broken mangled and perverted Quotations for our Principles and perhaps an Unapt Expression or two pickt up out of Good Matter And the main Things or Principles wherein we have all along even from the first chiefly differed from many of the Clergy are these viz. 1st Our sincere belief of the True Vrim and Thummim the Light and Perfection And 2dly Our Christian Testimony against Tythes forced maintenance and Persecution together with Popish Ceremonies and Superstitions not yet purged out as inconsistent with Christ's free Ministry concerning which we are manifestly the very same in Principle and Persuasion we were from the Beginning To the 2d part quoted against me I have already answered there may be various manners of wording and expressing the same matter and yet our Intentions 〈◊〉 â—he same As where I explain my Friends Meaning and Intentions 〈◊〉 be agreeable to mine and more fully distinguish and clear it according to the Harmony of his other Concurrent Passages in the same and other Books as sometimes in these precedent Observations As to Bugg's Postcript 't is according to his other Scribles Falshood and Jeers frequently repeated and mostly answered in the foregoing Observations and other Answers of mine He is so full of Tautologies Repetitions of the same Falshoods Boastings Scoffing and Flouting beginning and ending with Falshoods as observing us timerous about their Petition and that we make the World believe we fear Persecution Because we have endeavoured to prevent his and some Priests endeavours tending thereto against us to Authority this has disquieted him and them And therefore to be revenged he repeats his old detected Lies and Calumnies against us as that we call the Scriptures Serpent's Meat Beastly Ware c. with many more abominable Lies since often told of the same yet persists therein like a Hardned Wretch so that it is not worth the while to spend much more time in tracing the Crooked Steps of such a Mercenary Agent who gives no solid nor pertinent Reply to any serious Answer but clamours scoffs boasts vilifies and throws as much Dirt as he can upon us spending his precious time to seek our Ruin by Reproaches and Calumnies to enrage the Priests and incense Authority if he could against us But the Lord will Rebuke him and Reward him according to his Deeds I wish he may yet seek and find a place of Repentance if yet to be found before he be cut off and however that others may take warning by his Lamentable Relapse and Treacherous Apostasie A Brief Examination OF A Defaming Pamphlet Without Author's name to it Reproachfully stiled Some few of the Quakers many Horrid Blasphemies Heresies and their Bloody Treasonable Principles destructive to Government Delivered to the Members of both Houses of the LORDS and COMMONS in the Month of March 1698 9. PART II. THIS Title looks with Persecution Fury Deadly Envy and Blood in the Face of it it is like the work of certain Judasses and their Priests who are fallen into such a faint and feeble Condition as to be beholden to Apostates to help and assist them in their private Cabals to Plot and Contrive Mischief against the Innocent and to bring forth such furious Clamour Calumnies and Perversions thereby labouring to incense the Parliament and Government against the Peaceable People called Quakers Now let 's Examine some of their Principal Objections or Allegations quoted for Proof of their Furious Persecuting Title I. Concerning the Holy Trinity 1. Their first Objection The Scriptures do not tell the People of a Trinity nor Three Persons c. Against Geo. Fox Great Mystery p. 246. Here in the same Paragraph Period and Answer these Words are left out viz. And the Father Son and Holy Spirit are always one Observe hence what may be term'd the Scripture Trinity or Divine Three in the Deity the Father Son and Holy Spirit is plainly confess'd As also in Gr. Myst p. 99. As for the Unity we own and Christ being the brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his Substance we own As also in some Principles of the Elect People of God Printed 1671. p. 43. Of the Word Trinitas there is no mention made in Scripture yet the Scripture speaks of Father Son and Holy Ghost and all these are One. Now pray observe if any be offended at this and if our Adversaries will produce us plain Scripture-Proof for the Terms Trinity of Three Persons then 't is meet we should Retract those Words before i. e. That the Scriptures do not tell People thereof 'T is worthy our Observation what Dr. Burnet now Bishop of Sarum in the Life of John Earl of Rochester p. 104. speaking of the Trinity saith Which for want of Terms fit to express them by we call Persons and are called in Scripture the Father Son and Holy Ghost Whereby it seems then they do not think the Word Persons either a fit or Scriptural Term to express the Father Son and Holy Ghost by and therefore these Men should not be too severe in Imposing it or Uncharitable in their Censuring others about it to occasion Disturbance in Peoples Minds and such Disputes as probably they cannot well quiet or bring to a clear Solution By any of our Questioning or not using the Term Persons in this case we do not deny the Doctrine or thing intended i. e. the Father the Word and Holy Spirit which Three are one And we would not have any so Injurious or Disingenuous as to conclude we deny the same 2 Q. Against Will Penn's Sandy Foundation p. 12 13 14 15. they pick up some Pieces of his Arguments but Answer them not levelled against this Doctrine held by some which they leave out viz. The Trinity of Distinct and Separate Persons in the Unity of Essence This our Adversaries leave out and which by this time a Day we hope none will maintain such a Separation in the Deity between the Father Son and Holy Ghost being one God blessed for ever They also take no notice of what he Writes for this Scripture Trinity Sandy Found p. 32. viz. Mistake me not we never have disown'd the Father Word and Spirit which are one And in p. 36. As concerning Christ I declare on behalf of that Despised People Vulgarly called Quakers the Grace of which we testifie hath never taught us to acknowledge another God than he that 's Father of all things who fills Heaven and Earth Neither to confess another Lord Jesus Christ than he that appear'd so many Hundred Years ago made of a Virgin like unto us in all things Sin excepted or any other Doctrine than was by Him declar'd and practis'd and also being God's Innocent Heritage in Principles Life and Death to bear an Unanimous Testimony for the only true God true Christ and Heavenly Doctrine which in their Vindication is openly attested Thus far W. P. in his own and our Friends Vindication 3. Here is the Three Persons thou dreams of which thou wouldst divide out of
one like a Conjurer c. quoted against G. W. and other Quakers as they say in their Book Intituled Ishmael and his Mother cast out As to this Quotation though not truly taken yet as the Words are in the said Ishmael c. quoted G. Whitehead hath positively disown'd the Words and affirms They are none of his and that he writ not that part of the Answer to Townsend which was in the Year 1654. and that he neither shall stand by nor own these Words and that after he saw them in Print he was sorry his Name was to that Paper without distinction between what he writ and what he did not write in it wherein the Words are which gave the Occasion and which appear too Rash and Irreverent either to Vindicate Solid Truth or oppose any wrong Notion For a more full account of G. Whitehead's Innocency and Clearness in this very Matter he refers the Reader to his Answer to Dr. Forde Intituled The Christianity of the People commonly called Quakers Printed 1690. p. 28. Now pray observe That in the Vnity of the Godhead there is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost being those Divine Three Witnessing in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and that those Three are One of one Substance Power and Eternity As we have not denied but confess'd this Doctrine herein we don't disagree II. Concerning Christ our Blessed Lord. 4. That the outward Person which Suffer'd was properly the Son of God we utterly deny against W. P's Serious Apology p. 246. Here I take him to mean the Son of God in respect to his Divine Being as He is of One Substance with the Father which his Body that Suffered Death was not Though He was truly the Son of God as He took upon Him that Body and as made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 Being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary Take W. P's own Explication in the same Page and Paragraph which is unfairly left out where he plainly confesseth That He that laid down his Life and suffered his Body to be Crucified by the Jews without the Gates of Jerusalem is Christ the only Son of the Most High God c. one with the Father and of a Nature Eternal c. These Words our Adversaries leave out 5. Your Imagined God beyond the Stars and your Carnal Christ is utterly denied c. Here they quote Sword of the Lord drawn p. 5. By C. A. Which Book I have not but these Words are denied as well as the Person that writ them as Offensive and as neither proper to the true Christ or Omni-present God who therefore is not an imagined God nor is the true Christ a Carnal Christ but a Spiritual and Most Glorious Christ See Antidote against the Venom of the Snake in the Grass p. 145. 6. The Devil was in thee thou sayst thou art Saved by Christ without thee and so hast recorded thy self a Reprobate Against Great Mystery p. 250. Which was because this Adversary was Ignorant of the Mystery of Christ within him as the Words there follow which are unjustly left out For instead of owning the Mystery of Christ within the Adversary in the place quoted pleads the Continuance of Sin in the Saints for their Humiliation Gr. Myst p. 250. 7. What was his Christ's Person being mean and contemptible to them his Disciples more than another Person Against Will Bailey's Works p. 307. The Parenthesis is wrong placed here to pervert the Sense 't is thus in the Book quoted viz. They loved his Person for the sake of the Frame and Quality of the Spirit that dwelt in Him or else what was his Person being mean and contemptible to them more than another Person but for that which dwelt in him they loved him let none mistake I do not slight it c. So that by this his Person was more than any other i. e. more excellent though made very low by Suffering 8. That Finite and Impotent Creature Speaking of Christ Here they quote Sandy Foundation p. 20. Which is a shameful Abuse and Lie he speaks not a Word of Christ in that Paragraph but of the Finite and Impotent Creature in general as being capable of Forgiving Injuries done him which the Notion of an Adequate and Rigid Satisfaction allows not God 9. The Sufferings of the People of God Quakers c. Quakers is added and the Subsequent Matter Answered before 10. The Blood of Christ was no more than the Blood of another Saint Quoted against S. E's Letter Not warrantable Expressions and disown'd in the said Antidote p. 223 224 225. Where the Benefit of Christ's Blood is truly confessed Their Charge against W. P. about Christ's Co-essentiality and Co-eternity with the Father of his being made Man c. p. 4. Answered by W. P. himself hereafter 11. Christ's coming in the Flesh was but a Figure i. e. a Figure or Type of the Inward Christ or Light within This is quoted against G. Whitehead's Truth Defending the Quakers p. 22. They abuse me still in this it was none of my Assertion That Christ's coming in the Flesh was but a Figure Neither is there such a word in that page quoted but in the Priest's Question p. 20. as before is answered and it is a manifest Forgery upon me that Christ's coming in the Flesh was but a Figure or Type of the Inward Christ or Light within I positively disown these words as a down-right Forgery and Abuse put upon me What a horrid shame is it that any Priests or their Agents should have a hand in presenting the Parliament with such Lies and Abuses 12. One outward thing cannot be the proper Figure or Representation of another The Outward Lamb shews forth the Inward Lamb i. e. The Paschal Lamb was not the Figure or Type of the Outward Christ but of the Light within of which Christ himself was but a Figure This is quoted against W. Penn's Christian Quaker p. 97. Their subsequent Perversion is notorious and as grosly false Tho' it is not the way of the Scripture to teach us as W. P. saith in the page quoted that One outward thing is or can be the proper Figure or Representation of another yet it is a twofold Falshood and Perversion to make it the Quakers Doctrine that the Paschal Lamb was not Figurative or Typical of Christ as without us but of the Light within As also that Christ himself was but a Figure of the Light within These I testifie against as a Two-fold Falshood and Perversion against the Quakers And how will these Men prove that the outward Paschal Lamb was the proper Figure or Representation of Christ's outward Person pray What proper Resemblance had they Was not rather the Lamb in respect of its Innocency a proper Figure of Christ's Innocency as the Lamb of God once Offered for Sin 13. The Quakers see no need of directing Men to the Type for the Anti-type nor yet to Jerusalem either
which Created all things c. Where 's the Blasphemy in all these Surely none feeing God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all 1 John 1.5 The Lord is my Light and my Salvation Psalm 27.1 And there is one God the Father who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4.6 And know you not how that Jesus Christ the true Light is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 God who is Light and Christ the Light of the World is so in all as he enlightens all Mankind God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 Now it is evident what these Adversaries call Blasphemous is testified in Holy Scripture 3. Charge of Blasphemy p. 3. In Geo. Fox's Book styled The Pearl found in England c. Printed 1658. where speaking in the Person of the Quaker's Light he hath these Passages p. 15 16. I 'll break in Pieces I 'll make Nations like Dirt I 'll tread them into the Mire c. With divers other Prophetical Passages partially pick'd up minced and curtailiz'd and many Lines left out where the dashes are as against Pride Hypocrisie Covetous Practices Hypocrites False Prophets c. All within the Threats and Prophesied against in the Name of the Lamb and Life of God and if truly read agreeable to the Holy Prophets in Scripture Thou shalt crush them with a Scepter of Iron or with a Rod of Iron and break them in Pieces like a Potters Vessel prophesied of the Son of God Psal 2.6 7 8 9. And will not the Lord tread down his Enemies I will Tread them in mine Anger and Trample them in my Fury Isa 63.3 Now is it not great Presumption to deem such Prophesies Blasphemous These words are also quoted and included in their charge of Blasphemy i. e. The Wrath of the Lamb is risen upon all Apostates who are gathered in the Apostacy Apostatiz'd from the Prophet's Life the Apostles Life the Life of the Lamb the Lamb is Risen c. the pure Life of God is Risen c. the Just will Rule the Lamb will have the Victory Woes Woes and Miseries are out-going upon all the Heads of the Wicked What our Hands have Handled and what our Eyes have Seen what was from the Beginning the Word of Life this declare we unto you What a strange Presumption is it that these Men should charge us with Blasphemy for such passages as these which are directly concurring with Holy Scripture Prophecies against the Wicked and for the Lamb's Power Dominion and Judgment against them Apostates and others And for our handling and seeing the Word of Life which was from the Beginning we knowing and sincerely professing the Lord God and the Lamb to be our Light and no other see Isa 14.5 Jer. 21.5 Nahum 1.2 Zeph. 1.14 15. Zech. 7.12 John 3.36 Rom. 1 18. and 2.5 8. 1 Thes 2.16 Rev. 6.16 17. and 14.10 and 15.1.7 and 18.3 See Wo and Woes and to whom Isa 5.8 11. and 18.20 and 10.1 4th Charge of Blasphemy p. 4. Again G. Fox in his Book stiled The Teachers of the World Vnvail'd c. in p. 27. thus saith I am the Light of the World him by whom the World was made if you love the Light with which you are enlightened withall you love Christ who saith Learn of me But if you hate that Light there is your Condemnation from him who is one with the Truth in every Man who of the Lord was moved thus to write whose name of the World is called G. Fox Obs Here are several Lines left out before the last words relating to G. F's name wherein mention is made of what he means that 't was the Light which the Apostles were in Which could not be meant of G. F. himself who was not in the Apostles days nor born into the World until many hundred Years after their days thus perverse and impertinent are these Men in their Charge and Proofs 'T is evident G. F. here speaks in the name of Christ and for him and not of himself or in his own name but of Christ the Light who Enlightneth every Man and who is Lord over all And G. F. writes as his Servant moved by him and therefore 't was very unjust as well as great Envy in these Persons to make this an Instance of the Quakers Blasphemy see John 1.9 and 3.19 5. Their next Charge of Blaspemy against us p. 4. Is viz. And to This another of their Eminent Teachers one of their Prophets says Amen in his Book The Quakers Challenge c. printed 1668. Of G. F. 't is said who is a Prophet indeed and hath been Faithful in the Lord's Business from the Beginning It was said of Christ that he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not So it may be said of this true Prophet George Fox added whom John said he was not But thou wilt feel this Prophet George Fox again added one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee And altho' the World knows him not yet he is known p. 5. These words whom John said he was not we disown in that place they are confusedly misplaced And the Author was not one of the most Approved or Eminent among us as falsly represented tho a more Honest and well Intending Man than Skilful in Expression as in this case his Intention ought to be considered He could not intend that the World was made by G. F. as he did after explain himself in Print but by Jesus Christ by whom God Created all things Ephes 3.9 Heb. 1.2 but that the World knew him not he intended relative both to Christ and to his Servant as 't is said of the Sons of God 1 John 3.1 The World knoweth us not because it knew not him As there could be no Blasphemy or Reproach to God or Christ intended in the aforesaid recited Passage so neither can the People call'd Quakers be justly charged therewith That we-may see cause to word some things otherwise than some have and yet mean the same thing is often repeated by F. Bugg and these Persons tho I see no real advantage they get by it against us For suppose any one does unsafely or untelligibly or dubiously word any matter And I find his meaning to be safe and give a true Explication thereof according to the Honest or Innocent meaning of the Author from other passages his meaning therein is agreeable to mine which I safely and sincerely express tho' his words are not altogether the same 6th Charge of Blasphemy Edw. Burroughs In his works p. 149. Has an Answer to this Question is that very Man with that very Body within you Yea or Nay He saith the very Christ of God is within us we dare not deny him Obs To Instance this for a Proof of Blasphemy against us is to Charge the Holy Apostle with Blasphemy 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves
infallible in matters of Salvation and Christ's Kingdom he is in the way of Holiness in which the wayfaring-man shall not err Isai 35.8 If we follow our own Spirits and lean to our own Natural Understandings or Humane Reason we may err and mistake but if we adhere closely to the Spirit of Christ the Truth and be attentive to its Teaching and Guidance we shall not err nor be deceived My Sheep hear my voice saith Christ and a Stranger they will not follow But if there must be no discerning of Spirits no infallible or certain Character to be given of other Men's States or Conditions by an inward sense or discerning of Spirits then Christ's Sheep may follow Strangers Wolves Dogs c. and so be devoured contrary to his own Doctrine and below the sense and instinct of the very Sheep which leads them to shun Dogs and Wolves when they make at them whether they Bark or Howl or be Mute And who dare adventure their Bodies in the hands of such ignorant Physicians as have no certain understanding of Diseases or of Medicines How much less their Souls with such Doctors And how shall Satan transform'd be prevented from making havock in the Church of Christ if no certain discerning in the Church of his Attempts Then as to the certainty and infallibility of Christ's Ministers in the work of his Ministry We are not as many who corrupt or make merchandize of the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God so speak we in Christ 2 Cor. 2.17 And our Gospel was not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance 1 Thes 1.5 10th Instance to prove Blasphemy against us p. 7. Edw. Burroughs p. 862. Such i.e. Hereticks are infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the true Chunch of Christ and by every member of the same Obs Seeing this is made a proof of Basphemy against us let the contrary be Inverted upon these accusers and then it must be That Hereticks are not infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the true Church of Christ nor by the members thereof Contrary to what God has promised his People and to what has been and is experienced in the true Church where the Spirit and Power of Christ is present among them and humbly Obeyed Then shall you return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Mal. 3.18 and Job 6.30 A wise Man's heart discerneth both Time and Judgment Eccles 5.8 He that is Spiritual judgeth all things yet himself is judged of no Man 1 Cor. 2.15 And there was and is true Judgment and Discerning in the Church of Christ proceeding from his Spirit in the true and Spiritual Believers in Christ see 1 Cor. 6.2 3 4 5. and Chap. 14.29 Heb. 5.14 Yea further It was prophesied by Enoch the seventh from Adam against such Apostates as are mentioned in Juda's Epistle saying behold the Lord cometh in ten Thousands of his Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Sanctis Millibus suis To execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their Ungodly Deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard Speeches which Ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 14.15 And these our Adversaries are accountable to God for all their Hard Speeches Severe and Unjust Judgment and Condemnation against his People called Quakers presuming to condemn us all as Blasphemers Hereticks c. from their own uncertain fallible and erroneous Judgments and Spirits but he that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the Innocent are both abomination to the Lord. 11th Instance for proof of Blasphemy against us p. 7. G. F. Gr. Myst p. 282. Whereas Mr. Cawdry said surely they cannot be perfect here or hereafter in Equality but only in Quality Fox Answers Christ makes no distinction in his words but saith be ye perfect even as your Heavenly Father is and as he is so are we and that which is perfect as he is perfect is in Equality with the same thing which is of God and from God Obs Within the same Period here are several material Words left out wherein these Men have dealt very disingenuously next after the words Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is and be ye merciful as he is left out After that which is perfect and merciful left out Again after as he is perfect and merciful left out Now where 's the Blasphemy pray Was it not Christ's own Doctrine Be ye Perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect Mat. 5.48 In the Old Bible printed in 1576. dedicated to Queen Elizabeth Ye shall therefore be perfite as your Father which is in Heaven is perfite and noted in the Margent We must labour to attain unto the perfection of God who of his free Liberality doth Good to them that are unworthy And Luke 6.36 Be ye therefore merciful as your Father is merciful Now what distinction dost Christ make in these Words and Precepts as in point of Purity And where 's the Perfection in Quality granted then And wherein must this Perfection consist 'T is not for any Man or Men to be perfect God but perfect Men true Men as their Heavenly Father is true God Men after God's own heart in Sincerity and Truth And was not Perfection of Holiness Righteousness and Purity the holy Apostles Doctrine Intent and End of their Ministry Yea sure See 2 Cor. 7.1 Ephes 4.12 13. Colos 1.28 1 John 2.1 and Chap. 3.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. verses 12th Instance or Charge of Blasphemy against us p. 7. G. F. Gr. Myst p. 101. saith It is the Doctrine of Devils that Preacheth that Men shall have sin and be in a Warfare so long as they be on Earth P. 231. All who come to Christ the Second Adam they come to Perfection and all who attain to Him they attain to Perfection in the Life of God out of the First Adam P. 271. For who are Sanctified have Perfect Vnity Perfect Knowledge Perfect Holiness Obs Not to insist upon the Unfairness of these Men in the Citation of these Passages leaving out the fore-going Lines which carry Proof in them thereof what 's the Tendency and Consequence of their Judging these Blasphemous But First That Men shall have sin and none obtain Victory over it though they war against it so long as they be on Earth Secondly That none who come to Christ or attain to him do attain to be perfect in Him or in the Life of God As if Perfection were not attainable in Christ contrary to the Holy Apostles Doctrine and Ministry which was for the Perfecting of the Saints and to present them perfect in Christ Jesus Ephes 4. Gol. 1. And if Sin be the work of the Devil and Christ be manifest to destroy it then it is a