supply his wants may spend his time in Catalogues of Heresies and the Stale Tracts of uncertain Persons to enable him to club Quotations and clap them upon the back of Charges taken from our profest Adversaries from whom in part he receives his Bread yet I doubt not but to bring in such a train of Evidence in these Questions wherein we are said to be Heretical as will sufficiently evidence to the Impartial Reader that the Charge as as well as the Man is false and that our belief in these Articles is Scriptural The Method I purpose to take herein is this I shall set down in a methodical order the several Testimonies under each distinct Head according to the priority of time in which they were written so that upon a short view the Reader may have recourse to each Some Testimonies to Christ Jesus as the Son of God and come in the Flesh SECT II. Page 2 3 4. WE Profess and Confess Books Titles Faith in God the Father and in Jesus A Confession and Profession of Faith in God c. 1651. by Rich. Farnsworth Christ his Eternal Son the True God and in the Holy Spirit And we do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Words of God And there is none other Gods but One and this is God the Father which we own Isa 44. 8. 1 Cor. 8. 4. John 10. 30 31 Mark 12. 29 30 31 32 33 34. 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Rom. 4. 25. Isaiah 45. 6. Eph. 4. 4 5 30. John 4. 24. Phil. 1. 1 29. and Profess Faith in and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son who said I and my Father are One upon which saying the Jews took up Stones to Stone him yet notwithstanding the same Christ that the Jews hated we love belive in and own who was delivered up to be Crucified for our Offences and was raised again for our Justification who is the True God And him we Own and Profess Faith in and in the Holy Spirit God together equal with the Father and the Son One God over all Blessed for ever And unto us and all True Christians the Saints in Christ Jesus It is given in the Behalf of Christ not only to Believe on him but also to Suffer for his Name sake P. 10 11. VII In the next place truly to know this Lord Jesus The One Good Way of God Printed 1661. Written by Rich Hodden Christ come in the Flesh as the New and Living Way to the Father the Immanuel God with us making the Attonement by the Blood of his Cross to have all things subject unto him his Servants in him and he in them which is the great Mystery of Godliness his from Ages and Generations until the fulness of time and then Manifested in the Flesh Justified in the Spirit Believed on in the World and Received up into Glory which none of the Wise Men of the World ever knew or can know by all their Learned Skill of Earthly Wisdom nor any Man that Lives after the Flesh or satisfieth himself with Hearing Reading Telling or Talking of him or concerning what he or his Apostles did said or suffered as those that vainly take his Name into their Mouths on most occasions of their Invented Ways but know him not neither by his Divine Nature nor Name nor HOW GOD AND MAN BECAME ONE CHRIST JESUS how that which may be known of God is manifest in Man how he is The Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Prince of Peace The Author and Finisher of our Faith How he saves his People from their Sins is the Reconciler without Imputation of Sin How he is Formed in his Servants and Cleanseth them by his Blood from all Sin and Unrighteousness how they take up the Cross and follow him or what the Cross is how the Body becomes Dead because of Sin and the Spirit Alive for Righteousness sake How they are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones how he is their Loader and Captain of Salvation made perfect through Sufferings How they are Baptized into his Death and Saved by his Life How the Union is perfected in all the Parts and Members of his Body the Church What the Church is or how his Body or what it is to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood without which as himself said we have no Life in us How every Knee shall bow to him of things in Heaven in Earth and under the Earth and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father How he is that Blessed and Only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Head of all Thrones and Dominions and every Name that is named P. 2 13 14. This is answered in part already by what is said to A Vindication of the Principles and Practices of the People called Quakers 1665 By Geo. Bishop the former Question which in effect is this That that which enlightens which shews a Man his Heart his Reins and tryeth them which reproves which makes manifest is Christ the Light which Christ is the same that was born of the Virgin Mary which was made Flesh which sitteth at the right Hand of God which was Crucified Dead rose again from the Dead and ascended far above the Heavens that he might fill all things who when he was in the days of his Flesh with his Disciples said It is expedient for you that I go away for John 16. 7. 8 9 10 11. if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment of Sin because they believe not in me of Righteousness because I go to my Father and of Judgment because the Prince of the World is Judged So that which reproves the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father which testifies of Christ which guideth into all Truth is the thing that now is to be look'd to Christ in you the Hope of Glory the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations but now made manifest to his Saints the Riches of the Glory of the Mystery Now the Lord is that Spirit And when the Spirit of Truth is come he will John 16. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 17. guide you into all Truth Christ and the Light which is within are not Two but One yet are Ibil. p. 15. they not so One as that where Christ is there is the Body that Suffered at Jerusalem that was Flesh that proceeded from the Virgin Mary that died was buried rose again and ascended for in that he sitteth at the right Hand of God But where the Light is there is Christ which was in the Beginning with God by whom all things were made that was made In whom was Life and the Life was the Light of Men John 1. 2 3 4.
P. 11 12. It is objected against us who are called Quakers That Concerning the Sum or Substance c. Isaac Pennington we deny Christ and look not to be Saved by him as he was manifested without us but look only to be Saved by a Christ in us To which this is in my Heart to answer to such as singly desire satisfaction therein We do indeed expect to be Saved yea and not only so but do already in our several measures witness Salvation by the Revelation and Operation of the Life of Christ within us yet not without relation to what he did without us For all that he did in that Body of Flesh was of the Father and had its Place and Service in the Will and according to the Counsel of the Father But the Knowledge and Belief of that since the days of the Apostles hath been very much held in the Unrighteousness and in the Separation from the Inward Work of the Power and Life of Christ in the Heart which as so held cannot Save any But whoever feels the Light and Life of Christ revealed in him and comes into Union with God there-through he feels the Work of Regeneration of Sanctification of Justification of Life and Redemption and so comes to reap Benefit inwardly and to partake of the Blessed Fruits of all that Christ did outwardly Yea he that is thus one with Christ in the Spirit cannot exclude himself nor is excluded by God from the Advantage of any thing nor every thing that Christ did in that Body of Flesh P. 243. The Doctrines and Principles of the People called Immediate Revelation c. By Geo. Keith Quakers as well as the People do indeed more acknowledge the Man Christ Jesus than any of them all Inasmuch as we do believe and acknowledge that a measure of the same Life and Spirit of the Man Christ Jesus which dwelt in him in its Fullness and had its Center in him which came in the Flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary and is now glorified in Heaven is communicated unto us and extends it self into our Hearts and Souls and whole Inward Man so that the Man Jesus who Simeon imbraced with his Arms according to the Flesh is according to the Spirit our Life and Glory by whom we receive Light Grace and Truth and through whom we have access unto God P. 358. Yet notwithstanding for your Satisfaction we do now Journal Geo. Fox plainly and sincerely declare That we Own and Believe in God the Only Wise Omnipotent and Everlasting God who is the Creator of all things both in Heaven and in the Earth and the Preserver of all that he hath made who is God over all Blessed for ever To whom be all Honour and Glory Dominion Praise and Thanksgiving both now and for evermore And we do Own and Believe in Jesus Christ his beloved and only begotten Son in whom he is well pleased who was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and Born of the Virgin Mary in whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sins Who is the express Image of the Invisible God the First-born of every Creature by whom were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him And we do Own and Believe that He was made a Sacrifice for Sin who knew no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth And that he was Crucified for us in the Flesh without the Gates of Jerusalem and that he was Buried and Rose again the Third day by the Power of his Father for our Justification And we do Believe that he ascended up into Heaven and now sitteth at the right Hand of God This Jesus who was the Foundation of the Holy Prophets and Apostles is our Foundation And we do Believe that there is no other Foundation to be laid but that which is laid even Christ Jesus who we Believe tasted Death for every Man and shed his Blood for all Men and is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World P. 149. We do Believe in One Only Holy God Almighty who A Serious Apology c. 1671. By G. Whitehead and W. Penn. is an Eternal Spirit the Creator of all things And in One Lord Jesus Christ his Only Son and express Image of his Substance who took upon him Flesh and was in the World and in Life Doctrine Miracles Death Resurrection Ascention and Mediation perfectly did and does continue to do the Will of God to whose Holy Life Power Mediation and Blood we only ascribe our Sanctification Justification Redemption and Perfect Salvation And we Believe in One Holy Spirit that proceeds and breaths from the Father and the Son as the Life and Vertue of both the Father and the Son a measure of which is given to all to profit with and he that has one has all for those Three are One who is the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last God over all Blessed for ever Amen To these foregoing Citations I could add very many more both of older and later date but as I would not needlesly quote Instances so I hope the Reader will not account me hitherto Superfluous in rescuing our selves from Calumny and Abuse in a Charge which appears so plainly to be False for a plain as is the Sun when on its Meridian so plain is it that we sincerely own and heartily believe all that the Holy Scriptures testifie concerning the Incarnation of Christ and the Union of both Natures that is as God and Man SECT III. HIS next Calumny in the order of his Charge is That we deny the Truth and Reality of his Death and Sufferings In proof of our Belief whereof I am already in good part prevented by the foregoing Testimonies in almost all of which there is some mention of his Crucifixion as well as of his Birth But however I am content to answer exabundanti not wanting Instances of our Belief herein from whence I can allow Measure pressed down and running over Some Testimonies to the Truth and Reality of Christ's Death and Suffering Page 3. Before Abraham was I am who was in the Beginning The Path of the Just Cleared 1655. By G. Whitehead which was the Word by which all things were made which Word became Flesh and dwelt among John 8. 58. John 1. the Disciples and Suffered at Jerusalem and witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate whom Pilate delivered up to the Jews and the Chief Priests and Elders whom they mocked and despitefully used and put to Death concerning the Flesh but is raised up by the Spirit and ascended into Glory which Glory he prayed for even that Glory John 17. John 5. 22. John 10. 30. whereby he was at first by his Father glorified in wherein he is glorified in his Saints and
the Good Ends thereof being for the Punishment of Evil Doers and Praise of them that do Well And we know of no other Doctrine or Principle Preached Maintained or ever received among or by us since we were a People contrary to these aforesaid Signed in Behalf of the said People Thomas Lower William Crouch William Ingram William Mead William Macket Philip Ford Francis Camfield John Edge Thomas Hudson Charles Marshall Josiah Ellis Gilbert Latey Theodor Eccleston Joseph Wasey Thomas Cox John Bowater William Phillips Edward Brook William Townsend John Hall George Oldner Thomas Barker Abraham Johnson Thomas Twinbarrow Michael Russell John Harwood John Danson John Stringfellow William Paul Francis Eteridge Benjamin Bealing By what hath now been said and shewn it may plainly appear that his Charges are utterly False and notwithstanding he makes Quotations Page 16 17. which he calls Edw. Burroughs's to Countenance his Villany herein yet he is as far from Honesty in his Quotation as he is from Truth in all those for I shall shew that he hath Commited Forgery to make this Man's Writings answer his Mind Part of his Quotation is thus And Cursed be every one that riseth not up to the Help of the Lord against the Mighty Put on your Armour c. This one would think looks some-what with a Martial Face but when for Confirmation I came to look in this Piece called The Camp of the Lord whence he took these Lines instead of finding them in the Order they now stand the first Sentence is last and both Twenty Three or more Lines asunder and the rest of the Quotation he has also Transposed the Sentences that they cannot speak their Writer's Mind How far this Practiee is To Fight for the Joy and Vnion of Christendom and the Glory of God is easie to find it being an Outrage for which the Inquisition will hardly afford him President and a Practice that Glorifies not God nor Advances the Vnion of Christendom nor the Joy of any but Men of Corrupt Minds Besides this Piece of Edw. Burroughs has not in it any Tendency to Outward War the whole Piece being an Allegory of the Christian Spiritual Warfare which he Encourages his Brethren to go in and if where Divine Matters are thus spoken of both in the Old and New Testament the Places should be thus Tortured and the Sentences Transposed they would not speak in the Quietest Terms Nay our Lord's Prayer if this Man had the turning the Sentences he would soon spoil its Divine Authority But that I might do Justice to the Memory of this our Deceased Friend I have among the Quotations Relating to our Obedience to Magistracy and Government given One from himself wherein he is so full plain and distinct as may Effectually Vindicate his Memory and our Principle In like manner he hath Abused Samuel Fisher who by the Quotation taken from him will answer for himself I come now to the last Ridiculous Charge of not pulling off our Hats and giving Civil Titles which he Falsly and Foolishly Insinuates to have been Condemned by the Apostles c. which is a Pretence so Idle that he may as soon find in them Early Times the taking of Snuff after his manner to be declared Heresie But however by his Title Page we are to expect some Ancient Father to Condemn us And when in Page 17. I found that Name under the Prejudice of whose Censure the Snake had Plac'd us I found it to be neither Father of the Church nor Member of the Senhadrim but Josephus the Warlike-Jew who tho' he Professes to Write the Wars of the Jews c. yet he never Pretended to Declare Heresies But this Man that he might shew himself to be fully Qualified for the Inquisition can as easily Canonize this Jew as Dismember our Books Well I will not yet wholly reject Josephus but will Consider the Instance taken out of him and which is Judas Galileu's Who as he Quotes Josephus and I hope has been Honest here tho' otherwise in our Books would rather Expose themselves their Children and Relations to the most Cruel Torments than call any Mortal Man Lord or Master Now Believe me Friends I cannot see the Heresie of this Doctrine unless I should Conclude that to agree with Judas Galilaeus in any thing were so and if that be Rule to Judge by I suppose this Snake is a Heretick too for this Jew believed in One God and if this Snake does not believe as much he believes less than the Devil But besides this Question of Lord and Master he has not given us any Apostle or Ancient Father to Condemn the Use of the Singular Number to a single Person or to Authorize the Use of the Plural in the same Case nor has he yet Produced the like Authority to Reprove our Stiffness in not pulling off our Hats If he meets with no such Authority nor finds any other Original Heretick the Snake falls short of Proof both for Precedent and Censure and then Geo. Fox has in his own Foolish and False Words the Glory of being an Original But now he affirms that George Fox's Inspirations came from the Spirit of Pride but how Charles will assure any Man of that which he is not Infallibly Assured of himself an Inspiration so foul a Vessel must not pretend to cannot readily be guessed I come now to Examine by Holy Scriptures how far G. Fox's Practice herein did and ours does agree therewith for if it be agreeable with them we shall not be careful for the rest First The Single Number to a single Person in all the Instances the World hath yet had that I know of it hath ever been the Language of God and Angels unto Men and the Language in Holy Writ of Holy Men to God to Princes to Rulers and one unto another which without the Snake's leave is Authority sufficient for us though were I minded to be Prolix I could multiply Instances about the Reformation and in other times And as for the Titles of Lord and Master where in the Scriptures they are denied and forbid there and in such Cases we do deny and forbid them And as for our Hats we pull them not off in Ceremony or Civility yet we pay Honour to whom Honour is due Fear to whom Fear is due and Civility to all Men with whom we Converse and this is agreeable to our Christian Profession and Principles which teaches us to preserve and keep that Distinction and Order in Persons and Things as is necessary for their Good Government and Preservation which are the Good Ends we chiefly Desire to aim at herein CONCLVSION I Have herein purposely omitted to say any thing to his Quotations of the Fathers c. because by what is before written it appears the Opinions he sets them against are not ours and that our Principles before-mentioned are Consonant to the Holy Scriptures and not deserving the ugly Shapes which this Snake endeavours to draw over them For
nos hodie à Romano Pontifice sine ulla satis justa causa secessionem fecisse priscorum Patrum veterum conciliorum anctoritatem pronihilo putare Caeremonias antiquas à patribus proavis nostris multis jam Seculis bonis moribus melioribus temporis approbatus temerè insolenter abrogasse nostra tantum privata anctoritate injussu sacri Ocumenici consilii novos in Ecclesiam ritus invexisse atque ista nos omnia non Religionis causa sed contention is tantùm studio fecisse Se autem nihil prorsus immutasse omnia vero ut ab Apostolis tradita ab antiquissimis Patribus approbata fuerint ad hunc usque diem per tot secula retinuisse They cry every where this day We are all Hereticks departed from the Faith have rent the Vnity of the Church with now and ungodly Tents that we have Revived and Restored the old Damned Heresies have sown new and unheard of Sects and Madnesses and are already broke into Factions and Divisions nor by any agreement can never be united among our selves Impious Men of monstrous Manners making War against God and living without all Worship and Fear of the Godhead That we despised every right Way and used no Virtuous Discipline nor loved either Laws Manners Religion Right or Equity but let loose the Rein to all manner of Wickedness and Provoked the People to every kind of Licentiousness and Lust and sought and did this that the State of Kingdoms and Monarchies might be over-turned and reduced under the Rule of the Rash and Vnskilful Multitude That we have Tumultuously Separated from the Catholick Church and have shook the Earth with a Nefarious Schism and have troubled the common Peace and Quiet of the Church and as Dathan and Abiram from Aaron and Num. 16. Moses so we this day from the High Priest have made separation without any cause sufficiently just That we account for nothing the Authority of the Ancient Fathers and Old Counsels that we have rashly and insolently Abrogated the Ancient Ceremonies and Good Manners which by or Fathers and Fore-fathers for many Ages were Approved and only by our private Authority have brought new Rites into the Church no Holy and Ocumenick Counsel Commanding and that we have done all these things not for the cause of Religion but only in a Study of Contention But that she is not all changed but that all things as delivered by the Apostles and as they have been Approved by the Ancient Fathers do through so many Ages remain to this very day This with much more in the Apology is said to have been the Charge of Rome and yet I do not doubt but this Man will readily discharge Her from these these alledged Crimes Hence we may have at least this Consolation That we are not therefore Villanously Criminal because Villanously Charged and to shew that we are not so there hath been already Published an Answer to that Venomous Piece of Villanny The Snake in the Grass wherein is also ome notice taken and answer made to some noted Passages in two other Scandalous Pamphlets one Entituled Satan Disrob'd c. and the other A Discourse for Water-Baptism c. which Answer is Entituled An Antidote against the Venom of the Snake c. by George Whitehead in which Answer is a Discovery of the Falsity and Envy of this Loose Charger But as to what is here advanced being what he says he Promised upon this Subject in hopes that the Quakers seeing the Prim. Her P1 .. original of their Errors may bethink themselves and return from whence they have fallen I do tell him that whatsoever his Promise was his Performance is very bad because what he assigns for Original Errors are but his Coppied Fasitiâ—s upon us having been Charged by our Enemies many Years past and therefore we are very far from returning to Communion with one whose Fellowship is with the Father of Lies As to the Oral Traditive Faith by which he would Confirm Baptism tho' said to be learned within 150 Years after Christ it is what will not do it for the same Antiquity and pretended Authority may be brought for Mistakes more noted But besides Faith is the Gift of God to whom we must look for it and not to the Mouths of Men Indeed if he can absolutely determine the question by the Scriptures the Work is done and then there is no need of any doubtful help but if not it will not avail tho' he bring many Clouds of such Witnesses in the latter Ages and the Reason is plain because Scripture is what he calls his Rule not to be tried by them but they by it and if found contradictory thereto our Dissent cannot be Criminal And notwithstanding he calls this A Cavil we learned from Elder Dissenters we are not afraid to stand by it and therefore pay little Reverence to those nor any thing not purely Apostolical Here he says The late Representations of Quakerism hath given it quite another Turn and Face than it ever had before if he had added Ibid. p. 2. that he knew of it had shewn some Modesty but since he has shewn none I will tell him he is Dogmatically False for our Principles are now no other than what they were when we were first a People for Truth changes not and this I hope will appear beyond Contradiction from the many Quotations I shall have occasion to bring in out of many of our former and latter Books so that the Ground of what he calls our Schism and which I say is our just Dissent will consequently appear as large as before He says He hopes our Conversion is nigh or if already Converted our full Reconciliation to the Church He should have told us what Church he meanes for if he means into Communion with himself that is Scandalous to say no worse at present if he means to the Church of England I cannot think she would send a Rebellious Son to call us And here I will take opportunity to Confute a Lying Boast I have heard and which is favoured by what himself hath said above viz. He hath brought over a great many from Us I know not nor cannot hear and I have inquired of one Silly Quaker who is yet so Ignorant as to go from our Allowed Meetings to his Unallowed One And therefore when this his pretended Service is urged as an Argument for his Attonement and Reconciliation I can assure them the Argument is False and there is great Reason it should for God advances not Truth by Piè fraudes much less Impié fraudes He changes Stile and now Fawns calling W. Penn The Valuable Mr. Penn. At the end of his Book he changes again and would there Insinuate This his now Valuable Mr. Penn to be there very weak of which in its place I shall here a little interrupt the Thread of my Discourse upon this Pamphlet of Primitive Heresie c. and bestow a few Words
is God over all Blessed for ever Page 4. Christ in dying for us is our Example in Sufferings and The Brazen Serpent lifted up c. 1655. By R. Farnsworth way to the Father for Christ in Dying for Sinners and Ungodly died for all for was not all Sinners and Ungodly guilty of Christ's Death but it is by his Blood that we are Justified and by his Life that we are Saved In following his Counsel and obeying him through the Cross which slays the Enmity as he became obedient to the Death of the Cross who is our Leader and Example and is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all that obey him but none else We believe that all things which are spoken by the Holy A new Catechism 1664. By W. Smith Prophets and Apostles concerning Christ are true according to the Scriptures We believe that all the Dispensations of God which are manifested by the Scriptures are altogether true and that they were all fulfilled according to the determinate Will and Counsel of God So that our Faith concerning Christ in us and the Work which he there worketh for us doth not all make void any of the Dispensations of God which in times past were revealed unto his Holy Prophets and Apostles and by them testified in the Scriptures so that the Work which the Father then gave unto the Son to do we believe that he fulfilled according to the Father's Will and that all things pertaining to Life and Salvation were FULLY and PERFECTLY in him and that he humbled himself to the Death of the Cross and from Death did rise again And we believe that he is the Resurrection and the Life and gives Eternal Life to all that believe in him P. 19 20. We Believe and Testifie that this Jesus of Nazaretio Rebellion Rebuked c. 167. by John Crook and William Bayly wrought out fulfilled all Righteousness in his Obedience both in DOING and SUFFERING the Holy Law and Will of God and that this Righteousness so wrought out and fulfilled was not for himself but for or because of all such as truly seeing they have no Covering or Righteousness of their own flee unto and lay hold of him and his Everlasting Righteousness by a True and Living Faith We Believe and Testifie That his Blood exceeds not only the Blood of Bulls and of Goats but the Blood of the best Man or Men that ever was or shall be in the World And we do in the sight of God really own the Blood of the Son of Man both according to the History and in the Mystery as we do his Cross both as Shed for us and to be Drank by us both as bespeaking Remission of Sin past through Faith in it and as Sprinkling the Conscience of True Believers and Cleansing them from all Sin But because we Testifie that it 's not the Notion or bare Historical and Literal Belief of those things that Justifie or make us Really free from that which comes upon every Soul of Man that doth Evil whether Jew or Gentile Professor or Prophane but only the Life and Virtue of this Blood received into the Heart by that Living Faith which Christ alone is the Author of Therefore are we Branded with Slighting the Blood of the Man Christ c. though we Testifie our Esteem thereof both in the History and in the Mystery and that without the Life and Virtue of this Blood there is no Remission P. 9. Therefore we do Confess to his Sufferings according Truths Vindication c. 1679. Eliz. Bathurst to the Scriptures for Christ also hath once Suffered for Sin the Just for the Unjust that he might bring us to God being put to Death in the Flesh but Quickened in the Spirit we 1 Peter 3. 18. own his Death as an Acceptable and most Satisfactory Sacrifice to God for the Sins of all and is of Blessed Advantage to all that receive Faith in his Blood Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Rom. 3. 25. Eph. 5. 2. his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the Forbearance of God and he hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a Sweet Smelling Savour Also we Believe that as Christ Died for our Sins so he was Buried likewise and rose again according to the Scriptures But now is Christ 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. 20. 21. Risen from the Dead and become the first Fruits of them that Sleep For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead The Apostle mentions this as the Assurance which God gave to Men of his Judging the World at the Great Day by his Son Jesus Christ namely Acts 17. 31. his having Raised him from the Dead P. 31 32. And the Preaching of this Jesus Powerful Shepherd and A Mirrour c. 1683. by Sam. Wattson Bishop of our Souls was in the Heavenly Authority of his Father in which he spoke forth all things appertaining to Life and Salvation and are left upon Record by those who were Witnesses of his Coming in a most Special Manner by Matthew Mark Luke and John who were Witnesses with many more of his Doctrine Life and Suffering which laid down his Life for his Sheep as 't is Written They stripped him and put on him a Scarlet Mat. 27. 28. Robe and when they had platted a Crown of Thorns they put it on his Head Nailing him to the Cross Spitting upon him and Mocking him saying Hail KING of the Jews tho' he had done nothing worthy of Death yet the Hard-hearted who Rejected the Corner Stone said We have a Law and by our Law this Man must Die So refusing the Just One and the Saviour of the World they chose Barrabas to Live This Cruelty Acted it self in a Guileful Spirit to Destroy him in whom was found no Guile neither ever was it in his Mouth This is he who Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried and the Third Day Rose again who ascended and sitteth at the Right Hand of God the Father from whence by his own Power he comes to Judge both the Quick and the Dead This is he in whom I Believe and is my Saviour in and through whose Precious Blood is my Salvation and Redemption and not in another which Thousands with me are Witnesses of whose Blessed Promise we Believe in and in measure made partakers of that he would send the Comforter the Spirit of Truth whom the World could not receive because they knew him not he shall bring all things to Remembrance and shall lead and guide into all Truth And he that is in you shall be with you to the end of the World This is the Blessed Saviour whose Appearance is in Spirit as the Apostle Testifies of his Second Appearance without Sin to Salvation which cannot be known but by his Spiritual Work in the Inner Man whose Appearance
and Manifestation is to Destroy the Works of the Devil which is Sin Unbelief and all Unrighteousness whatsoever that he alone may Rule and Reign in Man and Woman who brings Salvation to their House This his Second Charge of our Denial of the Truth and Reality of Christ's Death and Sufferings is I think by the foregoing Testimonies sufficiently Cleared it appearing from them that his Charge of our having left the Body of Christ as a Forsaken Vail and Garment Prim. Here. c. P. 7. to Rot in the Grave And Careless of what is become of it as a thing now of no Virtue or Consequence with Vs is False if a Succession of Testimonies of our Belief herein produced for about Forty Years can Prove it yet if these are Judged too few I have many more in Store not that I can at all doubt that these are not enough to satisfie Honest Enquirers at a distance and also to Invite them to a nearer View of us herein and in the whole System of one Faith it being for the sake of such that we find our selves Concerned to Oppose the Truth of our Profession to the Falsity of our Enemies Charges For with respect to our selves we do Enjoy great Peace and Quiet though thus Evilly spoken of as knowing it was by our Saviour so foretold it should be who also himself was said to have a Devil to be a Seducer a Samaritan and a Winebiber his Apostles and Servants of Old found such-like Treatment Stephen being Stoned as a Contemner of God of his Law of Moses and of the Temple And the Apostle Paul was accounted a Heretick a Deceiver a Mad-man a Blasphemer a Seditious Person and a Contemner of the Law of his Fathers What better may we then expect from the same Spirit working in that Snake which hides himself in Grass or other Subterfuge SECT IV. I Come now to his third Charge That we deny the Resurrection and Future Judgment which upon enquiry will be found as False as the foregoing Charges and it cannot well be otherwise for it is next to impossible to be Orthodox in them and Heretical in this their dependance on each other is such And the Apostle's Argument is very strong If we had hope only in this Life we were of all Men most Miserable For true Religion cannot incline a Man to believe and be obedient to such Principles as here expose him to utmost Dangers and hereafter to no Joys Christianity is a Complex of more rational Truths than so to Clash and Jarr And however Foolish the Man accounts us we are more Learned in the School of Christ than to deny or be ignorant of so inestimable an Advantage as is the Resurrection by Christ to Eternal Glory and of that Future Judgment by which the States of Men must be determined I now subjoyn some Testimonies hereof P. 4 5 of his Works Therefore Wo be unto all Epicures who The Lying Spirit c. 1658. William Smith put the Judgment of the Lord afar off and sit down at ease in the Flesh and make their Belly their God minding Earthly things devouring God's Creation to satisfie a Lustful Appetite and so Treasuring up Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God who will render to every Man according to his Deeds when the Workers of Iniquity will not be known by him but must all depart from him into Everlasting Fire there to abide under the Eternal Judgment P. 332. And he that dieth in his Sins not believing in the Humphry Smith's Works about 1660. Light which makes an end of Sin cannot come where Christ is and so the Tree falling there it lieth and as Death leaveth Judgment findeth so shall the Reward according to the Deeds be and then shall every Man stand or fall to his own Master the Servants of the Devil to their Master and the Servants of God to their Master and there is no more Masters but them two and no Man can serve them both Again concerning Christ We believe that he is one with the Edward Burroughs his Works P. 440. Father and was with him before the World was and what the Father worketh it is by the Son for he is the Arm of God's Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without Beginning or End And we believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony to him and that he was made Manifest in Judea and Jerusalem and did the Work of the Father and was Prosecuted of the Jews and was Crucified by his Enemies and that he was Buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe he is now ascended on High and exalted at the right Hand of the Father for evermore and that he is glorified with the same Glory that he had before the World was and that even the same that came down from Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe even that he that was Dead is Alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to Judge the whole World with Righteousness and all People with Equity and shall give every Man according to his Deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall rise to Condemnation or Justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done Evil Everlasting Condemnation P. 197. of his Works And thus in the Blindness of their Uncircumcised God's Virtue c. 1670. By Tho. Taylor Hearts they heap up Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of God's Just Judgments upon them Where is he that comes from the Dead to tell us what is in another World Let 's Eat and Drink and take our Fill of Pleasures for to morrow we Dye and are not say they P. 9. And how God hath anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the A Testimony c. 1677. By George Fox Holy Ghost and with Power who went about doing good and Healing all that were Oppressed of the Devil for God was with him and we are Witnesses of all things which he did both in the Land of the Jews and in Jerusalem whom they slew and hanged on a Tree him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly and we did eat and drink with him after he arose from the Dead and he commanded us Acts 10. 41. to preach unto the People and to testifie that it is he that is ordained of God a Judge of Quick and Dead And to this do we testifie which are the People of God in Scorn called Quakers P. 159. of his Works Marvel not at this for the Hour is A Catechism 1673. By Robert Barclay coming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection John 3. 28 29. of
1655. By G. Whitehead c. sent of him for the Punishment of Transgressors and for the Encouragement of them that do well These we own and are subject to them for Conscience-sake knowing that such are not a Terror to Good Works but to Evil for such execute the Law in Righteousness upon them who are guilty of the Transgression of it for because of Transgression the Law is added and there the Law is executed in its place and in Righteousness and those that execute the Law in its place they are for the Establishment of Righteousness and Peace and contrary to the Law of Justice and Equity dare not Act in their own Wills nor for their own Ends And herein they seek not themselves nor their own Glory nor Honour but the Glory and Honour of God who is Honoured and Glorified among them who Act in Truth and Righteousness and love the Lord and to them our Souls are subject P. 23. And as for this present Authority and Government now in A Visitation of Love 1661. By Edw. Burroughs Being under the Name of King Charles the Second we do believe and acknowledge That according to the Purpose and Will of God and of his bringing to pass this present Government and Authority is set up and into its present being established P 6. 7. The Honour that is due unto Magistrates consists in True Magistracy Described 1660. By Henry Clark these two Particulars 1. Love 2dly Obedience First He that is in the Well-doing himself loves the Rulers that be set up of God who are Just and Rule in the Fear of God and is a Terror to the Evil-doers for When the Righteous are in Authority the Children of Wisdom rejoyce desiring of God that long they may Live and Prosper in the Work of the Lord and Love thinketh no Evil nor behaveth not it self unseemly toward the Rulers neither speaketh any Evil against him neither doth it revile the Judges Secondly Honour due to the Magistrate consisteth in Obedience either Actively in Doing or Passively by a Willing Patient and Meek Suffering under them for the Lord's sake And because Christ's Headship Kingship and Supremacy alone Sam. Fisher p. 34. of his Works we together with the True Church which is in God the Father and in Jesus Christ the Light can own in the Court of Conscience and in Matters purely Spiritual and of meer Religious and Soul Concernment and not any meer Mans much less the Pope's or any Priests in such Sacred Secrets therefore are we mistaken and misranked among such as are utter Enemies to the present King's Supremacy in these Dominions Whereby we do according to what the Spirit requires of us in all Civil Causes and Cases between Man and Man submit our selves to every Ordinance of Man himself I say in such cases even for the Lord's sake whether unto the King as Supream or to such as are sent of him to be a Terror to Evil-doers and a Praise to them that do well And if those who have the Sword in hand shall turn it against us for well doing and so act against the good Will of God or impose by God's Permission upon us contrary to our Consciences even there where we cannot obey actively we are willing to bear Patiently without Violent Resistance what God will leave us to Suffer from the Hands of such as should Protect us not Reviling nor Threatning nor Cursing but committing our Case in Quietness to him that Judgeth Righteously and our Souls to him in Well-doing And that Passive Deportment must be and is Judged by all to be Equivolent to that Active Obedience which others yield for Fear to what Laws soever is made among Men. Page 20. Our Principle is to bring all into a Peaceable Life To the King and both Houses of Parliament a Representation c. 1666. By John Whitehead Alex. Parker and Leonard Fell. out of those things that are Evil that the Law of God and every Law of Man that is grounded upon Reason and Equity takes hold upon and therein we are one with Justice Therefore distinguish between those whose Principles lead to Violence or other Evils that the Law of God and of Man which is equal takes hold upon and us who are one with Justice and lead from those things into a Peaceable Life as much as in us lyes with all Men which is according to the Practice of the Primitive Christians Page 101. And those Rulers Governours or Magistrates who The Life of God c. 1677. By William Gibson are a Terror to Evil Doers and a Praise to those that do well are worthy of Honour yea of double Honour and all such are duly honoured by us with the Honour which belongs unto them and we really and with Pleasure Honour and Obey all such not for fear of the Wrath but for good Conscience sake as the Apostles and Primitive Fathers did Page 481. It is our Principle and Testimony to deny and renounce G. Fox's Journal given the Parliament 1680. all Plots and Plotters against the King or any of his Subjects for we have the Spirit of Christ by which we have the Mind of Christ who came to Save Mens Lives and not to Destroy them and we would have the Kind and all his Subjects to be safe Wherefore we do Declare That we will Endeavour to our Power to Save and Defend him and them by Discovering all Plots and Plotters which shall come to our Knowledge that would Destroy the King or his Subjects These Quotations are I hope sufficient for the purpose Intended which is To Testifie our Constant Peaceable Principle and Practice in Obedience to Government and Magistracy yet as a close to all the foregoing Quotations from our Friends Books I will give one Quotation which Relates to near all the foregoing Charges and which is taken from a Paper lately given to the Parliament Occasioned by E. Bugg's Calumnies it 's Entituled The Quakers Vindication and was PRESENTED to the Members of Parliament in December 1693. We whose Names are Under-written being in Christian Society with the People called Quakers do in good Conscience Declare and Certifie all Persons Concerned 1. That we sincerely Believe and Confess That Jesus of Nazareth who was Born of the Virgin Mary is the True Messiah the very Christ the Son of the Living God to whom all the Prophets gave Witness And we do Highly Value his Death Sufferings Works Offices and Merits for the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind together with his Laws Doctrine and Ministry 2. That this very Christ of God was and is the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World who was Slain was Dead and is Alive and Lives for Evermore in his Divine Eternal Glory Dominion and Power with the Father 3. That the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are of Divine Authority as being given by Inspiration of God 4. And that Magistracy or Civil Government is God's Ordinance