them to see what Testimony is there now the Devil being a Spirit and so working within being also an Enemy to Christ and his Ordinances he even he bears testimony within them that what they have heard is true even that the Ordinances are ceased c. whenas those that search the Scriptures according to the commandment of Christ quickly see that 't is the Ordinances of the Old Testament and not of the New that Christ nailed to his Cross Now if you observe these men being first deceived concerning the Rule thereby are greatly disinabled to descern the Evil spirit speaking within them for by what should he be tryed if the Scriptures be not a Rule and so these alas poor creatures finding such and such perswasions within them greatly fear to contradict or gain-say it it being no lesse to them then to contradict or gain-say the mind of the Lord Jesus they believing that it is Christ the Light that speaketh within them yea although their inward perswasions never so much contradict the Scriptures yet they adhere to them not daring to question the Light as they call it within them but presently concludes that they have understood the Scriptures and so perverts the plain meaning thereof into some kind of imagined Mystery that so they may one way or other cause the Scriptures without to speak agreeable to that they call Light within them And that I wrong not these men hereby consider one thing of many that might be instanced namely touching Women who in all plainness are forbidden by the Scriptures to teach in the Church but since the Spirit in these men sayes that women may teach they adhere thereunto and perverts the plain Scripture into a Mystery and so declares that the woman which is forbidden to teach 1 Tim. 2.12,13 is the wisdom of the flesh either in man or woman and not the Female kind as you may read in Farnworths Book intituled A Woman forbidden to speak in the Church page 3. But that there is no such Light in every man as aforesaid appears in that Christ gave commandment to his Apostles to go into all the world and teach all Nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them Marke 16.15 Mat. 28.19,20 And Paul witnesseth that he had declared all the Counsel of God Acts. 20.27 whereupon 't is required that men incline their ear and hear that their Souls may live Isai 55.3 and such as turn away their eares from the truth are reproved 2 Tim 4.4 All which were empty and useless things both Christs Command That all things whatsoever should be taught the Nations the Apostles obedience to that Command in Preaching all things and also the Nations lending their ears to hear what is preached to them if it were true that there were such a Light in every man of the Nations as were sufficient to guide in all the wayes of God and were placed in the Nations for that very purpose and that no other Rule or Means could lead to God which Humphery Smith affirmeth 'T is indeed said by the Prophet that Christ should be given a Light to the Gentiles from whence these men plead That Christ is a Light in every one of the Gentiles without any other outward means But Paul and Barnabas well understanding the Scriptures pleaded another thing from thence directly contrary namely thus Lo we turn to the Gentiles for so hath the Lord commanded us saying I have set thee to be a Light of the Gentiles c. Acts 13.46,47 because 't was said Christ was set to be a Light of the Gentiles therefore they would go and preach to the Gentiles And what were they to preach to them not that one thing of turning to a Light their Teacher within but ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER Mat. 28.19,20 all the Counsel of God Act. 20.27 I then with the Apostle conclude thus How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent How beautifull therefore are the feet of them that preach the Gospel So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. Among many things contradicting this Opinion That every mans Rule is within him and that there is no other Rule Means or Wayes that leads to God this is none of the least namely Because when there was asfair occasions given as well can be conceived for the Doctrine of turning to a Light within to be preached as fair occasions I say as well can be conceived through the many enquiries of men even what they should do that then 't was not preached neither by God Christ Angel nor men as to instance In the dayes of the Prophet Zechariah Sherezer and Regem-melech were sent by the Children of Israel to enquire of the Priests and Propets which were in the House of God whether they should weep in the fifth Month separating themselves as they had done many years before Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But God speaks by the Prophet saying Should you not hear the Words which the Lord hath cryed by the former Prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity Zech. 7.2,3,7 Also John the Baptist who is declared to be a burning and a shining Light sent two of his Disciples unto Jesus saying by them Art thou he that should come or do we look for another Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith the man Christ Go and tell John what things you have heard and seen how that the blinde see the lame walk the Lepers are clensed c. such outward means was returned by Christ the true Light for Johns satisfaction Luke 7.19,20,21,22 In the Dayes of John came the people unto him saying What shall we do also the Publicans saying Master what shall we do also the Souldiers demanded of him saying What shall we do Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith John having another Spirit He that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none exact no more then that which is appointed you do violence to no man neither accuse falsly but be content with your wages Luke 3.10,11,12,13,14 Also a certain Young man came to Christ saying What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ Keep the Commandements and sell that which thou hast and give to the poor c. Matth. 19.16,17,21 Again the Jews demanded of Christ saying What shall we do that we might work the works of God Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent that was Christ himself that talked with them and was not in them that afterwards dyed for the sins of the World John 6.28,29 Lord What wilt thou have me to do saith Saul Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith the Lord
subtilty of the evil One of whose devises through grace I am not altogether ignorant I hereby also present before you the experiences of some men as thus Certain men being somewhat troubled about their present conditions and thereupon following after a more excellent estate though possibly not with that care and watchfulness as was meet should be have on a sudden been greatly carryed forth with inward Power and Zeal and wonderful quicknings after some matters of holiness so as scarce able to bear with the least appearance of Pride Covetousness or the like in others without reproof yea scarce content without a leaving their Callings in order to the reproving others who at length while in this state have been secretly informed That the powerful workings within them was Christ come in them the second time to salvation he being a Spirit and not man and so no other coming to be looked for but within and that the Scriptures was not the Rule and that the Ordinances of Christ were ceased being imposed onely till the time of Reformation which time was come and such like But being somewhat fearful of delusions did thereupon give up themselves diligently to pray unto the Lord who at length graciously delivered them from the strong delusion I say the strong delusion for is it not so indeed when an evil spirit shall carry forth persons zealously to some things that is Just Holy and Good though he no lover of Holiness or any Goodness but that being really an Angel of Darkness he may seemingly appear to be an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 thereby to gain their affections That then having got the affections he may the better drop into their understandings Principles of Errour in matters of Faith with likeliness of acceptance Whereupon dear Brethren as I have here briefly proposed to you the ready and plain Way in order to the Life of godliness without which all profession thereof is little together therewith I hereby also counsel you in the words of John not to believe every spirit for there are many false spirits gone out into the world the one and true Spirit of God being plainly to be known by his guiding and moving the Saints not onely to be Just Holy and Zealous in point of conversation but also to be stedfast in the Principles of Faith yea and as zealously to contend for the same as for any other things as was the Apostles of Christ in whom the true Spirit of Light was as appears by their Writings for that a great part of it consists of matter tending to the instruction and regulation of the Saints concerning their Faith as in reading is observable Wherefore for the removing all doubts and scruples which through the subtilty of the deceived Quaker possibly may arise or already is risen in the hearts of any well-minded people I here next offer a little of that much which might be said touching Principles of Faith the errour whereof is abundantly dangerous First Whereas 't is owned by the Quakers and as to me hath plainly been declared that the Eternal Spirit of Light and Power which dwelt in the Man whom the Jews Crucified is the Christ the Saviour of the world and not the Man that was Crucified that was seen with visible or carnal eyes according to which you may observe the words of Wolrich the Quaker in his Book entituled A Declaration to the Baptists pag. 13. saying That Christ was never seen with any carnal eye nor his voice heard with any carnal ear And in the Book entituled Sauls Errand to Damascus pag. 14. the words of George Fox the elder I suppose 't is said That the flesh of Christ is a figure And Joseph Fuce in his Book entituled The fall of a great visible Idol pag. 14. saith by way of reproof to us these words The Baptists saith he make flesh their Arm and therefore look without to know Christ after the flesh although the Apostle said They were to know him so no more mark thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his Arm Jerem. 17.5 as if they were a cursed people that trust in the man Christ Whereas I say this is asserted by them I here offer several grounds from the Holy Scriptures whereby to prove that the Eternal Spirit which dwelt in the Man whom the Jews Crucified which Spirit the Apostles afterwards received in them is not the Christ the Saviour of the world but the visible man to whom the Spirit was given John 3.34 The offering it self no figure but the substance of figures is the Christ of God First Because that the Eternal Spirit never died when nothing is more plain than that Jesus Christ died as appears by a Cloud of Witnesses Secondly Because the Apostles with one consent declare that the Jews Crucified that is fastned to a cross the Lord Jesus the Lord of Glory Act. 2.36 1 Cor. 2.8 and killed the Prince of Life Act. 3.15 Whom they crucified not nor killed if the Eternal Spirit that dwelt in the visible man be the Christ and so the Quakers by this their opinion do as much as in them lyes declare the Holy Apostles to bear false witness to the world concerning Christ but let them be true and every one of these men lyars in the judgements of the Wise But to evade this sometimes they will say whereby to deceive that the Jews did crucifie Christ that was they opposed and resisted the Spirit of Light within them which they call Christ and withal will say whereby to deceive that the Jews did Crucifie a man without I say to deceive because that in their confession of this which seems sometimes to the Hearers to be sufficient they intend not the Truth namely that that visible man whom the Jews crucified without was the Christ as appears by their own words above signed Thirdly Because that not onely the Apostles but also Christ himself by his Institution of those two Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper hath plainly declared Gods Way graciously provided for mans Redemption and Justification contrariwise even by a broken blood-shedding dead buried and risen Christ as saith the proper signification of these Ordinances neither of which is either proper or true in relation to the Eternal Spirit who was all may know neither dead nor buried and so not risen again nor broken nor at any time shed blood all which these Ordinances testifie concerning the true Christ and so the Quakers by this their opinion are found also such who in effect do say that these Ordinances of the Lord which once they say were in being were lying Ordinances bearing false witness to the Saints touching the Lord Jesus but to all such as fear the Lord Let them be true and every one of these lyars Fourthly Because not onely the Apostles Christ the Son but also God the Father himself most plainly declared from of old by his Commandement for the killing and slaying those many
in their mindes c. Moreover as 't is said that Christ is in his Saints so likewise 't is said and that more frequently in the Scriptures That the Saints are in Christ and in God as thus Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ unto the Saints and faithfull Brethren in Christ that are at Colosse ch 1. v. 2. Vnto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Iesus Christ ch 1.1 Unto all the Saints in Christ Iesus which are at Philippi ch 1.1 Unto the Saints and faithfull in Christ which are at Ephesus ch 1.1 Now that the Saints are in Christ after the manner that these men plead for Christs being in the Saints judge ye that fear the Lord and serve him with uprightness of heart remembring that he is the true Christ who was dead but is alive for evermore a Mediator betwixt God and Men the man Christ Iesus Moreover hear what the Lord Christ saith as a most clear resolve to this case as thus John 17.21,23 Thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and Thou in me that they may be made perfect in one compared with these his words John 15.10 If ye keep my Commandements ye shall abide in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandements and abide in his love Most clearly shewing that Christs being in the Father is meant in the Fathers love as himself witnesseth and so the Fathers being in the Son is meant in the Sons love so likewise our being in the Eather and in the Son is meant in their love So even so Christs dwelling in the Saints is meant his dwelling in their love in their affections as hath been said Now whereas the Son was in the Fathers love there was given unto the Son from the Father the Holy Spitit without measure working in him whereby he did the works that no man ever did to the glory of the Father So in like manner the Saints being in Christ in his love and affections there is also given to the Saints through Christ the Holy Spirit in measure working in them whereby the deeds of the body are to be mortified Rom. 8.13 and the fruits of Righteousness brought forth to the Glory and Praise of God by Jesus Christ Obj. From these words of Christ John 14.16,17 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you From these words I say 't is conceived and declared by the Quakers that Christ that was then with the Disciples should afterwards be in them c. Answ He that hath an ear to hear may easily understand that he who is said to be with the Disciples and should afterwards be in them was not the Christ but another Comforter whom the Christ would pray to the Father for even the Spirit of Truth whom the world could not receive because they saw him not nor knew him to be the Spirit of Truth from God though through him was done such works as no man ever did yea they were ready to say that he had a Devil in him but the Disciples knew him to be the Spirit of Truth and acknowleged the mighty works to be done through the Spirit of God in him therefore saith Christ Ye know him for he the Spirit of truth another Comforter dwelleth with you that is the Spirit being in Christ and so with the Disciples for he was not then given to them as he was afterwards Joh. 7.37 and shall be in you that is the Spirit of Truth another Comforter which when Christ was exalted having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit he made good to his Disciples by sending his Holy Spirit in them which before was with them being in Christ that was with them These men say Christ is come in them the second time and they look not for any other and withall have good words and fair speeches crying Grace grace Light light But let all assuredly know that they themselves are not in the True Light nor Grace of God that brings Salvation wherein the Saints of old walked for they thereby were taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to look for the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ Tit. 2.11,12,13 But saith Humphrey Smith Christ is come and we look not for any other another voice from another Spirit Moreover the Quaker utterly denyes as most men I suppose knows the Holy Scriptures to be a Rule whereunto Humphry Smith in his Book intitlued A true and everlasting Rule pa. 29. in the face of men and Devils affirmeth That there is no other Rule Wayes Means or Name by which man shall ever come to walk with God but by that which is manifest of God in him which say they is sufficient to guide in all the wayes of God without Scripture or any other outward means Answ The time was and that not long since in our Nation when it was no lesse then ridiculous and a matter of contempt for men and women to go to the publick Place of their Worship with the Bible under their Armes whereby to search whether those things they heard were so or no such and so great was the Romish cloud of darkness then spread over the faces of the multitude they being informed by their blind Guides that Ignorance was the Mother of Devotion But Satans device 〈◊〉 discovered in this and the Scriptures very generally searched into he hath now found out another way whereby to produce a low esteem to the Holy Scriptures even by his manifold endeavours to perswade people that there is a Light placed in them which is to be their Rule and is sufficient without the Scriptures or any other outward means to guide them in all the wayes of God which being believed unavoidably leads people to have a low and slender esteem of the Scriptures and by this means it is become again a very rare thing to see among these people called Quakers when they are assembled together the Book of the Holy Scriptures diligently searched whether those things spoken be agreeable thereunto yea or nay and thus the Ministers of these people are hereby put into a capacity greatly to deceive their Hearers while in their preaching up their manifold Errours they make use of with their own some Scripture Expressions also seemingly favouring their Opinions but not really as to instance Say they in their Doctrine Ordinances to wit Baptism in water and the Lords Supper are now ceased for Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and nailed them to his Cross Col. 2.14 which being heard by the People they remember well that they have read such kind of words and for the tryal thereof they according as they have been taught begin to look within