attempts against us that he may not be suffered to sculk and hide himself like a Snake under Grass And as to the seven Queries which he upbraids us with reproaching us As puting them all off with one general Answer c. as a trick and deceit of ours to hide and cover our monstrous Heresies and a full confession of our Heresies Pref. p. 350. Which being monstrous Calumnies and from which our general Answer to the unprejudiced clears us though we expected it would meet with such ill Treatment and Mis-construction as it hath from G. K. and this Author therefore thought meet to publish the said Answer herewith for the information of others more Charitable and Impartial than this our present Accuser and unjust Judge The said Queries appear to be of so little weight and some of them so indirect and in unscriptural Terms and perversly designed for cavil that I do not think they deserve to be reprinted here The following Answer being positive plain and scriptural as well as comprehensive of what 's necessary to be said to the matters chiefly Questioned And tho' I have long had a more particular Answer to the said Queries ready I do not think my self obliged at present to gratifie such imperious arbitrary Inquisitors as our present Adversaries with the publication thereof but rather for farther information in these matters chiefly Queried refer them and others to these our Books viz. First A Testimony of what we believe of Christ both as he was God and Man c. By G. F. Printed Anno 1677. And Secondly The Christian Doctrin and Society of the People called Quakers c. And Thirdly The Harmony of the Old and New Testament concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. With many more ancient Books whereby it may appear that we were not to seek our Faith concerning Jesus and the Resurrection before the said Queries came to our hands G. W. Lon. 3d day 4th Month call'd June 1695. Friend William Lancaster HAving received a Paper of great Objections against us the People called Quakers with seven Queries therein subscribed William Lancaster directed to our Yearly Meeting in Whitson-week 1695. and delivered to some of us very near the conclusion thereof and therefore only read in the said Meeting with not having any further time to consider the Contents thereof or to give any particular answer thereunto It was by the said Meeting left to a few to consider and answer as in the Fear of God and Meekness of Wisdom we should see Cause Wherein we observe is noted great Objections have been made against us by those who have departed from our Communion as by others To which we reply that 't is true and they have been answer'd to which we refer And we observe in the said Paper it s said We would not take an account of you only from your Adversaries c. And we have chosen this solemn Time And again And we have chosen this most proper and convenient Opportunity c. And then states the several Queries and says the Questions may be proposed and their Answer demanded Now the Objections having been publick and our Answers publick we desire to know who the We are that are intended in this Paper that we may apply our selves to them or give such Scriptural Answers as we hope may tend to satisfaction But to repeat Answers in writing or print to we know not who so often as demanded to the same things already answer'd We think it not needful Therefore have herewith only sent thee a few brief Lines being grosly Wronged and Misrepresented in the said Objections and divers of the Queries contain several Questions in them in different Terms and some Vnscriptural so not plain and direct Queries therefore cannot positively be answer'd by our simple YEA or NAY to each Query as designed We therefore at present send this general Answer to the Queries for thy information as follows viz. We sincerely believe and profess Jesus Christ and the Resurrection according to the Holy Scripture Testimony and to that measure of Vnderstanding which God hath been pleased to give us by his Holy Spirit We sincerely believe in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the living God both as he is true God and perfect Man our Emanuel and Mediator and as in the fulness of Time he was Conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea Suffer'd under Pontius Pilate was Crucified and put to Death was Buried rose again the third Day and visibly Ascended into Heaven and was received into Glory and that this same Jesus Christ that was Crucified shall so in like manner come as he was seen to go into Heaven in Power and great Glory to Judge both the Living and the Dead according to their Works at the last and great Day of Judgment in that great Harvest which is the End of the World And that by Jesus Christ there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Vnjust unto the righteous Judgment of the great Day consequently that the Resurrection is not past as Hymeneus and Philetus said 2 Tim. 2. 18. And that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible Every Man in his own order and that our low Body shall be changed and made like unto Christ's glorious Body The Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints We Believe shall be Spiritual and Glorious and that the Sons of God and of the Resurrection shall be equal with the Angels of God in Heaven and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father and yet there is such a great Mystery in the Resurrection as that Flesh and Blood cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption 1 Cor. 15. The whole Sacrifice of Christ whereof his Blood outwardly that was shed was a part was of great Price with God for Mans Redemption Christ's Blood that was shed without the Gates of Jerusalem together with the whole Sacrifice himself both of Soul and Body was a true Propitiation and Attonement for Mans reconciliation and peace with God for remission of Sins through a living Faith and true Repentance in his Name given and wrought by his Spirit and Word of Power in Mens Hearts whose sincere obedience to Christ and Walking in his Light being required of them in order to experience Christ the Author of their eternal Salvation and to wash them from their Sins in his own Blood For without this true Faith Repentance and Obedience to Christ Jesus Men lose and forfeit the great Benefit of Christs Sufferings and deprive themselves of the Eternal Redemption and Salvation which he hath hereby obtain'd for us Tho' he dyed for all Men tasted death for every Man and gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified of in due time being a true Propitiation for the Sins of the World From thy Friends and Well-wishers John Gratton Samuell Wattson Thomas Lower James Parke John Bowater George Witehead John
the Quakers will not allow Christ to be the promised Seed or that he was more a Man in the Body of Jesus than in the Body of any other Man Ref. These are gross and notorious Falshoods still We ever believed the promised Messiah the Christ of God to be the promised Seed which by the Power of God should bruise the Serpent's Head and that he was true and perfect Man in the Body which he took upon him which was the Body of Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary as he was and is a quickning Spirit in other Men especially in true Believers Sn. p. 239. He confesseth the Influence and Inspiration of his blessed Spirit is the ONLY true saving Light within us but not the Seed and Christ himself as the Quakers blasphemously dream only a Ray or Communication of his Light and Life to us But p. 242. he speaks of Faith in Christ's outward Blood by which ONLY there is Salvation Ref. If the only true saving Light within us be the Inspiratiou of the blessed Spirit and Communication of the Light and Life of Christ to us as is granted tho' this as within be not Christ in his fulness as in himself yet 't is as truly the Incorruptible Seed the Word Christ our Life and Light as the Life of Christ is Christ or as the Spirit of the Lord is the Lord as where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty now the Lord is that Spirit It is Christ gives us both Life Light and Spirit and Christ is our Life Light and Salvation But do not the Words only Salvation by Christ's outward Blood exclude any other means of Salvation And then how is his Spirit the only true saving Light within us Tho' that Blood of Christ be of true value and esteem as part of his Sacrifice and Price it is his Spirit and Power which quickens and actually saves the Soul from Sin and Death Sn. p. 245. He accuseth the Quakers with denying any other God or Christ but themselves Ref. This is one of his most horrid and blasphemous Slanders and solemnly by us denied with as utter detestation and abhorrence as any of the rest of his most gross and absurd Calumnies Sn. p. 251. That they expresly disown any other Christ than what is within them and that the Quakers do not believe that Christ has any other Body or other Humanity than that spiritual or allegorical Body which they say he has within them Ref. 1. To the first part We own not two Christ's the true Christ is but one Christ and we own him as he is both without us and within us tho' he is not wholly contained within us yet he 's truly within us by his Spirit Light and Life and dwelling in our Hearts by Faith What other Christ does this Man own than him who is in true Believers 2. The latter part of his Charge is not true We believe Christ has his spiritual glorious Body without us like unto which we also believe our low Body shall be changed and fashioned Sn. p. 254. That the Quakers by a monstrous sort of Transubstantiation think themselves to be the Christ. Ref. This is a monstrous Falshood and Forgery still to defame and odifie us grounded on divers other false and partial Stories and is before in substance answered Sn. p. 255. That G. Keith for his most Christian Doctrin of a Christ without was condemned by their last Yearly Meeting Re. This is a notoriously false Story again as the two Accounts given of him by two Yearly Meetings may evince having no such cause assigned in them for our conditionally disowning him but his unchristian Spirit and Behaviovr as an Instrument of divisions and disturbance in the Churches of Christ whereby he hath cut himself off unless he repent Sn. p. 262. Their spiriting away the Letter of the promised Seed the Humanity of Christ c. Re. This Charge with all the hard Consequences depending thereupon against us are sincerely and utterly denied by us As by the Letter of the promised Seed he means the Scripture-History of the Man Christ where proves he that we spirit this away Our owning Christ in Spirit and as a quickning Spirit in us was never intended as we know to deny his real Manhood Mediation or Intercession without us no more than the Apostle did See 1 Cor. 15. 45 47. where the second Man the Lord from Heaven is also called a quickening Spirit Sn. p. 263. He charges them with running into this Excess of throwing off the Humanity of Christ abusing the Scriptures by the contemptible Names of Beastly Ware Dust Death c. and calling the Holy Scriptures by the contemptible Names of Dust and Beastly Ware p. 267. Re. These are still old repeated shameful Calumnies against us The first part is sufficiently answer'd before and in many other Books for our sincerely and plainly owning the blessed and most-glorious Man Christ Jesus according to plain Scripture The latter part is some of F. Bugg's calumnious Abuses and Perversions and clearly detected and refuted in several Answers to his scurrilous Pamphlets and his Authority will go but a little way what Credit soever 't is of with this obscure Adversary 'T is far remote from us to own any such contemptible Names as to call the Holy Scriptures Beastly Ware c. Tho' perhaps making a Trade upon Scripture or Preaching for Hire or Mony hath been so called by some or other Sn. p. 268. That it is plain they never gave the Scriptures a good Word but meerly for popularity when forced to it Re. He is a very unrighteous and false Judge in this also both our Consciences in the sight of God and many of our Writings also testifie the contrary that freely and without force for the sake of that divine Inspiration from whence the Holy Scriptures proceeded and those blessed and holy Doctrins and Truths contained in them they are highly owned and esteemed by us Sn. p. 285. Judge whether these be sound principled Men that can turn conform and transform to every change according to the Times whether these be fit Men to teach People Re. These are still deceitful and envious Suggestions Our manifold Sufferings in our Persons and Estates for Conscience-sake by Persecutions many whereof being the Temporizers of the Clergy do manifest the contrary to what 's here suggested against us that we have not turned changed nor conformed according to the Times in point of Worship Principle Faith or Discipline for could we have so done we might have escaped many deep Sufferings and great Losses which we have undergone and then have been owned by such temporizing and persecuting Priests as now reproach us when they cannot otherwise persecute us as formerly Sn. p. 314. The Lord help them and hear our Prayers for them since they will not pray for themselves c. Re. We have no reason to believe that this Person can pray sincerely for us seeing he is so full
of Wrath and Envy that he notoriously belies us in his Prayer in saying That they i. e. the Quakers will not pray for themselves He seemingly prays but rails and reviles as it were with one Breath both next before and after his Prayer Sn. p. 319. That thus the Quakers say That he Christ dwelt only in the Body of that Man Jesus as in a Vail but took not that Body into his own Person so as to become Hypostatically united to it Re. We are to seek herein as not knowing where the Quakers say these things of Christ and his Body which he took and dwelt in as if he took it not into his own Person so as to be really or substantially united to it we never understood that it did not properly belong to himself but to some other Person The Objection herein against us is not only some Perversion but frivilous and impertinent Tho' his Flesh is called the Vail yet 't was that he owned as his own Body being also called the Body of Jesus which was not a fantastical but a real Body and he who is the entire Christ the Man Jesus is not divided in Body or Spirit Nevertheless Christ the eternal Son of God was as to his divine Nature and spiritual Being as the spiritual Rock before he took on him that Body that was prepared for him Sn. p. 320. That the Quakers most expresly make Christ's outward Blood the Type and Figure of inward Blood shed spiritually in their Hearts Re. We know not what Author he has for this Charge However the Quakers really own Christ's outward Blood as a part of his precious and acceptable Sacrifice and we deny not but that Blood of his as well as the Water that came out of his Side with it had an allegorical and misterious signification as well as an outward and literal evâ—â— of the spiritual Blood and Water of Life which Christ our High Priest sprinkleth and really washeth our Hearts and Consciences withal which we hope no sensible Soul will say is an outward or literal Sprinkling or Washing but an Inward and Spiritual Sn. ibid. That the Quakers make Christ without but the History and the Light within the Mistery or Substance which the Christ without as a History or Shadow of it only pointed Re. The Quakers do not so make Christ they make him no otherwise than the Father has appointed and made him to be He is more than either the History or Shadow of the Light within he as in himself is the substance of all Shadows and fulness of Light and Life from whom we have received both Spirit Light and Life Pray how proves he that the Quakers call Christ without but the History or Shadow of the Light within We want proof of this Point Sn. p. 321. That this the Quakers have done viz. set up other Scriptures against those received by the Church beyond any that ever went before them Re. We positively deny this Charge What other Scripture have they so set up against those Let 's have plain Proof for we are wholly ignorant of any such thing Sn. p. 322. That none ever have so contemned and vilified the Holy Scriptures as they have done Re. This is still maliciously to reproach and odifie us with the same old reiterated Calumny We know none that esteem and own the Holy Scriptures more than we both in Faith and Practice by the assistance of the Holy Spirit from whence they came Sn. p. 323. That a Man bringing a Bible into the Quaker's Meeting-House in Grace-Church-street and reading part of a Chapter the 14th of St. Luke it being the Bible so moved their Indignation that one of the chief of them snatched the Bible out of his Hand and thrust him along the Gallery down several Steps Re. We know no such Indignation or Action shewn by any of us against the Bible nor against any Person because thereof neither do we believe it let the Author prove it if he can We disown any such Indignation either against the Bible or any Person meerly because thereof Possibly some publick Disturber might by some or other present be gently turned out of Doors not because of the Bible but because of some offensive turbulent Behaviour Sn. p. 325. That upon pretence of the Light within the Devil the grand Deceiver drew them away from reading of the Scriptures c. discovers their preference of their own Writings to the Holy Striptures Re. We deny both these as utterly false scandalous and relative to many more Lies of the same kind in this Point Sn. p. 327 328. That they give all the threatning Discouragements that can be to deter any from reading of them Re. This is as gross and notorious a Falshood as the rest Sn. p. 330. I can saith the Opposer name those that now stand high among them who did before many Witnesses of the principal Quakers not stick to say That Paul was dark and ignorant and that they saw beyond him Re. We know none either High or Low among us that ever so said of Paul therefore let him produce his many Witnesses to prove who those were that so said that Paul was dark c. or otherwise for ever be ashamed of such odious Defamations Sn. p. 335. That Simon Magus was the Father of the Quakers Socinians and all the rest of the Anti trinitarian Hereticks Re. A gross Calumny against the Quakers rendring them a Sorcerer's Children But they deny both Simon Magus and all Sorcerers and the Devil the Father of Lies and all such as would persuade People to buy the Gift of God the Gospel for Mony The Quakers are as opposite to such Simony as Light is to Darkness Sn. p. 338. That E. Burrough pag. 47. determines clearly That the Scriptures are not now of any Authority at all to us at this Day Re. He perverts E. B.'s Words We find not such a determination of his but where he speaks of that not being a Command from God to me which he commands to another he intends this of special Commands that were to some as to Baptize and Preach the Gospel as he immediately explains it and not of general Commands of Duty incumbent upon all nor against the Authority of the Scriptures it being the Holy Spirit that makes them authoritative and binding and enables Men to live accordingly who are led by the same Spirit Sn. p. 342. That G. Whitehead in his serious Apology p. 49. prefers not only their Writings but their Ex tempore Preachments and even all whatsoever they speak upon any Account to the Holy Scriptures themselves Re. He very perversly wrongs G. Whitehead in all these Expressions for there 's not a word of preferring our Writings to the Holy Scriptures much less of all whatsoever we speak thereto but a preferring the Holy Spirit and its immediate Teaching in Man to the Letter of Scripture and preaching in the true sense of the Spirit with divine Authority according as Christ did
Devil has stolen from us so that the Soul soon disappeared and left a noisome Carcass of Religion p. 209 210. What a strange confused Whimsie is this How has the Devil stolen from them the Body of Religion and left a noisome Carcass behind 'T is more likely that he has stolen away the Soul of Religion from them or rather their Minds from it and left them only a Carcass behind◠who are so much doting about and even idolizing the Shadow which is far short of the Body of true Religion and neglecting the Life Soul and Substance thereof so that their outward Observations are dead empty and fruitless as those Observers are who are void of Christian Humility Love or Charity Those repeated known Falshoods 1. That Christ's outward dying and shedding of his Blood many of the Quakers have turn'd to mean nothing but his spiritual Suffering within us c. 2. To spiritualize AWAY the literal Humanity and Sufferings of Christ p. 208 209. These Falshoods being fully answer'd and denied by us already we need but persist in our Negation thereof To conclude this Head of Baptism with an Argument or two from the Terms of the Commission Mat. 28. Go teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Arg. 1. If the Commission intended baptizing them with Water then the Apostles must have followed and used the Terms of the Commission in the Execution thereof to manifest their Authority for it But they did not follow nor use the Terms of the Commission in baptizing with Water therefore that Baptism was not intended in the Commission The first part of the Argument is undeniable from the Sanction and Authority of the Commission it self which is expresly Go teach all Nations baptizing them in or into the Name of the Father and of the Son and Holy Ghost The second part of the Argument is prov'd by the following Arg. 2 Christ's Apostles and Ministers did Teach and Preach in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost but they did not Baptize with Water in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Therefore baptizing with Water was not intended in that Commission The second Proposition is proved by their baptizing only in the Name of the Lord or in the Name of the Lord Jesus when they baptized with Water as John did We do not find in all the Acts or other Scripture that the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost were used by any of the Apostles of Christ in baptizing with Water Let him peruse W. DELL's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or The Doctrin of Baptisms and T. Lawson's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or A Treatise concerning Baptisms Whereunto is added A Discourse concerning the Supper Bread and Wine called the Communion To his 15th Sect. Concerning the Satisfaction of Christ. Herein he saith the Quakers are direct Socinians for they positively deny the Satisfaction Here he stumbles at the Threshold again this is a positive Untruth in Fact They are neither Socinians nor do they deny the Satisfaction of Christ it self for God was ever well pleased and so satisfied in his dear innocent Son but never with Sinners continuing in their Sins That therefore which we deny is the Vnscriptural Sin-pleasing and Sinner-soothing Notions of our former Adversaries about it as that of Christ suffering under Vindictive Justice from the Father and making such a rigid and strict Satisfaction and Payment in our Stead thereby to acquit and justifie the guilty Offender though persisting in Sin all his Days This Notion of Satisfaction as severely and rigidly stated as vindictive upon the dear Son of God and thus indulging to Sinners both the Quakers and even a Bishop of the Church of England have opposed 'T is also such a Notion of a rigid Satisfaction and strict Payment held as a Notion of Law in the strictest and severest Sense that W. P. opposeth God's Compassion unto in pardoning Iniquity passing by Transgression and Sin and forgiving our Trespasses which we ever own to be for Christ's sake but upon true Faith and Repentance from these Scriptures Mica 7. 18. Mat. 6. 12 14. ch 18 Therefore this Adversary mistakes and misrepresents W. P. in this Point as blaspheming and arguing against the Satisfaction of Christ p. 212 213. when he argues against that kind of Satisfaction held as a rigid Notion of Law that admits not of Forgiveness of Sins past which we consess Christ's Sufferings and Sacrifice has made way for upon true Repentance on the Offenders part which Christ's great Sufferings under the Burthen of the World's Iniquities do call for and require universally of them And as to the Praise of the great Love and Grace of God to Mankind we must confess that it was by the same Grace Christ tasted Death for every Man and was really an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling Savour to God Ephes. 5. 2. and our only Mediator and in that Sense sincerely own what was really his Satisfaction to the Father to stay the Execution of his Wrath and obtain our Pardon giving us Repentance by his Light and Grace in our Hearts yet such a kind of rigid Satisfaction and strict Payment to vindictive or revenging Justice as if God poured out his just Indignation or Wrath merited by Sinners upon his innocent Son as some of our Adversaries have affirmed no less This we confess we cannot reconcile either to God's divine Justice or Mercy or to Christ's Mediation and Intercession for Transgressors And little short of this is our present Adversary's Notion That Justice cannot remit the least Farthing else it were not Justice speaking of divine Justice even of God as being not only just but Justice it self in the Abstract the highest and most adequate Notion of Justice p. 214. All which duly considered borders upon the most rigid and extream Notion of Satisfaction as if divine Justice i. e. God himself in his Sense could not remit the least Farthing but Christ must strictly pay every Farthing of the Debt of Offenders whereas there is a divine Justice or Righteousness that 's truly Evangelical which is declared in the Forgiveness of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3. 25. and ver 26. to shew at this time his Righteousness that he might be Just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus It was for this end that God set forth his Son Jesus Christ to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Rightoousness for the remission of Sins past c. Wherefore the Quakers do not make one of God's Attributes fight with or conquer the other nor one to subdue and beat down the other or his Justice to quit the Field to his Mercy as is ignorantly and unjustly suggested to make us guilty of great Nonsense and Blasphemy p. 214 215 216. For all God's Attributes in himself are in Concord Union and Harmony and in his Creatures concur and agree in
the least Farthing with the aforesaid Discourse and then see how he 'll reconcile his Notion thereunto In Sect. 16. Concerning the Holy Trinity he saith The Quakers and Socinians acknowledge a Three but deny a Trinity which is to confess the same Thing in English and to deny it in Latin for Trinitas is only Latin for Three He mistakes the Quakers They do not deny the Three either in Latin or English but really own the holy divine Three in Heaven tho' their being rendred distinct and separate Persons by some of our former Adversaries we have conscientiously questioned as unscriptural Terms Our Adversary adds They cannot tell what Three they are if not Three Persons p. 219. This is a Mistake we can safely tell what to call them in Scripture Language That they are Three that bear Record or Three witnessing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Witnesses in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One John 1. 5. These are the Father Son and Holy Spirit which are essentially One or One in the Divine Being Our Adversary further saith The Quakers who own the Divinity of Christ are under greater Difficulties than the Socinians who deny the Divinity of Christ p. 219. 'T is well he now grants the Quakers own the Divinity of Christ But how well this agrees with much of his Book against us let the serious Reader judge And we know no Difficulties we are under herein The Man imagins and would obtrude Difficulties upon us from his own Terms which are none of ours as that there is but One Person in the Godhead which are none of our Words Much less his Muggletonian Consequence That God died and that Christ was his own Father to whom he pray'd upon the Cross. We know no real occasion given by the Quakers for him to draw such Absurdities upon them or to be afraid of such Distinctions and Salvo's at the bottom of the Quaker-pretences as impertinently he prates against them exposing his pretended Fears instead of Proofs And what if G. F. opposed Chr. Wade's calling The Holy Ghost a Person And if he said The Scriptures do not tell the People of Three Persons c And yet confessing the Father Son and Holy Spirit to be always One Does it follow That the Quakers do not acknowledge that there were Three in Heaven before Christ was born as he saith it seems p. 220. And then to aggravate the Matter against G. F. That he means One Person as Muggleton does p. 220. What if the Quakers think the Term Three Persons too low an Epithite or Character to put upon the most Glorious Blessed Three that bear Record in Heaven Can they be to blame herein When they aim at giving more Honour to them in a true Scripture sense than they think the Term Persons imports yet still owning the Holy Divine Three in Heaven and that they were before Christ was born contrary to what 's unduly suggested against us For the Father the Word and Holy Spirit were concerned both in Divine Wisdom Power and Goodness in forming preserving and governing both the Old Creation and the New By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Spirit of his Mouth Psal. 33. 6. So here 's the Divine Holy Three forming and compleating the first Creation And the Gospel was commanded to be preached in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost that Men might truly believe and know the Work of God by his dear Son and Holy Spirit unto their everlasting Salvation Peace and Comfort For God so loved the World that he hath given his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3. 16. And Jesus answered and said If any Man love me he will keep my Word and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and will dwell with him John 14. 23. And ver 26. The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance which I have told you And Ch. 15. 26. But when the Comforter shall come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth of the Father he shall testifie of me And 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And we have seen and do testifie That the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World All which may evince how scripturally we own a Trinity or Holy Three in the Deity Our Accuser tells of what unimaginable Excesses Enthusiasm may drive Men to and that all should beware of that desperate Shelve upon which both our Church and State have suffered miserable Shipwreck p. 221 222. Here he disparages his own Church whereby we may beware of embarking in such a â—raz'd wreck'd Vessel as here he represents her He excepts against the Words not distinct from which G. F. intends in a sort of common Acceptation That the Son is not divided or separate from the Father p. 222 223 224. Tho' 't is true in one Sense the Father Son and Holy Ghost are not essentially distinct as to their divine Being which is but One they are but One God but in respect to their Properties of Relation as Father Son and Holy Ghost as such they are distinct but not divided nor separate either in themselves or Work of the Old or New Creation yet not Three Gods nor Three distinct Creâ—tors but One God and One Creator Passing by divers Impertinencies and Absurdities under this Head to conclude We know no People professing a Deity in Christendom that more sincerely and livingly believe and confess a most glorious Scripture-Trinity or Holy Three the Father the Word or Son and Holy Ghost than we the People called Quakers do believe and confess to the Praise and Glory of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Our Accuser's 17th Sect. Concerning the Divinity and Incarnation of Christ is full of Falshoods Perversions and Misconstructions 1. He begins with this Falshood viz. The Quakers Heresie in this is taken from the Socinians They say Christ took Flesh but no otherwise as they explain it than as Angels assumed Bodies c. Which is notoriously false against the Quakers who confess and believe That Christ the Word took real Flesh a real Body and not a meer Apparition nor a Fantastical Body and so they have often declared both in Print and Preaching 2. That they allow not always that Christ did inspire the Person of that Man Jesus in an higher measure than other Men. False and perverse again God did inspire the Man Christ Jesus higher than all other Men he received the Spirit not by measure but in fulness he was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above all his Fellows All other Men even the best are inspired
all Ephes. 1. 23. 't is not of the Church as distinctly considered from the Head but as in Union therewith Christ the Head is included in that Fulness tho' his proper Existence be entire compleat and most glorious I think this Answer to F. Bugg may fully Answer his Disciple the Author of the Snake 28. From G. Fox's saying Christ is the Elect our Adversary infers And the Elect are Christ they make them convertible Terms p. 239. They are not so made by us nor by G. F. in the place quoted Gr. Myst. p. 88. but the contrary tho' there he saith Christ is the Elect whom God upholds He also saith Christ knows his and said he had other Sheep and he knew All the Elect and who receive him and are in him are the Elect. There 's no such Words in the place quoted as that the Elect are Christ. Thus the plain Scripture is perverted which G. F. refers to Isa. 42. 1. 29. He again quotes Gr. Myst. p. 207. That God's Christ is not distinct from his Saints Here the Man unfairly leaves out what follows viz. For he is within them their Spirits witness him c. Wherein 't is plain he means Christ is not divided or separate from his Saints He takes distinct from in a kind of common Acceptation for divided or separate from Here he cavils about Words or a Mode of speaking and then draws his hard Consequences As 30. The grossest Absurdities highest Blasphemies and that G. F. could find no difference no distinction at all betwixt Christ and himself Which appears a perverse and presumptuous Calumny As doth the next 31. That All the divine Attributes should be given to G. F. as well as unto Christ and that G. F. does assume the Stile and Names of Christ to himself c. The Man here quoting his own Authority in his Sect. 5. and there F. B.'s both which we deny They have injuriously abused G. F. and others in this Matter who neither calls himself The Door that ever was nor the same Christ yesterday to day and for ever he speaks this of Christ not of himself neither did the Quakers call him the Branch the Star c. as Bugg and the Snake have basely asperst him and others Sect. 5. p. 41 43. c. These Calumnies and perverse Abuses are sufficiently detected in several Answers to F. Bugg and in Just Enquiry into the Libeller's Abuse And tho' we deny that those divine Attributes given to Christ may be given to any mortal Man yet divers Names given to Christ are given to Saints also as the Son of God the Sons of God Luke 3. 28. John 1. 12. Rom. 8. 14 The Light of the World John 8. 12. Mat. 5. 14. The Salt of the Earth Mat. 5. 13. The Righteousness of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 5. 21 Kings Priests Prophets Apostles Ministers The Seed The Good Seed Anointed Elect given both to Christ and his faithful Followers But it may be said These are not all properly divine Attributes However they are such as are given both to Christ and his Brethren and Members the Saints and true Followers of God But The Image and Glory of God I presume will be assented to be no less than divine Attributes or importing the same and yet without Blasphemy or Idolatry Man whose Head Christ is is called The Image and Glory of God 1 Cor. 11. 7 and not in any Dishonour to Christ though the same Epithets or Characters do properly belong to him Heb. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 4 4. Col. 1. 15. yet given also to Man because indued with or participating of God's Image in Christ Jesus but we confess some divine Attributes and Names are given as only proper to Christ and not to Men or Saints as The Wisdom and Power of God The Word of God A Quickning Spirit The only begotten Son of God The Messiah The very Christ The Prince of Life and Peace The Mighty God The Everlasting Father c. these are only intended and proper to Christ. 32. We do not find Blasphemy or Idolatry excused or any fair pretence used for the same by W. P. in the place quoted i. e 11 Ch. Of the Invalidity of John Faldoe 's Vindication as is defamingly alledged against him p. 242. which is about the Soul of Man c. which W. P. there fully Answers To Sect. 18. which the Author stiles Some Remarks upon Geo. Whitehead's Creed relating to some of the Particulars before-going The nameless Author of the Snake in the Grass having vented his and others Venome and great Spite against the People called Quakers in general and divers Particulars by Name now to compleat his Design of great Envy he must put forth his Sting in the Tail of his Work and have a fling and sit of Hissing like an angry Snake or as one that whispers out of the Dust Isa. 29. 4. against the said G. W. I being the Person aim'd at may now briefly answer for Truth and for my self as concerned 1. The word Creed he imposes upon me 'T was no formal Creed or Summary of our Faith tho' real Truths by way of Positions in the affirmative as a Christian Testimony in direct Opposition to F. B.'s great Abuse false Charge and Perversions which with a negative Testimony against him therein are both adapted to answer his own Terms Words and Phrases that our Testimony and Positions might be the more apparent against his Abuse and Perversions for I know no Adversary that I find Fault with but I can freely and in good Conscience assert my own Sense in the Matters in Controversie as well as oppose his though it be not in the manner of a formal Creed yet true in it self for we should have numerous Creeds if all Positions we write in Opposition to Opposers must be esteemed Creeds or Summaries and Confessions of our Faith nevertheless we believe what we assert and vindicate in each particular My Accuser presently shews his Prejudice and Enmity against me without cause As with a new Confession of Faith in such dubious and general Terms as may at first sight deceive the unwary Reader though I gave it in as plain and as much in scriptural Terms as I could and as the Matters concerned would admit of And I know my own Sincerity therein better than my Accuser who insincerely calls me Honest George whilst he is aspersing me and casting Dirt at me as Deceiving keeping off contradicting the Heart of the Heresie still preserving it safe and untouch'd and not only so but often with a slily insinuated Excuse and Defence of it p. 244. So that my confessing Jesus to be the Christ and both his coming in the Flesh and in the Spirit according to holy Scripture-Testimony and also to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament namely the Holy Doctrin and divine Precepts therein as given by divine Inspiration on which much of my said Confession against F. Bugg depends this hath no better
Acceptance or Resentment with my Accuser than as no Contradiction to the Heart of Heresie but as still preserving it safe and untouch'd and which is worse a slily insinuated Excuse and Defence of it Oh sad Stuff Whither will not Pride and Envy precipitate some Men What scripturally to confess Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures as above is this no Contradiction to Heresie But to preserve excuse or defend it What 's Heresie than pray Is it to confess Jesus Christ come in the Flesh c. according to holy Scripture-Testimony of him Oh! for shame leave off such blind Envy and blasphemous Abuse And now to come to the Point How or wherein have I slily insinuated Excuse and Defence of it i. e. of the Heart of Hersie as before p. 244. Thus saith my Accuser in his first Article he confesses Jesus to be the Christ even the same Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary at Bethlehem c. I confess this is part of my Confession but cannot believe this is either not contradictory to the Heart of Heresie or that it is any Excuse or Defence of it Nor that our confessing God or Christ to be our Light can be any such Excuse or Defence Neither do we attribute the Name Christ to any much less to every one of our selves as we are often falsly accused as here p. 245. Whence he also most unjustly infers That then this will appear that this Confession of Whitehead 's is a meer Fallacy while it attributes no more to Jesus Christ than to G. W. p. 245. Which is a very foul and absurd Falshood and notorious Lie in Fact and contradiction to my said Confession even so far as 't is cited by himself as before which is 1. We sincerely own profess and confess Jesus to be the Christ even the same Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary at Bethlehem in Judea Mat. 2. suffered Death upon the Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem was quickened and raised again by the Power of God and ascended into Heaven and Glory according to the Scriptures Now have I herein attributed no more to Jesus Christ than to my self as he saith Where did I ever attribute this to my self Where 's the meer Fallacy Not in my Confession to Jesus Christ but in this horrid Abuse and gross Perversion thereof Did I ever say that I am Jesus Christ Or that I was born of the Virgin Mary Or that I suffered Death upon the Cross at Jerusalem c. Oh! for shame who cannot see such Malice and Madness as my Adversary has vented against me in this Matter Again I find no Fallacy in my Confession to Christ as without nor is there any unless I had denied the Virgin Mary of whom Christ was born to be without or Bethlehem and Judea and Jerusalem to be without us nor doth Christ being without prove him not to be our Light within for the same Christ said I am the Light of the World therefore he is our Light yea the Quakers Light as he calls it they being included in the World Does not the Sun shine in our Houses because the Body and Fulness of it is without them My Accuser quibbles and quarrels with Art 10. of my Confession viz. Our Ministers do not teach that the Name of Jesus and Christ belong to every Member in the Body or Church as amply as to Christ the Head And here he leaves out all the following explanatory part of the Article as he calls it and scornfully descants upon the Word amply being in a different black Character lest quoth he you should mistake and think that George was Christ as amply as Jesus And then goes on scoffing That was modest indeed but then George thou art Christ as well as Jesus though not so amply Which is both a false Implication and foreign to my intention The word amply in that place was only used and intended in direct opposition to F. Bugg's falsly saying The Quakers teach That the Name Jesus and Christ belong to every Member in the Body as amply as to Christ the Head New Rome Ar. p. 47. But even in the same 10 Art quoted against me I do not allow any Member to be called Christ but expresly dissallow it though I confess how Christians have some Interest in his Name but not to be called Jesus but Christians The explanatory part of my Confession in the said 10th Article disingenuously left out by this Scoffer is in these Words viz. But that the divine Anointing to which Name Christ hath relation virtually is in some measure or degree afforded to every Member of his Body but not so amply as to him the Head nor for any Member to be called Christ but a Christian because Christ received the Anointing the Holy Spirit not by measure but in fulness and because he is the Head of the Body the Church And this very Matter is more fully explain'd in my Charitable Essay in Answer to F. Bugg p. 4. as before It was far from my Thoughts or Intention to imply any such thing as That I am Christ as well as Jesus for I have often written my self A Servant-of Christ and so I am I humbly bless his Name that 's above every Name Therefore I am still very unjustly accused with rank Sophistry dodging and deluding and casting a Mist before the Eyes of poor deluded People or leading them into the Mystery of Iniquity or of any Equivocating or Jesuitical Confession of Faith as foully and unjustly accused p. 246 247. I have a Conscience towards God in what I confess and in good Conscience testifie That thou my scornful lurking Adversary hast cast manifold false and gross Defamations upon me and many others of my Christian Persuasion And in the true Sense of Scripture I have both confess'd Christ's coming in the Flesh and as he the Word was made or took Flesh Jo. 1. 14. And more than the Socinians I do still confess That as the reasonable Soul and Body is One Man so He that is God and Man is One Christ. And whether this will give Satisfaction to an implacable Adversary or no I value not knowing my Conscience clear in the Sight of him who judgeth righteously which I am sure this my unjust Judge and false Accuser is not who presently after he has stil'd me Honest George unjustly brands me with Infamy as Sophistry Delusion Depths of Satan Mystery of Iniquity Equivocation Jesuitical Confession c. Oh! rank Malice bitter Envy c. As for my Confession in the 7th Art alledged against me it stands good and true viz. We own no such saying as that the Holy Doctrin or Divine Precepts of Scripture is either Dust Death or the Serpent's Meat but truly profitable to us by the Assistance of God's Holy Spirit given to us c. And this was in direct opposition to F. Bugg's saying These Quakers who pretend to own the Precepts and Doctrin of the Bible to be holy
disown these Expressions and I think they are not duly inferred from the said Book questioning whether Some Words were not spoken by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill expressed c. Now at my saying Yet this questioned but of some Words in Scriâ—ture not all he takes occasion to Rail fearfully against me as a Justifier of Diabolical Suggestions When my Answer was not with the least intent to oppose or lessen the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures but in direct opposition to F. Bugg's Calumny in these general odious and false Expressions viz. That the Quakers insinuate that What the true Prophets spake was false Which Expression we utterly deny as both in themselves grosly false against the true Prophets and falsly charged on the Quakers to defame them And as to the Questions cited out of the Quak. Refuge at which Offence is taken 1. They are not mine 2. I do not believe they are the Author 's of that Quak Refuge tho' cited by him 3. It is apparent he does not espouse them as his own Judgment nor make them the Matter in that present Controversie nor resolve them in the Affirmative but seems to recite and wave them as Originally proceeding from some other Person as I understand The furthest that can be drawn from my said Answer to F. B. that may seem offensive which I should be sorry for if 't were really so is my seeming to grant the Question That in some Words some true Prophets were mistaken And if this be made an Offence I think 't is no real one for I designed none However I still confess I believe the Record of Scripture to be true Good Men and some true Prophets also have been and may be mistaken in some things and have had their Weaknesses and Failings truly recorded in Scripture and also their Deliverances for good Ends and Admonition to others Was not Samuel a good Man and a Prophet and yet mistaken when he took Eliab for the Lord 's Anointed 1 Sam. 16 6. 7. And in the Argument upon Job in the ancient Bible is marked That Job maintaineth a good Cause but handleth it evil Again his Adversaries have an evil Matter but they defend it craftily Moreover he was assured that God had not rejected him yet through his great Torments and Afflictions he burst forth into many Inconveniences both of Words and Sentences See the Argument at large And was not the Prophet Elijah mistaken when he thought himself alone or none in Israel but himself that was zealous for the Lord God of Hosts But what saith the Answer of God unto him I have reserved unto my self seven thousand Men that have not bowed the knee to Baal 1 King 19. 10 18. Rom. 11. 3 4. And to say but little of the Old Prophet that persuaded the Young Prophet contrary to the Word of the Lord 1 King 13. I could instance Jonas David and several others that were good Men who had some Weaknesses and Mistakes in Words and Actions yet the Lord was good to them and helped them according to the Integrity of their Hearts towards him And these Things being truly recorded in Scripture for Instruction and Admonition we truly esteem the Scripture-Record thereof And even where the Words Lies Blasphemies and Actions of the Devil wicked Men and Persecutors and the Judgments which befel them are recorded in the Scriptures we own the Record or History thereof to be true and highly esteem it for Instruction and Warning to Men. And to distinguish between the Words of God in Scripture and the Words of the Devil is but what the Scripture it self doth which can be no Contempt to it for I have known some stumbled by some of the Priests making no distinction but calling all that 's written in Scripture the Word of God as one that was the Mayor of Thetford near 40 Years ago told me That a Priest wanting Induction into the vacant Benefice and preaching there for Approbation took his Text out of the Words wherewith the Devil tempted Christ Mat. 4. And bidding the People hearken to the Word of God as they should find it written in such a Chapter and Verfe whereupon this Person that told me of it was so offended that he would not give his Voice to chuse the said Priest because he had told them That was the Word of God which was the Words of the Devil Now let none be so disingenuous as to take this as in Contempt of Holy Scripture Doctrin or Precepts therein for where either the Words Blasphemies wicked Actions or Persecutions of the Devil or Men are therein mentioned the Record thereof is true and in Testimony against them and the intent of such Record holy just and good Farther my Accuser tells me Nor is my Salvo more ingenuous in the Eleventh Article And why so It is really say I contrary to our Faith and Principle to make Christ Jesus himself Only a Figure a Veil or Garment p. 254. Which was in direct opposition to his Author F. Bugg 's falsly saying The Quakers would make Christ Only a Figure a Veil a Garment implied by way of Question p. 58. New Rome Ar. Here he quarrels with the word Only as with the word Amply and accuseth me with Equivocating and that this is but a Negative Confession But really George quoth he this is not re-assuming your Christian Testimony in the Affirmative as thou didst promise c. still hiding your self in the Dark in Negatives But we would know affirmatively what it is you do profess and this thou didst promise and this thou hast not perform'd p. 255 256. Here he accuseth me with breach of Promise but very falsly as in the said 11th Article is plain that my Confession of Christ Jesus himself is not only Negative but Affirmative namely He being the Substance and End of all Figures Types and Shadows Is not this Affirmative pray And as remote from Truth is his accusing the Quakers Books of calling Christ Jesus a Type or Figure of their Light within p. 263 264. I know no such Books of the Quakers that so call Christ Jesus A Type of our Light within but that he is our Light which hath inlighten'd us among the rest of Mankind It 's implied by way of Question That Christ cloathed himself in Flesh and Blood and that he took Flesh c. for so quoth he it may be said that our Soul is cloathed with our Body as with a Garment or Veil It is not Words but the meaning that we contend about saith he p. 257. We know best our own Meaning being well satisfied that 't is according to Holy Scripture Where 's then the difference He then quarrels with our Meaning not with the Words here but elsewhere he doth as his Author F. Bugg has done with the words Veil and Garment in J. P.'s Question to Professors But this Author yields the Point he assents to both As our Soul is clothed with
all Quakers throughout the World is their supream Law p. 18. is false again we know no such Epistle that is so esteem'd our supream Law but rather Epistles proceeding from our supream Law of Love 30. That 't is only for placing their Faith in the outward Jesus that the Quakers have so condemned them i.e. the Priests p. 19. This is not true again 't is not for placing their Faith if it were really so in an outward Jesus or rather Jesus without them but for their dead Faith without Christ and without Works and Fruit and their many Corruptions as Pride Covetousness Persecution c. as justly Chargeable on many of them His story about one Archer in Wilts questioning whether he was not among the Quaker-Bishops who compos'd this last general Council p. 19. is very scurrilous and false as it is turned to affect the Quakers We don't understand he was here at London the last Yearly Meeting The other story thereupon concerning the said Archer That the Knaves of that Country after his Wickedness forced him to shift his Quarters and that then he came up to London to which the other Quakers gave the right hand of Fellowship and that there he Preach'd and exercised his Talent with great Approbation p. 19 20. Though we have heard of such an one's miscarriage yet I have enquir'd and am perswaded the latter part of the story is a great Forgery to scandalize the Quakers that either they gave him the right hand of Fellowship or that he preached at London with great Approbation after he fled upon discovery this is a very unlikely story basely designed to cast Dirt upon us for the World well knows our Christian care to expunge such from our Society upon the knowledge of their Enormities but whether there be the like care and practice in this Authors Church he may consider if he will Reader I Have in this precedent Examination passed by a great many more false Aspersions Calumnies and Perversions cast upon my self and divers others in the said Book Satan Disrob'd being not willing to undertake a full Answer to it nor to spend more time in raking in such dirty Kennels of Lyes and Abuses as the Books of the said Author are stuff'd withal against us c. There are also many Falshoods foul Perversions Charges and Reflections in The Snake in the Grass not particularly Remarked in the foregoing Antidote and in particular divers Passages relating to the Revolution of Governments in the Nation the substance whereof I long since fully Answer'd to John Pennyman's Invectives My Answer is Intitul'd Christ's Lambs defended from Satan's Rage Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-Yard in Lumbard-street London 'T is observable that the said Author of The Snake in the Grass values himself much upon that Title to several of his Books against us but upon the Readers perusal of these already Answered it will appear that Title will be his great Disgrace and Infamy seeing that he has merited the Character of a Hatcher of Cockatrice Eggs as well as the Author of The Snake in the Grass Which Title he may be as horribly asham'd of as afraid to expose his real name and place Some notice taken of the said Author's Discourse for Water Baptism HAving lately seen and received a Book stiled A Discourse proving the divine Institution of Water-Baptism c. By the Author of The Snake in the Grass and finding these Passages after the Contents viz. That there will be published a Discourse by the same Author shewing whom Christ hath ordain'd to Administer the Sacraments in his Church And another wherein is proved that the chief of the Quakers Heresies were broached and condemn'd in the days of the Apostles and in the first 150 Years after Christ. To the latter part whereof I must tell him and Advertise the Reader that this officious Author should have spared his other Discourse thus Charging the Quakers with Heresies so long since broached and condemned until he had seen an Answer to his Snake in the Grass wherein he hath most unjustly and falsly Charged the Quakers with numerous Heresies and Errors as also he hath in divers things very falsly aspers'd them in this Discourse And if he repeat the same again upon us as it may be suspected to prove them so long since broached and condemned this will add nothing of proof that we the People called Quakers are guilty thereof but only serve to shew his own Malice and Impertinency and gross Calumnies already confuted Upon the viewing his said Discourse for Water-Baptism I find nothing material but what is mostly answer'd in the foregoing Antidote and Book therein referred unto in page 126. Besides I find him very much imposing and begging the Question in his said Discourse 1st Pleading for Infant Baptism in his Preface as being the outward Seal of Christ's Covenant but without Scripture proof and then flees to the Baptists Arguments for Baptizing Believers or People Docible from Mat. 28. and other Scriptures which they use to urge in opposition to sprinkling Infants He miserably imposes in placing upon outward Baptism all these Priviledges viz. Regeneration or being Born into the Church Baptizing into the Christian Faith p. 9 10. The Promise of the Inward Baptism of the Holy Ghost p. 12. Calling the outward The means whereby we are made partakers of the inward and whereby the inward Baptizm of the Holy Ghost is given p. 34 60. All this he places upon outward Baptism with Water But then it must be upon the duly receiving thereof p. 12. wherein he hath before included Infants as well as others but all this without Scripture Proof Now if all those Infants that are Sprinkled or Baptized be Regenerated and Born again and Baptized into the Faith and partakers of the Holy Ghost and the Baptism thereof How will this agree or consist with their Preaching the necessity of Regeneration and the new Birth to such when docible seeing he saith a Man can be but once Regenerated p. 9. I find that when he pleads for Baptizing Believers p. 23. he cannot escape the Baptist's Arguments altho' he hath reviled them as badly in a manner as he hath done us as is before shewed I find that Text 1 Cor. 1. 17. doth Puzzle him esteeming it an obscure Text p. 22. Which is Christ sent me not to Baptize c. and he is very impertinent and begging the Question in his Answer to it But while he Argues with the Baptists Arguments for Believers Baptizm I take it for granted that he Argues for that which he and his Brethren the Clergy are out of the practice of and therefore insincere and consequently his Works deserves to be rejected whilst Infants are the Subjects chiefly intended He bitterly exclaims against both Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists Quakers Socinians Vnitarians Latitudinarians and Deists c. in his Preface as being the Spawn of Rebellion and multifarious Schism and especially against the Presbytery in Scotland either for their
to the bare reading the Letter as the Pharisees did which was not at all to lessen the Authority of Holy Scripture Sn. p. 343. To prove gross Contempts of Scripture daily found among them i. e. the Quakers he gives us another particular Instance of a Quaker-Servant that took the Bible and in the open Day publickly burnt it against the Church in Bread-street to shew her Zeal Re. Upon a late Enquiry we understand That there was such a Servant-Maid who under some Discomposure and Temptation attempted such an evil and mad Action but was severely rebuked and testified against by our Friends who came to understand that Attempt or Action which we utterly abhor and therefore not justly chargeable upon us as a People any more than all the mad Actions of the People in Bedlam who belong to the Church of England Wherefore the great Envy and Injustice of this Defamer is very remarkable in this Passage as 't is extended against the Quakers to prove gross Contempts of Scripture daily found among them which is as bad as to say They daily burn their Bibles Oh sad and sordid Stuff Sn. p. 346. I assure thee Reader that there is no mixture of any personal Prejudice in this Vndertaking for I do freely own that I have a real Kindness and good Wishes for every one of the Quakers that I have hitherto been acquainted with and I never received any sort of Disobligation from any of them in my whole Life Re. 1. We have no reason to believe this Person has no personal Prejudice in this his reproachful Undertaking being against a whole People where every Person of their Society is concerned and shamefully defamed by him under as gross Terms and Characters as the Devil and Malice could invent and produce through a poor dissembling Hypocrite as thus pretends such real Kindness and good Wishes for every one the Quakers of his Acquaintance while at the same time he 's endeavouring to murther their Reputations both as Men and Christians 2. And yet he has received no sort of Wrong from any of them to disoblige him in his whole Life More shame for him then thus sordidly to abuse the whole People as he hath done Sn. p. 348. As to the Nature of Christ they can subscribe the whole Creed and yet not mean one word of it of a personal Christ existing now in Heaven in his own true human Nature without all other Men or that he is now any otherwise a Man than as existing in his Saints But that they mean ALL they say of their own Light within ONLY which they call a spiritual Christ and shedding spiritual Blood c. within them Re. Here are several Things very perversly and falsly insinuated in these Passages 1. As if we did not believe the Man Christ Jesus to be now in Heaven without us as well as spiritually within us which is not true 2. As if we did not own Christ Jesus to be intire and perfect Man in himself or in his own proper Being or Existence without us as well as he is by his Spirit in us which also is not true for we really own him in both And though Christ being the spiritual Rock and as he is the Word of God the immortal Seed and a quickning Spirit he is in us and livingly felt and known in all true Believers yet not to lessen his intire Existence or limit him the Holy One as if he were no where or otherwise in Being than within us Such limitation we disown as well as wholly to exclude Christ out of his Saints as some have done under those unscriptural Expressions of a personal Christ existing in Heaven wholly without us which Terms some of us have questioned chiefly because imposed by some to oppose the Light Life and Spirit of Christ within whereby we can only truly know the Lord Jesus Christ to our eternal Salvation and Peace 3. That Christ is truly spiritual and glorious we confess and shall never deny and that he has spiritual Blood too spiritual Water Wine and spiritual Drink to sanctifie refresh and comfort our Souls we must confess as that we daily experience as well as he had natural and outward Blood to offer and shed on the Cross for the sins of the World Sn. p. 350. That the Quakers general Answer to the seven Queries of the 15th of May 1695. was a Trick and Deceit of theirs to hide and cover their monstrous Heresies Re. This is a very severe and high Charge especially from one pretending real Kindness for us and as false as any of the rest of his Railery against us But what Proof is offered of these monstrous Heresies or covering them viz. Sn. They tell of Christ born of the Virgin Mary who suffered under Pontius Pilate c. but they keep off the whole stress of the Queries viz. Whether they believe in such a Christ as without them And that he is now this day a Man without all other Men No not a word of this this pinches too close And I think this a full Confession of their Heresie Re. Our Adversary appears very much out here For suppose we did not answer expresly in all the Terms of the said Queries being indirect and confusedly stated seeing we gave a scriptural intire substantial and comprehensive Answer which he is not able to confute This could not amount to any confession of Heresie on our parts neither does his thinking so prove any such thing He judges with very dark and evil Thoughts in this Matter Where did we ever say That Christ being born of the Virgin Mary and suffering under Pilate were not without us Or that Christ is not a Man without all other Men as well as spiritually in them We are to seek for such a Confession by us for we know none such but the contrary we are bound to believe in Christ intirely in all respects as he is both as he is within us and as he is without us both as he is God and as he is Man according to Holy Scripture-Testimony of him and 't is not uncharitable or envious thinking the contrary of us that can be any valid Argument to convict us to the contrary or of any Heresies whatsoever Sn. p. 351. Out of some of their i. e. the Quakers Books George Keith has collected their true and genuine Answers to each of the said Queries c. under this HOLY Title Gross Error and Hypocrisie detected c. Re. The first part is false For G. K. did partially and perversly collect divers Passages which could be no proper nor direct Answers to those Queries nor so intended nor by us adapted to any such Queries therefore the greater Abuse in him to collect and place them for Answers thereto 2. His Title and Charge of Gross Error and Hypocrisie is blasphemously termed HOLY for 't is altogether Unholy as well as Malicious and G. Keith is accountable to the just God for scandalizing and defaming us not only
with Gross Error but Hypocrisie too The first intends those Books of ours quoted by him in all which there 's Matter sufficient to clear us from his Aspersions as Thomas Ellwood and John Pennington also have well observed in divers Answers to him together with G. Keith's own former Vindications of us as a People and our Principles The latter i. e. Hypocrisie we may suppose must intend our Answer given to the said 7 Queries wherein as in divers other things G. K. hath foully belied us contrary to our own Consciences which are clear in the sight â—f God from Hypocrisie in this Matter as well as in other things And seeing G. K.'s Authority seems to be of some value with the obscure Author of The Snake in the Grass he and his Brethren of the Church of England may take G. K. for their Champion and see what they can make of him for he shews himself now no Quaker but more near to them and where he 'll yet center or settle in what Society or Communion is a great Question Or rather whether he does not aim at setting up for himself as Sect-master if he can draw some sort of People to admire him in his Notions and reproaching the Quakers contrary to his former manifold Vindications of them and their Principles after above 30 Years Conversation and kind Treatment among them The Second Part. Here follows a Catalogue of some of the great Mistakes notorious Abuses and Calumnies in the Second Part of the said Book stiled The Snake in the Grass after the Preface which is bigger than the Book it self THE Controversie with the Quaker-Dissenters has not been pursued by the Church of England with the like Zeal and Pains as those against the Presbyterians Independents and other Dissenters because the Quakers were not so considerable either for their Learning or for their Influence upon the publick Revolutions which the others caused both in Church and State But their numbers whether increased by their being so neglected are now really formidable I mean for the many Souls seduced by them they not only swarm over these Nations but they stock our Plantations abroad Re. Tho' the first part of this Complaint carries no small Reflection upon the Presbyterians and Independents c. rendring them greatly obnoxious in the Eye of the Government as not only formidable but dangerous which is most proper for them to answer 't is not truly stated as to the Quakers For the Church of England in the two late King's Reigns has pursued them with more Zeal and Pains than any other Dissenters both to stop their Growth and to root them out also tho' not by rationally controverting Matters in difference but by such extream and severe Persecutions as hard Imprisonments Banishments Spoil of Goods c. as no other People of Dissenters have so generally suffered nor to such a degree because they did not stand in a publick Testimony in the Heat of the Day as the People called Quakers have So that 't is not through the said Churches neglect or want of taking Pains to pursue the Quakers that they are so multiplied and increased but rather as the first and chief cause of their Increase was God's Power and divine Providence A secondary Cause was their great Oppressions and Persecutions of which Israel's Oppression and Increase when in Egypt in some sense and degree was figurative or resembling even of the true Churches Sufferings when the more they were oppressed the more they multiplied and grew Sn. p. 4. I find them scoffingly telling of the Rabbies of the Quakers to inherit the Subtilty as well as Heresie of the Arians and Socinians who were the most subtil and hardest to be detected of any of the Christian Hereticks and the Quakers do defend themselves with the same distinctions and even add to their Arts. Re. This Adversary is very much out and maliciously calumnious in this his charging the Heresie of the Arians as well as Socinians upon the Ministers among the Quakers For what was the Heresie of Arius Was it not that he held That the Son of God had his beginning of nothing That there was a time when he was not That he had a beginning of Essence That he had this Essence of nothing That the Son of God was of free Will inclined to Virtue and Vice That he was a Creature and made neither like unto the Father in Substance neither the true Word of the Father by Nature neither his true Wisdom and that the Word of God was not from Everlasting c. These Heresies were charg'd upon Arius and his Complices in the Syâ—odical Epistle of the Council of Nice and Bishop of Alexandria lib. 1. cap. 3. Socr. Scol p. 215 216. p. 225. ch 6. Now we challenge this obscure Adversary to prove where ever the Quakers or their Ministers held these blasphemous and atheistical Notions Nay 't is manifest they hold the quite contrary both to Arius and Socinus for the Divinity of the Son of God the Eternal Word as many of their Writings testifie and therefore he is a gross Lyar who charges us with them and highly guilty of Folly and Self-contradiction also in rendring such mad Folks as he deems us so very subtil in Distinctions and Arts. Sn. p. 5. Many of them have really gone off from the height of Blasphemy and Madness which was professed among them at their first setting up in the Year 1650. and so continued till after the Year of the Restoration Anno 1660. Re. We utterly deny this Charge again as a foul Scandal That many of us professed the height of Blasphemy and Madness or that any in Society with us have so done The Man shamefully abuseth the Readers by imposing such lying defaming Stories upon them Sn. p. 10 11. Divers Comparisons made between L. Muggleton and the Quakers as denying all Church-Authority making a dead Letter of the Holy Scriptures and resolving all into their own private Spirit c. That these are Twin-Enthusiasts both born in the Year 1650. Re. His Comparisons herein are unjust and Accusations false 1. We never owned nor had Society with Muggleton but always bore our Testimony against his dark blasphemous Conceits 2. The spiritual Authority of the true Church we always own and esteem 3. The Holy Scriptures i. e. the Holy Doctrin of the Gospel we do not make nor call a dead Letter We distinguish between the dead Letter and the living Doctrin and follow not our private Spirits for the understanding thereof but the Spirit of God the Inspiration of the Almighty which giveth the true understanding Sn. p. 12. I desire before I go farther to obviate a Prejudice which some Readers may take as a little Railery I am forced to use now and then which they may think not becoming the Subject in Hand Re. His said Book of Four Shillings Price has more than a little Railery in 't for 't is stuft with abundance of as shameful Railery
cleanseth from Sin and that this was not to be resolved into the Light within nor to be spiritualiz'd away from the Letter Re. Let us be excused if we cannot take that Text 1 John 1. 7. altogether literally if cleansing from all Sin be a spiritul and inward Work or Act as no doubt it is there 's as much ascribed to the Spirit as to the Blood in respect to the Work of Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin And therefore the Blood of Christ may be both taken spiritually and literally and this is not to spiritualize away the Letter relating to the outward Blood and Sacrifice of Christ seeing we have always believed both in the Letter and receive the Fruit thereof in the Spirit Sn. p. 148. Sect. 11. These Men whose chief Principle is to decry and damn the Letter Re. This is a most gross and foul Calumny Our preferring the Spirit to the Letter as the Apostles did is no decrying nor damning the Letter nor so intended by us but to bring People to the Life and Substance and real fulfilling of Scripture To what he saith in distinction between Christ the Word of God and the Book of Scriptures p. 151 152. this makes for us and against them who have often affirmed that Book to be the Word in opposition to our owning Christ to be the Word of whom the Scriptures testifie And this on our part is no Contempt of the Holy Scriptures nor in their place any deifying of our own Spirit and our own Scriptures as this Adversary most falsly accuseth us p. 152. His most seeming pretence for Proof against us of Contempt of Holy Scripture is in p. 142. Sect. 11. where he quotes a Passage out of a Book Entituled The Quaker's Refuge c. thus viz. Whether the first Pen-man of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these are not one Or whether there are not many Words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Whether some Words were not spoken by the grand Impostor some by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill express'd some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false And here the Accuser breaks off in his Citation like as F. Bugg used to deal by us who has the same Passage to defame us as he hath done Whereas next after the Words And yet false these follow viz. Is not the Subject of my Argument at this time Here 't is plain the Author R. R. has cited these Questions about the Scriptures not as the Subject of his own Argument but of some others he would not then be concerned to dispute those Questions or Doubts For the said Author farther confesseth That such Scriptures and Prophesies as have been written and prophesied by the Holy Men of God as they were moved by his Spirit treating of the Mystery of God in the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind by Jesus Christ and the Duty of Man in his Obedience to and Worship of the same God as his reasonable Service for the Gift of so great Salvation are the great Concerns now under our most serious Consideration From hence it 's clear the Author was no Contemner of Holy Scripture and 't is clear the Subject of his Argument was for the Authority of the Holy Spirit in judging or discerning the Mind of God in the Holy Scriptures as truly own'd by the Quakers thus in the said Book Quaker's Refuge p. 17. which could not intend any Contempt of the Holy Scriptures much less a deifying either of our own Spirit i. e. the Spirit of Man or our own Writings in their place We have rarely ever met with more mad unlikely and improbable Aspersions than these from our most outragious Adversaries To what is objected p. 155. Sect. 11. viz. That they i. e. the Quakers cannot be bound by any Command in the Scriptures unless their Spirit anew require the same This is falsly stated 't is not our own Spirit i. e. the Spirit of Man abstractly that we profess to be under the Conduct of but the same Spirit which gave forth the Holy Scriptures And is not awanting to require of us the performance of its own necessary Commands and Doctrins contained in the Scriptures seeing 't is the same Spirit which leads it's sincere Followers into all Truth consequently not to undervalue any of those blessed Truths recorded in the Holy Scriptures And therefore this Adversary's Consequence intended against us viz. That the Scripture remains of no Authority with us p. 155. is very unjust being deduced from his own false Suggestions supposing us to set the Spirit in opposition to the Scriptures of Truth whereas we plead for the divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures in so much preferring the Holy Spirit from whence they proceeded and derive their Authority and not from Human Tradition And this is far from spiritualizing away all the Letter of the Scripture or Christ's Humanity as in p. 166. as we are often unjustly aspersed To what he saith p. 168. That Enthusiasts have no Principles they have no Rule but their own Fancy which is strongest in mad Men and this they mistake for Inspiration and then their Madness is at the height We say take Enthusiasm in the truest and best Sense and then such are inspired of God and by his Inspiration have a true Understanding and right Principles given them both Divine and Moral and do not mistake Fancy for Divine Inspiration But to whom does the Man apply this Enthusiasm which he renders Fancy more strong in mad Men and height of Madness In his next Page 't is to the Quakers He says No Quaker can deny but that the Principle of the Quakers is all Enthusiasm There never was any Enthusiasm in the World that exceeded it p. 169. Sect. 11. Here he seems to take Enthusiasm in the Quaker's Sense which is Divine Inspiration or inspired of God which sure cannot be meer Fancy much less the height of Madness as before The Quakers certainly deny this of themselves Thus the Man's confused in 's injurious Attempts to defame us with the height of Madness His Objection against the Quaker's Enthusiasm as he calls it That none that ever called themselves Christians have advanced themselves so high to have the same infallible Spirit and immediate Revelation as the Prophets and Apostles or as Christ himself c. p. 169. Herein he 's greatly out All true Christians are Partakers of the Spirit of Christ in some degree or measure for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and his Spirit is infallible and a Manifestation of the same Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal and the Effusion of this Spirit upon all Flesh was promised and we believe the Promises of God which are all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus Therefore this our Adversary who is so much averse to having the same infallible
his own Words against his Adversary viz. Who can have the Confidence to call the Scripture his Rule and yet contradict it so egregiously as when the Apostle tells us It is not the same Body that is sown that shall be to assert that it is the same Body and that who says the contrary denies the Resurrection and eternal Recompence which is a very confident Perversion and Opposition to the Apostle's Doctrin In short we do acknowledge a Resurrection in order to eternal Recompence and that every Seed shall have its own Body and rest contented with what Body it shall please God to give us who giveth a Body as it pleaseth him 1 Cor. 15. But as we are not such Fools as curiously to enquire what so must we for ever deny the gross Conceits of T. H. and his Adherents c. And in conclusion of the same Head Reason against Railing p. 124. he saith For our parts a Resurrection we believe and of Bodies too unto Eternal Life What they shall not be I have briefly said and proved what they shall be we leave with God who will give every one a Body as it pleaseth him and Thou Fool belongs to the unnecessary Medler Thus 't is evident W. P. did not deny the Resurrection it self nor count it Nonsense c. but the gross Conceits of some Persons about it Consequently this Accuser has charged the Quakers as falsly in this Point as in the rest And we know not Those others among us he tells of that suppose the Soul it self is the spiritual Body mentioned 1 Cor. 15. 44. and consequently that there is no other Resurrection than at each particular Persons death p. 184. We know none in our Society hold or suppose these things but the contrary that the Soul of every Person shall be invested with its own proper spiritual Body in the general Resurrection and last Day And besides the true Believers being quicken'd and raised out of the Fall in Adam unto Life Righteousness and Victory in and by Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life Three things are also observable in that 1 Cor. 15. The Apostle argues 1. for the Resurrection of the Dead from the Resurrection of Christ against some that said There is no Resurrection of the Dead 2. He argues against some and reprehends them as Fools that questioned How the Dead are raised and with what Bodies do they come forth From the Wheat and other Grain that 's sown and the difference between the Celestial and Terrestrial Bodies and the Natural Body and the Spiritual 3. For those Saints that shall remain alive at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to raise the Dead that they shall be changed in a moment at the sounding of the last Trumpet of God It 's evident that the Apostle Paul fully answers both those that said there is No Resurrection of the Dead and also those Fools that question With what Body do they come forth And asserts the sudden change of those who shall remain alive until the coming of the Lord from Heaven So that the Resurrection of the Dead and final change of the Living so as the Corruptible must put on Incorruption and the Mortal shall put on Immortality As this Doctrin was really believed by the Primitive Christians so it is by us who believe that God raised up Jesus from the Dead and therefore the Dead both the Just and Unjust shall be raised by Jesus Christ according to Scripture whatever Prejudice may suggest to the contrary But our Adversary will needs have it That Mr. Penn does understand that long and elegant Description of the Resurrection of our Bodies from the 35th Verse of the 15th Chap. of the first Epist. to the Corinthians Only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life and for it quotes The Invalidity of John Faldoe's Vindication 1673. p. 373 p. 369. He wrongs W. P. in this i. e. That he understands that long and elegant Description of the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 35. to the end Only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life I say this is a Perversion and Abuse of W. P.'s Discourse in the Case for on verse 44. he utterly denies that this Text is concerned in the Resurrection of Man's carnal Body shewing according to Beza both from the Latin and Original Greek that a natural Body is sown a spiritual Body is raised that there 's not a Word in either for the Relative It Inval. p. 369. And in p. 373. W. P. supposing the Apostle treated of a natural Change and not only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life This Supposition is not to understand the Apostle Paul to treat only of the spiritual state of the Soul in this Life in that 1 Cor. 15. from v. 35. For in the place quoted it is by the Accused confessed That tho' we sow not the Body which shall be God giveth a Body as it pleaseth him from 1 Cor. 15. 37 38. 'T is observable That W. P. in his Answer to T. Hicks and John Faldoe quoted is not so unnatural as not to allow the sanctified Soul a suitable Clothing or Mansion when the earthly Tabernacle is dissolved which is eternal in the Heavens according to 2 Cor. 5. 1. wherein it is undoubtedly happy being in perfect Peace and Rest with God in Christ Jesus but he also allows it a spiritual celestial glorious Body in the Resurrection far excelling the Terrestrial And we doubt not but we shall be the same and as many distinct Souls Men or Persons in the Resurrection as we are now though far better Clothed with our spiritual glorious Bodies we hope The Premises consider'd 't is evident our Accuser has as actually wronged us in this Point even in Matter of Fact by Perversion as in his saying The Quakers have spiritualiz'd away all the Body and the Being of Christ into their Light within p. 195. which is all a notorious Untruth and answered before To his Stories 1. Of a Quaker Preacher to whom he urging for a proof of the Resurrection Mat. 27. 52 53. That many Bodies of Saints arose and came out of the Graves after Christ's Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many That he made this Answer That was not meant of the literal or earthly Jerusalem that any dead Bodies arose there but of the spiritual Jerusalem which John saw coming down from Heaven 2. And that others told him They heard the same Exposition in a Quaker Sermon at one of their Meetings p. 196. Answ. We know not any Preacher among us that gave such Meaning or Interpretation to the said Text neither do we own it And we have reason to question the truth of these Stories 3. He says He can tell of a Preacher among the Quakers that said He had already obtain'd the Resurrection by Christ having risen in his Heart and that he believed no other Resurrection nor expected any p. 198.
and blessed yet say 't is Dust and Death the Serpent's Meat c. Apol. Introd p. 18. to his New Rome We do not believe any of these Quakers ever so said of the Precepts and Doctrin nor do they own any such Saying I wholly disown it But then to beg the Question What was it you called Dust and Serpent's Meat Was it nothing else but the Ink and Paper Did any Body ever say That these were not Dust Or Is that any part of the Controversie betwixt us Snake p. 249. Here he yields the Point he grants the Ink and Paper to be Dust. I said Will decay and turn to Dust but so will not the Word the Gospel nor the Holy Doctrin contain'd in Scripture And it has been confess'd by F. B. and others That Holiness is not ascrib'd to the Paper and Ink or Inky Characters that will decay but to the Holy Doctrin and Precepts which will not decay but be permanent and endure and therefore called the Holy Scriptures with respect to the Holy Matters therein contained That the Books and Writings in Ink and Paper will wear out so will not the Word is evident Jehoiakim King of Judah could burn Jeremiah the Prophet's Roll or Book writ with Ink by Barach but not the Word of the Lord nor properly the Words thereof for the same Word caused all the former Words to be written again after the Roll was burnt Jer. 36. If then the Books the Paper and Ink be combustible or will decay and turn to Dust but not the Word nor the Doctrin where 's then the Controversie indeed when the same thing is granted on both sides He quotes Gr. Myst. p. 302. Sect. 11. p. 146 147. as saying Paper and Ink is not infallible that will come to Dust unto which the Word Christ and the Spirit is preferred in the same place quoted And in the said Gr. Myst. p. 78. by Letter he there means Paper and Ink but the Scripture the thing it speaks of is spiritual the Word is Spirit And further p. 127. the Scripture or Writing it self without the Spirit that gave it forth is a dead Letter in it self The Spirit is that that gave forth the Scriptures For my part as I am not in the least conscious to my self of the least Contempt of Holy Scripture nor yet of the Bible for I have always preferr'd it to all other Books extant in the World and more affected Reading therein than any other Book even from my Childhood and often bless divine Providence for preserving to us the Scriptures So I know of none among us guilty of contemning them Neither is what 's said from any Contempt of Scripture no more than it is of the Earth and the Heavens to say They shall wax old and perish but the Word that made them endureth Psal. 102. 25 26. Heb. 1. 11 12. But say what we can in this Case to clear our selves of any Contempt to the Holy Scripture this our uncharitable Judge and Accuser will not believe us He 's bent to asperse he has swallow'd down so much of the soure Leaven of the Malice of a few false Brethren Persecutors and Apostates from whom he derives much of his Authority and thus scurrilously and most falsly imposes upon me viz. And therefore George notwithstanding all thy meally Modesty it is it is indeed George it is the very Doctrin of the Scriptures which you blaspheme as Dust and Death and Serpent's Meat on purpose to bring Men off from trying your pernicious Heresies by those saecred Oracles p. 250. This is a pernicious Abuse and Calumny against my self and others of us to out-face us against our very Sense and Consciences and in good Conscience I testifie against it it never entred into my Intention or Thoughts so to blaspheme the Doctrin of the Scriptures as to term or deem it Dust Death or Serpent's Meat The Lord rebuke this lying envious Spirit Neither do I vilifie the written Doctrin and Precepts of God in comparison of our New Light as he falsly calls it p. 250 251. but reverently esteem them The Man makes no Conscience of defaming us Neither do we quarrel with the Law and the Testimony nor yet with Writing or Scripture as 't is in Ink or Paper but distinguish between the Writing and the Things written which is no Contempt to either We are thankful to Divine Providence for both the Scripture or Writing and the Holy Doctrin and Divine Precepts therein written for they testifie unto Christ our Light and our â—ight to the Truth of them And to what he saith If any do not teach the same i. e. according to the Law and the Testimony or written Word it is because there is no Light in them Isa. 8. 20. And then puts this Emphasis upon it No Light George Mark that Your false Pretences to the Light within are here over-rul'd p. 251. I deny that our Pretences to the Light within is either false or here over-rul'd if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Morning to them If he 'll see the Note from the Hebrew in some Bibles he may see no Morning in the Margin over against no Light Then let him Mark that But is there no Light in the Creation before Morning either inward or outward pray Did not the Light shine in Darkness before it shined out of Darkness And had not the Believers a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto they did well to take heed as unto a Light shining in a dark Place until the Day dawned and the Day-star arose in their Hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. And are not many reproved by the Light them in for telling Lies and speaking contrary to the Word c. And therefore there was some true Light in them before the Morning appeared to them And tho' my Accuser says These and such-like Texts detect and explode the miserable Ignorance and Blasphemy of these Pretenders to Light For which we have his own ipse dixit and much such Raillery but know no plain Texts of Scripture yet produced by him that so detects us but his own Falshood and great Ignorance about the Light is very apparent Again he falsly defames and reprobaches me from p. 28. Of Innocency Triumphant with excusing and justifying Diabolical Suggestions in the Quaker-Refuge he saith against the Authority of the sacred Scripture by saying That it questioned but some not all p. 252. This Accuser has a most odious injurious course of defaming and perverting as well as curtalizing our Words wherein he has taken part with his famous Author F. Bugg to whom the Answer was given on which he grounds his black Charge against me Of justifying Diabolical Suggestions c. In which Answer I expresly declare thus viz. His Accusation that the Quakers insinuate in a Book called The Quakers Refuge That What the true Prophets spake was false and What the false Prophets spoke was true p. 47. New Rome Vnm. p. 23. We
fully explained a Passage in that Book Christ Ascended Pref. and p. 67. Where 't is implied that we do not affirm Christ is in every Man or that every Man hath the Son but a measure of his Light Grace or Heavenly Gift in all Whereby is meant Christ in his fulness is not in any Man nor revealed in every Man nor is every Man in Christ. Neither is Christ in every Man as he is in them in whom the Body is Dead because of Sin Rom. 8. 10. But as a Light as an Immortal Seed as the Word he is in some degree in every Man but every Man is not in Christ as the new Creature is and all true Believers who walk in his Light are in him and he in them And for our endeavours to draw Peoples Minds off from their carnal expectations of Christ's outward coming again in the Flesh or from resting upon a fleshly knowledge of him as come in the Flesh without them only that their Minds may be turned to his Light and Grace within them to know his Power and Work in them This cannot be truly deemed any Antichristian Doctrin or Ministry and we are sure G. K. did not so deem it heretofore but the contrary see his Help in time of need p. 22. This is the Antichrist who denies Christ the Son come thus in the Revelation of himself in the Heart for that comeing of Christ in his Bodily appearance at Jerusalem Antichrist will not does not deny it being he knows it will never harm his Kingdom so to confess him come provided Christ's Kingdom be not set up in the Heart So that Antichrist's work now-a-days is to oppose Christ's spiritual Coming and Kingdom and yet pretend to own his coming in the Flesh Yet this greater subtility of Antichrist's work now than formerly will not cover his evil designs but the true Seed Christ will prevail and his Power reign over that Spirit of Antichrist and Son of Perdition Glory to God and to the Lamb that sitteth upon the Throne Some of the Author to the Snake in the Grass his notorious Lyes and Perversions gleaned out of his said Book Satan Disrob'd THat they i.e. Quakers have thrown off the Baptism of his i.e. Christ's Death having renounced the benefit of his Death it self Note Which are both false Christ's Baptism into his Death and the benefit thereof are very precious to us 2. p. 24. That G. W. makes the Righteousness of God to be of the same kind and nature with ours which is Blasphemy Note This is not true Christ who is made of God unto us Righteous hath brought us to deny our own Righteousness 3. p. 28 29. That heavenly Body which they i.e. Quakers talk of most of them understand nothing by it but the Soul it self or an heavenly frame or disposition of the Soul which they think they have attained already Note These are not true the heavenly Resurrection Body is not the Soul it self but a Body which God giveth as it pleaseth him 4. p. 29. Innumerable instances might be given of lying Prophesies the rankest Treasons and Blasphemies pronounced in the name of the Lord. And this against the Quakers these are outragious Aspersions and Slanders 5. p. 30. That the coming i.e. of Christ to the future judgment this he i.e. G. W. utterly denies I take this to be an utter Falshood I am not conscious of such denyal by my questioning such a manner of coming again in the Flesh as they carnally expected to see with their carnal Eyes who I answered about this point 6. p. 30. That they mean that there is no visible coming of Christ to be now looked for outwardly What they mean by a glorâ—fied heavenly Body not any thing either visible or intelligible This is not true The coming of Christ to Judgment in the great and last Day will be both seen and understood and so will the glorified Bodies of his Saints I really believe Pray observe what a storm of furious Rayleries and Falshoods this Author to the Snake c. vents against us and other Dissenters as followeth viz. 7. p. 33. The Year 1650. when our new Light arose in our Hemisphere when the Church being pull'd down the vilest and most monstrous and numerous Spawn of Multifarious Sects that ever the bottomless Pit spew'd forth at once were with a thousand other Devils let loose among us a just punishment for our Schism and Rebellion And we are yet left to War with the Tayl of this Hydra which is gathering new life and if it should for our Sins prevail our last State would be worse than the first Who can refrain from indignation to see such a conceited senseless most ignorant and blasphemous Crew destitute of common modesty or shame wipe their mouths and gravely set up themselves above all the glorious Light of the Church Confessors and Martyrs ever since the Apostles whom they damn as Apostates Which is a gross Lye I forbear Answer to these Passages because of the grosness outrage ralery and notorious Falshood thereof 8. p. 34. Denial of these four great Essentials so call'd 1. Faith in Christ as he outwardly suffered at Jerusalem to our Salvation 2. Justification by his Blood outwardly shed 3. The Resurrection of the Dead 4. The future Judgment unjustly charged and perversions alledged for proof 'T is mis-construction and mis-application of Christ's Sufferings and Blood without the Spirit and Operation thereof within that we deny and not the real living Faith in Christ concerning any of these Points which his Spirit reveals according to holy Scripture 9. p. 35. He saith And it is an horrible scandal that such should be suffered under the name Protestant As 't is the People called Quakers he chiefly smites at this appears to us a bold reflection upon the Government for so esteeming and recognizing the said People by Law as being Protestants Whereas G. F. Question'd about the Soul partly in the Terms of his Adversary i.e. Is not that a part of God and of his Being which came out from God viz. the Breath of Life God breathed into Man the breath of Life and he became a living Soul gr myst This I have more fully spoken to before and I see no great cause the Man has to quarrel with the Passage if rightly quoted only the words part of God may seem somewhat uncouth but they were first an Aposer's words and admitted of as from him The breath of Life which God breathed into Man whereby Man became a living Soul was intended by G. F. Seeing he who now quarrels with us confesseth Man's Soul was breathed from God and made a glorious Image of him and partook of many excellencies and endowments which were communicated by God unto it all this the usual opinion doth ascribe to the Soul p. 40. of Satan Disrob'd That Man's Soul was Breathed from God c. I think this Confession and that we are his Off-spring Act. 17. 28. is much of the
Indifferency or disuse of Water Baptizm c. See what a busy Agent this is as if he would have his Hand against every Man But I must leave him for others concerned to deal with him if they see it worth their Time and Labour I having bestowed more for the Truth sake and for the sake of many more sincere than himself than he or his Works deserve G. W. The Contents of the foregoing Treatise WHat Characters are given against the People called Quakers by The Snake in the Grass examined Page 1 to 12. A Catalogue of some abuses against the said People 13 to 49. Concerning Tithes and a Popish Plea for the same confuted by Martyrs and primitive Protestants 17 to 23. A false Charge against G. Fox c. Examin'd and Answer'd 25 26. Of the Man Christ his Body and Blood 29 to 35. Of the holy Scriptures how own'd by the People called Quakers and they cleared from Calumnies in that point 35 36. 40 41. Our Accusers Hiporitical Prayer â— 37. Of Christs ' Body Flesh the Vail and Blood 38 39. For the divine authority of the H. Scriptures 42 43. Our Adversarys false pretence of kindness 44 45. Christ's existence or being and how he is in us 45 46. Of the Quakers general Answer to the seven Queries and of G. Keith's abuse thereupon 46 to 49. The second part begins with Reflection upon the Presbyterians Independents and the Quakers rendering them all obnoxious c. 50 51. The Quakers clear'd from the Arians Heresie 52 53. An unjust comparison and railery against the Quakers 54 55. Both Presbyter Anabaptist Independent and Quakers scandalized and their liberty envied by the Author of The Snake in the Grass 56 57. Popish Emissaries no promoters of Quakerism 57 58. Of the more peculiar Titles of Christ not given to us 59 60. Of the Soul of Man being created and the divine breath or Spirit of Life which God breathed into Man 61 62. Of Infallibily and Omnisciency 62 63. Of the Light given of God to our Souls 63 to 66. Of discerning of Spirits how a gift 67 to 72. Occasion given us to reflect on the incontinency of Priests 73 74. The said Authors general and false Charge about one false Prophet and Story of a Glover in Cheapside c. 75 to 78. His Reflection upon all dissenting Protestants and pleading for Bishops wicked Priests and persecuting Kings 78 to 80. Our Friends misrepresented about G. K. and of the Text 1 Jo. 1. 7. 81 82. Of our preferring the Spirit to the Letter no contempt of Holy Scripture 82 to 86. Of Enthusiasm as charg'd against the Quakers 86 to 89. Of Womens Preaching and Womens Meetings 89 90. Our Doctrin concerning the Light within vindicated and opened 90 to 99. The Quakers vindicated from several Blasphemous Charges as assuming divine Attributes divine Worship divine Honour 99 to 101. Of the Resurrection Heaven and Glory how Scripturally confessed and believed by us 102 to 111. Of the Sacraments so called first of the Supper second of Baptism 111 to 126. Concerning the satisfaction of Christ. 127 to 135. Concerning the holy Trinity 135 to 140. For the Divinity and Incarnation of Christ also 140 to 155. Some Remarks by the Author of the Snake against G. Whitehead examined as about Christ the holy Scriptures the Word the Light c. 155 to 178. The words Type Figure Shape Example Vail most holy places both in the old and new Covenant opened 174 to 182. A brief Examination of some passages in the second Book still'd Satan Disrob'd 185. Some reasons for excepting against the Term Co-creator 188 to 191. Of the Soul and Incarnation of Christ. 191 to 193. A question about the manner of some Men's carnally looking for Christ to Salvation who neglect his inward appearance and for what end his spiritual Appearance is truly expected 193 to 197. Of Christ as at God's right hand and in his People 197 to 199. Of Christ's Appearance at the great day in his glorious spiritual Body and of the Resurrection Bodies 199 to 207. Of Christ's existence in Heaven as at the right hand of God and of God's Omni-presence and indweling in his People 207 to 209. Of the pure Nature of Christ and of some sin-pleasing notions repugnant thereto and to his inward Appearance and Operations of his Spirit 209 to 212. Of the Historical Faith of Christ's death for Sinners and the saving Faith in his Light 212 to 217. Christ's obedience unto death for us Meritorious but not the Act of wicked hands either in murthering him or sheding his blood by the Spear upon the Cross. 217 to 220. The price and work of our Redemption by Jesus Christ. 220 to 221. Of the Object and Foundation of true Faith in Christ and of his blood that was shed an unwarrantable comparison disown'd concerning the same 221 to 225. Of the material and mystical blood of Christ and the Type thereof and shadow of Heavenly things which the Law had 227 to 231. Of God's own blood Acts 20. 28. And Redemption explained with respect both to the Sacrifice and Work of Christ. 232 to 237. Of the words Personality Personal Existence and Humane as ascribed to Christ c. why question'd Christ's coming to Judgment the Resurrection c. how own'd 237 to 240. Some notorious Lyes and Perversions gleaned out of the said Book Satan Disrobed 241 to 245. Some gleanings of Lyes Slanders and Perversions out of the some gleanings of the Author to The Snake in the Grass recharged on him 246 to 263. Some notice taken of the said Author's Discourse for Water-Baptisn 266. c. FINIS Snake p. 93 94. Sn. p. 1. In his Sect. 1. * The Act of shedding that outward Blood was by the Spear which the Soldier thrust into his Side How proves he that Act cleanseth from Sin * See T. Godwyn's Moses and Aaron treating of the Passover c. and Christ's answering the same in his Supper Exod. 12. Mat. 26. 18 19. Luke 22. 8. to ver 15. 1. p. 20.