And 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit And whether the words Carnal Commandment and Carnal Ordinances related to no part of Scripture Heb. 7.16 9 10. And whether no part of the Scripture or Writing of Moses or any else was intended in this term Letter But consider all Scripture as it signifies Writing ought there not to be a distinction made not only between the Writing and the matter written but much more between the Writing and the Spirit Life or Substance declared of in the Writing Concerning Baptism he defends his practice very poorly whilst he intends Baptizing or rather Sprinkling young Children in his telling us That the Church of England is grosly mistaken this Quakers Doctrine hath Quaked the Doctrine of the Church of England into a meer delusion p. 78. And why so but because the Quaker saith The Baptism we own is the Baptism of Christ there is but one Lord one Faith one Baptism from Matth. 3.11 Ephes 4.5 6. Collect. J. P. p. 67. Now this Priest proves not that Baptizing with Water muchless that Sprinkling Infants is this one Baptism we have only his Say so or his Belief for it or that Sprinkling Infants is a sign of Regeneration whereby as an Instrument the baptized are grafted into the Church p. 78. He produces us no Scripture-proof for it Pr. pag. 78. This Quaker hath very mean Thoughts of the Lords Supper he counts it but the Worlds Communion As for the Bread broken which is the Body of Christ this Quaker calls it the Bread which the World breaks he speaks abominably of this Bread blessed and broken calling it Carnal Natural that it passeth out of the Body c. Bread and Wine but the Husk and Shadow without p. 79. Answ It appears by this that he deems their Bread and Wine Spiritual Supernatural the Substance the Bread the Body of Christ and then by this the Wine must be the Blood of Christ when blest or consecrated by the Priest Which is rank Popery all one with the Doctrine of Transubstantiation as the Rhemists in their Annot. on Matth. 26. affirm a Consecrating the several Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ the Bread into his Body a part as betrayed broken and given for us the Wine into his Blood a part as shed out of his Body for remission of Sins and Dedication of the New Testament Which is their professed Transubstantiation or changing the Substance of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ according as our Adversary tells us That the Bread broken is the Body of Christ He has left the Doctrine of the Antient Protestants and Protestant-Martyrs who did not own any such Change of the Elements of Bread and Wine but only that as a Sign or Figure of the Body of Christ crucified they were received as a grateful Comemoration of Christ's Death and Sacrifice for mankind But this Adversary is offended that the Bread and Wine should be counted Natural nothing it seems will serve him short of their being the Body and Blood of Christ according as the Rhemists also on Luke 22.19 say Although sense tell thee 't is Bread yet it is the Body let Faith confirm thee judge not by Sense after the words of our Lord let no doubt rise in thy mind of the Verity of Flesh and Blood there is no place to doubt c. See how exactly our Adversary agrees with these Papists in saying The Bread broken is the Body of Christ as before By which he hath now more fully manifested his Popish Spirit especially if he means as he spoke as both repugnant to the Faith of all true Protestants who either look upon these outward Elements to remain the same in themselves in Substance both at and after the words of Consecration and no more than Signs Shadows or outward Mementos at most or look upon them as a Figure or Shadow of the Spiritual receiving of Christ's Body and Blood in the Mystery to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by Faith as he is the living Bread that comes down from Heaven who gave his Flesh for the Life of the World For there is an Inward and Spiritual Supper of the Lord as well as there was an outward which they partake of who hear the Voice of the Son of God and open the Door of their Heart unto him that he may come in and Sup with them and they with him according to his Testimony in Rev. 3.20 Yet we acknowledge the Sign and Figure in its place and day but the Mystery or thing signified is greater and more Excellent Pr. The Letter or the Scripture is Dust the Serpents Meat which they food upon Answ This he falsly infers and casts upon J. Parn. whenas there is no such passage in J. P's words but that Those who pretend to study Divinity and go among Ignorant People and sell that which they have studied and got into the Brain and those who receive it get it into the Brain and so they live upon Dust which is the Serpents Meat Collect. J. P. p. 78 79. Hence its evident that he did not term the Scripture Dust but the Hireling Priests studied Brain-Notions or Knowledge Whereas the Priest appears in a great Rage and in Cruel Mockery against J. Fernel for his plain dealing with the Magistrates Heads and Priests of England as where J. P. saith For the Testimony of this true Ministry some of us are Imprisoned some Stoned some Stocked Whipped and shamefully intreated as Vagabonds Deluders Wanderers Raisers of Sedition c. and esteemed not worthy to live in the Nation both by Priest and Rulers who are out of the Commands of God and are Vagabonds and Fugitives from God who go in the Way of Cain and Envy and murder the Innocent Collect. J. P. pag. 80. As also where he saith We own Magistracy in its place for whilst there is Transgression there must be a Law and while the Devil hath Power over Man there will be Transgression The Law was given forth to curb Evil-doers c. And true Government according to the Law of God is Serviceable in its place and all Magistrates who fear God and hate Covetousness and are guided by the Light of God in the Conscience and execute the Law in its place without partiality and respect of Persons such are serviceable in their place and this we own and honour and are subject for Conscience-sake J. P. Collect. p. 81 82. These Passages the Priest has left out in his Citation except the first Line and then goes on citing viz. They neither know how to rule or govern who are guided by their own Wills such rule with partiality and respect of Persons and give forth Laws in their own Wills Persecute the Righteous encourage the Heathen c. Upon these and such passages before cited the Priest shamefully inveighs against and belies the Quakers
James Parnel's Books that in reading them over he found Cramben his Coctam he might have forborn this for shame in this case For as for Reiterations Repetitions and Tautologies of worse stuff than Colewort twice boild I never read any that surpassed him especially any of his Coat that stuff'd up a Book so big as his with so much Scoffing Jeering trifling and impious Reiterations with so little shew of Reason as he hath done which shews after what an Ungodly rate he has spent his Time and Study and how therein he has been attended and prompted with a Diabolical Spirit to inveigh like one mad with Envy against the Light of Christ within Perfection partaking of the Divine Nature and Unity of the true Church § XXXII Pr. pag. 122. Take heed to the Light of God within you this is only a Whim of the Qrs. Brain which hath no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings In Scripture we find mention made often of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you But take heed to the Light of God within you this is only the Quakers false Doctrine Answ Look here he can scarce write a Paragraph without scoffing at the Qrs. Thus he inveighs against taking heed to the Light of God within he sayes It has no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings But see the man's Contradiction as well as his Ignorance herein He confesses that in Scripture we find often mention made of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you and has this no Foundation in the Apostles Writings If Christ be the Light and Christ within must not he be taken heed unto and followed as he is manifest within even in them that believe in his Light as he has taught but if God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Must we not then take heed unto his Inshining Light in our Hearts when he shines in our Hearts to give us such Knowledge I had not repeated so much of this Man 's reiterated trifling and scornful Contradiction and Opposition to Truth but that his Folly may the more be seen and remain on record against him â—r Ibid. To be one in the Eternal Vnity smells strong of Parnel 's Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that God is with us manifested in the Flesh all which is Abâ—â—inable â—lasphemy Answ As for Eternal Unity among Christ's Followers did not he pray for it John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us And this partaking of Christ's Divine Nature offends the Priest still but his Folly therein is sufficiently detected before which now he greatly adds to in accounting it Abominable Blasphemy to say God is with us c. How then is Christ called Immanuel God with us And hath not God promised to dwell and walk in his People And were not the true Believers given up to suffer with Christ and to be delivered up to Death for his sake that the Life also of Jesus might be manifest in their mortal Flesh And doth not the Spirit of Christ dwell in true Believers and quicken their mortal Body to yield their Members as Instruments of Righteousness to God that Christ may dwell in their Hearts by Faith that they might know the Love of Christ and be filled with all the Fulness of God For which End Paul bow'd his Knees unto the Fathers of our Lord Jesus Christ see Ephes 3.14 to the end Pr. p. 124. Christ Jesus his Body is one which is his Church behold except the Church which is Christ's Mystical Body our Saviour hath no other Body Answ The Priest takes occasion for these words from a Passage he cites out of a Book called Truth 's Defence which as he cites it is That the Body of Christ is but one and he is the Head of the Body which is the Church Whence he infers our Saviour hath no other Body which is but his own Narrow Construction For it follows not from saying the Body of Christ or his Church is but one that Christ hath no Spiritual or Glorious Body peculiar to and of himself whereof the Church contains Members For what 's more plain than where it s said For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ 1 Cor. 12.20 Then that all those many Members and that one Body of Christ whereof they are Members make upone Body collectively and joyntly in Christ and that the Church and Members of Christ as joyn'd to him and his Body to make up one Body in universal Union and Fulness of Christ Jesus so as all are joyned to him and Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone this makes us one Body where there is likewise one Christ who takes in and comprehends with him both his own Glorious Body like unto which the Body of the Saints Lowness was to be fashioned Phil. 3.21 and all the Members thereof who are joyned to him in that Mysterious Union that is between Christ and his Church as he is the true Vine and they the Branches And granting still that Christ has a Glorious Body most near proper to himself above and more excellent than all our Earthly Bodies like unto which he will change our Low and Humble Body 't is not improper to say The Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body Now are there many Members yet but one Body 1 Corinth 12.20 And there is one Body and one Spirit Ephes 4.4 Therefore a plurality of Bodies and Members may be truly called one Body in that Mystical or hidden Union that is between Christ and his Church for any Collective Body consisting of many People may be called one Body though this be far inferiour to the heavenly Union between Christ his Body and Church Lastly How can true Believers who are many be said to be One Bread from their eating of that one Bread which is Christ even of his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World or be said to be Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone from their Union with him or his Church be said not only to be his Body but the Fulness of him that filleth all in all if in this Bread his Flesh Body and Fulness Christ's own Body be not so included and his Church therewith so nearly united as All comprehensively to make up One universal Body in the Fulness of Christ for how should his particular Body be excluded out of his Fulness and yet there are those who discern not the Lord's Body who eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own Damnation But this Priest still proceeds in his Envious Attempts telling
thee to thy Shame Why dost thou hunt after the Blood and Lives of a peaceable People Thou hast wickedly compared us to the Jesuited Papists We have approved our selves better Protestants and more peaceable Subjects than such Temporizing Priests and Malicious Incendiaries Let Shame cover thy Face whoever thou art thou Scornful Malicious Person thou Unconscionable Mercenary Wolvish Priest that makest Lyes thy Refuge I have Matter against thee and where-withal to answer thee with a good Conscience and therefore I charge thee home who for thy own Fame and Advantage seek'st the Destruction of others flatterest and daubest with Men in Power for thy own Ends hast mens Persons in Admiration for Advantage a Raging Wave of the Sea that foamest out thy own shame Thy Abusive Persecuting Deceitful Work will redound to thy own perpetual Infamy and Reproach Pr. pag. 51. To mount this Quakers Folly to its full height to say to the King's Majesty May it please your Majesty to any Peer of the Realm Your Grace Your Honour to any great Man Your Excellency Your Worship c. these are according to this Quaker such Expressions of Civil Honour as were never spoken by any holy men of God Answ Thus the flattering Temporizer goes on to ingratiate himself but where any Holy men â—n Scripture did use these Complemental Titles and Terms of Honour as Your Grace your Honour your Excellency your Worship c. he shews us not but only Reviles the Quaker for his plainness and simplicity in standing out of these out-side Complements calling him Rude Quaker p. 54 whose Discourse serves to beclown all Courtiers that do honour the King in their Words and Gestures Thus he would make us believe he were highly Courtified and very expert in Court-Complements but I tell him plainly that the plain honest Quaker is more acceptable at Court among Noble Men who are men of Parts and Moderation then an Hundred such flattering creeping Temporizing Priests such as he who can Flatter Creep Cringe and Daub for their own ends and have mens Persons in Admiration for Advantage especially if they want an Augmentation or fat Benefice to creep beg flatter and complement for with Your Grace Your Honour Your Excellency Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir But what he means by Your Worship after his pleading for the Hat and Knee-honour Scraping and Titles he explains not If all this out-side Honour of his result in the Worship of a Creature as it seems to do then we may see whither it tends that it is both to Honour and Worship mens Persons which is to have them in high Admiration for Advantage to set them in the place of God and Christ to whom Worship only belongs As in the case of Mordecai the reason he renders for his not bowing to proud Haman in his solemn Appeal to God as we have it in the 13th of Esther in Apoc. his words are these Thou knowest all things and thou knowest Lord that it was neither of Malice nor Presumption nor for any desire of Glory that I did this and not bow down to proud Haman For I would have been content with good will for the Salvation of Israel to have kissed the Soles of his Feet but I did it because I would not prefer the Honour of a Man above the Glory of God and would not worship any but only thee my Lord And this have I not done of Pride ver 12 13 14. Whereby 't is evident that this Bowing the Knee was as now the putting off the Hat in Prayer to God is a Token of Homage Honour and Worship due and performed among the Jews to the Lord God and so they esteem'd it As Peter said to Cornelius Stand up for even I my self am a Man Acts 10.26 as much as to say This Bowing or Homage belongs not to me but to God It s said in Esther the third All the King's Servants that were at the King's Gate bowed their Knees and Reverenced Haman for the King had so commanded concerning him But Mordecai bowed not the Knee neither did Reverence v. 2. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not the Knee unto him nor did Reverence unto him then Haman was full of Wrath. Though the Persians manner was to kneel down and Reverence their Kings and such as they appointed in chief Authority yet Mordecai would not do it to this Ambitious and Proud Man see the Margin on the place which if our Adversary had been in that Court 't is probable he would have taken Proud Haman's part and Accused and Vilified Mordecai as he has done the Quakers and have said unto Mordecai as the Kings Servants did Why transgressest thou the King's Commandment But 't is not bowing the Knee only unto a Proud Heady High-minded Man as the Priest supposes of the King that will satisfie this our Adversary but he must have flattering Titles and Complements as Your Grace Your Honour Your Excellency Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir c. He is forgetful of that Serious saying of Elihu viz. Let me not I pray you accept any mans Person neither let me give flattering Titles unto man For I know not to give flattering Titles in so doing my Maker would soon take me away Job 32.21 22. The Lord shall cut off all flattering Lips and the Tongue that speaketh proud things Psal 12.3 And this I have further to say of Hat-Honour Bowing Kneeling Scraping to persons Titles of Honour flattering Titles c. that no humble-minded Christian can take any delight in them nor desire or expect them And as for the Proud and Lofty who seek or look for such Honour and Complements 't is really matter of Conscience to us as well as 't was in Mordecai not to gratifie them or answer that proud Spirit in these Vain and Heathenish Customs knowing that God will debase and stain the â—ride of all Flesh that has a Life in them § XIX Pr. p. 55. All Swearing is condemned by this Quaker as that Sin which reacheth to the Damnation of Hell Answ 'T is no otherwise Condemned by the Quaker then by Christ Jesus Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. And his Apostle James James 5.12 But above all things my Brethren Swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by ANY OTHER OATH but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into Condemnation Yet we distinguish in the Case 'T is more Condemnable in such as know Christ's Doctrine and Prohibition in the Case to Swear than in such as are Ignorant of it though not excusable in either Pr. Ibid. All the King's Subjects who have taken the Oaths of Suprem and Alleg. by taking these Oaths have done that which comes of Evil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Devil the Evil one P. 56 Which of the King 's sworn Subjects have minded the Spirit of Truth when they took those Oaths have they not done that which comes of the Evil one Is not this â—are Quaking stuff
same as to Miracles or to equalize themselves therein with the Apostles though God hath wrought Wonders and Miracles among them and by some as Instruments in his hand Art 78. That to redeem and make free from Sin is done with the Body of Christ which we have told you is the Church A Perversion still as if the Church only did redeem and free it self whereas 't is Christ in and with his own Body that redeems his Church which is that Body of his whereof he is Head Though he has an intire peculiar and glorious Body yet the Church as united to him and Members of his Body comprehensively make up one Indivisible Body in the compleat and mysterious Union and Fulness of himself § 32. Art 81. That that man looks upon Christ with a Carnal Eye that looks upon him to have a true Body Which is a lying Forgery still Christ hath a true and Spiritual glorious Body whereof the Saints are Members in the spiritual and mysterious union wiâ—h himself § 32. Art 83. That Fellowship at the Lords Table is very wicked Is also a perverse falshood for ye cannot eat at the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils Covetous Priests and Wicked People though they have the Sign or Shadow yet are short of the Lord's Table and partake not of the Flesh and Blood of Christ nor of his Supper while they shut him out of their Hearts § 16. 25. Art 89. That Vnquakeriz'd Christians do worship an unknown God A Forgery still none of our Terms or Creed but false and fleshly Christians do so Worship § 31. There are divers more Forgeries Perversions and Falshoods in the Priests Articles which for brevity's sake I omit and shall now give the Reader an Account according to my second Proposition before stated of some Truths set down in the Priests Articles which are not according to his Faith he having given them all the Title of the Quakers Vnsound Faith And thus I proceed viz. Pr. Art 2 3. Now we Quakers do believe that the Spirit alone doth give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of our Faith and Practice Answ We do believe that the Spirit of Truth is all-sufficient for those Ends 't is given for and leadeth into all Truth that true discerning of Spirits is a Gift of this Spirit and that we ought to walk in the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit as the chief Rule of our Faith and Practice which things it seems this Priest does not believe he believes not that the Spirit alone doth give true Discerning or that the Divine Light thereof ought to be his Rule He believes the Scripture to be the Rule of Life without the Light within as he has told us p. 120. § 14 15. Pr. Art 21. We Q. believe that we are to mind the Spirit alone in all things Answ We do believe we ought to mind the Spirit of Truth in all things both in reading Scripture for a true understanding thereof and in our Words and Actions but this Priest does not believe he ought to be so mindful of the Spirit his mind is more upon Flesh than Spirit § 14 15 23. Pr. Art 34. We Q. do believe that the Name Sunday is Heathenish that every day is the Lord's day Answ Then this Priest does not believe the Name Sunday is Heathenish or proceeded from Heathens or that every day is the Lords thus ignorant he has shewn himself § 20. Pr. Art 35. We Q. believe that they are no truly faithful Christians who deny that there is a perfect freedom from all manner of Sin to be had in this Life that their Faith is not the true Faith if it doth not cleanse them from all their Sins Answ This Priest therefore believes that they are truly faithful Christians and in the true Faith who deny a Perfect freedom from Sin in this Life and whose Faith does not cleanse them from their Sins which is contrary to the Belief and Faith of truly faithful Christians who know the Heart-purifying Faith and the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all Sin and such could say He hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood But 't is not done in this Life saith the Priest When then In the Life to come it must be But Where must it be in a Purgatory between Heaven and Hell That 's Popish Doctrine § 21. and 28. Pr. Art 36. We Q. do believe that the Scripture is not the Light nor the Word nor the Life nor the Judge nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits Answ This being also included in the Qrs. unsound Faith by the Priest we must take it for granted that he believes the Scripture is the Light the Life the Judge †Contrary to Psal 50.6 Isa 33 22. Acts 10.42 Heb. 12.23 James 5.9 the Rule the Guide the Tryer of Spirits which Terms by way of Eminency most properly belonging to God to Christ to the holy Spirit to the divine Light * John 1 c 11.25 c. 14.6 might not the Priest as well have told us that the Scripture is God and Christ § 22 23 § 14 15. Pr. Art 37. We Q. do believe that the People and Teachers are Ignorant of Christ who seek Life in the Scripture where it is not to be found Answ So then this Priest therefore believes that Eternal Life is to be sound in the Scriptures and they who seek it in the Scripture do know and find Christ the Light and Life Eternal therein which is contrary to Christs own Testimony John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life § 22 23. § 14 15. Pr. Art 50. We Q. do believe That they are all Heathens and no Christians who are so baptiz'd i. e. with Water and cannot witness the other Baptism i. e. the Baptism of Christ Answ This Priest then believes that they all are no Heathens but Christians who are Baptized or Sprinkled with Water when Infants though they cannot witness the Baptism of Christ at such an easie rate can he make Christians contrary to Christs own Testimony If I do not wash thee thou hast no part in me and except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God § 16. 25. 29. Pr. Art 51. We Q. do believe that Sacramental Bread so called is Natural that the Cup is such like and that which they call the Lords Supper is a Shadow Answ This being also included in the Qrs. Vnsound Faith we may take it for granted that the Priest does not believe that the Bread and the Cup which they call Sacramental and the Lords Supper are Natural Carnal or Shadow What then that they are Supernatural Spiritual the Substance the Body and Blood of Christ yea That the Bread broken
is the Body of Christ as he has plainly declared pag. 78. Which is directly according to the Popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation § 25. Pr. Art 52. We Q. do believe that the Priests of England who Trade with the Form get human Learning pretend to study Divinity get certain Wage and sell that which they have studied their Ministry only hath the Form and denyes the Power that they come by the Will of Man and not by the Will of God that their Call and Ministry is a formal Imitation of Man c. Answ Seeing the Priest does not believe this it being so repugnant to his Gain and Interest it seems he believes that these Priests are come by the Will of God and not by the Will of Man and that their Call and Ministry is not Formal nor of Man but of God and that their Ministry hath the Power with it He herein believes them to be better then the Qr doth But yet we have but his Belief that they have their Call and Ministry from God and not from Man and till he produce better proof for his Belief than yet he has done we have no Reason to believe as he does without good Evidence and Conviction Which we are the more apt to dispair of while few of them do believe or own an Immediate Call or Mission from Heaven in these Dayes § 15. Pr. Art 54. We Q. believe that the Pharaoh like Magistrate God will Plague and Confound Answ But this Temporizing Priest owns not this Belief that God will Plague and Confound the Pharaoh-like Heard-hearted Oppressing Magistrate he is rather for Flattering and Crying Peace to the Wicked contrary to the Belief and Testimony of all God's holy Prophets and Witnesses who testified against Oppressors both King 's Rulers and others § 16 24 25. Pr. Art 55. We Q. still believe that the Devil is the Head of Man who would be Honoured Answ This still thwarts the Priests Belief who it seems believes not that the Devil is the Head of Proud Man that 's ambitious or desirous of Worldly Honour Surely he cannot reasonably think that Christ is the Head of such Unbelievers as are seeking that Honour which is from beneath § 17 18. Pr. Art 58. We Q. believe that it is the Devil and his Ministers who tell men That the Righteous man sins seven times a day that to deny a sinless Perfection in this Life is that Doctrine which maintains the Devils Kingdom that Doctrine whereby the Devil carries on People in an Easie Delightsom Way to the Flesh a Doctrine which heals them up in their Sins with a feigned Faith Answ But this the Priest will not at all believe he cannot entertain such mean and hard Thoughts of that Doctrine which denyes or opposeth a Sinless Perfection in this Life He does not believe that to argue for the Being of Sin in all Men Term of Life does either maintain the Devils Kingdom or that 't is an Easie Delightsom way to the Flesh whenas it must needs be more grateful and pleasing to Corrupt Flesh to have Sin remaining all its Dayes in false hopes of Happiness hereafter than to be crucified and mortified unto sin in this Life without which I believe and testifie men cannot be Happy hereafter whatever the Priest's Belief is to please Corrupt Flesh as his belief That Believers in Christ sin daily and that the Righteous man sins seven times a day We are neither of his belief herein nor yet that any of Christ's Ministers did ever teach or perswade people into such a Faith for Sins Continuance or thus to accuse the Believers and Righteous with sinning daily and seven times a day herein he has wrong'd the Scripture For though 't is said For a Just man falleth seven times Prov. 24.16 and riseth up again yet 't is neither said that he sins seven times a day nor that he sins daily Neither does it appear that this Just Man's falling seven times is a falling into Sin but rather a falling into Affliction and Trouble as it is said He shall deliver thee in six Troubles yea in seven there shall no Evil touch thee Job 5.19 It s evident that the Just Man's falling seven times and rising up again Prov. 24.16 is opposed to the Wicked's falling into Mischief and Vers 15. it s said Lay not in wait O Wicked man against the Dwelling of the Righteous spoil not his Resting place for a Just man falleth seven times and riseth up again which makes it more clear that this intends the Just Man's falling into Trouble and Suffering by reason of the Wicked laying in wait against him And to this purpose see Psal 37.23 24. The steps of a good man are ordred by the Lord and he delights in his Way though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand § 21. 28. Pr. Art eod We Q. do believe still that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not Answ This is contrary to the Priests Faith still he believes that they who abide in the Righteousness of Christ sin daily sin seven times a day sin all their Life-time which is contrary to plain Scripture 1 John 3.6 Whosoever abideth in him that is in Christ sinneth not And see Chap. 2.1 But seeing this Priest believes not that he that abideth in Christ sinneth not but that he sins seven times a day he believes not his own Prayer in the Lyturgy viz. Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin And a little after Minister O God make clean our Hearts within us Answ And take not thy holy Spirit from us And Almighty Father Collect. on Tu. in Easter Week which hast given thine only Son to dye for our Sins and to rise again for our Justification grant us so to put away the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness that we may alway serve thee in pureness of Living and Truth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Surely this Priest doth not present these Prayers to God either in Faith or Reality but only in pretence and shew from the Teeth outward § 28. See also § 7. 11. Pr. Art 59. We Q. do believe that they set up Infant-Baptism for which there is no Scripture That they have no Scripture for the word Sacrament Answ If this be a part of the Qrs. unsound Faith as the Priest renders it then he believes that there is Scripture for baptizing or sprinkling Infants and that they have Scripture for the word Sacrament He should do well to shew us those Scriptures for Sprinkling Insants and the word Sacrament in any of the holy mens Writings that were the Pen-men of Scripture that he might convince the Qrs. of the unsoundness of their Faith in this Point See ◠16 25. Pr. Art 62. We Q. do believe as our Friend James Parnel hath writ that we are Partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ by which we are made Christians and that God
is with us manifested in the Flesh Answ But this the Priest believes not either of us or any people else for he counts it a high base Doctrine intolerable Blasphemy an abominable Quaking Assertion and all one as to say that they are no less God than himself is Godded with God and Christed with Christ Thus he has exploded such a Doctrine as the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature of Christ as an Abominable Quaking Assertion as his words are more at large aggravated in his 116th page whereby he hath discovered his gross Darkness Blasphemy and Ignorance of the Scripture and Testimony of holy Apostles see 2 Pet 1.3 4. According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust But this partaking of the Divine Nature the Priest counts an Abominable Quaking Assertion Quaking Blasphemy c. see now what an Ignorant Blasphemous Person he hath shewn himself one that neither knoweth the Scriptures nor the Power of God See § 30. Pr. Art 63. We Q. do believe that the true Church is where there is one Lord one Light one Life one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Baptism one God and Father of all § 30. Answ Yes we must believe this whether the Priest will believe it or no and if he will not believe it he will not believe as the Scripture faith There should be One Shepherd and One Sheep fold there is One Body and One Spirit even as ye are called by One Hope of your Calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism all which the true Chutch partaketh of Pr. Art 64. We Q. do believe as G. F. writes that the Priests of England are going mad in preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning so that Balaam 's Ass may reprove them all Answ And we have no Cause to believe that the Priests of England are going Wise in Preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning such as do not put into their Mouthes But it seems this Priest believes they are Wise Priests that preach for Rewards and take these harsh and severe Courses of Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning them that cannot put into their Mouthes But did not Paul confess he was Exceeding Mad when he persecuted For he counts what G. F. has written in this Case one of the Articles of the Qrs. Unsound Faith Pr. Art 75. We Q. do believe that there is a Way to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through John to come to Christ that when a man hath gone this strange Way then he may see that the Light is but one Answ This is a Strange Way to our Adversary the Priest and to all that are alive without the Law but 't was not a Strange Way to the Apostle Paul nor to any true Christian who have traversed those steps of Judgments and through Death and Condemnation under the spiritual Administration of the Law under which the Offenders Mouth is stopt and all the World become guilty before God and the Righteousness of God is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3. And I had not known Sin but by the Law saith Paul Chap. 7.7 And we know that the Law is Spiritual Vers 14. And saith Paul I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.19 20. And therefore he did spiritually pass through the Law And see what Christ saith Matth. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Again he saith Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you do even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Matth. 7.12 Luke 6.31 And this is no strange Way to any true Christian Pr. Art 77. We Q. do believe that Jesus Christ remains in Heaven that the same that did descend did ascend Answ This is also rank't in among his Articles of the Quakers Unsound Faith which plainly reflects upon the Apostle Paul's Testimony Ephes 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Pr. Art 79. We Q. do believe that Christ lives in that Body which is the Church Answ And must this needs be an Unsound Faith too Does not Christ live in his Church To deny this how contrary is it to Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies see John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one And did not he walk in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks which were the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 1.13 20. And his being in the Heavens and living in his Church are not inconsistent Hebr. 8.1 2. We have an High Priest who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man And where was this Sanctuary and true Tabernacle but in his Church where he lives and ministers to the Edification of all those in whose Hearts Christ dwells by Faith Pr. Art 97. We Q. do believe that all the Teachers of England who are not sent who have no Commission from God who go forth only in the Will of Man that they are no Ministers of Christ that their Doctrine is not from Heaven but men below they teach for Doctrine the Traditions of Men. Answ And how should we believe otherwise of them who have no Commission from God but go forth in the Will of Man how should we believe that they are Ministers of Christ or that they receive their Doctrine or Commission from Heaven * §. 15. If our Adversary will still believe that such unsent Teachers as have no Divine Commission from Heaven are Christ's Ministers he may believe so long enough before the QVAKERS will be of his Faith There are several more things in his Ninety Eight Articles wherein his Ignorance as well as his Falshood appears But I think I have given Instances sufficient to evince both to any impartial and unbyassed Readers as also to Vindicate Truth from his Malicious Perverse and Knavish Attempts for which I leave him to the Just God to Reckon with Judge and Reward him according to his Works