George Fox Digged Out of His Burrows, Account of dispute 1 · Letter 7

George Fox Digged Out of His Burrows · Account of dispute 1 · Letter 7

p. 111The Superscription. To his Loving Friends Roger Williams and the Quakers now assembled at Newport deliver, Humbly desiring the reading of it to publick Audience for the Truths sake of Christ Jesus.The Letter it self.

LOving Friends, though the Lord in his Wisdome hath denied me from Nature the gift of utterance, yet in his infinite mercy he hath vouchsafed to me his free gift as to writing, whereby the private motions arising between God and my own Soul (without knowledge unto any) may be declared, being moved hereunto out of a sensible sadness, which is upon my Spirit in beholding the Cloudings and Vailings of the most precious Truths of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ: But (Loving Friends) herein mistake me not at first: This is no charge nor discharge, but an appearance unto my Soul, even unto the moving of my Bowels within me: For my Beloved at his putting in his hand at the hole of the door, when all my Lovers, Priests and Elders gave up the Ghost in the City: (for gladness) is taken away, and joy out of the pleasant field, and in the Vineyard there is no (true) singing, and the Treaders p. 112tread out no (pure) Wine, for the Lord hath made the Vintage shouting to cease: But to avoid Prolixity, I write not to charge nor admonish, neither for contending Argumentation, it being against my understanding, and as the taking of a Dog by the ear: But …incerely unto edification, in signifying the appearances unto my Soul in what I have gotten from these your so earnest and tedious Debates.

72] Therefore I am humkly bold to speak, unto all the contending Disputants in the plainness of my heart.

And First unto the Complaining Disputant it appears unto my Soul, that you have not dealt as a faithful Servant of the Lord Iesus, with your fellow Servants, for you should have admonished them both first and second time in private, and if they would not have heard you then to have told it to the Church, the great Congregation of God.

2. It doth appear unto my Soul, that you have assumed and presumed too much, being so large and high proposals, which do appear unto me not as charges, but in this first Appearance as Proposals, until they are maintained as charges by sufficient proof, wherein they may be molified: But in truth herein I am at a stand, for against whom were the true Apostles more bitter than against the False? which if the Defendants be so (which in charity I have reason to hope otherwise) your Conscience will be more cleared in your Lord and Masters service: yet know there may be a zeal without true knowledge, therefore let true zeal appear that is not in persecution, but for the Glory of God and truths sake, as it is in Ie…us.

2. Unto the Defending Complainants (the loving p. 113Quakers) which I pray take not as a charge, but as appearances unto my Soul in that you never dealt faithfully in your Lord and Masters service, for both Complainants and Defendants are all but Servants unto one Lord and Master, and you must do that service which is ordained by your Lord and Master to do in your several stations (either in truth or falshood) there is no hindring of it, and when you have done all you can, you are but unprofitable Servants, falling short of your Lord and Masters infinite Glory, and in the end of your service, you shall as the Grasse wither, and as the Flower fade, but unto our everlasting comforts the word of the Lord shall stand and for ever.

First, That you have not done your Master faithful service by assuming and presuming beyond the bounds of Moderation and Christianity: but as I said before take not these as charges, but as proceeding from your own Expressions and Behaviours in your late actings which have not been for that solid edification of the Auditors which was expected but for defending and advancing of self, which appeared:

1. By your limiting the Holy one of Israel, contrary unto your Lord and Masters Commission.

2. By breaking an Apostolical Command (so far as in you lay) as not to quench the Spirit.

73] 3. You have not dealt faithfully and Christian like with your elder fellow servant, and then what would you do with the Heir.

To the first appearance you would not begin before you had stated by forced Covenant that none should speak (though with leave in modesty and sobriety) but those that would joyn issue with the complainant, and p. 114that under hand writing.True librety infringed And herein (loving friends) you have infringed upon those great Liberties and Mercies which God hath bestowed upon these parts, and which you do enjoy, and cannot enjoy else where: And will you now shut up your common Wine-presses that we can have no fruit nor refreshing but what comes from your private Presses? Know (Loving Friends) this is a sad grievance that lies upon us. Y…a, you do infringe not only upon our Souls but upon our Temporal Liberties.

For in our Courts of Iudicature there is a fundamental liberty stated for any to speak freely for Conscience sake in any Cause in the Bounds of Sobriety and Modesty. But this appears against the Rules and Practises of all Christianity, not practised by the Judicial Convocation, nor by the high Commission Court in our Native Couutry, where often I have been, and the Metropolitan with the rest of the Bishops in Gravity and Christianity (though their pleadings were by Proctors, yet) gave liberty especially for Relations to speak: As in one Instance of a person whom you all have heard of, when he was to come upon Examination, his wife being big with Childe came with him, the Arch-Bishop (though otherwise he might be improper, yet herein shewd great civility by considering the Womans condition, and gave liberty for speaking to the full, with replying no discomfortable Words, yea in Christianity delayed further prosecution until she was delivered, though afterwards they acted their improper persecution.

But into what a condition shall we be brought (I hope not into an high Commission nor Inquisition p. 115Court) if this Imprimator goes on, that none shall speak, no not so much as suffered to desire to speak, though they are great with Childe with the Man Christ Iesus: But I hope the People will see their Liberties, and your selves know this was not the true Apostles practises.

2. Your sad quenching of the Spirit when the motion of it arose in any for Soul-satisfaction in any to speak,Quenching of the Spirit you would not suffer them to be expressed but stifle them in their coming forth: O dear Friends consider, you would not be so dealt with: For what did you know but [74] the Lord might bring forth from any of the Auditors for witnessing his Eternal Truth and Glory? therefore as your Heavenly Master is bountifully free, be not you Niggards in shutting up his Bounties and suffring none to pass but through your own Purses: I speak as the Apostle did after the manner of men.

3. Your Indecorum Behaviours both in words and gestures unto your elder Fellow-Servants & aged Father complaining as not performing your duty as young men according unto Rule of honouring gray hairs▪The insulting Spirit of the Quakers

1. But by unseemly smiles of Derision, saying often (for a time) Thou old Man, thou old Man, thereby appearing to provoke to passion:

2. When that would not move his exceeding great patience, then charging of him with Blasphemy, and to prove his Blasphemy:

3. Again (not Apostle or Gospel like) seeking and taking advantages against the Aged, and contrary to Covenant by three or four baiting him at once, unto the confounding of his memory, or stopping of his utterance, p. 116under the pretence of challenging all comers (when reasons considers of coming in Order) But your defence was that you were but one Man, then you should have been but one Mouth.

Again your improper charging of the complainant with mispending of time,The true cause of our long discourse at Newport when in Truth it was your selves (in not suffering of him orderly to proceed) But by your often Iterations, Tautologies, Indecorum Behaviours and Expressions, with improper Preachments at that time, and yet lay the defect upon the aged, and would not be satisfied with his substantial Proofs, divine Reasons and Argumental Demonstrations. And herein your Conscience (if unsatisfied) had liberty in timely Order, to have made your substantial Desence, if patience had been suffered to have had her perfect work. It is acknowledged by Auditors, that as the Complainant brought substantial proof (for so far as he proceeded) so you the Defendants also brought substantial defence (in what was substantial) but now who shall judge? ye will not suffer the Gospel rule, that the standers by, the Spirits of the Prophets shall judge. Then both of your own private Interpretations doth aim to be judges, and so will be endless and true judgeless: And by proceedings, the cause of Christ Iesus (being now at stake) much dishonoured unto the sadness of my Soul and unsatisfied Conscience, and also the expectation of the Auditors which was for Soul-edification frustrated, and unto publick shame (as yet) only self contendings hath the supream Appearance. Therefore (Loving Friends) [75] pleading and defending for your Lord and Masters sake, shew your selves faithful Servants of Christ Iesus in all Humility, p. 117self-denial, Love, Charity, Tenderness, in bowels of compassion, in Gospel Peace and Unity: only unto your Masters praise and Glory: that the Auditors may receive the plain naked Truth of the Lord Iesus unto their Souls Edification, even the real Truth as it in Iesus, and not as words of man which is only Vanity and vexation of Spirit under the Sun of eternal and universal Righteousness, whose infinite glory is witnessed by

Robert Willams. Newport August. 6. 1672.

THis was that poor Letter (condemned unheard by these high Saints who now keep Judgement day) to the fire and everlasting silence: this was the two edged Sword which smote in the honest upright intentions of the Author every way reproving me,The modesty of this letter reproving them, and yet having so much Sugar with his Vinegar and Honey with his bitter Powder, that had it been unseal…d and read at Newport, or read at Providence, whose taste could it have offended, but theirs only who like the men of China, judge all the World to have no eyes but themselves excepting the Men of Europe to whom they will grant one eye, and that is more then our proud Pharisees will do to any that bow not down to their most grosse Phylacteries.

But from this finger of God this providential Letter appearing upon the Wall before us: I return to the work of the day, which was the Discussion p. 118and Probation (on my part) of the other five Proposals remaining.

I therefore (after the Letter was put up unread into my pocket) requested their Patience,The third Position against the Quakers spirit Discussed while I produced my Proof of the third Position, which was, viz. [That the Spirit by which they were acted was not the true Spirit of God:] Tis true I had many things in my mind and memory) some of them I here express) but I was forced to pick and chufe and lay by: for I told them that according to my promise, and their expectation I would present them with the Substance of my proof of this Position in the compass of about a quarter of an hour.

76] I reminded them first of the nature of the Word Spirit in Latine Spiritus, The word spiritin Greek Pneuma, in the Hebrew Ruch and Ruach, signifying sometimes Breath, sometimes Wind, and from thence applied unto God himself, unto Angels, unto Men, as denoting a spiritual, powerful, invisible fine Substance distinct from flesh and earthly Bodies: Hence God was said to be a Spirit, not properly but that his Being was pure, powerful, invisible, &c.

1, Whether God was properly a Spirit (as the Quaker affirmed) we had some controversie at Providence of which hereafter.)

2. Concerning Spirits, I observed two great Sects: 1 Those of the Pharisees (who were accounted the most Orthodox, Sound and right, holding such a Spiritual Substance in Angels and Spirits and a Resurrection. 2. The Sadduces which held neither Angel, nor Spirit, nor Resurrection, as at this day, &c.

p. 1193. It is clear there is a two-fold Spirit: 1. Holy and pure:The quality of Spirits such a Spirit is God himself, and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father by the Son, such are the Spirits of the Angels, the Spirits of Gods Children in part, and the Spirits of just men made perfect (the Quakers say here, we say in the life coming.)

The other Spirit is a wicked Spirit, a lying and a murtherous Spirit in Sathan and his Children, yet often counterfeiting the Holy and pure Spirit, like the Oile and Ointment which God prescribed and forbad the like of it to be made on pain of death. Therefore we are commanded not to believe every Spirit, but to try even the very Spirits, not only of men but of Doctrines, Churches, Religions, All spirits must be triedpretending the Name of God, (as do the Turks, Iews and Christians) and of the Son of God, as do all the Antichrists and Antichristians extant.

4. The Holy Spirit of God (being the seven Lambs of Fire, the seven Eyes, and seven Horns, Rev. 5.) he is pleased to work variously.

First in an ordinary way of Regeneration and Sanctification, &c. common to all the lowest and youngest of Gods Children, (Iohn 3. that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit) Hence we read of the Spirit of Prayer, and of Holiness wrought in the Soul by the finger or power of God: so that the knowledge of God, the fear, the love, the trusting to and in God, the calling upon God is natural to all Gods Children, Gal. 5. Abba Father, &c.

77] The second is extraordinary and immediate, such as was pour'd upon the Lord Jesus, Isai. 11. p. 120such as Christ breathed upon the Apostles, and by the Apostles hands upon others when they spake with Tongues, fortelling things to come, and penning the Holy Scriptures or Records, as did the Prophets of old, and the first Messengers the Apostles of Christ Jesus.

I told them I had many things to say as to the false Spirits of the false Christs, and false Prophets, the Spirits of Devils as well as the Spirits of God (in the Revelation) and the three wayes of deceit mentioned, 1 Thess. 2. by Spirit, by Word, or by Letter: but I would contract my self, I say that their Spirit by which they were acted was not Gods Spirit.

1. Because the Holy Spirit of God was given by means,Gods Spirit given by Gods means but the Quakers pretended all along in G. Fox and other Books, that their Spirit was immediate or without means: I said in the 8th of the Romans was a Golden Chain of Gods Order or Method of Working from Predestination to Glorification: In the 10th. to the Romans was a Golden Chain of the Means appointed, &c. How shall a Man be saved? by calling upon God?The Spirit of God working by means How shall he call on him except he believe in him? how shall a Man believe in him except he hear of him? how shall a Man hear of him except some Preach? how shall a Man Preach except he be sent, &c, Hence Peter Preaching Christ Jesus to the first Converts, they were some thousands brought to Christ, when they were pierced to the heart, and cried out what shall we do? Peter sends them nor to a light within them, but bids them Repent and be Baptized, Act. p. 12114. Paul so spake that many believed,The Quakers at Newport appealed too publickly Act. 16. while Paul spake the Lord opened Lydias heart: and I appealed to the Consciences of those called Quakers at Newport there present, whether in a contradiction this Spirit they now professed, descended immediately upon them from God (as they spake) or was not conveyed unto them by the Ministry of the former Preaching Quakers▪ that came unto them: so that these now are but the waterers and confirmers of this Doctrine of the Spirit in them.

2. As Believing and Conversion comes by hearing, &c. so these extraordinary gifts and powrings forth of Gods Spirits was generally by means also: Christ used Breathing upon the Apostles: the Spirit of God descended, Act. 8. 19. in the laying on of hands: in Peters Preaching, Acts. 10. the miraculous Spirit of [78] Tongues and Prophecy descended upon Cornelius and his company, and not before, yea, and what is that waiting in silence used in private, and in the publick Assemblies of the Quakers, but a confessed means in which they wait for the Spirit of God (as poor Souls they think) descending on them.

I was then forced to omit the Allegations out of G. Fox his book then by me and ready, but I will now recite a few of them.

In page 6. of this Book in Folio, G. Fox brings in Samuel Eaton Samuel Eatonsaying [The Prophets and Apostles drew people to an outward Word] He Answers, Now is that which lives and endures forever, outward? p. 122and did not they bring them to Christ the power of God, which is the end of words which is immediate.

Again in the same Page Samuel Eaton [Is not the Gospel an External way] He Answers No, the Gospel is a Living way which is revealed within, and is the power of God to Salvation.

In the same Page Samuel Eaton [Are not they seduced who are drawn off from the External means by which the Spirit is given and Faith wrought, to wait for the receiving of the Spirit without any Word to convey it to them, which Spirit when they have it is not the Spirit of Truth but of delusion] For Answer, [The Spirit and Faith is not conveyed to any Man without the Word, and they are seduced which rests in the External from the Eternal, and the Spirit is not given by Eternal means, neither is Faith wrought.]

I Reply, and observe how the wisdome of Men is enmity against God, and how witty this Fox is to catch himself and others in the Traps of eternal Howling? how doth he here confound the audible words or preachings of Gods mercy in Christ Jesus, with the inaudible, invisible, mystical and metaphorical word, Christ Jesus himself.

2. Who sees not his gross and impudent denying of the Spirit and Faith to be conveyed by means from God unto us.

In Page 15. G. F. brings in Henoch Howet Henoch Ho…vetsaying [There is nothing in Man to be ministred to but man] He Answers, How then ministred the Apostle to the Spirit? and Christ spake to the Spirits in Prison: p. 123and Tim. was to stir up the Gift that was in him and the Spirit of the Father speaks within them: and the Light shines in the Heart: and the Son of God is revealed in me saith the Apostle: that which may be known of God is manifest in man, for God hath shewed it unto them, Rom. 1. and the Apostle was [79] manifest to every ones Conscience in the sight of God, and that was of God which the Children disobeyed.

I Reply, 1. (As in his late Book exalting his Heathen Light above the Holy Scriptures) he simply and prophanely joyns the Philistian Priests, and Egyptian Conjurers with Holy Iob and his Friends, &c. so here he confounds and jumbles together the natural powers and faculties and Humane Light in all Mankinde with the Grace and Spirit of God both ordinary and extraordinary as may be seen at the first view.

2. His Scope is (abominably and horribly,) to make the holy Spirit of God capable of being preached unto, to be converted and turned unto God, yea to refuse and be damned, for it is not Man he saith that is preached unto.

3. How Sottish and Blind doth this Deceiver proclaim himself in the Christian Doctrines of Preaching,G. Fox ignorant of the true spirit of God Conversion, Faith and the Grace and Spirit of God confounding Gold and Drosse, Pearls and Pebbles, Harps and Harrows (as all one) altogether.

In Page 136, 137. He brings in Thomas Moor, Tho. Moor.saying [Nor are we to wait for a further Revelation to be given forth then the Scripture for the Word of God came not first immediately to the Gentiles but to p. 124the Apostles:] He Answers, The Apostles that Preached the Word of God, it was immediate to whomsoever they preached it, for they had read it immediately, for the Word it self is immediate with more that follows to the same senceless and absurd purpose.

Reply, As if all that receive G. Fox his Book simply pretended to be from the Spirit of God receive it without G. Fox his Brain and Hand, The use of meansand Pen or Paper, Printing and Letters: or because a King delivers his minde to his Secretary, and commands him to Pen it in a Proclamation, Declaration, &c. therefore the Kings Word or Will comes to every man immediately without any such means, as the Secretaries composing his Clarks Transcribing, the use of Printing, Letters, Paper, &c. to talke after this sort, what is it but to talk Frantick and Bedlam, and without the guidance of a common rational Spirit.

In Page 5. he brings in Samuel Eaton, saying [Though all the Saints have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them, which is Eternal and Infallible, yet that this Spirit should do all which Saints do, and should say all that Saints say, and should judge for them, both persons [80] and things after an infallible manner, Fox and the Quakers above all Kings and Princes, Popes & Emperors Saints and Angelsand that they should neither say nor do any thing by any understanding of their own but the Spirit: all this we deny] He Answers, [Which is contrary to the Apostle, who saith, as many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God: and Christ acts all in them and for them: and the fruits of the Spirit, &c. and the Spiritual man judgeth all things: And p. 125that is it which leads the Saints to divide and discerne all things both temporal and spiritual; the spiritual Wisdome of God which gives them a spiritual understanding, which men must rule withal, but not with their own which comes to nought: and you that have not that which is infallible to judge in you, know not the Spirit of Christ, neither can you judge of persons or things that have not the infallible judgement, nor have the Spiritual man: neither have you the Word of God in your hearts, nor Christ which is eternal and infallible all which the Quakers have to judge persons and things.]

I Reply, Mahomet the Grand Segnior, or Elder, and Prophet transcending Moses and Christ (as he and his followers Mahumetans say) he pretended that he had the mind of God by immediate Revelation,The Mahumetans & Quakers considered and found one and that by Revelation of the Holy Spirit in the shape of a Dove, he wrote the Minde, the Word or Scriptures of God the Alcoran: But poor silly Souls were Mahomet and all his Disciples compared with the Seraphical Doctors, the Foxians, who neither say nor do any thing with any understanding of their own, but the immediate and infallible Spirit of God says and does all in them: who are fit to be Kings and Princes, Governours and Judges, Masters of Ships and Families, &c. indeed of any place of power or trust, but these walking Gods, and Christs, and Spirits, even the meanest of the Quakers? The Quakers Gods upon Earth & all other Beasts Reprobates & DevilsMay not the meanest Youth or Wench, if but a pretended Quaker (according to this rule or rate of being immediately inspired in all they do p. 126or say) transcend all other Teachers, Translators, Interpreters, Kings and Counsellors, Navigators, Historians, Geographers, Rulers and Iudges, &c. It is true that Thomas Munster and Becold, and Knipperdoling, and Fifer pretending immediate Revelations, and so have other Leaders of these Nicolaitans in France and England, &c. but none were so large and open hearted as to communicate so freely and bountifully to all their followers, the immediate Inspirations of their pretended holy spirit, as these [81] foolish and filthy Dreamers do: for so saith Fox [All the Quakers say or do is by the infallible and eternal Spirit] but how horribly their Spirits, Principles, Divisions, Miscarriages (in many sinful practises) and Apostacies amongst themselves give the lye and contradict this their infallibility is notoriously proclaimed on the house top: and I may say something more to this Head afterward.

At present I return to my Antagonists, who (while I was Arguing against their immediate Spirit) could not hold until my quarter of an hour, and this Head (about their Spirit) was finished but brake silence, and they said (especially Iohn Stubs) doth not the Scripture say,The leading of the Spirits debated. if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his: And as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God, and ye have an unction, and need not that any man teach you, and you know all things?

I then answered that there was a leading of a Beast by an Halter or Bridle, and there was a leading of a Man with a Reason when his understanding and judgement is satisfied, and if so, I presumed p. 127they intended, that the leading of the Spirit did not lead them as Beasts, The tryal of Revelationsbut as Rational, satisfying their Reasons and Judgements: and if so Reason grants that there are false Spirits, lying Prophets, Seducers and Deceivers, &c. Reason therefore further saith, that every Soul must be satisfied, whether this Leading, or Anointing, or Teaching of the Spirit be by means of Praying, Reason sanctified and rightly improvedPreaching, Reading, Meditating, Conferring, &c. or immediate without the use of these: if motions without the use of these be pretended Reasons tells us that a Rational Soul must be able to try whether the Spirit pretending to be true or lying Spirit, and that it must have some Rule or Touch-stone to make their Tryal by, that the Rule must be my own Reason, or some Testimony of unquestionable Witnesses satisfying my Reason, or some heavenly inspired Scripture or Writing which my Reason tells me came from God: Reason also tells each rational creature, that it is very suspicious to be a false, lying and develish motion, which slights the Holy Scripture and other holy means wherein the Holy Spirit, Presence and Power of God hath appeared to Gods People formerly Reason tells me, that if I finde my self weak (as who doth not) to fight against the Devil (the roaring Lion and old Serpent) and I am bound to seek out for help, and what help more powerful [82] and proper then that of the eternal and all powerful Father of Spirits: and that it is best to take Iames his Counsel, if any Man wants wisdome let him ask of God who gives to all Men liberally and upbraideth not: if so, then Reason p. 128tells us, that except we suffer our selves to be led as Beasts by Sathan (as the poor Quakers are) we must come to the use of Means, or a mediate leading and teaching, and then what is become of these hellish fancies of only immediate Teachings and Inspirations?

I told them that beside this Counsel and Command of God in Iames, the Lord Jesus tells us by an admirable similie, that the holy Spirit of God is given in the use of means, The Spirit gotten of prayerLuk. 11. If you who are evil give good gifts unto your Children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him? and that is Isa. 11. the Spirit of Wisdome, the Spirit of Knowledge, the fear of the Lord and all Graces of the holy Spirit.The Quakers Spirit It is clear that the Pen-men and holy Scribes of Gods will unto us (in whom God did speak, and by whom he wrote immediately and infallibly those blessed chosen pens of his were not infallibly guided by an immediate Spirit in all that they said and did about this Scripture, as these poor Dreamers say of themselves, and therefore must necessarily dash against the Holy Scriptures, and all holy means formerly used by the first Christians, yea and all rational means to pieces; for all that they say or do is the immediate Spirit, and Christ and God himself as Fox here affirmeth.

I answered further,The omnisciency of the Quakers that if that Scripture alleadged by Iohn Stubs [To know all things] be to be expounded litterally, and (as G. Fox in this Book) viz. that the Saints know all things as God, then why are not the Quakers Omnipotent and Almighty p. 129as well as Omniscient: Their in humanity… and crueltyyea as it is said of the Pope, if he can deliver all Souls out of Purgatory (if he please) without Money, surely he is very inhumane, impious and cruel that he doth not: so I said what impiety is it, what cruelty and inhumanity is it in the Quakers said I, so insallibly knowing all things as God, not to reveal unto Men, and especially in their publick Assemblies so many deep points of the Godhead, of Creation of the Holy Three in Heaven and Earth, (which they confess) and all the deep Mysteries and Prophecies in the Holy Scripture especially in Iohn and Daniel their Revelations, &c. the Most Holy, Omniscient, and Eternal Iehovah knows that the Pope and his Purgatory, the Quakers and [83] their Omnisciency are but Childrens and Frantick Persons Dreams and Phantasies, and that the Saints knowing all things is the same with their doing all things through Christ which strengtheneth them that is not all things litterally,Knowing and doing all things (for that were ridiculous and blasphemous to affirm it) but all things figuratively and Comparatively, which his holy Wisdome thinks fit to require them to know and do in order to his Glory and their Salvation.

But Iohn Stubs insisted how they knew the Mystical number of 1260 dayes, the 42 Months, the Time and Times and half a Time, and that the Woman was come and coming out of the Wilderness in them, and that now they were Preaching the Everlasting Gospel to them that dwell upon the Earth.

I Replied, it is notorious how many excellent men have been bewildred, and missed in the opening p. 130of these Mysteries. I said that if their infallible and their all-knowing Light The Light within.could open all things and was now the Everlasting Gospel or Glad News, the Word Eternal, &c. and that it was not only in the Quakers and their Saints, but in all Mankind, I desired to know what they meant by this Word within, whether they meant in the understanding (the eye of the Soul) or in the Will, or in the Memory, or in the Affections, or in all of these joyntly: for Light is only seen with the Eye, not with the Tongue, nor Ear, nor Hand: it is true in the 2 Cor. 4. it is said; that God hath shined in our Hearts, 2 Cor. 4 God hath shined in our hearts2 Cor 4but there the heart must be understood the Understanding the Minde which is properly and nextly the seat of the Light and Knowledge of God, and this shining (though Fox make it to be natural or born with every Man) is said to be by Pauls Preaching as is there abundantly proved where it is as clear as the Noon day shining, that God shined, Christ shined, and Paul shined before the Light or Notice of the glad news of a Saviour come to the heart or ears of poor Sinners, and so thereby are turned from their natural hellish Darkness to a Supernatural Heavenly Light.

Who knows not (with Ieremiah) the heart of Man to be naturally dark,The darkness within deceitful, desperately evil and wicked, & Gen. 6. the imaginations of the heart of all men to be only Evil and that continually, and that it may be said of all men (as it is said of the holy God, in him is Light and no Darkness so) in them is Darkness and no Light, so that to hearken to, to turn to, to listen to any voice or p. 131motion within in heavenly things, in matters of supor- [84] natural light, is as proper as in matters of law to go for Counsel to a cheating thief or rogue, in matters of health, to a known cheating Mountebank, as to turn within to a mans heart which was the arrantest Iugler and Cheater in the world.

At this word W. Edmundson cryed out, Blasphemy, He speaks Blasphemy. I conceived he meant I called their immediate holy spirit which they pretend to,An Evidence that the Quakers spirit and a deceitful Heart are one the arrantest Iugler & Cheater in the world: My heart was warm, and my tongue breaking silence, and longing to shew him his willing mistake, and that I mentioned not nor thought of the Holy Spirit, but every mans own deceitful heart (though clearly I have thought and proved their holy Spirit is no other but Sathan himself and every Mans own deceitful Heart: but I was prevented, for some of the Auditory spake aloud that he mistook me, and amongst others our Deputy Governour Capt. Cranston openly said that W. Edmundson mistook me,The testimony of the Deputy Governour C…pt. Cranston and others against W. E. slanderous rashness, for I expresly said that the Heart of man was the arrantest Iugler & Cheater in the world.

This did not satisfie W. Edmundson, but he replyed, let the words be read then by him that took them in short-hand: so they cal'd upon one of theirs to read what he wrote: now I knowing what short-hand could doe as well as most in England from my Childhood, and that it is impossible for any to write Verbatim so fast as I then spake with vehemency, I concluded he had not exactly my words: yet I am confident in a faction and partiality p. 132he seemed to read some words favouring my calling their spirit the arrantest Iugler and Cheater in the word, extreamly contary to my certain knowledg of my intentions, and of what I uttered, beside the s…dden and quick exception of our Deputy Governour and others: but alas this was a small business: but I was about to say (as before I did say) from the holy Scripture Pro. 28. He that trusteth to his own heart is a fool, and till a spirit of Regeneration and Conversion change the heart of man, there is no other Christ nor Spirit within, but the spirit of Sathan, which is the spirit by which the Quakers are acted, and is the arrantest Iugler & Cheater in the world:The great Cheater who cheats all Cheaters. This Iugler is so cunning that he out-jugles the Iuglers, he catcheth the craftiest foxes that catch so many others, he takes Captive and leads away in chains the Wise and Prudent, the High and Mighty, til the holy Spirit of Christ Iesus discover and break his snares and lead him Captive also.

85] 2. I was adding another Argument from Isai. The great Magna Charta xi I…a. 59.59. and I did mention the place where the great promise, Grant or Charter is given by God the Father to Christ Iesus and his Posterity, viz. that his word and his Spirit should be in Christs mouth, and in the mouth of his Seed, and in the mouth of his Seeds Seed from thenceforth and for ever.

I said that that blessed Son of God and Son of Man the man Christ Jesus, lived and dyed a Batchelour, he never had any natural Seed or Issue: Believers are his Offspring, his Seed, his Children and Grand-Children and so downward to as many as the p. 133Lord shall call.The true Seed. And that Fox should not say the Word and the Spirit are all one (as commonly G. Fox doth) and that the Father and the Son are one without Distinction (as boldly and Babilonically he doth) Here is (most distinctly and exactly distinguishing) 1 The Father promising. 2. The Son the Mediator receiving this Promise. 3. The Promise it self, which is of a Word to the Son (though that blessed Son is also called the Word) viz. of the revealed Doctrine, Will and Mind of God recorded from and by the holy Scriptures, viz. that this Word should be in his mouth and in the mouth of all his Seed, or Christian Children after him, especially his Messengers and Preachers to the end and Consummation of all things.

I told them it was notoriously known how they slighted this holy Charter, how they joyned not the holy Word and Spirit together but trod upon the Word of God under a cloak of advancing the Spirit, &c. But of this I shall speak in the next Position following.

I was also mentioning a third Argument against their spirit from the Irrationallity and Unruliness of it, contrary to the Wisdome and Rationallity and Order and Holiness of the holy Spirit of God: this is apparent from their bitter Reviling, and often senceless and frantick Reviling in some of them, Devil, Devil, Devil. The devillish Inquisitors, Monks and Fryers, The railng spirit of the Quakers.&c. exceed them not in spattering out Diablo, Diablo against such as dare to oppose them: indeed they are both Possessed by one spirit of blasphemous Railing and Reviling against p. 134the Witnesses: far from the holy Spirit of the Gospel who in Meekness instructeth those that oppose themselves. Was there ever fouler Language given by any poor Oister-woman at Billingsgate than is given by M. F. Their Cursing.[86] against Capt. Wiggan (to be seen in print to the shame of the Quakers Spirit) of all their womanhood? What is all their notorious common censuring and cursing even of eminent and learned and holy persons) for Cains, Iudases, serpent Pharises, dumh Dogs, Witches, Blasphemers, Reprobates, Devils, but a fruit of wicked and rotten flesh, deny and defying the holy Spirit of God.

It is true the Holy Spirit of God in Scripture is pleased to use Censures & Curses but not to every one,Mens and Womens Nakedness nor in such a manner as this foul-mouth'd Spirit doth: I mentioned before their Impudency (which stinks up to Heaven and cries for vengeance) in the stripping stark naked of their Women, and discovering of themselves in the Assembly of Men and Youths, under the Cloak and Cover of the Spirit of God: as also the unnatural Preaching of their Women in publick Assemblies and Congregations, contrary to so many Reasons from Nature and Grace,Their Womens Preaching. so positively expressed by the Holy Spirit in Scripture.

What Spirits are their Dumb Spirits in their Dumbe Meetings but those foul dumbe Spirits mentioned in that Gospel,Dumb Meetings. which the Lord Jesus will cast out and tumble down to Hell (whence they came) in his holy season.The monstrous Singing of the Quakers.

What is their monstrous way of Singing and Toning and Humming many at once, as they often p. 135do and notoriously did at Portsmouth on Rhode Island this last year, when no man is edified, nor understands what they say, and it may be not themselves (and this under colour of singing in the Spirit) what is it I say but rendring their Tongues which should be their Glory and the Glory of God, their scorn and shame, and the holy Name of Gods holy Spirit contemptible also.

4. I did also mention a fourth Reason against their Spirit,The true Spirit willing to be examined by the Scripture and every mans Consceence. and had prosecuted it but I knew that (by reason of my Adversaries interposure) I had exceeded my quarter of an hour: It was taken from the Holy Spirit of God subjecting it self to be tried, commanding all men to search the Records, commending the Bereans for examining Pauls Preaching and Spirit by the Holy Scriptures, and this is the true meaning of the Spirit of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets, not that a true Prophet or Messenger of God can subject the truth of God (which he believes so to be and will rather suffer many deaths then relinquish) to be sentenced by all the Prophets in the Church to be false, and he acquiess or rest in, [87] or subject his Spirit and Conscience to that Sentence: but that the true Prophets of God are willing to have their Teachings questioned, examined and made clear by the holy Records to the Souls and Consciences of all men.The false and Iuglers endure not searching.

Hence it pleaseth God to give Rules for the trial and discerning between the true Spirit and the false, 1 Iob. 3. & 4. chapters.

On the contrary, I would have shewed (which indeed all men know) that the thief endured not p. 136searching the galld Horse endures not rubbing, the guilty Debtor endures not Reckoning, the false and jugling Spirits escape in a Mist, and by the help of dark Lanthorns, and under the covert of the night: who may not see this in G. Fox. all along his Book, running into the Thickets and Burroughs of Words of divers significations, Scriptures notoriously wrested, general,The Quakers cry is Light but they dare not come to it. and sometimes uncouth and barbarous Language, which hath been the trade of the false and lying Murtherous Spirit in all ages, and will be until that short time be finished wherein the Lord will tread him under the Saints feet, and cast him into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

How oft have I been visited by the Quakers, crying Repent, Repent, hearken to the Light within thee, &c. And I never could perswade them to sit down and examine their sayings by the Holy Scriptures, but when their Cuckoes note and song was over,The two pretended Witnesses Reeve and Muggleton. and their Fools Bolt shot, then fell they to Cursing and pouring out the Thunder-bolts of Gods Iudgement: and so be gone no less then Reve and Muggleton (pretending to be Gods two last Prophets and Witnesses) about twenty years since in London whose Cursings were notorious.

But to return, while I was beginning to urge the tryal of the Spirits, W. Edmundson said the Spirit of God was above the Scriptures and not to be tryed by them: for it gave out the Scriptures &c. And I said and say it is easie to boast of the Spirit, The Quakers would set the Spirit and Scripture at odds.but the true Spirit (in a Sense) and the holy Scriptures are one, as the Father and Son are one, and therefore can not but be willing to be examined by the holy p. 137Records, as every man or author will stand to his own scripture, work or writing; for the Writers were but Pens of Heaven writing, and used by the hand of the holy Spirit. And I remember that I said to W. Edmundson, Friend, You yesterday in your long Sermon alleadged that holy Scripture viz, Men will not come to the light, least they should be reproved, [88] because their deeds are evil: This is the true cause of your quarrel against the Scriptures, and of exalting the Spirit above them that is upon a true ballance, your own Spirit, yea the Spirit of Sathan to be God, and Christ, and Spirit and all.

After some few interchanges and altercations,The 4th Position concerning the Scriptures. we descended to the fourth Position, which they read out of the Paper (as they did all the rest) which was this, viz. That the People called Quakers did not own the Holy Scriptures.

In one Copy it was written Really own, viz. They did not really own the Holy Scriptures.

I said there was a twofold owning the Holy Scriptures or the Writings of God as there is a twofold owning the Scriptures or Writings of men,A twofold owning of any scripture or Writing. the Proclamations and Declarations of Kings and Princes: The one is verbal and literal, viz. that such a writing or Declaration, or Treatise is extant, and that it proceeds from the Kings Authority and Command.

The second is real and actual, when the Authority of it is in all humble obedience submitted to and obeyed: when the Justice and Equity, and the excellency and goodness, as well as the royal Authority is embraced and magnified.

I said the Iews owned verbally and wonderfully p. 138that Writings of the Old Testament and the Papists owned both old and new but it is known that in many particulars they do in effect deny and damn them. 1. They both set up their rotten Traditions, their unwritten Verityes (as they speak) of equal authority with, if not (in cases) above the holy Scripture.The Iews and Papists and Quakers all of them in effect deny the holy Scriptures.

2. They set up the Papists by the authority of the Council of Trent, a most defective Translation, notoriously false in many places all over above the first Copyes of the Hebrew and Greek whence all Translations as Counterpanes and secondary Copyes or Duplicates ought to flow.

3. The Papists set up the Pope as the only infallible Judg & Interpreter in all Questions about the Scriptures and the Jews make their Rabbies as so many Popes also.

4. Their Interpretations are so forraign and strange and many of them so absurd & monstrous from the genuine & proper Sence of the Scriptures, and adulterated with Wresting and allegorizings &c. that is truly said of them that they bring not their Doctrines, Disciplines and Conversations to the Scriptures but force the [89] holy Scriptures of God to attend and wait upon their Abomination as a Negro Slave and Lacquey.

I said the Jews and Papists did not more disowne the holy Scriptures upon the account of their Popes and Traditions and Interpretations than the Quakers did upon the account of their Light and Spirit and Interpretations also.The Quakers slighting the holy Scriptures in many horrible Particlars. Who knows not that in the beginning of their Profession, they generally fell p. 139from the reading of them by themselves or in their Families, or in their Publick Assemblyes, only crying up the Light within, the Spirit within, the Scriptures within, their Teacher within. They stil say The Scripture was not the Word of God, the Scripture is but a dead Letter, they have no need of Paper-Teachers having the spirit that gave it forth? Yea as the Papists say, if the Scriptures were lost and burnt out of the world, the spirit within them could give new Scriptures.

Tis true the Quakers in this Dispute professed to be tryed by the Scriptures, A dissembling Show of Quakers respecting the Scriptures.which the first Quakers among us wholly denied, but only by the Spirit within them: But what avails this Confession? Is it not but a subtle trick of Equivocation, when stil they profess to owne G. Fox all along, and he professeth the Soules of all men to be a part of God and the divine Essence, and that their is no distinction between God, Christ, and Spirit and themselves; what should hinder but that the Scripture is but a dead Letter, and (compared with their spirit) a weak and needless Paper unto them that hath such a light and Spirit within to guide them?

I told them before and now that there was an Irish Papist in the late warrs that spoke the very heart and soul of Iews, An Irish Papist confessing the Truth.Papists and Common Protestants, and the Quakers themselves, as to the holy Scriptures. In plundering and rifling a Protestants house he found a Bible and flung it in the Kennel, and kickt and trod upon it saying, The plague of God take this Book, it is the cause of all these Quarrels.

My Opposite said they owned the Scriptures in p. 140their place as a Declaration of the Saints Conditions, & Iohn Burnet took a Bible and read publickly that Passage in Luke 1. where Luke calls his Writing a Declaration. I urged that this will of God. (for this Declaration of what Christ said and did, and of all the rest of the Scripture, was a Declaration and Revelation of Gods Will to his People and to the whole World) this written and revealed [90] will of God I said was the Judge and Decider of all Questions, the tryer of all Spirits, all Religions, all Churches, all Doctrines, all Opinions, all Actions. They answered they did owne the Scriptures, and would be tryed by the Scriptures (which is a new trick, meaning according to their own not to be questioned Interpretations) I urged that they set up their Spirit above the Scriptures, (fathering all their Revilings Cursings and Abominations upon the holy Spirit) I asked whether they owned the Scripture as the square Rule or Guide according to whose sentence all the Knowledge of God and of our selves, the Knowledge of Gods Worship and Service and our own Blessedness and Salvation was to be determined, yea and the Spirit within them to be tryed, determined, approved and condemned also.

They still fled to this Burrough, The Scriptures miraculously preservd to be Gods standing outward Record & witness.the Spirit that gave forth Scripture is greater then the Scripture: the spirit is in us, that Spirit only opens the Scripture: the Spirit is immediate and infallible and they only who have this Spirit know the Scriptures. I answered that I maintained the inward breathing of the holy Spirit more than themselves, p. 141for I quoted before Luke 11. viz. that we ought in all our Preachings, Hearings, Readings, Prayings, &c. to beg the help of the Spirit called the Finger and Power of God: and yet I also maintained that this Record, this Word Will or Mind of God written and pen'd by chosen Pen-men as Pens in the hand of his holy Spirit, and so miraculously preserved from the Rage of the Devils fiery Instruments, Babilonian, Assyrian, Romane and Popish Tyrants and that much among the Jewes and Papists (and much by their meanes also though they hate it) I say this Record is the outward and external Light, Lanthorn, Iudge, Guide, Rule by which God witnesseth himself and his Truth in the World, comforteth and feedeth his saints in their Dispersions, discovers and reforms the defects and wanderings of his People (as in Iosiah his finding this Record, and Ezekiel & Iohn eating the Book, out of which the holy Spirit inspired them to prophesie to Kings and Peoples &c.

Tis true who doubts it but that God and the Spirit were before the Scriptures, and so he was before the Creation, before Christ Jesus was born, and his Redemption actually accomplished: are the works of God therefore, and the several Dispensations and Institutions and Instruments of God in their several times and [91] places of any whit less power or esteem because the most holy God and his most holy Spirit were before them? Iohn the Baptist saith that Christ Jesus was preferred before him, for he was before him and he was not worthy to unloose the Shoe-latchet of Jesus the Lamb of p. 142God; and yet for the fulfilling of all Righteousness the Lord Iesus must come to Iohn to be baptized of him, and the holy Spirit of Light will declare himself to be true by the holy Scriptures, and discover all other Spirits to be spurious false and Bastards and notwithstanding their cracking and prating of Light if they slight this outward standing Record and Witness of God in the World it is because there is no light in them,

One of these two must be done either we must subscribe to the Papists and by their pretended Spirit and Church find out and authorize the Scriptures,The holy Scripture the only outward standing Rule & Record like the Records in the Tower just as the Foxians say, or else we must with Luther and his Associates, Calvin and his followers maintain Learning study the Scriptures, search the Originals, Copyes and Translations, and vindicate their Purity and Perfection, their Authority and sole external Direction how to judge of all pretending Christs and Prophets and Doctrines & Churches and Spirits.

While we were thus discoursing W. Edmundson propounded this Similitude,The Holp Scriptures are Gods Love-letters if I should write a letter to a friend and subscribe my name W. Edmundson, doth it follow therefore that the Letter is W. Edmundsons? I answer that the Quakers do affirm that the Scripture is within them, what is the english of that? but that the Light which they and every man in the World hath within them (the Christ the Spirit which every one hath) is Scripture, and in a sence I said it was a Truth that W. E. his letter to his friend was W. Edm. not only a Declaration of his word, mind or will to his Friend, p. 143but in a respect his mind and will it self that he sent in Writing to his Friend, and so the Scripture in a Sence is Gods mind and Will to us.

Upon this occasion I told them that the Scriptures were the Love Letters of Christ Iesus to his Church, as the Love-Letters of some mighty Monarch to his Betrothed Queen or Empress, they are dear, not as common Paper and Ink, but as the Good-Will, the dearest Love and heart of the King and Emperour himself: and thus are holy Scriptures highly prized and embraced, and laid up in the heart and bosome of the true Children of God, 92] believed listned to, and followed as the voice of Christ Iesus to his true sheep and Spouse: the Bastard Children and the Wolves covered only with the sheepskins: they have other Words, Letters & Spirits, 2 Thes. 2. whatever they prate of Scripture, and speak brave swelling empty words as Iude speaketh.

Tis true as G. Fox all along in his Book vapours that the Spirit was before Scripture, and gave forth Scripture: but I proved before, that their Spirit, their Light, their Christ, were but hellish Darkness, the spirit of Sathan, and a false lying Christ, &c. 2. The Dispensations of God were many and divers (as before the Law and after (but in this last and third dispensation, he hath spoken (that is his word, mind and will whatever) the Quakers as well childishly as Blasphemously prate to the contrary by his Son:The admirable excellency of the Scripture And as the Son himself the Lord Jesus in his own person, when he personally maintained that famous combat with the Devil used no p. 144other weapon but Prayer and Fasting and the Holy Scripture, so he left written this holy patern and example, that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 14. Luther being demanded how he gain'd such knowledge and abilities in such blind Popish darkness, Luthers Lighthe freely confessed that the holy Scripture was his first help, the second Meditation, the third earnest Prayer to God to vouchsafe his Spirit to bless the two former unto him. The Lord Jesus therefore not only ordained his Messenger or Preachers of his glad Tydings to Iews and Gentiles, Ioh 20. 2. consideredJohn 20:2but his Penmen also, Ioh. 20. for those two great ends (as to us) to wit,

1. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (to wit, that that individual person and man called Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah so long promised and expected (contrary to the Blasphemous Fancies of the Quakers.)

And 2. That Believing in him (that individual person called Jesus, and not in a Fancy within) we might have Life and Blessedness.

It is no wonder therefore, that the Devil (the great Thief) as he compasseth Sea and Land with the Pharisees, Iesuites and Quakers to make Proselytes, so wherever he comes he labours to blow out the Candle of the Holy Scripture.

It is the Spirit Breath or wind of the Devil in the lips of Atheists, Iews, Papists, Quakers, Ranters, &c. that puffs and blows [93] against this Holy Light (more precious infinitely then the Sun in the Heaven:) it hath been most wonderfully to amazement, p. 145preserved like the Sun in the Firmanent, and shines most gloriously again and again, after the blackest and longest storm and night of Apostacies and Persecution.

The Turkish Hystory tells us of a Woman appearing in the Heavens with a Book open in her hand,A famous vision in Turkey some of their Mahumetan Priests dared to say (for which one greatly suffered) that the Woman was the Christian Church, and the Book was their Bible or Scriptures which threatned ruine to their Mahomet and Alcoran: Iohn was not commanded (and in him the Protestant Witnesses) to stand still and listen to a Light, to a motion or voice within, but to eat up the little Book open (once again) in the hands of Christ Jesus, Rev. 10. and after this eaten up to prophesie to Peoples and Nations, to Tongues and Kings.

Whether this Book be the Book of the Revelation or the Book of the whole Bible or Scripture,The two Witnesses eat up the book of Script. it is apparent that during the 42 Months of the the Papal Reign and Darkness, Christ Iesus hath given. Authority and power to his Witnesses to search after the Holy Records in the Original, Hebrew and Greek Copies, and to bring them forth by Translating and Preaching the Doctrine of them, &c. for which they have suffered Death and Burning,Tindal the first heavenly Translator burned as Tindal and many other excellent men of God. The Walls of Rome, yea the Gates of Hell have shaken and felt the might of this Heavenly Artillery: It lies therefore the Devil and all his p. 146Messengers in hand to break to pieces, or to nail up their11"nail up this." R. W. Ms. Ann. heavenly Ordinance.

It hath been observed that there never were any (more than others) famous for Christanity,The Iews outward reverence to the Script. but they first were famous for an admirable Love kindled by God in their Hearts to the Holy Scriptures: It is true the Iews (to whom the Oracles of God were committed, to wit in the Old Testament: how studious have they been in it, even to every Word, and Letter? they accounted it a crime for any Book to ly upon it, but this alwayes to lye uppermost. My self have seen the Old Testament of the Iews most curious writing whose price (in way of trade) was threescore pound, which my Brother a Turkey-Merchant had and shewed me: But I speak of an inward love, a Soul-love, &c. It is wonderful what Luther relates of that blessed Duke of Saxony, The first Protestants aff…ction to the Scripturewhom [94] God stir'd up to favour and cherish Luther, &c viz. that he caused his six Pages each of them to read to him daily everyone his hour in the Holy Scripture. This was the affection in all the first Witnesses the Waldensians, the Bohemians, the English, French, Dutch, Scotch, &c. who together with the Scriptures had mighty Affection to the study of the Hebrew and Greek in which golden Cups and Bowles the King of Kings was pleased to convey the Wine (like Ahashuerosh) of his Eternal Majesty and Goodness to us.

It is wonderful to consider how much the study of the Scriptures and of the Hebrew and Greek p. 147Tongues confounded and put to flight the Papists, The Scriptures put both Papists & Quakers to flightand forced them to study the Scriptures and the Tongues also, both which the barbarous dark Spirit of the Quakers hate, as darkness hates the Light.

It is no wonder this Spirit of Lying cries out so fiercely against the Schools of Learning in Old and New England, it knows that the right and regular propagation of natural, of civil, and especially of Divine Knowledge scatters the thick Fogs of the Quakers affected hellish ignorance.

The blessed Martyrs and Witnesses of Jesus in all ages have been ravished with holy delights like David in the holy Scripture, in Q Maries dayes, that famous Ridley (called Bishop of London) he had got most of the holy Epistles in Greek by heart,Christs Martyrs or Witnesses love to Scriptures even before he left Pembrook Hall in Cambridge: and as the fire of persecution grew hotter, so did those blessed Witnesses (like Jesus with Moses and Elias, and Paul at Troas) spend hours and nights in Prayer and holy Conference upon the Scriptures, and those things which the Lord Jesus should and hath now accomplished according to the Scriptures.

It is true (in print) Iames Parnel spake like a Papist an Atheist, and a Quaker of the holy Martyrs or Witnesses of Jesus Christ, and of the book of Martyrs it self.Iames Parnel his horrible sin & Iudgment It is no wonder that the most Righteous and jealous Lord left him not to dye the common death of all Mankinde, but to Murther himself by a proud presumptuous attempt of declaring himself to be Christ by fasting 40 dayes and 40 nights, I believe this to be a Truth from the Testimonies I have seen of Parnels case (being my p. 148self then in London) whatever, Fox & the Quakers impudently affirm to the contrary.

95] It is true that Iames Parnel, and Fox, and all of them sometimes miserably (and after the Devils Method) make use of Scripture as a Shield or Buckler to fence themselves against the Scripture,How the Quakers own Scripture and as a Sword to run through the Heart and Bowels of the Scripture, the Saints, and Christ, and God himself: they make use of it as Stirrops, and Ladders, and Scaffolds for their counterfeit Christ (in pretence but in reallity themselves) to mount up into their Saddles and Thrones of the Eternal power and Godhead that so the Earth may be theirs by Authority:2. King. 17. the Samaritans feared the Lord and yet feared him not.2 Kgs 17 So that as the Lord speaks of the Iews Sacrifices that they were not his: and of Iehoiakim that he did not know the Lord, Jer. 22. and of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11. that they did not eat the Lords Supper though they did eat it: so I affirm (from all the premises alleadged) the Quakers do not own, that is truely and Christianly (as they say Bonâ fide and in reality) but slight, and villifie, and abominate, and nullifie the holy Scripture, that their unwritten Lies and lying Spirits may be exalted.

We have a great word in use amongst Merchants and others, to wit the word [Effects] they desire to see effects of money or Goods,The word Effects for want of a real and effectual prizing and loving & obeying and magnifying the holy Scriptures. The Iewes & Pharises, the Papists and Quakers do not owne the perfection & Authority of the holy Scriptures, but set up their Traditions and Popes Councils & p. 149Spirits above them, and therefore the Iewes & Papists and Quakers do not owne the holy Scriptures.

I freely acknowledge that many of these Particulars I could not then express because of my Confinement to a quarter of an hour, and sometimes the Interposure of my Opposites.

I remember I urged that dead and rotten esteem that both Papists and Quakers fling as dirt in the face of the holy Scriptures, The Papists and Quakers call the holy Script. a dead Letter.calling it a dead Letter, a Nose of wax, a leaden Rule which may be pincht and bow'd to every mans Opinion: But First, They horribly bow and pinch that holy Scripture, 2. Cor. 3. which meddles not with all the Scripture but with the Covenant of the Law and Iustice, opposite to the Covenant of Grace & Mercy, & calls the Law a killing Letter compar'd with the Grace & Mercy of an offended God now reconciled by Christ Iesus.

But Secondly, These poor Foxes fly to their Burroughs and confound the matter of the Scripture or Writing; being Paper [96] and ink, &c. with the contents the purport, and (as I may say) the matter contained in the matter:The power of Writing in all Affairs. we use to say what have you to shew for it? what evidences have you? what Records, and sometimes when no Witnesses are living or can be had, an old poor Record is produced which proves the life and spirit of the business: what Simpletons do these (only) wise ones shew themselves in affairs of men that know not, that (as Solomon sayes of the Tongue, Life and Death is in the power of the Tongue so) Life and Death is in the power of a piece of Paper: what hath an Executor (yea many thousand Executors to shew for p. 150their Estates sometimes of hundreds, yea thousands years but a little paper, and ink, and wax from the Testators? what gives life to a condemned soul but a Pardon or Reprieve in a piece of Paper? who knowes not that a Writ or Paper signed by his Majesty, the Lord Chancellour, the Lord ceief Iustice hath Death in it, and fetcheth off the heads of many, yea the highest Offenders?

The Quotations out of G. Fox which then I could not insist on, I shall present a few and then pass on to the fifth Position.

In the 47th. Pag. G. Fox brings in Ios. Miller saying, Josh. Miller.It is an Errour (if not damnable) to say Christ is the meanes, and that there is no other meanes of Salvation.

He Answers, And Christ saith no man comes unto the Father but by me: and he is able to the uttermost to save? and he shall be my Salvation to the end of the Earth saith the Lord: and saith the Apostle, God is in Christ reconciling the World to himself, and he that hath the Son hath Life, and the Father and the Son are one, and there is no salvation in any other.

I reply: I shall now freely declare to the Sence of this Allegation, though in the Dispute my Adversaryes would not suffer me to meddle with the Sence of G. Fox his words, contrary to our Covenant in my Writing,The Quakers notorious Covenant-Breakers. viz. that each Party should speak as long as they pleased, which Liberty they enjoyed without my Interruption: and first I doe not think that Ios. Millers words run so loosely in his own Book: I do not think that a man of Wisdom would call it an error to say that Christ is the p. 151meanes of Salvation: But to the second part, to which G. Fox opposeth, I believe it is an Error, and a damnable Error, and a Doctrine of Devils, to say there is no other meanes of Salvation: for this wretched Iugler subtilly confounds the Instrumental Causes of Salvation with [97] the Efficient in God the Father,Means of Salvation. and Meritorious in God the Son, Christ Jesus. 'Tis true, there is no Redemption and Forgiveness of sin, but in his Blood, Ephes. 1. though I know this Iugler (as before) means not a Christ, nor his Blood, nor Death as we do mean, but Imaginary within, &c. And yet as Means and Instruments: Christs Messengers are said to save themselves and others: The holy Scriptures are said to make wise to Salvation: A man may be Gods means or Hand to save his Wife and the Wife her Husband: We are saved by hope saith Paul, and saved by Baptisme saith Peter, A Union between the Meritorious Cause and means, and the Instrumental and Efficient or worker.yea, Women are saved by Child-bearing, as God blesseth those painful Curses to be blessed means of bringing to, or growing up in Christ the Saviour. All these subtly and wickedly G. Fox sets at variance with the Meritorious Salvation by Christ Jesus, between which there is an Heavenly Union and Concord, as between a man saving his Brother by throwing a Rope, or Oar, or Board unto him, &c. or a Midwife saving both Woman and her Birth in Child-bearing by the Means of Women, and Helps which her Skil and Labour administreth to her. To talk of this Immediate Christ and Spirit without Scriptures, without Preaching, and other holy means, is as silly, as Impious, p. 152as Blockish, as Blasphemous, and as Bedlam, and Frantick, as wicked and Anti-Christian.

Would not every body laugh at G. Fox, if he should say, that because the Kings Majesty graciously pardons Condemned Rebels at the Mediation of the Prince his Son, therefore the Composing the writing, the proclaiming of the pardon, the bring- of it to the Rebels hands written and sealed with the Kings broad Seal, are no means of their Salvation and Deliverance?

In Pap. 221. he brings in the Author of Hosannah to the Son of David, Hosanna to the Son of David.saying, [The sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of, is the Prophesie of Scriptures.]

He Answers, Doth the Scripture shine in a dark place until the Day dawne? Are they them them that must be taken heed unto as to a Light? Can any see the Scripture, and know the Scripture, but with the Light within? Can not a Cain, a Baalam, a Core bring Scripture that is gone from the Spirit of Prophesie within, and then put the Letter for it?

98] I Reply 1. I know that Fox makes their Idol within called Light, The more sure Word of Prophesie.to be the more sure word of Prophesie, and his usual proof is, [The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie,] But first, why must all the Prophets or Messengers of God, who from the beginning of the world were Gods mouth and Pens, Concerning the Birth, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascention and coming to Judgement of the Lord Jesus be here cast out from the Word of Prophesie? Is it nothing, Luk. 1, that God spake (surely Gods speaking is his word) God spake p. 153by the mouth of his holy Prophets, Gods speaking by his Prophets is his Word.which have been since the World began. And Heb. 1. God spake sundry times and in divers manners in Time past unto the Fathers, but how did God thus speake or utter his word, but by the Prophets: And Rom. 16. But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the Commandment, &c. Therefore how oft is it written concerning the Lord Jesus. These things were done that the Scriptures might be Fulfilled,] in which regard, (as to our satisfaction and belief) the written word of Prophesie of the Prophets are a more sure Word and Evidence to us concerning the Lord Jesus then the Miraculous Appearance from Heaven of Moses and Elias, and the voice from Heaven of which Peter here speaketh; though in it self a true Testimony, yet not so sure, so firm and pregnant as the Word that God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets from the beginning of the World, &c. Hence the Answer of Abraham, and indeed of Christ Jesus: If they, hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one should rise from the Dead.

2. How sure is the Quakers Light, The madness of leaving the Scriptures and turning to a Spirit within.their Word of Prophesie? A sober mind can not but admire that Face and Forehead of Brass and Adamant with which God the Righteous Judge of the whole hath plauged Satan and his Followers, so that they blush not to prefer such a simple Image, a meer Babie and Childs Puppet of their Immediate Word of Prophesie before the Word, the mind and will of God by the mouth of all the Prophets?

For is it not known in the holy Scripture, in all p. 154Histories, in all Ages, in all Nations, what Cursed Opinions, horrible Uncleannesses, Bloody Murthers and Slaughters have been Conceived and brought forth from the Spirit within, and Revelati- [99] ons from Divilish Lights and Spirits, and the horrible End that generally the Authors and Promoters of such Spirits and Inspirations have come to?

3. This Scripture,The workings of Satan by Spirits and Inspirations in all Ages. Revel. 19. The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie, what is it but Goliahs Sword to fetch off the head of this proud Philistin, for, doth not the Angels forbid Iohn worshipping of him upon this ground, viz. that the Angel was his Fellow Broker, Fellow Servant, Fellow Worshipper, Fellow Witness? Is not this the Argument whereby he prohibits him, viz. that one Testimony of Jesus was the work of Gods Spirit in the Angels, in their way, as well as in Iohns and Peters in theirs, &c. and shall we say that the Angels too are Quakers, and Christ hath enlightened them also, as well as every man that comes, &c And Revel. 22. Doth not Christ threaten the Adders to, and Diminishers from the word of this Book of this Prophesie: what Affinity hath a written Book a written Prophesie with Immediate whisperings and Inspirations?

2. Why should G. Fox here mention Cain, The Devil and the Quakers alleadging ScripturesBalaam, Core? what Scriptures could they bring? what Scriptures were written in their times? I think it no breach of Charity to guess that the Quakers and G. Fox are so used to Cursing and Censuring their Opposites (at the first dash for Cains, Baalams, Cores, that they could not well tell how to miss them: p. 155Such persons no question, and the Foxians, and the lying Spirit, the Old Fox and Serpent, bring Scripture: But doth the Divel cordially prize and love the word of Prophesie, the Testimony and Witnesses of Jesus? However he plainly here Confesseth that the holy Scripture is so powerful that the very Counterfeit, the picture and Name of it will do him good Service, with such whom he desires to cheat and Ruine. And yet secondly this shews the Quakers horrible wickedness, that although they love the holy Scripture (for the general of them) as well as doth their lying Father, yet turn they the Truth of God into a lye, and with the ugly Spider sucks that which he turns into poyson, even from the same Flowers of Paradice, the holy Scriptures, from whence the hony Bees, the true Believers, suck the pure hony of Eternal Truth and Comfort.

3. Again, what madness is it for this blind Dreamer to ask his Opposite, whether the Scripture shines in a dark place until the [100] dawne? & whether they must be taken heed unto as to a Light? For, how often is the holy Scripture even the very Law before the Gospel,No Light in the bold pretenders (to so much) the Quakers. or glad News was preached, adorn'd and beautified with the Illustrious Title of Light? and all the subtle Foxes in the world must know that if they attend unto whisperings and peepings, Isai. 8. and leave the written Law, the Word, and other Prophesies of Scripture, or written Prophesies, Words and Oracles of God! For all their Childish Vapourings and pratings of their Light, the Eternal Father of Lights proclaims them to be Children of howling darkness and that p. 156there is no Light within them: I speak it with horrour and Amazement, and also with sorrowful Confidence that he that shall find a spark of true Light either of the knowledge or grace of the true Lord Jesus in this their Fantastick Light, he shall find the Living among the Dead, he shall prove the Prophets that spake, and the Lord God of the Prophets whose word was spoke, to be Lyars, for saying there is no Light within them.

But Fox again demands, (Can any know the Scripture but with the Light within?] The pure Scripture filthily abused.And I ask him what Light have the Papists and Iews, and the Divel himself, when they and he bring Scripture to Christ himself? I know very well what he means in his Iesuitical, Diabolical Reservations, by the Light within and by knowing the Scripture, his meaning is known and Common, viz. except he be one of those dark Souls called Quakers: But did not the Devil bring a pertinent Scripture and promise to Christ Jesus as ever Papist or Quaker could have alleadged, though pointed and directed as are the Papists, Iews and Quakers Allegations to a Venemous and poysonous End.

He brings in Henoch Howet saying, Pag 14: Henoch Howet. By the Weapon of the Scripture only Christ Conquered the Devil-[The Scripture to be the only Weapon whereby Christ overthrew the Devil.]

He Answers, who bruiseth his Head, and was before Scripture was, yet the Scripture is for Correction and Doctrine, furnishing the man of God in his place, and Christ the Seed was before the Scripture was: And all them that hath Scripture and not Christ cannot overcome the Devil, you and p. 157the Papists doing his work: for they that overcome him that is with the Power, and those have the Scriptures of Truth, which the Devil is out of.

101]▪ I Reply, How doth Christs bruising of Satans Head, and being before Scripture was, disprove Fox his▪ Opposites saying, viz. the only weapon whereby Christ Jesus overcome the Devil was the Scripture? what is this to the point of the Compass? may not half and Eye see what a simple Sophister this is, to make such Yawes as not to come near the Ships Course and point in hand.

2. Who sees not Fox in his Burrough of the divers Acceptation of the Word Christ? For in the Sense of his Opposite that man Christ Jesus who fought the Devil, and Fox Confesseth died at Ierusalem: was not before the Scriptures, But his Birth, and Life, and Death, &.. were Proppesied and declared by the Scripture long before he was born.

3. As for this saying, [They that have the Scripture and not Christ can not overcome the Devil] What News doth Fox tell the World, which no Body denies? and how doth this deny that Christ Jesus overcome the Devil by the Scripture?

4. Is all Scripture or writing given by Inspiration of God,The Scripture mosh fit and proper Weapon against the De. and is profitable (though Fox alleadgeth this Scripture by halves) for Correction and Doctrine, &c. then it clearly follows, that as Christ Jesus overcome the Devil by the Scripture, so by the same Weapon this subtle Fox, and all other of Satans Foxes must be Corrected, Confuted Catcht and destroyed, (except they repent) for ever: But what is this Confession that the Scripture is profitable p. 158for Correction, &c. but a kind of grant to his Opposite that Christ did overcome the Devil by this Weapon, for he Confesseth it profitable for Correction, &c. though yet all this running about in and out into his holes in this Answer is a whispering,The Devil a Fox too Crafty for all the Foxians. and yet loud enough to be heard, viz. that Christ did not overcome the Devil by the Scripture,

5. As for the Quakers Power here pretended in Opposition to the Scripture, as being those that have Scripture within them, and so overcome the Devil? How doth the Devil deal as one that pretends to Fight, with Children who lies down and Cries as if those poor Childish Souls had Overcome him? Thus sometimes a Devil of Drunkenness, of Swearing, of Stealing runs away from the Sermons of the Quakers, as a naughty Devil, sometimes at the Chiding and Conjuring of a good Witch! That he may get the faster hold by spiritual pride, hypocrisie, [102] self Conceit, and Contradiction to the Scripture, by will worship and Superstitious Inventions against the holy Institutions and Commands of the true Lord Jesus Christ.

Pag. 289. He brings in Francis Duke,Francis Duke. saying, [When Christ told the Devil that man should not live by Bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, that was believing the Scripture: And this Word of God in the Scripture was the Ground of Christs Faith, and so to all that are his

He Answers, Many may have the Scripture and never hear the voice of God, as the Jews in the fifth of Iohn, and they said they believed the Scriptures though they were out of the true belief: p. 159But receiving the Word from God, is, as they that gave forth the Scriptures: which man lives by and not by bread alone, and so knows him who was before Scripture was given forth: And for saying that the Scripture was the Ground of Christs Faith, he was afore the Scripture was writ, and so fulfils their Words, and is the Author and the Finisher of the Saints Faith, which was before the Scripture was given forth, him by whom the World was made, and is the Author of the Saints Faith, that bruised the Serpent under his feet, which was before the Scripture was.

1. I Reply,The Quakers Rieiculous for and in their Tautologies. How Notorious for Tautologies are these brutish Clamours? Thrice in this small Answer have we of Christ, which was before Scripture was, who was before Scripture was, &c. shall we believe their Notorious Lyes, viz. that the Light within them gave forth Scripture, and that they speak and write as they are moved by the most holy and Infallible Spirit, when their writings are so weak, lame and Childish, just like the talk of Aged doting Women, and so full of Idle Repetitions?

2. What Answer is this, how brutish and Impious, viz. that a man may have the Scripture and yet not be in the belief, therefore the Word of God was not the Ground of Christs belief, so again, the Devil and wicked men may have the Scripture, and yet believe not in them, therefore Christ Jesus and his saints believe them not neither: this Inference is clear, you say Christ was before Scripture was, &c.

p. 160I Reply, He was, and he was not,: But let Heaven and Earth Hear and abhor the Sophistry of these Deceivers, The Quakers mad Fancies as to Christ and the Scripture.they would fain [103] have no such Christ as man, a Christ without, an out-side Christ, but a Spirit and God only, and that in their Flesh: yet again, (for shame of the world) they are forct to Confess that there was such a man or person, &c. and yet to Cloak and Cover that Confession from Crossing their Principle, they say; that before Scripture was Christ bruised the Serpents Head, that is Christ that made the World, Christ the Light, the Word,: But this again., we say is false also, for the Promise is, Gen. 3. that the Seed of a Womau which was Christ in his Manhood, born in the Fulness of Time, Gal. 4.

And let G. Fox or any of their Iuglers Answer: If they speak honestly, and (bona fide) if there was really such a man called Jesus at Ierusalem, &c. as there was such a man called G. Fox lately in New-England, was there not such a man called Jesus, after the Scripture was written or penn'd?The Humanity of Christ. was dot this man forty dayes tempted of the Devil, and did not this man called Jesus Christ Overcome the Devil by the Weapon of the writing or Scripture: and was not the holy Scripture the Ground of his Faith, as he makes the Will or Word of God declared in this holy Writing or Record the Ground of his saints Faith also?

He brings in Iohn Timson saying, Pag 16. John Timson[The Scripture is the Rule of Life.]

He Answers, Contrary to Christ, who said, the Spirit should lead them into all Truth: And they that are the p. 161Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God: and the Churches was to hear what the spirit said, for the spirit lead them to speak forth Scripture.

I Reply, If among the seven things that God hates,The holy Scriptures the Rule he is an Abomination that soweth Discord, what is he that would Oppose and set at Odds the most holy spirit, against the holy scriptures Inspired by him? and in Effect declares that Gods Children are not to attend to the voice of God in these his holy Inspired writings, but to a secret Voice or whispering within them: Contrary to the scriptures Voice both before and since Christs coming, as I have and shall further manifest.

2. As to the spirits leading into all Truth, and the sons of God are led by the spirit of God: Is not Fox here in his Burrough, not distinguishing between the Extraordinary leading of the holy Apostles Appointed to be the Eye Witnysses of Christs Death [104] and Resurrection, … leading of the Spir it.&c. and the first Messengers or Apostles to the Nations, in which Respect, the one Author of those three Gifts, Administrations, Operations, 1 Cor. 12. peremptorily asks the Question, Are all Apostles, are all Prophets, have all the Gifts of Miracles? and yet all Gods Children are Regenerated, are sanctifi…d, are guided and built up an habitation of God through the Spirit: and yet also the gracious presence and working of the holy Spirit, may be hindred and quenched, by neglecting of the holy Fuel of the holy Scriptures and other holy means appointed. And therefore the Lord Jesus Commands us to pray for the Spirit:Gods Spirit given by means. and Daved cries out, Thy Spirit is good p. 162lead me, &c. and take not thy holy Spirit from me. And this is the Devils (the Old Fox) his Devilish Subtlety to make the Cloak of the Spirit Extraordinary Assistance, and the Angels Extraordinary protection, a ground of Christ Jesus, and his Servants flinging themselves down from the Pinacle of the Temple, and this I say from the God of Truth will be the Breack neck of the People called Quakers, (without Repentance) every Soul of them.

We now descend to the proof of the fifth Position with their Consent,The fifth Position which was, their Principles and Professions are full of Contradiction and Hypocrisies.

I told them, that they knew well, that the Spirit of God had given us abundant Warning against false Gods, false Worships, false Christs, false Spirits, false Prophets: He Commands us in Scripture not to believe them,The danger of being deceived &c. but to try them, to try all things, as we do with Touchstones, and with Ballances, yea, with Fire it self. For, some Counterfiet Coyne hath been so like pure gold, so double guilt in the middle, and the Ring round about pure gold,Depths of Hipocri…y that it hath deceived the Touchstone. The Devil himself as black a Fiend as he is, the Spirit of Darkness, yet he knows how to wear Samuels Mantle, and the white Robe of an Angel of Light, &c. I told them it was Common for Spanish, Turkish, or any other Enemy in Time of Warr to hang out English Colours, the more easily to deceive & Catch the poor Merchant man, and Iudas the Traitour gave no other signe to the Iews in his betraying of his Lord and Master, the Lord Jesus, but God save my Master and a Kiss.

p. 16310511In the copy in possession of Brown his autograph across the outside edge of University, Roger Williams has placed this page.] Most of this I Remember I spake,Lies in Hipocrisie. and then I told them that Paul tels Timothy of some that should speake Lyes in Hipocrisie: I told them of these, there were two sorts.

1 Such as knowingly (for wicked and Devilish Ends of Profit or Preferment) take the Leading Staff in hand, as 'tis more then probable, that the Misleader of so many Millions of Mahumetans did: and as one of the Popes in Merriment to his Cardinals Confest it, saying, Quantum Lucri fecimus ex hac Fabula Christi? Two sorts of Soul DeceiversWhat gain have we made of this Fable of Christ? Thus Iudas knowingly, for his Gain sought Opportunities to betray Christ Jesus. Thus the Schechemites (and Millions are their Successors as they are to Nebuchadnezzars Idolaters) underwent that painful and shameful Ordinance of Circumcision, partly to please their Princes, and partly for that hope as (Schechem told them) that all that Israel had should be theirs.

A second Sort of Soul Deceivers that are, and yet know not in their Consciences that they are blind Guides or blind Followers, but for not loving Truth God hath given them up to believe Lyes, for Truths: false Christs and Spirits, for true Christs and Spirits; yea, and with Paul to think that they verily ought to do many things against Iesus of Nazareth, yea, and as the Lord Jesus Positively Foretold they shall think to do God Service to kill himself, in killing his Servants.

p. 164I told them my Charity, bid me hope that the Quakers and themselves present were not of the first, but of the second sort, and I prayed them to be as patient as they could while I must prove that their Principles and Professions were full of Lyes and Contradictions, and of Hipocrisies, and Dissimulations. I wondred that my Opposites and Auditors bare all this Load so silently? But at this word W. Edmundson and the rest brake out saying, We regard not what thou thinkest and sayest of us, nor do we need thy Charity, but go on to thy proofs, &c.

I then said,The Quakers of late have Changed much of their Spirit, or else more notoriously Equivocators. that their many Books, and G. Foxes (that thereby me) and their Professions, did so exceedingly Clash one with another: and some of their latter Books (as Christopher Houldsworths) and some of theis latter Professions and Practices were such that many of their Observes Conclude, that either they had altered their Religion in many of their Principles [106] and Practices, and were turned from what they formerly held, and were amongst us: Or else their Hipocrisies and Dissimulations were more and more prodigiously Abominable.The Jugling of the Quakers about Christ. I came to Instances, and told them that when they were Charged to deny that man Christ Jesus, they profess and preach they are wronged, for they believe in that Christ which was born of a Virgin, and died at Ierusalem, and yet for all this, it is but in Truth a Spiritual, and Mistical, and Allegorical Christ, which under boord and in the bottom) which they hold. For, in New-England (before G. Fox came) H. Norton and others say, is not Christ God, and is not God a Spirit, and is there not a Spiritual Virgin, p. 165a Mistical Bethlehem, an Heavenly Ierusalem? And do not G. Fox and Ed. Burroughs all along hold out such a Christ, whose Body is not now to be found? and such a man as is in every Saint, or Quaker? and in every person in the world except he be a Reprobate?

Again,About the Church and Ordinances. 2. They say, they hold the Christian Church, the Christian Ordinances, the Christian Ministry, the Christian Baptisme, & Supper the Resurrection, the Iudgement, the Life Everlasting, but search their Books, Examine their preachings and professings, and you shall see, and may admire their Juglings and Dissimulations: Do not Fox and Burroughs all along disclaim any Church Ministers, Baptisme, &c. but what is Immediate and Invisible? Do they really own any Supper but Christs inward Supping with them, and they with him? Or any Resurrection but the tising of their Bodies to perfect Holiness? or any Iudgement and Eternal Life, but what they have now attained, and are now passing Judgement upon the world?

3. Again, though they do deny any Church but Invisible, yet their Churches and Congregations are known and Visible and stated (not attending Invisible Motions) both first day and other dayes with prayers and Preachings, and singings, and real joynings or Addings to them & Castings out: These things necessitty forceth them to practice, or else they cannot possibly keep together, although in Monstrous Dissimulation they disclaim it.

4. They profess that their Saints have an Unction, Inward and outward Preachers.yea, that every person in the world is so enlightned p. 166by Christ Jesus, that he hath Christ and Spirit, and the Kingdom of God in them, [107] (as the Pharisees had, and the very same the Saints have) and if they will, they have Teaching enough to Justifie, Sanctifie and save them: and yet again what a noise is there in the Worid about the Quakers, Teachers, He Apostles, and she Apostles, snch as the Lord Jesus never sent either the Twelth or the Seventh, or their Successors. How do they boast to be the only Ministers of Christ Jesus sent into Old England and New-England, into Scotland and Ireland, yea, into Italy and Turky, and other Nations as diligent and zealous as the Pharisees to pervert and poyson Souls with a false Conversion and Salvation.

5. You profess the Scriptures to be the words of God,As to the Scriptures but not the Word of God, and yet now you profess to be tryed by them: Anon again, you need not the Scriptures, you have that Light and Spirit within you that gave out the Scriptures, and if all the Copies in the World were burnt yet you have the Scriptures within you,G Fox his last Book Exalting the Heathen therefore you not only (as the Spirt of God saith) deceitfully handle the Scriptures by deceitful Interpretations, but by deceitful owning, and not owning, and as G. Fox in his late Book in Exalting Heathens above Christians owning them, and yet Exalting the Spirit in the Philistian and Egiptian Sorcerers above them.

6. As to Magistrates, how full are their Books and Sermons against Persecution and Persecutors, As to Magistratesand yet how plainly do their Principles persecute all others that subject not to their Light, when they have attained such godly Magistrates as they arc (as p. 167they speak) in the Light. I told them I was Concerned to make this out more fully in the proof of my Fourteenth Position, and therefore at present I would trouble them but with one Quotation out of G. Fox, Pag. 170. where I Read, Pag 170 John Stallamand Iohn Burnet Read also, how G. Fox brings in Iohn Stallam saying, [And the Magistrate is not to Level the Law with the Light in every mans Conscibnce, Again,The Quakers Principles are for Persecution if the Magistrate be in the Light and discern the mind of Christ, and discern his Law, is …e to Compel all the Nation and Common-wealth to come to the practice of his Light?]

G. Fox Answers, the Magistrate of Christ, the help, Government for him, he is in the Light and power of Christ: and he is to subject all under the power of Christ, into his Light, else he [108] is not a faithful Magistrate: and his Laws are agreeable and Answer according to that of God in every man: when men act contrary to it they do evil, so he is a Terrour to the Evil doers, discern the precious and the just from the vile, and this is a praise to them …hat do well.

I urged from hence, that the Quakers (and G, Fox in his Book in many places) owne no Magistrates but such as are godly that is in their dark Sence,The Quakers Zealous Persecutors. that be Magistrates for their Christ, be in the Light and Power of Christ, for then say they, their Laws are agreeable to that of God in every man.

2. These their Magistrates (in the Light) ought to subject even the Consciences and Souls of all that be under them, by Corporal punishments to come under the Power of Christ into the Light.

p. 1683. This is Confirmed and sealed with a peremptory Doom upon the neglecter and failer, viz. [Else he is not a Faithful Magistrate.]

4. I observe the Reason and Equity which they alleadge of this subjecting all Subjects to the Light of Christ, because such Magistrates, Laws and Edicts are witnessed by God in every man, and therefore he sins against God himself who breaks such a Magistrates Command, and therefore is justly punished, &c.

Upon my urging of some of these particulars some of them desired to hear the Quotation read again:Yet will not own it. so Iohn Burnet read the whole passage again, and said, that G. Foz spake not there of matters of Religion and Conscience, nor of the Magistrates compelling men to be of his Religion and Conscience, but of punishing them for matters of wrong between man and man, which are against the Light in every mans Conscience, as Drunkenness, Whoredome, Murther, Stealing, and the like.

I Replyed, the Terms were such both of the Question by the Opposite, and the Answer by G. Fox which argue and Comprehend the matters of Religion and Conscience, viz. If the Magistrate be in the Light, and discern the mind of Christ, &c. and G. Fox his Terms are the same about Christ and the Light and bringing them subject to Christ.

2. It is not Imaginable, that the Opposer would question whether the Civil Officer ought not to punish such incivilities and [109] Incivilities and Inhumanities as Drunkenness, Whoredome, Stealing, Murther, &c. Therefore G. Fox must intend that their Magistrates for Christ must Fight for their p. 169Christ against all their Opposites, though they cry Persecutors, Persecutors, &c.

In Pag. 221. G. Fox brings in the Author of the Book called Hosanna to the Son of David, The Quakers Perfection, and yet in Measure Pag. 221. Hosanna to the Son nf David.faying, [They know not absosolute Perfection that are admitting of Measures and Degrees, nor come to the Day and the bright Morning Star, is not Risen.]

He Answers, did not the Apostle speak that they were Children of the Day, and the night was over, and knew the whole Body, and yet said, he would not go beyond his Measure? And doth he not speak of the Stature and Measure and Fulness of Christ? and were they not come to Perfection, and spoke wisdome among them that were perfect?

I Reply: As to their Monstrous pride I shall speak, when I come to Compare the Pope and them in the Tenth Position: At present I Ask them, whether Paul speak of his Measure in Holiness and Grace, or no? Some of them say that they are not only perfect as God in Holiness, but also in Power Omnipotent, The Old Romans with their Dii Minores or lesser Gods and the Papists and Quakers all one.Omnipresent, Omniscient, &c. But if Paul be not brought in to speak of such a Perfection in Holiness as is in God, G. Fox beats the Air, & comes not near the Question: to save their Doctrine of Perfection from being a perfect Contradiction & Lie, and they would fain make themselves & others believe that they are as truly perfect in their Holiness as God is, though their Holiness be not so much: As if they were perfectly Gods, (though but little Gods) as God himself being a great God,The Perfection of the Godhead and so are forct to show their Contradictions, and wheel about to Perfection of parts as a Child is mankind though p. 170not a perfect man, and a drop of water is true water, and may be as Salt as any drop in the Ocean: having the Quality of, but not the Equality with the Ocean As otherwise G Fox foolishly & blasphemou…ly speaks of God in this Book, Moreover, since these high minded Souls dare to say that they are as pure as God, and (some say what they think) that they can no more sin against God, then God can sin against them, &c. I Ask them whether there be any Measures and Degrees in God? whether his Perfection in Holiness be not Holiness it self? Wisdom it self, goodness it self, unto which there there can be no Addition or [110] growth as we are Commanded to grow in the grace and knowledg of Christ Iesus. To talk therefore of Measures & Perfections, is as silly as for G. Fox when he hath begun to sow a Shoo, and hath as yet taken but a few stitches, yet to boast Confidently that the Shoe is perfect.

We deny not,The Quakers Fallacious Perfection. but a Dram Cup may be as perfectly full of wine as a Pipe or Butt, and so Iohns little Children as perfectly, that is, as truly Gods Children, as his strong men or Old men: But to say this Cup or Spoon is equal in quantity to a Pipe or Tun, a Child is equal to a strong man, much more for a poor Potsheard to say he is equal with his Porter, and a Worm of the Earth equal to his Maker, what is it but a bloccish and blasphemous Fallacy and Contradiction? and a wheeling about to a Perfection of parts which none deny.Hosanna to the Son of David.

In 222. He brings in the same Author saying, [Christ is without his Saints in respect of his bodily presence.]

He Answers, How are they of his Flesh, and of p. 171his Bone, and how do they eat his flesh, and drink his Blood? And how have they his mind and Spirit? And he with them, and they with him? and sit in Heavenly Places: And he is the Head of his Church, and how then is he absent? yea, poor Apostates from him feels not Christ, but he is with the Saints, and they feel him.

I Reply, and Ask, is this Eating of his Flesh, and drinking of his Blood after a Corporal, G Fox his Falla-Presence of ChristBodily manner, visible and real as to other Senses Or is it Miraculous and Spiritual? Or is it Spiritual & Mistical by Faith, and by believing as the Protestants say? After the first Corporal way the very Papists affirm not:Visible and Natural or Miraculous and Supernatural Eating of Christ. After the second way you will not say it is: Nor would you be thought to be so gross Papists as to hold Transubstantiation? and therefore must it be the third way whichis by believing: and then you poor Iugling Souls, what is it to a Bodily presence, that you Eat him by believing?

2. Whereas you say, you fit with him in Heavenly Places, you are one w…h him, &c. he is Head of the Church, &c. Here I must Ask you you hold him to be such a Visible Head of the Church, as the Pope saith He is, and if you say yea, I then Ask you where will you direct us to such an Individual Man, Christ Head of the Churchor person as the Pope is, and may be directed to, as we know from so great Art all the World over, If you say No, what is this then to talk of a bodily [111 presence of Christ (which is the point) and then Flap me in the mouth with a Fox Tail, and tell me (in a Childish and Equivocating Contradiction) that you mean not a Bodily presence but a Spiritual.

p. 1723. As for the poor Apostates, and your feeling of Christ, which the poor Apostates do not.

I Reply, An Adulterous Wretch, Accused Ioseph of Whoredome, who was a pattern of pure and holy Chastity: For, whom do this Whorish Brood of Foxians thus brand for Apostates, and sling among them Firebrands, Arrows and Death? Are they not all the Children of God that are, or ever were, or shall be called? Are they not the Souls under the Altar who have been slain Thousands and Ten Thousands for the Testimony of Iesus against these horrid Delusions? His Bodily presence.Are they not the very first Churches, and the Apostles of Christ Jesus, from whom Christ in his Bodily presence was departed, as he often Forewarned them,The Quakers Count all Gods Children Apostates. and (as the holy Scriptures abundantly Recordeth) is Fulfilled? For, see the Jugling of these Deceivers, when this Bodily presence is Examined, they mean no such Individual Man and person, but a mind and Spirit, and such a Christ as hath no Individual Bodily Presence, as we and all men have.

If G. Fox when he is in New-England should say he is in London in his Bodily Presence, and that his Friends feel (as he speak) his Bodily Presence there,G Fox his Juglings and dreams about the person of Christ because they feel his Love and his Affections in their minds and Spirits: What Hocas Pocas and Iugling Christianity is this? All the Saints and Children of God must all be Apostates, fallen from God and Christ, and Grace, that cannot Skill and Feel this Horrible Egiptian Canting Language.

I will turn my Thoughts higher. O thou most glorious Sun of Righteousness, Truth and Holiness p. 173shine forth, and let it be seen, how the Devil called the Lord Jesus Beelzehub: The Treacherous Revolters and Apostates from thee, they call thy self, and thy Saints Revolters and Apostates. They boast with the bloody Papists and other Traitorous Rebels against thee,An Apostrophe or Pe…tion to the Lord Jesus of their Right and Interest in thee, of their possessing and feeling of thee, feeling thy Scriptures and thy Bodily presence within them: Oh let thy glorious Light declare, who these poor Apostates and Revol- [112] ters are, who break down thine Altars, burn thy Temples, scoff at thine Institutions, Cry up a false and Hellish Christ within them, Christen him with the Name of Light, though he be thy Conquered Slave the Devil, telling us he is thine Angel of Light, who with his Counterfiet Souldiers of Light, Crucisie thee and pierce thee, and mock and Curse thee, (the only true Son of God and Son of man) as ever Herod and Pilate, the Preists and Iudas, the People and Souldiers did.

In Page 259,259 James Brown he brings in Iames Browne saying, [the Kingdome that is in the Saints, is not in the Pharisees.]

He Answers, [That is, in the Saints, is in the Pharisees in a Measure, though it be but as a Grain of Mustard Seed, which is like to Leaven little.]

I Reply, 1. What If I should send you to some of your Margents, Christs Kingdom in, or among the Phariseeswhere the Greek word [Entos] is rendred amongst you: that is, unto you, upon you, as Luke 11. If I by the Finger of God cast out Devils, surely the Kingdome of God is Come upon you? The Pharisees expected (and so did all the Iews, and Christ Disciples were not free) I say look for a p. 174glorious Temporal King that should make his Ingress with Pomp, and [Meta pur oteresio] as the Scripture speaks with Observation, but he came in as some Kings in disguize, and (as they speak) Incognito, and yet his Kingdome was among them, in the midst of them, by his per…onal presence, his power sulp eaching, and his glorious Miracles.

2 Since (in Opposition to Christs Visible Kingdome his Church) you predicate a Kingdome within, Consisting of Righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit: do you think indeed that the Hipocritical Cursed Pharisees were snch Righteous, peaceable and joyful Souls as your selves: As sure as God is Light: They and their Successors your selves, will find your selves when you wake, in horrid Quaking, and except you repent Hell Flames about your Ears, as the Lord Jesus told those whited Walls and painted Sepulchres.

3. Must you take Measure of the Pharisees,Horrible and hipocritical Chistianity and tell us that the Pharisees in a Measure as a grain of Mustard Seed and Leaven are the same with your selves? Do not you Cry out that you are perfect, not in Measures and Degrees, but that you are all one in Quality and Equality of Power and Glory with God? and must [113] this must be the same with Christ Jesus and his Saints, and you and the Pharisees all together? Can two walk together, live and love together, board and bosome together and not be agreed together, no other wayes then Light and Darkness, Christ and Belial, Righteousness and unrighteousness? What stinking work do these provd Pharisees make of Christianity? How justly doth the Son of God give them their proper Titles, Ye Fools and Blind?

p. 1754. If it be the same Kingdome in Christ Jesus and in Saints, and in the Pharisees, and every wicked man in the world,A Monstrous King and Kingdome of the Quakers. though but as a grain of Mustard Seed, and Leaven, what is the Reason this Mustard Seed grows not up, this Leaven spread not in them? Can a Nation be subject to the King of England, of Spain, or any osher Ptince or Monarch, and yet not know how, nor have no knowledge nor feeling of it at all? Can there be such a God, such a Spirit, such a Fire? yea, but such a Mustard Seed, or Levven, such a Teacher, Abominable lyes in hipocrisie.and yet not grow, not prevail, not prosper, nor be perceived? ye Fools and Blind are all your Mustard Trees stunted all the world over, no Shelter for the Heavenly Birds, your pure flowre of Holiness and sincerity, mixt and-blended with the black Weeds, Cockle and darnel of open Idolatries and prophaneness, and Pharisaisme, and Hipocrisie: What abominable Contradictions and Lyes in Hipocrisie are here? The Pharisees have Christ and his Kingdome of Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit within them,The Pharisees and Quakers hipocrisie wonderful and yet live in pride and Covetousness, and Extortion, and Excess, and Cruelty, and Hipocrisie, and Blasphemy, and all this Rottenness and Dead mens bones stinking and ruling all within, notwithstanding all the white and paint, and garnishing without your selves, (their Hipocritical Off spring) have, and live in, you say, this Kingdome of Christ Jesus, this Kingdome of Righteousness and Ioy in the holy Spirit, as perfect and pure as God himself: all one with us, Infinite in Majesty, Holiness, Power and Glory, not only in Quality, but Equality, &c. (as this wretched G. Fox affirmeth) And yet within and p. 176withont Idolatrous and Superstitious, Inhumane and uncivil, passionate and sierce, Censorious and Cursing, and most Impudent and worse then Barbarous, in some of your Impudently, monstrous and avowed practices

Having dispatched our Agitations about the fifth Assertion, [114] and the Quotations out of G. Fox which I could not then Insist on in publick, The sixth Position.I descended to the sixth Position which was, viz. [The Religion of the Quakers is not only an Heresie in the matters of Gods holy worship, but also in the Doctrines of Repentance, Faith, &c.

This Assertion hath two main Branches: First, that the Quakers Religion is an Heresie, and themselves Hereticks in the matters of Gods worship.The Heresie of the Quakers.

2. Not only so, (about the Circumstances of which Gods own dear Servants themselves greatly differ) but also (which is more Lamentable and dangerous) in the Doctrines of Repentance and Faith, and the rest of the graces of Christ Jesus.

I told them first, that the word Hairesis Heresie, in Greek, (from whence the word Hairetikos an Heretick) signified an Opinion or Opinions, chosen and stood in by one or more against the Christian Religion. I said the matter migh… be aggravated, and a ugmented from the Greatness and Vitallity of the matter of the Opinions, but the Formality and Nature of it lay in the will and obstinacy thereof.

Iohn Stubs stood up and said, that Heresie was defined by some to be an Opinion obstinately stood in against the first Christian Purity: Heresy whatI Answered, yea, and the Opinion of some was, that Heresie was an p. 177Error in the Foundation obstinately stood in: But I said we had not time to enter upon a Dispute about the word or thing at this time, the Substance of my Affirmation was, that their Religion, Sect or way was false, and gone from the Institution and way of the Lord Jesus delivered by himself and his Apostles, or Messengers:

1. As to worship, they denyed the Converting and gathering of the Saints into visible Assemblies, or Congregations: affirming the Chnrch to be Invisible, the Ministers Invisible, the Baptisme and Supper Invisible, &c.

The second (which was aur Position) was in those two great Fundamentals, the Beginning, or A. B. C. of the Christian Religion, The Quakers Hereticks against all the Christian Principles, and more Heretical against the first Christian Religion then any Protestauts or Papists.viz Repentance from dead works and Faith towards God: As for those two Doctrines of laying on of hands, and of Baptismes they concerned the Church, and worship, (concerning the Circumstances of which God is pleased to permit his [115] Children to be lovingly differing and discussing; the other four Repentance, Faith, Resurrection and Iudgement (in which generally Gods Children agree) in these also as well as in the matter of worship, these wandring Souls are Hereticks, that is, obstinately maintaining Notoriously false and Anti-Christian Abominations, In so much that the many Sects amongst the Protestants, yea, and the Papists themselves do not so differ from a true Protestant and true Christian as do these wilful, ignorant, and wandring Souls.

1. Then as to Repentance,The Quakers Heresy in matter of Repeutance. I said it was the first heavenly and saving work of God upon the Soul, p. 178wherein he turned back home again the whole Soul unto himself, being revolted and run from him into the Arms of Rebellion in the Fall of our first Parents.

This was the great point preached by Moses and the Prophets, and more expressly by Iohn the Baptist, and by the Lord Jesus himself: and when he sent abroad his Apostles or Messengers into all Nations, they were to preach the Gospel or glad News of the Forgiveness of sins according to Luke 24.This 24th. of Luke I earnekly Insisted on.Luke 1 viz. that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name unto all Nations, beginning at Ierusalem.

Here about I remember they told me that it was known that they preached the Doctrine of Repentance and of turning from all sin unto God, &c.

I Answered, that the Papists and they made a shew and Colour of Repentance, but it had not the Life and Substance of Repentance in it: It was no more but an empty Title and shadow of Repentance:The Papists and Quakers Repentance. we know the Papists define their Repentance by these three. First, Contrition, Secondly, Confession, and Thirdly, Satisfaction or Restitution.

But I said the Protestants protested against this Repentance of the Papists, and so against the Quakers, for, who knew not the sorrow and Confessions of Saul, and Ahab, and Pharaoh; and the Philistins, and Iudas, yea, and also the Restitution which Iudas made, (not daring to keep in his hands that which he had unjustly and wickedly gotten) and yet who can truly ascribe unto these mens Repentance, the Character and blessedness of a true Christian returning and coming home to God.

p. 1792. I said it is known in daily practice, that when some times [116] Notorious and openly Flagitious Persons profess to be Quakers, (for all their craking of fear and trembling and Quaking) there hath appeared no Sense of godly sorrow, of godly Contrition and brokenness of heart in them, for their sinful Nature and Life against so Infinitely pure an Holiness and Majesty? but immediately (upon their bowing down to Satan, and owning him as a Light, The Quakers Converts.and Christ, and Spirit within them) they are, having less Prophaneness now pure and holy as God is, they can no more sin then Christ can! the Mistery of godliness is God manifested in their Flesh, I know some of them say they come to perfection by degrees, yet they say the least of their new-born Quakers can not sin, and what is that but Perfection? yea, they are Christ and God: and therefore why should they give respect to any King, or Kings, &c. why should they not Thee and Thou the Aged, Learned, holy, and High, why should they not sit silent even scores and hundreths of them (possessed with a dumb Spirit) as in a Form and Order of Christian worship waiting for this Spirit, and then be perfect Christians?

3. The Protestants both English, French and Dutch, &c. have manifested against the Papists, and therein against the Quakers, that Repentance is a turning of whole Soul from all sin as sin to all of God as God:The Protestants true Repentance. from the sin of Nature, and that Heart filthiness which we bring into the world with us, and from whence, even from within, as Christ Jesus tells us? what ever Satan and the poor Quakers p. 180prate proceed our evil thoughts, Adulteries, Fornications, Murthers, Thefts, Covetousness, Wickedness, Deceit, Lasciviousness, an Evil Eye, Blasphemy, pride, Foolishness, Mark 7, &c.

4. I urged that their Proselites and Converts are but like the Pharisees of old, though oftentimes dearly bought by Sea and Land, I say, but t…rned from one sin to another, from one Image to another, from one Devil of Drunkenness of Swearng; &c. to a Devil of Pride, horrible pride, the worst of all prides in Earth or Hell, to wit, a Spiritual Pride swelling with the Dropsies and Tympanies of their Conceited knowledge, Conceited Repentance, Conceited Faith, Love, patience, joy, holiness, Iustification, Sanctification, Mortification and Salvation.

2. How horribly do they despise the true broken hearted Pub- [117] licans, who can see nothing but sin and Damnation in themselves,The Quakets despiling and cry out for mercy and Forgiveness? How do they Superciliously and Pape-like belch out as from Hell, God I thank thee that I am not like these Publicans?

3. How bitterly do they Instantly raile and revile,And Revili others. Condemn and Curse, breathing out Fire of Damnation as Fire and Brimstone from the Mountains in Sicily, or else Hell it self against all that oppose them? as far from the Teaching of Christ and his first Mess…ngers as Lambs and Doves, are from the Ravenous, popish and Devilish Lyons and Eagles.

4. To name no more at present, How doth the Devil of worldliness and Covetousness domineer over many of them?Their Covetousness. By a strict Profession all persons are taken off from Drunkenness, Whoredome, p. 181Swearing, &c. und put on Theiftiness and Industry, and if their hearts Centre and fix not on Christ Jesus, and the Heavenly Records of Christ, the Scriptures: and on the Life to come, but upon Self, Exalting self, a self Christ, and Spirit, and Heaven, and Resurrection, &c. which is the Truth and bottom of the Quakers Religion, what can the most of them run in but a Course of greedy gaping after, and getting, and raking, and gathering the muck and dung of this present Life?

It is true, that many that hold the same Fanciful Notions with the Quakers, yet are of Ranting, jovial, spending Spirits, but the Spirit that haunts the Quakers most is a soure, A sowre Spirit is the Common Spirit of the Quakers.proud, and Melancholy Devils, and his Commission is to turn such persons into the Gadarens Swine rooting up all that ever they come at for their own Ends and Belly: How many are the Instances even in this Colony in some especially, as able and as active Souls as any in this Colony or Country, and as guilty of murthering the Natives by the Liqour Trade as any: and as suddenly and strangely snatcht away by the hand of Gods Power and Iustice, as any usually can be, but being departed I will touch no more upon this string.

From their Doctrine of, and their Heresie or Obstinacy in a false Repentance, I touch next npon their false Faith: The Quakers False Faith.I said it was true they spoke much of Faith and Justification, &c. as the Papists did, and as G. Fox in his Book (by me) did: yet if they pleased, I would demonstrate by Instances out of his Book all along that he Confounded and made all one, both Faith and Ju- [118] stification, yea, p. 182and Sanctification, and made believing in Christ Jesus but a meer Babel and Chaos of Nonsence and Cnnfusion. For although (which is Foxes Common Burrough) he that Faith hath Repentance, hath Justification,G Fox his horrible Confounding of Faith and all other Chistian Virtues and Graces together. Sanctification, and all Christian graces, yet to Confound and make them all one, is as to go into a fair Garden, and say a Rose is every Flower in the Garden: or to say, that the Letter A, or O is every Letter in a Printers Box, or Book: Or to say, that a Rebels receiving the Kings pardon, that is the King himself: his receiving it is the pardon it it self, that is the Rebels Conviction, Conversion, Condemnation, Execution, Resurrection, Acceptation, Exaltation, and Adoption into the Favour and Communion with the King for the Future. All this Monstrons and Nonsensical Language is the Tongue or Speech of the Quakers, and G. Fox especially.

2. I told them that although (with the Quakers and Papists) G. Fox talkt much of Faith in Christ: yet I had proved and further should,True Faiah what it is that the Quakers put out and obliterate the true Christ or Object to be received and believed on, as before in the matter of Faith, they put out the true living Eye of Faith, and put in a painted, or Glass Eye in the Room of it.

True Faith is a Receiving of Christ Jesus as my only King, Priest and Prophet: It is a believing on,The Quakers Transubstatiarion worse then the Fantastick or receiving of Christ distinct from God, Iohn 14. You believe in God, This true Lord Jesus Christ the Quakers turn into a meer Fiction, Dream, or Imaginary Christ in the mind of a man, or Woman: a Popish Transubstantiated Christ, all Spirit p. 183and no Body,Tran…ubstantiation of the Pepists and so not consisting of Flesh and Spirit: He hath no Flesh of his own, as you make him: and yet Flesh of his own, because your Flesh is his Flesh, and yet your Flesh you say also must dye and rot, and never rise again, and so you have blown up and Jugled away the Flesh of Christ Jesus, both his and your own also altogether.

This is a Trick of the Father of Lyes, and Iuglings beyond that Monstrous Fancy of the Papissts Transubstantiation, for although they turn the Bread into the Flesh of Christ, yet they turn not the Bread of Christ, nor the Flesh of Christ into their own Flesh: The Quakers can give no Account what is become of the Flesh or Body of that man Christ Jesus, these Foxes have devoured the Lambs of God. Miraculous and Monstrous is [119] the Papists blasphemous and Bloody Fancy of Transubstantiation, but not more miraculous and monstrous, &c. then that of the Quakers, which granteth Christ Jesus to have been born, lived and dyed as We, &c and yet now Transubstantiated into a Spirit, and the Quakers Flesh. So that in the Upshot, the Christ in whom they believe is vanished (by an Hellish Chimistry) into themselves, and it is most certain, (the Lord open in great mercy some of their Eyes to see it) they do believe on themselves, and that lying Spirit within them.

I remember, that hereabouts Iohn Burnet said, that it was not true that they preached not true Repentance,John Burnet his Sermon and herein he fell into a Speech or Sermon to the People, professing that the Quakers maintained Repentance toward God and Faith in Christ and p. 184Godliness, and Righteousness, &c. and he continued I Judge above half an hour, (though not so long nor so furious as William Edmundson the day before.

I listned carefully and watcht his Ending (being desirous to say something least another of them should fall into a Sermon also and put me by) and I speedily said (to this Effect) Friend you have here delivered many holy Truths of God (at this there was deep silence,And my Answer as if I had turn'd a Proselite▪ at least it pleased them to be applauded, I went on and said concerning Repentance and turning from all sin, of the Blood of Christ, and of being saved by his Blood, of living soberly, Righteously, and godly in this present World, &c. but withal I said, they did not reach me nor any thing that I had spoken as proof against them, for I and all their Adversaries the Protestants preached Repentance and Faith, &c. but theirs was an Anti-Christian Repentance, and Faith,The Quakers and the Papists general Faith and Repentance &c. because either not true Repentance and Faith as Protestants argue against the Papists and Quakers, or else in general Terms not distinguishing between true Repentance and false, and shewing the difference between the true Faith and the false: So that I said you might have preacht this Sermon even in Rome before the Popes face in his own Chappel, yea, the Pope and the Cardinals and Friars, The Juglings of the Papists and Quakersand Iesuits deliver the same Doctrines (in general Terms) daily: But as Thieves Iuglers, and Counterfiets when they come to Examination, their Impudent sayings and Swearings prove but the paints of Whores and Har- [120] lots? So do the Devilish Doctrines and Devilish Conceit and p. 185Fancies of Papists, Quakers, and all Fantastick, Formal, Carnal Protestants, who Cry Lord, Lord, &c. but are Answered by Christ Jesus with I know ye not, Depart from me ye that work Iniquity.

I cannot Affirm that I spake all these Individual words, nor have omitted ought that I or they spake: yet I remember no more, though being Confined (by their great desire and my self) to a puarter of an hour, for each point I was forced as all may judge to omit many Amplifications and Illustrations which now I crave the Readers patience, while I present him with some of them.

I intended to have Charged them with the falseness of their Hope,The Hope peace and Joy of the Quakers and Love, and Peace, and Joy which they often Crake, (though they pretend quaking and Trembling) their Heaven consisteth, and all the Eternal Life to come, they look for, they are now in present, full Possession of.

What Scripture is more common in the mouths and pens of the Quakers, Christ the Hope of Glorythen that of Paul to the Colossians, Chap. 1. which is, Christ in you the Hope of Glory: whereby they Insinuate two of their grand Deceits and Lyes, First, that their is no other Christ but what is in every man in the World. Secondly, That there is no other Glory to be hoped for in, or by, or with the Lord Jesus, but what the Saints, that is the Quakers enjoy, and are already possessedof within them in this Life.

To which I say, how many painted Anchors and painted Hopes are there? How many Hopes as in Iob like the Spiders web swept away to Eternity? p. 186If there be e're a painted Anchor or e're a Spiders web in the world11Interline "it is" after world. R. W. Ms. Ann. this of the Quakers.

Hope is one, as in time I may furthet demonstrate.

For, do they not overthrow the very Nature of Hope which they prate of, and give the Spirit of God Rom. 9. the Lye, which tells us that Hope is not of things in possession, or which we see? doth not Paul there tell us almost in plain Terms, that it is simplicity and Non-Sense to talk concerning Hope after such a Rate?The Simplicity as well as Impiety of the Quakers Hope Doth not 1 Pet. 1. tell us of a Living Hope (opposite to painted and dead Hopes) and this Living Hope called in other places the Hope of Righteousness, the Hope of the Redemption of our Bodies? the Hope as of Heirs for an Inheritance? of the Glory that [121] shall be revealed in us, which is a state of the manifestation of the Sons of God, though saith Iohn, We are now the Sons of God, 1 John 3. we know not what that is, all that is now enjoyed is but as the first Fruits to the Harvest, as the Spirit speaks.

2. Again, what Ignorance and simplicity is it to call Christ or God, the Glory or the goodness, or good things which we hope for, Literally and properly upon the Promise, and the Power, and goodness of God, no Christ Jesus? Can the Eternal God in any Literal Sense be called the Hope of Israel, Jer. 14. but in the same Figurative Sense whereby Moses cals him Our Life and the Length of our Dayes? and we in Common Speech call such a man, or his p. 187Promise, or any Creatures dear to us, Our Hope, our Love, our Ioy, &c. that is the Ground or the Object of our Hope &c

Their great Blunderer Humphry Norton he deals as plainly and roundly as G. Fox (his aemulous Corrival) falsly and fraudulently,Humpry Norton his Hope when that holy Scripture [If in this Life only we have Hope, &c.] was here objected to Humphry Norton, he clapt his hand on his Breast saying. He had it there already, that is opposing it to (and denying the Hope in) the Life to come, especially, as to their Bodies which are not raised up (they say) Spiritual Bodies, being (though of late) more subtly and hipocritically all one with those deceived Souls that said the Resurrection was past already. It is true, they will pretend to owne the Scriptures, Christs humane Nature, the Resurrection, and Judgement, and Faith, and Hope, ahd Repentance, &c. as true and sound as any Protestant: but still it is no otherwise, but as G. Fox and Ed. Burroughs say in this Book, that is, (as I have and shall open) in a most Iugling and deceitful Sense and meaning.The Quakers Hope of life to come

It is reported that some of them at their Death have used those words [Lord Iesus receive my Spirit,] some have Charitably thought that they intend thereby their going presently into the presence of Christ Jesus, but as the Truth and bottom, however they blind the world, and the weakest of their Followers, (until they be fit to wean and fall to strong meat) others of them Covertly say & write, and others of them more plainly say, viz. That they believe no more Rising of their Bodies then the p. 188rising of a Dog: and as to their Spirits they believe Souls are [122] patts of God, and go unto God and into God: and therefore their saying, Lord Iesus receive my Spirit, is no more then Lord Jesus receive thy self, according to some of their plain Expressions: To whom should I pray? my self? to whom should I give Thanks? my self? wherein their woful, black, and filthy Spirit Contradicteth it self amongst themselves, though they agree in the Devils Bait, The Quakers bait by which Satan takes them(which Catcht himself, and with which he Catcht our first Patents and all his Posterity) viz. Ye shall be as Gods, live as God, know as God, be Gods and Christs for Evermore.

I shall now crave the Readers patience to hear some few Quotations out of G. Fox, John Bunyanwhich my quarter of an hour would not then permit) declaring th…ir Apostacie and Heresie in the matters of Repentance, Faith, &c.

In Pag. 127. he brings in Iohn Bunyan saying, [It is a Counterfietlng of the New Birth for men to follow the Light wherewith men coming into the World are enlightned.]

G. Fox Answereth, [which none comes to the New Birth, but who comes to the Light, wherewith every man, &c. which believing in is a Child of the Light: believing and receiving comes to receive power to be the Sons of God.]

I Reply,The new Birth of the Quakers none are truly Converted, born again, &c. but in a true Sense they come to Christ Jesus: For the Scripture saith, he gives Repentance to Israel, He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith: But that Jesus Christ as God, (so the Quakers owne him) and p. 189as man (for so they also owne him) should be in every man, and Woman, and Child in the World, I have proved and shall prove it to be a blockish and Devilish Fancy.

2. If this Light, this Christ the Mediator between God and man be only a Spirit and not man, why do the Scriptnre, why do the Quakere madly say there was such a man, though they cannot tell now what is become of him except he be (as they say) within, &c.

3. If this Light, this Christ, this Mediator be in every man, what should be the Reason that so many Thousands and Ten Thousand of Millions see him not? Only a few persons Cursing and Reviling all the rest, and that say all but the Quakers are deceived? Can the Sun be in a Chamber and persons not blind, but [123] seeing and awake, and using his Light and yet not see it. Certainly it is but a painted Sun that doth not shine equally on all, it is but a painted Fire that doth not burn, and the Quakers are but Pictures of Christians, and pictures of men to argue aftet such a Rate, that Christ not only as God, and Creatour should be in every man, but also as the Mediator, as the Spirit, and yet not operate according to the Nature of the Sun and Fire: It is true, the Lord Jesus came into the dark world, and their darkness comprehended him not to be He that was to come, the true Messiah: but when Christ Jesus as Mediator, the true or only Light shall dwell in the Understanding and Will, and Memory, and Affections of a man or Woman, and those persons be savingly inlightened by him as you write, p. 190and yet not Converted and saved by him, it can be the Language of none but those that peep and mutter Isai. 8. but have no true Light, but a false and painted Light within them.

Lastly,The true and false new Birth. saith Fox this turning to the Light within is the New Birth: But the Holy Record saith, that till the preaching of the Word, or Gospel, or glad News come to the mind of a man, (ordinarily by the Ear, and hearing, and preaching, Rom. 10.) there is no Faith, nor Covenant, nor Christ, nor God in the Soul, Ephes. 2. and we are not only in darkness, but darkness it self, Ephes. 5. and only by the holy Word and Spirit preached11Interline "is" after preached. R. W. Ms. Ann. the blessing, Isai. 59., God shineth in our hearts, and not by any such Immediate Fantastick Faith or Spirit, as the Anti Christian Quakers dream of,The Quakers put out the Eyes of their own Experience. yea, against the Light of a twofold Experience in their own Souls.

1. That many of them being enlightened and formerly Convicted by the reading or preaching of the Doctrine, Word or Will of God revealed in the holy Scripture.

2. That of their new Light (as they falsly and foolishly prate) pretended to be brought unto their Ears and knowledge by the means of these new Apostles, Preachers, and Ministers, so pretended of Christ Jesus.

When God hides (that is by Spiritual Iudgements) the Light of Scripture, of the Spirit of Reason, and of Experience, &c. who can find it out? No man, no nor Devil can subsist one minute without the power of Christs Eternal Power and God-head: p. 191[124] but when Christ Jesus comes into the Soul as Mediator of the new Covenant, and be thus idle and not operative in all mankinde in the World, and not to Convert, and work belief in them, which must be either because he cannot, or because he will not, as the Leaper said, is as black and blasphemous a Fancy as any Atheistical or AntiChristian Soul can harbour.

He brings in George Willington saying, Pag 44. George Willington[He is Iustified by Faith alone without good works] He Answers; [What without Faith that works by Love.]

I Reply: In this passage, and in many others, this subtle man clearly discovers what he makes true Justifying Faith to be, viz. not one hair breadth more then the Faith that may be to God in the first Covenant, the Covenant of works, and a looking to be Justified and saved be God for a mans own Abilities, performances and Righteousness, far from the Faith of the Gospel, which though good works in Love follow it, yet not one good work in the world goes before it: Nor one good work in the world goes with it in the point of Justification,The Quakers meer Jewish and Popish or pardon of our Transgressions: and therefore G. Fox hath not only George Willington his Opposite, but the express word and Declaration of the Spirit of God saying, [Rom. 3. Therefore we Conclude that a man is Iustified by Faith and not by the works of the Law.]

Alas porr Bankrupts who owe more Infinitely to God then we are worth:The doleful state of all men till mercy not justice pitty them who are over head and Ears in Debt to God, to our own Souls, to Men and Angels, and the whole Creation, having sinned against p. 192Heaven, &c. that have not one farthing toward the discharge of so many Infinite Millions of Talents: God of his rich Infinite mercy convinceth some of the proud Sons and Daughters of men of their deplorable Condition, makes them cry for mercy, and for Christ Jesus sake and Mediation, he freely Iustifies and forgives them. Thus saith the Scripture all along, and that our Faith, our believing or receiving of this grace though it be followed with Mary Magdalens Love, contributes not one farthing toward the payment of our Infinite Millions, no not so much as one good Thought.

He brings in Ioseph Miller saying,Pag 47 Joseph Miller [It is an Errour to say, we are Iustified by that which Christ doth in us. He Answers, Contrary to the Apostle, who saith, We are Iustified by Faith in his Blood: [125 And the Faith is in the Heart, and the Blood is in the Heart that purifies it, and held in a pure Conscience: And the Word of Faith is within, Rom. 10. And Faith gives Victory over the World,The Quakers Justificatson within us. and that which gives Victory Justifies, And Christ is within you who is Iustification, Sanctificotion and Redemption: either of them is found within, and thou art in the Errour, and not fit to talk of these things thou understandest not.

I Reply: Grant that in a true Respect and Sense, Faith is within, and the Blood within, and the Word of Faith within, and Christ within, and Iustification and Sanctification within, will it therefore follow I say,Fox his Babilonish tumbling of all in a Croud and Heap together. will it therefore follow with any Colour of Common Reason, that therefore in one and the same Sense they are all within, and they are all p. 193one, and they were not without before they were within? I know this subtle Fox and he that helps his deluded pate to bind up such a Bundle of wrested Scriptures, would have it so, that he may jumble and blend all together in a Babilonish Mystery, and subtly deny the Truth of the holy Scriptures History.

It is true, Cheist dwels in our Hearts by believing, Ephes. 3. and Consequently his Cross, yea, his Manger, yea, his Blood, yea, his Grave are within, &c. But that Christ Literally shed his Blood within us, as a Ransome to his Eather for the sins of the whole world, is as Fine and bruitish a Fancy, as that the Cross, the Spear, the Soulders, the High Priests, Scribes and Pharisees and People, Pilate, the Romans, Ierusalem, Iude, & the whole world (as some of them have idly & ofteuprated) are Literally within us.

It is true in a Sense, the King and his pardon, and Counsellours and Scribes, and writings, and Seals, &c. are all in a Rebels heart, Justification opened.as he believes and applies all these within him, and his belief works by love: But if they be within otherwise then we Affirm, &c. and as G. Fox would have it, then they are not withont also, (which is the mark all these Arrows from Hell fly at,) and Consequently Christ Jesus and his Blood shedding, and a Literal Ierusalem, and a true and real man Christ Jesus, and the holy, real Literal Scriptures are blown up and vanished altogether.

Pag. 10. He brings in Iohn Bunyar saying, [It is not Faith and works that justifies a man before God, but it is Faith and good works which justifie in the sight of men only, and such works will not [126] justifie in p. 194the sight of God: and he saith, that works is only to justifie their Faith to be true before men.]

G. Fox Answers, Abraham was not Justified only to men by his Obedience,The Quakers Popish Justification by works. but to God: And where there is Faith there is Iustification which works by Love: And the Saints Faith and works were not only to Justifie them in the sight of men. For the work of God is to do what he saith, & the will which who doth not is not Justified by so doing, but to be beaten with stripes: who seek to be Justified by their Faith and works in the sight of men are dead, Faith and works both.

I Reply, He that reads this passage may without doubting Conclude that G. Fox and his Foxians are as perfect Pharisees (Iewish and Popish) as ever burroughed in Rome or Ierusalem, The Papists and Quakers see no need of Christ.maintaining a Covenant of works, Justification by works, and renouncing Christ Jesus his Blood and merits: For if Abraham was Justified and received his pardon by his Obedience to God what need was there for him and us, to look out for a Surety, a Redeemer, a Mediator to pay his Blood for our Ransome, and to fetch us out of the miserable state of Sin; Death, and Hell, &c.

2. Whereas G. Fox asketh what is the work of God, but to do what he saith.

I Reply,The Papists and Quakers know not the difference between the two Covenants 1. The work of God (according to Christs Doctrine) is to believe on him whom God sent. It is true, it is the Command of God to keep his Commands, but since the deadly Fall of man, none, not one being able, Rom. 3. (though Fox deny it,) it is the work, the great work of God to fly p. 195to that blessed Propitiation for poor sinners, (throughout the world:) But G. Fox cannot distinguish between the Covenant of works, of Iustice, and of Debt, and that of mercy, and of receiving all as a Beggar, and Condemned Rebels, poor proud Souls they know not any difference between the Blood of Christ Iesus and their own Blood, as we shall see afterward.

3. Whereas he saith, that they do not Gods will are not justified in so doing:

I Answer, therefore it follows ronndly as his Conclusion, that they that do Gods will are justified in so doing: that is their sins are pardoned as David and Paul by pardon of Sin describe justification,

127] Who sees not the subtlety of this Fox cheating himself and others with the divers signification of this Latin word Iustification? Fox his playing with the word JustificationIt is true, a man can not be justified or defended for Thieving, Whoring, Murthering, &c. Doth it follow therefore, that they that do not Steal, whore, murther, &c. by this abstaining from Sin, and by this their work they obtein the pardon, and stand by this their work, legally right and justified in the Court of Heaven!

I Conclude, that by these hints a broken hearted sinner, who hath seen Sin as Sin, the sin of his Nature, his chief sin, &c. will see how far from the Doctrine of true Repentance, true Faith, &c these mens Teachings be, and (for all their boasting) what need they have to Examine themselves whether they be in the Faith, and whether there be any other Christ Iesus within them then a Countersiet and painted Messiah, and whether their Countersiet and painted Faith, Repentance and Hope will yield them another Fruit then a dolefully Counterfieted and perishing Salvation.

p. 196At last by Gods merciful held I come now (with their glad Consent) to the seventh and last Position propounded to be discust at Newport, The last of the seven Positions at Newportviz. that their Religion was nothing else but a mixture of Popery, Arminianisme, Socinianisme, Iudaisme, &c.

Herein I knew I was not to exceed my quarter glass, and there. fore I take liberty now a little to inlarge, to remember the Reader of the old Proverb, that where God hath his Church, the Devil will have his Chappel. And that where Christ Iesus hath his Field of good Seed, The Quaker Religion pieced up … many old Heresieswhile the Servants sleep, the Enemy will sow the Tares, of rotten Doctrines, and rotten Professors, who like Windefals, and Revolting Rebels fall from the holy Truths they have professed, being loose aud weak believers or only affrighted and Terrified Hipocrites, by Gods righteous Iudgement delivered over to listen too, and believe Lyes as the only heavenly Truths of Iesus.

I had purposed to have shewed how in matters concerning God, the Son of God, the Spirit of God, &c. the Quakers have followed, the Cerdonians, the Priscillians, the Valentinians, the old Gnosticks, and Manicheans: but I Confined my self to the Terms of the Position, and declared that the Quakers were downright Papists in many points, some I then Insisted on, and the rest [128] intended, I shall now mention. First, In magnifying the rotten strength and Arm of dead and rotten Nature: when it is Objected to G. Fox in his book, that by Nature we are all dead in sins and Trespasses:

G. Fox Answers, by d,viding all men into three sorts: Some are born holy from the wombe, as Ier. p. 197Some the Saints that is,Of Natures its Impurity only their Children born holy without any sinful corruption. Thirdly, the wicked who will not turn to the Light within them, and they are only the Unbelievers dead in sin. But the Protestants, David and his Followers Confess their Natures, Births, and Conceptions to be all defiled with sin, and with a sinful proneness to all Iniquity, though miraculously some are Sanctified, or set apart to God from the wombe as Ieremiah, Iohn the Baptist, &c. Some after a more peculiar and miraculous manner, as the Lord Iesus: Some by New Birth, and the wonderfal Supernatural Power of the holy Spirie Changing, Regenerating, and as it were New Creating the Soul and Spirit, in Everlasting, Unchangeable Holiness and Righteousness after the Image of his first and second Creatour.

It is true,The Papists righter then the Quakers that the Papists come nearer the Truth as to Birth, Corruption and Defilement then the Quakers, acknowledging all, … be Conceived and born in Sin, not that the Devil or the Papists care to acknowledge this Truth, but that they may use it as a Cridge over which they may pass to the Necessity of Baptisme on pain of Damnation: on which they may also build many other Superstitious Fanciee as to the holy Ordinances.

But the Quakers, although they hold only their own Children to be Conceived and born holy & without Sin,The power of Natu…e in Spirituals yet they jump into one step with the Papists, as to the Power of Nature in Spirituals, ane that every man and woman in the world hath a sufficient Light within him to see God and Christ, &c. and to turn themselves unto them to Eternal p. 198Life. Contrary to the Protestants, who from the holy Scriptures maintain mans Natural Blindness and Darkness, Ephes. 5. Mans Natural Deadness, Ephes. 2. and that our wisdome can not difcern any Spiritual thing, that is, Spiritually, 1. Cor 2. That our Quintessence of Nature, our very wisdome is Enmity to God: He hates us as we hate him, and are at deadly fewd and mortal Hatred like two men of War [129] giving Fire one upon another, we resolving to sink by Ejods side, The way of Conversion both of the Papists and the Quakersrather then to yield to God: but God in Infinite pitty, seeing our weakness and madness, and certain Destruction hangs out a white Flag and offers a Parly, on purpose to save us from our desperate minde & Ruine, which by many heavenly means of Free mercy he Effecteth? The Papists speak more like Men, and at last yield that men and Women have left them (since Adams Fall) power to listen too, and obey Moral Perswasions, and offers which God makes: The Quakers talk only (like Bruits) of no means, no means but Immediate Revelation of the Spirit: and yet in Contradiction to themselves they make the Spirit an inward means, and their Apostles or Messengers an outward means, or else they make themselves idle Embassodors, in vain and to no purpose. The Protestants affirm from 2. Cor. 3. that we have not one good Thought but from God,The way of the tr…e Protestants that it is God, not we, that turns the will, Phil. 2. that when the Word of Faith is preached, Rom. 10. and Faith or Belief is wrought by hearing,: yet is it Gods free Grace that makes the difference, 1 Cor. 4. when several Hearers are Assembled, and God opens Lidiahs heart and p. 199not others, Acts 16. the learned Academians mock, and only Dionisius and Damaris, Acts 17. Rom. 9. 2.Acts 17Rom 9:2and a few believe, because God sheweth mercy on whom he will, and whom he will, he hardneth.

The Papists and Quakers both maintain that dolefully, Falling from Graceuncomfortable, and desperate Doctrine of falling away from true and saving grace: The Truth is, neither of them seem to know Experimentally what true and saving grace is: It is true, they differ, the Papists make Saving Grace the Property only of the Regenerate: The Quakers say it is in every man and Woman in the world, they have it, though they know it not, and will not turn to it, and believe in it: yet both agree that they loose it, whereas the true Protestants though they grant great Failings and Falls, and Desertions of Gods Children, yet they hold the Seed of God, The true Protestants Doctrine as to Falling away.the holy Spirit and Word of God, Isai. 59. and 1 Cor. 3. that Incorruptible, Eternal Seed, of which they are begotten, never Final-[130]ly? nor Totally to be Ecclipsed, and they justly account that Doctrine of Intercession, viz. when Son-ship or Childship is cut off by Sin, and Renewed by Repentance, to be a simple Fantastical Notion, as if David were a Child of God to day, a Child of the Devil to morrow, a Child of God this hour, and a Child of the Devil the next, &c. only they fix this impiously upon mortal and great sins only, as if Adam Eating of an Apple were not sufficient to his and our Destruction, as well as Davids sinning with Bathsheba and Uriah, &c

3. I must be briefer, though not so brief as I was p. 200forced to be in our publick probations:The Papists and Quakers agree against the holy Scripture I told them that the Papists and the Quakers were great Confederates in their Endeavours to raze the Records of Heaven, and to rob the Saints and the world of this Inestimable Iewel and Treasure of the holy Scriptures.

1 The Papists own it not to be all the word or will of God revealed, but that there be unwritten Verities, that is, Gods mind revealed from Father to Son, by Tradition.

The Quakers will not vouchsafe it the Name of the word of God, out of a simple pretence, because Christ is the word of God, that is, he isindeed the chief manifestation of all the Appearances of God.

2. The Papists horribly abuse it, calling it a Nose of wax, a Leaden Rule, a dead Letter, &c. and so do the Quakers triumphing over it with base Insultations, as over a deed Letter, a Carkass. &c.

3. The whole world of Papists assembled in eighteen Years Labours, (& Chymical Laboratories at Trent) at last thundred out their Anathamaes and Curses against all that should not prefer the Vulgar Latin Copies before the Hebrew Copies and the Greek (in which it pleased the holy Spirit of God first to write his mind and will or word unto us:)The Papists and Quakers Enmity against the Hebrew a…d Greek And do not the Quakers as simply and bruitishly bind themselves to the bare Letter of the Common English? Though they know the Hebrew and Greek Copies are the Foundation and Touchstone of all other (though millions of) Translations: Though they know there be more English Translations then one; Though the English Translations wonderfully [135 p. 201differ; Though Ravius (that Famous Oriental Hebrician, &c.) proclaims above a Thousand Faults, and some gross in our last Translation: though some of them (as Iohn Stubs) boast of their humane Learning produced his Hebrew Bible in our Conference: yet will these Ephesians cry out (like Frantick mad) great is our Latin Translation, great is our English Translation: Yea, one of them boasted to my self, that the Spirit of God would teach them Scripture without the Hebrew and the Greek, or the English either.

4. The Papists set up a Judge in Controversies above the holy Scriptures,The Papists and Quakers Judge of Scripture who can dispense with Scriptures and do all that God can do. And say not the Quakers the same of their Spirit which is above the Scriptures, for it gave forth the Scriptures, and is in every man

5. The Papists though they will not deny to make the Scriptures the Rule,Interpretation of Scripture and profess to be tried by it, yet their Church, and the head of it the Pope must Interpret: And do not the Quakers herein the same concerning themselves, though some think more bruitishly, for they will allow no Interpretations, nor meaning at all, but you must take the words as the Translators have given them us (right or wrong) and you must not enquire either into the meaning of words, or the meaning of mind of God in the place. Oh what a black, deaf and dumb, Lazie Spirit hath possessed the Souls of these great pretenders too and Monopolizers of the holy Spirit of God, both Papists and Quakers?

6 The Papists generally use not, nor have the p. 202holy Scripture, (no not in their Devotions) in their own Tongue, but in the Latine, (the Whores Tongue of Italy:) therefore no wonder they prize it not: but even the Lights or Luminaries so pretending, amongst them disuse it,The Papists and Quakers slighting holy Scripture Care not for it, read it not, &c. many have it not: So that Luther tels us that in Thirteen years or more he saw not a Bible in his College at Erford, until by Gods merciful providence he came to see one, to his own & the Comfott of Thousands, & Luther tels us that at one great Assembly of the Emperour and Princes, the Protestants of Germany had Conveyed a Bible on the Table: The Cardinal being first come he opened the Book, and read here and there in it, (it is like he had not seen [132] it before in his Life,) In comes one of the Popish Princes, and askt the Cardinals Eminency what Book he had there?

He Answerred, I know not: but I am sure it is agaiust us, and it is laid here for that purpose. Oh the Infinite mercies of God to us in our times, and our Infinite Debt to his Infinite goodness, and our Infinite guilt in neglect of it:

The Quakers at first took off themselves,The Papists and Quakers would be rid of the Scripture Families and Assemblies from any use of it: Their Spirit they Crake that made the Scriptures supplies all, &c. The Papists and Quakers both have said and printed, that if the Scripture were consumed & quite taken out of the world, there would be no Loss, so long as they have the Spirit. The Truth is I could by Arguments many make it appear that the Papists and Quakers love the holy Scriptures no better than Goliah loved p. 203Davids stone and sling? nor no better then the Devil loved Christs Gegraptai, It is written: It is written: for the Papists and the Quakers, and the Devil knows that if the holy Scriptures be Exalted, as the revealed will or word, or Declaration of the mind of God, down-falls their pretences of Traditions and Revelations, whereby the Devil deceivs themselves and himself also.

4. The Papists and Quakers shake hands in the most hellish Doctrine of Justification by what is within us,The Papists and Quakers unite against the Blood of the Lord Jesus by what Christ works within us, in short, by what is called Sanctification put for Justification, and the forgiveness of sin, in and for the merits of the Lord Jesus freely imputed and given to us: The Papists use the word Inherent Righteousness, but the Quakers bogle at the word not finding it in the English Bible, yet they agree that by the works of Obedience, yea, and also by the Acts of their own Inventions and Superstitions, they can make a pardon under a hedge to themselves, and Crake that they have received a pardon and Justification sealed under the Broad Seal of Heaven to them, but it is against the glory of the King of Heaven, and against the glory of the Son of God, and his glorious Sufferings, and their own Salvation.

5 The Quakers are Papists in that Spirit of Infallibility which they arrogate to themselves,The Infallibility of Papists and Quakers pretending that the holy, Spirit shall lead them into all Truth, speak Immediately in [133] them, &c. though herein they differ, the Pope infallibly expounds Scripture, but the Quakers speaks Scripture, and his word is Gospel, &c. yea, all men have this Spirit, p. 204and need no Teacher, and yet what an horrible Contradictious noise is there of the Quakers, Apostles, Messengers, Ministers, Preachers He and she sent into Old-England, and New-England, Scotland, Ireland, Turky, Italy, to bid people hearken to the Immediate Spirit within?

6. The Quakers are Papists in that high lofty Conceit of their Perfection,The Quakers Popish Perfection. when Calvins time this Spirit came from Hell under the name of Spirituals, and when of latter years in Lancashire under the Name of Grindletonians, all their Religion turned chiefly upon these two Hinges.

1. They could not sin, were perfect, &c.

2. They did nothing, said nothing,The Popish Revelations of the Quakers but God and the Spirit did all.

7. The Papists and Quakers are great Friends in their Notions & practice of Revelations, Visions, Dreams, Impulsions and Inspirations: He that hath known so much as I have known of both their Spirits this way, and hath read their Legends as I have done, and can Instance in particulars as I can, will say, it is a foul, Popish, Devilish Spirit that haunts them (both under this fine pretence) to turn both off from the words of Iesus, Popists and Quakers one in Ceremonies and InventionsLuke 10. How readest thou?

8. What Cart Loads of Traditions and Ceremonies have the Papists, and I believe if the Quakers have opportunities and means (as the Papists have had) they will not be behind them: what a noise is made about uncovering or bowing the Head, Knee, for p. 205Courses of wearing of Lace, (yea, Bands and Hatbands by some of them:] Of saying you or Thou, of using Musick, Carving, painting, of sitting silent, (some hundreths together) of sighing and shaking of the Body? all which, as relating to Religion and Christians: &c they are but simple, Insignificant, and Idle, popish Trash and Trumpery.

9. The Papists and Quakers are B…ethren in Iniquity in their Affirmations that the Pope is not Anti-Christ, and that [135] the Church of Rome is not the great Whore: The Quakers and Papists agree that that hge Pope is not Anti-ChristThe Papists Affirme that Anti-Christ is not yet come, and that he shall come just in the end of the world, and shall finish all those wonders in the Revelations in three years and a half: The Quakers though they hold Papists and Protestants (all except the Quakers (to be Anti-Christians; (& as Fox doth) cast back all the Prophesies of false Christs, false Prophets, and Anti-Christ to the time of the Apostles themselves: yet the great Whore and the Devil, and sin, (upon the point) they simply Confound and make all one; as may be seen in Fox his Title to this great Book, and other of his and their writings.

10. It may be wondred why the Popes when made or created by an h…mane & Devilish Fiat, The Quakers not owning freely their Names.they change their Name, and why the Quakers guided by the same Hellish Spirit and Fancy, are so dainty and tender about owning their Old names: The Histories say, the Original with the Popes was with him who was Os porce, or Swines snout, by Name, and was not thought fit being raised so high to bear p. 206so low and fordid a Title. If it were so then, yet it is nothing now but their horrible pride being in their Conceits so high, so Infallible, so perfect, to scorn to be like other men that are but Hogs Snouts, &c.

11. The Papists and Quakers are led by one Spirit of feigned holiness,The Quakers and Popish Monks and Munns all one. Devotion, monkish Solitariness, &c, Their Monks and Friers and Nunns must be sequestred from the world, medle with no faecular and worldly business, which is no more but the Beggars Life, and therefore justly called Fratre Mendicantes Begging Friars, and the Indians Life, formerly the men laying all Labour upon the women; and all this is no more than hunger and Ease, the Dogs Life also. It is true, the Apostles by a true Light ought to have worldly maintenance, but Paul wrought day and night with his hands, which I never read of any of these lying Apostles, Quakers in all their Travails to have done.

12. The Papists and Quakers tongues are both spitting and belching out Fire from one Fire of Hell:The Papists and Q…akers Cursing All that have [136] not the Church their Mother, our Church say the Papists have no God to their Father: the Protestants hope and speak Charitably of the Salvation of many among the Papists, but the Papists have no Charity for any that bow not to the Image: and the Quakers (as G. Fox for the rest) Judge all that differ from Christ that is themselves to be in the Delusion, in differing from them, and if they dare to oppose them, Dogs, Serpents, Reprobates, Vipers, Cains, Pharisees, Devils, &c.

p. 20713. The Papists and Quakers are Firebrands both in the matter of Persecution or hunting such as differ from them.The Persecuting Spirit of the Papists and Quakers It is known that the Papists cry out that they persecute none but the Tares, (the Lottards, the Hugenots, the Wolves, the Hereticks, &c.) That the Quakers as do all Papists and Protestants cry out against all Persecution when it is their own Cases, I say the Quakers most vehemently cry out against violence, against Creatures, but against their Corruptious and Corrupt Principles: And yet as for the Papists let it be considered whether there be any one Religious state known in the world that Answers that woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and Witnesses of Iesus Comparably so near as doth the Estate of the Romish Church and Profession.

And for the Quakers two things I say:

1: Their Tongues are the most Cutting and bitter of any that I can hear of professing the Protestant Reformation, The Quakers Tongue and hand.and it is certain, where the Tongue is so, that the Heart is so first, and where the Heart is so, the Tongue and Hand do never part Company: and therefore they will be as bitter and Cutting in Hand also, where God pleaseth to permit a Sword to fall into it.

2. I have proved, and shall prove in this discourse, that G. Fox, Ed. Burroughs and Iohn Stubs, &c. maintain in their writings not only a Magistratical Power in the Quakers, and in none else, rashly not only to punish by the Material Sword Transgressions p. 208against men, but also sins against [136 God, his Church, his Christ, his worship and Religion.

2, As for the Agreement between the Arminians and the Quakers, I told them that the Papists and the Arminians, the Pelagians and Semipelagians, and the Quakers were so Confederate and one, that in naming one I named the other

1. As to the Power of Nature and Free Will in heavenly and Spiritual matters

2. As to the loosing of true Saving Grace.

3. As to Election and predestination in time,The Quakers Oneness with the Arminians. upon Obedience, & Rejection and Reprobation. upon Rebellion and Disobedience. Contrary to the true Protestant Doctrine of a Certain Number of Gods Elect or Chosen drawn by mercy, out of the Lumpe of Lost Mankind according to Gods Appointment from Eternity, by his Call in Time, by his holy Word and Spirit: and all from this Grace and Spirit of Regeneration, or New-Birth, it was not, it is not possible that David or Peter, or any Child of God be un-Childed, can Finally or Totally depart and Fall.

3. The Quakers are Brethren with Socinas and the Socinians following him, in making Christ a Type and Figure, a pattern and Example how Christians ought to walk.The Quakers and Socinians Oneness Not that the Blood which he shed upon the Cross at Ierusalem was a sufficient price and Satisfaction unto God for the sins of the whole world.

Thus all the Quakers more Explicitly or Implicitely speak, and Humphry Norton in print, viz. Can one mans Obedence and Suffering pay a price to God p. 209for another mans sins? It is true, Socinus magnifies the Free Grace of God in pardoning Sin, and sending that man Christ Jesus to be a pattern and Leader. to all that will follow him.

But they endure not to think that the Flesh and Blood of one man being Finite should be able to …atisfie Gods Infinite Iustice, and to pay a price of Infinite worth and Value. What is this but the Summe and S…bstance of all the Quakers Teachings? For although they preach Gods mercy and Grace, and talk of such a Thing as the Blood of Christ Jesus: Yet upon the point,Christ Jesus but a Fancy with the Quakers that Body, that Blood, that Death &c. is nothing but a Fancy, and Christ Jesus his Birth, his Life, his D…ath, his Burial, his Resurrection, his Ascention, his [137] Return again to Iudgement are all but a Mistical and Allegorical, and not a Literal, Real and Substantial matter; And when they are forced to Confess such a man to have been (though the Term Humane, G. Fox doth bogle and start as at a Rattle Snake) yet then examine them (as I have done) what is become of him: then he is vanished into a Spirit and Ghost, and there was never any such thing as a Man you talkt of: And this is a Devilish Iesuitical Trick the Quakers have beyond the Socinians concerning the Body and Sufferings of Christ Jesus.

I might here Insist upon the Quakers Notorious Sabellianisme, The Sabellians and Quakers all one.taking clearly away (with Sabellius) the distinction of the Father and the Son, and Confounding Father, Son and Spirii in One, as G. Fox in all his Book doth. At present I Insist upon the Position in my Paper, viz. that there is much Iudaisme in the Quakers Religion.

p. 2101. In that great point of Righteousness, Reconciliation with God, and pardon of Sin: They were Zealous (as the Quakers are) in the works of Righteousness, thinking thereby to please and pacifie God, and to satisfie his Justice, putting their own dirt and dung, Swines Blood and Dogs necks upon Gods Altar, instead of that One spotless Lamb of God, that Man Christ Jesus who alone Expiateth, and taketh away the sins of the World.

2. The Iews were Zealous for their Additions, Traditions and Superstitious Inventions, The Quakers Judaisme.which (as the Lord Jesus speaks) they p…eferred before …he Commands of God: as the washing of their hands, and of their Bodies, and of Pots and Cups, and Beds, and Platters, and other things upon a Conscientious and Religious Account.

The Quakers (if they had their Scope) scorn to come behind the Iews, or Papists for Ceremonies and Traditions, which it was necessary for them both to add (as Apples and Nuts, &c. to still poor Children from Crying after Gods Worship.

1. I named some of the Quakers Traditions and Inventions in our publick Conference, (unto which I shall now name [138] some more) I told them,The Quakers Traditious and Ceremonies and now do, of the Un-Christian and unnatural Invention of Women Ministers, Women Apostles, Women Embassadors to all Nations: a business that all the Apostolical first Christian practice, and all sober and modest Humanity abhor to think of.

2. Their dumb and silent meetings (their dumb and deaf Spirit) without Colour of Common Humanity or precept or practice, Dumb Worshipor promise of Christ to such a worship.

p. 2113. Their bruitish Salutations of strang…rs, yea, and of acquaintance,Either none or Immodest Salutations Foes or Friends: It is true that some of them will admit o… those two words, How do you, and Farewel, as if there were some holiness in these two, and in none other, and they might practice this holiness toward the world, &c.

4. Their New Way of feeling and grabling the hand in an uncouth, strange and Immodest way, and this instead of kissing, called the holy Kiss amongst Christians, and a token of Love and Reverence to men also in sober and Civilizd Nations.

5. Their bruitish Irreverence to all their Superiours either in Age,The Quakers disrespect to a…l Superiours. or in any other way of Preheminence, a most proud and monstrous Bestiality against so many Commands and Examples of holy Scripture, and against the very Light of Barbarous Nature it self, for the Indians use both Reverent words and Gestures towards their Sachims, Wiyouhs and Rulers. Contrary to which, some of us have heard the Children of the Quakers brought up and taught to say to their Fathers George thou lyest: Mary thou lyest to their Parents, a Language which deserved little less then Death by the Law, which God delivered to the Iewish Nation, and surely deserveth severe Punishment at this day.

6. Their Crying down of Musicians ond musick,The Qukers against Musick. (so Excellent a gift of God) as a foolish and Devilish practice, though confirmed by so many Reasons from, and before Christs time in Scripture, and in all sober Nature and Civility, though it is abused, as all the gifts of God are.

p. 2127. Their own un-Christian,Fantastical singing Fantastical, absurd, and unprofitable way of Toning and singing.

139] 8. Their Condemning of the Commendable and Ingenious Arts of Carving, Carving, paintingEmbroydering, and Painting, so approved of, and Commended by God himself in Scripture, &c.

9. Their Crying out against Ornaments of Garments,Ornaments and otherwise, against that Order God hath set in his works, and that Variety of his gifts for necessity, for Conveniency, for delight, even to Astonishment and Admiration in all his glorious works.

All these particulars (and more) I had not time, nor have I now to reckon up and amplifie, I remember no Material Exception, or Objections I had from my Antagonists. Only Iohn Burnet spake against my great charging of them, and William Edmundson he thundred out continually how deep my Charges were, and how weak my proofs, and that I had proved nothing.

I told them that if Paul or Christ Jesus himself were there in presence,The Conclusion of the Conference at Newport they propably would be Answered as I was, viz. that they made many deep and false Charges against the people called Quakers, but they could prove nothing: but I said, I submitted the Examinatoon and Consideration of all passages unto every mans Conscience, and the praise and Issue only unto God.

After some turns of this sort,The quickest and last turn about where Christ is &c. I praid their patience to Answer me one question, viz. where is now that Man Christ Jesus which they had Confessed to me was born at Bethlehem, and died at p. 213Ierusalem, &c. At this they were all a while silent, and then Iohn Burnet Answered saying, he is where the Scriptures say he is.

I Replied, where do the Scriptures say he is, Iohn Burnet Replied, the Scripture say he is within: I rejoyned to this purpose: Then must his Body be Ubiquitary, (as the Transubstantiators and Consubstantiators are forced to hold:) Then must he have Infinite multitudes of Bodies, then must his Monstrous Body or Bodies come from within his Saints, yea from within all mankind to Judgement, &c.

Just here it pleased God so to Order it, that from the Boat (ready to set Saile for Providence) I and others were [140] called upon to depart:An Unexpected yet Seasonable and true Testimony from Elizabeth Williams So I was stepping down, the Lord opened the mouth of Elizabeth Williams my Brothers wife, one of the Society of the Baptists in Newport, who hearing their Clamours, their only Refuge, he hath proved nothing and said aloud: The man hath discharged his Conscience: He hath fully proved what he undertook to prove against you, and the words that he hath spoken shall Judge you at the last day. And thus the Father of Lights, the first and last, the Alpha and Omega graciously carried me through all alone these three dayes Contests, as in a shadow of Death with these Deceived, and Deceiving Souls: through my Labours of making out my proof▪ the burthen whereof lay wholly upon me though they had been silent, (through their p. 214Censures Reproaches, Falling on me so many at once, their Interruptions, and other Disadvantages and Provocations, his holy Name be ever praised and magnified.