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

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

p. 4432. The whisperings, the bl…ndings and cheatings of the Devil, in Samuels mantle, pretending vowing and Swearing to be the word of the Lord to be Christ Jesus, yea, & that to your feeling &c.

7. But what are these to Christ Jesus, a dore of Hope to poor, wounded, and damned sinners? God by his Law and Justice, by outward hearing or reading, and inward Convictions of Natural Conscience hath passed Sentence of Eternal Death and Hell on them:When Christ is welcome They feel it they cry out now the Gospel or glad news of a Saviour, a Jesus is Hony in the mouth, &c. Now Luke 4. he [80] heals the broken heart, he sets free the Prisoners, ho gives Light to them that see themselves blind, and Cry to him as the blind man did, Christ medles not with sound persons who have no need of his Bloud, Righteousness, and Merits, &c.

The 40 Instance is in Pag. 224. where G. Fox brings in Ellis Bradshaw,Ellis Bradshaw saying, [There is more words then one]

He Answers, God is the word, and the Scriptures are the words which Christ fulfil.

I Reply, 1. As the designe of the bloudy Pope and Iesuits are to kindle wars between the Protestants, that the Protestants may do the Papists work and save labour and Charges, and so the Pope and his bloudy Whore of Rome may march away securely by p. 444the Light of the Protestants fires. So deals the Devil the old Serpent with Christ Jesus, and the holy Scripture or Records which are but One,Two great designs of Sathan in a Sense, as the Sun and the Sun-dial: His end is to tear down the Sun dial the Scriptures, under pretence that the Sun is within them, and they need no Dials and Clocks, no visible thing that are temporal, &c. and so to destroy the person and Commands of the Lord Jesus, as visible and sleshly pretending all to be Light and Spirit.

2. The words in the Hebrew Aamar and Dabar, The Word and Words of Godas also the Greek, Logos and Rema signifie a word, and divers other matters, as I told my Antagonists in the dispute.

1. In both these Languages, and divers other Languages it signifies the will and pleasure of the Mind given forth by Command, or Decres, or Proclamation made by word, or writing from Kings and States, and Commanders of Armies, Navies, &c.

2. In a Metaphor or Figure it is attributed to God, though he have no word properly, having no mouth, no Tongue, no Braine, &c. but as Nurses he deals with us poor Infants and sucklings, &c.

3. It is another Metaphor or Figure to say God is the word for God is no more a word, then he is a Man or a Spirit, or a Sun, or Shield, or a House, or a Fountain, or a Shepard litterally &c. For as a word or Expression proceeds from the mind & thoughts within: so are the Thoughts and mind of God declared many wayes, but chiefly by that man Christ Jesus called the Word.

3. The Inconceivable Godhead being pleased to p. 445vouch-safe in Infinite Goodness some back parts and glimpses of his Infinite glori- [81] rious Majesty in the Framing of this world, and in the restoring of this world, by making a Marriage between his Son and mankind! all his words and Expressions tend mightily to advance this marriage and great manifestation,Whether God have any more wordsthen one. or Word of God.

4. I was once asked by a poor Foxian, whether God had any more words but one?

I Answered, (and do now) that God hath a great many words or Expressions of his mind and Counsels unto Men and Angels: and so G. Fox, and all the Foxians Confess the Scriptures to be the Words of God, and therein Confess that all, and every word of Scripture is a word of God.

The Truth is, when God gives forth a word or Command by Angels, by Men, and by other of his Armies, (wherein his Infinite Power and Providence daily appeareth) his word runneth very swiftly, as we see when the word is given in a Kingdome, Navy or Army, (as in Ahashueros his one hundred and twenty seven Provinces: &c.) He sends out his word, that is, his mind or pleasure, and melteth them, Psal. 147.

5. So that I Affirm,Infinite millions of millions of Gods word. that the two great Lights of Heaven, the Sun and Moon, and all the lesser Lights the Stars are Words and Preachings, and preachers of God to us: Every wind and Cloud, and drop of Rain and Hail, every Flake of Snow, every Leaf, every Grass, every drop of water in the Ocean, and Rivers, yea, every Grain of Corn, and Sand on the Shore, is a Voice or word and witness of God unto us.

p. 4466. Hence (as in that Admirable 107 Psalm,The Voice of Gods works and Providences &c. Every Turn of the holy hand of God in Ruling and Over-ruling all things in the world upon the two great Hinges of Mercy and Iudgement, Psal, 110. are but so many Voices or words of God, God speaks once and twice, Job. 33. but man hears it not, in Visions, in Dreams, in Health, and Sickness, in Ease, and pain, in wants, in plenty, in dangers and Deliverances, Crosses, Losses, &c.

7. That the Hebrew is most full, viz. that God spake by his Prophets (or Preachers, or declarers of his will) divers wayes and divers times,Gods Spirit in his word but now he hath spoken by his Son: From the beginning of the world, Luke 1. he hath spoken of the coming of this Son by the mouths of all his Prophets even from the beginning of the World. Therefore though God have many Sons,Christ the word of God yet Christ Jesus (that man Christ Jesus) among the many millions of [82] Sons is stiled the only Begotten Son of God, the Head of all the Elect, purchased to God out of every Nation by his Blood, &c. so by the same excellency and eminency (above all the manifestations and appearances of God to the World) no word or appearances of God is comparable to that appearance of God in Christ Jesus, and therefore called the Word of God as the greatest appearance of the eternal Power and Godhead.

8. Hence it follows, that these poor Foxians are so much the more shameless and monstrous,The shameless wickedness of the Quakers against the Scriptures & Christ himself not only in robbing the Scriptures of their most Heavenly and common Title of the Word of God, common to all Gods appearances, but also in turning p. 447this Word of God Christ Jesus into a Spirit without any body: but what is gone for ever from us, and by their parting him (his God-head from his Man-hood) into a Fancie, a Dream, a meer Whimsie, and Devellish Imagination.

9 When we deal with Indians about Religion, The way of dealing with Indiansour work is to prove unto them by Reason, that the Bible is Gods Word, for by Nature they are much affected with a kind of Deity to be in Writing: That all their Revelations, and Visions, and Dreams (in which the Devil wonderfully abuseth them) are False and Cheating.

That this Scripture or Writing we pretend to,They see infinite Reason in the holy Scriptures is from God by their own experience, because it agrees with their own Consciences, reproving them for those sins their Souls say they are guilty of: That the terrible Majesty of Gods Justice in punishing Sinners so shines in it, and also his infinite goodness and mercy in finding out such a way of Mediation, and such a Mediator that their Souls cannot but adore Infinite Justice and Mercy in it. That the Holy power of God so appears in it in working upon the Souls of Millions, turning them from Dogs, and Swine, and Wolves, and Lions, and Sheep, and Lambs, and Doves, &c. in Love, Meekness, Patience, &c.

That it could be none but an Omnipotent Arm that hath preserved the Holy Scripture so many thousand years (some part of it) through so many wonderful changes,The preservation of the Scripture through so many Bloody Huntings of Kings, Emperours, Popes; and this more subtile p. 448Hunting of these Foxians, to run it out of this World, and by seeming to embrace it to destroy and kill it.

83] The 41. Instance is in Page 228.Tho. Weld Where G. Fox brings in Thomas Weld, saying, [There lies a Mystery of Iniquity, for to say the World calls them so, by such and such Names or gives them their Christian Name.]

He Answers, [There are Names given by the Heathen, the Heathen outward which men are called: There is a new Name which the World knows not written in the Book of Life: Here is the new Man known after God in Righteousness and true Holiness; Now who is the New Man, and this new Name? the World may call him by the old, so it is not a mystery of iniquity to say the World calls him so.]

I Reply, As to Christen Names, & Names to Children1. As to Christian or Christen Names or Things bearing or pretending to bear the Name, Authority or an Uniting of Christ Jesus (as we know the word Christian signifies) it is incumbent on every Christian Soul to search into the Root, and Rise, and Practise, and Warrant of them with holy fear and trembling in the presence of God.

2. But to the mystery of Iniquity here insinuated against them, Is it not a proud trick of a Pharisee thus to scorn the poor Heathens and Publicans, The Foxians scornful prideas not worthy to know the Foxians high Names, or take up such sacred Names and Mysteries upon their Lips? yea, is it not a ridiculous Fancie thus to prate, and (like Pharisees to scold about washing of Hands, and Pots, and Cups, therein placing invented Holiness, &c.

p. 449For,Who are G. Fox his Heathen 1. VVhat are the Heathen, this Heathenish Soul here strikes at? doth he mean the wilde Savages, who give Names to their Children, and oft times full of Reason and Significance, &c. Or doth he account all Nations Savages and Barbarians that give Names to their Children, and consequently themselves Savages and Barbarians also, for they give Names unto their Children also.

2. It is true that by the word Heathen (the Goj in the Hebrew and Ethne in the Greek) the Nations or Gentiles were signified as distinct from the Holy Nation or Church of God the Iews, The Words Heathenbut so it is not common in our English Phraze, to call all the Nations Heathen that are not of the Iewish Nation.

3. Did not the Saints before the coming of Christ give Names to their Children? did not Leah and Rachael (by Iacobs leave) give all those significant Names unto the twelve Patriarchs? and [84] have not the Saints of God (as well as all Nations) still so practised?

4. Doth Christian Regeneration or New Birth destroy Natural Births or Marriages, or Procreations, or Names, and Educations? (Only as Diamonds in Gold-Rings, and Aples of gold in pictures of silver) Christianity beautifies and adorns all these, Natural and Civil Actions, with an heavenly Spirit, 11Insert "&." R. W. Ms. Ann.Carriage in Earthly matters.

5 Can there be any Instances given of any Servants of God before or since the coming of Christ Jesus,Christ destroys not but beaufies Civility disowning or slighting the Names which their Parents had given them: yea, though there p. 450were some seeming honour to false Gods in them, Fortunatus, Apollo, Phebe, &c.

6. Why may we not (though we are for11Change "for" to "but." R. W. Ms. Ann. his Heathens) call the Foxians by the same Names by which they call themselves? for, in this great Book we find G. Fox and Edmund Burrough subscribed? It is a Query why they so plainly subscribe and yet defend them that do not, Have they a Priviledge? Or do they thus quarrel with us, (poor Heathens) about straws or things Indifferent? and yet so weighty as the New Name, and new man created in holiness, &c?

7. But what is this new Creature and new Name they speak of?The new Man and new Name How shall the world call them by it if they know it not? Such are their Nonsensical Fancies of giving no Respect to any in word or gestures: Such are their Fantastical Conceited Answers, when being asked where they dwell, they Answer, they dwell in God, and where they live, they Answer, They live in God, &c,

8. Are not these Foxians a kin to the Popes in this Fancy also, when raised to the Devils Pinacle, The Popes flingi…g to the world their old Names.to the Popedome, they throw down their old Names to the world, and though they be as subtle as Foxes, yet now they will be called Leones Lions, though they be as fierce and Cruel as Lyons, they will now be called Clement and though they be as Impious as swine, even as Os pores, they must be called pius.

In the last place, as the Pope cast away his net which he used as the Remembrance of the Fisherman Peter when he had catcht the Popedome, so p. 451G. Fox having made his Fortune as it is prophanely called,G. Fox his great change. having attaind a great Marriage: His new Carriage and Courtesie, and Civility condemns Humphry Nortons [85] and his own former Rigidity as I am sure they will do most of them11Place "most of them" in parenthesis. R. W. Ms. Ann. for worldly Advantages, For, as they abuse that Scripture, Eccles. 11.Eccl 11The World is in their Heart. I may truly use it and affirme the world and the pride and Advantage of it, though they deny it as the Pope and Cardinals and Iesuits do22Place "as the Pope and Cardinals and Iesuits do" in parenthesis. R. W. Ms. Ann. is in their Heart, and is the Body and Soul, the Root and Branch of all their whole Religion.

The 42 Instance is in pag. 243. where G. Fox brings in Richard Sherlock saying [We must not look for an Immediate Extraordinary and miraculous Teaching from the Lord.243. Rich. and Sherlock.]

He Answers, Yet he saith all men are taught of God, what Confusion is here? The grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men and this he calls an outward Teaching by the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that which brings Salvation outward: All in the Truth may judge this and try thy Spirit: And the Teachings of the Lord is not mediate, but Extraordinary above all yours, which are men got up since the dayes of the Apostles.

I Reply, 1. Although I have spoken before of their Immediate Inspirations: yet seeing how greedily and boastingly this deluded Soul with scorn and p. 452Contempt of all his Opposites, sucks in the poyson of Devil…sh Inspirations in stead of the pure wine and milk of Christian Truth, and milks out this poyson into the mouths of his poor bewitched Followers, I shall add a few words.

G. Fox here affirmeth that the Teachings of the Lord are not mediate, The Teachings of God.but Immediate, Extraordinary and miraculous, Contrary to the whole stream of Scripture and Experience.

1. Contrary to the Ordinary and daily, and mighty preaching of the whole Creation: Psal. 9. The Heavens, &c.

2. Contrary to the Teachings of God in every mans Nature, and making, being taught of God, above Gods Teaching, the Fowls of the Air and Beasts of the Field: Doth not Nature teach you, 1 Cor. 11. as to long hair.

3. Contrary to Abrahams Teaching of his Children, and the Command of God to all Parents.

4. Contrary to Ordinary Teachings of the Priests and Levites Commanded by God, in so much that Christ Jesus Commanded the Scribes and Pharisees sitting in Moses Chair to be heard and attended.

5. Contrary to the Ordinary and Constant feeding by Sheep- [89] herds and Teachers in the Christian Flocks and Assemblies.

6. Contrary to the Teachings of the holy writings or Scripture written by Immediate breathing of God, for our Instruction and Consolation, &c.

Ob. Yea, but saith this great wrester of holy writings: They shall be all taught of God.

I Answer, 1. Who, or how shall they be all taught p. 453of God? that teaching in the Hebrew applied from the new11Erase "new." R. W. Ms. Ann. Prophets, Isaiah and Ieremiah is the teaching of the new Covenant, and that is the promise of Grace and Mercy to so many as are predestinate and called, &c.

2. That is no Immediate, Extraordinary, and miraculous business, for this is common to all that repent or turn to God.

3. Many had, and may have the speaking with Tongues, and working with Miracles, and yet not know what the teaching of the Spirit in a new Birth is.

4. In the Ordinary Teaching to Conversion, the Lord owns his Servants as Fellow Labourers, Workers, Builders, Husbandmen, Fathers, &c. wherein he is pleased to open the hearts of one22Change "one" to "many." R. W. Ms. Ann. Thousand and Ten Thousand as he did in the first preachings of that glad News, and I hope will do so again.

5. The great Promise to Christ Jesus and his Seed is,Outward means. that there shall be a gracious Continuance in Christs mouth, & the mouth of his Seed, of both the word, (that is preached) and the holy Spirit more or less) accompanying and Teaching, Isa. 59.

6. What is there in G. Fox his wild Notion, [Can that which brings Salvation be outward?] Against all the Proofs before I mentioned, and so many others concerning the Foolishness of Preaching, &c.

Object. He saith, The grace of God teacheth every man to deny ungodly Lusts, &c. And I ask,

1. If every man in the world hath this Immemediate p. 454work on them? what's the Reason we find none in the world (no not the wisest) until they have the Scripture, or the Doctrine thereof some way opened to them, that have been able to give us the least Tidings of any such business.

2. What's the Reason that so few in the world have any shew of Repentance, &c. much less a sound and and saving turning of the whole Soul unto God?

87] Why do the Quakers make such adoe about their Apostles Men and Women as if that glorious Light the Father, Son and Spirit in every man were not able to teach Effectually (by his Extraordinary and miraculous power) without their outward speaking to the Seed, that is to God within them?

4. If they themselves teach by such an Extraordinary and miraculous power as the Prophets of old,Miracles. and the Apostles of Christ Jesus did, what should be the Cause why we see no such miraculous deeds done by any of them? The Truth is, God is pleased to chain up Sathan: otherwise, the Foxians would have their longing (which it may be some shall after them) But if they shall be permitted by God and assisted by the Devil to do as the Magicians did: yet if their Doctrine be other then what is written (as I have abundantly proved it to be) while they cry out Light, Light, there is none as Isaiah speaketh, not a Spark of Light within them.

The 43. Instance is in Pag. 247. where G. Fox brings in Christopher Wade saying,247. Christopher Wade [The written p. 455Word is the Sword of the Spirit:] And he makes another Rule beside the Scripture11Place "beside the Scripture." in parenthesis. R. W. Ms. Ann. false.

He Answers, which we say is the Spirit which gave them forth, whereby Peace is known upon the Israel of God: And the Pharisees had the Scripture but had not the Sword of the Spirit, the Scriptures testifies of the Sword of the Spirit.

I Reply, 1. With all humble Reverence to the most holy Spirit of God, who is God himself. I affirme, the Spirit or God can not here be the Sword intended.

For 1.The Sword of the Spirit. This Spiritual Furniture being a Similitude taken from warlike and Military Provision and Artillery from Head to Foot, the Helmet, Breastplate, the Shield, the girdle, the Shoes, and every one applied to gifts and means flowing from Gods Spirit, as Faith, Hope, Sincerity, &c. it were most improper then to bring in God or the Spirit to be the Sword, or any of the other pieces.

2. For there is no more Reason to make the Spirit or God to be the Sword, then the Shield or any other piece.

3. It seems too low to the holy Spirit and God to be here in this Similitude, resembled to a Sword or Instrument in the hands of men to be drawn and brandished and fought withal for Offence and Defence at mens pleasure, though in some Sence22Insert "from." R. W. Ms. Ann. God. 88] 4. This was the Sword, the only Sword, is called a Sword with which the Lord Jesus fought and vanquished the Devil, Gegraptas, Gegraptai: p. 456It is written, it is written, and we may well say of it as David of the Sword of Goliah, by which David …nt off his head, there is none to that, &c.

The holy Spirit, Christ and God are Authors of all these heavenly Gifts and Graces, Not the Spirit himself.the Beginner and Finisher of Faith, and therefore not Faith nor Hope, nor any other piece of the Artillery themselves, no more then the Armorer is the Helmet, or the Cutler the Sword, &c.

6. In Revel. 1. Christ and the Sword with two Edges (which cometh forth of his mouth) are distinct, and can not be the same, as G. Fox usually Confounds and mixeth all together. Hence the the Word of Christ, Col. 3. can not be Christ himself, but that which cometh from him and tendeth to him.

7. These great Interpreters are Confounded in themselves, for here in Ephes. 4. the Spirit must be the Sword and Word of God, But in Heb. 4. Christ must be the Sword, with two Edges, being the Word of God, and not the Spirit: So like Iuglers do they shift from one hand to another, to Confound and beguile the Beholders.

Object. But the Spirit saith G. Fox was before the Scripture, and gave forth the Scripture.

I Answer, what then, G. Fox is before his Book, and gave it forth, is it not therefore G. Fox his word & writing but G. Fox himself?The Immediate Inspiration of the Spirit Or is it not the Kings Majesty before his Declaration, or Proclamation to the world? Is it not therefore the Kings word, or is it the King himself? This Immediate Inspiration of the holy Scripture from the Spirit p. 457makes it a Word so powerful, a Magazine & Storehouse so full of Treasury, so rich a Standard, Touchstone or Weights so perfect, for the trial of all Spirits, all writings, all Doctrines, all Religions, Worships, Actions, &c.

Object. But the Pharisees saith G. Fox had the Scripture, but they had not the Sword of Gods Spirit:

I Answer, The Iews had, and have, and so the Turks have had much of it,The Scripture horribly abused the Papists and the Quakers, and other Blasphemors, yea, and the Devils themselves may have the Scripture, the word of God in their Hands and mouths: for may not a true Sword, a choice Sword be in a mad mans hand, whereby he may [89] mischief and wound, and kill himself and others: Hence men make merchandize of it, sophisticate and Adulterate, and turn it into a Lie, &c.

On the other hand, the Spirit of God is promised to Gods Children: Gods Spirit and Word are promised to go together in the mouths of all true Christians, Isa. 55. this holy Spirit is to be praid for, Luke 11. and is therefore powerfully present with Gods true Messengers, while they Translate, Expound, Preach as Paul did, Acts 26. No other things but what Moses and the Prophets wrote of.

The 44th. Instance is in Pag. 253. where he quotes Henry Haggar,253. Henry Haggar saying, [You call all men dead and Carnal in the Serpents Nature, in what Form soever if they differ from you] G. Fox Answers, [All that be not in the Light that inlightneth every man p. 458that cometh into the world which is the way to the Father, differeth from us: such be dead, such be Carnal in the Seepents Nature; For none comes to the Life, but who comes to the Light, in what Form so ever they be: And such as differ from us differ from Christ: For none come from under the Serpents head and Nature, but who comes to the Light.

I Reply, 1. As David said of some whose Teeth were as Swords, and Solomn saith, The Papists and Quakers of a damning and damne Spirit.there is a Generation &c. of such whose Teeth are as Swords, and if ever there were a Generation of such in the world the Papists and these Foxians are the Generations here intended: For it is in vain to tell them of Christ the Foundation, and of building Wood, Hay, Stubble, &c. If you come not roundly to the Pope with the Papists: Or to the Light within, &c. nothing remains but Fire and Brimstone, Damnation, &c.

2. It is true, in some of their writings, and in Edmund Burroughs himself there seems to be some charitable hopes of some having something of Sincerity in them, and of breathing after the Lord, but I observe they fall in with G. Fox again, viz. except that those persons owne their Idols11Erase "s" in "Idols." R. W. Ms. Ann. called Light within them.

3. The Protestants overcome the Papists not only by Scripture and Argument,The true Protestants Charity. but in Charity also, for they profess to have Hope of many among the Papists, as they do also of many amongst the Quakers, But the Papist and Quaker like Fire-ships burn and blow up all, that bow not down to theis Image, &c.

p. 45990] 4. How far are these from the Spirit of Christ Jesus toward the poor Woman, The Quakers far from the Spirit of Christ Jesus.the Syrophenician, who by her worship was a dog, (and he told her so) yet believing in him and content to gather up Crumbs (as a Dog) under his Table, he grants her Suit, and magnifies her personal Excellency! Thus dealt he with the Centurion and Cornelius, and with every poor Reed if truly bruised for Sin, and every Lock of smoaking Flax reaking in truth of Love to God, and the Lord Jesus.

He proclaims the Kingdome of Heaven to the poor in Spirit, The meek and merciful Spirit of Jesus.who see themselves dead and lost, and damned, and seeing no help, no Grace, (not a penny nor a patch of any good in them but) waiting as Beggars at the gate, the beautiful and glorious gate of mercy.

He proclaims Blessedness and Promises to the bleating Lambs as the fruitful Sheep to the Infants and new born Babes, The differeut state of Gods Children.that hunger and thirst for the milk of Righteousness, that by the Patience and Comfort held forth in the writings or Records they may have hope, although yet they cannot be Consident of any work of God in them, and are not so bold to Confess Christ Jesus openly, and kiss him in the Streets, but steal to him by night as Nicodemus, and Ioseph, until they saw him bleeding on the Gallows.

He bare with his Disciples though foolish and slow of Heart, hard-hearted, ignorant of his Death and Resurrection, and loath to hear of such metters.

The 45th. Instance is in Pag. 259. where he quotes Iohn Brown saying, 259. John Brown[And them that bring p. 460people to look at the Light within them, are as Korah, Dathan and Abriam.]

G. Fox Answers, [All that go from the Light within them, are as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram amongst the Lords Prophets, Exalting themselves and Persecuting.]

1. I Reply, and Examine unto whom this Famous History may most properly be Applicable, for sure it was a Type and word of God.

1. Then,Number 16. Korah, Dathan and Abirams Revolt applied to the pretended Quakers. that which the Spirit of God chargeth upon Korah, is a rising up, a Revolt and Rebellion against the Lord, his Appointments and Ministers or Officers, Moses and Aaron, &c.

I know G. Fox chargeth this upon all that pretend to any Ministry and Ministration, and have not the Immediate Spirit of [91] God as the Apostles had but as (he speaks simply) are Ravened from it, and are still Apostates, &c.

But I Answer,The Protestant Religion Revolted from by the Quakers the Protestant Religion is a Religion protesting against the abominations of that bloody man of Sin the Pope both in his Doctrines and Worships and Conversations: These Protesters have been since the Waldenses, in France and Germany, and low Countries, and England, Scotland, Denmark, Swedland, Polonia, Transylvania, Norway, Ireland, &c. Conflicting, Contending with their Tongues, their pens, and their Blood against the Bloody Whore and Church of Rome, according to many passages in the Revelations, most wonderfully and miraculously fulfilled upon them.

From these all their holy Doctrines and Endeavours after Gods pure worship are the Quakers p. 461Revolted and set up a Flag of Defiance against all but pretended Immediately Inspired persons, Invisible Worships, and Ministers, and a sullen, proud, and dogged Conversation, (for the general of them.)

2. As Absoloms and Shebahs Conspiracies were notable and Signal against King David,Conspirators agaiust the Priestly, Prophetical, and Kingly Office and Power of Christ Jesus the Prophetical and Kingly Type of the Lord Jesus, so was Korahs and his Conspirators very Considerable and Eminent against Moses and Aaron Types of the Prophetical, Priestly, and Kingly Office of the blessed Lord Iesus Christ: It is said, Numb. 16. that Korah the Levite, and Dathan and Abiram the Sons of Reuben, and two hundred and fifty Princes and Notable Men of Fame in the Assembly thus kindled the Coals of this proud Conspiracy, which had broke forth into devouring Flames, except that the Sheepherd of Israel (who never slumbers nor sleeps) had most graciously and wonderfully watcht for the timeous and early Extinguishing of it.

As to the pretending Quakers, The conspiracy of the Quakersit is known that they are not Sons of Obscurity, (as Bull and Farminton, Reeves and Mugleton) but for Estate and parts, for Education and Learning, some of them11Place "some of them," in parenthesis. R. W. Ms. Ann. for pretences of Piety,Against Christ Jesus. Conscience, patience, Zeal and Mortification, yea, and also for their Numbers, all which they predicate in their Books, and in my dispute with them with loud Trumpets) they are known to be Considerable, and as like to spread as did the Arrians Papists or Mahometans.

3. Korah and Dathan, &c. they were by Gods righteous Judgement so fixed, and setled, and hardned p. 462in their Perswasion [92] and Confidence, that they Contemned all Moses meekness, and Answered stoutly, We will not come up, when he Cited them before the Lord:Korah and the Quakers Confidence & fierceness. yea, say they, wilt thou pluck out the Eyes of these men, and they daringly and desperately brought their Censers to offer Incense and Worship to God: as may be applied to these proud and Confident, and desperate Foxians.

4. Their Charge was notoriously false against Moses, And lying Charges.as the Charge of the Quakers against such blessed Instruments which God hath used like Moses to bring the Protestants out of the Egypt of Popery:) viz. a Charge of Pride and Ambition, wilt thou make thy self a Prince over us? a Charge of which the Foxians are notoriously guilty.

5. I observe their horrible Ingratitude both unto the most holy God himself,Ingratitude. and unto Moses and Aaron, Gods Servants, by whom he had wrought so many wonders for this people in so many wonderful and miraculous Directions, Preservations and Deliverances.

6. Their Impatiencci and Unbelief,Impatience. &c. Thou hast not yet brought us unto a Land flowing with milk and hony, as if God and Moses had only fed them with Sugred and honied Words, and no Effects and performances.

7. I observe their subtle and false pretences and Suggestions: Is no… all the Lords people holy every one of them, and the Lord is amongst them, just the Quakers Language, who so advance every one of the people of the Lord: (as they call their Proselites) viz. that they are just now born of God, p. 463and Literally, can not Sin, are Immediately Inspired, need no Teachers, no Scriptures, &c.

8. I observe, and I humbly beg of the Father of mercies to cause these poor Foxians to observe the Conspiracy of the two Elements,The Wonderful Judgements of God upon the Korathites in this world Earth, and Fire to Consume and devour these Famous proud Conspirators: I spare Applications, begging mercy from the Father of Lights and mercies, for their Humiliations and Salvation: Only I Remember, that every Plant the Heavenly Father hath not planted flourisheth it never so green, so high, so long, shall be plucked up, and cast into the Fire, &c.

The 46th. Instance is in pag. 262. Where he brings in George Iohnson s…ying, 62 George Johnson.[The Americans were never ordained for Grace and Salvation, and the Grace of God never appeared to the Americans.]

93] G. Fox Answers, which is contrary to the Scriptures, which saith, the grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all men, &c. and I will give him for a Light, and for a Covenant to the Gentiles, a new Covenant to the House of Israel and Iudah, and that he may be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth; and many in America have received Truth and Salvation.

I Reply,Thoughts about America 1. To the Covenant or Bargain of God with Man, first and secondly I have spoke, as also to the figurative calling of Christ Jesus the Covenant to Iews and Gentiles, and that this blind Soul taking it litterally, he runs upon the Rocks of the Arminian general Redemption, and the Universalists general Salvation, and that with a known Contradiction p. 464against their own Foundation of none having any benefit of Christ, that own not their Light, &c. as also with a known Contradiction to all Expeiience, which saith, the whole World lies in Wickedness, and this America in Barbarisme, and Barbarous Wickedness of all sorts.

2. I have said Christ is the Light,Now Christ a Light & Covenant. the Covenant, the Brazen Serpent, the Bridegroom held forth as the Sun in the Heavens to all the World: So Christians are the Salt, the Light of the World, and the Church the Pillar and Firmament of Truth, holding it out to all the World; is therefore all the World seasoned, enlightened, converted, saved. yea, doth he not only deny the Americans, but the Europeans, Asians, and Africans also any Salvation (though never so holy Professour of Christ) except they bow down to their new black Image of Light within them?

3. It was a large effusion of the Holy Spirit of God upon so many precious Leaders and Followers,N Englands Plantaaion who ventured their All to New-England upon many Heavenly Grounds, three especially.

First, The enjoyment of God according to their Consciences.

Secondly, Of holding out Light to Americans.

Thirdly, The advancing of the English Name and Plantations.

These three ends the most High and Holy God hath graciously helpt his poor Protestants in a Wilderness to Endeavour to promote,The Indians of N. England &c.

And as to these Barbarians, the Holy God knows some pains I took uprightly in the Main Land and p. 465Islands of New-England to dig into their Barbarous, Rockie Speech, and to speak some- [94] thing of God unto their Souls;The Indians of New England and surely God hath stirred up the Spirit of my ancient dear Friend Mr. Eliot to gain their Language, to Translate them the Bible, and many other wayes to bring the sound of a Saviour amongst them, which I humbly beg of God to perfect and finish for the Glory of his Great Name, &c.

4. What G. Fox means by saying some in America have received Truth and Salvation I can but guess at; It is known he owns nothing of God in Indians or English, until they bow down to their Idol, and that he intends none but such English in America as he and others have Poysoned and Bewitched with Helish Sorceries.

5. This last Year a Paper was sent me from the Quakers,The Quakers desire of perverting the Indians. desiring me to turn it into Indian, that so it might be Printed in England, and so dispersed amongst them: it contained two things:

First, That they had a Light within them which told them that it was evil to Steal, &c.

Secondly, That if they did hearken to this Light, it would lead them to God, &c.

I returned the Paper, and my refusing in Writing, affirming it not to be Truth, &c. and I questioned the Quakers themselves for a false Christ, false Light and Spirit, which they would infect the Indians with.

The 47th Instance is in pag. 263. Where he p. 466quotes Iohn Owen,John Owen 263 saying, [All Truth concerning God and our selves is to be learned from the Holy Scripture, the Word of God]

G. Fox Answers, There was Truth learned before the Scriptures were written, and the Scriptures of Truth are the Words of God, which ends in Christ the Word, and there is no Truths learned but as the Spirit doth lead into all Truth: And many has the Scriptures but know not Christ and the Truth, &c. so he hath thrown out Christ and the Spirit.

I Reply, 1. I have more then once before Answered this Childish Answer. There was Truth, (and the Spirit, and Christ, and Light) before Scripture, as also that which no true Protestant denies, viz. that the Scriptures, nor preaching, nor Baptisme, nor the Supper, nor Afflictions avail except the Spirit (the Fin- [85] ger or Power of God) set them home upon us: As also that many have the Scriptures yet know not Christ, which who questions? So that his Answers are so loose and Childish that none but Fools and Children, and Frantick persons can find any Savour and tast in them.

2. I therefore further Answer to this Quotation,Owens writings about the Scripture Excellently learned and Spiritual and Invincible pray the Reader to read some former passages, but especially, those publick discourses of this excellently learned and pious Author, wherein he hath admirably (both in Latin and English) maintained the Authority and perfection of this Inestimable Iewel, the holy Scripture: both against Atheists and Papists, and Iews, and Quakers, &c. and proved (as clear as at Noon-day) the holy Scriptures, and p. 467every Tittle of them to be the holy Word, or Will, or Declaration of the holy mind of God.

The 48th Instance is in Pag. 264. where he brings in Samuel Palmer,264 Samuel Palmer saying, [The State of the Soul in this Life is threefold Creation, Corruption and Regeneration.]

G. Fox Answers, [In Regeneration the Life is changed from the Life which is in the Fall, So Regeneration and Corruption is not one in the new Life]

I Reply, who saith they be? who saith that Regeneration and Corruption are one in the new Life?Mans threefold Condition in this Life what a foul Trick is this of a false man to impute that to his Opposite which he abhorreth? I guess, or he means that in Regeneration, there is perfection and no Sin, or Corruption left, &c. Hence the plea of some of their Spirits for Adams nakedness being come to the State of Innocency: Hence the poor frantick Souls cry out that the Protestants preach for Sin, for Tearme of Life, &c,

I Answer, The Devil too Crafty for the Foxiansquestionless the Devil deals with the Foxians as the Pirat doth with Ships, he makes no Opposition against such he hath taken, and is possessed of: So that no question but the Quakers may be freed from many Transgressions and Temptations to them, which others are assaulted with.

2. These poor Souls foolishly and extream simply Answer Pauls Complaints and Cryes and bewailing himself, Rom. 7. with Pauls giving thanks for his sudden victory in the last words, as if just then the Battel had turn…d, and Paul had not spoke of the Constant Battel and Warfare, which all the Saints of God (in about four thousand years together p. 468throughout the holy Scripture) [96] Experimented: Noah, Abraham, David, Peter, Iohn, Barnabas, &c.

3. It is a mistery which neither Iews nor Turks, Atheists or Papists, A great mistery.or Quakers know, viz. how the Seed of all grace may be in the new born, and yet the Seed also of all sin (except the sin against the holy Spirit) remaining in them: Therefore when they hear of the Falls of the Saints in Scripture, and so great? Some question the Truth of the Scripture:The Quakers devilish pride. others make a sport of them, and pretend a Cloak for their sins, saying, none are perfect, why may we not as well as they? Others, (as the Foxians say,) We are come to a more perfect and pure Estate then Paul at first was in: or Iohn, who saith, If we Confess our Sin: or Iames, who saith, In many things we offend all: or the Father that cried, help my Unbelief, &c. But the Papists and Quakers are so perfect and Superperfect, that though they be full of pride, Ambition, Unbelief, Unthankfulness, Intemperancy, Covetousness, full of rash Anger, bitter Railings, and dreadful Blasphemies against Heaven, yet they can with the Whore wipe their mouths, and say they are pure from all uncleanness.

The 49th. Instance of G. Fox his lame writings is in Pag. 275. where he quotes Richard Meyo,275. Ricard Meyo. saying, [To say the Gospel is the Power of God is but a Metaphorical Speech.]

G. Fox Answers, [The Apostle doth not say so, for the Apostle saith, the Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes, in plain words, Rom. 1.

p. 469I Reply, 1. (As before, and as thousands know) that the word Gospel is in all Languages glad News, the same which the Angel brought to the Sheepherds of a Saviour born, and laid in a manger at Bethlehem, this is the News, the placid good News, though set forth and beautified in the holy Scripture with variety of Figures and Metaphors.

2. The great Fox the Devil who thirsts after the Blood of the Quakers, The Devils bloody Craft.and of all mens Souls, he whispers, viz. the Gospel is Christ, it is the Spirit, the Light, and God himself, why talk you of a written Gospel? of a preached Gospel the Scriptures are within you, the Gospel is within you, Translations & Interpretations within you: why gaze you upon pen and Ink, and after a man. &c.

3. As if the glad Tidings or Gospel to a dying man of a par- [97] don, & of Life, &c. sounding to his Ear, were not by the External Dore of his Ear conveyed (by that Dore) to the inward dore and Closet of his mind?The Kings Declaration of mercy and Liberty. who but Frantick Souls in Bedlam will say, what need you mind the Kings Declarations or Proclamations of pardon or Liberty? The King himself is the Gospel, the Declaration, and the Librty, the King is within you, the Gospel or glad News is within you?

4. The Devil hates the glad News of Christ Jesus as much as Darkness hateth Light,The Devils two sorts of Souldiers Anti-Christianisme. therefore he hath two sorts of Souldiers.

1. Some that say, what tell you us of Reading and praying, and preaching, mind the Kernel within, while the second sort are all for the outside, which without the In-side are but Shels, and Husks, and Shadows.

p. 4705. How commonly doth the holy Spirit in the Scriptures speak Ridles and Figures, The Figures in Scripture.that they that see not may see, and they that say they see (Papists, Quakers, &c. may be blinded) why is the Lamb called the Passover, Christ the Temple, the Cup his Blood, the Bread his Body, &c.

There were many hundreds brought before King Henry and Queen Mary, after him, &c. for Insurrections with Haltars about their Necks: These Princes (and others) pronounced their inward mind by word External, the Heralds and Proclamations, and Trumpets were in a Figurative Sense all glad News and Gospel, and yet the substance of the glad News or Gospel was the pardon offered and vouchsafed to them?

6. Mine Eyes have seen a Condemned Soul turned off at the Gallows: a Post comes galloping all drive,A lively picture of the Gospel. waving his hat, which being espied, Execution is staid: the people cried a pardon, the Post cried a Reprieve: The Sheriff cried neither no Reprieve, &c. until he saw the Kings hand or Authority from him, the Post delivers to the Sheriff a bit of paper, which the Sheriff reading He Commanded the Halter to be taken off, and the Prisoner to be delivered to the Post: the Prisoner with joyful lips bid Death and his Fellow Sufferers Farewel, and with joyful Legs leaps up behind the welcome Messenger of his Deliverance, for, afterward he had his pardon under the broad Seal of England. I ask here how many passages and particulars may Figuratively be stiled Glad News, or the Gospel to this dying man.

p. 4717. I ask whether the glad News or Gospel which this Post, [98] Messenger or Preacher brought, might not Figuratively be called his Gospel or glad News,Why it is called Pauls Gospel. as Paul Rom. 2. calls it his Gospel, and 2. Cor. 4. our Gospel if hid, it is hid to them that be lost? It is hid two wayes.

1. When not by writing or preaching it is preached or declared (as it is not as yet discovered to innumerable millions in the world.)How it is hid.

2. When the Power or Spirit of God opens not (as he did Lidiahs) the Ears and Hearts and Spirits of men to embrace the Gospel, or glad News of a Saviour to them: and this outward and inward hearing of this glad News, it is the Devils and the Iews, and all Atheists, and (these refined Atheists) the Quakers work to hinder.

The 50th Instance of G. Fox his lame Answer is in Pag. 282. where he brings in Daniel Cawdry saying, 282. Daniel Gawdry.[The Saints were come to the Spirits of just men made perfect, but not on the Earth.

G. Fox Answers, [The just mens Spirits that led them to give forth the Scripture was the Spirit of God, and that was perfect, and was while they were upon the Earth: The Saints were come to, (which was Christ the End of all words) and so to God the Iudge of all the world.]

I Reply, I have spoke before, that Spirits are Invisible Beings, both good and bad, Contrary to the Sadduces, who held neither.

First, The Varity of Spirits.That, of good Spirits there are three sorts.

1. The Increated God himself: 2. The Spirit of p. 472God called (because of his manifold operations) the seven Spirits of God, &c

2. Those Invisible, holy Messengers, or Angels, called Ministring Spirits, and Flaming Attendants upon Christ and his, Heb: Opposite to these are the unclean Spirits spirits of Devils, &c.

3. The Spirits of men, first, saints, as Mary sings, my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour, &c. and opposite to these are the Spirits of the wicked as Peter tels us of the Spirits of the wicked,Why it is said the Spirits made perfect. of the old world now in prison, &c.

2. I observe that in this Heb. 12. the Spirit of God speaks not of the Bodies of the Saints neither Conjoynd, nor a-part. Nor secondly of the Righteous, made perfect, but the Spirits of First, the Righteous: Therefore it seems to hold forth not a perfect State of the Saints in this Life, Consisting of Spirits and Bodies, [99] which our proud Boasters say of themselves, nor that they are perfect: Nor secondly, of the Estate of the Saints in the world to come, where all true Protestants hold, that the Bodies and Souls of the Saints shall be perfected, and Everlastingly (and as to us now) Inconceivably glorified.

But the Estate of the Souls or Spirits of the Elect, who are (as some Translate) perfected, some Consummated or finished, some grounded, or now (Everlastngly Established, while their visible part, the Body sleeps in Iesus until the joyful Resurrection.

2. Thus it appears the rather to be, because we find in all the holy Records the Spirits, Souls, and Bodies of the highest Saints in this world defective and subject to great failings, &c.

p. 4733. It is said, 1 Pet. 3. the Spirits in prison, not the Bodies nor the wicked, but those Spirits of the wicked which believed not Noahs preaching, &c.

4. Doth the Scripture speak of the Spirit of God here at all?The Devil would be rid of Scripture and all Learning. but of the Spirits of men; or of those Penmen of the holy Scriptures, or of any present state of perfection in this Life at all, which might occasion his Answer?

5. What Truth or pertinency is in those words, Christ the end of all words: Doth he mean that now there ought to be no more words or writings? or that Christ ends all Scripture Words, and there is no further use of them? so they hold out, and yet they say and practice the Contrary. The Truth is, their horrible unclean and foul Spirit would fain be rid of all Scripture Words, and all Learning also, &c. that he may bring the more of miserable mankinde (under the cheating sound of Light] into his Eternal Darkness.

The 51th. Instance is in Pag. 325. where he quotes Timothy Trevis,325 Timothy Trevis. saying, God hath ordained to Eternal Life all that shall be saved, before they had a Being in this World: But none comes to possession of this Salvation, but through Obedience of the Spirit.

G. Fox Answers, [The ground of mans belief and obedience is Christ, who doth inlighten him to the intent that he might believe and obey the Truth, and who knows the Seed, knows the Election before the World was made.]

I Reply, 1. If he means that Christ is the Ground or Author, the Giver of Repentance and Faith to p. 474all the Elect whom God [100] the Father hath given him, we say so, &c. But if he put in their Invented Light in the Room of Gods Election and Predestination, G. Fox destroys the working of the Father and the Son.as the Efficient and first Cause, and of Christ as the Mediator and Meritorious Cause according to the golden Chain, Rom. 8. and Ephes. 1. and the fifth Chap. He speaks blasphemously of God, and of the Son of God, and of the glorious work of their Redemption, and poor mankinds Salvation.

2 He is now in the Burrough of the Arminians, G. Fox and the Arminians one as to predestination.who destroy Gods Election before the world was, and say, that when a man believes he is Elected, when he is predestinate, or (being obedient) is Inconstant, he is then Reprobated.

1 Contrary to all the precious beds of Flowers and Spices in the Garden of the Scripture, which these rooting Swine getting in, they root and tear up all the ways and methods of Gods Councels and Salvations.

2 Contrary to the wit and skill of men, who framing a Book, an House, a Ship, a Navie, an Army, Mans wisdome about his Earthly businessor any Sublunary matters, have all in their Thoughts, Minds, and Councels before they begin their Enterprize, they provide their Materials, their Agents, their means they fit all to their Ends, though all may faile, all mens Affairs being but Vanity and Vexations. But to whom shall we liken the Eternal and Infinite Maj…sty, to whom all his works and Events are known (in a most Inconceivable way as to us) even from Eternity to Eternity, his Iustice, his Goodness, his Power, all being Infinite.

3. As to the Seed and Election: We know they p. 475make themselves,The Mistery of the Quakers Seed. the seed and the Election: secondly, They make Christ the seed, that is, (in the End) themselves. And thirdly, They make God and the Spirit of God the seed, the seed in every man which is preached to, by them the Imprisoned Seed, and when one turns Quaker, then God comes out of Prison: The Truth is, they make no distinction between God and Christ, and Spirit, and themselves, as Fox in this Book as before plainly tels us, but when this pretended seed of God, or God himself is hearkened to, then the soul so hearkning, is become Goddified, and God with God, whose Infinite Being and Essence these poor, proud Bruits, The Foxians gross Ignorance of the Godheadhave not so much sight of as the Devils have, who cried out to Jesus, I know thee whom thou art the holy One of God, knowing that God and the Son of God were Infinitely distinct in them- [101] selves, and all Created Beings: Yet such is the Inconceivable wrath and Iustice of the Eternal God upon these fallen Spirits who kept not their first Habitation (as the pretended Quakers many of them have not done) that (as Pharaoh) they can not but lye and slander, and kill till the time of their Torment come.

The 52d. Instance of G. Fox his slight dealing is in Pag. 326. where he brings in the same Author, 326 Timothy Trevis.saying, [The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man in the Church to profit withal, and not to every man in the World.]

G. Fox Answers, [The manifestation is given to every man to profit withal without distinction, I will p. 476pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh: For the Spirit of Truth shall lead the Saints into all Truth: And he shall reprove the World, and that which doth reprove the World is manifest to the World.]

I Reply, I spake to this Text before, in Answer to the Letter of my Neighbour I. T. (as is to be seen in the Letters before our Disputes) who declared himself satisfied with my Answers,The manifestation of the Spirit discussed. but G. Fox (like a Cow with a Kettle on her head, giving every one warning to stand clear) he boldly slanders11Change "slanders" to "blunders." R. W. Ms. Ann. on, and tumbles Heaven, Earth and Hell together, &c.

1. This 1 Cor. 12. expresly declares three things.

1. That it pleased God to appoint in his Christian Church and Worship the Ministry of Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, &c. according to Rom. 12 Ephes. 4, &c.

2. He bestoweth several Gifts and Endowments on such persons whom he pleaseth to call unto such Ministrations.

3. He vouchsafeth to give a gracious Concurrent Operation of his Spirit unto these his Gifts & Ministrations,The Garden of Christs Church and the Wilderness, &c. of the World differ as Heaven and Earth what now is this gracious promise of the Father of Lights to the Garden of his Church & Saints, the howling Desart of the whole world, from whence the Garden is taken in, inclosed and separate? Because a Queen is a Woman, must therefore all the Honours and kindneffes of a glorions Prince due to his Royal Consort be dispensed in Common to all the Women in his Kingdome or Dominions? The Garment in which the Queen is brought, is a p. 477Garment of Needle work, richly and most curiou…ly embroydered with the graces and Operations of the holy Spirit, doth it therefore follow, that those Heavenly Embroyderies, &c. belong to every nnclean and Lousie Begger?

102] Yea, but this prophane Mouth hath something to say for it self, three things he saith full of Prophaneness and Simplicity.

1. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh.

But, 1. Was this (as he speaks) without all distinction done actually? was it, Universally so with all the Individuals of mankind in the world at that time?

2. Was not there a wonderful Wall of separation between the Iews and all other Nations,The partition Wall between Jews and Gentiles. which the Lord promised by the Prophets to break down, and at the coming of the Lord Jesus, and ever since hath more and more broke down and abolished? Is not Gideons Floor which was dry (the poor Gentiles and we English among them) now wet with the Dews of Heaven, while the poor Iews (which were only wet at first) are dry and barren?

3. What is that Extraordinary Promise of Gods Extraordinary pouring out of his Spirit, in Fiery Tongues and Prophesyings, fitting some to go unto all Nations to carry the glad News or Gospel, had others and all Believers those Gifts [least of all with any shew of Reason] belong they to all the Men and Women in the world, who have never seen and heard of any Glimpse of the Sun of Righteousness.

4. Again, I observe how vainly and wickedly p. 478this deluded and deluding Soul cheats himself,G. Fox his not cleaving the Hoof though full of Scripture. and others with this Tearme, All Flesh, Every man, All the World, and so with the Terms Light, Christ, Spirit, his proud Fancy playeth, &c. not dividing the Hoof by just and holy distinguishing a Crime that he often upbraids his Opposites most odiously with in his Book, not dividing, &c. but is most notoriously guilty as ever was filthy Camel in this world, or any of the unclean Beasts, &c.

G. Fox his second Answer here is, [The Spirit of God shall lead the Saints into all Truth.] G. Fox his wonderful Confusion.I observe here how like a Skittish Jade this wild Soul runs in and out, and cannot keep to one steady Affirmation: Before he brings in the Spirit of God poured out upon the Common of the World, now he brings in the spirits leading the saints, Gods Garden and Paradice: Yet again, in his next words he concludes every man in the World to have the spirit because saith he, [The spirit reproves the World, and that which doth Reprove the World is manifest to the World.]

I Answer, The holy spirit testifies that he is the Comforter of the saints, but a Reprover of the World, that he Comforts the [103] Saints in the Promises, & Assurances, &c. that he Reproves the world in his Threatenings and Judgments.The Spirit of God and the world are extream Contraries That the world knows not, sees not the Spirit, but mocks at, receives it not, but banisheth, imprisoneth, murthereth such in whom the true Spirit of God appeareth: Hence it is, that because of this Spirit of God in any soul, three are against two, & two must be against three in the same house, the Parents against p. 479the Children, and the Children betray their Parents unto Death: yea, two in a Bed, and two in a Belly, and yet he whom Gods Spirit chooseth,Prophners of the holy Spirit. shall be mockt and murthered by the other, and yet this lying Peor tells us that all the world (without distinction) have the manifestation of the Spirit of God to prosit withal.

5. There have been persons professing the Order of the holy Ghost, yet far from the favour of the holy Spirit, there hath been a great Ship in the world full of Sailors and Souldiers,G. Fox, &c. resisting and fighting against the holy Spirit. called the holy Ghost, and yet scarce one man in it known to have any Acquaintance with Gods Spirit: Alas, what are the Babilonish Orders of these pretenders to the Holy Ghost or Spirit? what are they but a poor Ship full of Resisters of Gods Spirit, and Enemies to the greatest Enjoyers of him in the World, the true Protestant Witnesses, whom they professedly oppose under the Name of Professors, I hope as I have often said, that many of them are of the two hundred that followed Absolom in honesty and simplicity.

6. But,The striving of Gods Spirit. Oh what Reproofs of Gods Spirit hath G. Fox and others of their Leaders had in, and by so many excellent Opposites and Scriptures, and Arguments, which G. Fox here proudly tramples under his prophane feet, without any savour of the holy Spirit of God!

It is true, it pleaseth God as I said, to strive with men by preachings, by writings, by their own Readings, by publick Iudgments and private, and also by publick mercies and private, for Acts 14. p. 480every Drop of Rain is Gods voice, word or witness, &c, but what is this Common grace to that Regenerating and changing Spirit, The free and powerful working of Gods spirit.John 3. to the opening of Lidiahs, and so of all saints hearts by his free and holy spirit or Finger? what is this to the same Power that raised Christ Jesus from the Dead, Ephes. 1. that raiseth any poor sinner unto a new and holy, and spiritual Cond…tion?

104] 7. Excellent and most heavenly is that similitude, Cant. 1. Because of the savour of thy good Ointments therefore do the Virgins love thee: Oh how many prate of this spirit or Ointment, and yet hate the true Lord Jesus, hate his Love Letters, the holy scriptures, and would be glad to see them in a Bone fire, hate his poor true Quakers that desire to fear before him, and tremble at his Word, and to mourn that having received such manifestations of the holy spirit of God they have profited others so little, and glorified God in their Generations?

8. I might Insist upon the End which G, Fox insisteth on,The whole world unprofitable. viz. to profit withal, and ask why David, Psal. 53. Complains that all the Children of men not one excepted, are unprofitable, good for nothing, yea, abominable, that is, to spiritual matters, heavenly things, the world to come: All even the sweetest Natures, the fairest, the wittiest, the wisest, the learnedst, the devoutest, untill the spirit of God come and truly change the heart and whole Frame of Nature. Till then, we as profitable as Hogs, as Moles in a Garden, as Water or Fire breaking into a ship, and as devouring Foxes amongst the true Lambs and Chickens of Christ Iesus.

p. 481The 53d Instance of G. Fox his lame Answer is in pag. 328:328 Hugh Archbal where he quotes Hugh Archbal, saying, [Christ doth enlighten none but them that do receive him.]

He Answers, Contrary to John 3. which speaketh of them that hate the Light, and are enlightened, and will not come to it, because the Light will reprove them: so he that hates the Light is enlightned, and will not receive Christ.

I Reply, though I have spoken much of the Light and of receiving Christ Jesus, &c, yet since this proud Boaster drags his Opposites out of Scotland also: I pray the Readers patience while I tell him of a manifold Light which the Holy spirit mentions under a Metaphor or Figure of Light.

1. The Natural perceiving of Natural things,The manifold Light mentioned in the Holy Scripture as Christ Jesus saith: The Light of the Body is the Eye.

2. The Light of peace and joy, whether Corporal or spiritual, Temporal, or Eternal: The Iews in Hamans down-Fall, and their own Deliverance had Light and Joy, &c. and Light is sown for the Righteous, &c.

105] 3. The common offers of the Gospel as Light, whence some have observed that the word (so cried up in Iohn 1.) is not inlightneth but lighteth: but the word Photizei may signifie both, and yet be no more then the Common offer, preaching and sound of the glad News, or Gospel: The people that sate in Darkness saw great Light, &c, As the Light of a candle coming in lightens or enlightens the Walls and Room but being taken away again leaves no Impression or change upon the Wall, p. 482or as the Sun shining or guilding the Earth being clouded leaves no Impression of shining on the Earth behind it:The Common offers of mercy. So is it with the Common offers of Trading or marriages in the world, and so of the heavenly Offers of Merchandize and Heavenly Marriage, &c.

4. There is yet a higher Light which some are affected, Tinctur'd and enlightened, and yet not the true and saving Light: that in Heb. 6. where some persons (as the pretended Quakers and G. Fox especially) have seen much of the Nature of God, his holiness, his Iustice, &c. and had a Tast of the Ioyes of the next world, but proudly turned from the holy Scripture, from the true Lord Jesus, and the true, holy, enlightning, humbling and saving Spirit of God.

5. The true Lighting or Enlightning of which the holy Scripture speaketh,The true Illumination. is that of 2 Cor. 4 (a place fouly and simply abused by G. Fox to prove the Light in every man) where Paul shews, how by the preaching of the glad News or Gospel God had shined in their hearts, (not in the hearts of all the men in the world, nor in the hearts of all the Corinthians) and had given them a sight of the glory of God in the Face, or from the Reflexion or means of the face of the Mediator, As the first Christians were called.the man Christ Jesus. Hence all those Heavenly Appellations or phrazes, or Names, Children of the Day: Illuminated, or Inlightned Ones, You were Darkness, but now you are (not only Inlightened, but) Light in the Lord, that is, become, (not as Fox pretends Christs and Gods and no distinction) but of a bright Spiritual Nature, longing humbly and mournfully in the use of the p. 483holy Scripture, and all other means) more to come out of Darkness into the Light of holiness and likeness unto God.

Object. G. Fox alleadgeth Iohn 3. They which hated the Light were inlightned:

I Answer, No question, but with the general Offer of mercy, [106] as of the Candle or Sun to the Eyes of a blind man, which is yet their Condemnation,The twofold success of the Gospel. because if they had power, yet their wills and Lusts, and Resolutions refuse and abhor it, and abhor their eyes should be opened to see it.

Whereas the Gospel or glad News is published or preached, there is a twofold Effect of it: as Acts 13. and Acts 17. and Acts 28. and through all Experience in all Ages and in all parts of the world some mock, some demur, some persecute others, the Spirit or Power of God opens their hearts to fear, to believe, to submit, and in Gods time to rejoyce for ever in a Saviour.

The 54th Instance is in Pag. 330. where G. Fox brings in Iames Dorram,330. James Dorram. saying [The Believer is not in sin as the Unbeliever is, he sins not as the Unbeliever doth: and in another place he saith, the Law is the same to the Believer that it is to the Unbeliever.

G. Fox Answers, Here any may read thy Confusion, but I say unto thee He that believeth doth not commit Sin, but the unbelief is Sin, Rom. 11. 20. And Christ is the End of the Law to every one that believes for Righteousness sake, Roms 10. 4. and yet thou puts both Believers and unbelievers under the power of the Law.

p. 484I Reply, The sight of sin as Sin.The Devils (no question) know Sin, they see Sin, but not in the true glass of the holy Scripture: They see sin as Saul and Iudas, &c. in the fire of the Coal, as dreadful in the punishment, but not in the blackness of the Coale, as against their new Life and Nature, and the purity of the Eternal, who hath begotten them unto holiness. The Robber and Murtherer bewails his offence at the Gallows, though yet his heart is not changed, but, (could he) he would murther the Judge, and all that had a hand in his Condemnation and Execution. The Drunkard hates his Sin as a Tyrant over him, only as it brings Discredit to him, so is it with the unclean person, and every other sinner. But it is not so with the Regenerate or new Born, who can no more (unless deceived and Circumvented) touch Sin,The Sins of the Regenerate. then the Devil the Father of it, nor then Fire can delight in Water, nor Light in Darkness.

3. It is true, that 7 of the Romans is contended for by the Papists and Arminians, and in a great measure by the Quakers, [107] to Contain not the Combate of the Saints, but of the unregenerate within themselves: But the true Protestants have proved from the Scripture, and the Experience of all true Saints that sin and grace, Flesh and Spirit, the Law of the Spirit,Whit the Combate between the Flesh and Spirit in Rom. 7.Rom 7 and the Law of sin may, and do continue Combating in the Regenerate, or New born, Contrary to that proud perfection of Papists and Foxians in this Life, is more clear then Pauls Argumentation, and upon that his Conclusion, viz. That with his mind, that is, his Spirit, will, p. 485Affections, (renewed by Gods Spirit) he served the Law of God: But with his Flesh, which must be his sinful Desires and Dispositions yet remaining in him, he served the Law of Sin? This was the Reason of his Cry, O wretched man, &c. and G. Fox his silly shifts saying, that in the End of the Chapter, Paul was perfect, and gave thanks for victory, it is like that Fantastical saying, of the Generalists, being forced to Con…ess Repentance necessary to Salvation, viz. [In a moment in the Twinkling of an Eye] wofully abusing that holy Scripture about the Resurrection.

4. The same 7 of the Romans, The Sin of the Regenerate as a wound and Captivity.and other holy Scriptures, and Experience prove that the Sin of the Regenerate, whether of Ignorance, as the Fathers, many wives, &c. or of unwatchfulness as David and Peter's &c. It is as an honest man taken prisoner, or as Souldiers and Seamen wounded and carried Captive, or as a Virgin by force deslowred, and crying out, whom therefore both Law and Reason, and the holy Scripture in a holy Figure declare to be clear and Innocent.

5. Hence Paul shews the Sincerity of the Chast Will and Affections unto the Heavenly Bridegroom, The Souls delight in God, and Hatred to Sinsaying, I delight in the Law of God, in the inner man: Delight we know is the Top and Flowre, and Cream of all the Affections, and the siercest hatred flies in the Face of that which takes away our delight from us. The wicked may desire, and may act heavenly things for his own self Ends, for his Credit, his profit, his Salvation, but he can not make God to be himself, and delight in God.

p. 4866. What Confusion is it to affirm that the Saints of God though they see Christ fulfilling the Law of works for them,Sincerity the Crown of the true Quakers which none in the world could ever do but He, yet they ought to strive after perfect holiness and Righteousness, to love the Lord with all their Heart, soul, might, strength, &c. as a Child going after his Father, the Scholar or maiden following their Copies and Samplers▪ [108 though they never come near the full Exactness and perfection of them.

The 55th Instance of G. Fox his simple and soul Answer is in Pag. 338. where he brings in Iohn Nasmith from Scotland,338 John Nasmith saying, [Tha the Evil Spirits are both sinful and Reasonable.]

He Answers, This is a lye, for Reasonable is not sinful, and unreasonable is sinful? 1 Thes. 3. they have not the Faith. And if the Evil Spirit be Reasonable and the Good Reasonable, they are both one: who is then unreasonable, thou puts no difference between the precious and the vile? Thou hast the mark of a blinde guide and of a false Prophet in thy Forehead.

1. I Reply and observe First, the filthy rash Fury of his mind and Pen: Beginning with that's a lye, and after a silly Line and Answer: Thou hast the Marck of a Blind guide and of a false Prophet in thy Forehead.

2. This proud Pharisee will appear to be a Sadducee also, and to hold no Angels nor Spirits: It is true, as they pretend to owne Scripture and a Christ, and Resurrection, They with Iesuitical Equivocations name Angels and Spirits, but the bottom as some p. 487of them,The Foxians are both Pharisees and Sadduces. and that in print discover is, they hold there is but one Spirit, which is in All, and into which All Return, and the Soul of Iudas is as happy as the Soul of Peter.

3. G. Fox runs into his Burrough of the various significations of the word Reasonable. A man is a Reasonable Creature as Opposite to Wolves and Foxes, &c. and yet he may be unreasonable in in his Actings,An Item to G. Fox. as Wolves and Foxes, who though unreasonable in their Natures, yet are not sinful, though a plague to man since his Fall. Oh happy were it for G. Fox that he had been of the wild Foxes in the Woods, and had not been so sinful, by so horribly abusing so great a Talent of Wit and Reason which the Father of Lights hath given him.

4. We know the Admirable Wit and Reason as well as the Power of those unclean Spirits, the Lord Jesus cast out,The Nature of the Devils they did believe and Confess the Lord Jesus, and made their Request unto him: This their knowledge and Ability is from God, though their sinful hardness by Gods just Sentence, runs them upon such mad and desperate Courses, as it is with the Sons of men, when the most holy and Righteous Judge delivers them up to the Councels 109] and Projects of their proud and deceitful Hearts and Spirits:

The 56th. Instance is in Pag. 345. where he brings in Henry Foreside (from Scotland,)345 Hen. Foreside. saying, [Concerning those words of Ezekiel 18. 28. If the Righteous turn away from his Righteousness, his former Righteousness shall be no more remembred, and he p. 488said the meaning of that Scripture was: They thought they had been Righteous, but were not, but supposed it had been so.]

He Answers, Ezek. 18 ConsideredEzek 18[Herein thou art a Minister of unrighteousness thou goest about to make God a Lyar, and the Prophets, and perverts the Scripture: For if he forsakes his Righteousness and commits Sin and Iniquity, and Trespasses he shall dye and not live in the Righteousness: But if he …o sakes his Sins, Trespasses and Transgressions, in the Righteousness that he hath done and doth, he shall live: So Gods wayes are equal, Ezek, 18.] And thou sayes, they thought they had been Righteous, but it was not so: And the Lord by the Prophet saith it was so, that they should live in their Righteousness and die if they did depart from it and Transgressed: Here thou art a diminisher from the Prophets and Apostles words, whose Name is diminished out of the Book of Life, read Rev. 22. 19

I Reply, The Question is about Falling away from saving grace and Righteousness,The Spirit of Falling from Grace. wherein it is notorious, (as I have formerly proved) that the Quakers joyn their Forces to the Standards of the Papists and Arminians, though herein the Arminians (though highly abusing an high wit as the Papists and Quakers do) yet are they not so guilty and Insufferable as the Papists and Foxians are, because they pretend not to such an Infallible Chair as the Papists and Quakers do,The Papists, Arminians and Foxians one in this point. which is the more wonderful and monstrous, because the Papists are forced to grant that the Head of their Church the Pope may Himself fall away and be a Reprobate, and the Foxians are forced to Confess as much, even p. 489of divers of their Heads and Teachers, some getting Saving Grace again, as they say, and some never. The Quakers yet are more gross in this point, because they maintain that the least that hearken to the Light are born again. That they which are born again cannot Sin, that they which can not Sin are pure as God is pure, and therefore they Falling away from them, they must necessarily hold that which is blasphemous of all to be abhorred, that God himself may fall from Grace also, and is kept down as the [110] as this barking Fox speaks, as a Cart laden with sheaves (perverting the Scripture) by wickedness & wicked spirits which are too hard for God and Christ, and Spirit in all the Men and Women in the world, that do not hearken to their feigned Light, and let loose the Imprisoned Cart and Seed, &c.

Wee may make a stand here and observe three things.Whab Grace it is that Papists Arminians and Foxians Fall from.

1. The horrible abuse of Gods Excellent Gifts of Reason and Acuteness, which these men so grossly desile in handling the Misteries and Parables of the holy Scripture.

2. Gods Infinite Patience in bearing with such a rotten stinking thing as man is.Necessary Observations.

3. What kind of Grace it is that so easily persons Fall away away from, and part withal.

2. As to Ezek. 18. How doth it follow, that because the word Righteousness in which Fox in his wonted Burrough, The Word Righteousness of many significationssignifies divers things, that therefore in this first place it must signify the Imputed Righteousness of God in Christ, from which a p. 490man really Invested with it may really, Totally and Finally depart. And Secondly the Sanctifying Righteousness of Christ Jesus adorning a poor sinner Justified and pardoned, and of that true Righteousness, a truly sanctified Soul and member of Christ Jesus may make shipwrack. But is there not beside these a very thirdly, Indian Rig…teousness, when a Barbarian is Innocent and free from Crimes falsly charged on him?

4. Is there not a Civil Righteousness when men are free from Gross and Barbarous Courses, and live Civilly, soberly and justly among their Neighbors?

5 Yea, is there not a Pharisaical Righteousness which Paul prided himself in, viz that concerning the Law he was blameless, and yet saith the Lord Jesus, Except your Righteousness go beyond this Righteousness, you shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven

6. Again, Is there not a Righteousness of the foolish Virgins, who hath a shew and Lamp of Profession, and make as brave a shew in building as the house upon the Rock, it may be fairer) and yet no true work of Conversion of the Soul to God,God's Covenant with the first man. nor the Oyle of Gods Spirit in the heart for all their boasting of it. The most High and holy will be clear when he is Judged. Adam shall live if he keep his Bargain: and so shall all his Posterity if they keep the first Covenant.

111] If any shall say God knows the Bargain is too hard for us: Our first Father did not, how shall we? &c.

I Answer, what will become then of the Papists p. 491and Quakers, who say, they can, and the Papists more also then God commandeth?

2. Christ did not mock, but meekly and savingly teach the young man, when he Answered, If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments: nor doth he mock the Iews, dealing with them upon the Terms of Iustice: Obey and live, Transgress and die.

It is a pertinent question, why was the holy Law of God written and given so many hundreds of years after man was Fallen and not able to keep his Bargain: The Law given so many hundreth of years after mans Fall.The Spirit of God Gal. 3, tels us that four hundred and Thirty Years after the Promise to Abraham, the Law was written by Gods own Immediate Finger to shew unto man his Sin, and Judgements, and need of a Mediator promised.

3. As to G. Fox Cursing his Adversary as a Diminisher from the holy Scripture.

I Answer, G. Fox making use of the Scripture to Curse his Opposites.Doth this Face of Brass, who hath so horribly slighted the holy Scripture: now adore them? Is he now zealous for them, and against the violation of them? Doth he regard the adding to, or Detracting from them, or the Plagues and Curses therein denounced against the Adders to, or Detracters from them? Doth he not throughout all his Book, and all of them in word and writing deny the holy Scripture to be the word of God, and only that Frantick Light or Christ, (imagined by them to be in all mankinde) to be the only Word of God?Their horrible Contempt of Scripture. yea, is it of any use or more availe to them that have the Scripture in their heart, as they say then a dead Letter, and an Old Almanack, &c. O hear O Heavens and give Ear O Earth, did p. 492ever the Devil vomit out more poyson (against God and the Souls of men by the mouths and pens of Iews or Turks, or Anti-Christans,) then these Foxians do in their undermining the holy Scriptures? Some know it not: Some of them speak Reverently of it: The very Papists Confess it to be the very word or Speech of God: But the Devil and the Quakers abhor to hear them Verbum Dei the Word of God.

These bewitched Soules affirme they have a higher Teacher, yea, [112] every man in the world hath him in them, then the Scriptures are and yet they say in horrible simplicity and hypocrisy that they are the Words of God.

The 58th: Instance of G. Fox his slight Answer, as in Pag. 356, where he brings in a Book from Holland,456 A Book from Hollaed saying, [That God hath put out the Remembrance of your Sins, and of your Corruptions within you, wherein you must fight all your Life Time.

G. Fox, whilst the Sins you are fighting withal are not blotted out in your own particulars, this is not the Life of the Saints:G. Fox his proud Ignorance They are not fighting all their Life Time, but come to the Kingdome of God witnessing sin and Iniquity blotted out, and the Everlasting Covenant of Peace and Life with God

I Reply, This subtle Mountebank having gotten a Scaffold, he acts Tricks wonderful in the Eyes of the simple, yet as in all his Books he shews no knowledge of the Hebrew and the Greek (whence our English Scripture comes as a Daughter from the Mother) so falls he short of most English writers, p. 493who scorns to disgrace their Mother English (by so much bastard and false English) as this poor Mountebank hath done in all his Books.

If ever any poor empty Soul have talkt of God without God.An Impious unsavonry Spirit against the godly of all Nations Of a Christ, and the holy Spirit within, without them: or any true Savour of them: of the holy writings of God without any true Reverence and love to them! Of Light without any Spark of true Illuminations! of sin, without any true Sence of the Exceeding Sinfulness of it! This Empty Cask this loud Boaster and Censurer is one of them.

1. His Answer saith three things in Effect.

1, That no sin is blotted out until there be no more Root nor Seed of it in the Soul to fight against.The Pharisees Perfection

I Reply, to this I have spoke much before, and shewed how clear it is against so much holy Scripture: against the Counsels and purposes of God as to his holy ordering of this present world,2 Pet. 22 and his Saints in it: and against the Constant Experience of all those high Saints in Scripture, and of all that ever went before us: All which shews the Devilish pride of these high Pharisees

2. He adds, saying, the Saints are not fighting all their Life Time.

I Reply,The Saints Continual warfere if there be no Enemies no danger of Fleshly Lusts warring against our Souls, as Peter speaks. 113] 2. Why then doth the holy Spirit speak of the Combate of the Flesh and Spirit, Gal. 5. and that Paul did not the things that he would, and did the Evil he would not, & of his being taken Prisoner?

3. Why then doth Gods Spirit furnish us with p. 494all that Heavenly Artillery, Ephes. 6. 1. And Commands his Servants (even Timothy) to flie youthful Lusts, if he were past wounding by them?

4. And to stand upon the Guard and watch against Gluttonly and Drunkenness, and worldly Cares, which would lull the Souls of the Disciples asleep, except they kept the better watch &c. Luke 21.

5. And why then doth the Lord Jesus Command us to pray daily against Temptations,Scriptural dangers and spiritual Watch. yea, and to pray daily for the pardon of sin, if his Followers be for ever escaped out of the reach of Sinful thoughts, words and actions, and many thousand sinful Omissions?

6. What was the Reason of the Cemmand of Christ Jesus to the Churches to watch, Christs Discipline with his Saints and Churches.to Overcome, to repent, threatning them with discharging, and Excommunication which we see dolefully Effected upon the Asian Professors, and which was followed with a rich blessing upon that Ordinance, Executed upon the Incestuous Corinthian, which brought forth those seven Heavenly Fruits, both in him and that Church also, 2 Cor. 7.

G. Fox his third Answer is, [The Saints are come to the Kingdome of God witnessing Sin and Iniquity blotted out, and the Everlasting Covenant of Peace and Life with God.]

But 1. Take these words in his Sense, viz. that all that are in their Fancied Kingdome are thus free from Sin, and come to this Peace and Joy: why then do themselves still Confess themselves to be subject to quaking and trembling, as if they were at the black and burning Foot of Mount Sinai, where indeed they are, and not upon the bright and shining Hill of Zion.

p. 4952. Is not this Contrary to the Covenant of God with David, The Quakers doleful mistakeconcerning Solomon, and (in the Anti Type) with all Christians, viz. that if they Sin he will Chastise them with the Rods of men, but not take away his mercy, as he took it from Saul, &c.

3. Is there not a false Peace, a false Ioy as well as a false quaking, a false Repentance, a false mortification, and Sanctificatio, and in Conclusion, a false Salvation: and therefore the Lord Jesus tels us of the high pretenders, Math. 7. yet by him Everlastingly rejected.

114] The 59th Instance is in Pag. 365. where G. Fox brings in Robert Tuchin,365. Robert Tuchin, &c. &c. saying, [The most Faithful Messengers of Christ have acknowledged that they have come short of their duty.]

G. Fox Answers, [They that are Faithful Messengers of Christ have the Answer well done thou good and Faithful Servant: where did John, or Paul, or Peter acknowledge that they came short of their duty: Hath not thou slandred the Servants of the Lord, thinking them to be like yourselves, and falsly accusing them that you may seem Iustified, who are false Messengers and come in his Name, when you have no Commission from him: and you come short of every good work: But thus it is not with Christs true Messengers, for they fulfil his Will that sent them. It is the Lord that worketh in them, whose th…y are, and whose duty they perform by his Spirit]

I Reply, G Fox prouder and prouder, wo se and worse to the End of his Book…this deluded Soul (as it is written) must grow worse and worse (except the Lord wonderfully awaken him) to all Eternity: Instead of seeing any failing against God and Christ, the Spirit and Servants p. 496of God, &c. he claps his wings upon his Dunghil, and vapours, that in all these Transactions he hath not faild, no not in a sinful word or Thought.

1. But he must remember that such was the Infinite, Incomprehensible Purity and Iustice, and wisdome of God,The Fall of Angels. that the Heavens were not pure in his sight, and he laid Folly to the Charge of his Angels, and I am sure, their Natures, their Endowments, their Employments, G. Fox comes short of, and yet they came short of their duty, and are now fast in Chains of Darkness, expecting Iudgement and Torment to come,

2. I presume G. Fox will grant that our first Parents were Innocent and perfect, as highly Gifted and as highly Employed as ever G. Fox is like to be,Fall of Man. and yet they came short, and We all by them fallen short of the Glory and love of God into the Dunghill of Hellish Darkness.

3. After the Promised Restoration by the Son of God what Excellent Gifts had Noah, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Iacob, Ioseph, Moses, Aaron, Sampson, Iepthe, Gideon, Eli, Samuel, Nathan, Solomon, Asa, Iehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Iosiah, and many other glorious Saints, what wonderful Assistance and Extraordinary Appearances of God had they in their high Services for God, and yet how grea…ly: (some of them wonderfully fouly) did they come short of their 115] duty? I remember I was once asked by one of these high Boasters whether I would deny the Scripture:Davids sin. viz that said, David did not sin but in the Case of Uriah: unto which I know many full Answers may be given. Here only I observe how p. 497ready these (willingly Ignorant) Souls are to Catch at any Word that may Fortifie their proud Fancy, Sacrifice for Sins of Ignorancethough against many other Scriptures and unquestionable Examples, &c.

4. Until the coming of Christ Jesus we know the Command of the most holy God to private persons, to the Princes, to the Priests, to the whole Assembly to offer up Sacrifice and Expiation for all sorts of failings, yea, for Sins of Ignorance, yea, and for their coming short in their holy offerings: Hence David cries out, Psal. 143. Enter not into Iudgement or Reckoning with thy Servant, &c. and Psal. 19. Cleanse thou me from secret sins, for who knows how oft he offendeth?

5. I know G. Fox useth to say all these were Types and Christ is the body, &….

I Answer, There are more Anti-Types then the person of Christ, for the Quakers themselves, they make themselves Kings and Priests, and the Temple as well as Christ, &c.

But come to the time of the Lord Jesus,Great failing of Christs Disciples and look upon the Famous first Apostles, who had freely left all to follow him, who enjoyed his personal preaching and praying, his wonderful Miracles, his Heavenly Converse, his holy and Powerful Spirit in their own preaching, healing all Diseases, raising the dead, casting out Devils, &c. and yet how doth the Lord Jesus frequently and sharply chide them for their coming short of their duty, for their Ignorance, negligence, unbelief, forgetfulness, Inhumanity, Ambition, &c.

6. Yea, as to those three whom G. Fox boasts of, p. 498Iohn,Paul, John and Peter, and all come short. Paul and Peter: Doth not Iohn cry out, 1 Iohn 2. If we Confess our …ins, he is Faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? Doth not Paul Confess and bewail his coming short, when he cries out, that the good he would do he did not, but did the Evil he would not, and with his flesh did serve the Law of sin, though it was not Paul that sinned, but sin that dwelled in him? A Mistery which I more then fear the most High hath hidden from this poor Foxes Eye.

And as to Peter, to say nothing of his stupendious failing of his [116] Master, &c. even after his awakening, after the Lords rising, and Peters seeing and talking with him, his bold profession and preaching of him to the Conversion of hundreds and thousands: Peters great failings former and latter written for our Instructionyet how is he charged by Paul for coming short of his Duty, for Gross Weakness and (in a kind) Hipocrisy and Dissimulation? so that such a cloud of witnesses o'rewhelming these new Gods, (Papists and Quakers) how Righteous is it with God to make their Faces ashamed with the filth of their own nakedness, in the highth of the pride of their conceited Deities.

The 60 Instance of G. Fox his lame Answer is in pag. 372. where he brings in Thomas Hodges, 372. Thomas Hodges.saying, [The Scripture speaks of God after the manner of men.]

He Answers, The Scripture speaks of God after the manner of the Spirit and to the Spirit, whereby men may receive him, and know him by the Spirit which natural men can not.

p. 4991. I Reply, G Fox hath affirmed the Contrary to all the Heavenly Assertions of his Opposites which I have produced.This bewitched and bewitching Soul hath all along his Book been picking out sweet Flowers out of his Opposites Gardens, from whence he hath suckt, turned the sweet juice of Heavenly Truths into the poyson and Venome of his proud Conceits. So here he denies this Heavenly Mystery of Gods revealing himself to us after the way and manner of men, having Head, and Hair, and Eyes, and mouth, &c. wherein his Incomprehensible Goodness is pleased to stoop to us (even the highest and proudest Souls) as Nurses do to Children, or as Physitians to weak and Crazy and distempered persons.

2. But what shall we say to all those holy Scriptures, which not only liken God to a man, a man of war,God sets forth to us in Scripture by Natural and Artificial things. a Sheepherd, a Warfaring man, an Husband man, &c. but also to a Shield, and other Insensibles, Natural or Artificial, as a Sun, a Tree, a Rock, an House, a Fort, a High Tower, &c. When God revealed himself to Abraham, Gen. 15. I am thy Shield, &c. will this foul mouth say that this similitude of a Shield was not a Familiar Metaphor, or Figure, wherein God speaks to Abrahams weak Capacity? Or will he say, that God speaking so to Abraham, spake not also in the way the Spirit, Or that God is Literally a Shield?

3. It was a late Speech of one of the best Philosophers, and of the best Christians that Old England or New ever had: Then shall we know (to wit in the next life,The great Question what God is. in the Heavenly State to [117 Come) how to answer that great Question, What is God? But this poor wild Asses Colt, G. Fox he can p. 500resolve the Question: he can gather up the Ocean in the hollow of his hand, he can weigh the Everlasting Mountains and Winds in Scales, and Inclose not only the Sun, &c. but also the Incomprehensible Sun of Glory and Purity within his Iuglers Box, &c.

4. For,The Devil Gods Ape in Inspirations. what would this little Thief and Fox, or the great Thief and Fox the Devil have, but blow out the Candle and Torch, and Sun of the holy Books and Records, that so the Father of Lies and Murthers may be heard, (as he hath been heard in the Grecian Oracles in Mahomet, and the Mahumetans, in the Pope and the Papists) so by his whisperings in the Foxians, as if he were the most holy Spirit of the Eternal God himself, Immortal, Invisible, and only Wise.

5. For, is it not the Devils Trade to play the subtle Hunter, (as do also his Iourney-men who ly in wait to catch men) and to trim his Pits and Gins,The Subtlety of the Devil and his Agents in C…tching of men. and Snares, with green leaves and Boughs, and Twigs, viz: fair pretences of the Spirit, the Spirit, the Immediate Spirit, the Infallible Spirit, the Teachings of the Spirit, the manner of the Spirit, speaking to the Spirit, and Christ within you, Christ within you except you be Reprobates, Christ within you the hope of Glory, &c. These are fair Leaves, and sweet, heavenly green Boughs, on which the Old Serpent twineth, and from whence he uttereth even Scripture it self, and the sweet Names God and Christ, and Spirit, in a frantick purpose to stab (for he knows he can not) the holy Scriptures, and God, and Christ, and Spirit also:

6. More particularly, what doth he mean, that p. 501God speaks not to us after the manner of men,What G. Fox means by the ma… ner of the Spirit. but by the way of the Spirit, after the manner of the Spirit? He grants that the holy Scriptures were given forth from the Immediate Insp…ration of the Spirit: He knows that we maintain from Isai. 59. the great Promise of the Word and Spirit together, to the mouth of Christ Jesus and his Seed, and his Seeds Seed. And also that we affirme that no Reading, no Hearing, no Meditation, no Afflictions, &c. can do a Soul any good, until God by the Power or Finger of his own self, or Spirit, makes the means Powerful and Effectual.

All this serves not, but that which Sathan drives at, and which alone must serve his Ends is, Immediate, Immediate Inspiration with a damning, or changing the means by the most Holy, and only Wise God Appointed.

118] 7. It is one of the Proverbs of the Ancients Sus Minervam docet. G. Fox his proud SimplicityThe Sow teacheth the Goddess of Wisdome. It is most Infallibly true here, this filthy Sow (that seems to be washt from Common vices and yet wallows in the mud & Dunghils of Mystical Filthiness) He must teach wisdome it self how to speak, and appoint him his way, and (by wresting and racing out what he can the Holy Records) how to reveal himself unto the Sons of men.The Monstrous Ridle of the Foxians Spirit.

8. It is pertinent to Consider the ground of this his only owning the manner of the Spirit, viz. [This Immediate Spirit speaks to the Spirit within.] What is the English of this Ridle [The Immediate Spirit within speaks to the Spirit within,] But their Spirit will tell us that God and Christ, and Spirit, p. 502and Light, and New Covenant, and Faith, and Holiness, &c. are all in prison within, in every man, until the Immediate Spirit without means perswade a person to hearken within to him as to Christ, Light and Spirit, which will bring him to God and Christ, (round in a Conjuring Circle Christ brings to Christ, the Spirit brings to the Spirit,) which though it be true, after Conversion and in growth and Increase of the Grace and Knowledge of Christ by the use of means appointed by Christ Jesus, yet I deny it ever to be done in the first turning of the Heart and working of Faith, that is by any such Immediate Spirit, and Christ and God in every of mankind before, or since the coming of Christ Jesus, especially, for they say, that he is the true Light (of which Iohn spake, then Come, to Inlighten the World, &c.

9. I Conclude this Instance and the whole with a Re…lection upon Gods wonderful dealing with Iob: In the 1. Chap. the Lord boasts of his servant Iob to the Devil to be a perfect man, (as the Foxians often urge this place) But God Schoold him for his pride and Impatience, Job a perfect man yet abhors himself for his filthiness.&c. by Elihu, and by his own Voice out of a Whirlwind: and now Iob Confesseth his Pride and Ignorance, and professeth his Risolution to prate no more, &c. but to abhor himself (that is, as some loathsome Thing) in Dust and Ashes, G. Fox in this his Book abhors the Term of Dust and Ashes, as being Elevatedabove Abraham & Iob (punies to him) with high Fancies of his Immortality, though we see they dy, & stink & Rot as well as others.

p. 503But if God please to shew him, and me, truly what Sin is, What Gods Justice is, what an Infinite price must pay for the least Evil Thought and Natural Disposition, The Authors humble desire for himself and G. Foxon the Old Score: [119] If God please by any of those many gracious means he useth to Imprint these & other such Heavenly Considertions upon our Souls! We shall then for all our pretences cry out with Peter, depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord: and with Iob, Once have I spoken, yea, twice, &c. but no more, &c. I abhor myself as a loathsome, Rotten, stinking Carrion in Dust and Ashes. But alas I fear G. Fox is so taken up with his sitting with Christ in Heavenly Places, with Immediate Dictates of his supposed holy Spirit:The Authors fear as to G. Fox his case That Gods speaking thus to his poor Worms after the way of Men, and by these outward means stinks in his Nostrils; which if so, and so Irrecoverably, I desire, and desire all that love God and their own Salvations, to flee from him as from Korahs Pride and Korahs Plagues, for his Viol is pouring on him in spiritual Indgements, and shall be pouring on him in spiritual and Corporal Torments to all Eternity.

FINIS.

End of the text · Roger Williams, George Fox Digged Out of His Burrows (1676)