The Quaker Converted to Christianity, Treatise · Reply · Answer to letter
An Anſwer to Mary Stouts Letter.
AH, W. H. What is become of that tenderneſs, that once was upon thy heart?
Anſw. That which was true tenderneſs in avoiding what was really evil, is ſtill through Grace, maintained in me. But Childiſh ſcrupuloſity and that Bondage-Spirit that ſometimes I have been in; and which the Quakers remain in, is removed from me, through more Goſpel Knowledg given to me.
M. Stout, Then waſt thou little in thine own eys.
Anſw. I am now nothing in mine own eyes: as I am in my ſelf. By Grace I am what I am. And this is the way to be little, to have … ſence that by Nature we are ſinners and Enemies to God, and without ſtrength, fallen ſhort of Gods Glory; Children of Wrath: And ſo humbly to receive the Doctrine of free Juſtification by imputed Righteouſneſs; which your Teachers oppoſe. Whether is likely to be leſs in hi… own eyes, he that ſeeth he hath nothing to juſtifie him but what i… without; which God by a free Act of his, imputeth to him; or … that thinks there is enough within from the Birth, if it be obeyed … which he hath Will and Power to do?) the Lord open thine eye… Mary, and humble thee.
Mary, Thou didſt then confeſs to the Truth.
Anſw. Chriſt's Perſon is the Truth, John 14.6. I am the Way, th… Truth and the Life. I am ſtill confeſſing againſt the Errors of the Quakers; who are certainly againſt the perſon of Chriſt, and ſet up another Chriſt; a Quality that is in every Murderer and Robber, which here thou calleſt Truth; and yet it will not teach many things neceſſary to be known: But with this, (which thou calleſt Truth, and attendan… on it,) many have gone aſtray. Witneſs all the Heathen World; an… the Quakers at this day, wandring in deſperate Errors. I have a… ways given this Light it's due in its place, which is that I ſuppoſe tho… meaneſt by Confeſſing to the Truth. I never any otherwiſe profeſſed Quakeriſm; For then indeed had I been guilty of the higheſt Rebellion … maginable; to own the Light in every Man to be the Chriſt of God to lift Nature into the Throne of God, to make a Deity of the Cre… ture, which the Quakers do. The Lord convince thee, Mary, of th… Truth.
Mary. And the Quakers were honeſt people in thy account.
Anſw. There may be honeſty, where no Godlineſs. I ſhould be glad, if the Quakers were as ſound in their Judgments as Moral in their Lives. Though of late they have much declined from Morality. Whatever thoughts I had of them formerly, I know now them better; and have no Reaſon to call Darkneſs Light, having had ſo much Experience of them; (how honeſt ſoever they be in their Callings) I know aſſuredly, there are Errors, and Scarlet Errors of a deep dy, among them: and the Scripture calls Error Iniquity, 1 Tim. 2.19. They are then ſuch an honeſt people, among whom there is much groſs Iniquity.
Mary. How well had it been with thee, if thou had'ſt grown in tenderneſs!
Anſw. Through Grace, I am grown ſo in tenderneſs, that I cannot but bear my Teſtimony againſt the Quakers Errors. Where indeed is thy tenderneſs Mary, when-as thou canſt bear with ſuch Blaſphemies that are in thy Brother Bailies Book? Yea, Witneſs to them as Truth? That is but a narrow-Tenderneſs, that extends only to witneſs againſt ſome Pride in Apparrel, againſt ſaluting with the Hat; and in the mean while can hug, embrace and kiſs theſe Serpents, Crocodiles, Plague-Sores of Blaſphemies. I find my Spirit (and rejoyce at it,) growing in this Tenderneſs every day, more and more to loath Corruption, ſtench, and rottenneſs; not only in Mens lives, but in their Judgments.
Mary. But it is juſt with the Lord, that all them that have rebelled againſt the Light of his Son, ſhould be hardened.
Anſw. The Light that every Man hath; (of which thou ſpeakeſt,) is no where in Scripture called, The Light of the Son of God. Thou mayeſt learn from Reading this Book, that it is but the Light of Nature. Your Teachers have beguiled you, by putting a falſe Name upon it. Thou might'ſt as well, and may'ſt as properly call the Sun in the Firmament, the Light of the Son of God: It's a far better and higher Light that ſhould be ſo ſtiled.
As for my Rebelling againſt the Light thou mentioneſt, I can ſay, in a great meaſure I followed and obeyed it, when a Child, and a Youth, But knew a time when I had a better guide beſtowed upon me. I have now that Light in me walks not contrary to it. But it is not my Guide nor Rule. But the Spirit of Chriſt leads me to the Holy Scriptures, as the Rule. There have I ſeen higher and greater things than the Light could diſcover to me.
Why ſhould'ſt thou have me and others walk by Moon-light, as in the night; when we have the Sun-light, to direct us; in the day of the Goſpel? Take heed Mary, leſt thou haſt not rebelled againſt the knowledg thou once had'ſt from the Scriptures. That God hath thus left thee to Deluſion, and hardned thee in Error.
Mary. It would be well for thee to conſider, where thou art, and what thou art a doing.
Anſw. I couſider my ſelf to be in Chriſt; and that I am doing that which Chriſt would have me to do for him in my Generation.
Mary. For doubtleſs thou art now found fighting againſt the Lord.
Anſwer. The Light within every Man, is not the Lord. I am contending, as Paul in the Synagogue, with the Jews, that Jeſus is the Chriſt; when as this Light of yours would uſurp his Throne. I am fighting for our Jeſus of Nazareth, againſt the Quakers Chriſt, and for Juſtification by imputed Righteouſneſs; againſt the old Popiſh Error of Juſtification by inherent Righteouſneſs.
Mary. And his Glorious Work which he hath begun in the Earth.
Anſw. Thou meaneſt, the Work that G. Fox and J. Naylor began in the North, in bewitching many people with ridiculous Errors. The Work of God, is the Fathers ſending Chriſt in Man's Nature, to redeem the Elect, and his cauſing us to Believe on his Name; John 6.29. This is the Work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath ſent. Which cannot be Underſtood of that Light every Man hath.
Mary. For it is all in vain and to no purpoſe; For it will not proſper. And if thou canſt ſtop the Sun in its Courſe, and ſet bounds and limits to the Sea, then mayeſt thou accompliſh thy deſire.
Anſw. I am bound to do the duty Chriſt requires of me; whatever the ſucceſs be. I leave my work with Chriſt. And though I may apprehend that your Kingdom will proſper, yet am not I diſcouraged. I know how Popery hath proſpered; Mahumetaniſm, Arrianiſm. I know how moſt of Poland at this day, are denying Chriſt to be God. Yet are thoſe Errors and Deluſions. What if Quakeriſm ſhould ſpread it ſelf, (as here thou ſpeakeſt;) as far as the Sun-beams; or drown the World as the Deluge; I ſhould not be ſtartled or wonder, but believe it ſtill to be an Error. And though none of us can, yet Chriſt can, and at length will, (though it ſhould be yet a 100 years:) cauſe this Error, which thou compareſt to the Sun, to go backward, or darken it; or cauſe it to fall from it's Orb. Yea he can and will in due time, ſtill the r…ing Sea, divide theſe Waters, yea, utterly dry them up. And ſoar … up as high as the Clouds in vain boaſtings; I can mount above you, in this Eagle winged Spirit of Faith and Confidence. I believe … therefore ſpeak. Infinitely ſtronger is he that is with us, than he that is againſt us.
Mary. For the Lord hath bleſſed us, and he will bleſs us, and there is … Inchantment againſt us.
Anſw. It's well if there be no Inchantments among you, ye are bleſſed, I confeſs; but (as I have ſaid) it's but with Iſhmaels bleſſings, to be rich in this World. I deſire you might have that bleſſing, Acts 3. …. That Jeſus Chriſt in his ſaving Knowledg, may be ſent to you, to turn every one of you from his Iniquities and Errors.
Mary. And thy Printing Books and ſpreading them, and Preaching ſo … againſt the Quakers, and vilifying them as thou doſt doth but manifeſt that Spirit of envy, &c.
Anſw. I Appeal to Chriſt with what Spirit I have done it. Thou … too low to judg me, and out of thy place. My Printing Books, is only writing that ſmall Epiſtle. As for my Preaching againſt the Quakers, I cannot Preach the Goſpel, but I Preach againſt them. Vilifyed their Perſons, I have not, (as I know); I ſpeak ſtill againſt their Errors.
Mary. For what is the Chaff to the Wheat?
Anſw. The Chaff muſt be burnt up, I believe, with unquenchable f…re; and ſo muſt all the Hay and Stubble of Error. The Chaff is nothing to the Wheat, but is ſo light that every puff of the Wind of Error, bloweth it away, and ſeparateth it from the Wheat, and it is to…ed up and down: Whenas the Wheat hath ſolidity in it, and will, remain upon the Barn-Floor. All will be found to be Chaffy-Spirits, that deny the Juſtification of a ſinner by a Righteouſneſs without, that, deny the Perſon of Chriſt and his Sacrifice without us. And what are your Doctrines, but ſuch as may be like Chaff, ſqueezed into nothing but air and fancy, when you have let go all the ſolid Truths of the Goſpel.
Mary. And although thy underſtanding be darkned, that thou canſt not ſee the dawning of the Day of God.
Anſw. I am not of thy mind, that the Sun did riſe in the North about twenty years ſince. And that then began the day of God, when Fox came from thence, which thou intimateſt. Through Grace I ſee the Light of the Goſpel, which came from Mount-Zion. The Law ſhall go forth from Zion. If thou meaneſt by the dawning of the day, a further breaking out of the Light in me: I can Anſwer, I have known Converſion by the Spirit. But thou mayeſt read in the Book, that this Work is of a different kind from that which your Light effects.
Mary. Yet it is not in thy power to ſhut the eyes of others from ſeeing the Glory of it.
Anſw. They may ſee the Glory of that Light of Nature, and not be ſaved by it.
Mary. Nor ſtop their Ears from hearing the true Shepherds voice.
Anſw. I cannot learn from Scripture, that the Light that every Man hath, is the true Shepherds voice; (i. e.) the voice of Chriſt Jeſus. The Doctrine which the Apoſtles Preached, being inwardly taught by the Holy Ghoſt, is the Voice of Chriſt. But the Light in every Man, is not this.
Mary. For the Son of God is come, and hath given us an underſtanding to know him that is true: and many are in him, and do know the Elect-Seed born, which cannot be deceived.
Anſw. Doſt not thou here proclaim to all, that thou art of the number of thoſe Silly Women, that have been ever Learning, but never yet came to the Knowledg of the Truth? How can we but pitty you, to ſee you embrace a ſhadow, and let the ſubſtance go? That Naylor and Fox ſhould ſo bewitch you as to cauſe you to daunce round about this ſhadow, and adore it. You know not what to call it; but rather than miſs, you will call it every thing that Chriſt is called.
Anſwer me in thy own Conſcience, Is the Light within every Man the Son of God? Then is it Eternal? for the Father is Eternal: and an Eternal Father muſt have an Eternal Son.
It is then God of the ſame Nature with the Father, as every Son is of the ſame Nature with the Father? Before it was but his voice; now it is himſelf. Did not the Son of God come, before this Doctrine came out of the North, viz. A hearkning to the Light within? Or before there were any Quakers in England? Thou ſayeſt, He is come; Implying that there was a time when he was not come. What doſt thou mean, this to be his firſt or ſecond Coming? Here thou calleſt Nature a Creature, the Son of God. Obedience to this Nature, The coming of the Son of God. This is the Tender Woman!
Elect Seed born: Then every Adulterer and Murtherer, hath an Elect Seed in him: Only it is not born, till he gives heed to it. It's dead before. Can this be applyed to any, but the Perſon of Chriſt, or thoſe that are choſe in him? Is the Light within the Elect Seed? Then it muſt be ſaved: yet it goeth to Hell with many: how comes that to …? But ye loſe your ſelves for want of found knowledg, and ſound … you ſpeak you know not what, following your Teachers … chuſing to uſe them; rather than Scripture-Language.
The four next lines I have Anſwered before in the Body of the Book. … in the laſt line of the 55 Page, thou calleſt it the Light of the Son of … and a little before, The Son of God: and Elect-Seed. See thy …onſiſtency.
Mary. Which he hath given for a Leader to his people, to lead out of all … into all Truth. And thoſe that have followed the Lord fully, and …thfully therein, have found Life and Salvation: According to that …, he ſhall ſave his people from their ſins, not in their ſins.
Anſw. What an Efficacy hath Error upon the minds of poor people when the Lord hath given them up to blindneſs of heart? How … thou call the Light within every Man, The Leader of the people, which is applyed to Chriſt's Perſon, in the Prophets, who leadeth … people by his Spirit, in the uſe of the Holy Scriptures? Is Nature …me the Leader? Fallen blind Nature, the Captain of your Salvation? What tumbling into Ditches, muſt there then needs be? What a …pheteſs art thou in Iſrael, to ſay likewiſe, that this Light is Jeſus; … therefore had that Name given it, as it was to be born of Mary? His … ſhall be called Jeſus; for he ſhall ſave his people from their ſins. So … why not Emanuel? as well God with, as in us? God have mer… on thee. It's Recorded in Hiſtory, that when ſome malevolent Spirits … a mind to make diſturbance in the Nation, in the abſence of the … their treaſonable way was to ſet up a Counterfeit; to whom … would give the Name of him that had Right to the Crown. Thus … Quakers do; give all the Names, Titles, Attributes, to the Light … every Man, that is but Nature: that this way they might lift … into the Throne of God. Which is deſperate Treaſon againſt Chriſt the Lord. Whoſe Glory he will not give to another.
Mary. And therefore, come down out of that high and lofty Spirit; and … that which convinceth thee of ſin; For all that will not how there… will be broken thereby.
Anſw. The Law of Moſes is greater than the Light that every Man …th; It will ſhew more ſin in Man, than the Light can. Rom. 7. … not known ſin but by the Law.
But to make the Law of Moſes, Jeſus Chriſt, would be an intolera…ble thing. But it's a higher villanie to make Nature to be the Chriſt, … to be be worſhipped, as here thou doſt.
At the Name of Jeſus every Knee ſhall bow Phil. 2. 10.
To the Law in my Conſcience I have been faithful, in … drive me to Chriſt the Mediator. By the Law is the Knowledg of … is this, or the Light within every Man That Jeſus, that every … muſt bow to? Doth either the Law or the Light within convince of … in order to drive to it ſelf; as the Saviour? O what darkneſs is … Chriſt and none but he is that Stone, that whoever truſts not to, … be broken to pieces.
Mary. There is not an eaſier way unto Life for thee, than there … for us.
Anſw. The Scripture ſaith, Luke 13.24. Many ſhall ſeek to … and ſhall not be able. Many of the Jews did ſtrive, but miſſed … they ſought it as it were by the Works of the Law, Rom. 9. … as the Gentiles that followed not after Righteouſneſs, did attain to … Righteouſneſs of Faith.
You Quakers go the ſame way with the Phariſees. I know th… Chriſt Jeſus is the only way, the Veil of his Fleſh; Faith in this, … 10. He that confeſſeth with his Mouth the Lord Jeſus; and believeth … heart, that God hath raiſed him from the dead ſhall be ſaved. The Spirit make this way ſhort and eaſie. The work of the Law upon my Conſcience, hath compelled me to this way. And this is the way for … you will be ſaved. He that believeth not ſhall be damned. Exce… Believe, ſaith Chriſt, that I am He, ye ſhall die in your ſins, … 8. 24.
Mary. And yet we have no Cauſe to complain of a burdenſome Yoke or that the Lord is a hard Maſter. For the Yoke of Chriſt is eaſie, and … Burden is Light.
Anſw. Following the Dictates of Nature, is not the Yoke of Chriſt for it leads into the Covenant of Works, which is a heavy-Yoke … work for Life. And ye are under it. And as many as are of the … of the Law are under a Curſe, Galat. 3.10. Only you relieve your … with that which is falſe: As thou mayeſt ſee, pag. 56. viz. that … ons to evil within us, are not ſin: (if not conſented to,) And ſo … interpret the Law, as the Phariſees; that thought they kept it, … they broke not out into external ſins.
Chriſt is no hard Maſter; For he gives ſtrength to do that which he commands: But the Light of nature is not our Maſter, as it is yours. For we call no thing, nor perſon Maſter, but Chriſt Jeſus, to teach us by his Spirit.
Mary. And do not flatter thy ſelf with vain hopes of our fall. For the … look for that, ſhall periſh in their holes.
… My hopes are, that your Errors ſhall be blaſted, that every which the Father hath not planted, ſhall be plucked up by the Roots. This Hope ſhall not be in vain. If I live not in the Body to ſee it, yet … be. If the Tares which the Envious one hath ſown, grow till the …, they ſhall then be weeded out and thrown into the Fire. The …ture ſpeaks it. And now it is ſufficiently manifeſt to all the Coun… that there are great Errors amongſt you. You have been weighed … found too light, tryed and found droſs.
…. For we are built upon the Rock of Ages; and though the ſtorm …ction beat on one hand; and the raging Sea which caſts up mire and in the other hand: yet ſhall we ſtand, for our foundation is immoveable, the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt us.
Anſw. O, that ye were built upon Chriſt the Rock! His Perſon is Rock of Eternity: not the Light that is in every Man, but the of Man, Chriſt Jeſus. This is the foundation the Apoſtles laid, and … can any, of Right, lay. But ye have gone about to lay another. … your building is according to the foundation.
You may hold out in an hour of Mans Perſecution and Oppoſition; but … the Tempeſtuous Sea of Gods Juſtice beats upon you, and his bil… go over you; and the Whirlwind of his fiery indignation …eth upon you, in an hour of Death; and in the day of Eternal …gment to come; the Sandy foundation of your own Righteouſneſs, …all, and great will be the fall. O, the ſad diſappointments of … confident ones, in that day! That will ſay, We have prophecyed in Name—and Chriſt will ſay, I know ye not. Therefore take heed, … your Faith be the ſame with that which Peter profeſſed, which … this of the Perſon of Jeſus; Thou art that Chriſt, the Son of the Li… God; Againſt which, all the power of Hell ſhall not prevail. But … profeſſion is, that not Jeſus of Nazareth, but the Light within eve… is the Chriſt. And againſt this Faith, you may be ſure; (it being … the Gates of Hell will never prevail, for Satan will never fight againſt it.
Mary. And this is my Teſtimony for the Lord, to thee; and all who … with thee in this Work.
Anſw. This Lord, thou teſtifieſt for, is only the Light of Nature. … thy Teſtimony therefore, is not the Teſtimony of the Saints in the Revelations, viz. The Teſtimony of Jeſus. For thou art not in the Faith … Jeſus of Nazareth.
Mary. Ceaſe ſtriving againſt the Lord in his people.
Anſw. Our ſtriving is for the Lord Jeſus, and that the Light of Nature, is not the Lord in his people, (as you ſay.) And ſo you Rob Chriſt of his Glory. Ceaſe you, from oppoſing the Lord Jeſus, whoſe Perſon is without his people; Calling him the great Idol.
Mary. And Repent of your Evil, elſe you and your work will fall together.
Anſw. Do thou Repent, poor Woman, and do thy firſt works.
Go to God as a poor ſinner, in Confeſſion of thy ſin: (as thou haſt ſomtime been taught) neither ſay, nor think; (as I fear thou doſt through Pride:) that thou art Rich, increaſed in Goods; ſtand…ſt in … of nothing: When-as thou art blind, and miſerable, and wretched, … naked. We ſee this to be thy ſtate; and Counſel thee to buy Eye ſalve to ſee thy Poverty and thy nakedneſs; Rayment, which is imputed Righteouſneſs, here deſpiſed by you; that thou mayeſt be cloathed, and th… thou be not found naked in the day of Chriſt.
I Counſel thee, with Mary, Love the Lord Jeſus his Perſon, deſpiſe him not: fit at his feet, and learn the ſound Knowledg of him Crucified. This is the one thing needful; Knowing this aſſuredly, that if you do not Repent and turn from your Errors, that though you in confidence ſay, as that Lucifer King of Babylon, Iſa. 14. We will aſcend into Heaven: We will Exalt our Throne above the Stars of God: we will aſcend above the heights of the Clouds; We will be like the moſt high: yet ſhall ye be brought down to Hell, to the ſides of the Pit.
Luke 19.27. But thoſe mine Enemies which would not that I ſhould reign over them, bring them hither and ſlay them before me.
1 Cor. 16.22, If any Man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him … Anathema Maranatha.
Iſa. 50.11, Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compaſs your ſelves about with ſparks: Walk in the Light of your fire; and in the Sparks th… you have kindled. This ſhall ye have of mine hand, ye ſhall ly down in ſ… row.
John 8.24. For if ye believe not that I am he, ye ſhall dy in your …