desired that some few might speak yet the Men and Women let loose their Tongues at their Pleasure some railing and gnashing on us with their Teeth Rep. But Francis why hast thou not set down the Names of those that did so Oh shameless Man to publish such Lyes in Print dost thou think to hide thy self under this pitiful Covering but Francis I have not yet forgot thine and thy Brother Odde's rude Speeches and unsavoury Carriages some of which are already in Print what he said at his coming in and going out of the Meeting calling us Dogs Dogs and Vipers too In page 4. Francis saith Know you Deceivers that many already see by the Light of the Word of God and many I hope more daily shall that these are no slanders but a faithful witnessing given by us against you Reply And to prove us Deceivers he tells us of some of his Brethren he calls Ministers have writ Books against us which Books have been already answer'd by us and their dark Works detected but Francis if thou wast not wholly in Darkness thou would'st see thy Folly in taking this Way to prove the Matter for if this be the only Way to prove thee and thy Brethren Deceivers then remember how many Books have been published in Print with our Names to them against you Hireling Priests Envious Professors these twenty Years whereby you have been marked out by your Fruits and Doctrines to be apostatized from the true Faith and Practice of the true Apostles and Ministers of Christ and are discovered thereby to be walking in the Steps of the false in whose Steps I number you who appear to be Enemies to the true Light Page 5. F. H. saith He is falsly reported of to have said and affirm that every one is enlightned with the Light of Christ is cursed Idolatry and again he is falsly reported to say that every one is enlightned I grant but not with the Light of Christ Reply But F. H. art not thou ashamed thus to tell Lyes in Print and to deny that which thy Tongue spake then in the hearing of many Witnesses and which thy Hand here hath set down whereby thou contradictest thy self for say'st thou at the very following Words by which thou chargest us for wronging of thee in saying that the Light of Christ is cursed idolatry say'st thoâ— What the Idolatry is you shall hear more largely whereby thou hast acknowledged the Charge Again page 5. F. H. saith Thus I constantly affirm that all Men are by Christ who is the true God and Eternal Life enlightned with the Light of Nature of which you shall hear more hereafter and what he saith of this Christ which he saith gives unto all Men a Natural Light Page 5. S. C. asks what is it then that they are enlightned with F. H. A Creature S. C. What Kind of Creature c. passing by your absurd asking whether it be a Man or a Beast I answer I said Deceivers that the Light in all Men is created c. Rep. I shall place this to thy Account which increaseth thy Lyes and Slanders of the Innocent for thou didst say that the Light was a Creature and now thou say'st that the Light in all Men is created but what Advantage thou hast gotten by telling this Lye and altering thy Word from a Creature to Created I cannot see except it be to abuse us by thy Lyes whose Reward will be according to thy Work if thou repentest not And whereas thou say'st That we rend thee or rail on thee because thou wilt not blaspheme the true God with the Quakers and term the Light that is in all Men by Nature is the one Jehovah I say this is a false Accusation and to call the Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Natural is gross Darkness and are thy Words and not ours nor Scripture-Words for we say and affirm that Light that shineth in and unto every Man and which gives him the Knowledge of what is good and what is evil is pure and spiritual and comes from God who is a Spirit Page 6. F. H. saith Col. 1.27 To whom God will make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery amongst the Gentiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory this saith he they prophainly with daubing Flattery apply to all men and the Light that is in all men this is Christ in them all the Hope of Glory Rep. Here thou hast ignorantly or willingly belyed us for we never did fo say or affirm that the Light of Christ that shines and appears unto all Men is Salvation unto all or the Hope of Glory in all for many there be that are condemned by it because they hate it and as Christ saith will not bring their Deeds unto it because their Deeds are Evil Joh. 3.19 20. So that the Light of Christ is the Hope of Glory in them that believe in it and obey it which is according to Simeon's Testimony a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel Luke 2.32 Page 6. F. H. saith Another Scripture they bring to set up their false God is Rom. 10.8 The Word is nigh in thy Heart and in thy Mouth that is the Word of Faith which we preach this they compare with John 1. and from these Words here spoken of is Christ the Word who was in the Beginning Christ the Light who is God who is they say in the Heart of every man Rep. Now Francis if thou were not wholly in Darkness thou would'st not thus manifest thy own Shame and give me so fair an Opportunity to lay open thy Weakness unto all People but the Day is come in which the Secrets of all Hearts are to be made manifest and the hidden Things of Esau sought out and the Lord is uncovering the Skirts of the Whore and stripping her of all her various Dresses and uncovering the Nakedness of her and her Merchants and now at the Light of this glorious Day the Heathens rage and the People that live in Darkness are angry and now consider thy own Confusion who art speaking against us for accounting that to Christ or the Appearance of Christ which is spoken of Rom. 10. now read what the Scriptures say and see if thou canst make any Thing else of it without wresting of the Scriptures but Christ and his spiritual Appearance to the Heart and Soul of Man Bâ—â— the Righteousness which is by Faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring Christ again from the Dead but saith it the Word is nigh thee even in thy Heart c. And John 1. In the Beginning was the Word and that Word was with God and that Word was God c. And so we declare it to be as we have received it even as the Scriptures testifie of it
and whosoever receives this Word and Light into their Hearts and continue therein it will bow their Hearts unto the true and living God and keep them from following or worshipping any false God and they shall and do fear following such Teachers who cry Lo here is Christ or lo there is Christ in Carnal Ordinance or in Outward Observation but through waiting upon God in the Exercise of their Hearts and Minds with this precious Light and Word of Faith they know it to be unto them as it was unto David a Light unto their Feet and a Lamp unto their Paths As concerning G. F. the Younger and William Smith whom I knew very well and have this Testimony to bear for them that they were faithful Men in their Day and were well accomplished with Wisdom Zeal and Courage to declare God's Truth and to publish the blessed Gospel as they had received of the Lord and were not ashamed nor afraid to confess Christ to be the true Light before Men whose Testimony we own Page the 7. Line 1. F. H. saith Be astonished O ye Heavens and be ye utterly frighted rend your Hearts and not your Garments that hear these and the like Blasphemies which fills the Books and Speeches of this Generation who cloaâ—h their false Christ and cursed Idol the Light which is in all men by Nature with the secret Names and divine Attributes c. Rep. Now mark this Man's Deceit and Baseness towards us and the precious Truth of our God which we profess which is pure and spiritual and comes from God the Father of Spirits and Light and is the same Yesterday to Day and forever God blessed forever which he calls a Natural Light and a Cursed Idol saith he the Light in all Men if this Man was not darkened with Envy and Malice he would never manifest so much Madness as he doth and to be revenged of us he rails and blasphemes against the true God and Jesus Christ for mark all that read these Lines which are his own Words saith he Who cloath their false Christ and cursed Idol the Light which is in all men And now see what John s Testimony is of Christ John 1.9 the Words are these That was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and again John 8.12 And this is the God and Christ whom thou hast cursed which is a Light in all Men whereby thou hast manifested by thy Words that the Spirit of God doth not dwell in thee For no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed 1 Cor. 12.3 Now if this Man thinks that he hath not called Jesus accursed let him tell us setting God and Christ aside what it is that is Light in all Men or doth give Light unto all Men let us see what he saith with his own Tongue and writes with his own Hand of Christ page 5. Line 16. saith he I constantly affirm that all men are by Christ who is the true God and Eternal Life enlightned with the Light of Nature which saith he in page 7. is a cursed Idol And thus his Confusion is made manifest and he to be one of the Merchants of Babylon Rep. He saith in Page 5. of our Book he pretended plainly to confess the Christ but he tells us that he will not believe me and then asks Whether the Virgin Mary 's Son be the Christ that we preach he answers his own Question and saith No like his Brother Thomas Hiâ—ks who made a Dialogue feigning and pretending of A Discourse between a Christian and a Quaker which in Truth and Reality was no such matter but himself stated what Question he pleased and answered them how he would but this know both Presbyterians and Baptists and all others which combine together against the Truth and to withstand the Appearance of God in this the Day of his Power and although Hand joyn in Hand yet the Wicked shall not go unpunished And I tell thee Thou hast made an ungodly Answer for us but however I have in that and in this made a true Confession of my Faith in Christ and have the Evidence of a Good Conscience in what I have done and whether thou â—r any other who envieth me for the Truth 's sake will believe me or not that is little matter to me F. H. asks a Question pag. 6. What say you of John 17.1 These words spake Jesus and lift up his Eyes to Heaven Rep. I say it was well in Christ who was and is in Heaven John 3.13 but that is no Proof that every Pharisee that imitates him doth well or is accepted Remember what Christ saith of thy Brother Pharisee who justified himself and was condemned of Christ but the poor Publican would not so much as lift up his Eyes to Heaven but smote upon his Breast saying God be Merciful to me a Sinner I tell you saith Christ this Man went down to his House rather justified Pag. 11. F. H. saith S. C. tells another notorious Lye that these men had declared That some Children before they were born were in a State of Damnation And this makes way for another Abominable Lye where he brings in Mr. Oddey All fell in Adam and so Children before they are born are Vessels of Wrath and for Destruction We testifie the Truth that we never said that any Children before they were born or any else were in a state of Damnation till with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell Rep. As to thy soul Mouth and bitter Speech saying I Lye in those two Passages that I have related of your words and Doctrine that you say and preach That some Children are in a state of Damnation or guilty of Condemnation before they are born that I know and am able to prove if you had denyed it but Joseph Oddey hath confessed it as I shall make it appear so that your Railing against me is manifest to be out of Envy and to cover your selves to the People For you have preached that in the dark which you are ashamed should be brought to the Light and thinking to cover thy self thou runnest into another Extream and sayst We testifie the Truth that we never said that any Children before they were born or any else were in a state of Damnation till with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell What Mad Bedlam Stuff is this Was ever the like heard of by one that would be called a Minister of Christ and doth not know that the Vessels of Wrath are fitted for Destruction through Disobedience and Rebellion against God before they be cast into Hell But Francâ—â— remember thy self Didst thou never say That none were Damned nor in a state of Damnation How often have you pronounced that Sentence There remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation of the Lord against Henry Bostock And how much hast thou said lâ—ss of the Quakers in general Whereby
it appears how thou contradictest thy self pag. 8. Thou pretendest Grief for thy Country-men who sayest thou flee from the Antichrist the Whore of Babylon and falls into the Pit of the Damnable Heresie of this Antichrist the Quakers Now can any be led by a Damnable Principle and they at the same time not in a State of Condemnation O gross Darkness And doth not Christ say This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness And doth not the Scripture say He that believeth not is condemned already But saith F. H. There is none in a state of Damnation until with Dives they lift up their Eyes in Hell O great Confusion and Contradiction and contrary to the Scripture of Truth Pag. 13. F. H. saith He brings me in reading the Grace of God that brought Salvation hath appeared unto Men leaving out the word All which I testifie in God's Sight to my best Knowledge is utterly Falshood Rep. A pitiful Shift indeed to cover thy Deceit but altogether too short to do it What dost thou and thy Brother Oddey cry out against me for belying thee in this Matter in saying thou readst it wrong Tit. 2.11 and left out the word All and now bringest no Witness to prove me a Lyar nay far short of that for thou hast not here affirmed it thy self that thou read the Scripture as it is but sayst To the best of thy Knowledge thou didst but yet while thou art giving an Account of the Matter thou tellst us That thou dost not use to read that Scripture as it is But Francis in the Light that that thou hatest art thou comprehended and thy Subtilty seen and thy Deceit made manifest And I tell thee again I can prove it to thy Face that to be true which I have charged thee withal in that Matter although thou hast willingly forgotten it and further it appears by thy own words which thou hast here published in Print that what I have said of thee is true whereby there needs no further Witness then what I have from thee and thy Brother Oddey under your Own Hands Pag. 13. Read his own words which are these whereby all may see what Cause this man hath to Rail at me for saying the Truth that he left out the word All excepting this they would not have their Hearers and others know what wicked Perverters they are of the holy Scriptures pag. 13. lin 15. his words are these Now take All Men here for Every Particular I have thought it not agreeing to the Analogy and Rule of Faith to say The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared or shined on All Men. Rep. But Francis what Faith is thine that doth not allow thee to believe the Scriptures of Truth to be true or sound as they are declared by the Holy Ghost that dwelt in them that spake them as it is written 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophecy came not in Old Time by the Will of Man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost May not I and others that read thy words justly judge thee out of thy own Mouth that thou art the Man and art in that State that thou sayest of the Quakers and canst not prove it neither by our Words or Writings but thou art apostatized from the true and living Faith that was once delivered to the Saints For the Apostle saith Titus 2.11 For the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all men and further it is said 1 Tim. 2.4 where it is said God would have all men to be saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth And thou sayst that it doth not stand with thy Rule of Faith whereby it appears that thou art not of the Apostles Faith for if thou wast in their Faith thou wouldst own and believe their words to be more certain to be the Mind of God then thy Thoughts But I tell thee thou Merchant of Babylon Thy Corrupt Thoughts have deceived thee in this weighty Matter and the Enemy of thy Soul hath blinded thee as he hath in several other things concerning us But how should we expect better from thee but Wresting and Perverting our Words when thou art so much in the dark as to tell us in print That to read and take the Apostles words as they are spoken doth not agree with thy Rule of Faith whereby it plainly appears thou hast not the Faith of God's Elect for if thou hadst thou wouldst be of the same Mind thâ—â—â—â—ey were in Pag. 13. F. H. saith these words I say in the Fear of Jehovah all you that believe or fear no New or Strange Gods no False Christ not this False Christ of the Quakers that Light that is in all men Rep. It was alwayes the Way and Practice of Deceivers in all Ages to labour to keep the People in Darkness and Blindness and ignorant of the Appearance of the true and living God as God is pleased to appear and manifest himself unto the Sons and Daughters of men for the saving of their Souls and the Way by which they carry on their Ungodly Wâ—rks was the Way that this our Adversary and Enemy of the Appearance of the true God and Jesus Christ in our Day now taketh whereby he is manifeâ—ted by his Fruits to be in the Steps of his Fore-fatherâ— who envy d the lust who said that which was really True was False and that which was God was a Devil and that whiâ—h was of God and came from God to be of the Devil whereby they stirred up the People that followed them and believed them to envy the Prophets and in their Envy â—age and Fury the Priests had stirred them up unto to persecute Christ although the Scriptures bear Testimony very plainly that he was the true Messiah and Saviour of the World yet they would call him a Deceiver and those that were Followers of him and Believers in his Name deceived by him and so said of him He deceived the People And thus doth F. H. now who treads in the Steps of his Fore Fathers the High Pâ—iests who calls the True Christ a False Christ and those that believe in his Name and are led and guided by his Heavenly and Spiritual Light which is the Way of Life to be deceived and Deceivers F. H. saith pag. 13. towards the latter-end of his Book And know Deceivers though you tell us a Thousand Times over that you own Jesus of Nazareth till you repent and renounce youâ— False Christ the Light in all men till you CAST THAT YOUR IDOL TO THE BATS AND MOLES WE WILL LOOK UPON YOU AS DECEIVERS Rep. Herein thou hast manifested thy self to be of that Generation who said to Christ Come doâ—â—â—â—â—m the Cross and we will believe thee and commanded the Apostles that they should preach no more in the Name of Jesus And thou sayst Till we cast away the Christ which is the Light in all men thou wilt