Word near in their hearts of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a true Preacher to turn them to the Light within and how shall they Preach except they are sent to turn people from darkness to Light and surely Brother that Prophet which Moses said God would raise up whom we should hear in all things he preaches in our hearts and we hear his voice and follow him Answ These are the words of your Letter and I shall Answer you but first of all I cannot but take notice what a sad judging and censorious Spirit you are of I thought Sister you durst not have spoken after this manner do you think that none of the Baptists did ever hear Christ's voice and follow him surely you may conclude that some of them did for the Primitive Saints were baptized in Water and so might as well be called Baptist's as any now and yet they I do suppose you think did hear Christ's voice and follow him but do you judge that none of the Baptists now do depart from iniquity doubtless you may have ground to conclude That some of them are as holy Men and Women as any are amongst you though they do not look to be justified by their own inherent holiness We do not believe 't is possible to attain to such a degree of perfection as to be as pure from sin as our Lord Jesus Christ was we see there is need to pray as our Lord hath taught Forgive us our trespasses and that we have need of Christ's Intercession for us it wounds and grieves us because we are attended with such a body of sin and death we find a continual need of a supply of Grace we find when we would do good evil is present with us if you have no evil thoughts nor no need to pray Forgive us our sins nor of Christ's Intercession that you have all strength and no weakness all light and no darkness that you are perfect not only in part but also in the highest degree and know as you are known having no defect in your understandings if these things be so you do excel any of the Baptists but I fear there are evil thoughts weaknesses defects in the best of you and if so you must go to the perfect righteousness of another viz. the Lord Jesus Christ of necessity or else you are undone for ever notwithstanding all your holiness which you above others make your boast of You speak of calling on the Name of the Lord. I know not what such should call upon the Name of the Lord for that are so perfect as some Quakers say they are if they have need of any thing if they are not taken up into the fruition of God they are short of that glorious estate of perfection of which they speak But again you say How shall they call upon him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him Christ the Word near in their hearts whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a true Teacher to turn them to the Light within Sister you make strange reading of the Scripture there are no such sayings in all the Book of God I observe one thing and that is this you conclude that the very work of a true Preacher is to exhort people to turn to the Light within I shall in the first place make this appear to the contrary and do affirm That none of the true Gospel-Preachers did ever teach such a Doctrine as this is which you speak of and which the Quakers preach namely bid the People turn to the Light within I have carefully examined the Scriptures upon this account and I find David charging and counselling his Son Solomon to walk in the wayes of God and to keep his Statutes and Commandments as they were written in the Law of Moses 1 Kings 2. 3. and in Psal 119. 9. 't is written Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way the Answer and direction is by taking heed thereto according to thy Word 'T is not said by turning to the Light within Now are you clean saith Christ through the Word which I have spoken to you Christ directs his Spouse to go forth by the footsteps of the Flock not to look to the Light within Cant. 1. 8. but to go forth and tread in the same steps that the Saints and faithful Children of God walked in in former times The Prophet Jeremiah also doth not Preach the Doctrine which Quakers do turn to the Light within but bids them Stand in the Wayes and ask for the old Paths which is the good Way and walk therein Jer. 6. 16. and they shall find rest for their Souls Moreover Isaiah that Evangelical Prophet and glorious Preacher of God's mind and counsel to the Children of Men when he came to understand that the People would seek to Deceivers and lying Spirits though they might cry up Light and Power never so much to be in them he straitway sends us To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word 't is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. he doth not direct to the Light within but to the Law and Testimony Also the Prophet Malachi commands and counsels the People to remember the Law of Moses commanded him in Horeb Mal. 4. 4. But again when all the People flocked to John Baptist who was a great and glorious Preacher yea chosen and sent of God if ever any were and when they cryed out What shall we do he did not command them to turn to the Light within but contrariwise pointed to Christ without him whom the Spirit descended and did rest upon You say How shall they believe without a true Preacher to turn them to the Light within Now Sister you may see that none of those true Preachers did preach any such Doctrine But to go on let us see whether Christ or his Apostles which he chose and sent forth as the great Ministers and Embassadours of the Gospel did ever give such counsel unto men or publish such a Doctrine to the world viz. Turn to the Light within Pray observe the Answer to the young man that came running to him asking him What he must do to inherit eternal life Christ sent him presently to the Scripture to see what he read there and bad him Sell that which he had and give it to the poor and follow him and he should have treasure in Heaven and not one word of turning to the Light within Also the Lord Jesus Christ doth not bid the Jews look within but search the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39. But to proceed Let us see what counsel the Apostle Peter gave to those Jews that were pricked in their hearts Acts 2. 37. who cryed out What shall we do he doth not exhort them to mind the Light which was in their Consciences and turn to that and believe in that but said he Repent and be baptized
given many times as the answer of their Prayers their Supplications to God for to give it plainly shews it was not in their power of the Apostles to give it Secondly That Baptism which is here intended which our Lord commanded his Apostles to baptize with was the Baptism which after his Ascension they did baptize with and that 't is evident was Water Can any man forbid Water saith Peter Acts 10. 47. that these should not be baptized c. 't is said They went both down into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch Acts 8. 38. Now the Baptism here commanded must needs remain to be practised to the end of the World Because whatsoever is here given forth by Christ is given forth as he is King and Mediatour of the New Covenant and as part of his last Will and Testament and his last Will and Testament stands in full force and vertue to the end of the World unalterable and whosoever brings any other Gospel let him be accursed Thirdly Because 't is the mind of Christ that whatsoever he Commanded them should be taught successively to the Nations And his Spiritual Presence being promised unto the end of the World to all those that did keep and observe whatsoever he there commanded them plainly proves that the practice of all those Ordinances were to be kept up to the end of the World But again To prove that the practice of Water-Baptism doth remain in full force and vertue after the coming of Christ in Spirit I need not go further to make it appear than the second of the Acts. Christ made good the Promise of the Comforter or his coming to his Disciples in Spirit as you may see in the beginning of that Chapter by the help and power of which Spirit Peter preach'd to those Jews that had put Christ to death and many of them being pricked in their hearts cryed out What shall we do Then said Peter vers 38. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit And vers 41. 't is said Those that gladly received the Word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand Souls This observe was after that coming of Christ which you speak of Do you think that the Apostle Peter in the Name and Authority of Christ Jesus would have commanded so many persons to be baptized if he had understood Water-Baptism ceased at the pourings forth of the Spirit or the practice of it was to remain no longer Besides was not the Eunuch baptized in Water after the coming of Christ in Spirit Acts 8. 41 42. and many in the City of Samaria and was not Paul baptized by Ananias Acts 9. and Cornelius and those with him after the coming of Christ in Spirit with many others that I might mention and yet you very ignorantly affirm That the practice of it was to remain no longer than till Christ so came as aforesaid I might now come to Answer another Objection that some of your judgment bring against this Appointment of Christ and then come to examine the remaining part of your Letter 't is grounded from Paul's words 1 Cor. 1. 14. I thank God I baptized none of you save Crispus and Gaius Observe by the way That though this is brought as an Objection against Baptism yet the Objector doth thereby confess the Baptism here intended is that of Water and then by your own confession Paul baptized after the coming of the Comforter or Christ in Spirit But you say he thanks God he baptized no more Indeed too many by them if the practice of it were out of doors before But to return you an Answer take his next words for it he gives you the reason why he thanked God he baptized no more 't is not because the practice then was not in force but lest any should say he baptized in his own Name many amongst them were grown so carnal as to slight or else to idolize their Teachers and ready to accuse the Ministers of Christ with unfaithfulness as if they did that in their own Names which they did in the Name and Authority of Christ Jesus and this was the cause of his speaking those words But 't is objected That he doth affirm Christ sent him not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel Answ Paul doth not intend by his so speaking that he had no Authority from Christ to baptize but rather to show that his chief work was to Preach the Gospel He gives us to understand that to baptize was not the alone and chief business he was sent to do but his great work was to Preach the Gospel This word not is not alwayes used as an absolute Negative for then Christ utterly forbids all outward labour Joh. 6. 27. where he commands them Not to labour for the meat which perisheth c. and by the same Argument we may conclude also that Adam was not at all deceived because Paul saith expresly 1 Tim. 2. 14. Adam was not deceived but the Woman It is clear the Apostle meaneth Adam was not first deceived I might give divers instances of the like kind but this shall at present suffice as to the Answer of this Objection I shall now come to examine the next part of your Letter these are your very words being a Repetition and Reply to some part of that which I formerly wrote unto you Thou speakest of the Body of Christ after he was risen again and sayest That after that he spake with his Disciples and gave them Commandments that then he Ascended with the same Body into Heaven which words are not agreeable to the Scripture Brother be not too wise in thy own conceit for it is no where said That flesh and blood is Christ but Jesus Christ came in the flesh Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. But one in a certain place saith That he first descended into the lower parts of the Earth and he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 9 10. Beware at any time thou opens thy mouth against the true Light that lightneth every man which cometh into the World for it is the pure Principle which is owned by the scorned People called Quakers and ought to be owned by thee also Oh Brother come out of your beggarly Elements and turn to the Light which reproves for sin and believe in it and it will certainly take away thy sin Surely he is come yea he is come felt heard and understood c. Answ What I formerly wrote unto you concerning Christ and of his appearing to his Disciples after he rose again from the dead and that he ascended with the same body into Heaven is expresly according to the words of the holy Scriptures And for being wise in my own conceit I have otherwise learned Christ and the wisdom
I have it is from above and I dare not be wise above what is written But why dost thou deny the flesh or body of Christ Oh! that ever my Sister should yield so far to Satan and Delusion as to affirm That that Body of flesh and bone that was born of the Virgin and nailed to the Cross is no where said to be the Christ but that the Christ was in him in that body of flesh that was crucified It is evident that you deny the Man Christ Jesus or he to be the Christ that was hanged on the tree or put to death between two Thieves For if the Light or Power in that Person be the only Christ of God distinct and apart from the body that was crucified on the Cross then it followeth plainly and may appear to any that your chief Doctrine leads you to deny that ever the Christ of God and true Saviour died for the Light Power or Godhead whereof you speak could not be so crucified and nailed to the Cross And if that Man to wit Jesus of Nazareth was upon no other account called the Christ but meerly and alone because the true Christ was in him Why may not any other man in whose flesh or body Christ is manifested and doth dwell be called the Christ as well as he who was born of the blessed Virgin Alas poor Soul thou didst never learn this Doctrine of Christ nor from the holy Scriptures Thou seemest to be one of G. Whitehead's Scholars and H. W. The latter doth affirm That Christ was never seen with any outward or bodily eye Bear with me if I am large in my Answer to you concerning this thing for my Soul is wounded in the thoughts of what you here write to see you plainly deny the true Saviour it would rejoyce my heart if God should have so much mercy for you as to recover your feet out of this evil snare I bless God for the Grace which hath been given unto me in Christ through the Gospel which hath not only enlightned my Soul into the saving knowledge of a crucified Jesus and glorious Light of the New Covenant but hath also discovered with much clearness unto me the great darkness of these men who cry up Light and Power within And I shall endeavour to make appear the Nature of this Wile of Satan and Cheat of Antichrist by God's assistance You do imagine that I am over-wise or wise in my own conceit because I affirm That Jesus Christ is a Man consisting of flesh and bone and that he ascended with the same body he had after he rose again from the dead Whether this be according to the Scriptures or the Doctrine of yours let it now be proved That inward Principle of Light and Power that was in that Person which was crucified or the Light which is in every man that cometh into the World is the true Christ Saviour and Mediatour you and other Quakers do affirm which I utterly deny yet nevertheless I would have none to suppose in the least that I do deny the glorious Deity or Godhead of our Lord Jesus Christ For though the inward Power or Godhead I assert is not the Christ considered distinct and apart from the Manhood or Humane Nature yet do I according to the holy Scripture from my heart believe that Jesus Christ is truly God Eternal God being from everlasting with the Father and the express image of his Person Heb. 1. Of the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Heb. 1. 8. The Word was in the beginning with God and was God And though he is verily God yet also is he truly Man The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and this Emanuel or God with us God in the Nature of Man is the Christ he was in the form of a Servant a man approved of God Acts 2. 22. A man of sorrows Isa 53. 3. and yet thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2. 6. being Davids Root and Davids Off-spring And this is that Glorious Mystery of God manifest in Flesh not God manifest in the flesh of every man and woman but God manifest in the flesh of our Mediatour in that particular body of Christ prepared for him by the Father or God-man in a wonderful mysterious union God and Man in an admirable manner united together in one Person that so he might thereby reconcile God and Man the offended Creator and the offending Creature and remove the Enmity upon the account of transgression And since I perceive your darkness so great upon this account that you conclude the Godhead Divine Nature of the glorious Light and Power that was in him viz. Jesus of Nazareth that was born of the Virgin distinct from his body or Humane Nature is the Christ To refute you pray observe what the Angel speaks unto the Virgin Thou shalt Conceive and bear a Son and shalt call his Name JESUS He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest Mary conceived the true Christ in her Womb and laid him in Swadling Clothes Luke 2. 6 7. Moreover the Angel testified unto the Shepherds That that very Child which Mary brought forth was the Christ Unto you is born this day observe it in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Also our Saviours words to the Woman of Samaria one would think might convince you concerning this matter She was ignorant of the true Christ I know the Messiah shall come saith she and when he comes he will tell us all things Joh. 4. 25. Jesus saith unto her I that speak unto thee am He. He did not say the Light which is within me is he viz. the Christ and true Messiah but I that speak unto thee The Apostle Peter's Testimony agrees with this Thou art Christ the Son of the living God He that was the very Son of God was also the Son of Man He took not on him saith the Author to the Hebrews the nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. Moreover after our Lord Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his Disciples they being in a maze supposing they had seen a Spirit he said unto them Behold my hands and my feet it is I my self handle me and see a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have and when he had so said he shewed them his hands and his feet If this Person who shewed his Disciples his hands and feet was not the true Christ or if he really were not a man consisting of a Body of flesh and bone what will you make of his Expressions But again Doth not the words of John Baptist very clearly refute you The people asked whether he was the Christ or no He Answered them He was not But he told them That he which sent him to baptize with Water the same said unto me Vpon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descend and
every one of you for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost c. I shall only mention one passage more upon this account and that is concerning the Preaching of Paul and Silas to the trembling Jaylor who thought the Prisoners had been fled Sirs said he What must I do to be saved Acts 16. 30. they forthwith direct him what he should do but not to turn to the Light within but to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that was the Doctrine these true Ministers and Servants of God preached to this poor Jaylor and those that were in his house the way to be saved is not to do this and thou shalt live or be obedient to the Law or Light in thy heart but believe on the Lord Jesus Christ roul thy Soul upon him apply the virtue of his Blood and Merits and obtain through precious Faith his perfect and compleat Righteousness and thou shalt be saved And thus you may clearly perceive That these Preachers of and to the Light in all do publish to the World such a Doctrine and give such counsel and directions to poor Sinners that never was preached by the Prophets John Baptist Christ nor his Apostles That God in Man hath placed a Light or given a Guide within to lead all men to eternal life and that alone men are to turn to and look to that for Life and Salvation and that no other means rule or guide man doth need or ought to have respect unto or look after Object To this I know some of your judgment have replyed That the drift and tendency of all the Teachings and Directions of the holy Men of God Christ and the Apostles was to turn People from Darkness to the Light to the knowledge of God and Christ which is Spiritual and therefore within For What may be known of God is manifest within Rom. 1. And Paul said God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts c. 2 Cor. 4. Answ To this we Answer First by Concession Who doth deny that holy Men did in all their preaching endeavour to turn men anâ— women from darkness to the light to leave their sins to turn from all their wicked abominations and unfruitful works of darkness and to turn to God and Christ and to imbrace the Gospel But was this God Christ and Gospel hid in their hearts or do those Scriptures hold forth that the Apostles did send them thither to find the will and mind of God did they bid them look within for therein the Controversie doth consist Because those who are truly converted have the Spirit of Christ in them and so come to see and behold the shining forth of the glorious Light of the Gospel in their hearts doth it follow that that Light was hid in them before or that the saving Light of Christ is in the hearts of carnal and unconverted men or because 't is said they turned to the Light do you suppose it must needs intend and signifie the Light within which you speak of I know not why you should so conclude unless there was no other Light to turn unto but what is in the heart of Men. Alas before God sent the Gospel and commanded the Light to shine into their hearts they were in darkness and without God in the World But whereas it is objected Rom. 1. What may be known of God is manifest in Men. The Apostle speaks there of the knowledge of God as Creator and what is required by God according to the Law of the first Covenant what may be known of God upon this account is mamifest in them by the visible things of the Creation and Light of their Consciences or Law which God hath implanted in their hearts Who having not the Law are a Law unto themselves shewing saith he the works of the Law written in their hearts c. and thus men who are in the night of Darkness of Heathenism and Unbelief void utterly of the saving knowledge of the Gospel and of a crucified Jesus may have the Law or Light of the Moon to guide their paths by which they are taught their Duty to God in Morals but understand nothing of that glorious Mystery of the Gospel of God's intent and eternal purpose in saving poor lost Man by the blood of Jesus Christ which by the Sun or glorious Ministration of the Gospel is revealed to us For I ask you or any amongst you this Question Whether that whatsoever may be known of our Lord Jesus Christ or of a crucified Jesus that died without the Gates of Jerusalem is taught unto Heathens and Infidels that never heard the sound of the Gospel by the Light within of which you speak which if not then whatsoever may be known of God in Christ is not manifested in them And this I further do affirm That there is none amongst you nor in the World that can make appear that ever any Heathen Ethiopian or Infidel in any remote parts that never heard the Scripture nor any man speak of it to him that had no extraordinary Miracles or Revelation that ever did attain meerly by that Light within which all men have to the knowledge of one Jesus of Nazareth that was Crucified without the gates of Jerusalem where lived that Heathen Moor or Infidel I say that meerly by the help and guidance of that Light within which came to find out so much as the Name or historical knowledge of a crucified Jesus I have heard what some persons have affirmed viz. That they should have known all that they now know of Jesus Christ and what he did and suffered if the Scripture never had been written how to believe them I know not But I shall only ask this one Question of such and shall pass on viz. What things and other Signs were those which Jesus did that are not written See Joh. 20. 30. and Chap. 21. 25. If you say you know not or 't is not revealed to you So in like manner I say you would have been as ignorant of all those things concerning Christ and his Sufferings which are written if you never had had the knowledge of the holy Scripture notwithstanding the Light within In the next place you say Assuredly that Prophet which Moses said God would raise up whom we must hear in all things he preaches in our hearts and we know his voice and follow him Answ Christ may speak by his Spirit I do grant in the heart of a Saint as well as he doth by the written Word yet never contrary to it but I do deny That the Light which is in all men is that great Prophet which Moses said God would raise up as you seem to imagine Because it is expresly said by Moses That the Prophet which God would raise up should be raised up of their Brethren and also like saith he unto me Acts 3. 22. Now how can this be said of the Light in all