pag. 30. In this Quaking Primmer here is a base Charge drawn against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England Here these Quakers have fired their Beacon that the Youth of this Church may have timely notice to beware of their best Soul-Friends Here the silly Sheep are slightly counselled against their Keepers that the Quaking Wolves may the better prey upon them Answ Here the Priest rages and rails but defends not himself and his Brethren from the Charge of such being Deceivers as preach for Money and Tythes and who being in Transgression not able to lead others out of it only he sayes 'T is a base Charge against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England as if he had told us all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England do preach for Money and Tythes and then cryes out Quaking Wolves as if that were enough to clear him and his Brethren and to be a deadly Blow to the Quakers Who is it cannot see such Impertinency Malice and Railery He tells us They are God's Priests and Ambassadours by whom God doth beseech his Rebel-Subjects to be reconcited but proves it not we have only his Say-so He should have proved his own and their Call to the Ministry We deny that they are immediately called of God either to be his Priests Embassadours or Mouth How should they be so Called that deny Immediate Teaching and Inspiration and especially such who scoff at the Light within and the Spirit 's Teaching as this Adversary doth And for a mediate Call I deny that they have it from the holy Apostles or primitive Church of Christ in their dayes Pr. pag. 31. Here little Children are taught to look upon all Teaching Priests as so many Deceivers as those Hirelings that preach for Money and Tythes which is a Lying Slander Answ No this is mis-stated for they are taught to look upon all such as preach for Money and Tythes to be Deceivers Hirelings c. Pr. Ibid. According to the baseness of these Quaking Lines its a shame for the King 's sacred Majesty the Defender of the true Faith that such base Priests should be owned by him Answ Here for a shelter he would make the King a Patronizer of the Priests Cause how Base soever any of them are in Preaching for Hire and Cruel in Persecuting and Imprisoning People for Tythes he thinks he argues stoutly in their Defence to tell us The King 's sacred Majesty owns them when alas his Majesty knows not a tenth part of their Baseness and Cruelty who are guilty of persecuting his peaceable Subjects for their Bellies and filthy Lucre. And rather than not have their Covetous Ends answered they 'l throw a Man in Goal for the Value of a Tythe-Pig they are so cruel and hard-hearted many of them that they value a few Tythe-Piggs more than they do Mens Liberties or Lives I am perswaded such Priests will bring no Honour to the King Pr. Ibid. Devilish Lessons that the Scripture is not the Word of God Answ No where doth the Scripture call it self the Word but in the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God c. and his Name is called The Word of God John 1. Rev. 19.13 Yet what the Scriptures call themselves we call them so and own them to be Pr. pag. 32. To say that God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are Three Persons but One God this is to speak we know not what c. Ibid. To say with the Church of England In the Vnity of this Godhead there be Three Persons of One Sâ—â—sâ—ance Power and Eternity the Father the Son and H. Ghost is in this Quaker 's Account the Doctrine of the World Answ That in the Unity of the Godhead there 's Father Son and Holy Spirit of One Substance Power and Eternity we do own and confess according to the Scripture but that these are Three distinct or separate Persons as some have called them we have no Scripture Proof for these Terms Why does not this man bring us plain Scripture-Proof in this Case seeing he professes it to be his only Rule of Faith Has he not given here great Advantage to the Papists to tell him that the Church is his Rule and not the Scripture in this great Article of his and their Faith Pr. pag. 33. To prepare little Children to slight them i. e. the Scriptures as being unable to bring them to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth according to these Quaking Lines St. Paul was mistaken when he said that the Scripture was profitable for Doctrine Answ 'T is no preparing any to sleight the Scriptures to testifie of Christ his Light and Spirit of Truth as being the Way to know God whom no man knows but by the Son 's revealing him And God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus This is not said of the Scriptures though as given by Inspiration of God they are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Instruction that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnisht unto every good Work Herein Paul was not mistaken for the Man of God is Divinely Inspired unto the right Understanding and Use of the Scriptures Therefore this Inspiration is the Ground of Divine Knowledge The Scriptures are profitable by the help of this through the Blessing of God hereby have we found Profit and Comfort in reading the Scriptures which no man can without the BLESSING of GOD by his Spirit Pr. Ibid. To Exalt the Quakers Idol the Light within little Children are here taught to slight the holy Scriptures as a Duâ—â— Book Answ Here is both horrid Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within and a gross Lye that little Children are so taught to slight the holy Scriptures for they are told in the very words cited by this Priest That the Scriptures of Truth do declare of God Christ and the Spirit of Truth and this is not to slight the Scriptures thus to own their Testimony on the behalf of God his Christ and the holy Spirit The holy Scriptures may be made instrumental for our Profit and Confirmation through the Divine and Gracious Assistance of the holy Spirit but not of themselves or without it His Comparison between Popish Catechisms and ours and his telling us of Papal Quakers that make their Followers two-fold more the Children of Hell are both False Infamous and Slanderous and nothing like any rational Proof urged by him but a continued persisting in his Abusive Railery and Reviling for which the Lord rebuke him § X V. The Priest's next Quarrel and Railery is against William Smith's two Treatises Primmer and Catechism Pr. pag. 33. Both Primmer and Catechism are the fittest for Smithfield to receive the Hang-man's Imprimatur Answ This same Envious Spirit that is still finding Work for the Hang-man to
there should be one Head Christ one Teacher one Lord one Lawgiver one Faith one Baptism one Light one Life one Way one Shepherd and one Sheep-fold one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Family one God and Father of all in this true Church This is not strange to the Church of Christ which is Constituted of true and living Members of one Body who live by the Faith of the Son of God and are new Creatures in Christ Jesus who are gathered and baptized by one Spirit into one Light Life and Power and so into one Body according to Scripture seeing the Priest is so ignorant of these things I desire him to read these Scriptures at leisure Isa 33.22 Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. Heb. 8.8 9 10 11. John 6.45 Isa 54.13 1 Cor. 12.13 see also Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. which is directly to our purpose for this Unity and Perfection in the true Church so much condemned and derided by our Unchristian and Atheistical Adversary § XXXI Pr. Ibid. The true Church is now only to be found among the Poor Deluded Qrs. Most of these Vnities heaped together by this Qr. must be understood according to the Notorious false Principles of all Qrs. A Quakerized Vnity Answ We do not say this true Church is only to be found amongst the Poor Quakers or this Unity as relating only to a Visible Society among us 't is of more Universal extent than any Visible Society of Persons but that there is an Invisible and Spiritual Union known to all the faithful among us and that as we are a People gathered by the Power and Spirit of Christ we are Members of that Church which he is Head of and that his Power has more manifestly appeared with us in our Testimony for him and in upholding us chearfully to suffer for the same than with other Societies in our Day as also to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and Man this we are satisfied in and that the Lord's Power has more Eminently appeared among us in our Societies and Assemblies than among other Professions Societies or Assemblies in our day else we should not keep together in a Society we should not be a Church nor in such an Union nor Assemble together if we did not really believe and were satiâ—fied that the Lord owns us and is with us as we are a People And let this Caution be taken by the way That whoever go out from us separate themselves and turn into Emnity Malice or Wickedness after they have seen and tasted of the great Power and Work of the Lord among us they fall into a worse and more dangerous state than thousands are in who never had this Knowledge Wilfully to sin against such Knowledge is far worse than to be in the time of Ignorance wherein God winked their latter End is worse with them than the beginning it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteâ—usness than after they have known it to turn aside from the holy Commandment Turks and Indians who confess and adore an Eternal Deity and live honestly according to what they believe and know are more acceptable to God yea and the most ignorant among them shall sooner find Mercy and Salvation with him than either the Rebellious Back-slider the Hypocrite Careless and Unfaithful under the Profession of Christianity among what People soever And though we do not Exclude all who are not yet gathered into an outward Society with us from having any share in that inward and invisible Life Spirit Faith Union or Salvation which we are made partakers of For there are those that Wish well to Zion that have a love to her and a drawing towards her that God hath regard to them and will prosper in their honest Desires And there are those that are Not against us that are for us Luke 9.50 And God hath a regard to Inward Sincerity and honesty of Heart though clouded under various Forms and Professions There are those that have a Simplicity and Innocence in their Heart towards God and are free from Enmity against his People that yet are not come to have their Understandings so clear as to come into an outward Society and compliance in all things with the gathered and chosen of the Lord that yet have a secret breathing unto him in Spirit whom he will in his own time gather unto himself as Christ saith Other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice and there shall be one Fold and one Shepherd John 10.16 However I would not be mistaken though all are not come to that visible Society and open Testimony which God hath gathered us into and brought forth publickly among us through many deep Sufferings and Reproaches yet I do not own nor believe Salvation by any other Christ Gospel Light Spirit or Power than that which we have received from God and â—eat Witness unto through his Son Christ Jesus The Way of Life and Salvation is but one Truth is but one the Light of the Lord of the Lamb and of his holy City is but one wherein the Nations of them that are saved shall walk and the holy fear of God and working Righteousness which in every Nation they that experience are accepted springs from this one Divine Principle of Life Light and Truth in the inward parts which God hath given to mankind wherein Christ is spiritually and effectually received to Salvation which is but one in all though different in degrees of Discoveries and Knowledge thereof among the Sons of men Howbeit thus far there is an Universal Union among all People saved of the Lord when in the way of Salvation that there is not an Envy nor an evil mind in one against another but a certain degree of Innocency Love and good Will all which springs from that one universal and divine Principle of Life Light and Grace in the Hearts which we testifie of Pr. p. 118. This Quaking Vnity belonging to the true Church of God hath no Scripture-bottome to stand on no Christian Writers of any Century did ever describe the true Church of God after this Canting rate Answ The Unity belonging to the true Church and the description thereof I have sufficiently proved by H. Scripture and according to true Christian Experience Testimony and therefore this Adversary may be ashamed of his scornful Taunting and Idle Atheistical and Impious Triffling Reflections on these serious Occasions and remember the Proverb cited by himself Piet as non patitur ludum he will find one day that he has an heavy Account to give for his acting the part of a Mountebank and Stage-player Gamer and Sporter about Pious and Religious matters his casting his Scurrilous terms upon us and calling that Canting which hee 's not able to Confute This will not excuse his Prophaneness Levity Scorn and Contempt which God will rebuke As for his slighty Reflection upon
that does not allow that Compleat Justification is a making inwardly Just through a purging out Iniquity mortifying of Corruption and bringing in of Christ's Everlasting Righteousness As if he should tell us That the Doctrine of the Church of England is contrary to this before-cited i. e. That Compleat Justification is not a making inwardly Just nor a purging out of Iniquity or Mortifying of Corruption c. but that Justification is VVholly fulfilled and compleated without men they are compleatly Justified by Christ's Merits while inwardly Unjust and their Iniquities unpurg'd out their Corruption unmortified and Christ's Everlasting Righteousness excluded or wholly shut out of them At this rate this Person may reckon himself one compleatly Justified whilst a Persecuting Malicious Scornful Spirit remains in him whilst he is a Railer a Persecutor a Scorner and Oppressor c. but herein he is highly guilty of that Abomination which he that justifieth the Wicked and he that condemneth the Just are guilty of As also I must tell him He has in this matter apparently wrong'd the Doctrine of the Church of England and several of the Eminent Doctors thereof who have not only in their Prayers but Preaching called for and urged a Real Righteousness both Inherent and Practical to constitute men Just and Righteous and Acceptable to God and have flatly opposed the Imputarians Calvinists and Antianomins in their asserting Persons imputatively Righteous and Justified while actually Unjust Immoral c. § VII Pr. Ibid. But the worst is yet behind And what is it †W.P. If not then to exclude this and yet conclude men compleatly justified by what Christ hath done wholly without is a Doctrine of Devils for it leaves men in an Impure state and allows the Devils Kingdom to continue in Being Pr. Priest Answers p. 12. These Quaking Lines according to this Quakers base words in Print the Church of England doth hold fast that which is a Doctrine of Devils c. a base Aspersion cast on that Church which is beautiful in the Eyes of all sober Christians Answ He wrongs the Church of England again he would bring in his Antinomianism and father it upon the Church of England as if it were Authentick in the Church of England to exclude Christ's Everlasting Righteousness and deny inward Purging and Mortification in the point of Justification and as if to conclude men compleatly Justified by what Christ hath done wholly without while they are both Unjust Unpurg'd Unmortified Corrupt and Wicked were good Profound Doctrine in the Church of England or to conclude men compleatly Justified while the Devils Kingdom is in being in them For opposing this he balls and clamours most Hideously against W. Penn crying up the Doctrine of the Church of England the Church of England against him but has most shamefully abused that Church with his Antinomianism Pr. Ibid. Christ's Righteousness wholly without Iibid. Made our's by Faith a Doctrine of Devils How base is the Light within W. P Answ If Christ's Righteousness be made ours by Faith then 't is not wholly without This Priest is inconsistent here One while 't is wholly without another while 't is made ours by Faith the latter is true No Doctrine of Devils as most wickedly he hath charged the Light within For true Faith and Christ's Everlasting Righteousness are Inseparable This Faith has its Righteousness from Christ and is attended with true Obedience good Works and â—oly Conversation 'T is a Heart-purifying Faith a Justifying Faith a Faith by which we see him who is Invisible and bring forth Fruits to him Let 's see if our Adversary dare deny this § VIII Pr. Ibid. Surely it is high time for the Kings Majesty the Defender of the Faith to gird on his Sword those that make so bold with this and other Truths are but like stinging Snakes in the bosom of Indulgence Answ Here this Incendiary would instigate the King in defence of his Antinomianism of Justifying men in their sinful and corrupt state and to Persecute the Quakers for asserting that Christs Righteousness wherein the Saints are Justified is not wholly without them but they are inwardly Partakers of it by Faith and through a Purging out Iniquity Mortifying of Corruption bringing in Christs Everlasting Righteousness otherwise to deny or exclude this saith the Quaker and yet conclude men compleatly Justified wholly without is a Doctrine of Devils leaving men in an Impure state and allowing the Devils Kingdom to continue Because of this the Persecuting Clergy-man would have the King's Majesty to gird on his Sword and what for but to cut down this Quaker that is for asserting a Real Righteousness of Christ within and against the wrong Imputation of the old Antinomian He is angry that such are Indulg'd that cannot favour the Devils Kingdom he counts the King very faulty and charges him highly as preserving stinging Snakes in the Bosom of Indulgence though doubtless he wanted Indulgence before he Temporized But now this Popish persecuting Spirit in the Clergy-man wants to have the Miter set above the Crown all that are not for his Turn he would have them punisht He can assume the boldness to publish to the Nation that the King harbours stinging Snakes in the Bosom of Indulgence You have heard his Charge and his matter before and what Refuges he flees to to maintain his Antinomian Sin-pleasing Doctrines and revile them that oppose him he would fain have the Church of England and the Kings Sword to maintain him in that which is plain Repugnant and Abusive to the Church of England Thus like a Temporizing Mercenary Hector and Popish Agent he has manag'd his Work as will further appear to his shame as a Hectoring Bravado a scornful proud disdainful Person § XI See what follows about a Book of mine Entituled The Nature of Christianity Pr. p. 13. Upon my Confessing to Christ Jesus his Manhood and Divinity the Priest saith viz. Here 's a parcel of good Words to gull unwary Readers the Devil to promote Errors hath alwayes used to dress himself his Agents in the Garb of Truth The Quaker will anon shew us his Horns we shall ere long know him to be no tame Beast His ill inspiring Spirit will appear you may certainly expect from this Quaking Pamphlet most base pitiful Stuff Answ Behold how he Boasts Vapours Infults Hector Scoff Jeers and Contemns but the frothiness falseness and silliness thereof will more evidently appear in the Progress of our Controversie It is not for any weight in his Words that I cite them but to let the serious Reader see the Image or Character of his proud and scornful Spirit Ibid. Touching my Opposing R. G's affirming a Justification and Redemption of Men even while no good is wrought in them by any Light or Spirit whatsoever and when no qualification is wrought in man by any Spirit whatsoever All this Passage the Priest leaves out and only falls upon my latter Words concerning my calling in question R.
and none need to think themselves obliged to do it which is that Christ paid a Proper and Ridgid Satisfaction * Let my Adversar reconcile his Doctrine to this of Christs Satisfaction as held by the Presbyterians where he sayes That Satisfastion made by Christ God-Man to God the rathers Justice is a precious Gospel-Truth Is not this such a Notion as Edw. Stillingfleet here opposeth for the Sins of Men considered under the Notion of Debt and that he paid the very same which we ought to have done c. And further saith If the very same had been paid in the strict sense Ibid. p. 271. there would have followed a Deliverance Ipso Facto for the Release immediately follows the Payment of the same c. But we see that Faith and Repentance and the Consequences of those two are made Conditions on our parts in order to the enjoying the Benefit of what Christ hath procured And he further argues and saith We are to consider that these very Persons assert that Christ Paid all for us Ibid. p. 272. and in our Name and stead c. But above all things it is impossible to reconcile the Freeness of Remission with the full Payment of the very same It is impossible the same Debt should be fully paid and freely forgiven And he counts that they give the Church's Adversaries too great Advantage who hold this Opinion built upon a Mistake that Satisfaction must be such a strict Payment However let it be noted That seeing Faith and Repentance and the Consequences of both are made Conditions on our parts in order to the enjoying the Benefit of what Christ hath procured It follows that Justification and Redemption are not compleated wholly without us or that men are justified and redeemed while no Good no Qualification is wrought in them by the Spirit and Light of Christ for Faith and Repentance are some Good wrought in us thereby Pr. Ibid. No such thing discoverable by the Light within any Quaker as that the Godhead and Manhood were joyned in one Person who suffered was dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a Sacrifice not only for Original Guilt but also for all Actual Sins of Men. Ibid. The Quakers deny Christ to be God-Man in one Person Answ 'T was discoverable by the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets that Christ should be called the Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 as also by the same Spirit and â—ight of it they did soresee his Sufferings as Man and the Glory that should follow and that thereby as a Sacrifice he should make a Reconciliation for Iniquity and also that he should bring in Everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9. And accordingly God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself and it is as in Christ who is truly God and truly Man inseparable that God and Men are reconciled and in Union but not so out of Christ in their Unbelief Sin and Transgressions § X. Pr. Ibid. If this with his Fellow-Quakers were enjoyned by the King's Majesty the Defender of the true Faith to subscribe to the Thirty Nine Articles then by their declaring their unfeigned Assent and Consent but to the two first Articles thereof their False Christian Paint would soon fall off these Saints Seed People Answ This man 's Hypocritical Paint is greatly defaced by his Scoffing and Flouting and shamefully Belying us therewith We hope to approve our selves True Christians Saints and People of God when he and such Temporizing Hypocrites and Scorners shall be had in universal Contempt for their Wickedness As to the two first Articles if that will either quiet him or he thinks it may make for him I can assent and subscribe to the substance of the two first that is To the One Living and True God infinite in Power Wisdom and Goodness the Maker and Preserver of all things and the Father Son and Holy Ghost as of one Substance Power and Eternity And to the Son his being the Word the very Eternal God of One Substance and that he took Man's Nature in the Virgin Mary and that so he is one Christ perfect God and Man who as Man truly suffered was crucified dead and buried and so became a Sacrifice for Reconciliation between the Father and us This without any Equivocal or Reserved Sense I can freely consent to let my Adversary make what he can of it Qr. G.W. Now if Professors come not to feel and experience these Things or Works of Christ viz. Reconciliation Redemption Salvation Justification fulfilled within them they are but meer empty Professors and Talkers of them without the true Life and Power of Christianity and true Religion Priest answers p. 16. They are Quakers in Heart ill principled in Christianity who do not see plainly how this Quaker 's Spirit hath put him upon playing the Sophister as well as an Ignoramus in it Answ Here he counts us Ill principl'd in Christianity Sophisters and Ignoramus's for asserting that Reconciliation Redemption Salvation Justification must be fulfilled within as much as to tell us that Professors possess the true Life and Power of Christianity without having these Works of Christ fulfilled within them as if they were all wholly compleated without them without respect to the Work of Christ within them This is still his old Antinomian Notion which he would father upon the Church of England but how contrary not only to Scripture but also to the Seventeenth Article of the Bishops concerning those who are Chosen in Christ let the serious Reader judge The words in the said Article are these viz. Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a Benefit of God be called according to God's Purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through Grace obey the Calling they be justified freely they be made Sons of God by Adoption they be made like the Image of his Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ they walk Religiously in good Works and at length by God's Mercy they attain to Everlasting Felicity Here is as much said for me as I can desire to this Adversary's Confutation discovering not only his Abuse of the Quakers but of his own Church in his pleading for a Justification of men wholly without them so wholly excluding the Works of Christ from within leaving them under the Dominion of Sin and Satan But this is not all but also in the said 17th Article there are these words viz. And such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the Works of the Flesh and their Earthly Members and drawing up their Minds to High and Heavenly Things fervently kindle their Love towards God How plain is it that here is Confession to the working of God's Spirit even to the feeling if it within Obedience to his Calling being made Sons of God conformable to the Image of his Son c. included in the State of Justification contrary to our Adversary's
the consequence of placing the Rule of Faith Knowledge of God and Salvation only upon the Scripture and not upon the Light of Christ within Pr. Ibid. Vnto the Law and the Testimony is no Rule for Children to walk by Page 65. By no means the Law and the Testimony mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah may now be our Rule Hath not this man Quaked to purpose Answ He still wrongs and abusively derides the Quaker for children are not so taught that the Law and the Testimony is No Rule for them to walk by whether it relate to the Law and Testimony of God as outward in Scripture or inward in the Heart whether to the Law and Testimony of God by Moses as in Tables of Stone or to the Law and Testimony of Christ as in fleshly Tables of the Heart we cannot say of either that 't is no Rule at all for every Command or Precept from God or Christ whether it be upon outward or inward Record is a Rule in it self for Instruction by the Spirit 's Assistance The Law and Testimony as given by Moses and as in Tables of Stone were a Rule to Israel after the Flesh yet not to exclude the Word nigh them even in their Hearts or their hearkening to the Voice of God for that was through all Dispensations The Law and Testimony of the New Covenant written in the Hearts of spiritual Christians under the Guidance of the holy Spirit must needs be their Rule now who Worship God in Spirit And further the Commandment which is a Lamp and the Law which is Light and the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy are not only the Principal Rule in the Hearts of Spiritual Christians who are the Evangelical Israel and Inward Jews but also of more Universal extent as to Nations then the Scriptures are For when even those Gentiles who have not the Law and yet do by Nature the things contain'd in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2.14 15. So that the Scripture could not be their Rule who had it not but the Law and Light of God and his Christ in their Hearts And the Law and the Testimony within contain the Substance and Truth of what 's written in Scripture and will the more clearly and livingly appear and be read in the Heart as the Vail of Darkness Sin and Corruption in man is removed and taken away in his Conversion and coming into the New Covenant Dispensation On the words To the Law and to the Testimony I would Query If this Testimony could be the Books of the New Testament which this Prophet Isaiah referred them then to No sure how could they when those Books were not then written Yet whoever obey and follow the Law and Testimony of the SPIRIT of Life in Christ Jesus within such cannot Oppose Slight nor Invalidate any thing of holy Scripture but have real Union therewith and be in the Life Practice and Fulfilling thereof Pr. Ibid. The Spirit that doth infatuate the Quakers is the foolish Guide whom this Quaking Father would have his Child to follow Answ What Blasphemous Folly is this against the Spirit of Truth which the Quaker would have the Child yea and all Men to follow which 't is Horrid Blasphemy to charge with being an Infatuating or Foolish Guide whereby he hath also abused and slighted Christ's Testimony and the Scriptures which testifie of the Spirit of Truth to guide into all Truth Pr. Ibid. This Quakers Faith to undermine the Scriptures to render them good for nothing for saith he the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things therefore the Scriptures to be minded in nothing Answ He hath herein abominably belied the Quaker and perverted his words though he himself has cited but a few Lines before in the same page 36. viz. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints were made Witnesses of This is no undermining nor rendring them good for nothing Again from minding the Spirit alone in all things it follows not that the Scriptures are to be minded in nothing He might as well have said that nothing else upon any account is to be minded but the Spirit alone howbeit that the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things as the Principal and most Eminent Rule is true yea 't is to be minded even in the reading Scriptures or else they cannot be rightly understood Pr. p. 37. The Quakers ill Spirit is to be minded in all things this alone is the true Discerner betwixt Truth and Falshood but pity those poor Children that have no better guide to follow Answ When the Quakers speak of the Spirit of Truth this Priest will have it the Quakers Ill Spirit thus he Blasphemously perverts still But that the Spirit of Truth is both the true Discerner and Giver of true Discerning betwixt Truth and Falshood I suppose he dare not deny S. XVI Pr. pag. 38. As for those Priests that do warrantably use the Common Prayer-Book either in the King's Chappel or else-where to speak this Quakers mind or sense they are a company of dull Ignoramusses they cannot pray at all a sad Case except it be in the Quakers Dumb Meeting or amongst those that are acted by the Spirit of the Hat Answ The Quaker so called was speaking of such Priests and Teachers as pray not with the Spirit nor with Vnderstanding and of some that cannot pray at all but as they have Made Prayers by others in a Book to read and such it seems he renders those Priests in the King's Chappel and else-where so dull as that they cannot pray without Book for he has made the Application with such a Reflection As for our Meeting which he Scornfully terms Dumb we therein wait upon God in his holy Fear and have regard to the Motions of his good Spirit in his Worship and Service both in our inward Attention Meditation Souls breathings unto God Preaching Praying to and Praising our God who is a Spirit and to be Worshipped in Spirit Truth I take his telling of the Spirit of the Hat also to be in Scorn and Contempt nothing at all of any serious Sence or Argument in it he should have explain'd himself therein Pr. p. 39. According to this Quaking Rant is not the King's Majesty basely reflected on Hath he not a dull Clergy to minister in his Presence Is not this Church whereof he is a Nursing-Father in a bad Cafe Answ I think this Priest hath Reflected on the King and his Clergy to purpose while he has rendred them such as do not pray with the Spirit or as cannot pray without Book for such was our Friend writing of about which this Priest takes all this occasion And why does he call the King a Nursing-Father of the Church He rather means as he would have him the Nursing-Father of the Clergy that they may feed upon the Fat
live upon Tythes and Forced Maintenance Imprison and Spoil many Innocent Subjects that the Lofty Domineering Priests may live in Pride and Fulness which thing doubtless can be no Delight nor Advantage to the King that the Priests should thus harrass and destroy his Subjects considering his divers Declarations for Liberty of Conscience and Toleration But if the King should grant and cause a Law to be made to leave People free to their Consciences and Perswasions in that Case of Payment or Non-payment of Tythes then I suppose this Priest would not so readily cry up the King as the Churches Nursing-Father What the Prophet saith That Kings shall be thy Nursing-Fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-Mothers relates not at all to any Persecuting Church or Priest-hood but to God's own afflicted People Zion or Church of Christ in the Restoration and Gathering of the Gentiles thereunto to whom he saith Thy Destroyers and they that made thee Waste shall go forth of thee Isa 49.17 So that when such Persecutors and Destroyers as many of the Priests are come to be removed and the Hearts of Kings and Princesses come to be made tender by the Invisible Power of God they shall be a Comfort as Nourishers and Relievers of God's afflicted People from their Oppressions when the Beast shall hate the Whore and lay her Desolate that she may no longer persecute nor drink the Blood of the Saints So that this Prophecy of Isaiah Chap. 49.23 does not appertain to a Persecuting and Oppressing Priest-hood or Church but to the Afflicted and Oppressed Zion and People of God in the Day of his Churches Restoration and encrease even among the Gentiles Pr. p. 39. Our Singing of Psalms in the Time of Divine Service is as bad as our Preaching and Praying Answ Praises are not comely in the Mouth of the Wicked their Prayers and Sacrifices God regards not If I regard Iniquity in mine Heart God will not regard my Prayers You sing what you experience not in David's Psalms Prayers Complaints Lamentations c. You falsly personate David in Conditions that are none of your own Pr. Ibid. The Quakers to the shame of true Christianity are they only who sing with the Spirit and Vnderstanding Answ We do not say that Quakers only sing with the Spirit and Understanding but that the true singing is therewith If this Priest pretends to sing with the Spirit then I hope he will own the Spirit 's Guidance in this point and so to sing and pray without Book by the Spirit 's Motion and Guidance if he owns this to be concern'd in true Christianity then why does he Revile the Quakers so called for owning the Spirit 's Rule and Guidance If he owns it not then no Injury to tell him his Defect wherein his Brethren are generally concerned Pr. p. 39 40. To mount the Baseness of Quakerism aloft the singing of Psalms at Court in the King's Chappel in the City and Country in Cathedrals and Parish Churches is a very prophane piece of Service Answ Their being sung at Court in the King's Chappel and in Cathedrals c. does not make the Service one bit better 't is not the Places but the Hearts of men that God looks at if the Hearts be bad and wicked at Court in the City or Country in Cathedrals or Parish Churches so called God will never a whit regard their pretended Services for the sake of the Places for he is no Respecter of Persons he regards not the Face of Princes It is not the Kings Palace that will excuse men in offering Prayers or Praises from a poluted Heart Iniquity at Court is Reproveable in God's sight as well as in City or Country 't is Truth in the inward parts God requires Pr. Qr. Prim. p. 36. Christ did not ordain sprinkling Water in a Child's Face Answ If he did let 's have Scripture proof for it where-ever Christ did ordain or command Infants to be sprinkled or called that the Baptism I am apt to be more than confident that he has no Scripture to be his Rule in this Practice Pr. Priest answers pag. 40. We have quite lost Baptism and the Lord's Supper in the Church of England This Quaker doth buldly say They rose from the Pope's Invention Answ The true and real Baptism and Lord's Supper both in the Type and Antitype did not rise from the Pope's Invention but dipping or sprinkling Infants and calling that Baptism was imposed by Popes I challenge him to produce plain Scripture-proof for sprinkling Infants if he can Pr. pag. 41. Who can but laugh this Baal 's Prophet to Scorn or rather who can but pity his great Ignorance Answ This Person is given more to Laughter and Scorn than he is to Pity but his Laughter and Scorn are but like the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot for he laughs and scorns at such as truly own the Light and Spirit of Christ within to be their Guide and Teacher Pr. Ibid. Let this be noted that the Quakers own no other Baptism but that which is in the Spirit which certainly is NO SCRIPTURE-BAPTISM Answ The One Baptism which the Quakers own is the Baptism of the Spirit testified of in Scripture There is one Faith one Baptism Ephes 4. We are all Baptized by one Spirit into one Body and As many as are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ For this man to say This is no Scripture-Baptism shews his great Ignorance as well as Error Pr. pag. 42. Alas poor despised Church of England What 's become of thy Two Sacraments which are generally necessary to Salvation Answ Where is his Scripture for this Passage for the word Sacraments and for the Two Sacraments necessary to Salvation If he cannot produce plain Scripture-proof herein then the Scripture is not his Rule but the Church is his Rule as the Papists say His Railing and crying out The Vgly Face of these Quaking Lines is no Proof for his Positions but Reviling still Pr. pag. 4 3. Who knows not that a Material Church is a Place made by Men and not by Angels Answ Where is his Scripture for a Material Church made by Men or that a Steeple-house or old Mass-house is the Church He distinguishes not between Ecclesia and Templum here Pr. Ibid. As for that Church which this Quaker calls a Living Thing it is an Vnlawful Conventicle Ecclesâ—a Malignantium the Congregation of Evil-doers with which this Church and Kingdom is too much pestered Answ That Church which the Quakers call a living Church is built up of Living Stones whereof Christ is the Head and Chief Corner-Stone no Unlawful Conventicle He now talk like a Malicious and Popish Informer that would incense the Magistrates to Persecution against us Pr. Pag. 44. Not the King's Majesty on the Throne nor the Peers of this Realm do escape this Quaker 's Lash Answ Neither the King on the Throne nor the Peers of the Realm will be able to excuse this Priest in the great Day of God
Answ Here the Priest makes an Objection against all the King's Subjects which he himself cannot Answer but only askes If it be not rare Quaking stuff He argues neither as a Christian nor like a rational or sober Man as if he would bear us down from a Practice or Custom among many of the King's Subjects and thereupon Argue That because many of the Kings Subjects Swear by a Law of Man therefore Christ's prohibition is thereby abolisht and Whatsoever is more than Yea Yea Nay Nay comes not of the Evil one it s but Quaking stuff to say as Christ says that it so cometh of Evil or of the Evil one as the Priest himself has given the Interpretation of Christ's words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And yet opposeth and derides the thing where conscientiously obeyed by us not with Disrespect to King or Government but with respect to Christs Command not to Swear Pr. Ibid. St. Paul might have known this new Light Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths where Strife was if this be not Abominable Doctrine delivered by this Quaker let the wise Readers â—udge Answ What knows he but Paul knew this Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths among his Followers the true Christians He does not say that an Oath for Confirmation is an End of Strife among Christians but among MEN and such Men were the Jews under the Law that were in the Strife which was the occasion of Oaths and Swearing And however where Strife and the Nature of it is removed and ended by Christ Jesus there need no Swearing to end it among such Men aâ—d Christians But that Solemn Oaths as he calls them are as bad now as Vain Oaths are none of our words but the Priests unnatural Inferrence for there is a difference between an Oath taken solemnly though under a misguided Conscience or Judgement Oaths used vainly and frequently by Prophane Persons who therein often sin against manifest Conviction of Conscience Yet that Swearing was lawful under the old Dispensation but unlawful now as is inferr'd upon us I grant and this the Priest has not removed he has made more Objections for us in this case than he either doth or is able to Answer And seeing he has handled the point so very shallowly against us I refer him and the Reader to a Book Entituled The Case of the Quakers concerning Oaths Defended as Evangolical and another Book more large and full Entituled A Treatise of Oaths wherein both by Scripture Reason Authorities of many Authors our Case is defended in our not Swearing § XX. Qr. p. 46 57. If thou observest a Day observe it to the Lord The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun and called it Sunday Pr. p. 57. When the King and Parliament made the late Act for the better Observation of the Lord's Day then they did nothing but make a Law to establish Will-Worship according to this Quaker Answ We do not Reflect upon King or Parliament for making such an Act nor judge their Intention or Design to be to establish Will-Worship therein Here the Priest still persists in his old Course of Hectoring to incense the Powers against us which is no Rational Argument nor Christian Confutation but still shews that his Religion and Worship have their Dependence upon men He is for that Way Method and Religion that is the uppermost imposed by the Magistrate and that 's his chief Argument But what 's this to Confute our Friend's saying The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun And dare he deny this or say that the Name Sunday Munday Tuesday Wednesday c. did not spring from the Heathen in Relation to their Gods whom they Worshipped And did not the Primitive Christians call that the first day of the Week which you professed Christians call Sunday after the Heathens Example And in our Meeting on the First Day of the Week as the Primitive Christians did we do not superstitiously observe the Day or place an Esteem or Sanctity upon that day simply consider'd more than others but observe it to the Lord. The Apostle did not impose the Observation of Days upon the Primitive Christians nor were they to judge one another in that matter One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord c. see Rom. 14.4 5 6. Pr. p. 58. Doth not this Quaker's Ignorance in effect count all holy Dayes Apostatical Are not these the Festival Days c P. 59. Real Quakers do not observe holy dayes as this Church appoints Answ The Real Quaker owns the Apostle's Doctrine Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an holy Day or of the New Moon or Sabboth Days which are a Shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Certainly Christ is the Substance and End of the Shadow But this Priest is now for Festival Days and Holy Days as the Church appoints Observe how like a Church-man of Rome he here talks as if he were directly steering his Course to Rome The Church is his Rule here and not Christ nor the Scriptures he is for Festivals and Holy Days as the Church commands that is He is for the Observation of Saints and Angels Days and doubtless for Mass-Days too which if he would have us observe he should plainly tell us whence the Observation of such dayes sprung and whether they are not enjoyned in the Mass-Book and from Rome Pr. Ibid. Whither do the Quakers come when they are gotten over the Observation of Days for my part I cannot tell Answ Seeing he cannot tell whither we are or do come he should have let us alone and not revil'd nor abus'd us as men in such deep Ignorance because we can neither keep up the Names of Heathen Gods in Dayes nor Popishly observe Festival Days Holy Days Mass Days c. So here I must leave him in this point with his Face towards Rome not towards Zion nor New Jerusalem § XXI The Priest's next Quarrel is against James Parnel on the Collection of his Writings He is offended to hear That they are given forth from the Spirit of the Lord or that James Parnel should be counted a Servant of God as in the Title of the said Collection and therefore proceeds as followeth Pr. Ibid. This Quaking holy Man of God was in the Quakers Account no less inspired by the holy Ghost than the holy Pen-men of Scripture Answ We make no such Comparison of his being inspired yet though we do not equalize him with those holy Pen-men he was in some degree inspired by the same holy Spirit and bore a Faithful Testimony in his Day and in his Suffering against the Corruptions of those Times both of the then Persecuting Priests Rulers and People Pr. Ibid. The Quakers are
not a little Flie-blown with Spiritual Pride Answ That 's thy own state Proud and Scornful Man Spiritual Pride and Conceit puffs thee up Qr. J. P's Tryal of Faith You believe you shall never overcome your sins so long as you are here Here you shew your Faith is not built upon Christ who came to destroy the Works of the Devil and to cleanse from all sins Pag. 60. Priest Answers This is the Corrupt Testimony of this Quaking Martyr that they are no sound Believers whose Faith doth not cleanse them from all their Sins that the Faith of Christians is not built upon Christ if it doth not make them free from their Sins Answ That which the Priest calls the Corrupt Testimony is according to Christ and his holy Apostles Testimony Christ came to Wash and Cleanse true Believers from Sin that they might be Clean every whit he gave himself for his Church that he might Wash it by Water through the Word that he might present it holy without Spot c. By Faith he purifies their Hearts he destroys the Work of the Devil the Blood of Christ cleanseth them that walk in the Light from all Sin And Faith in him overcomes the World it was and is the Saints Victory These are plain and Scriptural Testimonies how ignorant soever this unsanctified Priest shews himself wholly a stranger to the washing of Regeneration Pr. Ibid. A sinless state reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven is no true Divinity in the Quakers School Answ How is a sinless state reserved for that Kingdom if not attainable in this Life Pr. Ibid. If we say that we have no sin which the Quakers usually do we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us Answ An Untruth against the Quakers where or when do they usually or ever say they have no sin but that though there is a time of having sin there 's a time of confessing and forsaking sin and if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL SIN 1 John 1.7 9. And saith he My little Children these things write I unto you that you SIN NOT Chap. 2.1 What John writes relates to several states Pr. Ibid. This Quaker is certainly for a more holy Faith than God himself did ever require It s not the Ruling Power but the being of sin which this Quaker's Faith makes free from without doubt this is to be Righteous over much in this World Answ The Priest is grosly Erroneous here the Quaker is for that holy Faith which is the Gift of God whereby he purifies the Heart and which Faith overcomes and is the Saints Victory over the World And to have the being of sin destroyed by Christ is not to be Righteous over-much in this World for 't is for this End that Christ is made manifest to take away our sins and to destroy the Works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. Christ destroying the Works of the Devil is to destroy the being of Sin that it may neither Rule nor be in true Believers And this work of Christ is effected by degrees as he is obeyed and truly followed whose Work of destroying Sin this Priest has apparently opposed lest he should be Righteous over much in this World so that his Faith will carry his sins with him into the next World if he relinquish it not and where he will get rid of them there he tells us not but by his Opinion he must expect a Purgatory or place of Purgation after Death seeing he confesseth A sinless state is reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven Observe here how near of Kin he is to the Papists and how nearly he has border'd upon the Doctrine of Purgatory only they exceed him in believing that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs shall escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven Pr. Ibid. If the Ill Spirit of the old Catheri was not gotten into this Young Quaker The Quakers Idolized Perfection Answ If by his word Catheri he means the Puritans or those called Old Puritans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ì i. e. Puri then I must tell him that many of the Old Puritans were more Conscientious Sincere and Religious to what they knew then himself is or ever was Hist Eccl. Euseb Pam. Lib. 6. C. 42. for they were not such Temporizers and Opposers of the Light and Work of Christ they durst not call either an Idol as he has done And whatever Novatus was who called his Sect Cartharous that is Puritans I matter not there were many Honest people in England and other parts of those called Puritans Pr. p. 61. By this false Doctrine he hath concluded the Church of England at home all Reformed Churches abroad under Vnbelief for being of this right sound Mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins as long as they are here Answ Here he counts it a right sound Mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins so long as they are here but when and where they shall be freed he tells us not I am sure it is not the Mind of Christ that men should live in sin all their days And I think this Priest has wrong'd the Church of England if the Church of England means as she speaks and professeth viz. in promising to forsake the Devil and all his Works c. And in praying O God make clean our Hearts within us and take not thine holy Spirit from us Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this Day without Sin with many other passages to this purpose in the Morning-Prayer and Service-Book And what has this Priest done less then charged the Church of England with Dissimulation and Hypocrisie as being of a contrary mind then what 's here exprest As also Edw. Stillingfleet in his Sermon preached before the King March 13. 1666. he strongly argues and pleads against that Opinion of God's laying Impossible Laws upon the Sons of Men and puts the Question thus * Ed. Still 6. Serm. 1669. pag. 69 70. For what is it that God requires of men as the Condition of their future Happiness which in its own nature is judged impossible Is it for men to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this World For that was the End of Christian Religion to perswade men to do so § XXII Qr. The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light the Word the Life the Judge the Rule the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits for all this belongs to Christ Pr. p. 61. I must truly say this is none of Abel his Language nor a faithful Testimony for God except another Qr. Atheist or Anti-scripturist none would have laid such base things to the charge of the holy Scriptures Answ Here is one of his base Abuses For to say The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light the Life the Judge c. is only as much as to
thus viz. Pr. There are neither Heads of England nor Ministers whom the Quakers own both the Magistrates and known Ministry of England are absolutely denied by all through-paced Quakers p. 81. And that this Quaker gives us plainly to understand that the real Quakers are none of the Kings Loyal Subjects for they own no Magistrates but such as are Quakers like themselves Answ All which are invective malicious and abominable Slanders and false Inferences shewing a very Cruel and Bloody mind in this Priest Be it noted still that J. Parn plainly testified against the Corruption Partiallity and Persecution that was among the then Rulers and Heads in England who were highly guilty of Persecuting the Innocent in those days and that this was in the time of the former Powers in Cromwell's time before the King's Return For 't is above Twenty Years ago since J. Parnel dyed in Prison in Colchester Castle for his Conscience and Testimony Therefore be it now observ'd that this Malicious Priest shews himself mad against those Testimonies which were really given forth in Reproof to those Corrupt Persecuting Rulers who acted in O. Cromwel's Name and by his Authority As also that this Priest has perverted those Testimonies to render the Qrs. none of the King 's Loyal Subjects and Denyers of Magistrates except such as are Qrs. Which are foul Aspersions and gross Untruths How like a Revengeful Temporizer has this Priest shewn himself to incense the Present Government against us for such plain Testimonies against the Corruption of O. Cromwel's Government and Magistrates as if the King and present Government must be stirred up to persecute us to avenge their Enemies Quarrel upon us for our Plainness and Sincerity in Testifying against their Persecutions and Oppressions Thus the Priest has over-shot himself in his Envy Cruelty and Out-rage But I would yet ask him If it be not possible for Princes and Rulers to commit any Offences against God And if his Servants may not be called to Reprehend and Warn them And therefore seeing he has argued so meanly and pitifully against us and has used so many Citations abusively instead of giving us any Christian or Rational Answer I shall here present the Reader with a Catalogue of some more of his Lyes most Malicious and Devilish Slanders and Falshoods being Thirty Five in Number for brevity's sake as followeth viz. § XXVI 1. That no Magistrates no Government no Laws without Quakerism stampt on them are either owned or honoured by any Qrs. p. 92. This is a Malicious Lye 2. That the Qrs. are Lawless as well as none of the King 's Loyal Subjects p. 92 93. A Persecuting Slander 3. That King and Parliament Magistrates Laws Government of this Kingdom are very little either owned or honoured by any Qrs. p. 93. A Lye also 4. That they proclaim our Magistrates to be men of Blood Bloody Magistrates p. 93. A Gross Lye 5. That it s no Qrs. Duty to be Subject to the Higher Powers p. 85. A Lying Forgery 6. That all Qrs. with their false Christ the Light within them are in Print a Lawless Generation of People professed Opposers of the Government of this Kingdom Ibid. A Blasphemous and Malicious Lye and Slander 7. That Vnquakerized Magistrates are no Terror to Evil doers p. 86. A Gross Lye still 8. That the King's Majesty upon the Throne the Peers with their Nobility and high Honour the Knights with their Worship the Gentlemen c. are as bad and miserable as the Devil p. 89. A Most Abominable and Shameful Slander 9. That any Peasant Qr. is more Honourable than the King 's Sacred Majesty A Ridiculous Lye 10. That the Qr. is boldly base saith in Print there is no Honour belongs to the Kings of England who are born Heirs of the Crown p. 91. A Lye still 11. That the Qrs. are basely Destructive to the King's Majesty to all Superiority Nobility and Honour c. A base Falshood 12. That the Qrs. do not give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's nor Fear unto whom Fear Honour to whom Honour is due c. p. 93. A Falshood also 13. That he looks upon them that do not Thou one another or are You 'd by others as so many Tyrants worse then Turks p. 95. A Shameful Lye 14. That according to this Qr. the King as Supream Head of this Kingdom hath that degree of Honour above all his Subjects which is made by the Devil p. 99 100. Observe Those Cruel Slanders and Devouring Words appear to be designedly forged to render us Odious to the King Parliament and Rulers to incense them against us to destroy us Thus like a Raging Wave and one of Cain's Race has this Priest attempted Mischief against the Innocent plainly evincing how he serves the Devil who is the Father of Lyes and Lyars 15. That Gospel-Truths are by this Qr. said to be told men by the Devil and God's Ministers the Devil's Mouth p. 102. Evident Lyes also 16. That Qrs. dare affirm that all those Ministers of the Cospel are the Devils Mouth in saying that Christ dyed for all Ibid. A Notorious Lye 17. That the Belief or Pleading for a Perfect Freedom from sin in this Life makes the Qrs. miserably Proud in their own Eyes and is an Haughty Over-holy Dotage of this Qr. p. 103. These are Lyes also 18. That according to this Qr. there hath been no true Christianity nothing but Ant-christianism cruel Darkness and Ignorance and Estrangedness from the Lord in all Ages of the Christian Church ever since the Apostles Dayes p. 107. A Lying Inferrence 19. That according to the Qrs. Mind ever since the Apostles Dayes they were only vain Believers who said they believed that that was the Christ that dyed at Jerusalem rose again sits at the right hand of God c. Ibid. A Perverse Lye 20. That by this Qr. believing in Christ that dyed is slighted Ibid. A Notorious Lye 21. That there hath not been one jot of Christianity in any part of the World for many Hundreds of Years last past ever since the Apostles Dayes all Christians in the World have not known the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer p. 111. Shameful Lyes 22. That as for this Church and Kingdom there is nothing but Anti-christ and what is Anti-christian to be found in them p. 112. A Manifest and Gross Lye 23. That like G. Fox the old Qr. they are all equal with God himself p. 116. A Horrid Lye 24. That Parnel affirms That all Qrs. are Partakers of Christs Divine Nature and hence that Women as well as Men Qrs are no less the Eternal Sons of God than Christ himself is p. 116. Notorious Lyes 25. That all Real Qrs. are in their own vain Imaginations Godded with God and Christed with Christ no less God incarnate than our Saviour p. 117. Malicious and Shameful Lyes 26. That the Leaven of that little Book Theologia Germanica hath sowred the Qrs. whole Lump Ibid. A Falshood 27. That for
at a high Rate he thinks he has paid it off and run down the Qr. and the Doctrine of Perfection with his Hectoring Insulting Scoffing and Deriding and yet he would have People believe he does not plead for Sin for he says 'T is the Devil that pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so A plain Confession which shall rise up against him to his own Condemnation that out of his own Mouth he may be judged Pr. Ibid. This Qr. was not rightly instructed to distinguish well betwixt the Being and ruling Power of Sin Answ He is here mistaken still concerning the Quakâ—r for he is so far instructed in Christ's School as to know that the same Seed which bruiseth the Serpent's Head breaks his strength and power subdues and destroyes his Kingdom doth in due time both remove and destroy the very being of Sin in all who receive believe and abide in Christ Jesus the promised Seed for granting that the ruling Power of Sin is taken away and removed by Christ what sincere Soul or upright Follower of Christ Jesus who thus far feels his Power to bruise the Serpent's Head and break his strength to the subduing of sin will yet suffer the Being and In-dwelling of Sin all his Life time to remain in him seeing he that is begotten of God keeps himself that the Wicked one toucheth him not 1 John 5.18 when he faithfully follows the Conduct of such a powerful and victorious Prince Captain and Conqueror as our Lord Jesus Christ who is able to do the Work that God has sent him to do and even to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him who also is he that is greater in us than he that is in the World and as the Author to the Hebrews prayed Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you PERFECT in every good Work to do his Will working IN you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ te whom be Glory forever and ever Heb. 13.20 21. § XXIX Pr. pag. 108. As for Infant-Baptism used in all Ages of the Christian Church this Qr. like an Anabaptist saith there is no Scripture nor Example for it Answ That Infant-Baptism or rather Sprinkling was used in all Ages of the Christian Church I plainly deny and it remains for this Priest to prove or else confess his Ignorance or false Assertion in this point as also since he upbraids the Qr. for saying there is no Scripture Example for it why does not he produce Scripture or Example thence for it that would end the Controversie And that it was imposed or settled by any general Council in the Christian Churches before Popery entred or before there was a Pope or Universal Bishop so called at Rome it remains for him to prove And since the Church of Rome pleads for Infant-Baptism and imposeth it upon the account of Tradition and not Scripture as it s said of Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France 1500. That he ordained that Infants Baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved a Command from the Scriptures The Question hereupon is Whether this Tradition he derived from the Church of Rome and so intended or from the Primitive Church in the Apostles Dayes For its being imposed by the Church of Rome cannot be binding to us Protestants because thereof And if they pretend Authority from the Primitive Christian Church in the Apostles Dayes then they should shew us this from Scripture especially these who are our present Opposers who profess the Scripture to be their Rule and not the Church of Rome For in vain is their Worship who teach for Doctrine the Traditions of men and whose fear towards God is taught by mens Precepts Notes by another hand on this Subject 'T is recorded that about the Year 248. lived a Priest called Fidus Cyprian who willed People to Baptize Young Children according to the manner of Circumcision About which Thing Cyprian with Sixty six Bishops and Elders gathered together ordained That Children should timely be baptized as well before as after the 8th day It seems the Doctrine of Fidus concerning Dipping or Sprinkling of Children was New and seem'd strange to Cyprian seeing he would not ratifie nor confirm the same without the Sentence and Advice of Sixty Six Bishops Had it been commanded by Christ practised by the Apostles and continued in matter and manner to Cyprian's days there had not been a necessity for the Concourse of so many Bishops concerning the same And though Cyprian here enjoyned Baptizing of Children yet a few Years before he was for the Dipping or Sprinkling of aged People see his Epistle to Magnus Cassander in his Book de Infantum Baptismo saith Cassander Pado-Baptisms rise That Baptism of Infants came to be much used by the Fathers who lived some three hundred Years after the Apostles He excludes it from being Christ's Command or practised by the Apostles Johannes Bohemius saith That Baptism of old was administred to none unless upon urgent necessity but to such as were before instructed in the Faith and catechised but when it came to be judged necessary to Everlasting Life it was ordained that Infants should be baptized and that they should have God-fathers and God-mothers who should be Sureties for Infants and should renounce the Devil in their behalfs It grew to this in the Roman-Catholick-Church that at the Baptizing of a Child the Priest First Blows three times in the Infants Face Secondly He anoints his Eyes Ears and Nostrils with Earth moistned with his Spittle Thirdly He Names him and Marks him with the Sign of the Cross upon his Breast and Back with Hallowed Oyl Fourthly He dips him into the Water or pours Water upon him three times in the form of a Cross Fifthly Dipping his Thumb in the holy Chrism as they call it he signs the Childs Fore-head with the sign of the Cross Sixthly He covers him with a White Garment Seventhly He puts into his hand a burning Candle Lib. 2. de Gentium Moribus For a farther Information about Baptisms I refer the Reader to Thomas Lawson's Treatise Entituled ΒΑΠΤΙΣΜΑΛΟΓΙΑ Or a TREATISE Concerning BAPTISMS Pr. p. 113. Behold is this the Chirstian Charity that thinks no Evil Is this the Christianity that speaks Evil of no man Answ Well this shall remain as Universal a Testimony against much of this man's Malicious and Scurrilous Work in this Pamphlet of his as his confessing that its the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that Mouth be stopt forever that doth so If he had well observed That Christian Charity thinks no Evil and that Christianity speaks Evil of no man he had not brought forth this large Uncharitable Pamphlet against the People called Quakers nor yet pleaded for Sin 's Continuance in the best
James Parnel's Books that in reading them over he found Cramben his Coctam he might have forborn this for shame in this case For as for Reiterations Repetitions and Tautologies of worse stuff than Colewort twice boild I never read any that surpassed him especially any of his Coat that stuff'd up a Book so big as his with so much Scoffing Jeering trifling and impious Reiterations with so little shew of Reason as he hath done which shews after what an Ungodly rate he has spent his Time and Study and how therein he has been attended and prompted with a Diabolical Spirit to inveigh like one mad with Envy against the Light of Christ within Perfection partaking of the Divine Nature and Unity of the true Church § XXXII Pr. pag. 122. Take heed to the Light of God within you this is only a Whim of the Qrs. Brain which hath no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings In Scripture we find mention made often of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you But take heed to the Light of God within you this is only the Quakers false Doctrine Answ Look here he can scarce write a Paragraph without scoffing at the Qrs. Thus he inveighs against taking heed to the Light of God within he sayes It has no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings But see the man's Contradiction as well as his Ignorance herein He confesses that in Scripture we find often mention made of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you and has this no Foundation in the Apostles Writings If Christ be the Light and Christ within must not he be taken heed unto and followed as he is manifest within even in them that believe in his Light as he has taught but if God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Must we not then take heed unto his Inshining Light in our Hearts when he shines in our Hearts to give us such Knowledge I had not repeated so much of this Man 's reiterated trifling and scornful Contradiction and Opposition to Truth but that his Folly may the more be seen and remain on record against him â—r Ibid. To be one in the Eternal Vnity smells strong of Parnel 's Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that God is with us manifested in the Flesh all which is Abâ—â—inable â—lasphemy Answ As for Eternal Unity among Christ's Followers did not he pray for it John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us And this partaking of Christ's Divine Nature offends the Priest still but his Folly therein is sufficiently detected before which now he greatly adds to in accounting it Abominable Blasphemy to say God is with us c. How then is Christ called Immanuel God with us And hath not God promised to dwell and walk in his People And were not the true Believers given up to suffer with Christ and to be delivered up to Death for his sake that the Life also of Jesus might be manifest in their mortal Flesh And doth not the Spirit of Christ dwell in true Believers and quicken their mortal Body to yield their Members as Instruments of Righteousness to God that Christ may dwell in their Hearts by Faith that they might know the Love of Christ and be filled with all the Fulness of God For which End Paul bow'd his Knees unto the Fathers of our Lord Jesus Christ see Ephes 3.14 to the end Pr. p. 124. Christ Jesus his Body is one which is his Church behold except the Church which is Christ's Mystical Body our Saviour hath no other Body Answ The Priest takes occasion for these words from a Passage he cites out of a Book called Truth 's Defence which as he cites it is That the Body of Christ is but one and he is the Head of the Body which is the Church Whence he infers our Saviour hath no other Body which is but his own Narrow Construction For it follows not from saying the Body of Christ or his Church is but one that Christ hath no Spiritual or Glorious Body peculiar to and of himself whereof the Church contains Members For what 's more plain than where it s said For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ 1 Cor. 12.20 Then that all those many Members and that one Body of Christ whereof they are Members make upone Body collectively and joyntly in Christ and that the Church and Members of Christ as joyn'd to him and his Body to make up one Body in universal Union and Fulness of Christ Jesus so as all are joyned to him and Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone this makes us one Body where there is likewise one Christ who takes in and comprehends with him both his own Glorious Body like unto which the Body of the Saints Lowness was to be fashioned Phil. 3.21 and all the Members thereof who are joyned to him in that Mysterious Union that is between Christ and his Church as he is the true Vine and they the Branches And granting still that Christ has a Glorious Body most near proper to himself above and more excellent than all our Earthly Bodies like unto which he will change our Low and Humble Body 't is not improper to say The Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body Now are there many Members yet but one Body 1 Corinth 12.20 And there is one Body and one Spirit Ephes 4.4 Therefore a plurality of Bodies and Members may be truly called one Body in that Mystical or hidden Union that is between Christ and his Church for any Collective Body consisting of many People may be called one Body though this be far inferiour to the heavenly Union between Christ his Body and Church Lastly How can true Believers who are many be said to be One Bread from their eating of that one Bread which is Christ even of his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World or be said to be Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone from their Union with him or his Church be said not only to be his Body but the Fulness of him that filleth all in all if in this Bread his Flesh Body and Fulness Christ's own Body be not so included and his Church therewith so nearly united as All comprehensively to make up One universal Body in the Fulness of Christ for how should his particular Body be excluded out of his Fulness and yet there are those who discern not the Lord's Body who eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own Damnation But this Priest still proceeds in his Envious Attempts telling