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A43114 The Quaker converted to Christianity re-established, upon the same, sure, safe, and only foundation, Jesus Christ crucified, and his righteousness imputed for justification : having yet no mind to change the sweet and easie Yoke of Christ's Gospel, for the Old Covenant-Yoke of Quakerism, which he found so burdensome and intolerable, or, A full reply to a book entituled, Rebellion rebuked written by John Crook and William Baily, both in the ministry among the Quakers / written by William Haworth ... ; with an account from William Dimsdale ... Haworth, William.; Dimsdale, William. 1674 (1674) Wing H1196; ESTC R513 168,839 185

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things put together here with which thou art angry 1. That there is a Light that e●ry Man hath not 2. That there is a Righteousness imputed 3. That Salvation is from a Person wholly without which are all Truths and I am ready to defend them The First thou begins with and asks Whether the Apostles of Christ did Preach a Light or of a Light that every Man hath not 1. Now I assert and will make it good that the Scriptures do frequently speak of a Light that every man hath not Jude 19. Natural or Souly not having the Spirit Now the Spirit is Light and he that is but a Natural Man hath it not Then this Scripture speak● of a Light that every Man hath not John 14.17 The Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive If the World i. e. Worldly Carnal Men cannot receive it be sure they have it not Luk. 8.10 To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but to others in Parables that seeing they might not see c. Now here is a Light that the Disciples had which the others had not Matth. 11. Thou hast hid those things from the Wise and the Prudent and hast revealed them to Babes Then the Wise and Prudent to whom the Father reveals not Heavenly things want this Light that other Babes have Isa 60.21 Darkness shall cover the Earth and gross Darkness the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his Glory shall be seen upon thee A Prophecy of the Church that should be in Gospel-times All excepting these he saith will be in Darkness as Goshen had Light when all the rest of Egypt were in Darkness Here is a Light that the Church hath that none other hath This Light that they were to have in a distinguishing way was the Spirit in their Hearts and Gods word in their Mouths According to God's New Covenant Isa 59. and the last verse As for me this is my Covanant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy Mouth c. When thou writest be sure thou omit not answering these Scriptures plainly or else Recant for saying that it is a strange erroneous Doctrine quite contrary to the General Testimony of all the Holy Men of God in all ages B. saith What is that other Light beside the true Light That it may be known distinctly according to plain Scripture And in the next Parag● If you are not able to give us an account of this Light which every Man hath not a measure of we shall justly Judg it to be a meer dark and vain Imagination of your own Brains and asks in p. 41. Whether every one hath two Lights in him And whether they differ in degree only or in kind nature Reply This is something worth while to Answer to I am glad following thee step by step in every line that I have brought thee hither It had been fair if thou hadst promised that if in any plainness I lay down this thing thou desirest and Answer thy Objections that thou wouldest have left the dark vain Imagination of thy Brain and own this to be a Truth and ceased thy Quakerism 1. I Grant that there is a Light in every Man a spark remaining in ●llen Man of that Light that Adam had in a full Flame before his Transgression in his time of Innocency If ye ask me what it is I Answer some Principles of Common Truth fixed in the Mind of Man 2. What can it effect How far can it go 1. By this Man may know some Divine things viz. That there is a God and that he is to be Worshipped Therefore every Nation have had some kind of Worship 2. Hereby Man may discern betwixt some Moral Good and Evil. As the Heathens saw hereby Murther and Adultery to be Evils and therefore made Laws to punish those that were guilty of them 3. Man may hereby and by the help of Conscience and the Common Restraining Power of God be kept from many Evils and do many Duties that lie before him for the profit of his Neighbour for the good of the Society or Common-Wealth wherein he dwells for this one thing he seeth by it viz. the Judgment of God i. e. Justice to punish sin and this makes him fear 4. From this Light is that power in Man which he feels of condemning and excusing He may know many things to be good and his duty to do them now when he doth according to this knowledg of his reflecting upon it he hath Peace his Conscience will be quiet if not there will be trouble through the many reasonings that will be in Man and fear of Judgment 5. This Light is greatly helped and increased by the consideration of the Works of Creation Rom. 2.19 20. 6. More by the reading of the Scriptures hearing the Word preached converse with Christians And let it be noted that the Quakers had the Improvement of the Light this way though they will not acknowledg it In India we hear but of little Improvement of it 7. Many that live not up to this Light will be very inexcusably Condemned 8. And those that walk according to it doing some things contained in the Law do shame Judg and Condemn those that pretend to Christianity and yet live not in Righteousness and Sobriety And shall not Vncircumcision which is by Nature if it fulfil the Law Judg thee who by the Letter and Circumcision dost transgress the Law Rom. 2. 27. Quest 3. What can it not shew to Man 1. It cannot shew to Man how sin came into the world None of the Heathens ever spoke of this it is known only by the Revelation of the History of it in the Scriptures 2. It doth not shew to Man neither can it that the first motions to evil in the heart though not consented to are sin None of the Philosophers saw this Paul saith Rom. 7.7 I had not known Lust i. e. Concupiscence Desire to be sin he means except the Law That is Moses Moral Law had said thou shalt not Covet or desire He knew it not by all the Light of Nature within 3. It doth not shew Unbelief to be a sin a slighting and contemning and rejecting Jesus of Nazareth as the sealed Mediator John 14.8 He i. e. the Comforter shall convince the World of sin because they believe not Now this is plain in the Quakers who following the Light do so much contemn the Person of Jesus and his Righteousness 4. It shews not to Man some Moral Evils The Heathens saw not Fornication to be a Sin by all the Light they had Poligamy was not accounted a sin by them Nor Revenge a Sin Nor Vain Glory c. 5. It doth not shew the right way of Worship that is by Scripture-Revelation only Therefore the Heathens always ran into Idolatries and false Worships 6. It will not shew to Man the necessity of the New-Birth Every Man
not my Judgment He can speak any thing with his mouth to the people and believe the Contrary thing in his Judgment at the same time But to the matter Thou askest me where I find such a word in Scripture as Contrived as if I err from the from of sound words Now John I could be heartily glad if I had never heard a more unsound word from the in thy preaching thou might well have joyned that to it which I have writ in the 6th Head viz. in infinite Wisdom contrived This makes it sound a little better I confess I might have said appointed and that had been the very Scripture-word But this is such another mighty Stone as J. B. threw at me at Hartford when he told me humane Nature of Christ was a word I must not use because not in the Scripture But John is the import of this word any more than appointed ordained willed purposed and are not all these in Scripture Rom. 3. he 〈◊〉 set forth 1 Pet. 1.20 who was fore-ordained But I begin to be 〈◊〉 of playing thus at Pash-pin with thee J. C. Parag. ibid. Sometimes calling Faith our own Righteousness and again without Faith it is impossible to please God as if a Man could please God by Mans Righteousness Answ We have not yet done Who but thee John sees any Contradiction in this Faith as a Habit or Act in us is our own Righteousness I have all along distinguished between Chri'sts Righteousness and Faith in the Epistle this may be seen that upon that Scripture 〈◊〉 4. Abraham believed and is was 〈◊〉 to him for Righteousness I say not the action of Believing but that which he rested upon justified yet this is true likewise that without Faith it is impossible to please God because Faith doth trust to those Sufferings that did pacify please God yet Faith did not dye on the Cross So that we please God by Faith not as being an Habit or Act in us barely so considered but as it doth relate to its Object and takes hold of the Object God is pleased not for Faiths sake but for Christ's sake that Faith Receives I query John whether it be the hand that receiveth the mony or the mony that enricheth yet the mony without the hand is not received whether was it the Eye or Serpent that healed yet not without seeing Did Abel's Faith without Christ make his Sacrifice acceptable or please or pacify God or was it the Sacrifice of Christ that which his Faith respe●ed But if you will in this matter hear Fox speak more plainly for John will not pull his Mask off yet Fox's great Mystery pag. 49. This Justification is by the Faith of Christ within for all the Holy Men of God were Justifyed by their Faith and that Faith is in their Heart So this is that the Quakers with their Brethren the Romanists contend for viz. Justifying Righteousness to be within because Faith is within in opposition to which we say Faith is taken Relatively with its Object Christ and so Justifyeth even as David also describeth the Blessedness of the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness without Works 〈◊〉 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven c. J. C. pag. ibid. Thou sayest the young Man may now engage without any Peril any Quaker in England This is like Goliahs Boast but let 〈◊〉 him that putteth on the Harness boast as he that putteth it off I suppose 〈◊〉 if not thy self will be of another mind when you have impartially 〈◊〉 the Reply to the young Mans Book to which I refer the Reader to Judg of his great ability or rather his confused indigested thoughts concerning the Mysteries of God and Christ Answ I know the Quakers so well John that they are to me a very inconsiderable Enemy insomuch that any one that hath but by the Holy Ghost been taught the Principles of the Christian Religion may encounter with them and that with little difficulty or danger and when I cast my Eye abroad who they are that you have prevailed with to fall in with you see some you fell upon as Simeon and Levi did upon the Shechemites when they were sore under troubles of Conscience from awakings by the Law before any healings came by the Gospel and picked up them others were straglers from the Camp either that have been cast out of Churches or never setled in any way some that have taken up some prejudices against Christians or through some 〈◊〉 and Ambition highly discontent a sound humble Christian is out of your reach I have talked with many and could not find any of this people that could even give any telerable account of the Christian Religion And how many turn Quakers whose hearts are not turned to God a change in their Carriage and Garb but not in their Soul the same Passions and Pride 〈◊〉 Now Glory if you can in such a Regiment The young Man I confess is no Goliah but more like a Stripling and to take off from the Credit of the story hath been reported by you to be but a meer Boy but in God's strength both he and I have put on our Harness and will not put them off as long as you fight against the Truth and may and will boast in Jesus Christ and in his Truth and Love towards his Elect as the Captain of our Salvation J. C. Pag. ibid. Whereas thou sayest the Quakers keep people in perfect Popish Slavery the Quakers knew no Bondage and Slavery like the ●●●dage and Slavery of Sin which you believe all Men must continue in 〈◊〉 of Life and so thou refers us to thy Brother Baylies Book Answ I never saw a people in more perfect Bondage There is nothing more plainly appears than Bondage upon them it is written upon all their Words and Carriages the Principle of the Quakers tends to perfect Bondage viz. That they are to give heed to something within as to an Oracle which hath put many on to hard and difficult tasks going beyond Seas going naked long fastings going three Miles upon their Knees c. and no resistings is not this Bondage and is not this in your Religion viz. That it is to be Obeyed as Fox saith for Life and Salvation and that to perfection That your people sit Brooding upon this Principle in expectation of a Chimaera perfection in this Life must not this be Bondage to the uttermost Now what if they dye before With what fears must they needs depart Only you have got the Popish knack to tell your people that Concupiscence is no sin i. e. evil motions arising not consented to are not sin And here I will take leave in a Digression to propound some Arguments against that error of the Quakers viz. That first Risings to evil in the heart if not consented to are not sin desiring J. C. to give a fair Answer to them 1. That which the Apostle of Christ Paul calleth by the name of 〈◊〉 surely is
thou mentionest 〈◊〉 the Pharisees themselves with their erroneous Principles directly such ● sort of People as the Quakers as thou mayest see in the Answer to Crook and the Lords hand will assuredly pluck up all Heresies and H●reticks in due time In Pag. 33. He pretends to describe the Glorious State of the Kingdom of Christ as brought in by Obedience to the Light Within Read it over for it is too long to Transcribe and you will see this is the sum of it viz. That all the Earth would become outwardly reformed living Peaceably Sobe● Civil Neighbours one to another not wronging one another that Law-Suits and Wars would be no more but every 〈◊〉 growing Rich Building and Planting they would all have Vines and Fig-trees and so sit under them in Peace and Eat and Drink the good of the Land Live merry sensual proud lives yet all this while Carnal Ignorant have Lusts Reigning in their hearts not a Dram of the Knowledg of a Mediator or any thing of the Spirit of the Son upon them not a word of that in all this but only guided by the Light within i. e. In a word the Subjects of this Kingdom and all Inhabitants of the World will all be Quakers honest civil Heathens and Baily apprehends this Kingdom will never come till we all take up this Principle of obeying the Light of Nature and so turn Quakers Baily saith peremptorily that Christ's Kingdom would come this way viz. By attendance to the Light and appeals to the wise in heart to Judg. Now let the Judgment be made from these two Scriptures that he hath quoted Isa 2.4 and Micah 4.2 For out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Whether is this the Light within that every Man hath or the Preaching of the Gospel by Apostles is the question Now to resolve it what we are to understand by the Law going forth from Zion and the word from Jerusalem whether it was not the Apostles Preaching first to the Jews according to their Commission they were sent to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and not to go into the way of the Gentiles and this they did and when they had done it then they turned to the Gentiles The Preaching of the Gospel did thus go out of Zion and from Jerusalem from among the Jews to the Gentiles the Law of works was from Mount Sinai but the Law of Faith as it is called Rom. 3.27 did come from Mount Zion according to that in Luke 24.47 That Repentance and Re●●●● of sins should be Preached in his Name among all Nations beginning Jerusalem Whether was it this Doctrine or the Doctrine that George Fox ●●●ght out of the Mountains in the North about 20. years since that 〈◊〉 in the Kingdom of Christ Let the wise Judg 〈◊〉 34. Baily Thou art running the same round again like in the 2 Paragraph thou hast this How would the very Root of wickedness decay and wither inwardly if all were ceased from outwardly would it 〈◊〉 speak Barrenness if no Fruit appeared Reply By this it 's clear what the Quakers Kingdom of Christ is that this Man hath spoke of what a Reformation they would have wrought in the World only outward if this be not right Pharisaism where is there any to paint the outside when all is full of Rottenness within not a word of any change of heart but thou supposest necessarily that if no Fruit outwardly the Root must decay when-as some external means as Cold Mildews Blastings Shakings by Wind may the away all the Fruit of a Tree and yet it 's Root be in it 's full Life and Vigour may not fear of the Law awe of Parents the strength of 〈◊〉 Disease Old Age take many off their Practice of Sin when-as at the same time the Love of it is in their Hearts thus we have counted the number of the Beast as thou biddest us and see that the Quakers Religion is meerly external Before we leave this let the Reader take notice how this blind Man perverts that Scripture 1 John 3.8 For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil and puts a mark upon it applying it to the Light within every Man calling it the Son of God who was of the same Nature with the Father the Jews knew that who-ever called himself the Son of God made himself God and therefore they charged Christ with Blasphemy and would have stoned him when he called God Father now here it 's plain he calls this Light of Nature the Son of God coequal coeternal with the Father An Eternal Father must have an eternal Son this is the 5th time of thy Blasphemy Now would you know what the manifestation of the Son of God is nothing but Obedience to the Light and Christ's destroying the works of the Devil only some outward Reformation attained by Obedience to the Light according to the Quakers The other Scripture is Matth. 28.18 All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth Bayly Why dost thou leave out these last words viz. in Heaven and in Earth why dost thou quote Scriptures as Satan did omitting 〈◊〉 thereof now Answer is all power in Heaven and Earth given to the Light within which is in every Drunkard Swearer and Robber● If so this Light then is to send forth Apostles as Christ did at that time he spoke this of himself and they are to Preach in the Name of this Light and teach them to observe all things that this Light commandeth and this Light is with them to the end of the World and this would enable them to cast out Devils to convert many and would give Eternal Life to as many as it pleased John 17.2 there it is said as tho● hast given him power over all flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him Doth not thy Ears tingle Reader and thy Heart tremble at these Rampant Blasphemies B. pag. 35. And W. H. saith that the Righteousness of Faith by which we are Justified is wholly without us and that the Father hath poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ now if this Doctrine 〈◊〉 true and sound Doctrine there is no need to fear miscarriages for there is 〈◊〉 Wrath left to punish sinners if all be poured out upon Jesus Christ Reply I have already given Answer to this Cavil consisting of two Branches As for the first touching the Righteousness of Faith I have abundantly spoke to it as the Reader may find in many places both in my Answer to Crook and this Caviller and to the other concerning Gods pouring out his Wrath but will add here a little to that This is true Baily rightly understood as it 's spoke of in the Epistle viz. That the Father poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ by the Wrath of God we understand as in the Epistle may
that proceed from hence were they not his own was it Christ or Paul that Believed Loved Prayed c all the Logick thou hast Baily cannot gainsay but that it was Paul and if so then it was not madness and folly to say but the Wisdom of the Spirit of God taught him so viz. That he would be found in Christ not having those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit had wrought in his Mind to Justify him in God's sight for there are defects in all these Gifts Faith Love c. and in all our Holiness and remember God chargeth his Angels with folly and might well have charged Paul with Madness and Folly if he had trusted to his own Righteousness to Justify him in his sight I wish thou wouldst see thy own Pride Hypocrisie Ignorance Pharisaism Answer any of you Could ever Paul have the least temptation to trust to his Pharisaical Righteousness after he was converted then surely it was this Sanctified Righteousness he here speaks of which he saw would come short to Justify him but thou art otherwise mindded as it 's said in Phil. 3. by Paul God reveal it to thee in due time many of us were thus minded for some time but now through inlightnings we follow Paul's example in this Truth and are like-minded with him herein B. And pag. 11. Thou sayest viz. The Quaker goeth about to make his own Righteousness to stand yes and blame him not if it consists in those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God worketh in his mind how is any a true Christian without these Reply Thou hast said more here through thy ignorance of the Righteousness of God than thou darest stand to darest thou say that thou wouldest stand or fall before the infinitely Holy God and have him deal with thee for ever in his exact Justice according as thou hast been found in the most holy Exercise of any of the Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit speak The Prophet saith Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be Justified Psal 143. 2. but here is a Prophet saith Thou mayest Lord to the utmost Judg me for I have Gifts and Vertues enough of the Spirit in me to Justify me in thy sight In Psal 130.3 The Psalmist saith If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand Yea saith this Pharisee but I shall and my Righteousness too for it consisteth in the Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit and let God mark iniquities never so narrowly I shall do well enough Job a perfect and upright Man speaketh on this wise Chapt. 9.2 How shall Man be Just with God v. 3. If he will contend with him he cannot answer him one of a thousand But here is a perfect Man that saith Man may be Just with God and if God doth contend with him he hath the Gifts of the Spirit which Job belike had not and this Righteousness shall stand and thus W. B. can Answer God every thing in every thousand that is laid to his Charge V. 15. Whom though I 〈◊〉 Righteous yet would I not Answer but make my supplication to my Judg yea v. 21. Though I were perfect yet would I not know my Soul 〈◊〉 30 31. Though I wash my self in Snow water and make my hands ●●ver so clean yet shalt thou plung me in the Ditch and mine own Clothes ●●all abhor me But W. B. saith he will Answer God in this his perfection and this shall be his Answer viz. That his Righteousness shall stand and he will know his own Soul thus adorned and let God plung him if he can he will adventure it The Heavens are not clean in 〈◊〉 sight the Scripture saith in the Book of Job but Baylies Righteousness is clean in God's sight He chargeth his Angels with folly no mat●●● for that Bayly cannot be charged for his Righteousness consists in the Gifts of the Spirit But have not the Elect Angels the Gift of the Spirit But it 's likely not in such a Degree as this Man or they have more mixture of evil in the exercise of them than this Prophet I err not in calling thee a bold proud Man for this saying I will give thee a Testimony out of Foxes Monuments of one of the Martyrs see how it agrees with thy Doctrine in the third Volume pag. 418. Anno 1555. in a letter of Robert Samuels written to the Christian Congregation declaring the Confession of his Faith these are his words viz. All the Works Merits Deservings Doings and Obedience of Man towards God although they are done by the Spirit of God in the Grace of God yet being thus done be of no Validity Worthiness Merit before God except God for his Mercy and Grace account them worthy for the Worthiness and Merit of Christ Jesus c. And thou contradicts thy Brother John Crook who in his words acknowledgeth that he looks to be accepted not for works of Righteousness that he had done not for the works sake only though wrought by the Spirit yet here that which is wrought by the Spirit must Justifie us in Gods sight otherwise thou sayest nothing for we say that none are true Christians without the Gifts of the Spirit but yet these do not Justify them in God's sight Justification and Sanctification go hand in hand our state and Relation is changed there is Justification our Nature there is Sanctification the Gifts of the Spirit and Regeneration flow from Justification in order of Nature though not of times we are Justified before we are Renewed forgiven before Sanctified Pag. 37. I cannot well pass over one passage in Bailies Railery saying that I am like Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses proclaiming 〈◊〉 folly a Phrase used frequently by the Quakers Reply After that lof●y Anti-evangelical Speech that he had used before touching his own Righteousness how it must stand it will 〈◊〉 be amiss to cast our eye to the Scripture where this is mentioned 2 Tim. 3. 8. and view that sort of Men there described and see if they were not Quakers if of any sort v. 2. Boasters proud Blasphemers v. 3● fierce dispisers of them that are good v. 4. Heady high minded v. 5. Having a form of Godliness denying the Power v. 7. Ever learning never coming to the knowledge of the Truth v. 8. Men of corrupt minds of no Judgment concerning the Faith These were they that were Seducers which did resist Pauls Doctrine as you may read in this Chapter B. And it 's known to thee and all the world that the Quakers own 〈◊〉 other Righteousness to be Justified by but the Righteousness of Jesus Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith in him Reply But now it 's too late to deceive with these good words We see your cunning Craftiness this Righteousness of Jesus Christ that you plead for he is only the Author of not the Subject it is no●●● his Person according to your Divinity but in
Latitude of my Judgment and Faith is that if I do Lie Steal speak evil words c. that I am not a whit the less approved of God for so doing Take notice Reader he doth not say that it is the Consequence of the Doctrine I laid down neither saith he that in all probability I may grow to such a Faith but speaketh in the present Tense that it is thus with me and thus I did believe at this very time Now I remember I have read 1 Cor. 2.11 What Man knoweth the things of a Man save the Spirit of a Man that is in him I know no such thing by my self that my Faith and Judgment is such Yet this he said of me yea notwithstanding all that I said to the contrary in pag. 14. and else-where viz. That Faith ingageth to serve the Lord. So that I know not what to make of it but such a slanderous Report as Paul met with Rom. 3.8 when some affirmed that he taught that Men might do evil that good might come of it Therefore as it is a solemn thing so I do solemnly declare that I know no such thing by my self is 〈◊〉 would make me Guilty of But say as before that I believe that in case a Son do offend God his Father by falling into sin God will Correct and that sharply but his loving kindness will be not take away from him But further this Man saith of me pag. 51. Thou hast cast off Christ's Yoke and Burden and endeavourest to betray him into the hands of Priests and Pharisees What he meaneth here by this viz betraying Christ casting off his Yoke and Burden which I conceive he accounts the denying of the pure Light as he calleth it in every Man to be the Saviour of the World is As to this Yoke and Burden I confess I have cast it off and that likewise viz. looking for Justification and acceptance with God by the Works commanded by the Light and by Obedience to that Light yet do I walk in Obedience to my Conscience as my Duty As to my Conversation I may say with Paul Acts 24.19 Those that have known it ought to have Objected against me first if they had whereof ●●●ly to lay to my Charge and not a Stranger So this is the Reward or part thereof for speaking the things I experienced upon my heart but I matter not such Reproaches I look for them only this I beg of God a support under them and a right Carriage through them If it be my Lot and Portion even so be it It is a small matter as Paul saith to be Judged by others whethe●● have been faithful or no in what I have writ Yet I know not 〈◊〉 may lead as sober a Life as S. Crisp though I do not expect to be Justified or to have my Peace made or to get into the Love and Favour of God by these Good things wrought in me But believe they are the Fruits of that justifying Love and Favour of God to us through Faith in Christ without the Deeds of the Law So that if I be counted a Lier a Thief a Blasphemer a wicked Person not fit to be believed in Words or trusted in Actions it is I say a small matter it is no more than what was their Lot which went before And the Scripture hears Witness to it viz. That all manner of evil shall be spoken of the people of God falsly for Christ's Names sake The same that comforted Paul comforteth me 1 Cor. 4.3 4. in this Case Again I say it is a small matter to be Judged by W. Baily or 8. Crisp or by a Jury of eleven I call them a Jury because a Jury Judgeth according to their Evidence not knowing the Person that Committed the Fact And such were some of these Yet I do not know that I have acted any thing contrary to that which God hath given me in my inward parts And therefore as these things have been falsly declared concerning my Faith with what else soever I have only this to say as my desire The Lord lay it not to their Charge but forgive them and embrace then in the Arms of his Pitty and Compassion Even so be it Amen and Amen I have one thing or Question more to Answer if it be upon the hearts of any one to ask me Whether I was of the Quakers Faith and Principle or no Which I shall Answer by way of Querie and leave it to others to Judg. Though it 's possible my Adversaries may have five words for my one Yet in this I have rejoyced that in an hour when they came to try me my Faith did not fail me which is more to me than thousands of Words Though good Words are good in the place ●●●ther he be of the Quakers Way Faith and Principle who Believeth the Light in every Man which reproveth for sin is Jesus Christ the Saviour of 〈◊〉 World Then was I of their Way and Principle according to that I mention●● pag. 3. of my Book But do now say it is a rotten corrupt and ●●●ound thing or Principle as to the leading or guiding into the know●● of the Gospel or the way of Salvation that God hath appointed Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 it will be asked How can I prove it Answer By my own Experience I found it so as to my self Of which I could speak more but omit it at present And prove it to 〈◊〉 unsound thing I mean the Light within every Man to reveal 〈◊〉 Gospel Because it hath led these Men to say in pag. 29. which I 〈◊〉 before viz. That W. Haworth saith It was the Godhead by which 〈◊〉 Barbarous people saw the Vengeance when they apprehended Paul to be ●e a Murderer He saith I have contradicted my Companion 3. Pag. 5. Crisp saith The Latitude of my Canaan is to have none of these Burdens laid upon me which burdens he before reckoned up is not to Lie Steal c. Which Burdens he saith I have cast off And cautions Men how they believe me and trust me c. Notwithstanding I had said in pag. 19. It was the Duty of every Man to walk in the Commandements of God 4. The same Crisp saith It is my Judgment to believe that if I do Lie Steal c. or any such wicked thing I am not a whit the less approved of God Though I had declared my Judgment in my Book to the Contrary Now I would ask any one to give a Just reason why this pure an infallible an unerring Light may not as well lead aside into ways of Damnation as to prompt them into the misunderstanding of our words and the Declaration of our Faith I farther Querie Querie Whether this pure infallible unerring Light as they call it may not suffer a Man to rest in a Righteousness short of the Righteousness which is sufficient to compleat and perfect Man every way and to Justifie before God and to bring to everlasting Peace as it hath
to the works of the Law for Justification Sometimes to the other false and strange foolish Opinions Therefore surely it was no needless thing to bid the Christians beware of temptations and to stir them up to make their Calling and Election sure seeing they had many Enemies to meet with and had but little Faith but like Children when they first go alone are ready to stumble and fall at a small thing But because it is my desire to help others if it may please God I would proceed before I leave this a little further according to the Knowledg God hath given me Quest What Comfort hath a Christian in these Conflicts with his Enemies which are so many Answ This is one Comfo●●●hat God will never leave him nor forsake him his loving kindness he will not take away from him but will preserve him and defend him to his Heavenly Kingdom 2. That Jesus Christ doth Intercede for his people as he prayed for Simon that his Faith should not fail Luke 22. 32. 3. That he that hath begun that good work Faith in us is able to carry 〈◊〉 on to the end and to perfect it to the day of Glory John 10.28,29 4. That there is a Promise of Victory over sin and Death and all 〈◊〉 Enemies So that we may say they shall not always overcome us 〈◊〉 there is a stronger than they Rom. 6.14 Heb. 12.5 6. 5. That we fight against vanquisht Enemies such as are overcome in our Head already John 16.33 Surely Paul had a strong Faith in these things when he Preached the Gospel meeting with many difficulties and dangers from his Enemies yet his perswasion we see did not fail him but the Lord stood by him and strengthened him and he was delivered out of the paw of the ●●on and he saith in confidence that the Lord would deliver him from ●●●ry evil work and preserve him to his heavenly Kingdom 2. Tim. 4.18 Obj. But W. Baily saith Who among the ungodly would turn their ears from this kind of Doctrine pag. 35. Answ What if the ungodly make a wicked use thereof Is it therefore false and is it unlawful to Preach it If a Man walk with a staff ●● his hand in the Road with which he Murdereth a Man is it therefore unlawful for me to walk with a Staff by which I am supported and my Life preserved If any make that bad use of it as to continue in sin let them remember the Lord's dealing with Israel in the Wilderness treated of 1 Cor. 10. and the 12 verse But now on the other hand the self-Righteous the Just before Men 〈◊〉 proud in their Spirits and they scorn this Reconciliation by the Obedience of the Person of Christ and his Death and Sufferings and ●●e no need of it or them no Beauty no Comeliness in Christ Therefore according to that which Christ saith he came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance So that I may bring in your Objection here Obj. But if all Men are not Lighted with the true Light then some have no true Light Then why should they be Condemned is this equal pag. 41. Answ That all Men are Lighted by a Light that is true in its kind by Jesus Christ as he was the Creator of all things I deny not But that all Men have a saving-Light from him as Mediator I do deny And if thou ask Is this equal Answer Is it not lawful and equal to with-hold relief from him that scorneth to receive it and yet is in want 2. Is it not equal for a King to withold a Pardon from a Murderer when he scorneth to accept of it yet is at the point of Death Why then should it not be equal with God to with-hold a saving-Light from such as those I have been speaking of that say in their hearts they have no need of it Many more things might be spoke but I pass them by and shall not meddle with them but leave them to others whose business it is more properly to contend for them viz. As to the powerful work of God without and the Righteousness that justifies being without and other things which I am satisfied in yet deny not the inward workings of the Spirit neither a Holy Life and Conversation but say as before often that good Works must be maintained upheld and taught but in their time and place and not so as to destroy the Gospel and bring Mens Consciences into slavery Bondage under the Law The next thing is S. Crisp his expressions concerning me how he hath set me forth which I could not but wonder at when I viewed it that any pretending to an infallible and an unerring Spirit should write so many false things First pag. 50. Oh horrible Canaan Such a Canaan God never led hi● people into nor ever will Where these tasks are not laid upon them Th● is a Canaan for the Sons of Belial who are Men without any Yoke I testify in the Name of the Lord that made the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in them that the true Name of this Canaan is Sodom and Egypt What shall I Judg of this I have not met with the like Expression That Canaan the Kingdom of Christ given unto his people being Justifyed by Faith without the Deeds of the Law and from thenceforth acting in Love to him living to his Glory That this should be called a Canaan for the Sons of Belial And to be so confident to say He testifyeth in the Name of Jehovah that the true Name of this Canaan is Sodom and Egypt It made me even tremble when I considered it That any Man should testify in the Name of Jehovah and speak such Vntruths Why might not this Man say of Paul as well where he saith Galat. 5.13 Brethren ye have been called unto Liberty that he told the Galatians that they might Steal and Lie and Kill and Commit Adultery and do all manner of Evil Seeing he was Treating as we are about the Law and the Works thereof And likewise why did ye not say that Paul allows it to be lawful to Kill Steal and Commit Adultery c. when he saith in 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are Lawful unto me And so Chap. 10.23 It may be thou wilt say not so because Paul said to them in the Gal●t Vse not your Liberty as an Occasion to the Flesh but by Love serve one another And in the Corinthians said All things are not expedient And besides Paul lived a just Life In like manner did I say that I ought to go on in Holiness 1. For the Glory of God 2. To manifest my Love to Christ 3. To convince the World of sin 4. It is my Duty in God Pag. 19 20. To be found in doing justly between Man and Man according to the Light And yet he saith This is a Canaan for the Sons of Be●●● and declareth it to be the Wickedness of my Principles Pag. 50. he saith The