The Reviler Rebuked, Treatise · Part 2 · Head 2
2. Head of their Self-contradiction. Concerning hearing of the Word.
Section 10.
I Had granted, they ſay, and ſay truly (becauſe the Scripture ſaith ſo, Joh. 8. 47.) They that are of God, hear his word, and they that hear his word, hear his voice; and yet they deny the hearing of Miniſters that ſpeak this word; and conſequently they do either un-ſay what truth they ſpake before, or deny themſelves to be of God, in that they both refuſe themſelves to hear, and call off others from hearing. R. F. *Page 26.becauſe I granted the firſt part of their contradiction to be a Scripture truth, runs away with the conceit of an advantage, when 'tis nothing ſo. Thou ſays, They ſay and ſay truly (then they lye not) neither do they ſay and un-ſay; and ſo thou art taken with the lye again, and clears them thy ſelf.
Rep. How weak and giddy this mans apprehenſion is, may appear many ways, by the review of this paſſage.
1. I attributed truth to their words no further then they agree with the word of God in Scripture; and ſo far I will acknowledge truth, becauſe I love it, and the Scripture of truth; but this man, when I grant an inch, will take an ell.
2. It followeth not, if men ſay true in one thing, that they ſpeak the truth in every thing. The devil can ſpeak a truth, the more cunningly, to put off his lyes. That may be a truth materially, which will not be found in mens practical experience ſo acknowledged.
3. It is beyond all controverſie, that in this (as many other inſtances) they ſay and unſay; firſt owning the Scriptures, and miniſtery, and hearing of the word, and then diſ-owning all teachers and teaching, but what is within: firſt ſaying, *A diſcovery of ſome fruits &c. pag. 9.the peoples Teacher cannot be removed into a corner, and by and by telling them, you will finde your teacher as you lye in your beds. Even as cuſtomary ſwearers reproved for their ſin, will ſwear they did not ſwear; ſo men habituated in Self-contradiction, will vehemently proteſt againſt it; but it helps them never a whit.
4. It is no new thing to have the reproach of lying caſt upon me or others, by one who cannot judge, or underſtand what is truth, or when 'tis ſpoken truly.
5. I am ſo far from clearing them, that I renew my charge againſt them, if they be all like R. F. in this maner and form following, The more candidly the men, called Quakers, are dealt with, the more abuſive they are. If any do make ingenuous confeſſion (as the 42 Miniſters, Paſtors and Preachers) of their failings, the more readily they will hang them up, in a legal way without any Goſpel-mercy. And if we grant they ſpeak a truth (ſometimes) they would make the world believe they ſpeak all truth, at all times; when as hitherto, ſo many lies as R. F. (for his ſhare) hath charged upon me (and hath proved none, nor will be able, (God ſtill keeping me, and guiding my Tongue and Pen) to make good a proof) ſo many ſlanders will, by the Lord, be ſet upon his ſcore and account: The Lord himſelf rebuke him, in time, ſavingly, and to purpoſe; even to the manifeſtation of the purpoſe of his love, to do him good for ever.