George Fox Digg'd out of his Burrovves Or an Offer of DISPUTATION On fourteen Proposalls made this last Summer 1672 so call'd unto G. Fox then present on Rode-Island in New-England by R. W. As also how G. Fox slily departing the Disputation went on being managed three dayes at Newport on Rode-Island and one day at Providence between Iohn Stubs Iohn Burnet and William Edmondson on the one part and R. W. on the other In which many Quotations out of G. Fox Ed. Burrowes Book in Folio are alleadged WITH AN APENDIX Of some scores of G. F. his simple lame Answers to his Opposites in that Book quoted and replyed to By R. W. of Providence in N. E. BOSTON Printed by Iohn Foster 1676. TO The KINGS MAIESTY Charles the IId c. Whom the King of Heaven long and eternally Preserve Royal Sir THE Most High hath adorned you with an High Birth with a gallant Temper and Endowments of Nature with Princely Education and rare Experiences c. The Crown of all the Sanctifier of all must be L'esprit de Djeu or else all that is under the Sun in fumum abeunt Touching this most holy Spirit and other heavenly Points in difference between the Protestants and the Quakers I present your royal eye with a Lantskip of a Battle fought this last Summer in your Majestyes New-England between some of the eminentest of the Quakers and my self three dayes at Newport on Rode-Island and one at Providence on the Main in the same Colony I am humbly bold to present it to your Royal Hand 1. That your own precious Soul infinitely more precious then thousands of Brittains or Worlds may see the Grounds and Roots of these Protestant Disquisitions 2. That your Majesty may see what your New-English Subjects are doing under the gracious Wing of your wonderfull Favour to us c 3. Because your Majestyes Name is often mentioned and concerned in these Concertations 4. Because it was affirmed by some of my Opposites in publick that there were scarce any of their Books came forth but the King had one I thought it some obligation on me to present the Protestant Truth thus publickly and solemnly asserted more justly then my Popish and Arminian Opposites to offend your Royal eyes with Smoak out of the Deep Pit Gracious Sir I know your precious Spirits and Minutes are exhausted in managing your Warrs abroad and in preserving your Dominions in Peace at home I cannot therefore hope for one glance of your eye upon any more then this poor Epistle Charles the Great was one of the greatest Princes of that name in the world And Charles the fifth both Emperours had his wonderfull Trick at Helm also but both and all turn into the Cabbin Pit of Rottenness Charles the 5th in his 58th year Charles the Great in his 72d year But were every drop of water between your Old-England and New a million of years yet Mors ultima linea and t is but Momentum unde pendet Eternitas By Gods most wise and righteous Permission the Pope and Quakers pretend their Enthusiasmes and Infallibilityes I know and have detected much of both of their Impostures and I beseech him who is the eternal Pater Luminum to preserve your Royal Spirit from both their Cheatings that is from the Oracles of Hell in their mouths And I humbly importune your Majestyes continued Grace and Patience to this poor New-England which though a miserable cold howling Wilderness yet L'eternel hath made it his Glory your Majestyes Glory and a Glory to the English and Protestant Name and if the most High please Old and New-England may flourish when the Pope and Mahomet Rome and Constantinople are in their Ashes Providence in N-England March 10th 1672 3. ut Vulgò Your Majestyes most loyal and affectionate Orator at the Throne of Grace Roger Williams To the People called Quakers Friends Country-men 1. THe occasion of these Discourses you may see in the first Page the 14 Proposals in the second Page and the occasion of the Title in the 34. 2. The truth is as Edmund Burroughs and others of you say of your selves from my Childhood now above three-score years the Father of Lights and Mercies toucht my Soul with a love to himself to his only begotten the true Lord Iesus to his Holy Scriptures c. his infinite Wisdome hath given me to see the City Court and Country the Schools and Universities of my Native Country to converse with some Turks Iews Papists and all sorts of Protestants and by Books to know the Affairs and Religions of all Countries c. 3. My Conclusion is that be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee Mat. 9. is one of the joyfullest sounds that ever came to poor sinful Ears how to obtain this sound from the mouth of that Mediatour that spoke it is the great dispute beween the Protestants and the bloody Whore of Rome this is also the great point between the true Protestants and your selves as also in order to this about what man is to the utmost now by nature what the true Lord Jesus Christ is and all other controversies discussed in this Book not unworthy this your serious weighing as Mary did in the hearts and spirits c. 4. Bear with me while I say that as the Iesuites pretend to deifie the Pope but it is known the end is to deifie themselves under the cloak of the Popes Name so Satan pretends to exalt and deifie you under the name of God and Christ and Spirit c. but his end is as Peter tells us to exalt himself and fill his hellish Paunch with Souls 5. I endeavoured but could not procure a Short-hand writer so that I am forced to recollect Transactions from my Memory and I believe as in the holy presence of God that I have not failed to present the true substance of passages without advantage to my self or disadvantage to my Opposites 6. I have used some sharp Scripture Language but not as commonly you do passionately and unjustly I sometimes call you Foxians as Nicolaitans from Nicholas because G. Fox hath appeared the greatest Writer and the greatest Preacher amongst you and the most deified that I can hear of sure it is that here he subtly run for it he ordered that my Letters to our Deputy Governour Captain Cranstone in which my Proposals to G. F. were should not be delivered to the Deputy until G. F. was some hours under sayle that he might say he never saw my Paper though it is as clear as noon-day that he knew all matters by Copies Letters and Relations perfectly many dayes before his departure 7. My disadvantage in our Contests especially at Newport were great and many for though I. Stubs and I. Burnet were more civil and ingenious yet W. Edmondson was nothing but a bundle of Ignorance and Boisterousness he would speak first end all though all three were constantly on me at once no man might speak at all in
being President Also what I have spoken against W. Harris touching his firing the Town and Colony I thought so and therefore contended against him but I never sought his life note that R. W. Thou sayst 17 thou art not conscious of any recoyling in thy spirit so much as in a thought Here thou manifest's an impious spirit that seekes to murther the Innocent what Fury possesseth thee to talk of the God of peace yet retainest a murtherous mind not having repented of thy wickednesse how is thy heart hardned in seeking the lives of such as thou thy self hast confest to be the Children of God Oh murtherous man that hath not any Remorse for thy long-liv'd Wickedness I am sorry for thee though thou slight all my writings counsells take all in the worst sence yet I beseech thee to consider thy latter end my desire for thee is that the Lord would awaken thy Soul give thee Repentance unto life In the last place thou writest how highly I esteem of G. Fox and thou desirest to think as low of thy self How will this agree with thy boasting of great Education great Experiences great struglings and strivings within to bring out thy Positions and Conclusions which all my loving Testimonyes against as issuing from a diabolicall spirit did no more take place with then a Feather against a Rock Call to mind the preaching of Jonas to Ninive yet forty dayes and Ninive shall be destroyed a short speech yet they repented and the Lord pardoned And so I desire thou mayest repent and find mercy with the God of mercy Thy Neighbour I. T. THus Reader it pleased the Infinite Wisdom of the most holy and only Wise to pierce through my heart with the thrusts and stabs of a of a foul-mouth'd slanderous spirit by the hands of long professed friends and lovers yet pretending the name of God and of Scripture as wel as my self How doth it behoove us then to make sure that we can in truth say as Ieremiah Lam. 3. Thou art my portion saith my Soul O Lord Thou and none else Thou alone without Health Strength Beauty Honour Lands Goods Friends .c. How should we make sure that with Thomas we may say unto the Lord Jesus my Lord and my God for whose sake we ought joyfully to bear what false Christs false spirits and their Souldiers can dart from Earth or Hell against us My Answer was as followeth MY ancient Friend it pleaseth the most High to give to all mankind his Children also and them especially many bitter Cups and that oftentimes by the hands of dear friends and 18 dear Relations that we might fall more in love with himself then ever who isinfinitely more sweet and even Holiness and Power and Wisdom and Love it self Your Lines in this your third Fury against me being full of Bitterness in themselves are more bitter to my Spirit upon diverse accounts But the most High and only Wise will have it so and your judgment and Conscience and mine will have it so yet that will not acquit us we both say we must come to another Barr and there stand or fall eternally In this First You tell me you willingly omitted the Particulars I mentioned as not concerning the matters in handling I am not of your mind it is an Easie yet a Suspicious way of answering and implyes not only unwillingness but a willing Ignorance and Guilt also For is it not concerning the matter in hand especially when so personally provoked to vindicate our selves and friends our Teachers and Apostles our Spirits and Religion also 2. Next you blame my subtle spirit for not answering by Scripture or Reason your loving Admonitions I gave you my Reason shewing how simple it was for you to give fire upon me and tell me my Paper was Scurrilous full fraught with impudent Lyes and Slanders and yet give me not one Scripture nor Reason to prove any of them to be so 2. I shewed you how irrationall it was for you to think that I should so suddenly renounce my understanding and Conscience and Positions upon the sudden sound of your Outcry Repent Repent 3. You tell me it is childish bruitish and irrationall to say that you are worse then Barbarians Answ. I said not so in generall you and all the world ought to abhor the particular case viz. the stripping Naked of your Women and Maidens a case worse then Savage and Barbarous only practised by the Bruites and sometimes by Indians and Whores in their drink when all Modesty and Reason is overwhelmed with more then common Drunkenness Who can but abhor to think of such whorish and monstrous Immodesty such an hellish Incentive to filthy Lusts and that under the most holy name of the Spirit of God 4. As to my first Position you now tell me that it is childish and foolish for G. Fox to prove I suppose you mean for me to desire G. Fox to prove what he and all friends disown and thou in scorn callest Quakers Answ. I know the Quakers say 19 that name is given them in scorn and yet we also know it it hath its denomination from those great bodily Shakings which have been believed to have come in mightily upon them by the power of Devillish spirits for many Reasons of which afterward However G. Fox in 370th page of his Book in Folio writes thus in the title of each page The Quakers answer The Quakers Answer I know what may be said and I know may be said and justly to that excuse and what shall be said in the Dispute following 5. As to my 12th Position of Suffering of the Quakers and you say it is a Brat of mine own and that is an evidence against me and all os my Persecuting Spirit Answ. I shall by Gods assistance prove that you doe make it an Evidence of your Religion and then it must be your one Brat and Bastard As to my persecuting spirit the most High hath been a holy witness to my Travels and losses and hazards and other sufferings in my vindicating and procuring Soul-liberty and I humbly hope in his mercy he will preserve me from being like many Quakers fouly fallen from their former Christan Religion 6. You say How darest thou blame me for not giving Scripture or Reason against thy railing and impious Positions when thou challengest and assignest another to doe it G. Fox .c. Answ. I only blamed I. T. for being so fierce and furious so hot and hasty in crying out a scurrilous Paper fraught with lyes and impudent slanders and yet gave me not one Scripture or Reason against any one of them common Modesty and humane Sobriety would have taught a little Patience till G. Fox had answered or untill you had answered something of Scripture or Reason your self 7. Nextly you tell me of my Serpent-like spirit in witnessing against my neighbour secretly To which I lay before the most High I
notoriously false against Moses as the Charge of the Quakers against such blessed Instruments which God hath used like Moses to bring the Protestants out of the Egypt of Popery viz. a Charge of Pride and Ambition wilt thou make thy self a Prince over us a Charge of which the Foxians are notoriously guilty 5. I observe their horrible Ingratitude both unto the most holy God himself and unto Moses and Aaron Gods Servants by whom he had wrought so many wonders for this people in so many wonderful and miraculous Directions Preservations and Deliverances 6. Their Impatiencci and Unbelief c. Thou hast not yet brought us unto a Land flowing with milk and hony as if God and Moses had only fed them with Sugred and honied Words and no Effects and performances 7. I observe their subtle and false pretences and Suggestions Is noâ— all the Lords people holy every one of them and the Lord is amongst them just the Quakers Language who so advance every one of the people of the Lord as they call their Proselites viz. that they are just now born of God and Literally can not Sin are Immediately Inspired need no Teachers no Scriptures c. 8. I observe and I humbly beg of the Father of mercies to cause these poor Foxians to observe the Conspiracy of the two Elements Earth and Fire to Consume and devour these Famous proud Conspirators I spare Applications begging mercy from the Father of Lights and mercies for their Humiliations and Salvation Only I Remember that every Plant the Heavenly Father hath not planted flourisheth it never so green so high so long shall be plucked up and cast into the Fire c. The 46th Instance is in pag. 262. Where he brings in George Iohnson sâ—ying The Americans were never ordained for Grace and Salvation and the Grace of God never appeared to the Americans 93 G. Fox Answers which is contrary to the Scriptures which saith the grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all men c. and I will give him for a Light and for a Covenant to the Gentiles a new Covenant to the House of Israel and Iudah and that he may be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth and many in America have received Truth and Salvation I Reply 1. To the Covenant or Bargain of God with Man first and secondly I have spoke as also to the figurative calling of Christ Jesus the Covenant to Iews and Gentiles and that this blind Soul taking it litterally he runs upon the Rocks of the Arminian general Redemption and the Universalists general Salvation and that with a known Contradiction against their own Foundation of none having any benefit of Christ that own not their Light c. as also with a known Contradiction to all Expeiience which saith the whole World lies in Wickedness and this America in Barbarisme and Barbarous Wickedness of all sorts 2. I have said Christ is the Light the Covenant the Brazen Serpent the Bridegroom held forth as the Sun in the Heavens to all the World So Christians are the Salt the Light of the World and the Church the Pillar and Firmament of Truth holding it out to all the World is therefore all the World seasoned enlightened converted saved yea doth he not only deny the Americans but the Europeans Asians and Africans also any Salvation though never so holy Professour of Christ except they bow down to their new black Image of Light within them 3. It was a large effusion of the Holy Spirit of God upon so many precious Leaders and Followers who ventured their All to New-England upon many Heavenly Grounds three especially First The enjoyment of God according to their Consciences Secondly Of holding out Light to Americans Thirdly The advancing of the English Name and Plantations These three ends the most High and Holy God hath graciously helpt his poor Protestants in a Wilderness to Endeavour to promote c. And as to these Barbarians the Holy God knows some pains I took uprightly in the Main Land and Islands of New-England to dig into their Barbarous Rockie Speech and to speak some 94 thing of God unto their Souls and surely God hath stirred up the Spirit of my ancient dear Friend Mr. Eliot to gain their Language to Translate them the Bible and many other wayes to bring the sound of a Saviour amongst them which I humbly beg of God to perfect and finish for the Glory of his Great Name c. 4. What G. Fox means by saying some in America have received Truth and Salvation I can but guess at It is known he owns nothing of God in Indians or English until they bow down to their Idol and that he intends none but such English in America as he and others have Poysoned and Bewitched with Helish Sorceries 5. This last Year a Paper was sent me from the Quakers desiring me to turn it into Indian that so it might be Printed in England and so dispersed amongst them it contained two things First That they had a Light within them which told them that it was evil to Steal c. Secondly That if they did hearken to this Light it would lead them to God c. I returned the Paper and my refusing in Writing affirming it not to be Truth c. and I questioned the Quakers themselves for a false Christ false Light and Spirit which they would infect the Indians with The 47th Instance is in pag. 263. Where he quotes Iohn Owen saying All Truth concerning God and our selves is to be learned from the Holy Scripture the Word of God G. Fox Answers There was Truth learned before the Scriptures were written and the Scriptures of Truth are the Words of God which ends in Christ the Word and there is no Truths learned but as the Spirit doth lead into all Truth And many has the Scriptures but know not Christ and the Truth c. so he hath thrown out Christ and the Spirit I Reply 1. I have more then once before Answered this Childish Answer There was Truth and the Spirit and Christ and Light before Scripture as also that which no true Protestant denies viz. that the Scriptures nor preaching nor Baptisme nor the Supper nor Afflictions avail except the Spirit the Fin 85 ger or Power of God set them home upon us As also that many have the Scriptures yet know not Christ which who questions So that his Answers are so loose and Childish that none but Fools and Children and Frantick persons can find any Savour and tast in them 2. I therefore further Answer to this Quotation pray the Reader to read some former passages but especially those publick discourses of this excellently learned and pious Author wherein he hath admirably both in Latin and English maintained the Authority and perfection of this Inestimable Iewel the holy Scripture both against Atheists and Papists and Iews and Quakers
Justice who payes the old score .c. Also to consider my Irrationality that thy great Education great Search .c. as also thy great Travels and Struglings to bring forth thy Positions all being in thine own will and in the Apostacy wherin the great Whore hath made all Nations drunk with her Fornications which the Lord will in his Time consume with the breath of his mouth I know thou hast undertaken a great Burthen in Challenging G. Fox to answer thy Positions I wish thee to provide thy Armour of Proof as Golias that defied the Army of Israel G. Fox is furnished with that Armour that thou hast no skill to make use of having also the Sword of the Spirit to cut down all thy airy Imaginations Therefore cease from further troubling thee a Word to the Wise is Sufficient if thou haue a heart to make use of it thy Friend and Neigbour I. T. To this Second Letter I Replied in this following NEighbour in this your second Letter misdated as well as mine you pass by many Particulars which I wrote concerning G. Fox Hump. Norton your self and the stripping your Women Stark naked in publick c. you insist upon my Irrationall dealing 2. For your charging my Positions to be Lyes and Impudent Slanders without giving me one Scripture or Reason to prove them so and here you say For my charging upon thee Lyes and Slanders examine but thy Positions which will make manifest what I say But is this any more Rationall or Manlike or is it not bruitish to say you are a Lyar because you are a Lyar 12 Or you are a Lyar because you say these Positions are true and offer to prove them It is a Man-like spirit to lead a Beast with an Halter but a Man with Reason but to lead or drive a Man with an Halter or Cudgel and not with a Reason in Naturalls and Rationalls most of all in Spirittalls is not the Spirit of God nor of Humanity For what will my Chargings and Censures and Clamors and Cursings and Damnings effect and beget upon a rationall Soul without a proof of Reason but an Opinion of my wicked false bruitish and irrationall spirit 3. T is true in your Exhortation to me you bid me hearken to the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man c. This I acknowledg Scripture You say I wrested and added to an other Scripture but you mention it not so I am in the dark what you mean And for this of the Manifestation of the Spirit your self now consent to me that it was spoken to the Saints or Christians at Corinth and therefore I spake true in saying that as to my Positions by you call'd Impudent Lyes and Slanders you gave me not then nor now any one Scripture or Reason to prove any one of my Positions to be so 4. As to Iohn Burnet I said before him and afterwards that he delivered many Truths yet withall I then at the same time in their Publick Assembly at Newport I told them that it lay upon them to manifest to their own Souls and others 1. That their Christ was true 2. That their Spirit was Gods and the rather because they were charged with denying the Institutions of Christ Iesus and with the setting up of many Will-worships as Preaching of Women c. And I went on purpose to Discourse of these matters this being the time of their Generall Assembly and a great Concourse I was stopt by the sudden praying of the Governour 's Wife who also told me of her asking her husband at home meaning Christ which I had toucht upon I rose up and said if a man had so alleadged I would have answered him But I would not Countenance so much the violation of Gods Order in making a Reply to a Woman in Publick Hereupon I. Nicols stood up and said In Christ Iesus neither male or female c. I was Replying to him and to I. Burnets Speech also concerning their Spirit but I was stopt by Iohn Burnets sudden falling to Prayer and dismissing the Assembly I resolved with Gods help to be Patient and Civill and so I ceased not seing a willingness in them for me to proceed which experience made me not to trouble 13 G. Fox and the Assembly at Providence but rather to make a fair and Solemn offer of Dispute about these matters so that it is notorioufly false that I Owned or Countenanced any of their Opinions 5 You tell me of my foisting in that word Damning and I tell you that those words of Condemnation and Damnation are all one in your Greek and Latine and English and other Languages So that in your telling me if I hearken not to you it will be my Condemnation you all one tell mee it will be my Damnation There are two Damnations one which all Mankind is under He that believeth not is condemned already the other that finall Sentence Goe ye Cursed my Charity bids judge that you meant not the latter But my Knowledg tells me amongst Iews and Turks Papists and Protestants and Pagans with all of which I have conversed I never met with such a Judging Censuring Reviling spirit as is the spirit of the Quakers 6. As to my saying in my 14th Position that the spirit of the Quakers tends to a sudden Cutting off of people yea Kings and Princes It lyes upon me to prove it and you do only upbraid me with it but offer no disproof nor can you or any other evade it when the Roots of Affairs and Actions are dig'd up and examined 7. Next you cry out against my Blood-thirsty spirit in William Harris his Case and I answer that it is not the sign nor the part of Loyall and gratefull subjects having received such wonderfull Favours and Priviledges from so mighty a Monarch so to Slight and damn to Null and make void such Royall Grace and Favour Is it not high and monstrous abominable Presumption for any man to quarrel with Soveraign Majesty for granting Favour and Mercy to the Souls and Bodyes of their Subjects which he ought to doe even in Conscience to God and for dispensing with Laws made for Superstitions and Oppressions I think you have been an Officer your self in a Corporation in England I question how you durst then or durst now omit to take Cognizance of such Actings against your Corporations safety and the Honour and royall supream Authority of his Majesty I was in place and ingaged more than others to maintain the righteous splendor of the Kings Crown and Majesty and Prerogative and the Colonyes safety peace and Liberty and yet I acted not without the Counsel and Concurrence of all the rest of the 14 Magistrates who did no more but what belonged to our Duty and Alleagiance as faithfull Officers to his Majesty and this Colony under him nor did we any more then Necessity and common Prudence compeld us to for who knoweth what after Reckonings may befall
their obstinately continued Advantage of three constantly engaged against me beside their accidental speakers who had liberty when others were forbidden I say notable and Chief men in their way and Sect and having just then read a Letter as I sate there directed to my self and all of us to be read in the Assembly I begun with presenting the Letter to them and told them that just now it was delivered to me c. I knew not certainly from whome it came nor of one Tittle of the Contents of it only I judged it to be my Brother Robert Williams School-Master of Newport his hand I read the Superscription and offered if they pleased to unseal and read it or I would deliver it into their hand so to doe W. Edmundson answered that they came not thither to hear Papers but to hear how I would make out my false Charges against them and this he speaking none would whist against it and this he did speak because my Brother beyond my expectation and thoughts spake some words the first morning against their Insulting and domineering over me as also delivered a paper to them which was with much adoe handed and delivered to them but never read containing these two great Points in every true penitent Converts eye viz. the sight of Sin as Sin And 2. The sight of the material Lord Iesus as the true Messiah or anointed these were the two Daggers which they knew stab'd at the heart of their feigned Christ and Light within them I knew my Brother patiently waited there the two first dayes and was with others silenced and now I guessed he had sent them his mind and would trouble them no more I told them 70 the whole Assembly had Interest in the Letter as directed to us to read to the rest W. Edmundson and the rest desired the Auditors to speak if they desired to have it read some of the Quakers said it might be read when the business was over so I to make no breach put it up and in the end of the day offered it again claiming their Promise but they regarded it not so that after the Conference ended we of Providence being called away by a Boat preparing to depart I stept to my Brothers house and acquainted him with Passages who said that not only the Superscription was his hand but the Letter also and I might open and read it and if it might be present it to the intended Assembly at Providence of which we shall hear when it pleaseth the mercifull hand of the Lord to bring us to those Transactions In short it was refused there also therefore I have judged it fit since it was so solemnly flung out both at Providence and Newport that it should have as solemn a Publication to the whole world and the rather because it is a witness of Truth as to the two first dayes transactions impartially reproving my Opposites and me also where he conceived we were failing It is true I am not of my Brothers Conscience as to the Discipline of Christ viz. that I ought to have admonished the Quakers in private before I had so publickly c. since they proclaimed their sin like Sodom on the house top and it is preposterous to run from House-top-sins to closet Concealments and Admonitions 2. Nor can I own the Quakers in their wayes and worships to be Servants of the Lord as my Brother calls them any more then the greedy Wolves devouring the souls of the Ephesians Act. 20. were the meek and innocent Lambs and sheep of Christ. 3. Nor doe I think I charged them too deep or too sharply as my Brother speaks I knew the Foxes and Wolves the able Leaders amongst them do not run away with Pigs and Worldly Swine only but that some Lambs and Chickens of Christ Iesus are carried away in their Soul bloody jaws also whom I beseech to remember themselves and I humbly beseech the God and Father of mercies to pull them out and help all that love his Name to help pull them out as Brands from the Eternal Burnings As for the Wolves and Foxes the Blind Leaders the Chapmen that by feigned words make Merchandize of Souls 2 Pet. 2. their 71 mouths must be stopped and the Prey rescued from their Jawes and because we ought to save what is saveable and to recover poor sinners Leaders and Followers from their corrupt and rotten Profession we ought to use Sharpness Tit. 1. Reprove them sharply Apotómoce cuttingly that they may be found or recover in the Faith of Iesus These three words I thought fit to say as to my self let the Quakers answer for themselves who I fear will answer to my Brother as they did to me Lyes slanders false Accusations c. However the Reader is here presented with the Copy of it The Superscription To his Loving Friends Roger Williams and the Quakers now assembled at Newport deliver Humbly desiring the reading of it to publick Audience for the Truths sake of Christ Jesus LOving Friends though the Lord in his Wisdome hath denied me from Nature the gift of utterance yet in his infinite mercy he hath vouchsafed to me his free gift as to writing whereby the private motions arising between God and my own Soul without knowledge unto any may be declared being moved hereunto out of a sensible sadness which is upon my Spirit in beholding the Cloudings and Vailings of the most precious Truths of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ But Loving Friends herein mistake me not at first This is no charge nor discharge but an appearance unto my Soul even unto the moving of my Bowels within me For my Beloved at his putting in his hand at the hole of the door when all my Lovers Priests and Elders gave up the Ghost in the City for gladness is taken away and joy out of the pleasant field and in the Vineyard there is no true singing and the Treaders tread out no pure Wine for the Lord hath made the Vintage shouting to cease But to avoid Prolixity I write not to charge nor admonish neither for contending Argumentation it being against my understanding and as the taking of a Dog by the ear But â—incerely unto edification in signifying the appearances unto my Soul in what I have gotten from these your so earnest and tedious Debates 72 Therefore I am humkly bold to speak unto all the contending Disputants in the plainness of my heart And First unto the Complaining Disputant it appears unto my Soul that you have not dealt as a faithful Servant of the Lord Iesus with your fellow Servants for you should have admonished them both first and second time in private and if they would not have heard you then to have told it to the Church the great Congregation of God 2. It doth appear unto my Soul that you have assumed and presumed too much being so large and high proposals which do appear unto me not as charges
case being my self then in London whatever Fox the Quakers impudently affirm to the contrary 95 It is true that Iames Parnel and Fox and all of them sometimes miserably and after the Devils Method make use of Scripture as a Shield or Buckler to fence themselves against the Scripture and as a Sword to run through the Heart and Bowels of the Scripture the Saints and Christ and God himself they make use of it as Stirrops and Ladders and Scaffolds for their counterfeit Christ in pretence but in reallity themselves to mount up into their Saddles and Thrones of the Eternal power and Godhead that so the Earth may be theirs by Authority So that as the Lord speaks of the Iews Sacrifices that they were not his and of Iehoiakim that he did not know the Lord Jer. 22. and of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11. that they did not eat the Lords Supper though they did eat it so I affirm from all the premises alleadged the Quakers do not own that is truely and Christianly as they say Bonâ fide and in reality but slight and villifie and abominate and nullifie the holy Scripture that their unwritten Lies and lying Spirits may be exalted We have a great word in use amongst Merchants and others to wit the word Effects they desire to see effects of money or Goods for want of a real and effectual prizing and loving obeying and magnifying the holy Scriptures The Iewes Pharises the Papists and Quakers do not owne the perfection Authority of the holy Scriptures but set up their Traditions and Popes Councils Spirits above them and therefore the Iewes Papists and Quakers do not owne the holy Scriptures I freely acknowledge that many of these Particulars I could not then express because of my Confinement to a quarter of an hour and sometimes the Interposure of my Opposites I remember I urged that dead and rotten esteem that both Papists and Quakers fling as dirt in the face of the holy Scriptures calling it a dead Letter a Nose of wax a leaden Rule which may be pincht and bow'd to every mans Opinion But First They horribly bow and pinch that holy Scripture 2. Cor. 3. which meddles not with all the Scripture but with the Covenant of the Law and Iustice opposite to the Covenant of Grace Mercy calls the Law a killing Letter compar'd with the Grace Mercy of an offended God now reconciled by Christ Iesus But Secondly These poor Foxes fly to their Burroughs and confound the matter of the Scripture or Writing being Paper 96 and ink c. with the contents the purport and as I may say the matter contained in the matter we use to say what have you to shew for it what evidences have you what Records and sometimes when no Witnesses are living or can be had an old poor Record is produced which proves the life and spirit of the business what Simpletons do these only wise ones shew themselves in affairs of men that know not that as Solomon sayes of the Tongue Life and Death is in the power of the Tongue so Life and Death is in the power of a piece of Paper what hath an Executor yea many thousand Executors to shew for their Estates sometimes of hundreds yea thousands years but a little paper and ink and wax from the Testators what gives life to a condemned soul but a Pardon or Reprieve in a piece of Paper who knowes not that a Writ or Paper signed by his Majesty the Lord Chancellour the Lord ceief Iustice hath Death in it and fetcheth off the heads of many yea the highest Offenders The Quotations out of G. Fox which then I could not insist on I shall present a few and then pass on to the fifth Position In the 47th Pag. G. Fox brings in Ios. Miller saying It is an Errour if not damnable to say Christ is the meanes and that there is no other meanes of Salvation He Answers And Christ saith no man comes unto the Father but by me and he is able to the uttermost to save and he shall be my Salvation to the end of the Earth saith the Lord and saith the Apostle God is in Christ reconciling the World to himself and he that hath the Son hath Life and the Father and the Son are one and there is no salvation in any other I reply I shall now freely declare to the Sence of this Allegation though in the Dispute my Adversaryes would not suffer me to meddle with the Sence of G. Fox his words contrary to our Covenant in my Writing viz. that each Party should speak as long as they pleased which Liberty they enjoyed without my Interruption and first I doe not think that Ios. Millers words run so loosely in his own Book I do not think that a man of Wisdom would call it an error to say that Christ is the meanes of Salvation But to the second part to which G. Fox opposeth I believe it is an Error and a damnable Error and a Doctrine of Devils to say there is no other meanes of Salvation for this wretched Iugler subtilly confounds the Instrumental Causes of Salvation with 97 the Efficient in God the Father and Meritorious in God the Son Christ Jesus 'T is true there is no Redemption and Forgiveness of sin but in his Blood Ephes. 1. though I know this Iugler as before means not a Christ nor his Blood nor Death as we do mean but Imaginary within c. And yet as Means and Instruments Christs Messengers are said to save themselves and others The holy Scriptures are said to make wise to Salvation A man may be Gods means or Hand to save his Wife and the Wife her Husband We are saved by hope saith Paul and saved by Baptisme saith Peter yea Women are saved by Child-bearing as God blesseth those painful Curses to be blessed means of bringing to or growing up in Christ the Saviour All these subtly and wickedly G. Fox sets at variance with the Meritorious Salvation by Christ Jesus between which there is an Heavenly Union and Concord as between a man saving his Brother by throwing a Rope or Oar or Board unto him c. or a Midwife saving both Woman and her Birth in Child-bearing by the Means of Women and Helps which her Skil and Labour administreth to her To talk of this Immediate Christ and Spirit without Scriptures without Preaching and other holy means is as silly as Impious as Blockish as Blasphemous and as Bedlam and Frantick as wicked and Anti-Christian Would not every body laugh at G. Fox if he should say that because the Kings Majesty graciously pardons Condemned Rebels at the Mediation of the Prince his Son therefore the Composing the writing the proclaiming of the pardon the bring of it to the Rebels hands written and sealed with the Kings broad Seal are no means of their Salvation and Deliverance In Pap. 221.
works and a looking to be Justified and saved be God for a mans own Abilities performances and Righteousness far from the Faith of the Gospel which though good works in Love follow it yet not one good work in the world goes before it Nor one good work in the world goes with it in the point of Justification or pardon of our Transgressions and therefore G. Fox hath not only George Willington his Opposite but the express word and Declaration of the Spirit of God saying Rom. 3. Therefore we Conclude that a man is Iustified by Faith and not by the works of the Law Alas porr Bankrupts who owe more Infinitely to God then we are worth who are over head and Ears in Debt to God to our own Souls to Men and Angels and the whole Creation having sinned against Heaven c. that have not one farthing toward the discharge of so many Infinite Millions of Talents God of his rich Infinite mercy convinceth some of the proud Sons and Daughters of men of their deplorable Condition makes them cry for mercy and for Christ Jesus sake and Mediation he freely Iustifies and forgives them Thus saith the Scripture all along and that our Faith our believing or receiving of this grace though it be followed with Mary Magdalens Love contributes not one farthing toward the payment of our Infinite Millions no not so much as one good Thought He brings in Ioseph Miller saying It is an Errour to say we are Iustified by that which Christ doth in us He Answers Contrary to the Apostle who saith We are Iustified by Faith in his Blood 125 And the Faith is in the Heart and the Blood is in the Heart that purifies it and held in a pure Conscience And the Word of Faith is within Rom. 10. And Faith gives Victory over the World and that which gives Victory Justifies And Christ is within you who is Iustification Sanctificotion and Redemption either of them is found within and thou art in the Errour and not fit to talk of these things thou understandest not I Reply Grant that in a true Respect and Sense Faith is within and the Blood within and the Word of Faith within and Christ within and Iustification and Sanctification within will it therefore follow I say will it therefore follow with any Colour of Common Reason that therefore in one and the same Sense they are all within and they are all one and they were not without before they were within I know this subtle Fox and he that helps his deluded pate to bind up such a Bundle of wrested Scriptures would have it so that he may jumble and blend all together in a Babilonish Mystery and subtly deny the Truth of the holy Scriptures History It is true Cheist dwels in our Hearts by believing Ephes. 3. and Consequently his Cross yea his Manger yea his Blood yea his Grave are within c. But that Christ Literally shed his Blood within us as a Ransome to his Eather for the sins of the whole world is as Fine and bruitish a Fancy as that the Cross the Spear the Soulders the High Priests Scribes and Pharisees and People Pilate the Romans Ierusalem Iude the whole world as some of them have idly ofteuprated are Literally within us It is true in a Sense the King and his pardon and Counsellours and Scribes and writings and Seals c. are all in a Rebels heart as he believes and applies all these within him and his belief works by love But if they be within otherwise then we Affirm c. and as G. Fox would have it then they are not withont also which is the mark all these Arrows from Hell fly at and Consequently Christ Jesus and his Blood shedding and a Literal Ierusalem and a true and real man Christ Jesus and the holy real Literal Scriptures are blown up and vanished altogether Pag. 10. He brings in Iohn Bunyar saying It is not Faith and works that justifies a man before God but it is Faith and good works which justifie in the sight of men only and such works will not 126 justifie in the sight of God and he saith that works is only to justifie their Faith to be true before men G. Fox Answers Abraham was not Justified only to men by his Obedience but to God And where there is Faith there is Iustification which works by Love And the Saints Faith and works were not only to Justifie them in the sight of men For the work of God is to do what he saith the will which who doth not is not Justified by so doing but to be beaten with stripes who seek to be Justified by their Faith and works in the sight of men are dead Faith and works both I Reply He that reads this passage may without doubting Conclude that G. Fox and his Foxians are as perfect Pharisees Iewish and Popish as ever burroughed in Rome or Ierusalem maintaining a Covenant of works Justification by works and renouncing Christ Jesus his Blood and merits For if Abraham was Justified and received his pardon by his Obedience to God what need was there for him and us to look out for a Surety a Redeemer a Mediator to pay his Blood for our Ransome and to fetch us out of the miserable state of Sin Death and Hell c. 2. Whereas G. Fox asketh what is the work of God but to do what he saith I Reply 1. The work of God according to Christs Doctrine is to believe on him whom God sent It is true it is the Command of God to keep his Commands but since the deadly Fall of man none not one being able Rom. 3. though Fox deny it it is the work the great work of God to fly to that blessed Propitiation for poor sinners throughout the world But G. Fox cannot distinguish between the Covenant of works of Iustice and of Debt and that of mercy and of receiving all as a Beggar and Condemned Rebels poor proud Souls they know not any difference between the Blood of Christ Iesus and their own Blood as we shall see afterward 3. Whereas he saith that they do not Gods will are not justified in so doing I Answer therefore it follows ronndly as his Conclusion that they that do Gods will are justified in so doing that is their sins are pardoned as David and Paul by pardon of Sin describe justification 127 Who sees not the subtlety of this Fox cheating himself and others with the divers signification of this Latin word Iustification It is true a man can not be justified or defended for Thieving Whoring Murthering c. Doth it follow therefore that they that do not Steal whore murther c. by this abstaining from Sin and by this their work they obtein the pardon and stand by this their work legally right and justified in the Court of Heaven I Conclude that by these hints a broken hearted sinner
this side the Grave I utterly deny G. Fox Answereth Where Glory is in the least degree it is in perfection and who have not Glory and doth â—ot attain to Glory on this side the Grave they are in a sad condition for the Saints rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory c. I Reply as the Swinish Epicures and Dives's of this World what ever they formally and loosely profess have no solid hope of peace and joy to come after this life and therefore like Bâ—uit Beasts practically confess it saying in their hearts and Life 154 let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall dye so do this cynical and doggid kind of Philosophers the Quakers profess plainly though some would cover it no hopes of a rising of the Body but what they have here no hopes of a Heaven but what they have here no hell but what they in their minds have past through no Judgement but what as Saints they are now executing I know that some of the Quakers will not believe that G. Fox and others of them deny the Resurrection c. but if they will not willingly fish let them read and consider these my Quotations from G. Fox Ed. Burrowes and Iohn Stubs their Book in Folio and let them also know that whatever they profess against this that I have said that is but horrible Hypocrisie and Deceit for they would not in all our Disputations depart one hair from those horrible and monstrous Blasphemies and bruitish Reasonings in G. Fox and Edward Burrowes We came to the ninth Proposal the second in order to be debated at Providence viz all that the Quakers Religion requires externally and internally to make Converts or Proselytes amounts to no more then what a Reprobate may easily attain to and perform I did not the Father of Spirits is my holy witness sling this in as a Firebrand of Reprobation against either Teachers or Followers called Quakers it is true they do so against all that ever were not or are not or shall not be in their Opinion but my hope is that many amongst these misled and wandring Souls may come to Abrahams Bosome c. yet this I assert that thousands and ten thousands may be of their Religion and may have gotten all that their Religion requires or performs yea all that their Principles call for outwardly or inwardly and yet not be accepted but rejected from the holy and gracious presence of God I told them that I had this notion from a man famous in his day Mr. W. Perkins who having been a deboist young man in Cambridge after the call of God to him he proved famous in Preaching and Writing and with a lame Club hand he wrote admirably against the Papists and maintained that all Popery preacht to the making of Converts or Proselytes amounted to no more then what Reprobates may easily attain unto I say the same of common Protestants and of the Quakers they may have a great measure of sorrow for sin great resolu 155 tions great Reformations great Rejoycings great and wonderful performances endure great persecutions endure burning of the Body in the Flames and yet be far from the true Protestant Religion either in the true Doctrine and Principles or in the true life and practice of it For the Foundation both of the Papists and Quakers Faith is laid upon the Sand of Rotten Nature which they both only adorn and trim as the dead Carcasses and Coffins with Roses and Lillies and other Flowers and Garlands their own penances satisfactions Alms Prayers Fastings Suffrings which are but Womens filthy Clouts and Dung of Men and Beasts put into the ballance of Gods infinite Justice instead of the infinite Righteousness and Satisfaction of the Son of God poor Souls they know not that the whole Creation visible and invisible seen and unseen known and unknown cannot reach Gods most holy and inconceivable justice for the least evil word or thought Neither of these nor millions of Protestants much less millions of millions in one evil word or thought then in all the sorrows and calamities felt in this life or justly feared in the liâ—e a coming With the Quakers 't is known that if a notorious Drunkard c be convinced and come to hearken to a Spirit within him to say Thou and Thee and think himself equal and above all his former Superiours c. he is Justified he is Sanctified and so Holy that he cannot sin in Thoughts Words and from this high Mount looks down on all others especially if opposite as Pharisees Publicans Cains c. Thus they pretend Repentance Faith and a change of heart because they have changed their talk their Garments c. But 1. I told them that true Repentance lay in a discovery of sin as sin as greater than the greatest filthiness in the world no poverty no shame no loss like unto it c. 2 In an utter inability to contribute one mite either from self or from the whole Creation toward satisfaction to infinite Majesty and Justice for the least evil thought or imagination 3. That as blessed Iohn Bradford said to God Lord thou art Heaven I am Hell viz. that in the best natural Soul in the World there is nothing but a Kennil an Hogstie a den of Atheisme Murther Theft Fornication Adultery and all kinde of Wickedness 156 4. That I have not so much in me as to desire Deliverance nor to be sensible of any need of it 5. That it is only mercy and rich free Grace that worketh in me or any Soul a Sence of my Condition a Sence of Justice a Sence of Mercy 6. That it is Mercy only worketh a willingness a new desire new Affections towards my Maker towards my Ransomer who paid his Bloud his Heart-Bloud the Bloud of God to ransome and redeem me 7. That in this work Mercy not only worketh a Sence a thirst after Pardon and Peace with my Maker but also after a Conformity and Likeness unto God 8. Because I cannot reach this the Mercy and Pitty of God worketh in my Soul a longing after God and after the turning of the whole Soul unto God and after those seven Evidences of true Repentance 2. Cor. 7. 9. This is in true Christian Repentance and turning of the whole Soul unto God viz. to receive every thought every motion every desire upon the account of Mercy and Pitty as ever poor Dog received Crum or Bone under the Table Much of this I spake publickly as also that no Papist nor Quaker by their grounds could get up this Iacobs Ladder much less upon those higher grounds and steps of casting off Self of doing all purely for God and in Gods eye of meekness and Mercy to other poor drowning Soules of pure Love to God for Himself for his Holiness Mercy Goodness yea for his Iustice of quiet and patient and thankfull resting in his holy Pleasure whatever he
and for maintaining and allowing it for ought I know to this day Then he turns Generallist and writes against all Magist-ates Laws Courts Charters Prisons Rates c. pretending himself and his Saints to be the Higher Powers as now the Quakers do and in publick writings he stir'd up the People most seditiously and desperately threatning to begin with the Massachusets and to cry out no Lords no Masters as is yet to be seen in his Writing this cost my self and the Colony much trouble Then as the Wind favoured his ends no man more cries up Magistrates then not finding that pretence nor the People called Baptists in whom he confided serving his ends He flies to Connecticut Colony then and still in great Contest with us in hopes to attain his gaping about Land from them if they prevail over us to this end he in publick Speech and Writing applauds Connecticut Charter and damns ours and his Royal Majesties favour also for granting us favour as to our Consciences which he largely endeavours by writing to prove the K. Majesty by Laws could not do My self being in place by Speech Writing opposed him Mr. B. Arnold then Governour and Mr. Io. Clark Deputy Governour Capt. Cranstone and all the Magistrates he was Committed for speaking writing against his Majesties Honour Prerogative Authority He 207 lay some time in Prison until the General Assembly where the Quaker by his wicked ungodly and disloyal plots prevailing he by their means gets loose and leaves open a door for any man to challenge the Kings Majesty for being too Godly or Christian in being too favourable to the Souls of his Subjects against his Laws c. I had thought to have declared thus much publickly and how seasonably the Kings Declaration came over against him also how that one General Assembly and another and another had been troubled with him c. and fined him c. but now my Lord Edmundson grew hot and told me that I had charged the People of the Lord with many great and grievous Charges which he said I could not prove yea he said he would speak it before the Lord I had not proved one of them and therefore he warned me being an old Man that I should not carry such a Burden on my back to my Grave and among other angry insultings he said he heard I had been a Magistrate and said I was a fit man to be a Magistrate that would so wrongfully charge the Innocent Io. Stubs spake to the same effect and how I had hindred them from going about the work of the Lord he said also that it was only the Light which they had spoke for and that some had interrupted them but he confest that Roger Williams himself had not done it I saw God in their Confession And for the last point and Branch of the 14 Position viz. Their Persecuting Spirit having spoken to it before and finding them unwilling to mention it I urged it not having at Newport shewed from Page 170 of G. Fox his Book That the Magistrate that is the Magistrate in their Light ought to Subject the Nation to his Light else he is not a faithful Magistrate In page 90. 96. G. Fox sets up his Saints as formerly W. Harris his Antagonists to be the higher Powers as knowing who Worship God aright and who not and only able to judge of Powers Magistrates Kingdomes and Churches Herein W. H. and the Quakers are one c. It is true that W. Edm. declared that the People of God were not to meddle with Carnal Weapons as also that before time many of the People of God called Quakers had been Souldiers Captains and Colonels yet now coming to the Light they had laid down their Carnal Weapons but if Fox say true in his Book either they Mope or Equivocate for Fox speaks of the Magistrates for Christ in the aforesaid Page 170. he discerns who be Idolaters who not which true Churches which not and are to praise the VVell Doers and terrifie the Evill Doers with the Carnal and Material Sword or else they talk nothing 208 But 2. If this Confession Profession of theirs were not yet if Chrst Jesus say true viz. The Tongue tells to all the World what the Heart is was there ever People professing the Name of Christ Jesus except the Papists so Reproaching the Protestants and amongst the Protestants was there any ever so Reproaching Reviling the Professing and Conscientious People as Quakers do was there ever any known professing the fear of God in so high a measure so sharp and cutting in their Tongues even to eminently knowing and Conscientious persons Thou Lyar thou Serpent thou Cain thou Judas thou Hipocrite thou Devil c. Shall we rationally question whether their hands like Simeons and Levyes will not be as fierce and cruel if the most holy and only Wise permits Whips Halters Swords Fagots to fall into their Hands and what did Sam. Fisher Ed. Burrowes write less to the Souldiers at Dunkirk that if they received the light they should on to Rome 3. Have we not known the deceitfulness of mens hearts fly out into greater matters then Persecution Hazael earnestly asked whether the Prophet thought him a Dog that he should doe such matters c. Pendleton vow'd his Collops should fry ere he would to Mass in Q Maryes dayes and yet to Mass he went and persecuted others also that would not bow to the Image as he had done Just here Capt Green of Warwick desired leave to speak to two things 1. To immediate Revelations such as Abraham and Moses and Ehud had 2. As to the Soul being a part of God I was weary and withdrew but afterward Capt. Green told me that none of them were willing to speak punctualy to either of these two but rather desired to wave them as a bstruse and high matters and Mysteryes Then Pardon Tillinghast a leading man among the People called Baptists at Providence he prest against them the continuation of Christs Ordinances untill he came The Quakers said Christ was come again to his Disciples He replyed that after Christs Ascention he spake of another Coming his second Coming Heb 9. W. E. fel to Prayer as with me he ftl to Preaching Pardon Tillinghast as himself told me declared to them that he was free to discourse with them but he was not free to joyn with them in Worship so he departed and after W E. his Prayer the whole Assembly And thus it pleased the God and Father of Lights and Mercyes to bring us to the end of this 4th dayes Contest and the end of the whole matter in much Peace and Quietness and the Consideration of matters left to every mans Soul and Conscience and so doe I this Narrative which God knows is the Sum and Substance of all our Transactions Unto his Eternal Majesty therefore I humbly
Soul Summond to Death and Judgement looks to Relations c. they all Answer they are in the same Case c. It looks to Wordly Estate c they tell us they will go with us as far as the Grave and provide a Coffin and a Sheet and a Burial c. 3. The old friend is Conscience who will go with us but can be a thousand witnesses against us c. It follows then clearly that the young Prince is the true Lord Iesus Christ not vanished away into a Light in every dark dungeon in the World but Conscience saith he is litterally ascended up into Heaven and will as literally make his speedy Return again to Iudgement The third Instance G. Fox pag. 12. brings in the same Author saying the Light doth not shine in the Consciences of them that be lost The Answer But Iohn saith he Light shines in darkness but the darkness cannot comprehend it and there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience and Reprobates as in Rom. 1. and 2. Chapters I Reply G. Fox is here in his Burrough and takes not the word Light in the same Sense his Opposite doth the Common trick of Cheators His Opposite takes it not for the heavenly Lights Sun Moon nor Earthly Light of Fire Candles precious Stones nor the Metaphorical Light of mens minds differing them from Beasts Birds Fishes Nor the Light of peace joy and Prosperity call'd in Scripture Light c. Nor the Light and Evidence of witness or Reason in Cases depending Nor the Light of the holy Scriptures and the preaching and offering of a 5 Saviour to poor lost Sinners But for that awakening saving Light convincing all mens Condition to be miserable and damnable of Grace and mercy offered and applied to a Soul by the good News of a Saviour someway heard of and the holy Spirit the finger or power of God G. Fox saith this saving Light is in mankind only persons don't mind it and so Christ Iesus is Crucified and slain in them and God and Christ and Spirit and Light c. are all captived hindred from working yea altogether killed slain in them because a Soul doth not mind them and hearken to Christ in them Ah poor simple bruitish Imagination that ever it should enter into the thoughts of Men professing to be Christians c. or of men professing to know more than the Wolves and Foxes in the wilderness I have spoke to this before therefore a word only to G. Fox his proof Rom. 1. and 2. Chapt. From these two Chapters he proves that there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience and Reprobates who denies it For there is something of God that is from the power and wisdome of God in the Fallen Spirits the Devils themselves But I know by that of God G. Fox means God himself prest down as a Cart with sheaves the holy Seed Christ Iesus under the Clods the holy Spirit in prison for the Soul is a part of the Essence or Being of God himself But that there is here a word or title of Colour to any of this dirt and filth flung in the face of the Majestie of Heaven This Scripture speaks of the work or working of the Law written in their hearts but what is this to a second writing of the holy Scriptures or writing inspired into the heart by the most holy Spirit yea what is this to a third writing of their Names written in Heaven in the Lambs Book of Life yea what is this to fourth writing the writing of the new Covenant Consisting of Sin and a new heart a heart of flesh in which his Law is written as formerly in Tables of Stone and yet we poor men of Iabesh Gilead must leave the Testimony as Gilead imports and suffer Nahush the Serpent to put out our right eyes and believe that every man hath the new Covenant Christ Iesus and the Kingdom of God c. with the Pharisees in every mans heart and yet he never knows of it 4. Instance In the same pag. 12 he brings in the same Author saying It is a Counterfeiting of the new Birth for men to 6 follow the Light wherewith men coming into the world are inlightned G. Fox Answ. which none comes to the new Birth but who come to the Light which every man c. in which believing is a Child of the Light c. I Reply G. Fox runs round agian and again like the windmil Sails It is saith he no Counterfeiting of a new Birth why because it is no Counterfeiting none comes to the new Birth but who comes to the Light c. As to the words in Iohn 1. Hitchcock at Newport alleadged that it was not in his Bible enlightneeth every man but lighteth every man c. John Stubs lockt in his greek Testament and confest it was Photizes which is not inlightneth but Lighteth 2. As to the Light We know there are two Opinions how Christ lighteth every man c. First as God in the Creation 2. As God man and Mediatour and that the Greeks word Erchomenon doth not relate to the word anthropon the man or every man that cometh into the world but phoce Light and that it must be read in this Sense viz that Christ Iesus the true Light cometh into the world lighteth every man that is in the world freely that will receive him Even as many whomsoever look up to him as Iohn 3. the stung Israelites to the brazen Serpent and that Christ Iesus is the Light of the world John 8. and 12. to as many as receive him according to 1 Iohn 12. and that the meer phrase imports no more then a Light held forth to all in the world as the Sun in the Heavens and Christs Followers Math. 5. are called by Christ Iesus the Light of the World Thus the word all and every man as I hinted before is used not absolutely but Comparatively and is figuratively taken in many places and four time in that one ver 1 Col. 28. viz. warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that we may present every man perfect in Christ Iesus which literally cannot be true Now G. Fox runs into his Burrough of the many significations of the word Light and the word all and the word inlightneth willingly ignorant that Christ Iesus as Mediator of the new Covenant inlightens none but those whom his Father gives him unto whom he gives Repentance to whom he opens the door of Faith and gives them to believe and suffer c. So that G. Fox Confounds the Elect and the World together and brings in a Counterfeit new Birth a Counterfeit Christ and at last a Counterfeit Salvation 7 5. Instance G. Fox pag. 20. brings in Henock Howet saying It is a fancy to say the Covenant of God is to all men in the world and the grace of God hath appeared to all men c. He Answ.
contrary to the Apostle who saith the grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all men contrary to the Prophet who saith I will give him for a Light unto the Gentiles a Light to the people Salvation to the ends of the Earth and a new Covenant to the house of Israel and Iudah and they that do not believe this are Condemned I Reply in these Considerations presented to the Conscientious 1. All mankind being fallen from God He graciously gave the Word or call to Abraham and made Promises both to his Natural and Spiritual Seed hence came the distinction of Jews or the Children of Abraham and the Gentiles as we English it 2. It pleased God to make two Convenants or Bargains with mankind 1. that of Justice and due debt to any man that yielded obedience in all things c. Rewards according too yea above desert This Bargain was made with our first Parents and with all mankind to this day yea even with the most savage and barbarous The second is of mercy and pity c. The Labans of the world change Covenants and Bargains ten times and still for the worse c. but the Father of mercies pitying Mans Misery and Inability offers a New and Infinitely easier and sweeter Bargain upon the Terms of only Mercy and free grace and pity 3. It is one thing for God to offer this Covenant or Bargain wherever the sound of this Gospel or glad News comes and another thing to embrace and receive it as all the Elect of God do and another thing to work freely and give freely the Means and Power to fulfil this Covenant as God doth by the Merits of his Sâ—n and his own powerful working of Repentance and belief in the hearts of all his Chosen 4. It is Common with the holy Spirit to speak Figuratively in the holy Scripture To call the Sign the thing signified and the Instrument or Means the work done Thus the Lamb is the Passover the Bread is Christs body the Cup is his Blood God and Christ is called the Hope of his people and Christ Iesus the Mediator of the Covenant called the Covenant it self The King pardons Rebels for his Sons sake his Son may in a Sense be said 8 though not literally to be the pardon it self A man drives a Bargain between two Chapmen that are absent and distant drives on a marriage between a Man and a Woman absent each from other and may in a Figurative Sense be called the Bargain or Covenant and yet not literally and properly as the poor Quakers would their Christ to be 5 The grace and mercy of God the Gospel or glad News is many wayes offered some are invited gently to come to the heavenly Wedding and Supper other Messengers more vehement even force persons in and the Kingdome of Heaven is taken by force many seek to enter many run It is not in him that willeth nor runneth but in God that sheweth mercy and the rest he justly hardeneth that God may be All in All. For as God walketh in the midst of his most wonderful Creation with his two feet of Mercy and Justice so he hath his two fingers and with one he wrote the Covenant of Justice in the Tables of Stone and with thâ— fingers of his Mercy and Grace he freely writes his Mind and Will in the Tables of Flesh and Hearts of his Chosen Many offers of Bargains and Marriages are made which never are embraced c. but in the new-Covenant God gives a new heart to his Chosen and gives not and is not the Covenant to any but his Chosen all the World over even to the ends of the Earth 6. For is it not a monstrous Dream of the Quakers to say that God and Christ Spirit and Covenant is in all Mankinde and that in a Gospel sence t is true as I said if G. Fox mean that the Knowledge of God in a sence is offered to each mans Conscience in the World though more expresly and gloriously where he sends his Messengers Wisdomes Virgins c. G. Fox beats the Fire I oppose him not but to say the Covenant or Bargain the Mediatour of the new Bargain and the Applyer of it the Holy Spirit is in every of Mankinde and if they will turn to it â— and yet persons know no such thing nor never heard of it and none ever had it so as to be saved by it but these Foxians is as wise as for a Man to have Fits of the Stone or Gout or a Woman have Pangs of Child-bearing and yet neither of them know any such matter no nor how she had any such Marriage Covenant or Husband nor ever any Word or Thought of it 7. The Bottome is this G. Fox cares not for the Iews nor 9 Gentiles no more then the Fox cares for Lambs and Chickins but to make a Prey of them he pretends Love to all Man-kinde and tells them they have Christ and the New Covenant and the Spirit within them yea he tells them he means not the Covenant of works but the Covenant of Grace he means that Christ that dyed at Ierusalem but when it comes too they mean no other Christ but a Spirit as Humphrey Norton more plainly then Fox confesseth and this Spirit will be found to be an Evil Spirit by Gods most wonderful wise and righteous hand as one saith upon them A 7th Instance G. Fox brings in pag. 24. Ioseph Kellet c. saying The Scriptures are the means of Faith He Answers and have thrown out Christ the Authour of it and God the Giver and the Scripture is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith and men had Faith before the Scripture was as Instance Abraham and Enoch I Reply G. Fox Answers three things First That his Opposites throw out God if they make the Scripture the means of Faith Secondly He slights the Scripture with a But it is but a Declaration of the Saints Faith Thirdly He slights the Novelty of it saying There was Faith before there was Scripture I reply I have had many Occasions to speak of the Scriptures already I shall therefore briefly say it is wonderful what an aking Tooth against the Holy Writings of God The old Serpent and all the Wolves and Foxes of this World have had who hath more or less damned and cursed it and longed to have it out of the World The Iews the Turks the Papists the Common Protestants the Quakers c make use of it for their ends but none can rightly use it but as a blessed Candle Lanthorn or Torch sent down from Heaven into this dark Dungeon of the World to guid us out unto the Saving Knowledge of God and Eternal Bleâ—â—edness with him For how doth this follow that if God hath appointed the Holy Writings as means that God and Christ are thrown out can there not be an Harmony between the first and all
Prophecies of Scriptures or the written foretellings and utterings concerning Jesus Christ. Thus the God of Heaven most holy and only wise stoops to our weakness and calls his mind his word his works his word his Providences of mercy or Judgement his Word the Lord Jesus his only begotten his word his writings his Word and this in a way of Condescention to our Capacity seeing that all the World over Kings and Rulers Fathers Masters of Families of Ships c. give the word that is the manifestation of their mind and will and this as the Spring in Clocks and watches turn about all other wheels and motions Hence it is that if ancient Records and Deeds with Hands and Seals be produced at the Bar of Trial all mouths are stopt at such Evidences Thus the Word of God in the mouths of the Prophets written for after Generations is Comparatively beyond the Report of Peter 25 and Iohn themselves is in all Religions The Iews have their Talmud the Turks their Alcheron the Pope his Decretans and the Protestants the Written Word or Scriptures When therefore a Pardon is written and Sealed with the Board Seal of a King or State what a fancy is it for a condemned Wretch to hearken first to a Pardon revealed within to a voice within to a King within to a Writing within a Seal within and so slighting the true pardon in the Kings way to be conveyed from without to the Mind and Spirit within to lose his Pardon and Deliverance as thousands of such poor cheated Souls must do A 14 Instance G Fox brings in Pag. 49. his Opposite Ralph Hall saying It is against the Light of Nature for Women to Preach c. G. Fox Answers Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and the mind of God and the Prophets who said God would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and Daughters should Prophesie So that he is a limiter of the Holy one a quencher of the Spirit and in the Darkness and this is above the Light of Nature I Reply First What is the Light of Nature but the Light in which every man comes into the World with as the Foxians speak a Light differing from that Light which Beasts wilde and tame and Birds and Fishes have And a Second Light differing from what is Supernatural as that Light revealed from Heaven in the Holy Scriptures and infused into the Souls of Men by the Holy Spirit or Power of God 2. What is the Light of Nature in Man but that Order which the most Glorious Former of all things hath set like Wheeles in Clocks or Watches a going in all his Creatures Some have observed that in the Insensible Creatures to which the most High hath only giving Beings that there may be observed a Male and Female amongst them This is more observable in Vegetables or growing Creatures as in Plants Trees Herbs Flowers c. More yet in Sensitives as Birds Beasts Fishes Most of all in Rationals Men and Women whom the most High hath so wonderfully distinguished It is true that in Religious and Christian Matters there is no 26 respect of persons with God as of Man before the Woman otherwise than to order Natural and Civil The Woman is Predestinated is Called is Justified is Glorified and wears that Golden Chain as well as the Wisest and Strongest of Mankinde And it is true the Wisdome of God perfers some Women before thousands of Men in their being born of Nobles in excellent parts as is observable in the Lady Iane and Queen Elizabeth c. in some special favour as Christ Jesus first appearing to Mary Magdalen and other Women and sending them to carry the first Tydings or Gospel of his Resurrection to his Apostles yea in effusions or powrings forth of an extraordinary measure of his Spirit before Christs coming as on Miriam Deborah Anna Huldah c. and at his coming according to Ioels Prophesie on his Daughters as well as his Sons so that as my opposites alledged to me in publick Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters thus extraordinarily endâ—wed yet this favour of God toward Women destroys not the order which the God of Order or Nature hath set in those Bounds and Limits and Distinctions between the Male and Female the Man and Woman though the Holy Scripture were silent yet Reason and Experience tell us that the Woman is the weaker Vessel that she is more fitted to keep and order the House and Children c. that the Lord hath given a covering of longer Hair to Women as a sign or teacher of covering Modesty and Bashfulness Silence and Retiredness and therefore not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments Therefore because of Ioels Prophesie or because we must not limit or quench the Spirit as G. Fox saith there is no ground in Gods ordinary course of Nature to permit Women to pretend to be Apostles or Messengers to the Nation or Preachers and Teachers in the Publick Assemblies 1. Because we finde no such Commission given by Christ Jesus or any such Practice amongst the first Believers 2. The Lord hath set as Seamen speak a preventer to such an unnatural boldness by express Prohibitions with the Reasons and Grounds to the Corinthians and to Timothy and to answer those Scriptures with a flam viz. that Eve the Transgressor and Women that be Tatlers are forbidden and the Woman Iezebel 27 c. is all one to tell us that Paul was not a Man nor Timothy a Man nor the Teachers Men nor Corinth a City but all signifie Metaphorical and Mystical Business 3. Why may not Women much more be Lord Majors and Bailiffs and Sherriffs and Iustices and Constables Captains Colonels Generals and Commanders by Sea and Land 4. That Reason the Spirit gives to the Corinthians for the vailing of Women in publick Assemblies makes much more for their vailing and silence in matters of Prophesying Preaching and Praying viz. Because of the Angels I know not any fair and sober Exposition of this Scripture except as the blind Quakers who swallow down a fly Camel too but that of the Heavenly Angels and Spirits attending on and guarding the Assemblies of true Christians and rejoycing in the comliness order and beauty of their publick Administrations Some few years since there came to my House two Maries it is said they came from London they bid me Repent and Hearken to the Light within me I prayd them â—o sit down that we might quietly reason together they would not then standing I askt them the ground of their such Travel and Employment they alledged Ioels Prophesie I answered that was fulfilled that was not every dayes work besides their business was not Prophetical but Apostolical c. they regarded not my Answers nor Admonitions but powred the Curses and Judgements of God against me and hurried away to Barbadoes they went and being War
of God For what man knows the things of a man save the Spirit of a man c. now we have not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things which are freely given to us of God In ver 6. the Spirit of God speaks of a twofold wisdome first the wisdome of this world and the Principles of this world which come to nought Secondly the wisdome of God in a Mystery even the hidden wisdome which God ordained before the world unto our glory Again ver 12. God tells us of two Spirits The Spirit of the world Secondly The Spirit of God Now this woful Cheator finding the word Spirit Confounds as his Course is all together and because Gods Spirit regenerates the Corintâ—ians and opens to them a glimpse of the Godheads power and wisdom and Goodness by Pauls preaching and opens their hearts to it therefore he must also enlighten the world with the same Light whereas that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and that of Flesh is Flesh This Change and renewing of the Spirit by the Holy Spirit I fear G. Fox and most of his Foxians never Experimened 74 though they enjoy in common a Light of Nature though God hath endowed him and many of them with excellent Natural Parts yea with a Light from the holy Scripture yea with a Light of Experience and common Motions from Gods holy Spirit and have been lifted up by their own thoughts and others as Capernaum up to the Heaven and therefore my Soul fears as to most of them that God will bring them down to Hell with the greater Condemnation The 38th Instance is in Pag. 222. where he brings in the same Author saying Salvation and Faith are the gifts of God distinct from Christ He Answers They are all of him and from him and with him And how is he the Author of Faith in whom it ends and from whence it comes I Reply as Potiphars wife cries out against Ioseph and pretends Chastity so doth this subtle Whoremonger pretending that all is pure Christ the Light is Christ their Hope is Christ their Faith their Spirit is Christ himself yea the Saints are Christ No distinction between Christ and them for they are all of him from him and with him In short I pray the Reader to mind with me the first Chapter to the Colossians where ver 1. The Spirit of God declares how Gods Children poor slaves at first in Sathans Clutches are Translated from the Kingdome of Darkness into the Kingdome of his dear Son In whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sins I know the Foxians turn Christ yea his Blood also into a Spirit a God How admirably doth the holy Spirit of God declare the Godhead or Divinity of Christ Jesus and his Manhood or Humanity unto ver 21 out of both which I shall select two or three Attributes of the Lord Jesus 1. The State of Christianity amongst many other high Expressions in the Scripture is here called the Kingdome of Gods dear Son which argues a distinction from all other Kingdomes and a distinction from his Saints as a King is not his Subjects nor their Gifts and Honours and Estates and peace and Ioy though given by him to them and procured by his great wisdome and love for them Oh poor Ungrateful Monsters not content to be taken from 76 the Kingdome from the Dungeon of Darkness and Hell and that by the Ransome and price paid and Blood and Death of his only Beloved the Prince of Life but we must be the King of Heaven and Prince of Life our selves 2. I observe The Instrumental and purchasing Cause or price is said to be his Blood which argues the Infinite value of his Sufferings in which Respect only it is called the Blood of God I know the slight esteem that some of these Foxians have of the Blood of the Lord Iesus saying that wicked men the Souldiers shed it that it was spilt upon the ground that there was no difference between that Blood and the Blood of another Saint That by Gods blood is only meant godly and heavenly power and Spirit by which God applies Mercy and pardon Iustification Righteousness c. I have read the Blasphemous Discanting of the Iesuit concerning Maries white Milk and Christs Crimson Blood in the close his preferring the Milk of the Mother before the Sons Blood I have heard also the foolish Blasphemy of one of my own Neighbours saying That the Blood of the Quakers and by name of W. B. was Saving and Salvation to the World 3. But I pass on The Lord Jesus is here called the Image of the invisible God If this should respect the Godhead only which is invisible how could Christ be a visible Picture of Invisibility If the Manhood only is God a Man and Man his Image or Picture as the old Heretick and late in London Reeves and Mugleton fancied The Truth is as Christs Blood is but figuratively for an Antitipe and fulfilling of all the Figures foregoing him and for all his Sufferings and many Blood-sheddings both of Minde and Body so this Image or Picture this Blessed Lamb of God consisting of the Godhead wonderfully assuming such a none such Manhood both which the Papists and Quakers are forced to confess I say it is clear he was the brightest Image or Picture of God to the World that ever God appeared in and therefore called the Word of God the fullest and loudest of all the Words of God in which ever he spake c. 4. Many more I might insist on but I must abbreviate and only mention ver 18. where the Lord Jesus is made the Pallace of 77 the Godhead that in him as the Head of the Body his Church should all fulness dwell reconciling and making peace through the Blood of his Crosse c. Iohn tells us that of this fulness in him we receive all the World receives the Mercy and Patience of God by him all his Followers receive his Grace and Spirit Converting Sanctifying Comforting c. so that his most holy and glorious Manhood visible amongst us c. was as a fair and spacious beautiful Conduit into which the eternal and inconceivable Counsels of the eternal Power and Godhead flowed and from whom by all those blessed means and Ordinances as by so many Cocks turned and let loose flow and run into poor empty Souls as Pails and Tankards all sorts of mercies to the whole World and especially to the Elect and Chosen his Church and Body that believe in him what poor Children and Frantick Souls are we then that cry out poor Pots and Pails and Tankards that we are the Conduit it self yea we the Well-head Fountain and Spring and as this frantick Fox in his Book once and again affirms no distinction between God Christ his Saints yea
that the Protestants may do the Papists work and save labour and Charges and so the Pope and his bloudy Whore of Rome may march away securely by the Light of the Protestants fires So deals the Devil the old Serpent with Christ Jesus and the holy Scripture or Records which are but One in a Sense as the Sun and the Sun-dial His end is to tear down the Sun dial the Scriptures under pretence that the Sun is within them and they need no Dials and Clocks no visible thing that are temporal c. and so to destroy the person and Commands of the Lord Jesus as visible and sleshly pretending all to be Light and Spirit 2. The words in the Hebrew Aamar and Dabar as also the Greek Logos and Rema signifie a word and divers other matters as I told my Antagonists in the dispute 1. In both these Languages and divers other Languages it signifies the will and pleasure of the Mind given forth by Command or Decres or Proclamation made by word or writing from Kings and States and Commanders of Armies Navies c. 2. In a Metaphor or Figure it is attributed to God though he have no word properly having no mouth no Tongue no Braine c. but as Nurses he deals with us poor Infants and sucklings c. 3. It is another Metaphor or Figure to say God is the word for God is no more a word then he is a Man or a Spirit or a Sun or Shield or a House or a Fountain or a Shepard litterally c. For as a word or Expression proceeds from the mind thoughts within so are the Thoughts and mind of God declared many wayes but chiefly by that man Christ Jesus called the Word 3. The Inconceivable Godhead being pleased to vouch-safe in Infinite Goodness some back parts and glimpses of his Infinite glori 81 rious Majesty in the Framing of this world and in the restoring of this world by making a Marriage between his Son and mankind all his words and Expressions tend mightily to advance this marriage and great manifestation or Word of God 4. I was once asked by a poor Foxian whether God had any more words but one I Answered and do now that God hath a great many words or Expressions of his mind and Counsels unto Men and Angels and so G. Fox and all the Foxians Confess the Scriptures to be the Words of God and therein Confess that all and every word of Scripture is a word of God The Truth is when God gives forth a word or Command by Angels by Men and by other of his Armies wherein his Infinite Power and Providence daily appeareth his word runneth very swiftly as we see when the word is given in a Kingdome Navy or Army as in Ahashueros his one hundred and twenty seven Provinces c. He sends out his word that is his mind or pleasure and melteth them Psal. 147. 5. So that I Affirm that the two great Lights of Heaven the Sun and Moon and all the lesser Lights the Stars are Words and Preachings and preachers of God to us Every wind and Cloud and drop of Rain and Hail every Flake of Snow every Leaf every Grass every drop of water in the Ocean and Rivers yea every Grain of Corn and Sand on the Shore is a Voice or word and witness of God unto us 6. Hence as in that Admirable 107 Psalm c. Every Turn of the holy hand of God in Ruling and Over-ruling all things in the world upon the two great Hinges of Mercy and Iudgement Psal 110. are but so many Voices or words of God God speaks once and twice Job 33. but man hears it not in Visions in Dreams in Health and Sickness in Ease and pain in wants in plenty in dangers and Deliverances Crosses Losses c. 7. That the Hebrew is most full viz. that God spake by his Prophets or Preachers or declarers of his will divers wayes and divers times but now he hath spoken by his Son From the beginning of the world Luke 1. he hath spoken of the coming of this Son by the mouths of all his Prophets even from the beginning of the World Therefore though God have many Sons yet Christ Jesus that man Christ Jesus among the many millions of 82 Sons is stiled the only Begotten Son of God the Head of all the Elect purchased to God out of every Nation by his Blood c. so by the same excellency and eminency above all the manifestations and appearances of God to the World no word or appearances of God is comparable to that appearance of God in Christ Jesus and therefore called the Word of God as the greatest appearance of the eternal Power and Godhead 8. Hence it follows that these poor Foxians are so much the more shameless and monstrous not only in robbing the Scriptures of their most Heavenly and common Title of the Word of God common to all Gods appearances but also in turning this Word of God Christ Jesus into a Spirit without any body but what is gone for ever from us and by their parting him his God-head from his Man-hood into a Fancie a Dream a meer Whimsie and Devellish Imagination 9 When we deal with Indians about Religion our work is to prove unto them by Reason that the Bible is Gods Word for by Nature they are much affected with a kind of Deity to be in Writing That all their Revelations and Visions and Dreams in which the Devil wonderfully abuseth them are False and Cheating That this Scripture or Writing we pretend to is from God by their own experience because it agrees with their own Consciences reproving them for those sins their Souls say they are guilty of That the terrible Majesty of Gods Justice in punishing Sinners so shines in it and also his infinite goodness and mercy in finding out such a way of Mediation and such a Mediator that their Souls cannot but adore Infinite Justice and Mercy in it That the Holy power of God so appears in it in working upon the Souls of Millions turning them from Dogs and Swine and Wolves and Lions and Sheep and Lambs and Doves c. in Love Meekness Patience c. That it could be none but an Omnipotent Arm that hath preserved the Holy Scripture so many thousand years some part of it through so many wonderful changes through so many Bloody Huntings of Kings Emperours Popes and this more subtile Hunting of these Foxians to run it out of this World and by seeming to embrace it to destroy and kill it 83 The 41. Instance is in Page 228. Where G. Fox brings in Thomas Weld saying There lies a Mystery of Iniquity for to say the World calls them so by such and such Names or gives them their Christian Name He Answers There are Names given by the Heathen the Heathen outward which men are called There is a new Name which the