulpit Town house Alehouse Streets Market-houses and naming Christs name in your iniquity so not held guiltlesse Are not you all making Images and graven Images and hanging them up in your Steeple-houses and signes and houses and gardens and high wayes and things above and things that are beneath And do you think that people do not believe you when you tell people in your Catechism that you have broken all the ten Commandements when we see your fruits have declared it And are you not ashamed to set forth such a Catechisme who say you keep not the Commandements Pr. The Sacraments are the seals of the Covenant of grace Answ It 's God that seal's the Son and sent him into the the world and not outward shadows And as for thy word Sacraments the Pope was the Author of them in his Common-prayer book And as for the rest of thy work in thy book of Catechism is like unto the old Doctors of the Jewes that broke the commands of God that loves him not whom Christ cryed woe against S. Palmer and R. Hooke who say you are the servants of Christ your Principles which followes in a Book called The forme of sound words And who directs their Book to the Friends Neighbours and Parishioners of Gedling and Sowdham Pr. THat henceforth ye be not children tossed too and fro and carried about with
the sleights of men which is in reference to false Prophets of which this Land is now full You say That a man cannot be made free from sin and cannot keep the Commandements of God perfectly Answ Are not you in the tossing too and fro and tossing people too and fro And are not you the false Prophets which Christ said should come which John said was come and the world hath been after you who tells the people that they cannot keep the commandements perfectly Contrary to John who saith he that loves God keeps the commandements of God And the Beast made war against them that kept the Commandements of God and herein is the love of God perfect Pr. You tell people of a Sacrament a Creed and three persons Answ Which the Scripture tells no such thing But the Common-prayer-book doth and so you do not teach the form of sound words in your Catechim Pr. Out of the Scriptures we may learn the knowledge of the true God Answ That which gives the knowledge of the true God is the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures for the Pharisees that had the Scriptures knew not God Pr. The state of man in this life is three-fold Creation Corruption Regeneration Answ In Regeneration the life is changed out of that life which is in the Fall So Regeneration and Corruption is not one in the new life Pr. A man by his own power cannot get into regeneration for they are dead in sins and trespasses Answ Some are sanctified from the womb and some children are holy so all are not dead in sins and trespasses for they that are so are but unbelievers Pr. All men have not salvation by Christ and there are many that have no share in salvation purchased by Christ Ans This is contrary to Scripture which saith that he is the offering for the sins of the whole world and the Saviour of all men and especially of those that believe And they that turns the grace of God into wantonnesse denies their salvation and they which hate the light which enlightens every man that cometh into the world hates their salvation to the ends of the earth Pr. The Scripture is the Word and God is in his Word and God in the Scripture offers Christ God in his Word offers Christ which you call Scriptures Answ The Scriptures of truth are the words of God and Christ the Word comes to fulfill them and God was in them that gave forth the Scriptures and Christ was in them who gave forth scriptures and the Scriptures testifie of him and the Scripture doth not say that God is in the dead Letter Paper and Inke but his power ye are ignorant of and errs not knowing Scriptures and the Scriptures are not God Pr. You say That God works inwardly by his spirit and outwardly by his Word and our faith is summed up in the Apostles creed Answ Christ is the Author of the Faith and the Apostle doth not tell us of a Creed the spirit and the word are one and they are inwardly known sanctifying Pr. The rule of Christian obedience is the Law of God Ans That which is the end of the Law is a Christians life and rule who comes to the obedience of faith in which they please God and are justified which no flesh by the works of the Law is justified Pr. Brethren be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde No man is able to keep the commandements of God we break them daily in thought word and deed in the best of our duties we are unprofitable servants Ans Here is your confusion layd open them that were perfect had a new minde and their deeds wrought in God and their thoughts were changed that witnessed repentance and they kept the commands of God and their fruits are of the spirit and of faith which are not unprofitable But your works and fruits who are out of the faith and out of the spirit of God are unprofitable who breaks the Commandements but they that love God keep his Commandements Pr. Christians must attend upon Gods Ordinances and Sacraments to know their duty toward their neighbour which Sacraments are the seal and the covenant Answ The Apostles tell us of no such signes sacraments nor such words but that which fulfils Law is the Son of God which brings him to do his duty towards God and towards his neighbour which is Christ Pr. There are two Sacraments and the Covenant of grace is to all that believe and receive Christ and the two Sacraments are Baptisme and the Lâ—rds Supper which are visible signes Ans The Scripture doth not any where call them visible signes nor sacraments and the Covenant of grace is to all whether they believe or not believe receive or not receive and the Scripture doth not call Baptisme and the Lords supper Sacraments Pr. Because Infants of the Jewes were circumcised therefore are children baptized Christ hath ordained this Sacrament as bread and wine and the Sacrament is the food of the soul Answ This is a Popish doctrine that which feeds the soul is immortall and that is the souls food which findes rest in Christ the bread of life the food for the soule And the Scriptures doth not tell us that the bread and wine is a Sacrament and the Scripture doth not tell us that Circumcision was outwardly a type of Baptisme outwardly but of the inward and you bring a Scripture which is the 23. of Luke and the 43. vers and saith that it saith that the souls of the wicked are cast into Hell which that Scripture speaks no such thing Pr. We are not to seek for happiness in this life Answ The Saints were and are made partakers of the heavenly riches and of Christs fulness and of his unspeakable joy and full of glory in Christs Kingdom which is in them who are upon the earth and for the rest of your lies and confusions is not worth answering Richard Baxter His Principles in that which he cals one sheet for the Ministers which is two sheets in whose mouth is found a lie as in his Title Page is to be seen His Principles in it as followeth Pr. THat we are hated of all men for the Name of Christ who are but Ministers who gave some Pastors Teachers appointed for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to a perfect man To Disciple Nations Baptize and Teach them so cut down the Ministers the Pillars and the buildings will fall Answ In the steps of the Ministers of Christ you are not found but in the steps of the Scribes end Pharisees called of men Masters in the chiefest seats of Assembles in your long robes uppermost Roomes at Feasts causing the Ministers of Christ to be haled out of your Synagogues and thrust out and haled and persecuted and prisoned which are in the generation of the Serpents that should fulfill Christs words Mat. 23.
houses but the papists have taught you it The Papists were persecutors so are you they haled out of Synagogues so do you they took tithes so do you they preached by the hour-glasse quenched the spirit so do you They preached for means gleab-lands so doe you They had the cross on the top of steeple houses so have you in many places they had Trinity Colledge Emanuel Colledge and Christs Colledge so have you They named the Saints daies so you follow them they called their houses by the name of Trinity Jesus Emanuel and their Masse-houses by Peter and Paul and Mary and so do you Is not this the papists game do not they called Quakers deny this game and you both and Christ thou art ignorant of who is come to reigne and rule and teach his people himselfe Pr. Ministers are spurring on the Magistrates to cast out the bad and scandalous Ministers Have not Lawyers and Phisitians an easier life and more honourable in the world then the Ministers and have not the ministers been the principall instruments to pluck downe Deanes and Chapters Bishops c We ministers breake our health and all our wordly interests for you And I had rather be a ploughman or the meanest tradesman but for the greatest necessity and the truths sake Ans Have not all you Ministers in this manifested your selves did ever the Apostles fly to the Magistrates or spur up them to cast out scandalous Ministers had not the Apostles authority and the spirit and power to cast out reprove and rebuke in the Church Had they not denyed their power if they had gone to the Magistrates and falen on the mountaines which is the papists game and not the Apostles was it not the soldiers that were the cause of pulling down your Railes and Surplices and your Deanes and Chapters and Bishops was it not the Magistrates work but have you had a hand in it have you killed and taken possession have you put out Bishops and got into their places who are in the Bishops Deanes and Chapters maintenance will you needs make your selves so foul and odious to all people were not many of you tradesmen and ploughmens sons poor men and yet now gotten up into great interests and takeing great sums of people of many whom you doe no worke for How can you for shame say you leave your wordly interest when you are but running into them when you come to be Priests and ministers who are the proudest people in the parish in the glories and vanities of the world and honor of it but the priest and his wife and his children Are not you worse then Lawyers and Phisitians taking the peoples money yet cannot make them perfect men but say they must not be perfect The Phisitian is to make one perfect doe they take money of people they do naught for are they not ashamed to doe so but you take money of them you doe no worke for are you not worse then the Lawyers who are bad doe you not take money of such people you do not worke for and sue them and cast them into prison Are you not the unreasonablest men upon the earth and this is the Devils game you are playing and doe you not live in more honour in the world greater gain and no worke done for it then any people in the Nation againe as the Goals in the Nation may witnesse your fruits Pr. All nations that are of the Christan world are for the ministers to this day and they that are not are the dry branches that are out from the Church Oh how have I besought the Lord that he would convert you to remember them that hath the rule over you they that hath spoken the word of God and rules well are worthy of double honour Ans You are apostatized from those Elders among the Apostles and from the Apostles in an usurped authority Ministers made by the will of men at schools and Colledges not by the will of God as the Apostles were so your honour must be defaced and you are the dry branches cut off from the true Church your Church and Ministery both wanting the vertue and life of God among you so broken into heapes and sects and names among your selves wanting the unity and bond of peace the nations have gotten the names of Christians but are dead are from the life and your prayers are as the Pharisees you being found in their steps as Matth. 23. read you all You say none must be perfect upon earth how then converted who are converted are converted into Christ who is perfect out of the first which is not perfect Pr. The enemies of the Ministers are the fore-runners of the heavy wrath of God and the Jewes were quite cut off from the Church and made vagabond upon the earth they mockt the the Messengers of God untill wrath came upon the people Ministers are either their Fathers or Nurses in the Lord their sins killed and grace is quickned by the ministers meanes Ans It was the forerunner of the wrath of God upon the Jews that they had Temples and Tithes and stood against the Ministers of Christ it is so to you as it was with them that saw not the substance that now stands against the light and fight against it And was not Railers envious men and persecutors alwaies the vagabonds and are not all you vagabonds from the life of the Apostles as the Jews were from the Law of God and are not you all on heaps about words and scriptures shewing you are without life and is not the wrath and plagues of God and over flowing scourge come upon you who are thus standing against his Ministers in this his day that are sent among you cages of unclean birds who the people comforts not their sins kills not their grace quickens not keeping the people in their sins telling them they must have the body of sin while they are upon Earth they are crept into houses before and since the Apostles decease dispersed over the Nations of the world Are not you mocking the messengers and ministers of Christ hath not the wrath come upon you many of the people stricken dead for so doing you that are out of Apostatized from the Church of the Apostles that are persecuting and mocking the Ministers of Christ which in scorn are called Quakers who are sent freely amongst you not for Gleab-lands Tithes Easter reckonings nor Midsomer dues nor like unto you that puts the Papists out of Gleab-land Tithes Easter recoknings and Midsumer dues and gets into them your selves that puts Papists out of their Masse-houses run into them your selves so in this you are not like the Ministers of Christ the Apostles who seeks not these but them but you are seeking these not them but are putting them out this causeth plagues to come upon you and so it is Papists and drunkards and them that are now called ministers which are
Prophets Abraham and Davids words and the Jewes had Scriptures but stood against the way to God Christ Jesus the light as all you doe that stand against the light And Abraham and Abel and Enoch had the way to God before the scripture was written and Christ Jesus is the way to God Christ saith I am the way to the Jewes who had scriptures Pr. That there is no perfection to be attained to while people live upon earth A Then by thy doctrine Christ is not attained to while man lives which is contrary to the Apostles and Christs own doctrine who said I in you and you in me and Christ in you the hope of glory and then none abides in the Vine by thy account which is Christ and none bears fruit to the glory of God who abides not in the Vine and who abides in the Vine abides in the perfection of God and thou art contrary to the Ministers of Christ whose work was for the perfecting of the saints Pr. That Justification and Sanctification differs Answ Justification and Sanctification is one for Christ who is the justification and sanctification is one and it is thou that differs from him Pr. That the word of faith in the heart spoken of in the 10â—h of the Romans is the Scriptures Answ The Apostle doth not say so for many had the scriptures and were under the Law and knew not the word of faith the gift of God Pr. He said the Scripture leads into all truth Ans This is contrary to Scripture for the Scripture saith the spirit of truth shall lead you into all truth this is the promise of Christ and Christs words And Abraham had his leader and Enoch to Christ and to God before the Scripture was given forth Oh that ever men should be set up to be Teachers that are so blind concerning the Scriptures and receive so many thousand pounds a year for teaching And the Jewes had scriptures and were not led into all truth as you Christians are now therefore are you all in heaps about them wanting the spirit to lead you into all the truths of them Pr. He said That Christ and the Father and the holy Ghost are not one but they are three therefore distinct Answ This is the denying of Christs doctrine who saith I and my Father are one and the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and he was conceived by the holy Ghost and they are all one and not distinct but one in unity that which comes out from him leads the Saints into all truth that ever was given forth from the spirit of truth and so up unto God the father of truth and so goes back again from whence it came Pr. It is blasphemy to say the Son is one with the Father and not distinct from him Answ The Father and the Son are one the Son is in the Father and the Father in the Son so that which is in him is not distinct from him and they blaspheme that say the Son is not in the Father and deny Christs doctrine Pr. He said The Father is a distinct incommunicable being from the Son and the Son a distinct incommunicable being from the Father and the holy Ghost a distinct incommunicable being from the Son Ans The Son is one and in unity with the Father and not distinct but equall and thought it not robbery The holy Ghost is in unity with the Son and the Father which proceed from them and they are one in unity and not distinct Thy doctrine is drosse and you Priests are not fit to judge in such things as they are they are too weighty and too heavy for you Pr. He affirmed That the Scripture is the power of God and that the Scripture is the Gospell Answ The power of God leads them to speak forth the Scriptures and the power of God is Christ and the power of God endures for ever but Scripture is writing and doth not and the Gospel is the power of God saith the Scriptures and doth not say that the Scripture is the Gospel for many had that and witnessed not the glad tidings and so thou art here distinct from the Ministers of the Gospell and art not a Minister of it the power of God but puts writings for it which power of God was before writings were Pr. He affirmed That the Father was the Creator and not God Answ This is contrary to the Scripture For in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth the Father and God is one the maker of all things for God the Father that made the world saith the Apostle Gal. 4.6 One God and father of all Pr. He said That Christ was not his rule but the Scripture was his rule Ans I do believe thee that Christ is not thy rule so life is not thy rule wisdome is not thy rule truth is not thy rule and so Christ not being thy rule thou art ignorant of Scriptures and knows them not for he who is the substance of the scriptures is not thy rule so thou knowest them not neither art subject to them Pr. He saith That God justifieth them that are not sanctified Answ He that is justified is sanctified for he that justifieth sanctifieth Pr. And another Priest saith That Christ was not the resurrection of the body Ans Christ is the resurrection and the life and the Saviour of the body who brings the creature into the liberty of the Sons of God The Priests of Lancashire their Principles PRiest Jacus the foreman of them said the letter and the spirit were inseparable Answ Contrary to the Apostle 2 Cor. The letter kills and the spirit gives life And we are Ministers not of the letter but of the spirit so the spirit that ends the letter was before the letter was and men may have letter and not the spirit and deny the Ministers thereof And the Apostle said they were one anothers Epistles written in one anothers hearts and not with paper and ink but with the spirit of the living God so you are contrary to the Ministers of Christ and if every one which hath the letter have the spirit what need you teach your teachings are at an end for the spirit will open to you the scriptures The Professors Principles at Westmerland Edward Briggs the leader of them said Pr. IT was heresie and deceiving the people to bid people believe in the power of God Ans Then they must not believe in Christ who is the power of God and it is not heresie nor deceiving of people to bid them believe in the power of God which is Christ and they are in the heresie and deceiving state that do not believe in the power of God and deceiving people and keeps them all in heaps under the power of the Devil and so to believe in that which is the cause of peoples destroying and persecuting one another Pr. And others of the Professors said That God had no hand in working out
things to him in some things his minde runned out and that he condemns and yet these wicked men will go tell the Nation of it so what will they have more of a man but his life for abundance they have cast into prison and again these persecuting professors and Priests hath published in one of their books to the world of one Hugh Bisbrowne of buggery who had some time come to the Quakers meetings but was turned from them and durst not meet them for he had been judged by the Quakers before such things were heard of him by them and yet these filthy men will villifie truth with such things that they might make it odious to the world but the sober people see all these things is but their envie and again these persecuting professors and teachers hath put in their book that they have published to the world one Cotten Crosland and they say he was a professed Quaker and that he knew higher things then the Ministers and that he hanged himselfe and he was buried in a Crosse way and a stake was driven through him that passengers might take heed of Quaking This man I saw him once at a meeting another time in the rude multitude he was amongst the Quakers the first time he said little the second time he spak something amongst the rude multitude which the Quakers did not own him and he raised a grievous lye agianst G. F. and said he said he was Christ which was on a market day among the market people This is the third time that ever I saw him amongst any of the Quakers and he told G. F. he had witness to prove it and G. F. told him he was Judas And he went away and after a while hanged himself And Christ in the male and female if he speak he was Christ the seed and the seed was Christ but he did not speak it as a creature and here 's the Priests and Professors Quaker which turned against the Quakers and would have betrayed them but Quaking we own and trembling which you all must do before you know your Salvation wrought out with fear and trembling And a many lies you have gathered up together and stuffed up your book withall and make them your refuge and think the world will refuge under them but a lack for you people begin to see it was nothing but envy in you And it was known that Gilpen was never no long Quaker though the Devil was made to tremble in him And the Lord will reward you according to your work The witness in your conscience shall answer it in you all in the day of your Judgement Thomas Collier Nathaniel Strange Thomas Glasseys who cals themselves servants of Christ in his Paper to all the Churches called Saints through the immortal seed Answer The Churches and Saints who be of the immortal seed hath viewed your paper and your principles in it As FOLLOWETH Pr. YOu say You have taken upon you to speak to God though dust and ashes and yet you said you are Saints through the immortal seed Answ Thou hast forgotten what thou hast written before in thy Preface who hath taken upon you to speak to God though dust and ashes yet says through the immortal Seed such as be Saints though the immortal seed are not dust and ashes for the immortal seed lives and abides and endures for ever Pr. You say You have been bewailing Congregation-iniquity family iniquity personal-iniquity and close-iniquity for by your Search you have found Sion full of unsoundness from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot all puterified sores and now call upon them that tremble at the word of God to come to us Answ You have cast them out that tremble at the word of God and made them your by-word and written and Printed against them and the Lord hath appeared to their glory and what Saints close iniquity family iniquity Congregation iniquity and personal iniquity and Sion from the head to the foot all full of putrified sores and no soundness from the head to the foot and now do you call to them that tremble at the word of God whom you have cast out whom in scorn you have called Quakers will you now turn Quakers do you begin to be ashamed Pr. O come and sit down in the dust and weep bitterly before the Lord for your abomination you have but as it were playd with God you have not trembled at his presence you have been wanton before him and have forgotten what manner of men and women you were and thought no more of your prayers O how often have you mocked God how doth the world canker your affections while you have been asleep in the lap of this delia Answ Thou hast even shamed thy Church dost thou call them Saints through the immortal seed and say they mock God and are asleep in the lap of this delila and the world hath cankered their affections thou hast shamed thy Church and called them Saints through immortal seed and yet they must weep bitterly for their abominations and sit down in dust and ashes are these like Saints sanctified ones of the immortal seed or like transgressors the unsanctified ones not worthy to have a name to be called Saints for such as mocked God and was in abominations must lament for it was not sanctified nor was not come to know the immortal seed but the Saints and the immortal seed reigned over all mockers and such as was cankered with the world and mocked God and was in their abominations they came to reign over all that in the wisdom of God with which they ordered the creation to his glory you call your selves servants of Christ If your people be cankered and mockers of God in the abominations you have laboured in vain and shews you have not profited them at all but are the false teachers Pr. Thou sayest you have reigning abominations cruelty to servants and children exating labours taking no time to counsell them we have mourned that we have had so great a hand in this trespasse and not born testimony against our Ministers Answ This hath been your condition your fruits hath declared it therefore it is time for you to repent and amend your lives and doings and turn to the Lord for while you have time prize it for you that have stood against the Light that doth enlighten every man that comes into the world are not of the Church of Christ for none comes to it but through the light Pr. Though slavish fear had stopped our mouthes until the mouth of iniquity hath almost devoured the poor Church of Christ Answ The Church of Christ is the Pillar and ground of truth it cannot be devoured by the mouth of iniquity the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it but through your mouth of iniquity enmity and envy you have almost slain your selves who is against the truâ—h turned who hath been slavish for it but against it mad in
your blind zeal the mouth of iniquity hath been open in you with all the world against the truth but with it in a great measure it is stopped Pr. The evils hath been so strong that they have wrestled all weapons out of the hands of Saints and Ministers that have been formed against them Answ These have been pitiful weapons that you Ministers and Saints have had in your hands that the evil wrestled them out they have been carnal not spiritual for the spiritual weapons the evil cannot wrest out of the hands of Saints and Ministers of God but with them they are plucked down his holds and high places and spiritual wickednesses the evil dares not come nigh the Saints weapons which are spiritual Pr. You say We desire no longer to rest in a testimony of words but take an effectual course that sin and sinners may be purged out of the house of God we desire the Church would set some days apart wherein they may bewail iniquity and pollution that Ministering Brethren would without respect of persons from house to house night and day bear their testimony to flie from those abominations Answ The Church of God you cannot which is the Pillar and ground of truth which Christ purchased with his blood without spot or wrinkle or blemish and the house of God you know not who talkes of purging of it who is established a top of all the mountains and all your abominations and pollutions and respecting of persons is out of the Church and the Law both transgressors of it and it is time to begin to stir up your selves and turn from the evil of your wayes and turn to Christ the Light who hath enlightened you that you may bear testimony against your selves and your Ministers and lightness and abominations in your own families and do not say it is the house of God and the Church of God but amongst your selves and we do believe it is but the testimony of words who have denyed the light and so denyed the power Pr. They may deliver themselves from the blood of souls having declared the whole counsel of God Answ Can dust and ashes declare the whole Counsel of God and cankered ones and pollutions and abominations can such declare the whole Counsel of God such be out of it for they that come into the counsel of God declares that and come out of pollutions and cankered with the world to him by whom the world is made who is perfect and makes them perfect who declares his perfect will and counsel Pr. Another evil we thought to have spread before you but wanting opportunitie shall now omit and that from Chard we have laboured in vain that which hath been brought forth hath been to little purpose Answ This you may speak to your shame and shew forth your own nakedness that you have laboured in vain and that which you have brought forth hath been to little purpose in this the Church of Christ believes you who hath been them that hath beaten the air and why do you Print abroad that there is another evil among you which you have not laid open had you not been better have held your tongues except you had mentioned it is not this Hams spirit who lays open one anothers nakednes to the world in Print but how can you do otherwayes who hath denyed the light that hath enlightened every man that comes into the world which comes from Christ Jesus and so wants the covering and as for all your dirt and drosse and dung which is not worth mentioning in your Epistle and confused words which you set forth thinking to your glory but it is to your shame had you been in the life that gave forth Scripture which the Saints was in that was of the Church you would have covered your nakedness and would not have said pollution was in the Church and in the house of God but for all these things you are judged and you and your Epistle and your words to be unsavory and is judged with the life of God that gave forth Scripture and them that be of the house of God and the Church of God where no pollution is nor comes nor canker the witness in your conscience shall answer it in the day of the Lord. By us Richard Baxter c. Pastor of the Church at Kederminster In their Paper called the Judgement and advice of the Assembly of the Assosciated Ministers In it their Principles as followeth Pr. THat ever there should be so much to do among Christians yea the leaders of Christs flock and to bring them to so clear a duty that after all there labour there is no more done Answ Ye have been them that God never sent and found to be such as Christ cryed wo against and so you have not profited the people at all And you have not been the leaders of Christs flock but been such as turned against them that hath been your duty so therefore be all the people on heapes Pr. That all men must know that we are Christs followers if we love one another for he that saith he loves God and hates his brother is a liar Answ In this poor men you have judged your own selves for is not debate and strife and vain glory and persecution and prisoning found among you Cain turning against his brother Abel and slaying and killing him whose blood cryes for vengeance upon you so it is a proof that you are out of the faith that works by love in which is the communitie and Love with God and one with another And so in stead of making up breaches you are wounding and bringing confusion being out of the faith and life that Christ and the Apostles were in so in heapes about their words Pr. It is not our business to change mens minds from infidels and heresie to the faith but to bring the Churches of Christ to understand each other to be true Churches which take the holy Scriptures for our Rule of your faith and lives and believe it to be the infallible word of God and this Rule is Divine so our faith is Divine had we but a humane Rule we could have but a humane faith proud men thrust their opinions into the Churches Creed Ans Your businesse it is true is not to change men form infidels and heresie and to bring them to the faith so not into the unity for you bring no people into that nor to the Faith and you bring no Church to know one another in the faith and the Churches of Christ knowes each other to be a true Church and you whose businesse is not to bring men off heresie to Faith know not the Church of Christ which is the pillar and ground of truth built upon Christ who is the faiths author and the scriptures which signifies writings as you say outward writings paper and ink is not infallable nor is not divine but is humane and a humane knowledge from it men get and so writings
regard and receive but if one come in the Name of the Lord him you put out so you will not have the Lord nor his Christ to reign neither his servants to labour in his Vineyard Pr. Ministery is like a mighty tree whose fruit the Lord hath appointed for the healing of the Nations Answ But your Ministers and the Papists hath been them got up since the days of the Apostles that brings Nations all into heaps and into blood and doth not heale the Nations but wounds and burthens and kills and casts into prison as this your fruit declares it who casts into prison such as you doe no work for Pr. To the Law and to the Testimony pray to the Father of lights that he would enlighten us with his truth and shew us the way that he would have us to walke in and pray for us who watch for your soules as those that must give account Answ The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy And the Law is light and the Law and Testimony was before Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn and the Epistles were written and the Revelations which outward Books you call Law and Testimony which the Scripture saith the testimony of Iesus is the spirit of prophesie and the Law is light Prov. 6. Are you them that are the makers of Ministers and Ministers who watch for the soules of people and yet do you bid people pray to the Father that he would enlighten you with his truth and shew you the way that you may walke in it How can you present soules to God that doth not know the way and are yet to be enlightned and yet to have the way shewed so you that you might walke in it Is this your conclusion of all you Ministers in Ireland Now I say Christ hath enlightned every man which comes into the world which is the way and though your darknesse cannot comprehend it and yet you pray that he would enlighten you When John saith he doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and that is the true light Have you the light to seek and the way to seek and truth to seek and yet watchers for souls And the soule you that are called Ministers saith it is humane yea the soule of Christ the soule of man is appetite and lust and pleasure and humane from the earth from the ground Is Christs soule from the ground and appetite lust and pleasure wars against the soul in them that be in the unreasonablenesse You that have the light to seek truth to seek and way to seek are in the earth and so gives the soule the name of that which comes from the ground Now the soule is immortall God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soule It is that which came out from God who hath all souls in his hand that 's his power which hand goes against him that doth evill And Christ the power of God which is immortall is the souls Bishop which is immortall from whence it hath its nourishment and the immortall which is able to save the immortal soul And as for all the rest of your ignorance and non-sence in your Book which comes from your confused earthly spirit who are found in the nature spirit and stock of your Father the Pope who hath apostatized since the dayes of the Apostles with all the rest of your stuffe which is but fuel for the fire in that day of your account the witnesse in all your consciences shall answer it John Stillom his Book called Margent Notes His Principles as followeth Pr. HEe calls it the Quakers adoring their own light magnifying the light of nature The Church is ashamed of your doctrine and walking saith he Ans The Quakers light is Christ the truth in whom they worship God which light was before naturall lights were and this the Church owns and is not ashamed of in which stands the Doctrine by which light the Church is gathered up unto God the Father of light but the imitated Churches in the Apostacy are ashamed of it Pr. Not any man knows him speaking of Christ to be God till he finde him in Scripture and saith as deep things as the spirit hath revealed they are all in the Scripture Ans Many knew God and knew Christ and yet had not written Scripture to tell them of those things as Enoch and Abel and many again hath Scripture speaking of God and Christ and yet doth not know God and Christ and doth not finde him in Scripture As instance the Pharisees knew not God and Christ which had the Scripture and had not life untill they came to Christ the Scripture speaks of and many things the spirit did reveal which was not written in the Scriptures and was spoken to the Saints Pr. John meaneth not that there was any substantiall truth necessary to be known to salvation which is not revealed in the written Word but the spirit that ordered the Copies and mysteries of the Gospell to be contracted within a narrow compass of lines Answ Many knew their salvation as in the dayes of Noah Enoch and David which had not the written Scriptures And though people have the Copies that speaks of the Gospel of the mysteries of the Gospel put together and compassed and contracted into lines yet they do not know the Gospell nor the mysteries of it nor the Word though they testifie of these things and the Pharisees did not that had Scripture which Scripture doth not tell us of written words but that the Word is Christ and God which was in the beginning before words were given forth And Gospell and salvation and the mysteries of it is known by the Spirit and the Light which come from Christ Jesus which none knows it but by that Pr. Stillom adds not onely heart rising prophesie nâ—r breast-prophesie in the minde but written downe in books The Apostle excludes not heart-prophesie so he includes Scripture-prophesie but till the day-star did arise in their mindes by the reading and heeding of the Scriptures that is plain meaning Answ The Scriptures were given forth by prophesie and the spirit of it and no man knows but by the same spirit and the Apostle did not exclude heart-prophesie and the Day-star doth not rise in the heart by mens reading and heeding the Scriptures in their own wills and having them in books written down but as men do come to the life and spirit as they were in that gave them forth and heed that with that they heed Scripture and knows Scripture and with that they know the Day-star and Christ who is the end of them and so men must come to take heed of the light that shines in a dark place before they know the Day-star arise For the Jewes had Scripture and did not heed that for the spirit within of prophesie doth not deny any tittle of the Scripture without And in thy Principle thou hast confounded thy selfe who saith Not heart-prophesie heart-rising
Apostles and Christs words and minister of unrighteousnesse transforming your selves into the true ministers words whose soules is under the horrible delusions and misterious deceits under the observances oâ— the world who would beguile the soule that is not stablished but light is broke forth that few you can deceive and thy New-years gift is judged and proceeds from Cain and is his sacrifice from the earth for tâ—e Apostles saw such as was transforming into the false Apostles and false ministers he brings the saints to the light that shined in their hearts to give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus which you deny to the false transformed into their words and judged with their spirit which brought people to the light within and you bring them from it so from that which should give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Chriâ—â— Jesus Pr. The Devil is called the Prince of darknesse because he lives in the darknesse as to the apprehention of divine love an enemy to all the Image of God which is light and purity and the devil transformed himselfe into the likenesse of God under a faire pretence heavenly words selfe-denyall actions righteous conversations Answ This is like your fruits who hath deceived the people but is your divine love to the devill who is out of truth doth not Christ come to destroy him and his works and there is none that can apprehend the divine love of God but who be in the truth And the Devill cannot transforme himself to be like God not in his image nor in his righteousnesse that is out of truth and his conversation that is out of truth is altogether unrighteous and is but in the pretence of selfe-â—enyalâ— but is not the thing though he and you may get the words that be heavenly and stands against the light and Image of God and purity it selfe for all you be of the devil that doth deny the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world for you come not into the truth which the devill is out of nor into the pure conversation which is in heaven and purity Pr. Thou saist Thou hast many occasions offered by the Quakers upon thy poor weake and sinfull heart the Lord hath filled my heart with moderation in giving my own once uncomfortable experiences Ans We believe thee that thy heart is weak and sinfull and a weak and sinfull heart is not filled with moderation and thy experiences which are uncomfortable are not the experiences of the Saints for the Saints experiences are comfortable and their heart is a pure heart that is filled with moderation and the Quakers will torment all sinfull and corrupt hearts for such the Lord is against and so be his Saints not to take his words into their mouthes Pr. Thou saist Thou hatest hypocrisie when thou livest in the light life and power of the first Adam and because the Quakers say they know my conscience better then my self I see they are acted through delusion I am able to to speak this truth from my own heart which is better known to me I do know that a naturall man may make a large progresse in the Gospel profession and conversation and that which the Quakers call back-sliding is my turning to my God Ans In the light and life and power of the first Adam as he was in the beginning thou art not in which he was in before the fall and the Apostles knew the state and condition of Jewes and Gentiles and people better then they did themselves and so doth the Quakeâ—s that be in their spirit and this is not delusion and thy owne heart yet thou dost not know as thou oughts nor the truth but first thou must come to the light that doth enlighten every man that comes into the world which is the truth and a naturall man doth not make a progresse into the Gospell nor doth not come into the conversation of it whilst he lives in the naturall estate and thy God thou art turned too which is the God of the world as all hirelings and diviners for money and teachers for filthy lucre did that went forth from the spirit of the Apostles and prophets and Christ and back-slided from them and so went from the true God and thou serves the God of the world for love of thy benefice and see if thou will not look upward and downeward and curse thy God Pr. I would have all the world to observe how that the Quakers that Anti-Christ hath cast that blindnesse upon their understandings for their reproving men sharply and rebukeing them crying woe to the hypocrites it s the devils policy to keep close to the scriptures I used arguments to people to look for the glorious way and discovery of the divine light and power to be brought forth among all the children of the most high O mystery Babylon of this delusion Ans Hears thy confession for the spirit of God where it is doth rebuke reprove sharplie and tell them that are hypocrites the woe is to them and the Quakers ante-christ cannot blind them they are come from under his power and authority but you are them that cannot feare reproof and the Lord may send a man as he did Philip to such a place and he not know what he shall do nor whom he shall speak to till he come to such a place and the devil is out of the life that gave forth scriptures though he and you may pervert the words who may get them but not own them as they speak and thou calls good evill and evill good for the children of the most high doth waite for the most glorious discovery of divine light and power which delusion and mystery Babylon is out of and so the Quakers is come to that which ante-christ is ravened from with that they comprehend him Pr. And thou saist These people that thou callest the Quakers will send most rayling accusations against the pillars of the Chuâ—ch of Christ Ans That is false but antichrists Church and his pillars which are waters which you call tongues which is your originall that Iohn calls waters the Quakers do judge according to truth and declare it in full power and majesty and can make it good which you call rayling which they deny for a company of greedy drumb dogs can never have enough that will prison and pesecute men till death for speaking to them and for meanes such as are apostatized from the true church and is a false Church who hath transformed themselves into the true Churchs words but now the true Church hath discovered you to be the false apostatized from the true and reigned since the daies of the Apostles Pr. I see no conviction the Quakers hath wrote by their speaking or any subjection of fear or love or any such thing wrought by them and to tell such that be praying reading or in meditation to say it is the power
no other way it teacheth but to the Kingdome and though men hate it and will not come to it because their deeds are evill yet that is the teacher in all men that gives them the sense of transgression and an understanding of reproof and knowing if they come so that they are reproved and there is the kingdome in men and that is it which lets all men see the most high reigning and shall make every tongue to confesse Christ to the glory of God and is that which gives every man assurance that God hath raised Christ from the dead who hath inlightned them and that is it which gives every man the hope of eternall life and in the light it is received Pr. That the seed to whom the promise of salvation is made is or hath been sinners Ans The promise of God is to the seed which hath been laden as a Cart with shaves by the sinner which seed is the hope Christ that purifies even as God is pure and here is the creature come to know its liberty amongst the sons of God and the seed Christ never sinned in the male nor in the female in the Jew nor in the Gentiles and of this mystery was the great high professors ignorant of that stood at a distance from the Gentiles that Christ had no room among them though they talked of him but in the stable in the manger and in their mouthes to talke of him with their lips and such Christ calls graves and Sepulchres and whited walls and the wall is not the seed but the seed is Christ and not the Sepulchre nor the grave so this promise is not unto seeds as many but to one the seed which is Christ Pr That there is no man doth possess the Kingdom of God whilest he is in the mortall body Ans In this thou art like Nebuchadnezer who must graze like the Oxe thy mouth downeward who knows not the most high ruling in the children of men and God will dwell in you and walke in you and where God dwells and walkes in men they are his temples which is holy there is his Kingdome his power his authority and the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell in them and walke in in them and this is the state of thousands that be in the new covenant that knowes the power of God of the most high his law put in their mindes and hearts and they that doe not know that they are the Temples of God and God dwelling in them and walking in them they are worse then the Corinthians Pr. That he that doth not preach the death and Resurection and the man Christ Jesus that rose from the dead at Jerusalem preacheth not the Gospell whatsoever else he doth declare Ans He that preacheth Christ must preach that Christ that dyed at Jerusalem for he is the same to day yesterday forever the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world which seed Christ breaks the Serpents head and destroyes death and the Devill that went out of the truth and death being destroyed the captivated one comes out by the power which is the Gospel and the prisoner of hope shews himself forth and then the covenant of light life is felt and peace with God but the Reprobate Devill death and destruction anti-christ Beast and false prophet may talke of Christ without and he not within felt such are then the Reprobates and thou saying the seed is not in all men first know it in thy selfe he is not in the man of sin that is to be destroyed who hath blinded thy mind and hath taken possession of thy heart and so first judge thy selfe Pr He that doth not expect the Resurrection from the dead of his owne person as Christ rose from the dead litterally understood hath no true hope of Eternall life borne in his understanding Ans The Saints rising is in Christ and he is the Resurrection they are of his flesh and of his bone and of his spirit and the Saints are of the flesh of Christ that saw no corruption and of his bone and hath the hope of eternall life promised of the Father and now the flesh of Christ the Jewes did not know that were the Idolaters and fornicaters for Christ according to the flesh was of Abraham who came out of all that Idolatry and generation of Fornicaters and in this the saints rise live and remaine with Christ for ever and such come to know the resurrection of the just and unjust according to the scriptures the one to eternall life and the other to condemnation Pr. That Christ by his death overcame him that had the power of death and thereby made way to life Ans But how is death overcome in thee when thou dost not see the kingdome of God in thee and saith it shall not be whiles men are in their mortall bodies and how short art thou of the Holy Ghost and the power and the joy and the righteousnesse which the Kingdome stands in and Christ which overcame death he is the life and the way to God the Father of life which doth inlighten every man that cometh into the world that by the light they might see it and believe in it that they might be children of light and come to the light of life which they that doe not believe in it with the light are condemned Pr. That the unchangablenesse of Gods purpose of his love is the onely ground of mans obedience stability or continuance in obedience not mans obedience the ground of his stability Ans Mans stability is Christ the light the life the foundation of God that stands sure the hope in him that remaineth the faith given to him of God the seed comes to be knowne the Son of God in the male and in the female which abideth in the house for ever which is the heir of the promise and there the unchangeablenesse of God is knowne he that doth not change is seen that is appeared which cannot be shaken that seeth an end of all changeable things and variablenesse and turnings and here is the obedience felt Pr. God hath ordained to eternall life every one that are or shall be saved before they had a being in this world but none come to possession of this salvation but through the obedience of the spirit Ans The ground of mans belief and obedience is Christ who doth inlighten him to the intent that he might believe and obey the truth and who knowes the seed knowes the election before the world was made Pr. That the seed of Israel are men and not onely something in man that the seed of the Serpent are men and not onely something in man Ans If the seed of Israel be men then by thy account the seed of Israel is the seed of the Serpent for they are men and Christ who came to destroy the work of the Devill and him that hath the power of death it is not said he came
to destroy all Israel and all men upon the earth but thou errs in thy judgement and in thy understanding for I know it is the seed of the Serpent that speakes in thee that puts no difference between the pretious and the vile and when Israel thought Christ had called them serpents many of them were converted to the faith their outward creatures were not destroyed thou talkes foolishly and given up to the Devils power and who works wickednesse and mischiefe and if men be the serpents seed as thou doth say who shall be saved for the Serpent and his seed must be destroyed and if men be the seed of the serpent then must the seed of the serpent obey the spirit must not the spirit destroy him and the brightnesse and breath of the Lord consume him and it is men whose lives Christ came to save that are captivated by the seed of the serpent and redeemed and turned from the power of Satan to God and thou must be threshed and feel the weight of the Lords hand before thou beest humbled and what hast thou to doe to talke of ordination before man had a being in the world and would make men like thy self and say they are the serpents seed which man is not so as he is man and we and thousands do witnesse election and salvation before the foundation of the world was laid and are come into that which comprehends time and being which are since time in which power the elect reignes where salvation is known Pr. The woman that the Serpent deceived her seed breakes the Serpents Dominion Ans The seed of the woman doth bruse the serpents head where ever he is found in any male or female that Christ may rise in the male and in the female and this seed is a top of thy head and thou hast no power but to reach to his heel and thou art the house of darknesse and the seed is yet in Egypt not come forth yet and there is a strong man must bow himselfe and them that keep the house must tremble and hath kept thy heart from the Lord God and hath carryed it a whoring abroad and a stronger he is then he that keeps the house that spoiles his goods and takes possession who comes to rule and will rule and reigne Pr. That the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man in the Church to profit withall and not to every man in the world Answ The manifestation is given to every man to profit withall without distinction I will power out my spirit upon all flesh for the spirit of truth shall lead the Saints into all truth and he shall reprove the world and that which doth reprove the world is manifest to the world Pr. That no man hath received a measure of the spirit of Christ but such as doe believe in Christ and that no man doth believe in Christ but such as Christ is revealed to in time and that he is revealed to none but by the manifestation of his spirit Answ The true believers that believe in Christ the revelation knew him in time and out of time and the unbelievers are reproved Pr. Which of the people of God Prophets or Apostles did direct all people to a Light within them for their instruction and guide before the manifestation of the spirit unto them or the worke of Regeneration wrought in them Answ The Prophet said I will give him for a Covenant of light unto the Gentiles and a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah will I make and write my Law in their hearts and put them into their minds and this was in generall directed to them before they was converted and Regenerated and this light was to inlighten the Gentiles whereby the prisoners should come out of the pit where there is no water and the new Covenant was held to the Jewes before they were converted that all may see who can read but the outward letter and the Apostle was sent to turn people from darknesse to light and Iohn the highest Prophet borne of woman said that was the true light which did inlighten every man that cometh into the world which he was a witnesse of and shined in the darknesse and the darkness comprehendeth it not and Christ directed the Pharisees to the kingdome of heaven in them which were not converted read the pearl and the lost piece of silver read the talent and the pearle hid in the field read the slothfull servant his talent and then read thy selfe how blind and ignorant thou art in the things of God and be silent that thou may come to know the Lord and his feare that the witnesse of God may stir in thee that thou may do righteously in the fight of God and men least the judgement of God be upon thy head for thou art manifest to all that be in the light THE DOCTRINS PRINCIPLES OF THE Priests of Scotland CONTRARY to the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST and the APOSTLES Here all may see The Priests of Scotland and their Church and their Persecution against the Saints and Lambs Servants and Children of God which the Lord moved to go among them to visit the Seed of God in that dark wilderness-Country who has been as Sheep among Wolves Also How pure Religion is turned upside down and vain Religion got in its place And the pure Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles which saith Entertain Strangers Love Enemies is lost among you In stead of entertaining strangers and loving enemies they Imprison and Persecute and have made their Church unsavoury And the Teachers fruits declares to be false who are wrestlers against flesh and blood and strikers at creatures which Christ and the Apostles did not George Weare John Hart. William Grey William Lowry William Mitchell Richard Isamaell FIRST These Presbyterian Priests of Scotland which Excommunicate and puts out of the Synagogues knowes not the Father and the Sun John 16. so no true Christians for how can they be true Christians that knowes not the Son of God nor the Father Secondly They are no Ministers of Christ for Christ saith When they curse blesse ye so they be out of Christs doctrine and teaching not blessing but cursing and giving forth curses and all the people must say Amen to their Curses Thirdly They be out of the Apostles doctrine who saith Blesse and curse not Rom. 12.14 so are no Ministers of Christ that curseth and gives forth their Curses to the people to say Amen to them and here they are shut out of the Apostles doctrine and Christs all people mark and take notice them they are that curse which the Apostle saith Blesse and curse not these are the Cursers and not blessers that Excommunicate you out of the Synagogues Hugh Archball Priest of Stravan John Hume Priest of Lesmabaga William Hambleton Priest of Glasford James Durram Priest of Glasgow John Castaires Priest of Glagow Francis Ard Priest of Discert Matthew Mackel
sin whilst they are upon earth they can be but in their sin if they never preach to them But the scripture saith He that believes is borne of God and he that is borne of God cannot sin because his seed remaines in him 1 Iohn 3.9 But this is of another world to him who is called James Dorram Minister of Glasgow Minister of darknesse who puts no difference between the children of God and the children of the devill 1 Iohn 3.10 They would have sin whilst they are upon the earth and it is darknesse but the Apostles said they were made free from sin Rom. 6.22 whilst they were upon the earth Pr. Christ being sinlesse separates him from all others Answ Christ being seperated from sinners Heb. 7.26 who are in Christ are seperate from sinners and sin both 2 Cor. 6 17. But this James Dorram hath made the offering of none effect Heb. 10.14 which hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified And hath made the blood of Jesus of none effect which cleanseth from all sin 1 Iohn 1.7 And he hath made the everlasting Covenant of none effect which blots out all sins trespasses And he hath made the faith of the Son of God of none effect which purifies the heart and gives victory over the world Acts. 15.9 1 Iohn 5.5 Thou dost herein preach and hold up sin and doth not preach it down and yet thou saist thou preachest not to hold it up and yet thou preachest they must have it whilst they are upon the earth here is confusion in thy tongue Prov. 17.20 Thou shouldst have preached it down and have brought them to a Church where there is neither spot nor wrinkle nor blemish nor any such thing Eph. 5.27 if thou wert a true Minister but your Church is full of spots and blemishes and wrinkles whilst ye are preaching up zeale to stone people and sin while they live as Henry Foreside and Iames Dorram doth Pr. God be thanked the scripture speakes nothing for freedome from sin and perfection Ans Thou thankest God that thou maist live in thy sin and imperfection and art glad of this thy false hope but thou art a lyar thou art out of the truth in this for the scripture saith they were made free from sin Rom. 6.26 and they preached wisdome among them that were perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 and he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 So the scripture speakes of freedome from sin and perfection and be perfect Pr. That the condemning power of sin is taken away Answ The believer doth not sin 1 Iohn 5.1 1 Iohn 3.9 but he that the believer overcomes commits sin 1 Io. 3.8 1 Io. 5.5 if the believer commits sin who overcomes the believer and so he that commits sin is under the condemning power of sin which thou saist not which thou and all other shall witnesse Pr. The believer is not in sin as the unbeliever is he sins not as the unbeliever doth and in an other place he saith the Law is the same to the believer that it is to the unbeliever Answ Here any may read thy confusion but I say unto thee he that believeth doth not commit sin but the unbeliefe is sin Rom. 11.20 and Christ is the end of the Law to every one that believes for righteousnesse sake Rom. 10.4 and yet thou puts both believers and unbelievers under the Law Lodowick Simerell priest of the new parish of Munckland his Principles and Doctrines Pr. THat it is blasphemy to say that the light in man which reproves of sin is the light of God is perfect is the gift of God Answ Contrary to scripture contrary to Christs words and contrary to the Apostles words is thy doctrine and Principles for every gift of God is perfect Isa 1.17 Isa 49.6 Iohn 1.3 Iohn 4. For Christ is the gift of God and he will give him for a Covenant of light to the Jewes and Gentiles which doth enlighten every man that commeth into the world which every one that doth truth comes to it which every one that doth evill hates the light and will not come to the light because the light will reprove him and so This is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds be evill So this light is perfect which doth reprove every man of sin and is from above and it is the gift of God and thou art blind and in darknesse that comprehends it not And the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Christ Jesus the gift of God him by whom the world was made this light was before any naturall light was made Sun Moon or Stars for all things that was made was made by the light which came a light into the world that all through him might believe for he that believes not in the light is condemned already and he that does believe in the light hath the witnesse in himselfe to set to his seale that God is true and the spirit of truth that doth reprove the world is perfect of God The light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withall is not conscience for the light was before any thing was made or conscience named So the light is that which exerciseth the conscience towards God and towards man where it is loved and the voice heard but where it is hated and the voice not heard the conscience is seared and the light is their condemnation whose consciences is seared which light was before conscience was The Priest would not have thee and thou to be to a single person and so is the man that would not indure sound words that cannot be condemned thee and thou was the language between God and his Saints and one another and you is to many and thou was to one and this was the language between Jeptha and his daughter and between the Saints and the Kings this shewes thou hast not learned the Accedence nor Bible nor art come to the forme of sound words Iohn Castaires called Minister of Glasgow his principles Pr. THis is naturall folks duty to pray to God and worship him although they sinfully keep themselves under a sinfull necessity to sin against God through ignorance Answ This hath been your worke to keep people in ignorance which you may be ashamed of A naturall man cannot worship God for he cannot receive the things of God nor a sinfull man but worship the Devill for he that commits sin serves him and he that serves sin serves the devill and worships him Iohn 8.34 And Christ said the Pharisees should receive the greater damnation for their pretended long prayers Mat. 23.14 and so he did not justifie them in their long prayers but rebuked them and said Wo unto them who draw near with their lips when their hearts were far off Isa 29.13 And they that pray and worship God must pray in the
does not say the Elect onely and he through death hath destroyed the power of death the Devill Heb. 2.14 and thou art to be reproved for thy judgement for thy unbelief for thy righteousnesse for thy sin because of thy unbelief for thy judgement because the Prince of this world is judged Io. 16. so Christ doth not say I am the light of the Saints of the elect onely but I am the light of the world Io. 8.12 and saith that light is come into the world this is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then it because their deeds are evill Io. 3.19 So its unbelief that shuts out Rom. 11.20 So the gates stand open night and day and every one that doth evill hates the light will not come to it because it wil reprove him and he will not come in to the gate for he that comes to the gate comes to the light he that comes to the light comes out of condemnation comes to be a child of the light he that hates the light wil not come into the kingdome of God And for thy saying God hath ordained a great part of the world to Hell let them repent and doe all that ever he hath commanded them he that doth the things that Christ commands enters the Kingdome he that repents his mind is changed and whosoever believeth shall not perish and this command is generall Io. 10.28 through the whole world therefore thou with the Devills Doctrine shuts up the Kingdome of Heaven against others and wilt not goe in thy selfe who saies let men repent and doe all that ever they can they must goe to hell when God wils not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turne from his wickednesse and live Ezek. 33.11 but he is mercifull and judges not as thou dost whose eyes are blinded and hands full of blood so I say whosoever repents and doth the things they are commanded they shall be saved and that which thou sayest to the contrary we conclude to be the Devills doctrine and whosoever resists the thing that is commanded that will be their condemnation but hates the light which was before the world was which lighteth every man that cometh into the world that all through him might believe for he that believes in the light shall not abide in darknâ—sse Io. 8.12 shall not come into condemnation shall come to be a child of light Io. 12.36 and they shall have the light of life and so the light is sufficient to save them and condemn them that believe not Jo. 3.18.14 Ia. 4.12 and every one that cometh into the light that they are enlightned withall such come into the election and into the covenant of God and evill consciences thou maist frighten them that hates the light which is their condemnation but the elect thou can neither save nor deceive thanks be to God Christ reigns who will give to every man according to his works who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world not believing is condemned and shut out and such turne the grace of God into wantonnesse and are ordained of old that hate the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world such be in Cain and Balaams way persecutors and murtherers turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse Pr. From the words of Jude 4. they were of old ordained from these words he said That God had predestinated one to life without any cause in the creature lesse or more and the other wicked man to Hell without any cause in the creature lesse or more and both wicked men And before thou said part of the cause that God cast into hell was in the man part in God In this 7th principle and doctrine thou saist there is no cause in the creature that God casts into hell condâ—mns him in the other thou said there was part blame in man part in God 〈◊〉 â—s the devils doctrine a lye found in thy mouth thou hast wrested perverted wronged that scripture in Jude who saith there is no part in man causeth condemnation that all may see that you are lyers he saith they were ungodly they turned the grace of God into lasciviousnesse that brings salvation that denyed the Lord that bought them Jude 11. 2 Pet. 2.1 They were covetous made merchandize of the people through fained words so no covetous nor Idolater shall enter into the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6.9 and all they deny the Lord that bought them but who owns the light that comes from him which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world and none sees him but with the light that comes from him and they goe in Cores way and gain-sayeth the truth who goe from the light that Christ hath inlightned them in the particuler and he that gain-sayeth the truth there is a fault in him and they goe in Caines way that are from the command of God who said if thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted and if he did not well sin lay at the door now these were of old ordained unto condemnation which turned the grace of God into wantonnesse were in Caines way Cores way and brake the commands as Cain did in Balaams way erred from the spirit and admired mens persons because of advantage which Balaam did and loved the wages of unrighteousnesse and so these did not doe the things they were commanded Cain he did not do the thing that he was commanded nor Core that offered strange fire and his company Num. 16. So these of old were ordained for this condemnation which condemnation is the light Io. 3. light foresees them and sees over them and condemns them when they arise and goes out from the spirit of God in them and here all may see here was fault worthy of condemnation and those were they that sensually seperated them selves from the Apostles and had not the spirit Jude 19. in their daies which were covetous which went for the gift and reward which were like raging waves of the Sea which were spots in feasts of charity feasting feeding without feare 2 Pet. 2. Which admired mens persons because of advantage and spoke the high words in hypocrisy Wells without water Trees without fruit raging waves of the Sea foming out their own shame clouds without water carryed about with tempests spots in the feasts of charity like unto Sodom and Gomorah in filthiness which goe from the light that does convince them so there is the self-separation and there is the condemnation that comes over them the light and these are they that seperated from the Apostles which said love your enemies Mat. 5.44 Which are men gone into the world which be in Caines way in envy in Cores way gainsaying the the light they are like raging waves of the Sea foaming out their shame in their pulpits so you are the men that seperates from the
Apostles that be in Cains way who be out of the life and sacrifice the Saints were in that would murther and Cores way that gainsayeth the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world so against the common salvation and ye be like Cain foaming and raging in your Pulpits and would murther all that are contrary to you whose Sacrifice God accepts and yours he does not and God would have accepted of Cain if he had done well Gen. 4. So God is mercifull and a just God but Cain he did not well Therefore wo went out from God against him and so there was fault in him and not in God which was the cause of his condemnation so you that be in Balaams way for the wages of unrighteousness admiring mens persons because of advantage Ye are out of the faith that is held without respect of persons Iam. 2. and so separated from the Apostles to whom Christ said Freely ye have received freely give and you will not give freely who are rageing and foming without you have augmentations stipends gleabe Lands or Tythes great sumes of money gifts or rewards from great â—ouses so you deny the light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the world so gain-sayes the common salvation Jude 1. You gain-say the truth that doth enlighten every man that cometh thto the world so in Cores way you are and would have the persons of the Saints murthered so in Caines way as ye confesse that ye have not the spirit that gave forth the scriptures so in the self-separation and ye deny the the light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the world which is the Lord Iohn 8.12 And so denies the Lord that bought you 2 Pet. 2.1 And so are for condamnation who are of that stock that separate themselves from the Apostles sensually having not the spirit who are in Cains way that would kill and murther and out of the Apostles way who said love your enemies who are in Balaams way for gifts and rewards and admiring mens persons because of advantage to them speaking high words in hypocrisy and out of the Apostles way to whom Christ said Freely ye have received freely give Mat. 10.6 And out of the Prophets way who said come without a price Isa 55.1 2. And ye will have the price or else you will not come let all that can read Iude over and see if there was not cause in man of his condemnation not in God and so have not you proved your selves in the Doctrine of Devils and in lyes and would make God unrighteous and the Apostles unrighteous for there was fault in Cain fault in Balaam and fault in Core and fault in Sodome and fault in them that turned the grace of God into wantonnesse which were of old ordained for this condemnation Iude 4. Which condemnation is that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill and so the Apostles taught that there was fault in man as ye may read Iude and thou hast taught there is none so then thou art unrighteous who would make God and the Apostles unrighteous like thy selfe let all that feare God judge of it who are now come to the judgment Seat before the Almighty God who have been them that erred from the Apostles Doctrine with it is judged and are judged and you must have a reward according to your works and he that comes to life comes out of his wickednesse and not the wicked man enters into the kingnome of God Rev. 21. and the promise is to the seed and he that works iniquity departs from the seed Gal. 3.16 And the Election obtaines it Rom. 11.7 Not him that wills nor runs But God that shewes mercy And whereas thou saist the wicked man is ordained to life without any cause in the creature lesse or more This is just the Devils Doctrine againe and to bring every one to hide his Talent and none neither to watch nor pray for that is in the creature that brings him to lay a side wickednesse and to depart from sin and iniquity which lets him see it and covetous and drunkennesse soe through the obedience of the Spirit and that is in the Creature that brings him to confesse his sin and forsake it whereby mercy is shewed the power of God worketh in us saith the Apostle And as they had been servants to unrighteousness so came to yeeld themselves servants unto righteousnesse Rom. 6. How comes the commands of God to be obeyed if there be not somthing in the creature that causes him to obey it For thou saist without any cause in the creature why were all these expressions spoken in scripture that they should obey all things that Christ commanded Mat. 28.20 And all the statutes and Ordinances spoken of in the scriptures if there be not something in man to cause him to obey it but thy intent is to make God unrighteous who respects no mans person but gives to every man a reward according to his works Rev. 2 23. The one as well as the other and all shall appear before the judgement of Christ 2. Cor. 9.10 He will judge the world in righteousness but there is something in the creature for every man that cometh into the world being enlightned whereby he is capable of obeying or disobeying and not believing comes to be condemned and in believing he is saved he hath the witnesse in himselfe Iohn 3.8 1 Io. 5.10 For he that commits sin is the servant of sin Io. 8.24 And there is no respect of persons with God but whosoever doth righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10.34 35. The Apostle said He perceived God was no respecter of persons but whosoever doth wickedly be hates the light and is condemned but whosoever doth the truth cometh to the light Joh. 3.21 and so out of condemnation so thou teaches another Doctrine so as I said before The promise is to the seed the seed is Christ and Christ all and in all 1 Cor. 15.28 And all ungodly and wicked men are shut out of the Kingdom of God where no wicked men enters one nor other and man must be turned again from wickednesse before he enters Rev. 21.8 Pr. He being asked what he would do with Quakers and he said if he had been a civil Magistrate he would have thought it good service to have cut off all their heads Ans There ye may all see if he be not of Cains stock and what an envy proceeds out of his mouth and unchristian Spirit and how would he convert them if they were out of the way and how would he convince them who would cut off their heads hath not this proved the Quakers to be in the truth and he out of it and is not the command of Christ that ye should love your enemies Mat. 5.44 Now ye may see he is out of the command and example but followed the example of Cain the
of those who calls themselves ministers of Christ That would have you to slay to stone to stock to prison and to put to death them that be contrary to them Those be murtherers in Cains way man-slayers wrastlers against flesh and blood and not Ministers of the Gospell which saith love enemies and render to no man evil for evil Mat. 5.44 and this differs from the Scribes and Pharisees who loved their owne and persecuted others and stoned others and drew the Magistrates to doe it which saith the Ministers of Christ we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places Eph. 6.12 Now those Ministers that would have the persons of men slain are like Cain and Jezabel the beast and false Prophets that slew Abel Gen. 4. 1 Kings 21. the persons of men stoned imprisoned and put to death are as the Jewes Priests and those Magistrates that executes their malice are as the Jewes Magistrates unchristian Magistrates And so those are they that are wrestling stoning striking and imprisoning against flesh and blood And in the mean time spirituall wickednesse rules among them And rulers of darkenesse in high places where flesh and blood are wrestled against so in this state both Ministry and Magistracy are blind that be out of the feare of God They turn their sword backward whilst they are executing the Priests malice and the Priests will strengthen the hands of evil doers and provoking to slay and against flesh and blood wrestling and doe not profit the people at all and stires up the multitude against the just That he may keep himselfe in his place for his own ends and admiring the Magistrates persons and mens because of advantage Iude 16. and respects their persons which shewes they be out of the faith Iam. 2. which gives victory over the world 1 Iohn 5.4 and out of the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles now the Magistrates is for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that doe well which walkes in the life which he that doth evill goes from where the rulers of darknesse and spirituall wickednesses are and this Magistrate he can see he turnes not the sword backward he answeres that of God in every one and is for a praise to them that doe well 1 Pet. 2.14 so every evill doer acts contrary to that of God in them now a Minister of Christ wrestles not against flesh and blood but against spirituall wickednesses in high place so every one that doth evil acts contrary to that of God in him so the higher power goes above him Rom. 13.1 So the higher power is above him and before he was all power in heaven and in Earth is given to the Son of God Io. 5.22 above all the powers of the earth that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Io. 1.9 but they who does evill goes from the light and so the higher power goes against him The Magistrates that be in the power is a terror to the evil doers that acts contrary to the light wherewith every one that cometh into the world be enlightned The Magistrates be in that power which goes over him and is a prâ—ise to them that be in the light and the Ministers of God is to bring from under the occasion of the Magistrates sword George Weare being with his friend standing in the field neer Foord meeting house as they call it he neither speaking nor acting any thing against any man but standing in the fear of the Lord with his friend Wlliam Lowry and Iohn Hambleton called justices commited him to prison where they lay twenty and three daies and here is his innocency preached The originall righteousness was before the fall The originall of selfe righteousnesse was that which fell and is in the fall that transgressed And in the Catechism which is tollerated by the generall Assembly and in the Catechise of Scotland called a short Catechism They say that the word of God is contained in the scriptures Ans And the scriptures are writings and it saith God is the word Io. 1.1 1. Kings 8.27 Solomon saith the heaven of heavens cannot containe him you say he is containned in the scriptures with his writings you say there is three persons the scripture doth not speak of three persons the Jews had the scriptures knew not Christ the word of God Then ye tell people of an outward ordinary meanes by which Christ communicates the benefit of Redemption The word Sacraments the scripture doth not speak of three persons Sacraments they are Papists words of them ye have learned them the means of salvation is not ordinary or outward but Christ is the salvation who is eternall Heb. 5.9 and they that come to him come to the end of the outward Col. 1.27 ye say the Sacraments are the Effectuall meanes to salvation and ye say againe they are not as they are themselves so here is confusion but onely by the blessing of Christ his spirit in them How doe ye differ from the Papists for they say he is in them and ye say his spirit is in them and where his spirit is is not he Oh blind are ye found out goe ye home to your Mother the Papist where Christs Spirit is he is And ye say your two sacraments is Baptisme and the Lords Supper The scripture doth not call Baptism and the Lords supper two sacraments which names you and the Papists adore and worship which you have given to them againe you in your Catechize call the first day in the weeke the Sabbath day where did ever any of the Ministers of Christ or the Christians unapostatized call it so are not you come unto the breach and guilty of your own judgement of the third commandement when ye give another name to the scriptures then they give themselves in calling them the word calling Baptism and the Supper the Sacraments Exo. 20. Moses saith God spake all these words when he gave forth the commandements marke words and the words of Christ are spirit and life Io. 6.63 God is the word Jo. 1.1 and Christ is the word Rev. 19.13 and the word became flesh and dwelt among us Io. 1.14 And them that had the words of the scriptures which cannot be broken Io. 10.35 the Law and the prophets they knew not Christ the word before they be brought to the light that Christ hath inlightned them with and they be brought to the spirit Io 5 37. Io. 8.19 Can the whole world say the Lords prayer in truth or was it taught his Disciples or to the world doth not people draw nigh to God with their lips that say it Isai 20.13 and are not in the light which every man is lighted that cometh into the world withall can ye say the Lords prayer which is forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us without hypocrisy how do ye for give them when ye
seek after other mens goods An. Then are you not all found in this seeking after other mens goods and endeavouring by force and hath not this been many of your practices both by Sea and Land of many people in the whole Christendom and been found in this witchcraft as you say as you speak of and is not all this to be judged with the spirit of the Lord God to be out of his commands and out of the love of God and Christ the end of the Law there-repent and amend all your wayes doings and lives that you may return to the Lord and find peace and rest in the time of need Pr. You say The ninth Commandment saith bear not false witness against any man and you should shun lying and not falcifie any mans word nor backbite nor reproach and shun all careles kind of lives c. Answ How is it then there are so many false witnesses backbiters reproachers rash condemners men living in such careless kind of lives and deceit among you which is the devils works this is all out of the commands of God and the Law and short of Christ the end of it and the fruits of this now hath shewed it self Pr. You say No one that is converted unto God perfectly observes and keepes his Commandments Answ Then no man loves God amongst you nor are you converted neither are you of the seed of the woman that keepes the commands of God neither are you the children of God that Johns speaks of that keepes the Commandments of God that love God neither are you the believers for Christ is the end of the Law to them that believes Pr. You say There is no man in this life able to keep the Law of God and why then should Gods Law be so exactly and severely Ans The law of God is just is not so exact nor so severely but is just and equal and righteous and perfect and good and not as you look upon it exact and severe now Christ the righteousness of God is the end of the Law and the man that loves God keepes his Commandments and comes to the end of the commandments that is love out of a pure heart Pr. You say Christ teacheth you to call God Father in the beginning of your prayers Ans Christ taught that to his Disciples which were his children his sheep but that was not spoken to the world that did not believe in the light that enlightens every man that comes into the world for the Pharisees could call him Father and Lord but did not the things he commanded them and such Christ said were of the devil and such their prayers he rebukes the Disciples could pray this in truth so you must be born again of God not committing of sin when you call God Father like him else you are Bastards begotten of the wicked one children of the transgressor sons of the Sorcerer the Prophet speaks of children of God distinct from such that call him Father in the transgression applyed to God which he hath not begotten the birth in the transgression the transgressors birth that is a Bastard a false conception Pr. You say Forgive us as we forgive them that trespasse against us Answ Is it so do ye do so and would you be forgiven no otherwise but as ye forgive others that hath trespassed against you would you have God forgive you no otherwayes who trespasseth against him but as you forgive the trespasses against you mark whether you would have as you say and whether here be not justice and whether you can witness you are forgiven that doth not forgive others whether you have the assurance within you Pr. You say The particle Amen means the things sure out of doubt for your prayers is much more certain heard of God then you feel in your hearts that you unfeignedly desire the same Answ Amen or so be it for the promise is to the seed yea and Amen which fetches up the seed out of time who hath been in prison in time and brings it by the power of God thither where there is no time and there is yea and amen and the Lord accepts no prayer from the corrupt heart or such whose works are sinful their best works are sinful for the praying is in the spirit the Lord accepts and Preaching singing hearing and tasting discerning handling and feeling the Lord knowes the mind of the spirit where it groans which spirit guiding the man it gives him an understanding of the signification of it and so every man being reproved with the spirit if he hears it and be at unity with it and turn to it it will bring him to turn to God and be at unity with God and here his prayers be acceptable to him and so every man being enlightned that comes into the world every man being turned to the light Christ hath enlightned him withall he is turned to Christ from whence it comes which brings him to know Christ and to ask in his Name who is the way to the Father and is in the Father who is God Immanuel Christ Jesus and so forth to the end Robert Tuchin Iohn Barnes Edward Buckler Robert Dingly James Crosswick Iohn Martine Vincent Sparke Joshua Tompkins Simon Pole Tho. Clarke William Harby Martin Wells Wil. Bignall Rich. Beminster Mathew Hearne Their Princples are as Followeth who are Teachers in and about the Island of Weight and these 15. Priests are in the rear of the Army of Babylon against the Lamb. Pr. THat the good tidings which the glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ brings to sinners was first heard at Jerusalem Ans The Goâ—pel which is the power of God which is the glad tidings to sinners was preached to Abraham before ever it was heard at Jerusalem and the shepherds in the field received the message of the good tidings of the glorious Gospell from the Angell which was sent to them of the Lord who said Behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy and this was before the Gospell was heard at Jerusalem and all the Fathers and Prophets that heard the power of God they heard the Gospel for the Gospel is the power of God glad tidings to the seed and great joy to the poor captives and this Gospell was preached to Adam the seed of the woman was promised to bruise the Serpents head and that was and is the power of God the glorious Gospell but as for such as knowes no Gospell in manifestation nor apparation but onely the scriptures which doth but declare of the Gospell they shew that they are without in the world and hath no other knowledge of the Gospell but naturall knowledge which is not unto eternall life nor can edefie the body of Christ which is immortall Pr. The good tidings which the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ brings to sinners was a great mercy to the Jewes a very gratious dispensation to us sinners of the Gentiles Ans The good tidings the glorious Gospell is in it selfe a
mercy to all but onely a mercy in manifestation and opperation to them that doe receive it whether Jews or Gentiles and it is a judgement and a condemnation to all that do not receive it both Jewes and Gentiles But as for you fifteen Priests you have included your selves among the sinners shewing that you are yet unconverted to the pretious faith which brings out of all sin and gives victory over it and who are converted are changed and renewed from being sinners to be righteous and these are not sinners of the Gentiles as is manifest you yet are but they are believers of the Gentiles who are made righteous in the righteousnesse of the second Adam who hath quickned them from death to life and from sin to God but upon such that do remaine sinner of the Gentiles and receives not the Gospell which is the power of God the dispensation of it is judgement and condemnation and this shall the testimony of God in every man give witnesse to Pr. Darke we are since the cloud of sin overshadowed our minds our brightest notions are stained our light eclipsed by nature we are Chained up into a Cave of darkness taking meere notions to be things substantial and substance to be shadowes and as our eyes are dim and can not see much so our sloath is great and heedlessnes inexcusable our ignorance of God may be charged on the want of meditation in all men the sinnes of teachers being teachers sinns Admit the Minister be sinfull shal the people despise his doctrine Scripture is Scripture though uttered by Sathan Ans The Ministers of Christ Jesus who were called and sent of him were light in the Lord and were translated from darknesse to the light and from Satans power to God and the cloud of sin was not over them for that was removed and they were as a City set on a hill and were the light of the world and their mindes were spirituall and inlightned and not over-shadowed with the darknesse nor with the cloud of sin as it is with these 15. Priests whose brightest notions are stained and their light eclipsed by nature as they confesse but thus it was not with Christs Ministers for their knowledge was in the spirit and what they knew was in and through the spirit and they were changed in nature and their light which was Christ was above nature and beyond nature and not eclipsed thereby neither were they chained up in a cave of darknesse but were as candles lighted and as a city set on a hill that could not be hid and they delivered forth to the world the pure truthes of the Gospell of Christ which were not stained nor polluted but pure and holy And in that you take notions to be substance substance to be shadowes this is your great ignorance and blindnesse but thus doe not the true ministers of Christ neither are their eyes dim but the Lord is the light and this promise is fulfilled to his ministers whom he hath sent the Lord is become their everlasting light but to you his promise is not fulfilled whose eyes are dim and sloth great and heedlessnes inexcusable as it was with the false Prophets and Dreamers of old whom the Lord never sent and thus it is with these 15 Priests according to their own confession but the Ministers of Christ were not so neither were they in sin nor in ignorance but had received the knowledge of God and were known of him and if the Minister be sinfull he is not sent of God but hath run and never was sent and his doctrine is dispised and not profitable for scripture in the mouth of the Devil is but a temptation no more is the doctrine of sinfull men as taught by them for if the minister be sinfull he cannot convert sinners to God nor turne them from darkenesse to light nor from Satans power to God which is the work of the true minister that have received the gift of the Holy ghost as its manifest these men have not by their own confession Pr. We are presented with a necessity of acknowledging that the Light of the moon with us is as the Light of the Sun and the Light of the Sun as the Light of seven daies Ans How doth this confession of yours answer to your last let all wise sober people judge how confusion hath uttered forth it self what your light eclipsed you chaind up in a Cave of darknesse and your eyes dim and yet the light of the Son with you as he light of seven daies is there any thing in both these confessions except ignorance and a heape of confusion and plain contradictions that all may see your owne confusions out of your own mouthes But who are come to the fulfilling of the promises of God where the light of the Sun is as the light of seven daies sin and iniquity is blotted out and transgression is done away and life and immortality is brought to to light and the glory of the Lord is revealed and they that are in this promise are come out of the Apostasie and out of the beasts kingdome of darkenesse where you yet remaine as its manifest for you be such as Christ said should come and as Iohn saw were come who went into the world and deceived nations but now the nations are gathering from you againe into the fellowship of the mystery of the Gospel which Gospel that hath been lost I meane the receiving of it by the Holy Ghost and the preaching of it as the spirit of God gave utterance for many generations but that gospell againe is to be preached and it is going forth to nations tongues and people and great Babylon shall be confounded and all her merchants shall weep and lament for her fall Pr. We the unworthy Ministers of Christ whose names are under written having waited upon God in a way of earnest prayer have jointly agreed to communicate our thoughts c. Ans They that are true ministers of Christ are not unworthily so nor in the unworthinesse and being unworthy to what purpose do ye waite upon the Lord for who are in the unworthynesse God doth not heare nor regard nor give his answer to such and ye having no answer from God you must needs agree in your thoughts but have you nothing to communicate to your people but your thoughts which are vaine how shall thoughts convert any to God or establish any in him and your prayers that are in darkness are not accepted of him for who are heard of the Father are in Christ Jesus and are new creatures being changed from death to life Pr. Our deep sence of the ignorance of our hearers puts us upon your prayers to God and Counsell one to another what further course to take Ans Indeed a sad complaint may be taken up concerning this matter for ignorance abounds and many other grievous evils in your Church and amongst your hearers shewing that your Church is not the true
sight and he is in the Saints and they eate his flesh and sit with him in heavenly places Pr. They say They are deceived that thinke to obtain salvation by the conviction of the Law which they call Christ page 37. 39. Ans Christ is the end of the Law and who follow him are not deceived but comes to witnesse the Law of life and him revealed in them and they are deceived that calls the Law without by Christ that doth convict and gives it that name But who followes Christ the end of the Law hath the righteousness of God revealed in them from saith to faith which the just lives by and Christ revealed in them as the Apostle witnessed whereby they have eternal life Pr. And they say the Quakers would obtain salvation by the obedience of Christ the Law which gives the knowledge of sin Answ The Quakers obedience is Christ Gods righteousness the end of the Law which makes them free from the Law of sin and death Christ the seed the second Adam Pr. They say Now every man that cometh into the world receives a light from Christ as he is God which light is conscience and this will shew a man that there is a God and discover the eternal God which some falsly cals Christ Answ Christ saith I am the light of the world and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world as saith John and doth not say that its conscience for the light was before conscience was which shewes thy ignorance Not knowing what conscience is for conscience was since the world but light was before the world was made and he that evil doth hates the light and so conscience is seared and so light condemnes and the light which every man that cometh into the world is enlightened with is Gods Covenant to Jewes and Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth so you have given Christ a new name that cals him conscience contrary to Scripture and is conscience eternal that may be seared and will that shew that which is eternal will conscience blot out sin and transgrâ—ssion Christ will Gods Covenant that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world which light believing in it they serve Christ the Author of their faith which faith is a mystery held in a pure conscience Pr. And they say that every man hath not the spirit of Christ and he brings Jude to prove it Answ That proves that they had it but went from it and the spirit that leads the disciples reproves the world Pr. John Burton saith John Bunian is furnished with spiritual gifts which gifts the Ministers of Christ must have whether learned or unlearned as to humane and John Bunians preaching he saith is not by humane art yet he saith Christ is humane Ans The Scripture hath neâ—ther taught John Burton nor John Bunian this Language To say this knowledge is not humane and yet to affirm Christ is humane is to say thy knowledge is not from Christ but we shall try his gifts whether they be from God and whether or no he divids the word aright and whether they be agreeable to the Scripture which fils up his book with mentioning the word humane twenty times over which humane is from the earth to say Christ is humane thy knowledge is from the ground earthy and he hath no Scripture for it he saith that the soul is immortal Pr. And he saith it is the Devil to keep people to live and die in their sins and he that cryes free grace through the death of the man Christ Jesus that sinners doth attain to eternal life and deny his own righteousness this he saith is a notion and saith he is empty of sanctified grace Answ The grace that comes from Christ it seasons the heart and the words are sanctified and this is not a notion but all be in the notion that speak of the thing and be out of the grace and salvation and you that believe people must have sin whilst they are upon the earth are them that keepes people in their sins and so hath judged thy self to be the Minister of sin as thou maist read the fruits in thy own book Pr. John Bunian saith he that confesseth Christ come in the flesh and was crucified taken from the Crosse and risen he that believes this is not Antichrist Answ The Pope and all the prophane people in Christendom called Christians will confesse this in the form without them and they that denies the power for Christ is the power of God and that I say is Antichrist he that hath not Christ in him is a reprobate and so would make thy self and all Professors the Pope and all hirelings not to be Antichrist and are all on heapes one amongst another that 's a mark of Antichrist though they may have all in the form Christ and the Prophets words which denyes the power yet confesse Christ without he that denyes the power denyes Christ and so he is Antichrist who denyes the light which Christ hath enlightened him withall Prin. Man at his coming into the world he hath conscience but he hath not the spirit of Christ Answ Man at his coming into the world hath a light from Christ him by whom the world was made which is more then conscience but he that hates the light abids in darkness and so is not like to receive the spirit but is reproved with it Pr. They say them that are carried away by the convictions of conscience are misinformed by the devil Answ This light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world which he cals conscience teaching and misinforming by the devill is the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that through it they might believe and is not conscience and he that believes hath the witness in himself and that all might hear the Son and confesse him to the glory of God and therefore are enlightened who was glorified with the Father before the world began and Christ bids them believe in the light which believing in hath the light of life but he that believes not is condemned already and them that hate the light are them that are informed by the devil Pr. Now they say he converts a new birth perswading them it is wrought by following the light and this he sayes is like Baals Priests Answ That 's contrary to Christ who saith I am the light and he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life he that believes in the light shall become a childe of the light and this is far above Baals Priests and all that hates it hates Christ and these are Baals Priests that hate the light Pr. And they say that the spirit of Christ convinceth of sin and yet they say all hath it not and yet it shall convince and reprove the world Answ Now it s one thing to be reproved and another thing to receive that which doth reprove
for the believer in the light is led with the spirit of truth into all truth and he that believes not in the Light is with the spirit of truth reproved Pr. They say for one to be convinced of his sins against the Law and have some power against them these they call miserable blind Pharisees Ans Them that was blind Pharisees transgressed the Law of God lived out of the power and that which convinced of the transgression of the Law so they said and did not and wo was pronounced against them and so judgement came to be neglected and the doers of the Law was justified and not called blind Pharisees and that was in its place but Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness sake to them that believes and those was not called blind Pharisees which followed that which shewed them the transgression of the Law for those was the doers Pr. They say the spirit shall convince all men and women sufficiently of that righteousness which Christ fulfilled Ans That which doth convince of righteousness all men and women as thou coâ—fesseth if they believe in the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall it will lead them from their own righteousness and be their teacher and come to be taught of God Pr. They say the light convinceth of sin against the Law but will not shew a soul a Saviour or a deliverer Answ That 's contrary to the Apostle who saith the light that shined in their hearts will give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ who is the Saviour and he shall be my salvation to the ends of the earth covenant to Jewes and Gentiles Pr. They say the light will not shew a man his lost condition righteousness blood death resurrection and intercession of Jesus Christ. Answ There 's nothing makes manifest but light Nor none knowes the blood death righteousness and resurrection of Jesus Christ but with the light which comes from Jesus Christ who hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world and that 's it shall give all men assurance that he is raised from the dead the light of the body is the eye that lets see salvation Pr. They say Christ went away into heaven from his Disciples and so not within them Answ Did not he say he would come again to them did he not say he was in them I in you and did not the Apostle say Christ was in them except they were reprobates the hope of glory was not he revealed in the Apostle and so in him and did not the Apostle Preach Christ within and you Preach Christ with out Prin. They say that those believers that are in the body now at this day are absent from the Lord. Answ Doth not the Apostle say that Christ is in them except they be reprobates and he is in them the hope of glory and they have fellowship with God and God will dwell in them and walk in them and he that believes believes in him in Christ so not absent Pr. And they say he is absent from them as touching his flesh Answ Doth not the Apostle say that they are of his flesh and of his bone and he that eats not his flesh hath no life in him and they fit in heavenly places with him and he that eats his flesh hath it within him Pr. They say that there is not any heaven within into which the man Christ is ascended for can any man contain a man four foot long Answ Christ is a mystery and is not he to be revealed within who is a mystery he who did ascend to be revealed and made manifest in his Saints in flesh and spirit that did descend which is now manifested that the world wonders at that is ascended far above the heavens who is the Saints life living bread and drink and where ever used the Ministers of Christ any such expressions as thou doth which shews that Christ is yet to thee a mystery Prin. They say Stars falling from heaven is professors falling from the faith to the earth Answ This is fulfilled upon you all who have given Judgement upon your selves and so from the faith in which is the unitie in which men please God and hath victory over the world and this you may read since the dayes of the Apostle who are fallen all down into the earth for mony and stipends Pr. They say that God hath given assurance to all men and commands all to repent every where in that he will Judge the world in righteousnesse by the man Christ Jesus Answ That every man that cometh into the world is enlightened by Christ the light of the world him by whom it was made who will give them a reward according to their works that denyes his Light and are found in the works of daâ—kness â—r They say That the end of Christs coming is that the people of God should shine as the sun and the cause that hinders them for shining is the body of death Answ The righteous and the Saints comes to witnesse the body of sin put off and thanks God who hath given them victory and comes into the second Adam the Lord from heaven out of the first Adam where the shining state is witnessed the holy mount of God the city that cannot be hid Pr. They say If a mans obedience flow not from the faith it is but sin in the sight of the great God Ans And yet they say faith is not perfect in the measure and degree Pr. And they say Four times that Christ ascended away from his Disciples and was not in them Ans And Christ said I in you you in me and he would come and dwell in them and make his abode with them which the Apostles came to witness and sate with him in heavenly places Pr. They say that the man Christ that was crucified his body is now in the presence of his Father absent from his people as touching his bodily presence Answ Doth not the Apostle say he is the head of the Church And doth not the Apostle say they are of his flesh and bone and sit with him in heavenly places with Christ And Christ saith they must eat his flesh and he is in them Pr. And they say that Christ is absent from the Saints in the world its clear Answ When the Apostle saith Christ was in the Saints and Christ in you the hope of glory And the Apostle saith he hath revealed the Son in him And he that hath not the Son of God hath not life And after the same Christ which was crucified and risen came to be manifest in his Saints and not another And so the Saints come to feed upon his flesh and drink his blood which is their life which body Christ gives for the the life of the world and which blood appeaseth the wrath of the Almighty And as for the rest of John Burton and John Bunians lyes and slanders they are