George Fox Digged Out of His Burrows, Additional proofs (1 of 3)

George Fox Digged Out of His Burrows · Additional proofs (1 of 3)

p. 322AN APENDIX OR Addition of Proofs unto my thirteenth Position, Viz.

That the Quakers Writings are Poor, Lame and Naked (not able to defend themselves, nor comfort the Souls of others with any solidity.)

I could produce most of their chief extant,More Proofs of the Quakers lame writings but I have been occasioned to deal with G. Fox, their great Goliah, in some Scores of Passages of his Book in Folio, in the Narrative aforesaid.

Unto which I judge fit to adde the Scores following, faithfully presenting his Opposites, Words (as he quotes them) his Answers and then my Reply: let him that Readeth understand.

p. 323I Have chosen out the short Assertions of G. Fox his Opposites as he quotes them, and his short Answer for brevity sake, &c.

1. The first of this Addition I name, is in pag. 6. of G. Fox his Folio Book, where he brings in Samuel Eaton saying [The Apostle faying to the Saints, You know all things, it is [2] an excessive speech] G. Fox Answer [contrary to Iohn, 1 John 2. You know all things.1 John 2and would make him a Lyar, the Minister of God: so he is in the false spirit gone out into the World, contrary to 1. Ioh. 2. Who know all things]

I Reply, 1. I cannot learn that they litterally hold, that they know all things knowable as God (though G. Fox writes that they know all things as God (yet I can not think them so gross as to imagine that they know all things, past▪ present, and to come, (as the Devil pretends he doth, and offers to reveal so much to some Conjurers) but I judge they must come to some figurative meaning, as their opposite writeth.

For 2. What hinders (as before) but if the Quakers be Omniscient, and know all things, but they should be also Omnipotent and do all things, for so Paul writes, Phil. 4. I can do all things: I know they say, they are one with God and Christ, and they know all things, and can do all things; and yet this sense which litterally is so Proud and Blasphemous, must be made out by a meaning and by a figure (which they cry out against in others.)

3. Therefore doth not the Spirit of God in Prov. 28.About knowing all things. open this to us, saying, Evil men understand not Iudgement, but they that seek the Lord understand all p. 324things: that is, God answers their Prayers, and inables them to know and do, all that he calls them to, when the proud and scornful are rejected.

4. Therefore I believe it is that the most Holy and most just and wise Lord leaves these poor proud and scornful Souls to seek wisdome and not to find it,The Quakers proud of knowledge yet knowing nothing. to be ignorant, knowing nothing, (as Gods Spirit speaketh,) and to discover their Ignorance in so many Fundamentals of Christianity, and in so many practices immodest, irrational, and more then savage, as I have proved against them.

2. In pag. 11. G. Fox brings in John Bunyan, &c. saying, [The Scripture plainly denies that Conscience can justifie though it may condemn.Pag. 11. Joh Bunyan. [He Answ. [which is contrary to Scripture, where the Apostle saith Rom. 2. their Consciences either accusing or excusing.]Conscience condemning not Justifying. And again, herein do I exercise my self to have a Conscience void of offence toward God and toward Men, and the Light condemns, which you call Conscience, &c.

I Reply,The Quakers confest their light to be Conscience. Conscience (in greek Latine and English, &c. signifies a Knowing together: a Re…lexion, or looking back of a mans mind or Spirit upon it self, in point of Iustification or pardon of sin [3] Conscience looks upon a cursed rotten Nature, then upon millions of sins of Omi…ion and Commission, which how to satisfie an infinite Justice for, and to attain a new heart and nature is the high business and out of the reach or thought of that poor Conscience, The great Tryal of the 3 greatest actual Sinners that ever werewhich every man Iew or Gentile Civilized, or Pagan comes into the World with. In the great Tryal of the three greatest sinners that ever were p. 325in this World, the Devil, and the first Man, and first Woman: two of them their Consciences condemned them, and they confest the Fact (though with extenuation and Excuses) could this their condemning Conscience (especially with mincing of sin as all mens natural Consciences do) I say, could this Conscience or Consession pardon their sin, reniew their hearts and be their Justification (or clearing) and Salvation?

Tis true Abimelechs Conscience justified him from the Fact of lying with Abrahams Wife, as well as Iosephs Conscience justified him from the falsly imputed guilt of lying with his Mistress, The excusing of Conscienceor attempting of it: But was this the Pardon of Abimelechs sin, his Justification and Salvation after the Canting Language of this poor Fox, and all the Foxians that I have seen (and I have read all I could come at &c.)

Oh how little do these poor Beasts seek what infinite Justice, infinite Punishment, infinite Payment is! what Conscience truly pacified is, upon the Pardon of Sin, and true peace of Conscience Sprinkled with the Blood of that only Lambe of God Christ Jesus.

Amongst the Indians I have known some falsely accused of stealing English Mens goods, of killing English Mens Cattle, yea, of Murther; and I have heard them say that Manit: that is God and their own Souls know they are Innocent. This Innocency who questions but that it is their plea and excuse and discharge from that guilt falsly charged on them: If this be all that G. Fox saith! he beats p. 326the Air and hath no Enemy: No, no, It is a Conscience Justification within, a Christ shedding his blood within; (in a subtle fly opposition to the pardon without us from the K. of Heaven for the sake of his Son without us) this is the business which these Traitors to the K. of Heaven aim at: Now they will be perfect and never more admit a sinful thought; and this their present Honesty shall pay the old score of a Cursed Na- [4] ture, and millions of Treasons, and Rebellions in Commissions and Omission against the God of Heaven.

It was a pertinent Similitude used before Q Elizabeth. A fit Simlitude used before Q. Eliz…beth concerning pardon of sin or Justification, which I had from one that heard it being near the QueenA King sent for his Lord Deputy of a Province to come home and give account &c. The guilty Deputy goes to a great friend desires his Company, &c. he said, He was sent for also himself, and feard his own Issue: He goes to others desires their Company, &c. They make excuse and promise to have him or the way, &c. Then goes the Deputy to an old friend, who promised to go with him, and what he could speak for him: only, if the K. asked, he must speak the Truth, and that will be (said he) your Destruction, and therefore adviz'd him to make the young Prince his Friend and Mediator for whose sake the King would deny no Favour, no pardon, no Honour, &c.

The Application may be large and useful: but in short,Conscience the greatest Friend or Foe. A Soul Summond to Death and Judgement, looks to Relations, &c. they all Answer, they are in the same Case, &c. It looks to Wordly Estate, &c: they tell us they will go with us as far as the Grave and provide a Coffin, and a Sheet, and a Burial, &c.

p. 3273. The old friend is Conscience, who will go with us, but can be a thousand witnesses against us, &c. It follows then clearly that the young Prince is the true Lord Iesus Christ, not vanished away into a Light in every dark dungeon in the World, but Conscience saith he is litterally ascended up into Heaven, and will as literally make his speedy Return again to Iudgement.

The third Instance,Pag. 2. Jo. Bunyan, &c. G. Fox pag. 12. brings in the same Author, saying, [the Light doth not shine in the Consciences of them that be lost.] The Answer, [But Iohn saith, he Light shines in darkness but the darkness cannot comprehend it, and there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience and Reprobates, as in Rom. 1. and 2. Chapters.] I Reply, G. Fox is here in his Burrough, and takes not the word Light in the same Sense his Opposite doth, (the Common trick of Cheators): His Opposite takes it not for the heavenly Lights Sun, The various meanings of the word LightMoon, nor Earthly Light of Fire, Candles, precious Stones, nor the Metaphorical Light of mens minds differing them from Beasts, Birds, Fishes: Nor the Light of peace joy and Prosperity, call'd in Scripture Light, &c. Nor the Light and Evidence of witness or Reason in Cases depending: Nor the Light of the holy Scriptures, and the preaching and offering of a [5] Saviour to poor lost Sinners: But, for that awakening, saving Light, convincing all mens Condition to be miserable and damnable: of Grace and mercy offered and applied to a Soul by the good News of a Saviour someway heard of, and the holy Spirit the finger or power of God.

p. 328G. Fox saith, this saving Light is in mankind: only persons don't mind it, and so Christ Iesus is Crucified, and slain in them, and God, and Christ, and Spirit, and Light, &c. are all captived, hindred from working, yea, altogether killed & slain in them because a Soul doth not mind them, and hearken to Christ in them.

Ah poor simple bruitish Imagination that ever it should enter into the thoughts of Men professing to be Christians,Rom. 1. & 2? Nor favouring Christ in all mankindRom 1 &c. or of men professing to know more than the Wolves and Foxes in the wilderness: I have spoke to this before, therefore a word only to G. Fox his proof, Rom. 1. and 2. Chapt. From these two Chapters he proves that there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience, and Reprobates, who denies it. For there is something of God, that is from the power and wisdome of God in the Fallen Spirits the Devils themselves. But I know by that of God, G. Fox means God himself (prest down as a Cart with sheaves) the holy Seed Christ Iesus, (under the Clods,) the holy Spirit in prison, for the Soul is a part of the Essence or Being of God himself.

But that there is here a word or title of Colour to any of this dirt and filth flung in the face of the Majestie of Heaven?

This Scripture speaks of the work (or working) of the Law written in their hearts: but what is this to a second writing of the holy Scriptures, or writing inspired into the heart by the most holy Spirit? yea,Four writings considered what is this to a third writing of their Names written in Heaven in the Lambs Book of Life? yea, p. 329what is this to fourth writing, the writing of the new Covenant Consisting of Sin and a new heart, a heart of flesh, in which his Law is written as formerly in Tables of Stone, and yet we poor men of Iabesh Gilead must leave the Testimony (as Gilead imports) and suffer Nahush (the Serpent) to put out our right eyes, and believe that every man hath the new Covenant Christ Iesus and the Kingdom of God, &c. with the Pharisees in every mans heart and yet he never knows of it?

4. Instance: In the same pag. 12 he brings in the same Author, saying, [It is a Counterfeiting of the new Birth for men to [6] follow the Light wherewith men coming into the world are inlightned: G. Fox Answ. [which none comes to the new Birth but who come to the Light, which every man, &c. in which believing is a Child of the Light, &c.

I Reply:Several Expositions of the Light in Jhon 1. G. Fox runs round agian and again, like the windmil Sails: It is saith he, no Counterfeiting of a new Birth, why, because it is no Counterfeiting: [none comes to the new Birth but who comes to the Light, &c.]

As to the words in Iohn 1.11Insert "W." R. W. Ms. Ann. Hitchcock at Newport alleadged, that it was not in his Bible [enlightneeth every man, but lighteth every man, &c.] John Stubs lockt in his greek Testament, and confest it was Photizes which is not inlightneth but Lighteth.

2. As to the Light, We know there are two Opinions how Christ lighteth every man, &c. First, as God in the Creation. 2. As God man and Mediatour, p. 330and that the Greeks word Erchomenon doth not relate to the word [anthropon] the man or every man that cometh into the world, but [phoce] Light, and that it must be read in this Sense, viz that Christ Iesus the true Light cometh into the world lighteth every man that is in the world freely that will receive him: Even as many (whomsoever) look up to him, (as Iohn 3.) the stung Israelites to the brazen Serpent: and that Christ Iesus is the Light of the world, The World All Men And Every ManJohn 8. and 12. to as many as receive him according to 1 Iohn 12. and that the meer phrase imports no more then a Light held forth to all in the world, as the Sun in the Heavens, and Christs Followers, Math. 5. are called by Christ Iesus the Light of the World. Thus the word all and every man (as I hinted before) is used not absolutely, but Comparatively, and is figuratively taken in many places, and four11"3 times." R. W. Ms. Ann. time in that one ver. 1 Col. 28. viz. warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that we may present every man perfect in Christ Iesus, which literally cannot be true.

Now G. Fox runs into his Burrough of the many significations of the word Light, Christ as Mediator enlightens none but the Elect.and the word all, and the word inlightneth, willingly ignorant that Christ Iesus as Mediator of the new Covenant inlightens none but those whom his Father gives him: unto whom he gives Repentance, to whom he opens the door of Faith, and gives them to believe and suffer, &c.

So that G. Fox Confounds the Elect and the World together and brings in a Counterfeit new p. 331Birth, a Counterfeit Christ, and at last a Counterfeit Salvation.

7] 5. Instance: G. Fox pag. 20. brings in Henock Howet,Henoch Howet. saying, [It is a fancy to say the Covenant of God is to all men in the world, and the grace of God hath appeared to all men, &c. He Answ. [contrary to the Apostle, who saith, the grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all men: & contrary to the Prophet, who saith, I will give him for a Light unto the Gentiles, a Light to the people, Salvation to the ends of the Earth, and a new Covenant to the house of Israel and Iudah, and they that do not believe this are Condemned:]

I Reply in these Considerations presented to the Conscientious:

1. All mankind being fallen from God: He graciously gave the Word or call to Abraham, and made Promises both to his Natural and Spiritual Seed, Jews & Gentileshence came the distinction of Jews, (or the Children of Abraham) and the Gentiles [as we English it.]

2. It pleased God to make two Convenants or Bargains with mankind.The two great Bargains of God with mankind. 1. that of Justice and due debt, to any man that yielded obedience in all things, &c. Rewards according too, yea, above desert. This Bargain was made with our first Parents: and with all mankind to this day, yea, even with the most savage and barbarous. The second is of mercy and pity, &c. The Labans of the world change Covenants and Bargains ten times, and still for the worse, &c. but the Father of mercies pitying Mans Misery and Inability offers a New, and Infinitely easier and sweeter Bargain upon the Terms of only Mercy and free grace and pity.

p. 3323. It is one thing for God to offer this Covenant or Bargain, [wherever the sound of this Gospel or glad News comes] and another thing to embrace and receive it as all the Elect of God do, and another thing to work freely and give freely the Means and Power to fulfil this Covenant: as God doth by the Merits of his S…n, and his own powerful working of Repentance and belief in the hearts of all his Chosen.

4. It is Common with the holy Spirit to speak Figuratively in the holy Scripture. Scripture languageTo call the Sign the thing signified, and the Instrument or Means, the work done. Thus the Lamb is the Passover, the Bread is Christs body, the Cup is his Blood: God and Christ is called the Hope of his people, and Christ Iesus the Mediator of the Covenant, called the Covenant it self. The King pardons Rebels for his Sons sake, his Son may in a Sense be said [8] [though not literally] to be the pardon it self: A man drives a Bargain between two Chapmen that are absent and distant drives on a marriage between a Man and a Woman absent each from other, and may in a Figurative Sense be called the Bargain or Covenant, and yet not literally and properly as the poor Quakers would their Christ to be.

5 The grace and mercy of God,God offers the Gospel divers wayes the Gospel or glad News is many wayes offered: some are invited gently to come to the heavenly Wedding and Supper: other Messengers (more vehement) even force persons in, and the Kingdome of Heaven is taken by force; many seek to enter, many run; It is not in him that willeth, nor runneth but in God that sheweth p. 333mercy, and the rest he justly hardeneth that God may be All in All.

For as God walketh in the midst of his (most wonderful) Creation, Two Feet and 2 Fingers of Godwith his two feet of Mercy and Justice; so he hath his two fingers; and with one he wrote the Covenant of Justice in the Tables of Stone, and with th… fingers of his Mercy and Grace he freely writes his Mind and Will in the Tables of Flesh and Hearts of his Chosen: Many offers of Bargains and Marriages are made which never are embraced &c. but in the new-Covenant God gives a new heart to his Chosen, and gives not, and is not the Covenant to any but his Chosen all the World over, even to the ends of the Earth.

6. For is it not a monstrous Dream of the Quakers, to say, that God and Christ, Spirit and Covenant is in all Mankinde, and that in a Gospel sence? tis true as I said, if G. Fox mean that the Knowledge of God in a sence is offered to each mans Conscience in the World, though more expresly and gloriously where he sends his Messengers, Wisdomes Virgins, &c. G. Fox beats the Fire,11"Air," not "Fire." R. W. Ms. Ann. I oppose him not, but to say the Covenant or Bargain & the Mediatour of the new Bargain, and the Applyer of it the Holy Spirit, is in every of Mankinde, and if they will turn to it, &… ▪ and yet persons know no such thing, nor never heard of it, and none ever had it so as to be saved by it but these Foxians; is as wise as for a Man to have Fits of the Stone or Gout,The Quakers monstrous Marriages or a Woman have Pangs of Childbearing, and yet neither of them know any such p. 334matter, no nor how she had any such Marriage Covenant or Husband nor ever any Word or Thought of it.

7. The Bottome is this, G. Fox cares not for the Iews nor [9] Gentiles, G. Fox and the Quakers pretences of Soul kindness are Soul crueltiesno more then the Fox cares for Lambs and Chickins but to make a Prey of them, he pretends Love to all Man-kinde and tells them they have Christ and the New Covenant and the Spirit within them; yea, he tells them, he means not the Covenant of works, but the Covenant of Grace, he means that Christ that dyed at Ierusalem, but when it comes too, they mean no other Christ but a Spirit (as Humphrey Norton more plainly then Fox confesseth) and this Spirit will be found to be an Evil Spirit by Gods most wonderful, wise and righteous hand (as one saith) upon them.

A 7th Instance. Pag. 24. Joseph KelletG. Fox brings in pag. 24. Ioseph Kellet, &c. saying, [The Scriptures are the means of Faith,] He Answers, and have thrown out Christ the Authour of it, and God the Giver, and the Scripture is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith: and men had Faith before the Scripture was, as Instance Abraham and Enoch.

I Reply, G. Fox Answers three things;

First, That his Opposites throw out God, if they make the Scripture the means of Faith.

Secondly, He slights the Scripture with a But, it is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith.

Thirdly, He slights the Novelty of it, saying, There was Faith before there was Scripture.

I reply, I have had many Occasions to speak of the Scriptures already, I shall therefore briefly say, p. 335it is wonderful what an aking Tooth against the Holy Writings of God: The old Serpent and all the Wolves and Foxes of this World have had, who hath more or less damned and cursed it, and longed to have it out of the World.

The Iews, the Turks, the Papists, the Common Protestants, the Quakers, &c make use of it for their ends; but none can rightly use it, but as a blessed Candle, Lanthorn or Torch sent down from Heaven into this dark Dungeon of the World, to guid us out unto the Saving Knowledge of God, and Eternal Ble…edness with him.

For how doth this follow,God is glorious in the means appointeth. that if God hath appointed the Holy Writings as means that God and Christ are thrown out; can there not be an Harmony between the first and all subordinate Causes? Did Moses throw out God because he took the Rod in his hand, when he wrought all those Wonders? Did Solomon [10] throw out God because he used (as Moses about the Tabernacle) so many means in rearing that Wondrous and Glorious Temple? The Quakers simple and wild boldness with the eterna power & GodheadOr did Samson throw out God when he made use of the Jaw-bone of an Asse, &c. Or Christ Iesus throw out his Father, when he made use of Clay and Spittle? O what a throwing Spirit is this wild Fox, and his wild Foxians of; who toss and throw the Eternal, Immortal and Invisible God, and his only begotten Son in their wild Fancies, as if they were the Wool and Feathers of Lambs and Chickens which these Foxians have devoured.

Secondly, How is it that G. Fox here saith, That the Scripture is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith? p. 336For, is it not a Writing or Record of Heaven:

1. Of the Being and Names of the Eternal Power and Godhead.

2. Of his Glorious and Incomprehensible Works,The wonderful… Revelations of & in the Script. Creating and Forming the Heavens and all that is in them; the Earth, and all that is therein, the Sea, and all that is therein out of nothing; which Mystery the Quakers have only from the Scripture.

3 Of the special and more particular framing of Men and Women above all his visible Creatures:

4. Of the Fall of Mankinde from their glorious and first Making and Creation, which some talk idly to be every day.

5. Of the gracious Promise of the Father of Mercies, of a Redeemer and Restorer of undone mankinde.

1. By his Threatning to the Devil, and promise to the Woman of a Saviour, to be born in time of a Woman.

2 By Erecting such a state of Israel (prevailers with God) with all their Typical Lands, Governours, Worships, Wars, Captivities, Deliverances, &c.

3. Fulfilling of that Promise in the Wonderful Birth, Life Doctrine, Miracles, Death, Burial, Resurrection and Assention of the Son of God, the Man Christ Jesus, &c.

4. The Estate of the Believers in him after his Assention, called the Primitive Church.

6 Of the great change since his coming, in the rising of his many Enemies, or Antichrists especially, of one with seven heads and ten Horns, and of another with two horns, &c.

p. 3377 Of the Protestant rising and witnessing against these Devilish Heads and Horns of which the Revelations speak, and of [11] the burning up of the Whore and of all Christs Enemies and Antichrists.

8. Of the never-ending Joyes of the Righteous after this life, and the everlasting Worm and Fire of the ungodly, which shall never dye nor be quenched until the Eternal Power and Godhead (revealed in the Holy Scriptures) come to a Period and Dissolution.

It may be G. Fox will say, we Quakers grant all this?

I Answer, I question whether you speak bona fide, and in Truth without I suitical or Foxian Equivocations.

For 1.Wonderful Guids What means this But [The Scripture is But a Declaration of the Saints Faith] O blinde Guids that undertake (as in Lincolnshire, &c.) to guide men through the Washes upon Life and Death, where K. Iohn of Englands Treasure and Supply perished; to guid Souls through Hells Eternal Washes! what is your But, but the Iews, and Papists, and Quakers cry Crucifie him, Hang up Christ Jesus, burn up the Scriptures, and all Bibles, Old and New-Tements, &c?

2. What is this Saints Faith? You acknowledge none but the Faith of the wild Souls called Quakers or Foxians! we poor Iews, and Papists, and Protestants, though we own the Scriptures, some a part, and the rest all, yet we are all but Infidels, Devils, &c.

3. What is this Faith,Wonderful faith of the Quakers this Saints Faith, this Foxes p. 338and the Quakers Faith? is it any thing else but (as before I have said) but a meer Babel or Confusion of God and Faith, Christ and Faith, Spirit and Faith, Light and Faith, Iustification and Faith, Sanctification and Faith, Salvation and Faith, &c. and this in every one of Mankinde in the World, if they will believe it, &c.

The third Branch of G. Fox his Answer is, [Men had Faith before the Scriptures were.]

I Answer, Neither Abraham nor ever any Man had Faith before it pleased the Eternal and Invisible Deity to disclose himself by Word,Gods several wayes of revealing himself or Sight, or Dream, or Motion, or Writing, as Heb. 1. at several times and wayes it pleased him to speak, and last of all by the best and clearest of all, his only Begotten Christ Jesus.

2. When it hath pleased the incomprehensible Majesty to Command his Appearances by Words, Visions, The mad fancies of the Quakers as to the Holy ScripturesDreams, &c. [12] to be written to stand upon File and Record, (for all Generations) shall we be such Fools and Franticks as to say it was his Word when God spake it to, and in his Prophets: but now it is written, it is but pen, ink and paper, it is but a dead Letter, it is not Gods word, God hath but One Word, Christ. The Scripture is his Words, &c. Oh the audacious brockishness of the foul Spirit in these wild Foxians: They dare not (though what dares not their hellish Spirit against the K. of Heaven yet) they dare not (they do not deny but predicate) that the Kings Letters from Breda are the Kings Word, The word of a King and the word of Godthat the Kings Speeches and Declarations are his royal Word: shall a Bargain, a Covenant, p. 339a marriage, a Last Will, be our mind, our will, our Word, when it is spoken! But when it is written, fairly drawn, and engrossed, subscribed and sealed unto before many Witnesses attesting, then it is not our word, mind, or will, but words, &c, The bottom and Truth is: The Spirit by which the Quakers are acted would be glad that there were not such a person called the Word of God, nor such a writing declaring so sweetly, so plainly, so fully, and so heavenly of him:

8. Instance:Pag. 25. Joseph Kellet &c. In the 25. pag. G. Fox brings in the same Author, saying, [that the Power which justles out the Form is an Error:] He Answ. which was the Apostles work to bring of the Form into the Power, the substance Christ which was not an Error, but you bring in the Error, keep people in the Form out of the Power, and not in the Apostles work:]

I Reply: G. Fox is in his Burrough of the various Sense of the word Form: The word Form debatedIt hath respect to Nature, to Art, to Civil, Natural, and Divine matters: Shall I now (like a Fool and a mad man) Cry down all Natural, Civil and Divine Beings? Are not all the internal and external Forms, shapes, or Beings of the Creatures in Heaven, Earth, and Sea, of Angels, Sun, Moon, &c. Men, Birds, Beasts, Fishes,, admirably glorious and stupendious? G. Fox runs to the Picture, or Forms of these Forms, and saith childishly, that the Form or picture without the Life is nothing: who knows not that, that as to Life it is good as nothing.

1. But to come to worship, was there not a Form, p. 340or manner of Circumsion, the Passover, the Tabernacle, the Temple, &c.

2. Did ever the Servants of God when they inveighed against the Customariness, the Carelessness, the pictures, and the meer [13] Formality of the Worshippers (Jews or Christians) inveigh against the worship it self, and the Appointments of God and of his Son Christ Jesus.

3. Did the Servants of God ever labour to bring and hale off Gods people from the worship it self,Gods Ordiances and Institutions but only from the dead and meerly formal using of them, until the time appointed by God himself for their withdrawings, disappearing and abrogation. What a shameless falshood is it that any of Gods Messengers brought Gods people off from those heavenly Fabricks which God erected by their Ministry or Service all the World over?

4. May not Gods Messengers now Cry out against the apish Imitations & Formalities of the Papists (so horribly and bloodily) abusing Prayer, preaching, Baptisme, the Lords Supper, Excommunication, &c. but (like the Assyrians or Babilonians, Psal. 74. All these Christian Appointments must be broken and tumbled down with Axes and Hammers. &c.

5. This is Treason and Rebellion in any Atheists or whomsoever,The Quakers gross Hypocrisie but more abominable Hipocritical in these Pharisaical Foxians, who Cry out against the apish Imitators, and yet themselves practice, preaching, praying, Congregations, or Churches, singings, Conventings, and (implicite though real) Addings to Castings out, &c Full well (as the Lord p. 341Iesus speaks) abrogating the word and Appointments of God, that they may set up and establish their own Traditions, &c.

6. Tis true, the Protestants have made separation from the Church of Rome, as whorish and Bloody: in order to the Return to the first Primitive purity, from which the whore of Rome hath departed.

7. G. Fox Cries out against all Scripture and Common Sense, against all Forms, that is, wayes and manners of Gods Worship: Cries up a Christ within, Scripture within, Church within, Ministers within, Baptisme and Supper within, yet practice they most of these [so many as their Idol requires] and will serve his turn) as outwardly and visibly as any in the world.

8. I know it is the observation of one of G. Fox his Opposites [a man of excellent knowledge,A passage of Mr. Baxters weighed piety & industry, M Baxter] viz. that the Churches of the Independents, & Baptists have been the source and Spring whence have flown the Generation of the Quakers. For my self I have observed the contrary in these parts, [14] and that [although some rotten Professors, or weak Souls though true] have been bewitched by those Soul-witches yet generally [where they have any Liberty] the National Church fills up their nu…bers:Whence the Quakers Proselites do arife. My Reason I gave them in publick, when W. Edm. Boasted of their Numbers, viz. their Religion is so easie, never coming near the Roots of rotten Nature, but so wonderfully agreeing with it, and changing one Devil for another, as I have before instanced, so that I told them I adored the Infinite Power, wisdome and goodness of p. 342God, that they were not ten thousand fold more, and I say Millions more, then they are: For, I can demonstrate that if G: Fox (for all their hypocritical prating against Carnal Weapons) get a Sword (as Mahomet did) most of the Popish, and Protestant and pagan World, will easily be brought to dance after him.

9. As to the point of Separation: I pray Mr. Baxter and others of G. Foxes learned and godly opposites who are yet (in their Judgement and Conscience perswaded to the National Worships] to hear me patiently four words.

1. I pray them to remember what the word Nazarite is in English. The word Nazareth and the word [Iesus of Nazareth] and in plain English.11Add "y^e saviour of y^e separate."R. W. Ms. Ann.

2. Was there ever Child of God in this world but he was a Nazarate, separate from worldly persons, worldly practice and worldly worships, as he comes to see them, &c. and endureth not that the evil one should touch him?

3. Is not Gods name Iealous in this end of the World, not the west-world, as well as since he first proclaimed it in the East.

4. Hath not his Jealousie raged against the Iewish whoremongers, Consideration touching separate Churcheswho defiled his first Bed, and will he wink at the Christian Adulterers and Adulteresses either in Worship or Conversation?

5. With what good Conscience can I (a national Protestant) separate from my Father the Pope and my mother the Church of Rome, and my Brethren and Sisters the Papists, and yet it must not be p. 343Christian for other Souls to see further degrees of that Separation necessary, and I must bring up the foot of every mans Light, and Sight, and Conscience to my Laste.

6. This is the main ground of my Controversy with the proud Quakers, they stir up in their Illuminations in themselves, and [15] Condemnations against others,The Quakers Converts but they magnify (with the Papists and Arminians) Cursed, rotten Nature: their Converts and Proselites have but a painted, formal Repentance, Faith, &c. Only if they can come to their Church, &c. and Thou and thee, and disresp…ct all Superiours then are they high Saints, cannot Sin, &c.

7. This (as before I hinted) was the heavenly Principle of those many precious and gallant Worthies, N. E. glory the very top bough of itthe Leaders and Corner Stones of these New-England Colonies, viz. they desired to worship God in purity according to those perswasions in their Consciences, which they believed God had lighted up.

8. They desired such for their Fellow Worshippers as they (upon a Christian account) could have evidence that to be true and real Worshippers of God in Spirit and Truth also.

But I forget this is but an Appendix, and therefore I return to another Instance of G. Fox his poor. and lame, and naked Answers, &c.

A 9th. Instance, is pag. 32. where G. Fox brings in Ellis Bradshaw,Ellis Bradshaw saying, [The Spirit of God doth not teach to judge before the time] and he adds that others of them say [The Saints shall not Iudge while p. 344they be upon the Earth.] To which he Answers, [But the Spirit did teach the Apostle to judge, and his Time was come; And he tells some that they were of old ordained for Condemnation, and their Damnation slumbred not, and they went on to Eternal Judgement, and it is high Time not to judge.]

I Reply, Some of this his Answer, is some of his wonted Nonsence, or the Printers oversight, &c. But to the point the great Jugler hath taught G. Fox and his Foxians a trick to outface Death and Indgement. They now keep the great Sessions and call all the world to their Bar and Judgement. Thus did the poor cheated Souls in London lately Reeves and Mugleton thunder out their eternal Sentence of Damnation upon the Souls and bodies of their Oppo…ites, The two pretended last witnesses Reves and Muggleton& that with such Seriousness, Confidence & Majesty, that I have known sollid Christians put into a fright by them.

It is true there is a lawful judging not according to rashness or pride (as the Quakers is) but according to righteous Judgement.

It is true,The Jugling of the Quakers to make themselves eternal Judgs the spiritual man judgeth and discerneth all things, that is, looks into the Causes and Natures of things, Times and persons: But what is this to the Natural Death of all mankind. [16] Heb. 9? I know the Foxians would turn this Scripture, and that golden Chain, Heb. 6. the first Christian Principles and the Eternal Judgement into Mysteries, and that they now Judge the Secrets of Men, Rom. 2. by Pauls Gospel: (therefore by looking on a man they can discern the inward parts, and what each person is:) For the Lord is now come saith Enoch p. 345and Iude in ten thousands of his Saints, and now is the Day appointed in which God judgeth the World by that man Christ Iesus [which man they are] of which the word of God hath approved, in that they are raised from the Dead in Souls and Bodies to keep the Eternal Iudgement: This Mystery many of their young Scholars and many that are truely fearing God amongst them will not believe. But they spare not to owne their high Court of Iustice [when they were put to it] by Speech and writing, and were it not for some obstacles (especially two) this were a fine Colour for their Courts, like a Company of drunken Sots that kept a Court in Hartford-Shire, A dangerous counterfeit Court.and feigned themselves Judges, and Justices, and Officers, & had almost brought themselves all to the Gallows, &c. by hanging up one man until he began to look black, and some of them began to fear their own Necks, and to repent of their rash madness.

The first Obstacle against this their pretended high Court of Justice,Two great Bars to the Quakers high Court of eternal Judg…. is their own Confession, viz. Christ Iesus was real a Man as any of us, and so continues, except they can give an account of what is become of him, which at Newport they could not do.

The second is, their own Spirit and Practises, which I have proved to be so far from Iude and Enochs 10000 Saints, that their Pride and Scornfulness, their Rash, Revilings and Railings, their Rash Cursings and Judgings, their Superstitious and New Inventions, their Blasphemies and Hypocrisies, their Inhumanities and Impudencies, such as render them so far from being the high Saints and Judges of the p. 346World, that they fall under the Judgement of all sober end modest persons.

The 10. Iustance, is in pag. 38. where he brings in Tho. Collier, saying, [All that hath been, are, or shall be Converted since the Gospel Ministration are Converted by the Apostles words] He Answers:P. 38. T. Collier So he hath thrown out the Spirit which doth regenerate, and Christ the way to the Father, the Word that Sanctifi- [17] eth, and Christ the power of God to Salvation: who said that they would not come to him that they might be converted, so if they get all the Apostles Words and come not to Christ they are not Converted, and none are Converted by the Apostles Words, but who comes to the Life that the Words come from.

I reply, and ask G. Fox what colour of Truth or Modesty is in his Inference, viz. That if God please to appoint the Words his first Apostles used, to be still the means of Conversion to he end of the World, that then he hath thrown out himself, &c.

For 1. Is not this Gods Covenant with Christ and all Christians, that his Word and Spirit should be in their Mou…hs to all Generations: wo be then to these wild frantick Inserences which disjoyn and separate what the most powerful, most wise and holy hath joyned together.

2. For, may there not be as before many Agents Imployed by one glorious Efficient:G. Fox his throwing God overboard and his own Reason and Sense also. as in Moses building the Tabernacle, Solomon the Temple: Kings in their Royal Navies and Armies, Fights and Battels; is Moses here thrown out, Solomon thrown out, and Kings thrown out &c? when Abraham sent p. 347his Servants or Kings their Embassadours to Espouse Brides to their Sons and Heirs, must Abraham and all wise Princes be thrown out, &c. Doth not rather this mad Soul throw out Moses and Solomon, and Abraham, and all Kings and great Efficients or first Causes, yea, and his own Brains (in a mad, proud Frolick) all overboard together?

3. For, doth not Paul tell the Corinthians, that they were Gods Husbandry and Gods Buildings; inferring that under God (not throwing him out) he was a prime Husbandman, yea, (as himself saith further) a Master Builder; yea, doth not Paul tell the same Corinthians, The Harmony between God and his Messengers.that they were the Messengers, were co workers or Labourers together with God. Hence Paul Preaching, the Lord opened the Heart of Lydia and Philip Preaching, the Lord opened the heart of the Eunuch, and Panl so speaking, Joh,11"Acts," not "Joh. 14."R. W. Ms. Ann.John 14 14. and Barrabas, that a great Multitude both of Iews and Greeks believed.

4. It is true that without God and Christ,God doth all, yet his meanes must be used by which he is pleased to work. Pauls Planting, and Apollos Watering is nothing, who denies this? but therefore shall not Paul Plant and Apollo Water, though much in vain, as it was with the Lord Jesus, his own heavenly Preaching and amazing Miracles.

18] 5. Do these Foxians themselves throw out God and Christ when (as they say) they use the Apostles words, to gather Stones, and build up the Church of God; do they not say as much for their new fresh Foxian as ever was spoken of the Apostles, p. 348or any pretending to succeed them? I could give many Instances.

6. There have been many Conversions to the Christian Name in these parts of the World called Christendome.

These the Papists brag to have effected in all the four parts of the World,The Papists brag of their Conversions. both in the East and West-Indies, Asia and America, as also in Africa and especially in Europe, where thei… Man of sin chiefly resideth: these Conversions have been wrought sometimes in parts and by degrees, and sometimes of the whole Nations, and this sometimes by the Sword, sometimes by the Marriages of Princes, all which are easily effected; because (as in the Shechemites and Samaritains case) whose Peoples, Nations, Tongues and Multitudes will easily turn to the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns; and that very formidable Beast also for Fear, and Gain, and Hope, &c. will easily suffer the Whore of Rome to ride him.

7. From these Peoples, Tongues, and Nations, &c. it hath pleased the most Holy and only Wise,The Protestant Conversions to gather out a Peaple to Himself by his Heavenly Witnesses; the Waldenses in France, the Wickclevists in England, the Hussites in Bohemia, the Lutherans in Germany, the Calvanists in France &c. out of the bloody Romish Whores Dominions (144000. Virgin Protestants thirsting after the Blood of Christ Jesus only for Salvation)

8. The Father of Spirits hath stirred up some Witnesses in all Protestant Nations, to preach against a Formal, National or Parochial Conversion, to p. 349witness against the Formality and Prophaness of the Common Protestants, (all one in Life and sometimes worse then the Papists,) and to bring thousands and ten thousands (even the one hundred, forty four thousand Virgins) to endeavour after purity of heart and Life,The Je… uits and Puritans the two great Corrivals purity of Doctrine, purity of worship, purity of Churches, &c. These the Jesuits call Puritans, and Confess that they only among the Protestants, (as themselves among the Papists) are fit to be thought on as to pretence of the Christian Name and Religion.

9. At the coming of the Lord Jesus there were two great Com- [19] petitours for preaching,The two great Corrivals in Christs time. First, the Pharisees who by Laud and Sea sent abroad their Emissaries to make Converts to the God of the Jews and their own Traditions, Secondly, The Apostles or Messengers of Christ Jesus sent abroad with the glad news of a new Bargain or Covenant of God with the Sons of men, viz. this second sort; It pleased the God of Heaven [not to be thrown out as this Fox frantickly barks] but to go out wonderfully miraculously, yea, also with the private labours and preachings of private Christians scattered by Persecution, as the holy Scripture recordeth.

10. For the slighting of this inestimable Pearl of this glad News,The Jesuits and the Quakers the two great Corrivals abroad. or Gospel published by God to the World by writing, preaching, professing, Suffering, &c. It hath pleased his Infinite Justice to plough11"plague," not "plough." R. W. Ms. Ann. the World with Popery, a Religion [a bastard Christianity,] suited [as the Quakers is] to p. 350rotten nature, and fit to carry the world after them as Mahomet and the Pope have done.

11. In this day the two greatest wonders in the world [pretending to be Christs Messengers or Apostles to the Nations] are the Jesuits and the Quakers: Their Faces look divers, but they both carry Firebrands in their Tails to burn up the holy Scripture, all truly holy Christians, yet11"yea," not "yet." R. W. Ms. Ann. all the world before them. Gods Infinite wisdome hath suffered them to be like Absolom beautiful,False Apostles figured by Absolom. and plausible, and fit to play Soul Thieves and steal away the hearts of thousands and ten thousands from the true David the Lord Jesus Christ.

Beside, they are so fortified with the Faces of Men and hair of Women like the Locusts, Rev. 9. such pretences,The holy Scriptures the great Box both to Jesuits and Quakers. such Illuminations and Appearances, such Assurances and Confidences, such feelings of Experiences, that it is Gods Infinite Power and wisdome, and goodness, to preserve the holy Scripture a standing Record of what the first Messengers and first Churches and first Doctrine and Christians were: or else, the world would fall down and adore the Images which the Lord hath suffered the Devil in them to set up.

12. I know the Counsels of the Father of Lights are very deep, yea the Revelation needs a Revelation,Great Conversion of Jews and Gentiles yet expected. the Prophecies and Canticles, and Daniel need Heavenly Messengers, and the most holy Spirit or finger of God to untie such knots: Sure it is that Millions [20] of Jews and Gentiles must yet enquire with tears of blood after the Blood of a p. 351Saviour: Sure they shall not awake out of their pits of Rottenness, without some means & Messengers sent from Heaven to rouze and wak…n them: Sure their shall be no other words in their Mouths then what were in the mouths of the first Messengers according to the Prayer of the Lord Jesus on his Death bed to his Father, through whose Word all that have believed the report ever since have believed, Ioh. 17 and with which blessed word the Spirit of God will be in the mouths of all true Christians,The true Apostles and Fox and his lying ones Compared Isai. 59. 20. &c. Surely the true Messengers of Jesus will say no other word then what Moses and the Prophets foretold and wrought, Act. 26. therefore Fox and his Foxians that tells us they have all by the Spirit and need no Record, are Thieves and Robbers, whom, Moses, and the Prophets, and Paul, and the Apostles abhor'd to think of.

A 11. Instance, I. Deacon.is in Pag. 40. where G. Fox brings in I. Deacon, saying [The enjoyment of Immortulity is not till they have put off the Body.]

He Answers, [Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine, who saith, Immortality was brought to light through the Gospel: this was when they were upon the Earth, and the Word of God was in them which was Immortal.]

1. I Reply First, G. Fox affirms an Immortality (that is a not dying of the Soul and Body) As for the Soul,The Quakers dream about not dying or Immortality. all true Protestants affirm that the Soul once raised up to Spiritual Life never dyes, no more than Christ Jesus, Rom. 6. as for the Body Papists and Protestants, and the Quakers and all the World grants, that all Flesh is as grass, &c. and the p. 352Sentence of Death, by sickness, Age or Casualty is impartially executed upon the Foxians as well as other C…ttel: As to the Soul, who of sober Papists or Protestants questions the Immortality of it: and of the Body also, in joy or Sorrow to Eternity.

As for the Body the Quakers say when the Soul is gone into God, yea, the Soul of Iudas as well as the Soul of Peter as some of them say, and all of them by Argument will be forced to say, the Body returns to Earth and Rottenness, never more to be raised, and no more then Bodies of the Beasts, Birds and Fishes, (though we know who holds the Bodies of Beasts, Birds and Fishes shall live again as the Soul mortalists do) what is it then [21] that G. Fox sputters out for Immortality, or a not dying in this Life? If he speak of the Soul who denies it? If of the Body he speaks a Beastly Contradiction to the doleful Sense of all mankind, and their own also, who die and rot as well as them.

2. It is true, 1 Tim. 6. God only hath Immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto, what ever these Foxians bruitishly fancy of no distinction between God and themselves their Light and his.The Doctrine of Immortality. It is true, yet also that Iesus Christ, 2 Tim… 1. hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel. But what is this but the joyful Condition of the Souls & Bodies of the godly? their Souls and Bodies raised up with Jesus to a Spiritual holy Life in this World, their Souls going to Jesus, and their Bodies sleeping in Iesus, and the rising of their Bodies and uniting to their Spirits in a Life Eternal?

p. 3533. As to this Immortality of G. Fox: all that can be known of his mind is old H. Nichols and the Nicolaitans mad fictions and fancies of their becoming God and Christ.A Charitable hope of some Quakers. I hope charitably of many of them, that run in their Simplicity, Ignorance and weakness with a true Love to the true Lord Jesus as some did with Absalom 11Put "as some did with Absolom," in parenthesis. R. W. Ms. Ann.who truly loved David but as for Absolom himself the Polititians, the subtle Plotters, and Ahitophels who love not the true Lord Jesus in sincerity, I fear instead of their fancied Immortality before the Grave they will meet with a dreadful Mortality, or death of Soul and Body to Eternity.

A 12. Instance is, Pag. 47. where he brings in Ioseph Miller,Joseph Miller, saying, [The wise heathen Philosophers had a greater Measure of Light in them (which is the first Adam) then I can think any man hath now]

G. Fox Answ. which shews, that he knows nothing of Christ the second Adam, the quickning Spirit. He knows no New Creature, for who are in Christ are new Creatures, nor none of Christ the Covenant of God, of Light, of Life, of Peace, who was glorified with the Father before the World began, which is beyond the first Adam, and hath shut himself forth, not to be as high as his heathen Philosophers. And many witness Christ in them in this Age, as in the dayes of the Apostles, which is above the heathen Philosophers.]

I Reply,The Ancient Philosophers Considered. 1. I know it pleased God (in all Ages) to stir up the Spirits of some Men (as the Philosophers amongst the Greeks [22] Socrates, Plato, p. 354Aristotle) to improve that excellent Light of Reason which he had given them as Men, and in so great a measure above other men.

2. This wily Fox he runs to his hole and Confounds this Common Light of Reason, with Christ and God himself, who also are called Light by Similies from the Creature.

3. The Question then follows: If this Light of Knowledge were Christ, as God, and King, and Mediatour: why is it that none of these excellent Men knew nothing of God, nor Christ, nor Spirit, (Name nor Thing) but only of the first Creation:The mad…ness of George Fox his Fancy about them. Can such a Court be kept, a Palace furnished, and such Royal and heavenly Guests be entertaind, and no Body know any thing of it, nor themselves neither; when Christ Jesus came into Ierusalem (though but in a poor Contemptible way) all Iorusalem was moved at his coming: and shall this most glorious King (now Infininitely more glorious) make his Ingress into the Souls of such wise and Excellent Men, and neither they, nor others hear of it until just now, (twenty years since) Some cheated Souls dream of it.

4. The utmost of Reason in these Excellent Men, it is known I say; that the Activity of the highest Reason in this World falls short in two grand particulars.The failing of the highest Reason in this world in many, especially in two particulars

1. As to the Creatures: For some of them must needs fall short, when Plato granted a Creation, and a kind of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Creation of it, Aristotle pretends to see further then his Mr. Plato and all his Arguments. and asserts the World to have no Beginning, nor Ending, &c. p. 355Some of them maintaind the Soul of man to be procreated by the Parents: others (as the Quakers) that it was part of the Divine Essence, others that it is created and infused by God, &c. Some that the Center of the World is the Terrestrial Globe,The drep knowledge of some. and that the Sun and heavenly Bodies move about it, others, that the Ceuter of the world is the Sun, and that this Terrestrial Globe moves about the Sun, and many other such, natural Mysteries.

2. However that Paul tells us Rom, 1. That by the Creation some come to know there is an Eternal Power and Godhead, yet 1 Cor. 1. he tells us that the World by wisdome knew not God, which must be expounded (or else swallow a Contradiction as the Quakers guise is) viz. that by the highth of their wisdome [23] they could not see God so as to make him alone their Summum bonum and Blessedness, The greater depth of the Creator himself, the Trinity, the Fall, Redemption Incarnation, Resurrection, &c.so as to glorify him as God: So, as the holy Scriptures and the most holy Son of God from his Bosome hath revealed him, so that in the highth of Reasons Reasonings the Spirit of God concludes, that the natural man can not reach or perceive the things of God, (and yet this foolish Man makes every mans heart in the World the Court of Heaven) a thing which every Kingdom and all men may abhor to think of, but men are vain in all their Reasonings, and their foolish heart is darkned, yea, their wisdome is Enmity, hating God himself, as the Scripture concludes, &c.

It is true: We re read of Noah Ark, of Moses his Tabernacle, Solomon his Temple, and we see many glorious Fabricks and Works of the Sons of p. 356men in his world,The Excellent Gifts of Nature reach not heavenly and Spiritual things Spiritually. which argue excellent Gifts of God to them, both of wisdome, Prudence, Fortitude, Patience, Temperance, &c. but do they all amount in the Total to more then Natural parts, good Education, and Industrious diligence can reach too? What are all these to the enlightning of my Soul, with my natural undone and damned Condition? to a sight of Sin as Sin? to a sight of my utter Inability to pay (or all the whole Creation for me) one farthing to Gods Justice, or to work my desire to have any thing to do with him? What are these to the changing of, and a total turning of my whole Soul unto God? to an humble sight of my Infinite necessity of the alone Sufficiency and Excellency of the Lord Jesus the great and only Mediatour, and of my becoming one with him in Loves Eternal?

Beside, what a single11"Simple" not "single." R. W. Ms. Ann. Consequence doth this high Illuminiated Doctor give to his Opposite, viz. that because I magnify the Gifts of God to many (yea, thousands of Excellent Men whom I, nor G. Fox are worthy to hold the Candle to) therefore I shut my self out from Christ and those wise men too: It may be his Opposite had somewhat more in his Assertion, but this is all this high wise man in his own eyes prints and Answers to:

Who knows not how full the World is of admirable Men and Women that are not Christians? And yet what a base esteem hath this proud Spirit of all men, yea of all Christians too that dance not after his foolish pipe, &c.

A 13th. Instance, I mention (though Instances p. 357are as Leprosie spread over his whole Book) is in pag. 48. where he brings in the [24] same Ioseph Miller saying, Joseph Miller[The Prophets are more certain then any other Revelation.] He Answers, [was not the Son of God revealed, the end of the Prophets? Did not God reveal him which came in the Volume of the Book to do the will of God? And so the Prophets, and the Law, and Types, and shadows, which they that had the Law, and Types, and shadows, knew not the Son of God that was revealed, that was their End spoken of in the Prophets, end Epistles, who is now revealed.

I Reply, G. Fox (to pass by his un-English Nonsence obvious to any that understand publick writings) I say G. Fox either ignorantly or willingly knows not that the Question is not here,The Prophets witness of Christ how stronger then the Apostles, their own Speeches: were whether Christ be the End of the Law and the Prophets, in a true sense: or whether Christ was not more revealed at his coming in the Flesh, then before in the Prophecies, &c. But, whether the written word of the Prophets, of which Peter speaks and I have spoke before be not a more sure word of Command and Comfort to us then any now to be expected, yea, then that Revelation which we have upon that holy Testimony of Peter and Iohn themselves?

As it is with an Anchor strong enough to ride a Ship in most weathers, yet some are as the Seamen spake second and third Bowers, Bebaioteron Iogon a more sure Word.and one the best and Sheet Anchor: and as it is in Witnesses some speak the Truth and Substance of the matter: and yet others speak more plainly and fully, &c. So speaks Gods Spirit in Peter of the Infinite Fulness p. 358of the Prophecies of Scriptures, or the written foretellings and utterings concerning Jesus Christ.The Word of God Considered.

Thus the God of Heaven most holy and only wise stoops to our weakness, and calls his mind his word, his works his word, his Providences of mercy or Judgement, his Word, the Lord Jesus his only begotten his word, his writings his Word; and this in a way of Condescention to our Capacity, seeing that all the World over Kings and Rulers, Fathers, Masters of Families, of Ships, &c. give the word, that is the manifestation of their mind and will,The Sripture or written Testimonie. and this as the Spring in Clocks and watches turn about all other wheels and motions. Hence it is, that if ancient Records and Deeds with Hands and Seals be produced at the Bar of Trial, all mouths are stopt at such Evidences. Thus the Word of God in the mouths of the Prophets written for after Generations,Much more their feigned Spirit of Prophecy the Quakers prate of is (Comparatively) beyond the Report of Peter [25] and Iohn themselves is in all Religions.11Erase "is in all Religions." R. W. Ms. Ann. The Iews have their Talmud, the Turks their Alcheron, the Pope his Decretans, and the Protestants the Written Word, or Scriptures.

When therefore a Pardon is written and Sealed with the Board Seal of a King or State, what a fancy is it for a condemned Wretch to hearken first to a Pardon revealed within:The Quakers Sandy Quicksauds to a voice within, to a King within, to a Writing within, a Seal within, and so slighting the true pardon in the Kings way to be conveyed from without to the Mind and Spirit within, to lose his Pardon and Deliverance as thousands of such poor cheated Souls must do.

p. 359A 14 Instance G Fox brings in Pag. 49. his Opposite Ralph Hall saying [It is against the Light of Nature for Women to Preach: P. 47. Preaching of Women Ralph Hall&c.

G. Fox Answers Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and the mind of God and the Prophets, who said, God would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh, and his Sons and Daughters should Prophesie: So that he is a limiter of the Holy one, a quencher of the Spirit, and in the Darkness, and this is above the Light of Nature.

I Reply, First, What is the Light of Nature, but the Light in which every man comes into the World with (as the Foxians speak) a Light differing from that Light which Beasts,The light of Nature discussed wilde and tame, and Birds, and Fishes have: And11Insert "there is."R. W. Ms. Ann. a Second Light differing from what is22Erase "Super." R. W. Ms. Ann. Supernatural, as that Light revealed from Heaven in the Holy Scriptures, and infused into the Souls of Men by the Holy Spirit or Power of God.

2. What is the Light of Nature in Man, but that Order which the most Glorious Former of all things hath set (like Wheeles in Clocks or Watches) a going in all his Creatures?

Some have observed that in the Insensible Creatures to which the most High hath only giving Beings,Male and Female that there may be observed a Male and Female amongst them.

This is more observable in Vegetables or growing Creatures, as in Plants, Trees, Herbs, Flowers, &c.

p. 360More yet in Sensitives, as Birds, Beasts, Fishes.

Most of all in Rationals: Men and Women, whom the most High hath so wonderfully distinguished.

It is true, that in Religious and Christian Matters, there is no [26] respect of persons with God, as of Man before the Woman: otherwise than to order Natural and Civil.

The Woman is Predestinated, is Called,Men and Women compared is Justified, is Glorified, and wears that Golden Chain as well as the Wisest and Strongest of Mankinde.

And it is true, the Wisdome of God perfers some Women before thousands of Men, in their being born of Nobles, in excellent parts (as is observable in the Lady Iane, and Queen Elizabeth, &c.) in some special favour,The kindness of God to women as Christ Jesus first appearing to Mary Magdalen and other Women, and sending them to carry the first Tydings or Gospel of his Resurrection to his Apostles: yea, in effusions or powrings forth of an extraordinary measure of his Spirit before Christs coming, as on Miriam, Deborah, Anna, Huldah, &c. and at his coming (according to Ioels Prophesie) on his Daughters as well as his Sons (so that as my opposites alledged to me in publick: Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters thus extraordinarily end…wed) yet this favour of God toward Women destroys not the order which the God of Order or Nature hath set in those Bounds, and Limits, and Distinctions between the Male and Female, the Man and Woman: though the Holy Scripture were silent, yet Reason and Experience tell us, that the Woman is the weaker p. 361Vessel,Womens unfitness for manly employments that she is more fitted to keep and order the House and Children, &c. that the Lord hath given a covering of longer Hair to Women as a sign or teacher of covering Modesty and Bashfulness, Silence and Retiredness: and therefore not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments.

Therefore because of Ioels Prophesie, or because we must not limit or quench the Spirit, as G. Fox saith, there is no ground in Gods ordinary course of Nature to permit Women to pretend to be Apostles or Messengers to the Nation, or Preachers and Teachers in the Publick Assemblies.

1. Because we finde no such Commission given by Christ Jesus or any such Practice amongst the first Believers.

2. The Lord hath set (as Seamen speak) a preventer to such an unnatural boldness by express Prohibitions,And for being Preachers and postles especially. with the Reasons and Grounds to the Corinthians and to Timothy: and to answer those Scriptures with a flam, viz. that Eve the Transgressor, and Women that be Tatlers are forbidden, and the Woman Iezebel, [27] &c. is all one to tell us, that Paul was not a Man, nor Timothy a Man, nor the Teachers Men, nor Corinth a City, but all signifie Metaphorical and Mystical Business.

3. Why may not Women much more be Lord Majors and Bailiffs, and Sherriffs, and Iustices, and Constables, Captains, Colonels, Generals and Commanders by Sea and Land.11Change the period to "?."R. W. Ms. Ann.

4. That Reason the Spirit gives to the Corinthians, for the vailing of Women in publick Assemblies, p. 362makes much more for their vailing and silence in matters of Prophesying, Preaching and Praying, viz. Because of the Angels: I know not any fair and sober Exposition of this Scripture (except as the blind Quakers who swallow down a fly & Camel too) but that of the Heavenly Angels and Spirits attending on and guarding the Assemblies of true Christians, and rejoycing in the comliness, order and beauty of their publick Administrations.

Some few years since there came to my House two Maries, it is said they came from London: they bid me Repent and Hearken to the Light within me,A memorable and doleful story I prayd them …o sit down, that we might quietly reason together, they would not; then standing, I askt them the ground of their such Travel and Employment, they alledged Ioels Prophesie; I answered, that was fulfilled, that was not every dayes work; besides their business was not Prophetical but Apostolical, &c. they regarded not my Answers nor Admonitions, but powred the Curses and Judgements of God against me, and hurried away; to Barbadoes they went, and (being War time, the Ship bound for England) they were set upon by the Dutch, and though these Women animated the Seamen to fight, and Prophesied that not an hair of their head should perish, yet they two were both slain, as afterward came certain Tydings of the whole matter.

I own that it may please the Father of Spirits in cases extraordinary,What teaching the Lord requires of Women he may please to alter his common course of Na…u…e (as in Abrahams case with Isaak) but we must not tempt God; but if God p. 363hath powred forth the gifts of Knowledge and Utterance upon some Women more then other, they have three large fields to walk in mentioned by the Holy Scripture, viz. of their instructing their Children, &c. 2. As occasion justly calls them from home, of instructing other women especially the younger. 3. Of confessing boldly the Name and Truth of Christ Jesus, [28] when he suffers Tyrants to bring Persecution on them, &c.

A 15th. Instance is in pag. 56. where George Fox brings in Thomas Higinson,Tho. Higginson saying, [The sight of the Godhead without Faith in Christ is the Foundation of all false worships.]

He Answers, Can any see the Godhead? have a siht of the Godhead and …ot see Christ, and have Faith in Christ? And who hath Faith in Christ, do they not see the Fulness of the Godhead dwels in him, Christ? And was not their mind turneh from that of God in them (which declared the Invisible things of him from the Creation of his Eternal Power and Godhead) which the Apostle found fault withal Let all Examine and Judge, and read the Scripture, Rom. 1. and try.]

I Reply, In former years I have Conversed with all the Indians of this New-England by Land and Seas,The knowledge of God by nature and I have read the 1. of the Romans often, and now once again at G: Fox his motion, and I find that First, there is generally in all mankind in the World a Conviction of an Invisible, Omnipotent, and Eternal Power and Godhead.

2. That this Conviction doth arise from the Creation, (though some of the wisest of the World as p. 364Aristotle, &c. though Confessing a Godhead yet) hold the world an Eternal Deity it self, and never to have been created.

3. I find not that ever any man or men (by all their natural Light or wit,The convictions of nature which the 4 Quakers so foolishly talk of or Christ within,) could find out how the World or himself, Man or Woman were created: Though Iames Nailour told us in print, that if never a Letter of Script…re had been written, yet their Spirit could tell them all things.

4. I find all men confess, that the will or Word, or mind of God is pure, and as they could come to know, it is to be adored, kept, and observed: and that it was ever, and is wickedness to Sin against it.

5. All mankind having the Law or without it are perswaded that some actions are naught, and against Gods will, as to steal, to Murther, &c.

6. None (for all the Light and Spirit in every one) could ever find out how Sin how Sorrow and Death came into the World: Nor how such Inclinations and Dispositions to Sin came into themselves, &c.

7. I find in all mankind a Conviction that God is just and [29] powerful, and doth bring plagues and punishments upon persons, and Nations for those gross Sins of Adultery, Murther, &c.

8. I could never lea…n (for all that Christ in every man Fox sings of) that ever any man living,The loss of all men as to God & hravenly things or all the Counsels of men could ever know or learn four things, but as revealed by God, by extraordinary wayes, of Dreams, Visions, &c. or the ordinary of his holy Records, and the Doctrine of them opened, p. 365preached, &c. 1. How to pacifie Gods Justice? 2. How to resist the Devils Tyranny: 3. How to worship God? 4. How to get true Blessedness here, and in the World to come?

9. Hence (according to Foxes Opposite) all mankind have invented so many false Gods,Men naturally frame a God as the Devils do but cannot love him. false worships, &c. all the world over, yet out of no more Love to God then the Lamb bears to a Lyon: but out of Fear, as the old saying is, primos in Orbe Deos, &c. Fear made the first Gods. Hence the Philistins sends the God of Israel a present and offering with Ark or Chest: Hence the Samaritans (with the Sechemites) for fear of Lyons or hope of gain will be of any worship or Religion, as most this day in the world will be, yea, all and every Soul except to whom (in and from the holy Scriptures) the holy Spirit reveals that Incomprehensible Mystery of a Mediatour.

A 16th. Instance of Foxes lame writings, is pag. 56. where he brings in the same Author saying, [The Iustification and Redemption by obeying the Light within, is the Mystery of Iniquity]

He Answers, [He that believeth is justified from all things, and comes not into Condemnation: and he hath the wietnss in himself: and that lets him see the Redeemer, the Saviour, the Light which walking in it he is cleansed from all Sin, and so no Mystery of Iniquity For the Mystery of Iniquity is out of the Light. None sees Iustification and Redemption, but with the Light within which comes from Christ who hath enlightened him.]

p. 366I Reply, This is subtle, but being examined it will be a mystery of hellish Iniquity, and lighter then vanity it self.

For 1. He usually,Babilonian Jugling, & Egyptian canting and here (as before I have opened) confounds Justification and Light, and Christ, and Faith, and obedience, (after his Babylonish wont) all in a Juglers box within together: So that the English of Faith is Christ, Obedience is Christ, Justification is Christ, Light is Christ, &c. It is true, sometimes it pleased Gods Spirit to speak figuratively, and to [30] call Christ sometimes our Justification, and sometimes a Curse for us:Christs Name horribly prophaned Sometimes Sanctification, and sometimes Sin for us: But it is a mystery or subtle trick of Hell to call Faith Obedience, and Obedience to the Light Justification and Redemption, and yet mean Christ. So that Fox his words may be in plain English thus rendred, [None sees Christ and Christ but with the Christ within, which comes from Christ who hath Christed him.]

The true Sense, (as Mony) Answers all things, but it is a Mystery of Iniquity to darken any, much more heavenly matters with Confounding and not distingu…shing aright when matters are in Examination.

2. It is another Gospel (or glad News) yet not another, but is a dream and dead picture of an Image or Idol to put in our Obedience and working, though I know they Father this Bastard upon the most holy God himself, saying, it is his Obedience, his Righteousness, & his working, in the Room of the Death and blood shedding, the Sufferings and merits of the Lord Jesus.

p. 3673. It is a Mystery of Iniquity▪ The Old and new Bargain to Love.(subtly and yet churlishly and selfishly with Laban) to change wages and the Covenant or Bargain so often: to pretend (with the Papists) great abhorring of the Iewish worship and Iewish Covenant, the Bargain of, Do this and live, the Bargain of saving our selves, &c. The great Delusion of Quakers as to pardon of Sin and Righteousness.and the Bargain of flying out of our selves and only to Gods mercy in the Mediation of Christ Jesus: And then again to render our selves to be so holy, so righteous, so obedient, so loving, so Chast, so meek, so patient, so Temperate, that in thought word or deed we Sin not, and this our Holiness is Christ, and God, and Spirit, and Justification, &c.

I know the writers of the Quakers make this high Obedience to be the Crown of some high Saints amongst them as the Papists do, and that others come not so high, are taken by the sleshly Spirit, and repent, and Confess, and be more watchful as they say, in a Contradiction of I. Naylor, but this is Contradiction to their general grant, viz that every Saint, every one, even the least that is born again, he can not Sin: and I know also that they have a foolish Salve or plaister for this sore too,The Quakers bewildred as to Perfection. and Contradict their denying of meanings given to the Scripture, and come to the meanings of the Protestants saying, they cannot Sin willingly, and so, and so; And yet again, (in a horrible Mystery of 31] Iniquity) they exclaim against the Protestants for saying, a Child of God can not fall from true grace Finally or Totally.

4. Here is a Mystery of hellish Iniquity, in that p. 368they Confess such a man Christ to have been,The Quakerr devilish Chimistry and his blood shedding11Insert "according to."R. W. Ms. Ann. the Types and real predictions and figures of him, a real Death, Resurrection and Assention, and yet upon the point (by a Devilish Chymistry) evaporate all these, and leave nothing but a Christ within, as God and as Man, whose Name is now Light, and our Obedience to the motions of this Light within this is Justification, Righteousness, Salvation, God, Christ, Perfection, perfect holiness, &c.

5. It is a Hellish Mystery of the Devil to Cozen poor Souls with a Notion of the Difficulty and height of their Profession, and of worshipping God in Spirit and Truth,The feined …ardness, but the real easiness of the Quakers Spirit. which they say no Body in the World do but they, &c. and yet the Truth is as I told them in publick, there is an Image in the Bed, but David was gone, yea, and that their Religion was one of the easiest Religions in the world. For, as I have seen pluck but forth a small pin or peg in a Harpsycon, and that wonderful Instrument will delight your Ear and mind with curious and various Tunes of Musick:The wonderful Harpsicon So if once a poor Soul gives way an Inch, and sets in one thought of yielding to the voice of a Spirit within them, they are filled and ravished with curious Notions of Justification, Holiness, God and Christ, and Spirit within them, they can now Thou the King himself, they need no Scriptures,The vain dreams of the Quakers and their fools Paradice. nor Teachers: and thus as in a dream their great Debts of Thousands and Millions are paid and discharged. The Cage door flies open, and they are delivered as a Bird, &c. p. 369from Sin and Devil, and Hell, &c. yea, Rapt up into Paradice, and see, and hear, and speak unutterable Ioyes, &c. I Confess as I said in the Case of the two hundred following Absolom, I hope there is many a precious Soul sincerely aiming at God, and as precious Diamonds and Jewels fallen in the dirt, &c. As I hope in the Parishes of Protestants and Papists also, who being only ignorant as the Disciples were of main points of Christianity, yet aim uprightly at God, truly love him, and labour to increase in the knowledge and grace of Christ Iesus.

A 17th. Inst. is in ag. 63. where G. Fox brings in his Adversary Ieremiah Ives saying,Jeremiah Jves [There may be a Light to Convince of Sin, and yet not within man.] He Answers, there is no people [32] Convinced of Sin, but they are Convinced within themselves and with the Light within them: It is the Light which makes manifest to a man when he is Convinced: It Answers to something, and reacheth to something in their particulars, though the words be spoken without them from the Light.

I Reply, First, it is a doleful Business to read and hear how Satan (in his Chains of Darkness) yet hath Liberty to appear abroad as an Angel of Light from Heaven,The Devil in Samuels Mantle thus vapouring and swaggering under the Cloak and Colours of Light, the Light which is Christ, the Light by which all things were made, the Light that was glorified with the Father before the World was, An Angel of Light but a Dragon and Devil of darkness.the Light that enlightens every man that comes into the World: the Light within you, &c. the Light which will guide you up to God, up to Christ, up to Salvation and Eternal Life, and yet all this p. 370vapourings and Crakings are but Cheatings from the God of this World whose eyes being beat out by Gods most righteous Sentence, he labours to keep all in blindness, or to beat out the eyes of those whom God hath truly enlightned.

2. As I have said before, and I said truly, the word Light is a Similitude from Light and darkness though my Opposites in the dispute affirmed, that God was Light in a proper and not figurative Sense, and it signifies and intends Truth of all Sorts, whether Natural, Truth and Light the same thing.Moral or Heavenly: The natural Truth or Light is received within by a natural Light or understandings: The Civil and moral Light or Truth suits and agrees with those moral and Civil Convictions of the natural Light and understanding? Hither to Natures Light will reach. But when we mount up to Divine and Supernatural Truth, here these very Foxians Confess that the Natural Man perceiveth not the things of God: Only they say, that beside Natural Light, Natural Reason, &c. there is the holy Seed God and Christ, &c. within every Son, and to this Spirit and Seed in Prison they preach, and Fox in our discourses alleadgeth and affirmeth God (in every man) to be a Cart loaden with sheaves, prest under, and as it were in Prison, &c. blasphemous wretches if they keep not, but go beyond Similitudes and Comparative Expressions 11Insert "used by y^e Lord."R. W. Ms. Ann.to make …s poor worms creep up to Heaven.

3. All Light, or Truth Natural, Civil, or Divine it comes from without, and is received by the Internal p. 371Faculty according [33] to the Capacity, The way of Truth or Lights goings.Nature and measure of it. All Truth or falshood, Light or darkness is first espied by the watch or Sentinel, Fancy or Comprehension, &c. From thence it is conveyed to the Court of Guard, where Captain Reason or his Lieutenant, common Sense▪ and Experience taketh Examination, and Memory keeps a Record of proceedings which go on by degreen to Actions, &c.

4. When I say it comes from without, I intend not that Truth or Light comes any other way from without,Where no Receiver no Thief. as by force and ravishment, &c. I say any11Change "any"to "no." R. W. Ms. Ann. other way then there is a door & Room and Receptive Faculty within willing to receive, and to make it welcome: This G. Fox urgeth there must be a receiver, and something that Answers. I Answer, Natural Truth, or morals, Civil matters are soon received by all Natural and Moral Understandings,Natural Understanding in Men and Beasts. yea, in natural Commands and Threatnings, Beasts and Birds are admirably capacious and observant. But when we speak of Supernatural Heavenly and Eternal matters, of Spiritual things to be discerned Spiritually: What a difference is there as between Heaven and Earth, and Infinitely greater?

When the Lord Iesus asked his Disciples how many loavs they had, An Instance of a meerly Rational and an heavenly Power and Faculty.their Natural Faculty or Reason could give an Answer: When he asked them whom do Men say that I the Son of man am? This was a Divine and Supernatural Question, and for the outside and Truth of the Fact, the Devils could Answer as well as the Disciples, not only that same said he, p. 372was Elias, Iohn Baptist, &c. but that he was the Son of God: All this exceeds not Natural first Birth Powers or Faculties: But to give a believing and an affectionate Answer as Peter did, this requires a Faculty and Power which Flesh and Blood could not reach too,11Change "too" to "to."R. W. Ms. Ann. but the Spirit or secret working Power of God in the means wrought Peters heart and the Disciples hearts, and to this day all Believers Hearts to receive and welcome all truly Divine and Heavenly Doctrines.

Whereas therefo…e G. Fox talks of something within which is preached to: I may Answer as they do,A close Companion between all Faculties and Objects. viz. that the natural man perceivs no spiritual matter, but when he is born again then he acts and works, and it is most certain, that as an House receivs his Master, as Candle kisseth Candle, the Clasp the Hook, the mortise the Tenant, so do Natural or Spiritual Faculties receive Natural [34 or Spiritual Faculties receive Natural or Supernatural Motions and Impressions.

The Protestants say, that before it pleaseth God by some word read, preached, &c. to set up a Candle of wisdome in the Souls, and to work a spiritual favour in the Soul, all heavenly matters are nauseous and odious, though as pleasant, profitable and honourable, to self Ends they are welcome all the word over, yet as spiritual and heavenly abominable?

G. Fox saith there is a something,Nothing truly Spiritual in Nature as now degenerate. a Seed, though but as a Grain of mustard Seed, a Seed of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, to which Christ the Word is preached, and which maketh Answer: Hence (horribly p. 373abusing Scripture phrazes) they so often say God is all (within and without:) Hence they maintain, &c. though men be dark and dead, yet Christ within is Light and alive in them, and them only.

Hence appears G. Fox his lying Cheats of a Sufficient Light withi… to lead to God and to Salvation, a Teacher within all Sufficient, for then no need, yea, it is a simple Superfluity, &c. to hold a Candle of outword words to awaken and enlighten such a glorious all-Sufficient Sun within.

5. I ask where this something, this something of God,About the light shining in darkness. (yea, God and Christ and Spirit11Adds "is" after "Spirit." R. W. Ms. Ann.) If he Answer, in the understanding he grants it, that22Insert "it."R. W. Ms. Ann. is dark, and perceives no heavenly matters, &c. If in the Heart and Affections he Confessieth, all there, is hard and dead: only he saith, the Light shineth in the darkness, &c. Implying that in the dark understanding there is some heavenly Light: in the hearts hardness there is some softness, and the Light shineth in darkness, &c.

I Answer, Christ Iesus t…e Sun of Righteousness arose with saving Rayes or wings of Salvation, but the blind Iews could not own him for the Expected Messiah, what is this G. Fox his something? a Light of Christ inlightning every man that comes into the World, though the man see it not.

2. What is this to all the Generations of the World about four thousand years before Christ came, and was in that visible person as Iohn saith of him, that lightens every man that comes, &c. what is this p. 374to a mixture of Light and darkness in the same faculty, the eye blind and yet seeing, the man dead and yet alive? It is true the Lambs wife confesseth that her Hear…t was awae [35] while she slept. But what is this to the heart being dead and no Life at all and yet waking?

6. The Conclusion is (as before I hinted) and they Confess, when God in his own Means ordinarily works the will to hear,Gods grrcious workings with and in the Souls of men. to turn, to believe, to pray, he then graciously works the work for us, and being thus turned with Ephraim, we mourn and lament, and say, what have we done? when he turns our wilderness (wholly a wilderness) into a Garden, then we bring forth his sweet Fruits, Flowers and Spices: when he turns the Wolf into a Lamb, then we are meek and Innocent, and patient: but to talk of preaching to the Spirits in Prison, yea, of the Seed of God and the Spirit of God in prison, when the Lord speaks of his warning and moving men by Noahs preaching in the old World, A wonderful Parrots Religion.as may be evidently evinced,) is like the prophane teaching of Parrots to prate of Grace and Heaven, like that admirable Parrot in France, who could say her Pater noster, her Creed, and Ten Commandments, and yet knew as much of grace and the workings of God in the Soul, as her Popish Teachers, &c.

An 18th. Instance of G. Fox, his lame and cheating Answers is in pag. 64. where he brings in the same Author Ieremiah Ives saying,Jeremiah Ives [It is a known Error to say, that a man was in Hell and in Heaven.] He Answers, who in this shews his Ignorance of Scripture, for it gives Testimony of men that did p. 375witness that they had been in Hell, in the Nethermost Hell, and witnessed again they were in Heaven, and sate in heavenly places in Christ Iesus, and such were in Heaven, as is spoken of in the Revelations.

I Reply, G. Fox and millions more talk of Heaven and Hell as the Notable Parrot (above said)11Infert "so did." R. W. Ms. Ann. our Fore-Fathers, Heaven and Hell to come.& some from the Scripture, and some out of Reasons Light talkt of places of Ioy Eternal for the Righteous, and of misery Eternal for the bad and wicked. But the new Light from Christ Jesus and his pen-men is the clearest that ever shined in this world, especially, that famous Parable or Word proceeding out of the mouth of Christ Jesus, Luke 16. that of Dives and Lazarus declaring (in substance) the state of the Life, to Come, and of the two great Parties of the poor afflicted Righteous, and the wicked living in pleasures, &c.

G. Fox is in his Burrough of the various signification of the words Heaven and Hell: He knows that a state of Sorrow and [36] Bitterness is called Hell. Fox his Hell and Heaven.That a state of Death and the grave is set out by the word Hell in the same Hebrew phrase: And to either of these he wickedly applies the thirst 22Erase "thirst." R. W. Ms. Ann.State, of which the Lord Jesus 1. so clearly speaks: viz. The State of the ungodly after this Life, in the Life and World to come.

2, Again, he knows the visible State of the true Profession of Christ Jesus is called Heaven.

3. Such as have Interest in Christ Jesus have sitten p. 376down with him in those Heavenly Mansions and glories into which he is entred bodily and gone to prepare for their Reception and coming.

4. The third Heaven (the place of Pauls Rapture and Vision) the place of Joy, and Blessedness and Glory, when these Heavens and Earth are burnt up and consumed.

It is like G. Fox hath been occasioned to these thoughts by the Papists Fables about Heaven and Hell, The Papists Queries about Helland Purgatory, and their curious Questions as whether the Torment of Hell be as real and terrible as this Elementary and Kitching Fire: Whether the pain of Hell transcend not all pains of Childbirth, Stone, gout, Collick, Burning? &c. Whether it be possible for a Creature to Continue in such Torments perpetually without Intermission?The Scripture, Hell and Heaven but Fables with G. Fox and other Popish Foxes Whether there shall not be some end after some millions of years as well as of the pains of Purgatory: G. Fox knows how the Papists get a world of Mony by these Notions of Heaven and Hell which the Atheistical Foxes amongst them count but Fables, (as the Pope speaks of Christ) The Devils have a more real Faith or Belief of these things and tremble: They cried out to the Lord Jesus, why art thou come to torment us before the Time? &c. But G. Fox not believing (as they think) these Fables, he fancies that Hell is some apprehensions in the mind of wrath to come, and that is Hell and wrath it self, and having had slashes of Pride and Peace in their minds, these are the Joyes of Heaven, whereas the Lord Jesus tells us, that beside the hundred p. 377fold of Spiritual Ioyes (viz a hundred Fathers, The Heaven and Hell to come.Mothers, &c.) there remains for his Followers in the World to come Eternal Life.

They are but short Flashes of Hell and Heaven which some of these poor Cheated Souls dream of: I know they allow time more or less before they come into the perfect and heavenly State of Necessity. 11Erase "of necessity."R. W. Ms. Ann.Death prevents some from coming to it, and makes the reign of the rest whom Satan has ticed into these [37] proud Vanities but short,The Foxes mad Fancy of the Soul and next Life. as Experience hath declared: only they have a mad Fancy of their Souls going into God, and becoming more God, and yet this some of them grant to the Souls of all men, to Iudas as well as Peter.

The true Protestant believes these three things, First, that there is a State Eternal of Joy to the Righteous bodies and Souls after this Life:The Protestants Faith as to the Life to come. and a State of Eternal Misery of Soul and Body to the ungodly: Although the exact knowledge of particulars exceed the present sight of our mortal eyes, the hearing of our Ears, and the Capacity of our Hearts, &c.

2. The first Fruits and a Tast both of the heavenly Ioyes and the Torments of the damned are given by God in this Life, to the first, in that Solid Peace and Ioy which they have in God: To the other in that Horror and Despair, and Enmity against God, &c.

3. Three Sorts of men especially will seek22Erase "k" in "seek."R. W. Ms. Ann. there is an Hell to come,Three Sorts will find Hell above other Sinners. First, The p. 378Volnptuous and Luxurious, above others.whose God is theii Belly, and their Sences, &c. Ars. potenter.11Erase "Ars. potenter." R. W. Ms. Ann.

2. The Devourers of the Poor and helpless, potenter, 22Erase "potenter."R. W. Ms. Ann.&c.

3. The proud puft up with foolish Confidences, boldly Crying, Lord open to us, for we, &c. also the Contrary to these three I might inlarge on, and not Impertinently, but let him that readeth understand, is in33Change "is in" to "yⁿ." R. W. Ms. Ann. pag. 64. where44Erase "where." R. W. Ms. Ann. G. Fox brings in Ieremiah Ives saying,Jeremiah Ives. [The Phariseel were far enough from having the Kingdom of Heaven within them] He Answers contrary to Christs words, who said it was within them.

I Reply, G. Fox his Tutor and Teacher within him knows, that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Huaven signifie but one, and not divers things: and yet also he knows that both of them signifie (in a Christian Sense) First, The Kingdom of God signifying divers things.the Kingdome of Government of God and Christ in the Soul. Secondly, The Government of God in his holy Providence in the World. 3. His Government in the Congregation or Churches of his Saints called out the World. Fourthly, the glorious State to come af…r this Life: He knowes that his Iourney man G. Fox is55Erase the parenthesis, and insert "a." R. W. Ms. Ann. (fit Instrument to destroy all these, and to erect (in their stead) a dull, proud, dogged Confusion, or Babel within, under the Name of God, Christ, Spirit, Light, Faith, Righteousness, Resurrection.

p. 379The Lord Jesus knowing that not the Phar…sees alone &c. but the Iews generally also, and his own Christian Followers were leavened [38] with a worldly notion,The false and true Messiah. viz. thar their Messiah should be a glorious temporal King, that he should make his Entrance, and Exalt his Throne with great Pompe, Solemnity, &c. The Lord Jesus tells them their mistake and saith,The Kingdome of God within you. that his Kingdome was not such a Kingdome, but that it was within them: Of which words I find three Expositions. First, that the Kingdome of Heaven is a Spiritual, inward and Soul Kingdome, Three Expositions.concerning God and the Soul, and Spiritual matters, according to the saying of Christ Jesus, my Kingdome is not of this World, &c.

2. From the word Entos within you, or amongst you, as certainly it was then amongst the Iews, and in the midst of them in their Temple Streets and Houses, Hearts and mouths by the most wonderful speakings of the Lord Jesus, as never man spake amongst them, and the wonderful power and gracious works which never man wrought amongst them, nor in the whole World beside

3. The Kingdome of God, that is God and Christ, and the Spirit were literally in the Pharisees, and so Consequently in every hypocrite in the World, and every wicked and prophane Sinner, though they know it not, yea in all Creatures.

But this is against a former, fair Exposition from the Greek word Entos, The Quakers Exposition.which cannot be refused (since so agreeing with the Truth) except Reasons more prevalent, &c.

2. The Spirit of God asks, what agreement between p. 380Christ and Belial, Light and Darkness, Righteousness & unrighteousness? &c.

And whereas it is most Improperly and Impiously Objected, that the Light shines in darkness, &c. I have said,The Light shining in darkness. that it can not be in the same Subject or part predominate, the mind, or will, or Affections: but the Light is at the window, and the Eye, and the knock at the door, (by all the wayes and means by which God visits poor men) but the Eye, the door is shut, &c. and the man within is not only asleep, but dead and rotten in Natures silthiness, and actual Transgressions and Abominations.

3. It is against all Colour of Reason to Imagine that the Lord Jesus should tell the Iews, the Pharisees, and the rest of his bloody Enemies, who some weakly, some maliciously opposed his Kingdome, and coming to Rule by his Grace over them, viz. that his grace was King within them, what ever their Heart or Tongues said, or Hands hid, &c.

4. It is notoriously contrary to what G. Fox, and his so often [39] Clamour that the Kingdome of God consists in, or its Nature is in Righteousness, and Peace and Ioy in the holy Spirit: as opposite to the Kingdome in the Pharisees, and all Hipocrites and prophane, &c. as Hell to Heaven.

5. The thing is so notoriously childish and ridiculous,The grace of God is offered to all, but embraced by few that are freely chosen &c. that a King should affirm he was an actual King in his Enemies Country, where the whole is up in Arms against him: Or for a Lamb to say, he was amongst the Wolves and held his Government in them: Or that a man pretending Love to a Woman in way of marriage should p. 381boldly affirm,The frantick fancy of Christs Kingdome in his Enemie… hearts. (though she abhord to hear of the motion yet) that he was in her Heart and Affections, as an Husband, Lord, &c. It is true, the motions of War and Love are made and offerd from the King warring, and the man suing, but that their motions and Commands (that is Government and Kingdome) should be in them is nothing but impious and impudent, and childish prating.

The 20th Instance, Thomas Weld.is in pag. 75. where G. Fox brings in Thomas Weld, &c. saying, [How clear the Scripture is, that Faith comes by hearing, and not by minding the Light within] He Answers, Faith how wrought.Doth any man know Christ but by the Light within? And is not Christ the Word? And can any see without Christ the Word? Doth it not make …anifest? Nay, doth it not give the Light of the knowledge of God in the face of Iesus Christ? read 2 Cor. 4. 1. from whence Faith comes, and so F…ith comes by minding the Light within, Christ the Author of it,A distracted old woman a picture of the Quakers. and brings to look at him, and hear him.

I Reply, mine eyes have seen a poor distracted aged woman walking in State, boasting of her Majesty, Iewels, and Crown, with a Straw in her hand for her Scepter, &c. and thus doth this poor mad Soul walk even like Nebuchadnezzar upon his Babel. All is Christ, and he is Christ, Christ is Faith and all, &c & therefore

1. He slights this so known and unquestionable Record,Rom. 10. The admirable Chain of Diamonds.Rom 10 Faith comes by hearing, and that heavenly Chain of Diamonds, Rom. 10. concerning true Salvation, true worshipping, true praying, true believing, true preaching, true sending, which holy writing or Record Fox dares not seriously and p. 382impartially, and in the fear of the most High consider, as to the various means and wayes of Gods sending unto man.

2. For all G. Fox his Scepter of Straw, his mad fancy of a [40] Light that works Faith, &c. I ask what Faith is, and if it be not First, a believing the Gospel,True Faith what or Glad News to be true. Secondly, a receiviving of it and believing in it mine own particular.

As First, that a pardon is certainly come, Secondly, that my Name is in it, my deliverance and Salvation is wrapt up in it The great King of Heaven (like Ahashuerosh) his Ange… is ev…r: now he hath thoughts of marriage Loves and Ioyes, and Secondly, I (though a poor Captive Iew, poor Esther) I am she his Eye hath fixt on, and his Soul delights in:

3dly, I askt what preaching is, but the publishing or divulging, telling or declaring what the Word or mind,Heb. 1. Act. 26.Heb 1Acts 26 or will of the King Eternal is, which he hath revealed or declared to the Patriarchs Moses and the rest of his Prophets, or Messengers from the beginning of the World: And what said the Apostles or Messengers of Christ Jesus declare, but what Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass? Act. 26. which all was Scripture? Was not this Proclamation of Good News, The four sort of Hearers.or a pardon to be made over all the World, and the first proclaiming of it to be at Ierusalem, Luke 24. And was there not to be four sorts of Hearers of this glad News.