and that in publick which was the old Testament But James Naylor saith he may read all his life the Letter of the Scriptures and therewith come amongst the Parish Ministers and never discern the voyce of Christ See page 45. in his book against Moore To the which I answer It is true that such who are none of the sheep of Christ may indeed read the Scriptures and heare them read and preached all their lives and yet never know the voyce of Christ in them so as to follow him but they will rather follow strangers instance James Naylor But such who are his sheep they know his voyce and will follow him and not the stranger yea by what means soever he speaketh unto them mediatly or immediatly and they account the Scripture as the word of God himselfe as if he should speak unto them by an audible voyce and they know them to be written for their learning that they through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope And it is no disparagement to the Scripture the Letter as he calls it that some despise it and regard it not but undervalue it and let it slip Nor to the words of Christ himselfe and his Apostles nor to his Ministers now because many people did not profit by them nor do not know them in regard they are not mixed with faith in such as heare them For it is they that are of God they hear Gods word and they that are Christs sheep know his voyce and obey and follow him But some therefore heare them not because they are not of God and some obey not his voyce because they are none of his sheep John 10 and Chap. 8.47 But Naylor often produceth the non-proficiencie of the people as a ground of disparagement to the Ministers of the word yea and to the word it self the Letter I mean the which I shall prove to be the word of God And first that there is not onely one but many words of God and so called in Scripture it is plain to any rational Christian that knoweth the Scriptures 1. Psalm 12.6 The words of the Lord are pure words like silver tried in a Furnace of earth purified seven times 1 Arg. Now the words of the Lord are words of God 2 Arg. And words in the plural number must needs include more then one Conclus Therefore there is as certainly as that the Scripture is true more words of God then one spoken of in Scripture 2. Prov. v 30.5 Every word of God is pure he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him Now this word Every includeth more then either one or two words and that of God 3. 1 Thess 2.13 where the Apostle saith Because when yee received the word of God which ye heard of us yee received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God From whence it is clear that the word which they heard of the Apostles was in truth the word of God Even that audible word which they heard of the Apostles yea heard them speak 4. 1 Tim. 5.17 Especially them that labour in the Word and Doctrine 5. 2 Tim. 2.9 But the word of God is not bound 6. Heb. 6.5 And have tasted of the good word of God 7. Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth 8. And verse 21. And receive with meeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls And verse 22. And be yee doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiving your own souls Quest Can any of these be meant of Christ How improper had it been to have said Be ye Doers of Christ in stead of Be ye doers of the word 9. See Deut. 8.3 But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Obser Observe how improper it had been to have said Every Christ that proceedeth out of the mouth of God 10. Psa 68.11 The Lord gave the word great was the company of those that published it Observe It it is not said him but It. 11. Isai 2.3 For out of Zyon shall go forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem 12. Jer. 6.10 The word of the Lord is unto them a reproach they have no delight in it 13. Amos 8.11 12. A famine of hearing the words of the Lord. 14. Matth. 13.23 He that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it And Luke 8.11 12. 15. The seed is the word of God Those by the way side are they that heard then cometh the Devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved Could the Devil take Christ out of their hearts after once received how absurd were it 16. John 5.24 He that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life 17. Acts 4.31 And they spake the word of God boldly 18. Acts 6.2 It is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve the tables And verse 7. And the word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly Quest. Had it been proper to have said That Christ increased 19. Acts 8.14 15 16. Samaria had received the word of God and yet the holy Ghost was not come down upon any of them Conseq So they had received the Word but not the Spirit and so not Christ by James Naylors account if there be no more but Christ 20. Act 12.24 But the word of God grew and multiplied Did Christ grow and multiply See also chap. 13.44 and verse 46 48 49. And chap. 15.35 36. And chap. 19.20 2 Cor. 4.2 Ephes 6.17 All which are clearly meant of the teaching and preaching of the word of God and of the growth thereof Assertion 2. to wit That what ever God hath spoken is his word or words The which I prove thus it is written Exod 20.1 And God spake all these words saying Conseq Therefore when God speaketh his expressions are called words or a word See Psalm 68.11 The Lord gave the word great was the Company of those that published it Arg. But if what God speaketh is his word or words Conseq Then it must necessarily follow that all Scripture is the word of God and the particular words of it are words of God and altogether they are his word See Heb. 1.2 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake unto our Fathers in times past by the Prophets hath in these last times spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the worâ—ds See also Chap. 12.25 See that yee refuse not him that speaketh Also Luke 1.69 As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began Observe he spake it by the mouth of his holy Prophets and of his Apostles and af his Son Therefore all such speakings and expressions are the words and
word of God 3 Assertion To wit What ever Christ hath spoken who is the essential word is also the word of God Reason First because he is the Sonne and Heire yea and even God himself and not only man For in him dwelleth the sulnesse of the Godhead bodily He whom God hath sent speaketh the word of God John 3.34 Therefore what words he spake were the words of God and therefore it was truly said of him by the people to wit Never man spake like this man Coloss 3.16 And therefore it behoveth us not to let the words of Christ slip but to let it dwell richly in us in all wisdom John 3.34 For his words are the words of the word of God He whom God hath sent speaketh Gods words The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life The fourth and fifth Assertion proved Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall Deut. 4.2 You shal not add unto the word that I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that yee may keep the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you Observe that he enjoyns them that they shall take heed unto the word which he commands them speaking in the singular number as if it were but one word But when he shewes them the end of this his Take heed he expresseth it in the plurall number and maketh that plurality the same in the conclusion to wit That you may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command you Clearly shewing that that word which he commanded them in the singular number was the Commandements of the Lord their God in the plural number So that it is evident that all the words and commandements of God in the whole Scripture being the words of God by whomsoever held forth may properly and truly and justly be called the word of God in the singular number Reason For as God spake those ten Commandements and writ then upon two Tables see verse 13. so all the rest of the scripture is not onely spoken but written and every part of it written or spoken by Holy men of God as they were moved by the spirit of God that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope And there is none that is ordained to eternall life but if hee read the Scriptures or heareth them read or spoken but if he understand them he doth believe them And there is no man justified through faith in Christ but he loveth the Scriptures and will own them as words of Spirit and Life and not account them as a dead Letter but as the word of God and as words of eternal life in which there is spirit and spiritual life communicative unto them yea even every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is as spiritual food and nourishment whereby they grow up unto greater degrees of spirituall life where it is begun and whereby they presse forward unto perfection Those precious promises therein contained are the savour of life unto life unto them and they cannot but relish them as sweeter to them then the hony and the hony comb They cannot but with David love Gods Law and it is their meditation continually they doe esteem of the words of his mouth more then their appointed food they doe account them as a Lanthorn unto their feet and a light unto all their paths they grow thereby to be wiser then their Teachers because they keep them and to have more understanding then the ancients because they keep his precepts His words are sweet unto their taste yea sweeter then hony unto their mouth They vow and doe resolve that they will keep his righteous judgements Read much of this Psalm 119. All that are men and women after Gods own heart have the same spirit of love to and delight in and beliefe of and benefit and comfort by and from the sacred Word Law Precepts Judgments Statutes and Promises contained in the Scriptures and therefore cannot but hate every false way or contradictious way or way and works or words whatsoever that tend to the disparagement or contradiction thereof And therefore it was that our dear Saviour honored them so much as that he kept all Gods Law and fulfilled it perfectly and witnessed also that Men therefore erred because they knew not the Scripptures nor the power of God And he opened the understanding of his Disciples that they might understand the scriptures And he opened the heart of Lidia that she attended to the things that Paul spake And it is enjoyned unto Kings that they shall write them a Copie of the Law in a book which shall be with them that they may read therein all the dayes of their life that they may learn to seare the Lord their God and keep all the words of the Law and of the Statutes to doe them that their hearts be not lifted up above their brethren and that they turn not aside from the Commandement to the right hand or to the left to the end that they may prolong their dayes in their Kingdome See Deut. 17.18 19 20. Timothy was commanded to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine 1 Tim. 4.13 These and many such like which I might produce are farre unsuitable to the Spirit and Doctrine of James Naylor which directeth onely to a light within which in many is clouded with sottish ignorance till they hear the Word which is ordained of God to save them that believe and is the meanes which they ought to use for getting that light and spirituall understanding which the Fountain of wisdome holdeth forth therein and doth thereby communicate to his poore dull ignorant creatures his Spirit being with it and as the Porter of their understandings that they may understand them and comprehend in measure those internall hidden and secret mysteries therein contained The Apostle Paul had served God with pure conscience from his fore-fathers and yet his light within informed not his conscience but that he thought it his duty to doe many things against the name of Jesus insomuch as through pure zeale persecuted the Church and wasted it exceedingly til he was called to from heaven See 2 Tim 1.3 And that notwithstanding all his learnednesse in the Scriptures and blamelesnesse of life concerning the Law For the reason was not because he knew not the Scriptures or did not search them but because he did not understand them aright but according to the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees which had clouded them so to him so that he did not know them in their genuine sense and proper meaning but under a false glosse For else he should not have erred for saith Christ ye therefore erre because ye know net the Scriptures nor the power of God And biddeth Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of me And the Scriptures are alle to make us wise unto salvation yea to make
the Saints and servants of God almost over all the world accounting them all but Litteralists as hath been shewed in part and is easily demonstrated from divers of their books those of themselves onely excepted And is it not alwayes so with Satan in his trading with Witches that before hee granteth them a familiar spirit to be their servant hee ever ingageth them under a degree of blasphemie as to speake evill of God or Christ and of his holy Spirit and it may be to renounce and curse them in a fearefull manner And then hee knoweth that he hath them sure as quite from under the protection of God and so ingageth them in covenant and league with himselfe in a mutuall way for hee knoweth his libertie and commission from God and that hee is chained within such bounds and limitts that hee cannot passe For till the Lord hath delivered them up to his power and government hee cannot act them at his will and pleasure And hee well knoweth that hee must bring them under some degree of blasphemie or such a measure of sinne as will provoke the Lord to deliver them up to his will and pleasure else hee cannot doe them the least harme at all much lesse can he use them as Instruments for his owne service and to make them his slaves and vassalls to doe his drudgery and act for him in things that concerne his kingdome yea and such things likewise as hee could no wayes effect without their assistance as I might instance in many examples that I have read in Histories concerning divers Witches how it was with them in that case by their owne confessions to which Histories I shall referre the Reader But in my apprehension the case is just the same with these deluded people called Quakers For they being a people that beleeved not the truth so as to receive it in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse see 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Though they heard the Word both read and preached and that with authoritie and power yet it did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith And so could not possibly worke them up to receive it in love because they having pleasure in unrighteousnesse the word was unto them unsavourie yea the savour of death unto death and therefore put away from them and not beleeved and embraced as they ought to have done In so much that not loving and receiving the word of truth they could not love and receive the Ministers and Messengers of it in regard they brought no glad tidings of peace unto them whiles they loved unrighteousnesse Upon which occasion of advantage Satan sent forth his Ministers first the prophane Ranters perswading them to forsake the teachings of men and to liften to that light within in their consciences for they were all taught of God to love one another and that light within was the teaching of the Spirit and that of men was but carnall nor the Scripture it selfe was but carnall and a dead letter and the Bible might be burnt and bought and sold and might be read all their life without any profit or benefit to their soules whereas that light and spirit within them was of an eternall nature and an infallible guide so that obeying that light they could not erre but should be sure of perfection and of eternall life Now these poore ignorant unstable soules finding it true that they had not received any great benefit nor life and comfort by the word and ministrations of men in any other way or ordinance of so long time They immediately embraced and received their doctrine and so fell in with them to despise all ordinances and ministrations of men and even the Scripture it selfe and fell to reviling them and calling them carnall and hirelings and traders with the Word and such as looked onely for gaine from their quarter and such like language as is notoriously knowne But then their spirit within taught and lead them to such prophanenesse and excessive open wickednesse as to commit adultery and fornication and to father the same on the Spirit of God as moved by him which was outragious blasphemy such horrid impietie that no man almost that ever knew what belonged unto common civilitie could for shame owne them or their wayes or doctrine but cryed out shame against them But Satan perceiving his doctrine and kingdome to decay by reason of this excesse of wickednesse Hee put his Ministers into another garbe and also some little refined his doctrine in some inferiour points provided alwayes that his maine might stand to wit against the Scriptures and the teachings of men and ordinances c. and that they should onely listen to that light and spirit within For this they still preach and father blasphemously on the Spirit of God But then for much of outward prophanenesse they cry out against as much as possible and as if they were indeed the Ministers of Christ and plead extreamely for perfection professing themselves to have already attained it And Satan hath so farre moulded them as to make some shew of holinesse and of humilitie and righteousnesse in externall things and hath so farre deluded them as that some of them thinke and are fully perswaded that they are perfect and free from sinne and that it is certaine that it is no other but the spirit of God that hath so moulded them and that dwelleth in them and acteth and mooveth them so that what ever they are taught or mooved unto by that Spirit they dare not disobey nor cannot beleeve that it is not true or just c. Nay though an Angell from he even should teach them contrary in so much that they are bold and consident in the maintenance of their doctrines and ceremonies and wayes as if they were certainly witnessed by the Spirit of God as is publicity knowne And so being deluded themselves they are the more powerfull to delude others for Satan acteth them at pleasure and they are spirited by him to preach and pray and promulgate his doctrine in all places where they come and that with life and power even subverting whole houses and beguiling many unstable soules First By working them up to a dislike of the Ministers and then of all ordinances and then of the Scriptures as all but carnall and dead and vaine and unprofitable unto them as is easie to doe with those who never loved them And then they bring them one step further to wit to reproach and despise them and speake evill of them which is a degree of blasphemy And then they are left to the power of Satan by the Justice of God and so are spirited by him and familiarly taught by a spirit within and acted and mooved at his will and pleasure and yet doe confidently beleeve it is the Spirit of God that sometimes speaketh with an audible voyce and they obey accordingly And thus poore soules they are led blindfold with the strongest and strangest delusions that ever
THE QUAKERS Quaking Principles EXAMINED AND REFUTED In a briefe answer to some erroneous Tenets held forth by James Naylor in his Answers unto Mr Baxter and some others that have publikely opposed that blacke spirit in the deluded Quakers Wherein is also included a serious Admonition how wee ought to behave our selves towards the Ministers of the Gospell in respect of communicating unto them and for giving to the poore so as the Gospell requires and to beware of covetousnesse and the effects thereof least wee be left of God and delivered up unto strong delusions and a blasphemous spirit instead of the Spirit of God The heads of the whole Discourse are also premised Written by ELLIS BRADSHAVVE And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lye That they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse see 2 Thess 2.11 12. LONDON Printed for Lodowicke Lloyd and are to be sould at his shop at the Castle in Cornehill 1656. TO HIS HIGHNES THE LORD PROTECTOR Of England Scotland and Ireland with the Dominions thereof MAy it please your Highnesse I have made bold being advised thereunto to presume so farre as to Dedicate and commend this little Treatise to your serious consideration The which I should not have don though advised to it being so meane a man Had I not been perswaded that your Highnes will approve of the contents hereof Or had I not also conceived that your approbation and publike owning and incouragement thereof would much tend to the glory of God and the good of his people And so by consequence also not onely to the fullfilling of your minde and desires being bent that way but it will really tend for your honour advantage in many respects which I could easily name One whereof is that though the Treatise is little yet it hath much in it that by the blessing of God may strongly tend for turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children unto their fathers as Mala 4.6 Least the Lord should come and finding us devided smite the earth with a curse I meane for so wee ought to apply it for turning the hearts of the Ministers unto the people and the hearts of the people unto their Ministers Least the Lord finding us in a devided seperated malignant posture each against others should smite the earth with a curse for our sakes instead of causing the blessing to rest in our houses upon all that we have Now it is evident that Satan and all his instruments especially the Quakers labour with all their might and are too powerfull quite to the contrary as in this Treatise it will appeare That it is the chiefe designe of Satan in the Quakers to render the Ministers odious to the people that so hee might make their doctrines and labours utterly ineffectuall And I being confident that your Highnes is not Ignorant of these things nor of the ends and devices of Satan For I have not written to your Highnes because you know not the truth but because you know it and that no lye is of the truth And againe being also confident that your Highnes much desireth and is exceeding glad of all opportunities and meanes to effect this accordance amongst all the faithfull Ministers and people of God which doth much commend the goodnesse of your spirit through the grace of God in the sight of all good men that know your minde I have made bold to commend this Treatise the more to ingage your Highnes the rather to reade it Being a little jealous least your many and great affaires should withdraw your minde to sleight and neglect it before you know it Especially in regard here is included divers pressing arguments and that from Scripture-grounds such as cannot be reproved To ingage the people in love and duty to their faithfull Ministers freely to communicate and make them pertakers with them in all good things so as the Gospell requires Which love and dutyes Christianly performed so as really to proove the naturalnes of their love will doubtles ingage the hearts of the Ministers unto the people It being the nature of true cordiall affection such love I meane as commeth of God to be reciprocall And what happinesse attendeth both the Ministers and people that are in such a case Especially in respect of the blessing of God is clearely held forth Psal 133. Behold saith David how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unitie vers 1. For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore vers 3. And so the Apostle biddeth us Be perfect be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with us 2 Cor 14.11 Now what better meanes can wee use for compleating all this happinesse to our selves and posterities Then to provoke one another unto love and to good workes And one thing I dare say that through the grace of God here are divers Arguments and doctrines for provoking to good workes which have never yet that I know of been published before either by word or writing from Gospell-foundations but in this Treatise But it is not suitable for mee to commend it but let it praise it selfe nor should I have done it at all but to ingage your Highnes not to neglect to reade it and take speciall notice of such a serious buisinesse so strongly opposed and of such high concernment to all our soules Thus hoping in God your Highnes will grant me this desired favour as with deliberation to reade it over when time will permit I Commit you to the guidance and protection of God and rest your loving faithfull and obedient Souldier ELLIS BRADSHAVVE The heads of the chiefe things herein prooved against James Naylor and others of his Complices are 1. THat it is not the Gospell nor the Scripture in generall which is called the letter by the Apostle Paul Rom 2.27.29 Chap 7.6 2 Cor 3.6 But the Law onely and that but in some respects 2. That there is more lights then one yea then that within that are properly spoken of and called lights in Scripture which Naylor denyeth 3. That there is more words of God then one and so properly called in Scripture which he denyeth 4. That the Scriptures are the words and word of God and properly so called in Scripture which hee denyeth 5. That there is no man justified by faith in Christ but he loveth the Scriptures and will owne them as words of spirit and life and that to him and therefore will not call them a dead letter and carnall c. as the Quakers doe 6. The absurditie of Naylors directorie to a light within and to desert the Scriptures and the teachings of men discovered 7. That James Naylor is not infallibly guided but either grossely erreth through delusion or is obstinately wicked in maintaining such things as
ministred by the hearing of faith preached as wel as sometimes immediatly both which administrations I own as true But I come now to his other main Tenent which chiefly tendeth to the disparagement of the Scriptures and which chiefly ingageth men to oppose him in it as a work of Sathan And why should not I whiles I am in the world what in me lieth indeavour to destroy the works of the devil see 1 Joh 3.8 He saith further in his Book against Baxter speaking of the Apostles that they did never say the letter was the Word And in his 7th Querie in the end of his Book he enquireth whether the word of God can be changed or can it admit of several meanings as to one particular thing A I Answer that James Naylor may wrest the Scriptures to his own destruction and he is not so infallible but he may misunderstand the genuine meaning 2 Pet. 3.16 2. He enquireth whether it be visible or invisible A I answer the Word was made flesh and dwelt on earth and is now visible in Heaven and yet is here invisibly in spirit in the hearts of his people but how the word was made flesh James Naylor understandeth not 3. He enquireth is there any word but one or whether was that word before the letter and shal be when the letter is turned to dust A. To which I answer that Christ the essential word is but one we own but one Christ who shal remain when the Quakers have burnt their Bibles if they wil burn them as some of them have said it were all one to them if the Bibles were all burnt Foster by name hath so exprest himself and they say they are all of one mind then such esteem they have all of the sacred scriptures which we account of as not only the word of men but the word of God as so I shal make to appear that it is not blasphemy as they most wickedly assert but our bounden duty to own and call it the word of God and that it is blasphemy in them to deny it and cal it carnal and a dead letter And the Lord assisting I shal prove 1. That there is not only one but many words yea words of God so taken in scripture 2. That what God hath spoken is his word 3. That whatever Christ hath spoken who is the essentia word is also the word of God 4. That all scriptures given by inspiration of God and all expressions of men unto which they are moved by the Holy Ghost are the words of God and that it is not they that speak but the spirit of their Father that speaketh in them 5. That every word of God is pure and also true by whomsoever spoken but nor such lies as these of the Quakers but they are the words of another spirit then the spirit of God as I trust in God to make it manifest as so I ought And before I begin for fuller satisfaction how they account of the scriptures take notice that I find it in a little Book called The holy Scriptures clearing it self from scandals or an Answer to a Book written by Richard Farnworth who is commonly called a Quaker written by Thomas Polard who had opposed them by argum nt in a publick way Which Thomas Polard saith that they cal the scripture carnal and a dead letter and say it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from the scripture is but brain knowledg And I find in a Book of Naylors against one Thomas Moore how he answereth this to wit being asked by Moore whether the writing of the Prophets and Apostles be a dead letter He answereth that without the spirit it is nor can any without that spirit that gave them forth understand them or know the voices of Prophets or Apostles aledging Luk 24.45 Act 13.27 A 1. But where doth the scripture or the spirit of God cal the scripture a dead letter or carnal and that it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from it is but brain knowledg A 2. Where is it said in scripture that the spirit of God and the scripture are seperated The words that Christ hath spoken they are spirit and they are life and Moses said unto the people set your hearts unto all the words that I testifie unto you this day which ye shal command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law for it is not a vain thing for you for it is your life and through this thing yee shall prolong your daies Deut 32.46 47. And again the law is spiritual faith saith the Apostle I am carnal Rom 7. and Prov 2. My sonn if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou incline thine ear to wisdom and apply thine heart unto understanding if thou seekest for her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God see v 1 2 3 4 5. See also Pro 3.1 2. My sonn forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandements For length of daies and long life and peace shal they add to thee see also ch 4.1 2 3 4. Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live And ver 13. Take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Consider I say whether the wisdome of God so pathetically expressing her self to us if possible to perswade us to attend and hearken to the words of his mouth and to keep his Commandements and instructions and treasure them in our hearts as words of life to our souls and marrow to our bones as in another place and that for this end we should teach them to our Children as I might be large upon any of these Texts But whether I say doth the wisdome of God account the scripture as a dead letter let all wise men judg and whether they have not in them more spirit of life and power then the words and writings of James Naylor and whether they ought not rather to be observed and beleeved and trusted in for eternal life Now it is evident that the directions of James Naylor as a way to be infallibly guided and to attaine unto life and peace and rest for our souls is one thing and these directions are another his directions are to attend and hearken to that spirit and light within though it be a question whether it be the spirit of God or a lying spirit and a question whether there be at all any light within but grosse darkness and he that is in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth til he be enlightned by the Word and Spirit But he that hateth his Brother is in darkness until this present time it were wisdom therefore for James Naylor himself to try his spirii and light by the Law and
testimonie whether it be of God yea or no for this calling of the scripture carnal and a dead letter is not like the testimony of the spirit of God which cals it spiritual and I rather beleeve that the Law is spiritual and James Naylor carnal then the Law carnal and he spiritual Now can I think that James Naylor was ever quickned and received the spirit by the hearing of faith preached nor by the operation of the word and spirit joyntly together as other beleevers for then he would never cal it but a dead letter and carnal c. if he had ever received spiritual life from it but he would love and own it above all other words and also acknowledg that he hath received light and comfort from it But he saith in his Answers to Baxter that the scripture holds out but one light and Word which I say is not true and therefore first I shal make it appear from Scripture that it houldeth out more light then one and then I shal prove my former assertions that there is more words of God then one held forth in scripture and so properly called in scripture which the Quakers cal blasphemy but the blasphemy is theirs And first for Lights Christ himself saith who is the essential Light and as it were the the original Luminary of all inferior or lesser Lights in his Sermon upon the Mount Ye are the light of the world speaking to his Disciples and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven see Matt 5.14 and 16. And again John was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light see Joh 5.35 And David saith The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple Ps 119.130 So that here is clearly more lights then one and these held forth in scripture though all proceeding from that one fountain and see also 2 Pet 1.19 We have saith the Apostle a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do wel that yee take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day starre arise in your hearts But I suppose James Nailor wil not acknowledg that he ever received any light from that sure word of Prophecie as from a ligh shining in a dark place but only some little brain knowledge of the bare letter Else he would not so reproach and disparage those that do take heed to the sure word of prophesie til they be enlightned thereby in what they were dark and did not understand For he intimateth so much as though he never needed any scripture light but had all immediatly and that by voice or immediate inspiration or both from the spirit of God all which if it were true yet it would become him better not to despise others that have it mediatly and it may be at the second third fourth hand especially some things that are hard to be understood with men that are dul of hearing as some of the Saints were to whom the Apostle writes see Heb 5.11 And lest I should seem to mistake his intimations he plainly expresseth himself in his Book against Thomas Moore pag 43.9 10 11 line where he saith I witness against thee who have received the word from his own mouth and immediate calling And that he accounteth their Ministry litteral who know not what it is to inquire at the mouth of the Lord. These are his words speaking to Thomas Moore to wit he saith he had reckoned up the names of many of the Saints of God which makes little for thy purpose who were all men that were taught in spirit and need not to run unto a Book to seek their knowledg but had the word of the Lord from Gods own mouth and there was the oracle whereat they enquired which thou wouldest make to be the letter who never knew what it was to enquire at his mouth whose Ministry is litteral see pag 28. line 16 to 24. Now these are his words and I shal not deny but even in these daies there is such men as may truly say with the Apostle to wit And trulie our fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonn Jesus Christ. But not all in a like measure the gifts and graces of God and the measures of them are various as the Lord said unto Aaron and Miriam Numb 12.6 7 8. to wit Hear now my words If there be a Prophet among you I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him in a dream My servant Moses is not so who is faithfull in all mine house with him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold wherefore then were ye not afraid to speake against my servant Moses From whence it appears there is different dispensations even amongst the Prophets of the Lord some have more apparent acquaintance and familiarity with God and those are such who are faithfull in all Gods house And some have a more dark and hidden acquaintance with and knowledge of God as it pleaseth him to communicate unto them in different measures and degrees according as they are different in measures and degrees of faithfulnesse Now Moses was faithful in all Gods house but so were not Aaron and Miriam nor the rest of the Ptophets then living though yet they were faithful in a good degree and were true Prophets of the Lord. Now I never read that Moses spake any thing at all to the disparagement of those that were inferior unto him in acquaintance with God though they spake against him as though he had assumed to much honour Say they Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed See verse 2. to 16. And the Lord himselfe vindicated Moses and was wroth with them but Moses being a meek man in stead of being angry prayed for Miriam that the Lord would heal her immediately but it could not be granted till after seven dayes so that the Lord himselfe was more severe then Moses whom she had spoken against But I find little of this meeknesse in James Naylor who accounteth himself the highest and all below him either Dwarfes or nothing like unto Christians insomuch as if they have need of a book either the Bible or any other they are despised by him as literal men in his book against Moore But Paul advised otherwise even to give attendance to reading and to exhortation and doctrine and not onely to a light within and biddeth not onely to bring his Cloake but the Books and especially the parchments In all likelihood then he himselfe made use of books and parchments Nay Christ himselfe disdained not to use a book or to read thereon
us perfect and throughly furnished unto every good work through faith which is in Christ Jesus And though it is true that the naturall man understandeth not the things of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned to wit through an eye of faith For the word doth not profit unlesse it be mixed with faith in them that hear it Yet the wisdome of God hath appointed it to be taught to our children and to our Childrens children as so it was to Timothy of a child See for this Deut. 4.9 chap. 6. 6 7 verses and 2 Tim 3.15 Now these premises considered let any wise man judge what an absurd thing it were to teach our children to look for a light within and tell them that there is a light within them even in their consciences which they ought to obey and follow even that word and light which is in their heart and in their mouth and tell them that is the word and light and the onely word and that there is no word of God but one and that word and light is within them even in their heart and in their mouth And that the Scripture is not the word of God but Christ is the word which is within them And so utterly neglect to teach them the scriptures but if they doe and will learn them yet tell them they are but a dead letter and cannot profit them till they have the spirit to interpret them aright for whiles they are carnall they have nothing to do with scriptures I say let wise men judge whether these confused contradictions and lying doctrine were not more likely to make them mad then wise unto salvation It is true that Christ is the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 But this shined in darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not verse 5. Now we must confesse that Christ is able to enlighten little children and to make them capable of comprehending of it And that so he doth to so many children as are his elect and do depart this life in their childhood and minority for Jeremiah was sanctified in the womb and John the Baptist was filled with the holy Ghost from his mothers belly And Christ himselfe vvas qualified with the blessed Deity in the very seed of the woman And yet considered as Man he did not in his minority comprehend all that light which dwelt in him bodily But considered as Man he increased in wisdom and stature and in favour both with God and man Luke 2.52 Yea though considered as GOD Hee accounted it no robbery to be equall with God yet considered as Man hee was ignorant of the times and seasons which the Father had kept in his own power Nay after he was ascended and sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high when he gave forth the Revelation of St. John he had it but at the second hand considered as Man For it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew vnto his Servants things which must shortly come to passe And hee sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John So that John had it but at the third hand though he had Christ the light resident in him as so had also the seven Churches of Asia and the Angels thereof yet they had but this Revelation at the fourth and fifth hand From all which it is evident that though GOD can and doth when he seeth it good and necessary communicate his light immediatly by his blessed Spirit unto whom he pleaseth Yet his ordinary way where means is to be had is by the foolishnesse of preaching as so the world accounteth it to save them that believe And therefore such Doctrines as these vvhich tend so directly contrary to the use of meanes are as absurd and vvicked as if they should teach their children not to eat any meat because God is able to preserve them without it Nay it is so much worse as by how much the soule is better then the body and as it is more necessary to obtain and keep and increase our spirituall life rather then our naturall For as new born Babes vvee ought to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby if vvee be as babes And if we be grown up to be men of years and of a tall stature in Christianity yet there is strong meat for us if vvee can digest it and it may be stronger then vvee are able to beare or then vvee are yet capable or comprehensive of till vvee bee grown to more perfections It vvas therefore the wisdome of Christ to keepe back many things at present from his Disciples which he had to say unto them Because they could not beare them by reason of their infirmities And so did his Apostles after his example Yea to the weake they became as weake that they might winne the weake yea they became all things unto all that they might winne the more And injoyned others to receive the weake yet not unto doubtfull disputations And telleth the strong that they ought to beare the infirmities of the weake and not to please themselves And not to destroy their weake faith for whom Christ dyed And hee whomsoever that will be a faithfull Priest or Teacher in things concerning God must follow Christs example who though he was equall with God yet tooke upon him the forme of a servant and was touched with a fellow-feeling of our infirmities that hee might be a mercifull high Priest and have compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of the way hee therefore in all things became like unto us sinne onely excepted And who ever they are that have not a fellow-feeling of their brethrens infirmities but are ready to Judge and condemne them as Reprobates because they have faylings They are no Ministers sent of God but proud boasting vaine-glorious hypocrites and shall be judged themselves as they judge others and condemned also let them looke to it for it is their sentence given by Christ himselfe And againe James Naylor professeth himselfe to be perfect and to be infallibly guided by the Spirit of God The which if it be true it is the better for him and it is further then I have yet attained though I presse forwards and earnestly desire after the same things But I finde in my selfe many infirmities and failings and many times when I would doe good evill is present with mee so that I cannot doe the good I would nor avoyde the evill that I desire and I am yet ignorant of many secrets and mysteries of the kingdome of God which I desire to know and I am much too ignorant of the wayes of God and of the witnessing and meaning of the Spirit of God Whether he heareth my prayers and granteth my requests yea or no which was a thing ordinary in the primitive times amongst the Apostles and Prophets as the Apostle saith
one that cometh into the world with what light they have of understanding and rationalitie And who knoweth not that Jesus Christ is in us except wee be Reprobates by his blessed Spirit in lesser or greater measure And who knoweth not that the word is nigh us even in our heart and in our mouth to wit the essentiall word which is Christ by his blessed Spirit if wee be his Elect And who knowath not that the ministration of the Spirit is not by the workes of the Law by which no flesh can be justified but by the hearing of faith preached because the letter of the Law killeth spiritually but the Spirit giveth life through faith and love which are in Christ Jesus And who knoweth not that God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth or not accept it But hee will be worshipped with the body also And who knoweth not that men should sing with the Spirit and with the understanding But what singing or praising of God is that which is not with the mouth I never heard such nor shall doe I thinke unlesse I heare the Angells which have not any proper mouthes And what Church is that which is in the heart our bodyes indeed are the Temples of the holy Ghost and I reade of the Church of the first-borne written in heaven but are these the Churches of the Saints spoken of in Scripture which yet some of them had their failings And who knoweth not that all that are without God and his Righteousnesse are in the world and strangers as yet to the Covenant of grace And who will not deny that faith and worship which God denyes And who knoweth not that those who have an unction from the holy One and know all things have no need that any man should teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them of all things see 1 John 2.20.27 But those who have this unction will not follow James Naylor nor his crooked and perverse doctrines for those that goe out from us are not of us see vers 19. For a stranger will they not follow for they know not the voyce of strangers Joh 10.5 But James Naylor is sent with strong delusiens to some that they might beleeve a lye that they all may be damned that receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse Qu But how is hee sent may wee Imagine Ans Not properly of God nor by his Spirit but Satan hath got commission to be a lying spirit in his mouth and in the mouthes of all his complices as hee was in the mouth of all Ahabs Prophets to deceive those who receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse If hee had a paire of hornes of Iron such as Zedekiah the sonne of Chenana made that hee might bring them to Fox and tell him that with those hee should push downe all the Ministers of God till hee had destroyed them It is very likely that Fox would beleeve him yet so doth not any Micaiah any true Prophet of the Lord though James Naylor himselfe hath prophesied so much concerning all the Ministers of God in England and elsewhere yea even all the generation of them who ever they be that will not receive and beleeve his lyes Which truly are so palpably grosse that I verily beleeve that not one Minister that is sent of God in all the world will owne for truthes though hee shuffle them up never so closely amongst the truthes of God as in that art hee is extreame cunning and it is no marvaile if that old lying spirit hath skill to teach him and be in his mouth for hee hath long used that very art and of all the arts that hee hath yet learned it is the most deceivable and therefore he hath used it longest hee deceived Eve with it when shee was pure from sinne and perfectly wise no marvaile then if hee deceive so many now that are laden with sinne and lead with divers lusts and not so wise as shee But I hope it is his last and cheifest Refuge I cannot but rejoyce to see him play this carde to transsorme himselfe into an Angell of light and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousnesse I hope it will be to his losse in the end If the Ranters doctrine would have taken amongst us hee would never have owned so many truthes and good things but that not taking hee was glad to transforme himselfe and his Ministers in new suits of apparrell not all out of course but finer wooll and smoothly woven and drest yet the designe and doctrines against the Scriptures being not owned as the word of God and in respect of disowning the teachings of men as utterly needlesse they being taught of God as they say to love one another They are just the same which the Ranters used Their designe being clearely the same with the Ranters to wit to preach downe all preachings and teachings of men though never so holy and spirituall teachings And why forsooth but because there is a promise that they shall be all taught of God using the very same Scripture-grounds which the Quakers doe and quite perverting them for the same use as the Ranters did which any spirituall understanding knoweth for certaine that they were never given forth by the holy Ghost for any such ends or uses but quite the contrary which were easie to demonstrate if it were needfull But let mee fall to question James Naylor a little as hee hath done us First Where the Scripture giveth any such directories for attaining unto life and power c. To wit That wee should onely give heed to that light within us and utterly desert all teachings of men save onely of themselves who onely direct us unto that light though it be but darknesse in comparison of what wee may learne from Scripture and from men likewise who teach us from thence by the Spirit of God Secondly Where doth the Scripture tell us that hee that is the light of the world and that inlighteneth every one that comuteth into the world doth inlighten all sufficiently and so as to guide them insallibly or that hee inlighteneth all alike and that immediately without the knowledge of the Scriptures or the teachings of men so as that they need not to teach one another saying know the Lord because all doe know him from the greatest of them even to the least of them Is the case so now that all know him what need is there then of the teachings of James Naylor and his complices if their light within them be sufficient it can teach them all that hee doth and all that he knoweth and how to eye it onely and to looke within for light and to desert and despise the teachings of men as so he doth and what else doth hee teach which is not taught by men from sacred Scripture and with more spirit and power then hee teacheth any thing and farre more rationally and convincingly in
gather strong Resolutions to take Solomons advise to wit to cast our bread upon the waters In regard that after many dayes wee shall finde it And to give a portion to seaven and also to eight in regard wee know not what evill shall be upon the earth And the advice also of our blessed Saviour to make our selves friends with the unrighteous mammon that when wee faile they may receive us into everlasting habitations Now to cast our bread upon the waters and to expect to finde it after many dayes would seeme very unlikely But though our Communicating to the Ministers or giving to the poore seeme as unlikely as that in our apprehensions for yeelding us any returne yet wee need not feare the promise of Christ is cleare wee shall in no wise loose our reward in regard wee doe it in a good intent either out of love to the Ministers or compassion to the poore or in love and obedience unto Christ or because they belong to him or for the furtherance of the Gospell and the glory of God yea though wee be not certaine that they are any such men yet if wee be not certaine to the contrary let us account it as our duty and let not covetousnesse sway us to the contrary for it will be to our losse if wee neglect our duties 3 Object A third Objection may be raised to wit That in many places the Ministers are provided for by tithes and other wayes so as they need not to us for any such communication the poore are provided for in another way according to equalitie so as wee have many of us that are Christians little occasion at all to expresse our thankfullnesse to God for his increasing of us in these respects of Communication and Distribution And therefore wee may well beleeve that our vocall and cordiall thankfullnesse to God in such a case may serve the turne Answ I answer that if wee put apart by it selfe as the Lord hath increased us with a full purpose of heart to expresse our gratitude for such his mercies when occasion is offered for workes of pietie or workes of charitie The Lord will finde us occasions suitable for disbursing the same in due time If hee that seeth our hearts see us willing and obedient and cordially thankfull as wee ought to be And so will finde us occasion to lay up our treasure in heaven where neither moth nor canker can corrupt neither theeves dig through and steale And there is one argument which might make us earnest and very diligent in seeking occasions to distribute and communicate if wee were but as wise in our generation as the men of this world If wee can beleeve what Christ hath promised us and if wee cannot doubtlesse it is our shame and will be too our losse And that is this to wit It is evident and needeth no more proofe that the men of this world are earnest and diligent in seeking how to lay out their moneys for gaine and profit and rather then let it lye rusting by they will be content with a very little as six or eight or ten in the hundreth and that for a whole yeare but in case they heare of a good bargaine either of land or merchandize how industrious they will be to buy it themselves and to prevent others and sometimes to defeat and beguile their neighbours to get it before them or take it out of their hands and very injuriously being so covetous of it But Christ hath promised us not onely ten in the hundreth but an hundreth for ten nay an hundreth fold in this present life besides in the world to come life everlasting for what ever it be that wee forsake or part withall for his sake and the Gospell And yet wee are such fooles in these respects that if occasions and necessities and it may be shame it selfe doe not finde us out and almost compell us thereto wee seldome seeke any such occasions but are likemeere unthrifts in these respects In so much that our constant practise yea I may say of the generalitie of Christians is as though wee did not beleeve any truth at all in these plaine and faithfull promises of our blessed Saviour For else without question wee should be more diligent in seeking and more glad in finding such occasions and opportunities of doing good and of communicating And I am afraid it tendeth greatly to our detriment here and in the life to come For the manifest wisdome of the men of this world in their generation and things of this life shall certainly rise up in Judgement against us and condemne our folly for having a price in our hands and opportunities offred us and neglecting to take them whiles wee have time And knowing also both the uncertaintie of riches and of our time and lives as wee cannot but know and see by experience And considering also that wee cannot deny but if wee take it not and be obedient and free and liberall in these respects wee neglect our duties both to God and men The Lord grant us more solid wisdome in these respects then is yet exemplified amongst the best of Christians else our reckoning will be poore when wee come to account how wee have traded with our Talents lent us for this purpose with direction how to use them for the glory of God and the good of men yea for the advancement and furtherance of the Gospell of Christ and for the proofe and exemplifying of the naturallnesse of our love and the truth and visibilitie of our Christianitie and unfained faith and obedience unto God And let us consider a little further to wit What love and respects the Ministers of the Gospell both doe and ought to exspect from us and that not in word and in tongue onely but in deed and in truth Especially considering that wee ought to account them as spirituall Fathers whom wee ought to love and to obey and honour as such if wee be children spiritually begotten And it is but naturall to us that wee should so doe so that wee can hardly doe otherwise if wee be not bastards And wee are necessarily ingaged if wee expect their blessings of us to be effectuall To make them savourie meate that their soules may blesse us as Isaac said to his sonne Esau For it is not bare verball formall blessings that will be efficacious to cause the blessing to rest in our houses and on all that wee have But it must be their faithfull cordiall soule-blessings that can be effectuall or that wee may trust unto to be certainly efficacious as blessings indeed For how can wee expect any such cordiall soule-blessings from such whom wee make not any savorie meate such as their soule loveth if wee shew no love either to God or the Lord Jesus Christ or his faithfull Embassadors and servants how shall they blesse us in faith how can they beleeve that God will make their bleslings efficacious and blessings indeed to such covetous worldlings