to discover the vanity of such a people who would conceit a possession of justification without sanctification or mortification like the Authors of that Writing from Tiverton who say they are joyned to the Lord and yet confesses abominations reigning in their souls drawing iniquity with cords of vanity A light spirit slavish fear mockers of God living short of the true sight and sense of Gods Majesty a wretched worldly spirit coldnesse and deadnesse on their souls formality in holy duties indifferency Laodicean spirit without the sense of the work and true travail of soul as in that writing with more such fruits is exprest Now J. N. clearly lays the work of justification sanctification and mortification on Gods righteousnesse saying it is the work of God wrought by Christ and they who had received the Spirit were called to all these by faith in his blood And in what he writes concerning Redemption in the same Book he saith All who knows the redemption of Christ by his precious blood c. And in another place Who hath redeemed us to God by his blood and so it 's clear by his words as he expresseth them without T. Colliers Expositions that he lays the work on Gods righteousness wrought by Christ and why should T. C. conclude a meaning from some of his words contrary to his own expressions but the thing is very probable that he had laid this charge from his own imagination before he had ever seen J. Naylers Love to the Lost Another testimony he offers for proof of this particular is what himself heard as he saith at a meeting of ours at a place called Himmington but it 's like it was intended Limmington where he and another as he saith taking occasion to hold forth Christ amongst them they heard with patience untill they came to hold forth justification through his blood Then their Teacher cryed out blasphemy and said that they spake stories to the people and denyed the spirit by which they spake There coming to the meeting and speaking there of justification by the blood of Christ is confest and their preaching of that which they knew not might well be called stories but that our friend Christopher Holder called Justification through the blood of Christ Stories or Blasphemy is utterly denyed as severall do witness who were then present and do affirm that our friend said he owned the words but their spirit he denyed for them to talk of that which they were ignorant of might well be called Stories the Prophet saith Jer. 5.2 Though they say the Lord liveth surely they swear falsly Dare any say the Prophet denyed the Lord lived Now for such whose abominations reign are drawing iniquity with cords of vanity c. as T. C. confest of himself since that time witnesse Tiverton writing We say for such to take upon them to preach Justification through the blood of Christ Their testimony is by the truth in us denyed and may well be called stories they blasphemers and the Lord will say to such what have you to do to take my words into your mouths And further we know that Christopher Holder at that time and believe yet doth if living own no other way for justification but Christ crucified by faith in his blood as the Scriptures declare and so both those which T. C. produces as witnesses for him are found bearing testimony against him and so the two first particulars and this which follows are found false We also say that if both those before produced by T. C. for evidence had declared the thing asserted which is utterly denyed yet could no rational unprejudiced man take them for sufficient evidence to prove the people called Quakers hold such principles And further we do declare for our selves and that which is also assented unto by the people called Quakers that this we own and witnesse Jesus Christ is come a light into the world that all men through him might believe and is the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world And whosoever follows him shall not abide in darknesse but shall have the light of life This is he who is the way to the Father and none can come to the Father but by him even he who was in the beginning before all things and by whom all things were made even he that was dead but is now alive and lives for evermore who is made unto the Saints sanctification and righteousness as well as justification and redemption and saves his people from their sins And they who are made witnesses of him know him dwelling in them and for that end made manifest to destroy the works of the Devill And all those who make a profession of his name and say he is their Redeemer Saviour or Justifier and have abominations reigning in their souls Iniquities written in their fore-heads and are drawing it with cords of vanity are Lyars and Deceivers for none can know him a Justifier but they who know him a Sanctifier and a Mortifier and whosoever knows his salvation from condemnation must know his salvation from sin This is that Christ we bear record unto the seed of the woman that bruises the Serpent head whose day Abraham saw and was the Rock that followed Israel of whom they drank The same the Prophets prophecyed of who was born of the Virgin in the City of David preached himselfe the light of the world the way to the Father was hated persecuted mocked reviled and delivered to be crucified by those who profest they were in expectation of his coming yet chose a Murtherer before him This is he who is the living bread that came down from heaven whose flesh is meat indeed and whose blood is drinke indeed and whereof whosoever doth not eat and drink have no life in them He that can receive it let him who was a man of sorrows acquainted with griefs his visage more marred then any mans of whom many were and are astonished was crowned with thorns crucified between Theeves was buried rose again and ascended far above all heavens and fills all things being glorified with the Father with the glory which he had with him before the world was the same to day as yesterday and for evermore who makes intercession for the Saints and is the Mediator of the New Testament even the man Christ Jesus and he that hath seen him hath seen the father also through whose blood we are justified and are redeemed from our former vain conversation and witnesse remission of sins who hath baptized us with the holy Spirit and is our righteousnesse with whom we have fellowship and with the Saints in light And they that walk in the light as he is in the light have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin who though we are many are one bread for the bread that we break is the Communion of the body of Christ and the cup that we drink is the Communion of the
Truth Vindicated AND The Lyars Refuge swept away Being an Answer to a Book set forth by THOMAS COLLIER called A Looking-glasse for QVAKERS and also to some particulars in a Book of his called A Dialogue c. Wherein the truth is cleared from those Slanders and Reproaches by him cast upon it and the Refuge of Lies swept away and upon tryal himself found guilty of many of those Evils which he hath falsely charged upon the INNOCENT Also an Answer to his Queries in the end of the Book called A Looking-glasse c. with some Queries returned to him to be answered Together with an Epistle to the people called Baptists with whom we sometimes fed on Husks But now are brought to the Fathers house where there is BREAD enough Published by us who love truth in the inward parts and are now called forth by the Lord to bear testimony against Deceit Unrighteousnesse and deeds of Darkness who have long wandered upon the barren mountains running from mountain to hill but now have heard the voyce of the good Shepherd and are brought to the true fold and known to this generation by the names of John Pitman Jasper Batt The lip of truth shall be established for ever But a lying tongue is but for a moment LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. Truth vindicated and the Lyars Refuge swept away THomas Collier a man long well known unto us who hath for some time profest himselfe a Minister of the Gospel or a Teacher of others saying that he is set for the defence thereof having published a Book which he calls A Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an Inquiring Christian where in truth there was neither in which he undertakes to discuss the principles of the people called Quakers therein setting down several particulars as by them held and guilty of which they deny Neither hath he made any proof thereof but only said it which Book being answered by I. N. and Thomas Collier charged for uttering many Lies against the foresaid people and above fifty of them returned to him for a proof or to rest on his head untill the dreadfull day of account unlesse he timely repent Thereupon he hath published another Book which he calls A Looking-glass for Quakers in which he saith the truths asserted in that Dialogue are clearly proved and James Naylor and the Quakers are proved to be lyers and deceivers Now it is not the truths in that Dialogue if any there which he was called upon for a proof but the lies by him therein invented which yet remain unproved notwithstanding what is by him alleadged Now these Books coming to our view and by us examined and weighed and finding our selves concerned therein we being reputed by him under that name were pressed in spirit to publish this vindication on the Truths behalf which is by us owned and lies and lyars denyed But before we proceed further this is to be observed that we sent him a Letter dated the 19th day of the first moneth 1657. thereby acquainting him that such books we had seen published in his name expressing such particulars which we did declare in the name and fear of the Lord were not owned by us but denyed and the Author to be neither Minister of the Gospel nor Christian but a Lyar slanderer and false accuser And that if he did not disown the said books or confess that he had wronged the truth and us who own it or otherwise reasonably satisfie us in some short time either by word or writing we should as the Lord should direct and order publish our Innocency and some of the Authors wickednesse that so his Sheeps cloathing might no longer hide his wolvish nature Now there being a time and place agreed on and appointed by him and one of us for him to vindicate himself and prove the particulars before mentioned where was a meeting accordingly and where only four of those particulars debated Thomas Collier went away not mentioning any further or other time for debating the rest though it was then and still is by us denyed that what was then by him offered for proof of his Assertions to be any way valued for his purpose And now his Looking-glasse being his only Refuge that we know of which consists much of Lyes must be swept away unto the particulars whereof we are now come 1 That all our principles are delusions 2 That we hold not any principle of truth truly as it is in Jesus Now for proof of these particulars he saith that if that which follows be true then this is true and we may safely conclude that if that which follows be false then so must this That which follows is this that we forsake the true way decreed and ordered of God for the attaining of justification which is by faith in Christ crucified this is charged on the people called Quakers not one or some of them but the people called Quakers Now for proof hereof in his Dialogue he only says it but offers none In his Glasse he alledges James Nayler in his love to the Lost concerning justification where he uses these words That persons are so justified as they are sanctified and mortified and no farther And at other places he severall times expresses Mortification and Sanctification before Justification And at another place That by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified And so T. C. sayes that it is James Naylers great work to make Sanctification Mortification and Justification to be one and Justification to depend on Sanctification and Mortification The work that we have in hand is not to vindicate persons but truth and if any one should forsake the true way decreed and ordered of God for the attaining of justification Is that a sufficient ground to say the people called Quakers do so Is there any one or more that hath set out any writing by appointment and signed in the name of the people called Quakers as T. C. and others did a writing in the name and by appointment of the Messengers of the Churches at Tiverton the 18th day of the 7th moneth wherein such a thing is declared as to forsake Christ the way to Justification then there might be some ground for such a charge but further the truth declared by James Nayler in this particular we own and he that with an impartial eye views his writing will never finde any such thing by him declared as T. C. falsly charges for J. N. saith that the wisdome of men in the fall finding these severall words in the Scripture hath in their imaginations run them into division and separated that which is in one and cannot be divided in the possession for it is one that worketh all these and that which sanctifies that mortifies and the same justifies and so his drift is not to make Justification to depend on Sanctification and Mortification but all on the just one and so
blood of Christ and they that discern not this body eat and drink their own damnation he that hath an eare to hear let him hear and under his Banner we fight against the Beast false Prophet Deceivers and all the Nations of the world now united together against him Our weapons being not carnall but spirituall mighty through God to the casting down of strong holds and high imaginations whose daily Crosse we witness to be the great power of God to salvation who lives and dwels in us and whose peace none can ever take from us and who shall dash his enemies in pieces and grinde them to powder before whom Nobles doth bow and Kings cast down their Crowns whose scepter is a scepter of righteousnesse and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end unto whom be glory for ever and ever And this is the truth spoken from our hearts the Lord bearing us witnesse and this is the true way decreed by God for attaining of justification which we have seen and heard and are witnesses of and is no principle of delusion but held by us truly as it is in Jesus according to the Scriptures of truth and so Thomas Collier hath wronged the innocent for which he must account Another of the particulars falsly charged on us is that we have set up another way for the attaining of Justification that is by Quaking c. This is onely affirmed in his Dialogue but no proof mentioned and in his Glasse he endeavours thus to prove it that this is true is evident and apparent in that they have affirmed that their Quaking is the spirit of burning through which all must passe to enter into Righteousnesse and Justification c. Let the Reader minde this proof he saith it is evident and apparent by what evidence If persons will take an impudent false affirmation for proof then it is evident and apparent but not otherwise by what is produced he saith they have affirmed it who is it what particular person we and many others deny it and own no other way but what we have already declared and it 's very likely if he had heard such a thing from any particular person he would have mentioned it in his Dialogue or his Glasse and so he appeals to the understanding for judgment but we say he that judges this a proof to say they have affirmed it is void of understanding And if T. C. had not been blinded with envy arrogancy and impudency he would rather have confest his lye then have persisted in his obstinacy but at last he calls I. N. to justifie this in his answer to the Dialogue Now this must be granted that the Dialogue was published before there could be an answer to it and the charge was laid in the Dialogue and so laid without proof or cause And can any one in reason take J. Naylers Book for a witnesse when in that Book he returns this to be one of the Lyes charged by T. C. on the people called Quakers and no such words in his Book as to say that the Quakers have set up another way to attain Justification by that is by quaking c. He alledges the 15 page but there is no such thing affirmed This he saith that all that do declare the way they came to God witnesse quaking or trembling and all that knew the word of God trembled at it Do he here say that the Quakers have set up quaking as a way to attain Justification T. C. might blush at such impudency if he had not got a forehead that could not Another lye by T. C charged on us is that we have outed Christ in the great work of justification and no lesse then trample under foot the blood of the covenant counting it an unholy thing or at least too unholy to look to it or expect justification by it this he affirms in his Dialogue Now in his Glasse to prove it he saith if the preaching of it be Stories and Blasphemy this is a trampling of it under foot c. And if Sanctification and Mortification be the fulfilling of the Law and the creatures justification then the blood of Christ is laid aside For answer we say that T. C. and such as he makes the preaching of it a story If any in taking upon them to preach Justification by the blood of Christ to other while abominations reign in their own souls and are drawing iniquity with cords of vanity as is exprest in Tiverton writing before mentioned and as for Sanctification and Mortification to be the fulfilling of the Law and the Creatures justification is not proved by T. C. that the people called Quakers own any such thing but we say such as imagine to themselves a Justification without Sanctification and Mortification shall be scattered in their imaginations being no other but filthy Dreamers deceivers and being deceived and are blinde leaders of the blinde and shall all fall into the pit together Now consider what greater Agents can the Devil have for his Kingdome then such who preach to others or expect to themselves Justification without Sanctification and Mortification taking and what in them lies giving liberty to themselves and others to live in lust but the grace we own and witnesse teacheth us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and so Justification Sanctification and Mortification is all the work of God by Christ and none may conclude they have one without all Faith without works being dead As for our owning the blood of Christ we refer it to what we have said in our answ to the first particular But T.C. goes on in his wickedness adding sin to sin lye to lye and saith pa. 3. it further appears in that all that will own them must deny all their faith and justification in Christ crucified Verily except thou repent God will smite thee thou lying tongue he will destroy thee for ever he will take thee away and pluck thee from thy dwelling place and root thee out of the land of the living and give thee thy portion with lyars who hast herein out-stript all that have gone before thee that have come to our view If thou canst produce one example that ever any were invited to own or refused to be owned by us on any such termes or let shame and confusion cover thee for ever But he is still running on in his lying false accusing like the horse into the battel saying hence it is they judg and condemn all but themselves because they have found out another righteousness So that indeed and in truth they account the blood of the Covenant too unholy for them to look at for justification neither do they ever teach remission of sins by faith in the blood of Jesus Very many people can in this bear testimony against thee and surely we say didst thou know that blood and faith in it thou wouldst witnesse victory over and cleansing from those abominable lies Now let any rational
unless in contempt now if we never used it but in contempt can any one think that this would let in our principles and keep people from flying from us one time he saith they often use his name and another time they never used his name and then he drawes his conclusion from his own confusion saying by all which it appears that they use the name of Christ but as a juggle a cheat to deceive Souls by and indeed stab the true Christ and justification by him c. Such as is the foundation such is the building the foundation confusion and contradiction and the building a heap of abominable lyes and falsehoods he saith by all which it appears c. what by saying in the Dialogue they often use the name of Christ to let in their principles and then in the pretended proof of the same particular in his Glasse saith they never useth his name but in contempt what Babylonish work is here but still he goes on to fill up his measure saying all that believe in him you endeavour to crucifie and murther by your murtherous words and writings witnesse your setting up of Naylor to be the true Christ this we utterly deny and what Christ we own we have from the truth in our hearts declared and farther touching J. N. we refer the Reader to Georg Bishops Book before mentioned he farther produceth the words of E. B. in answ to John Bunnion Christ is within us slain in the great City c. he is now risen and ascended c. Now observe what doth this at all serve to prove the charge and yet again he concludes his proof thus they slay the true Christ if ever any people in the world have done it and so we shall conclude our answer to this particular and leave it to the understanding unprejudiced Reader to consider how vain and light the things offered by him are to prove what he asserts and whether we might not safely say that if ever one were given over to lying slandering and false accusing T. C. is The next lye by him charged on us is that we deny the birth from above by the Spirit Joh. 3.5 c. thus turning from the light of Christ shining in the scriptures they hearken to and follow the light of their own hearts Imaginations of their own minds instead of Christ this is his charge in his Dialogue but no proof at all mentioned there nor in his Glasse that we find by which it appears he cannot find any thing to say for himself and so passes this particular in silence it had been better he had done so by others then what he hath done instead of clearing himself of one lye added severall to it How ever farther to manifest the falsenesse of it we declare that the birth from above by the spirit of God we own and witnesse according to the scripture John 3.3,5 without which birth none can enter into the Kingdome of God and we speak that we know and testify that we have seen and now enjoy even that birth wch is brought forth through great travil many bitter pangs which the red Dragon seeks to devour this is the heir whom the Husbandmen seeks to kill the man-child who shall rule the Nations with a rod of Iron the King whose Throne is established in righteousness and of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end glory to his name for ever Another of his lyes charged in his Dialogue is that we are enemies to the true light but seeing he leaves this without proof both in the Dialogue and Glasse we shall leave it without answer upon his head to remain untill he prove it repent or be judged for it Another lye charged on us by him is that under the notion of perfection we are guilty of the great and damning sin of unbelief in his Glasse for proof he saith that this is truth what hath been already said is sufficient to manifest for if the Doctrine of Christ be stories then we may easily conclude what faith you own in him beside all your writings hold forth no other faith but a faith in Christ within you not on Christ without you and this is his proof He now begins to hang his work together towards the beginning he saith when he should bring his proof that which followes shall prove this and now saith that this is truth what hath been already said is sufficient to manifest the first particulars were to look for evidence from what followed and now this which followes must rest on that which went before and so one looking for help from the other are both helpless and fall together for how shall that which goes before prove this which followes when it hath no proof for its self what shifting is here some time bring the answer to the Assertions to prove them some time that which followes shall prove that which goes before and now that which goes before must prove that which followes bad shifts indeed but he concludes this sin you are guilty of and what hath been said is sufficient to make it manifest we say what hath been answered hath fully declared T. C. in what he said a Lyer and so his first particulars and this also remains without proof farther he saith all your writings hold forth no other faith but a faith in Christ within you not on Christ without you Can any reasonable man conclude otherwise but that T. C. hath uttered too lyes in this sentence first his words imply that he hath seen all the writings of the people called Quakers else how dare he say all their writings now if he hath not seen them all as who can believe he hath then he is a Lyer to say all their writings and yet here he mentions the writings of no one particular person and secondly holds forth no other faith but a faith in Christ within you not on Christ vvithout you and George Bishop in his Book intituled Jesus Christ the same to day as yesterday and for ever beares testimony to that Christ vvhich vvas born of the Virgin vvitnessed a good Confession before Pilate c and several other vvritings testifie the same c. And farther vve say that unto the same Christ do vve bear vvitness as vve have firmly declared but this vve also say that they that rest on talking of that Christ vvhich suffered at Jerusalem and come not to knovv him manifest vvithin them are but Reprobates Page 9. Other lies charged on us by him are That we set up another way of Salvation sacrificing to our owne nets proclaim that all that own justification in the blood of the Covenant are deceived trampling under foot the Laws and Ordinances of Christ judging all that walke therein to be enemies proclaiming their own rigteousnesse And then sayes all these have been sufficiently proved and are daily witnessed This we say some of them have been already falsely charged and sufficiently made appear
But he goes on in his old way saying That they will not enter unless they may enter by their own righteousness and not by the blood of the Covenant First by the blood of the Covenant you will not enter that is clearly often proved We say it hath been falsely charged but never yet proved for Christ Jesus we witnesse to be a Covenant of Light and an entrance into the Kingdome which is everlasting by faith in his blood to us is administred by which we are redeemed from our former vain conversation and from whom we receive power and strength to do his will and not our own who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption He further sayes Then it must be by your own righteousnesse if you expect to enter but in truth you never look to come there We answer as before an entrance is freely administred unto us into the kingdome which is everlasting but not by our own righteousnesse for we suffer the losse of it with our bodily exercises will-worship voluntary humilities with vain imitations forms and traditions which we sometimes lived in while short of the life which none knows but they that hath the Son in whose righteousnesse alone we now stand and rejoyce in the losse of our own that we might be found alone in him in whom is acceptance the will the deed and the power is onely his and so is the glory for ever And then T. C. brings these words of J. N. There is a seed to which the promise of Redemption is c. Doth not the Apostle say the same in effect The promise is to the seed not seeds as of many c And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed c. J. N. also saith All who know the redemption of Christ by his precious blood are redeemed from the vain conversation c. And much more he hath to the same purpose wherein he clearly and fully declares that he owns Justification and Redemption of persons not by their own rigteousnesse but by the blood of Christ and so the witnesse Th. Collier produces for him is found to give testimony against him Another charge against us is That we leave the weighty things of faith and obedience to the Laws and Ordinances of Christ as vile and contemptible And for his proof he saith This is a truth there needs no proof But we say this is a lye that cannot be proved But he goes on with his work saying Else what means not onely their leaving undone the Ordinances of Christ as Baptisme Church-fellowship breaking of bread c. Even the whole profession of the faith of the Gospel but reproaching it and those who in faithfulnesse to Jesus Christ walk in obedience to Christ therein Now this we say as before the Ordinances of Christ do we own and his dayly cross do we witness yea one Baptism even the Baptism of Christ have we received and are baptized into his death and the fellowship of his sufferings being content patiently to suffer with him for a while that we may reign with him for ever yea and Church fellowship are we brought into and live in where our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ where all the faithfull feeds at one Table and drinks of one Fountain being heirs of one inheritance and the life and power of the Gospel do we partake of and far from reproaching it or any others the Lord is our witness for by him are we taught better things and all those who in faithfulnesse obey him we dearely own and in the life have unity with but such as we find making a profession of the name of Christ his Ordinances the Faith of the Gospel and obedience to him and know not his voice but are setting up their own inventions imitating such as went before without their Authority and knows not the true Faith which purifies the heart gives victory over sin and the World but are drawing Iniquity with cords of vanity abhominations reigning not Christ iniquities apparently written in their foreheads not the Fathers name these are they who professe God in words but in deeds deny him against all such do we bear testimony and let such as names the name of Christ depart from Iniquity for because of such things is the wrath of God revealed and let all those who professe the faith of the Gospel shew it by their vvorks of Righteousness and not live in vvorks of vvickedness for vve dare not count them clean vvhich are vvicked but in the name and fear of the Lord vve say vvo unto them that call evil good and good evil that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse and are dravving Iniquity vvith cords of vanity Then he produces J. N. in his love to the Lost concerning Baptisme where he saith their forms of Water and God cannot be limited to any form or rudiment now J. N. is speaking of such as keep themselves disputing and jangling about outward ceremonies in an imitation of Johns Ministry calling it the Baptism of Christ but so far from the power of Christ or John as not come to the form of either and saith their form of Water and God cannot be limitted c. And we say such may well be called formes of Water who are thus taking on them forms but are from the life and power as their own Confession witnesse Tiverton writing T.C. further saith let them not think this will be a good excuse for them in the great day of the Lord that we took them up from the Letter to which we say the day is come that they that worship God must worship him in Spirit and in truth and for all your litteral obedience you are no better then those of whom the Lord speaks Isa 1. While your abhominations are thus reigning your iniquities apparently written in your foreheads and you drawing it with cords of vanity and are mockers of God formall in holy duties and the World like a canker hath eaten out all the divine sweetness of regenerating sanctifying grace c. as witnesse your own confession in Tiverton writing ' hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voyce of the Lord wash you make you clean c. but T.C. farther saith God can and doth limit his people to a visible Rule and order wherein they shew their faith in him love to him and his Authority over them c. We say that God hath according to his promise tent the spirit of truth which guides his people into all truth and put his Law in their hearts and written it in their inward parts c. And this the Saints in scripture witnessed and by it were kept unto him with whom we give in this testimony that the spirit of truth is come which guides into all truth and all those who are led by it are the Sons of God and so of the
truth of the scriptures are we witnesses and have their testimony for and with us And then he farther saith page 11. We blesse God that we have the Letter and that he hath given us his spirit through the Ministry and hath in any measure subjected our hearts to his Authority in the Letter c. We say let him that mentions the name of God depart from Iniquity and stop they mouth and leave boasting of being subject to his Authority until thou witnesse cleansing from and Dominion over abhominations which by thy own confession are yet reigning in thee He still goes on saying so undermining all the Ordinances of Christ and laying of them aside as vile and contemptable else what meanes not only their judging all except themselves to be carnal c and themselves Pharisees c. Thou Hypocrit be silent how hast thou judged us and called us selfe righteous Pharisees c and now sayest we judge all but our selves thou confest we profess to own Christ and press after holiness selfe-denyall and perfection and seem to be most holy selfe denying c. and that our lives seem to demonstrate that we are perfect and free from sin and yet art charging us for judging who judge according to Christs rule exprest in the Scripture to know the tree by his fruit and so because we judge thee by thy fruits and not thy profession thou art crying out against us for judging we say again behold the Lord comes in flames of fire to render vengeance against all such ungodly sinners who profess his name in words but in workes deny him Therefore cease thy talking of thy Ordinances of Christ of faith in him obedience and love to him and of making mention of his name untiâ—l thou depart from Iniquity and know Dominion over those abhominations which are now reigning in thee for our God is just and will render to every one a due reward according to their works But thou sayst its the way to make an end of all saith and profession at once this vve say of all such faith and profession vvhich thou livest in vve trample upon it in the name povver and Authority of the living God yea all that profession of God in vvords vvhere vvorks deny him as thine do by thy ovvn confession and vvhat is here proved against thee and that faith vvhich doth not purify the heart nor overcome sin vvhat is it better then the faith of Devils and is not thine short of this for the Devils believe and tremble vvhile thou art speaking against trembling And thou sayest but indeed vve are bad and vile and vvretched yea thy actions declare thee so to be hovv many years hast thou been confessing thy badnesse and vilenesse and yet continuest so hast thou never read in the Scriptures he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy thou sayest we believe that he hath made us accepted in the beloved and in him he doth accept our services c. He that is in him is a new Creature old things are done away and they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Thou farther sayest we do not only live by grace now but we hope for the mercy of God c. The grace of God teacheth to deny ungodlynesse and wordly lust and to live righteously godlyly and soberly in this present world but what grace do you stand in whose iniquities are apparently written in your foreheads Abhominations reigning and drawing iniquity with cords of vanity and what hope is yours but the hope of the Hypocrite that perisheth for they that truly hopes for his appearing purifieth themselves as he is pure 1 Joh. 3.3 and this is far different from what appears in you who are as before exprest in Tiverton writing Farther he saith in this grace we stand poor and needy c. We say they that stand in the grace of God though they may stand poor and needy yet not wicked and ungodly for the grace of God teacheth to deny ungodlynesse c. and this in the fear and name of the Lord we utterly deny that such stand in the grace of God whose Abhominations reign and are drawing iniquitie with Cords of vanity c. What is all your sacrifices better then the offering of Swines blood or the cutting off of a dogs neck verily the Lord is so far from accepting such services as that they are ahominable unto him And thou farther sayest rejoycing that he hath accepted of such poor ones as we are to honor him in the profession of his name we say the joy of the wicked is but as the crackling of thorns under a pot and what is yours otherwise if your wickednesse be according to your own confession in Tiverton writing surely in vain do you cry the Temple of the Lord the Ordinances of Christ while thus defiled with your Abhominations against such a profession and Professors of it will the Lord appear to render vengeance whose works deny him and in this faith and profession thou sayest thou art confident that God will keep a remnant to his Kingdom and glory notwithstanding all the rage of Devils Quakers and men We say there is no unclean thing shall ever enter into the Kingdome of God and therefore vain is thy confidence that God will keep such a remnant which he by his faithful Servants declares shall never enter therein What will that God before whom the wicked cannot stand whose eyes cannot behold the thing that is evil suffer such a remnant to enter in or be kept to his Kingdome whose abhominations reignes and are drawing Iniquity with cords of vanity nay the remnant that the Lord hath and will choose shall be of an upright heart and without guile in their mouthes not mockers of God and they that comes on Mount Sion must be such whose garments are not defiled and are redeemed from the Earth not the Earthly mind standing in them and who have the Fathers Name not Iniquity apparently written in their foreheads Another lye charged on us by him is that we make God a lyer and for his proof he saith they that say they have no sin deceive themselves and what in them lyeth make God a Lyer it is the Scripture Language read your own doom 1 John 1. Now what evidence is this to prove that the people called Quakers make God a Lyer if thou canst produce that person amongst them who make God a Lyer or that have said he hath not sinned for that is the Scripture language he that saith that he hath not sinned made God a Lyar but what is this to the people called Quakers that Scripture we own but it doth not at all serve for thy purpose unless thou prove the people called Quakers say they have not sinned and so until then it must rest as a lye invented by thee and not that we are guilty of it And farther we say all have gone out of the way all shut up
under sin and all that come truly to know Christ Jesus and faith in his blood know salvation and cleansing from sin who is made manifest to destroy the works of the Devill and to save his people from their sins And we know that God is true and is the avenger and punisher of lyes and Lyers Another of his lyes charged on us is that we destroy civil courtely as God hath commanded it and for proof saith that is proved in the Dialogue and their ovvn practice vvitness it levelling all conditions vvitnesse likevvise Magistrate people Husband Wife Parents Children Master Servant all alike no difference in the Quakers Religion witnesse George for in the latter end of his pretended word to the Gentiles c. he saith all to the light within c. Now mark his proof first he saith its proved in the Dialogue we say it s falsly charged in the Dialogue but no proof offered that we are guilty of it he there mentions several Scriptures which we own neither can he prove us guilty of the breach of one of them he saith also their own practices witnesse it Now if he means the vain practise of this Generation which is usually called Complements many vain wicked words used to no good purpose but in much deceit in pretending service and friendship when the contrary is intended and respect of persons such civil courtesy and vain customes we do deny and bear testimony against and so did the Saints recorded in Scripture The customs of the Heathen are vain and Christs flock were chosen out of the World and bore testimony that their deeds were evil And farther we declare that it is our duty and practise to do good unto all and the several conditions and relations of Magistrates and people Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants we own and practise according to the Scriptures and deny the contrary But he saith witnesse George all to the light within c. as if to direct to the light within were to destroy civil courtesy and level all conditions a wicked conclusion it being so far from destroying conditions and relations before exprest that it preserves them and such as are guided by it know and practise their several duties therein He farther saith a learned piece full of Divinity in Foxes account observe his light and scoffing Spirit the false Leaders mark and this scripture fulfilled in the last dayes shall come scoffers c. But T. C. goes on and concludes his evidence with an addition of many lyes saying that under pretence of perfection they have brought in a Religion made up of infidelity pride disobedience hypocrisy trampling of the blood of Christ under foot c. The truth of this hath been largly manifest in what hath been said and testified before from their own writings words and practises we say what word writing or practise hast thou produced of any of the people who professe and live in the truth that are called Quakers the falseness of what hath been by thee said hath been sufficiently declared by what hath been answered and thou found guilty of that hell-born sin of lying Which is the next particular by him charged on us and for proof saith witnessed that notwithstanding their infidelity pride disobedience c. yet pretend themselves perfect free from sin c. what evidence is this but three lyes produced to prove one for he saith their infidelity pride disobidience c. which is by us denyed and never yet by him proved and so both charge and evidence is sound false and how grosly guilty hereof himself is what hath been before proved against him is sufficient to manifest yet farther he goes on saying the truth of all is made manifest in that light that hath discovered them c. Now how contrary to truth this affirmation is we may leave to the impartial unprejudiced Reader to judge for there is several particulars returned to him by J. N. to rest on his head as lyes for which he offers no proof at all but layes them down in his Dialogue and not mention them in his Glass and how vain and insufficient the evidence by him offered for the rest is found we have sufficiently made manifest and yet he comes with even height of impudency and says the truth of all is made manifest c. And then he leaves it to the Reader saying be impartial and thou wilt be warned of the most dangerous and pernitious Principles that hath appeared c. The truth and true professors of it in former ages met with no better account from the enemies of it a sect every were spoken against Christ himselfe in whom was no guile found yet crucified as a Blasphemer and his Ministers and Servants accounted pestilent fellowes movers of sedition not fit to live such as turned the world up side down and we are not better then they but herein find the Scriptures fulfilled the Disciple is not above his Master c. And we also farther say let the Reader be impertial and we are confident he as many lyes affirmed in that Glasse as ever he saw in so small a volume beside the scoffing light absurd arrogant contradictory confused expressions therein contained And then in the 13. page he saith Naylor in his pretended answer runs over and sets down many particulars but answers none Let his Book herein bear testimony against thee that thou speakest false hath he not answered thee touching perfection the light other particulars as for that catalogue of lyes by thee charged on us and by him returned to thee what answer should be given more then to deny them while thou hast only charged and for the most part not so much as offered any proof for them T. C. farther saith only page 8. he forms something of his own invention c. That is that I did affirm the Scripture was Christ judge if Naylor be not a grevious Lyer to assert such a thing for answer We say there is no such thing asserted by J. N. in that page of his Book nor any other that we find nor any words tending to such a purpose and so still T.C. is found a grievous Lyer to affirm things so notoriously false Pag. 13. He farther saith Christ prayeth for none but such as believe through their word John 17.20 c. If Naylor or any of the Quakers do know of any converted to Christ since that time without a Bible or Ministry from the Bible Let them manifest it if they can c. I say God hath limitted us to a Bible We answer was Paul converted by a Bible or a Ministry from it Was it a Bible or Christ that Peter preached Act. 2.36 when three thousand souls were added to the Church Is it not the same way which he declares that the Prophets prophecyed of and were saved by even him whose day Abraham saw unto whom the Gospel was preached and was the Rock that followed Israel And so the
the world as the Scriptures declare him or thou wilt be deceived in the day of tryal when thou lookest for salvation by him We further say we own him as the Scriptures testifie of him even the Light of the world the way to the Father the life 's the truth the mighty power of God He further goes on page 14. saying Read your confusion you blinde Quakers The Apostle saith he had not attained neither was he perfect c. We say we presse towards the mark for the price of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus And let as many as be perfect be thus minded And if Paul had attained Christ dost thou say he had not attained perfection For Christ is perfect and he saith Let as many as be perfect c. Was not he himselfe one of those many and so we say we have attained to that which is perfect and are pressing forward And mayest not thou as well charge Paul for blindnesse and confusion as we who owned and witnessed perfection and yet was pressing forward Again he saith Prove that ever any of the Saints in Scripture did like you Quakers say they were perfect here any otherwise then by faith in Christ which we own and witnesse We say do wee own it otherwise then by saith in Christ and in this faith do wee witnesse victory over sin and the World but for thee to say which we own and witness what doth it profit for this that know O vaine man that faith without workes is dead now what works or fruites doth thy faith produce who art Drawing Inquity with Cords of vanity and whose Abhominations are reigning in thee c. as wittnesse Tiverton writing what are these but fruites of Sodome and Clusters of Gomorrah therefore cease thy profession of faith untill it produce better fruits but thou thy selfe wilt own some were perfect in the Scripture why then dost thou bid us prove it that is sincere upright walking with God c. wee say wee own it no otherwise but according to the Scriptures for no workers of Inquity can stand in his presence nor walke with him now from this perfection thou art far off who while thou pretendest to wait for the Counsell of the Lord Confessest thou art Drawing Iniquity with Cords of vanity art Lukewarme formall in holy Dutyes this is far from Sincerity and uprightness pag. 15 Thou farther sayst All that Do indeed Quake and tremble at the word of the Lord will quake tremble at the Delusions of these poore blind deluded people that are deceiving and deceived here the Deceiver is talking of Deceiving and being deceived Wee say let the Hypocrite first pull the Beam out of his own Eye before hee meddle with a mote in anothers thou sayest thou knowest the Letter of Scripture is the Rule of Saints and the Spirit the Guide to that Rule wee say the Letter kills but the Spirit gives life that which the Scripture declares to be the Saints guid Rule and Leader wee own and have formerly declared but what guide and rule dost thou walke by as thy practise and Confession declare is it not the Prince of Darknesse and his Laws therefore cease talking of the Saints Rule and guide while thou art thus Ignorant of it and walking Contrary to it And so now thou concludest thy Lyes Lightness scoffes Reproaches and Slanders saying I say no more but leave them to the Lord whom I earnestly desire in mercie to looke upon them c. wee say let him that mentions the name of God depart from Iniquity for the prayers of the wicked are an abhomination to the Lord and if the Lord will not heare them that regard Iniquity in their hearts shall such be heard whose Iniquities are apparently written in their Foreheads and are Drawing of it with Cords of vanity wee farther say with the Lord wee rest in his armes are wee preserved from the wicked who bend their bowes shoot out their arrowes even bitter words yea in vaine do they plott and Imagin mischiefe their Snare is broken and wee are escaped and the Mischiefe which they causelessly devised against the Innocent is fallen upon their own heads glory to the Lord for ever As for that which hee calls Naylors exaltation in the west wee refer as formerly to George Bishops Booke in Answer to Ralph Farmer intitled the throne of truth exalted And thus have wee brought this Glass to the Light wherein whosoever impartially views it may easily observe what it represents and is contained in it it Beares the Image of the Prince of darknesse and containes many absurdities contradictions Lyes slanders and reproaches yet affirmed and published with as much impudency as falsness as if the Author neither feared God nor regarded man so this Day the Scripture is fullfilled in our Eyes and Eares that the Enemies of God have consulted together with one consent and are confederate against the Lord the tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites of Moab and the Hagarius Geball and Amon and Amalick the Philistians with the inhabitants of Tyre The Lord having now appeared in great Love power and Magesty to gather a remnant out off and from all kindreds tongues Nations and families of the Earth to beare Testimony against all the unrighteous Deeds of the World all Nations kinreds formes sects and professions are now consulting and taking counsell together against this Remenant and are drawing up their forces against the holy City Ashur also is joyned with them hee that hath an eare to heare let him heare but this Mount Sion can never be moved for God is in the midest of her and though her gates stand upon by Day yet no uncleane thing can ever enter therein neither any that worketh abhomination or that loveth maketh a lye but only they whose names are written in the Lambs booke of life And therefore why do the heathen rage and the people imagine Mischiefe for ye shall bee slain all the sort of you as a broken wall and a sa tottering sence shall ye be whose fall comes suddenly without remedy for he that sits in the heavens laughs yea the Lord hath you exceedingly in derision hee hath set his King upon his holy hill of Sion Who doth and shall reigne till all his Enimies be made his foot stool the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it A few words in Answer to Thomas Colliers Queries Query 1. Whether ever the Prophets Christ or the Apostles did teach a Doctrin as you have amongst you viz to look to the Light within for salvation but rather to Jesus Christ without and what he had done for finners without them Act. 13.38.39 and 16.31 Answ We answer Moses directed to the Word nigh in the heart and in the mouth which Paul saith was Christ and if in the heart then within and Paul saith that this was the Mistery that God would make known to the Gentiles Christ in us the hope of glory and Christ himselfe saith except
you eate my flesh and drinke my Blood you have no life in you if they eate and drinke it it was within them and for the Scriptures by thee alleadged the words without is not at all in them Quer. 2. Whether Christ by his Spirit in the Gospel Ministration do not lead Soules to the beholding of what Christ hath done without them for them yea or nay according to 1 Cor. 15.3 Acts 13.39 2. Answ The Mistery to be Manifested to the Gentiles was Christ in them and Paul travelled that Christ might be formed in the Galathians and the anointing dwelt in the Saints and Christs righteousnesse was to be fullfilled in them and know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except yee be reprobates and the Word without is not mentioned in the Scriptures by thee alleadged Quer. 3. Whether it be fair dealing for your teachers who pretend they own the Scriptures to call it litterall and deny it to be the word of God as Naylor in his love to the lost Concerning the word pag. 14.15 how often doth hee call the Scriptures the Letter as distinct from the word men say the Letter is it c. yet are not ashamed to call their false and nonsensicall sayings the word of the Lord wittness Fox in his word to the Jewes and another to the Gentiles concludes in both that this is the Word of the Lord to you c. and Burrough in his Trumpet his word must be the Word of God believe it those that list Answ If the Scriptures be written with Letters is it not Litteral and the scripture declareth that Christ is the Word of God and hee was in the beginning all things were made by him now where doth the Scripture say so of it selfe and if the word was in the beginning and all things made by it then it must of necessity bee distinct from the Letter now that we call our false and nonsensicall sayings the word of the Lord is false for hee hath not proved the sayings of George Fox or Edward Burrough alleadged by him either false or nonsensicall but if G. Fox Edward Burrough or any other did receive a Message from the Lord to Jewe or Gentile they might say thus saith the Lord and if they write it the writing is a Declaration of it Q 4. Whether there be not a difference between the Word God and the Word of God the Word Christ and the Word of Christ Answ In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and God was the word he was cloathed with a vesture dipt in blood and his name is the Word of God and Paul saith Ephe. 3.17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts c. and Coll. 3.16 let the word of Christ dwell in you c. wee make no more difference between them then Paul or John doth Q. 5. Whether God hath not ever since hee hath been minstering to men by a word or law written Required his people to walke according to the word or Law of the Ministration under which they lived Answ These are the last Dayes wherein the Lord hath according to his promise written his Law in the hearts of his people and this is the Ministration which the Saints live under the anointing dwelling in them and therefore to be obeyed the Mistery made manifest Christ in us the hope of glory Q 6. Whether God hath not broken to pieces and brought to shame all that have turned aside from the written word as a Rule And whether the Quakers be not now going down by the righteous hand of God as the Ranters have done before them Answ That Prophet is now witnessed of whom Moses testified and whosoever will not heare this Prophet shall be cut off yea and broken to pieces all those who will not have him to reigne shall be ssaine before him and although those who now heare witnesse unto him to be the Light the way the truth the word their King Prince Leader and Lawgiver whom this generation calls Quakers may be persecuted scorned reproached slandered scourged imprisoned and slain yet wee are not forsaken by the Lord but the truth prospers and many faithful witnesses are raised up to beare testimony against deceit and Deceivers and the hand of the Lord is with us and against all our Enemies but our Kingdome is not of this world for the Disciple is not above his Lord but the wicked may say there is no help for him in his God and that the Lord hath forsaken him Query 7. Whether seeing that Christ hath foretold that in the last days deceivers should come it might not be your wisdome yet once more to bring your Principles to the tryall of the sanctuary and not to be so over-hold and confident in your way especially there having been so many before you as confident as you whose confidence came to folly it 's never too late to repent if the Lord give grace Answ Deceivers we know are in the world and by their fruits we know them in that Writing from Tiverton thou hast markt out thy self to be one of them as that 's an infallible mark to cry peace to the wicked and art not ashamed to bid those rejoyce whose Iniquities are apparently written in their fore-heads abhominations reign are drawing iniquity with cords of vanity and tell them their King comes in righteousness and in peace More marks thre are of a Deceiver in that Writing which we refer the Reader unto there to minde And as for our Principles they are tryed and weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary yea tryed in the fire and for the Truth we are bold as Lyons and this confidence we shall never cast away The hope of the wicked shall perish but they that trust in the Lord shall never be ashamed and that repentance do we witness never to be repented of Query 8. Whether the 2 of Tim. 3.15 16 17. be not Scripture where the Apostle saith that the Scripture is able to make wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and is profitable for reproof for correction c. and is able to make the man of God perfect and thoroughly to furnish him to every good worke And if so why do you so much plead against the rules of Scripture and the Ministry that is according to the Scripture Answ Yea we own it to be Scripture and profitable and with it we correct thee who art found contrary to the Ministry that is according to it And seeing that it 's profitable for the man of God why dost thou plead so much against the Rules of Scripture who sayest perfection is not attainable here but it seems thou excludest thy selfe from being a man oâ— God Quer. 9. Whether Timothy and Titus were Ministers of Christ And if so why do you not rayl at them as well as at us who received their rule without them from the Apostle Paul and not from the Light within as you pretend Answ They were Ministers