mayst observe he answers nothing and thereby see the spirit of those men that doe stop their eyes against the plainest light but he that hardeneth his heart shall not prosper Position 13. That the Scriptures are not the Word of God but a Declaration of the conditions of them that spoke them forth He answers nothing according to his custome to our arguments nor excepts against our proofes but labours to confirme the Position Excep 1 Christ is the Word now if the Scriptures be the Word then there is two Words of God now prove that in Scripture or that the Letter is â—aked the Word in plaine words Reply 1. That Christ is the Word is plaine Iohn 1. and who knoweth it not The essentiall and declarative Word not all one 2. That the will of God contained in the Scripture is the Word of God is as plaine besides the Scriptures we named â—n the Perfect Pharisee pag. 24. Marke 7.13 Luke 11 28. Rom. 10.17 Iohn 12.48 we shall adde these Luke 8.11 the Seed is the Word of God ver 12. then commeth the Devill and taketh the word out of their heart least they should beleeve and be saved can the Devill take Christ out of their hearts 1 Thes 2.13 When yee receaved the Word of God which you heard of us yee received it not as the Word of Men but as it is in truth the Word of God c. This was the Word which the Apostles spake yea received it which cannot be meâ—nt of Christ he should have said yee received him not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God This is so plaine a case we shall not trouble thee further And here thâ—u mayst observe there are two words of God the essentiall and 〈◊〉 declarative and wonder the man should be so weake as to bid 〈◊〉 produce Scripture to prove this when the Scripture is so full of it to any that doth but reade it Excep 2 The Apostle calls what he wrote a Declaration 1 â—ohn 1.2.3 Reply How doth this prove the Scriptures are noâ— the word of God nay doth it not fully prove the contrary for that which he declares was what he had heard of the Lord Iesus Scriptures not onely a declaration of the conditions of Saints Againe we doe owne the Scriptures to be the declarative Word of God or a declaration of the minde of God but we say the Quakers doe destroy the Scriptures Divinity and authority when they call them onely a declaration of the conditions of them that spoke them forth For as we prâ—ved before 1 They shall be then no foundation for the Faith of Saints for one mans condition is not the foundation of another mans Faith 2. The Scripture shall have no authority over the soule of any but he that is in the same condition and hath experienced it contrary to Iohn 2.4 8. this is the reason why Nayler sayes they are not commanded to forbear to weare shâ—oes in his Book p. 21. if they were they should as well as they are commanded not to sâ—lute whereas that command if it be in any part binding Luke 10.4 requires both but this will tell thee what is meant by their calling Scripture a speaking forth of the Saints condition viz. it shall have no authority over them further then they list or have an impulse on their spirits or they practice for both the commands are of equall authâ—rity yet he denyes they are commanded one of them nay they are both in the same verse Luke 10.4 Yea 3. This destroyes the divine authority of all Historicall and Propheticall Scripture which could not be the Saints conditions when thâ—y spoke them as also threatnings and promises c But see this at large Perfect Pharisee pag. 24.25 We sha l say but this 1 Iohn 5.16 There is a sinne unto death I doe not say that you should pray for it was this Iohns condâ—â—ion when he spake it did he exper ence in his heart that he had sinned to death 2 Pet. 2.22 The Dog is returned to his vomit c. was this the condition of Peter that spoke it but we are ashamed of this wickednesse and folly of these men Excep 3 VVhereas you say it cannot be understood to be the word Christ that came to the Prophets Samuel Ieremy c it seems your understanding is not with the Apostle who saith It was the Spirit of Ch i st that was in them 1 Peter 1 11 and you say what Christ and his Apostles Preached c. was not Christ the Father or Spirit when as the Scripture saith Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. cap. 1 ver 21. Reply The Quakers grossâ— confounding of Christ with the written VVord 1 Consider Reader how grossely he abuseth and perverts the Scripture to prove that the words that they spoke were Christ and the spirit because it is said These holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost What a grosse and blasphemous conâ—ounding is here of the word that those men spoke and the holy Ghost that moved them to speake making the word spoken by a finite creature to be the everlasting spirit the holy Ghost The words were committed to Paper and Inke Rev. 1. Heb. 2.2 engraven in Tables 2 Cor. 3.7 Isay 30 8. write it before them in a Booke note it in a Booke c. can this be Christ or the Spirit of God and yet these are the things which they were moved of the holy Ghost to write Who knoweth not that it was the spirit of God that moved them to write that revealed the things they were to publish to the world but were those things that the holy Ghost moved them to write were those things Christ were those things the spirit What a miserable ignorance or judiciall blindnesse is this which certainely the righteous judgement of God hath given up this Generation of people to because they received not the truth in the love thereof that they might be saved Position 14. That the Spirits are not to be tryed by the Scriptures c. This Position is not denyed by Nayler we proved it from three testimonies and Nayler in his answer addes his owne defence thereof without exception against any of our proofes VVe shall take his arguments for defence thereof in order Excep 1 The infallible spirit which is the originall of all Scriptures is the tryall of all spirits and that spirituall man judgeth all things and by that spirit the Saints was to judge of all spirits and gave those up to Sathan that was for that end as is plaine 1 Cor. 5 4. Reply 1 The spirit not to be set in opposition to Scripture The force of this argument by which he would prove that spirits are not to be tryed by Scripture lyeth thus The infallible spirit is the tryall of all spirits therefore spirits are not to â—e tryed by Scriptures To
which we reply That this is no consequence at all and shall demonstrately prove it from these severall arguments 1. To set the minde and will of the spirit in opposition to the spirit it selfe can be no Gospel argument For the Scriptures are the infallible will of the spirit layd downe as the rule of Saints beleeving judging and walking What a reproach had it been when the spirit of God sent the Prophets to reveale his will or when Jesus Christ sent the Iewes to search the Scriptures what a reproach had it been to the living God for them to have answered We will not be judged not will we judge of spirits or doctrines by that Word or Scripture we will stand to the judgement of the spirit it selfe opposing the spirit it selfe to its owne will How wicked a thing had it been in them and how ridiculous an answer is this in Nayler 2. How is this to undervalue the wisedome of the holy Ghost himselfe Bereans commended for trying spirits by Scriptures Acts 17.11 who judgeth and pronounceth the Bereans more Noble then those of Thessaloniea in that they searched the Scriptures dayly whether those things that were spoken by Paul and Silas were so or no in that they searched the Scriptures the Spirit prizeth them for trying the Doctrines of Paul and Silas by the Scripâ—uâ—es the written Word And how wicked a thing is this in the Quakers to cry downe this trying of spirits and Doctrines of Scriptures which the spirit expressely ownes with such a signall testimony as speaking out in the soule such a spirituall noblenesse 3. It is confessed on all hands that the eternall Spirit is the originall of Scriptures and the tryer of Spirits who ever questioned that But our question is what the Saints are to try the spirits by not whether the spirit can try the Doctrines No. But we affirme that this eternall Spirit hath left the written Word as that which shall be the discovery touchstone and tryall of spirits and Doctrines by authority and divine warrant from himselfe See 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God c. John 5.99 Search the Scriptures Isay 8.20 c. So that our asserting the Scriptuâ—es to be tryall of spirits is but setting up the spirit in his owne authority and throne over the spirits and consciences of men and pleading with men that the spirit may rule in his owne way and that they will try Doctrines by that Scripture which the holy Ghost commands them to try the Doctrines by And he that refuseth that touchstone which the spirit hath layd dâ—wne for tryall doth destroy the authority of the holy Ghos â—et hâ—m speake fantastically of trying by the spirit what he will But this reasoning of Naylers is as if when the Loâ—d Protector should declare what is treason by Law in publique Proclâ—mations a Justice of Peace should when a Person were proved before him guilty of treason according to that Law yet should say he is not to judge what is treason according to that Law but he would appeale from the Law to himselfe for what is treason though the Law had determined it before But in this case to exclude the Scriptures because the holy Ghost is the originall of them is to destroy that plaine truth Subordinate non pugnant things that act in a subordination though about the same thing doe not destroy one anothers usefulnesse or causality Nay the spirits being the Originall of all Scripture this being confessed doth necessarily confesse their divine authority for that trying of spirits for which they were given forth by the inspiration of God 2. As to that expression the spirituall man judgeth all things we have fully spoken before in pag. 79. We know there is a spirit of discerning which Beleevers have of Gospel mysteries but what absurdity is this to inferre therefore spirits are not to be tryed by Scriptures For that light which a spirituall man hath is a Scripture light 1 Cor. 5.4 opened 3. How ignorantly is that 1 Cor. 5.4 produced to prove this assertion when Paul sayes In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when you are gathered together and my spirit to deliver such an one to Sathan c. Paul is not trying of spirits or judging of Doctrines but exhorting the Church to excommunicate the incestuous Person and tells them That his Apostolicall power shall goe along with them in that sentence The verse going before tells you what is the meaning of his spirit where he sayes I as absent in body but present in spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that hath done this deed that is I in this Epistle doe send you my mind and my judgement what you ought to doe with this man that hath committed Incest as fully as if I were present with you and so you may goe on at your meeting to excommunicate him having for so doing not onely the authority of the Lord Jesus but also the conseâ—t and iudgement of me his Apostle This is that in those words In the name of the Lord Jesus and my Spirit How doth this man heape up quotations without any understanding of the minde of the spirit in them and with what exceeding ignorance doth he apply such Texts to his absurdities as neither prove them nor speake a tittle concerning them Excep 2 By this spirits were the spirits tryed before the letter was therefore spirits are not to be tryed by Scriptures Reply What a miserable non sequitur is here There was a time when the spirit had not given forth the Written Word therefore when the spirit doth give forth a written Word it is not to be regarded There was a time when the Law was not engraven in Tables of Stone therefore when it was engraven the Israelites must not looke upon it as a rule of life or judgement There was a time when the will of God was not written was not Scripture therefore when Christ bids you search the Scriptures you need not heed them at all But we leave the Reader to laugh at this absurd consequence The Bereans judged by another light then James Nayler doth who though they knew there was a time when Scripture was not written yet they tryed the spirits and doctrines of Paul and Salas by the Scriptures And the Spirit it selfe inspired and moved holy men of God to write the Scriptures to leave them as a tryall and touchstone of spirits though once there was a time when there was no written word But oh how doth God infatuate men when they will not submit to the authority of his Word Excep 3 He falls a rayling exceedingly and sayes We have no guide but the letter because we assert the authority of Scripture and addes how many minds how many formes how many gods doe ye worship and all pretend Scripture If it be possible to
forsake their names and comforts c. for his testimony It is no small slandâ—â— to say we have consulted with John Gilpin whose face none of us ever saw to our knowledge till after the Printing of his confession but there is a day wherein God will call every idâ—e word to an account and then Naylers conceit of his perfection will not take off the guilt of such apparant lyes Position 15. That there ought to be no sense meaning or exposition given or studying of the Scriptures We had many proofes for this that it was a Position of thâ— Quakers which he denyes not we could adde more but ' tiâ— needlesse because Nayler in his answer goes about to justifie it 〈◊〉 the summe of which lyes in these two exceptions Excep 1 The Scriptures are either perfect or not perfect if perfect lâ—â— them alone and doe not darken them by your invented wisedome Reply 1 Though Scripture be perfect in it selfe yet needs expounding through the darknet of soules To which we answer The Scriptures were given out perfect by the Prophets and Apostles yet they gave them out iâ— some places more darkely and in some places more clearely as Peter plainely confesseth 2 Pet. 3.16 that some things iâ— Pauls Epistles were hard to be understood and layd downe 〈◊〉 darkly as that those that were unlearned that is not well aâ—quainted with the mind of the holy Ghost in them did wrâ— them to their owne destruction which shewes the necessity opening and expounding Scriptures unlesse we will suffer mâ— through their ignorance to runne upon their owne ruine 2. Were the Scriptures imperfect or did Ezra adde to them because he gave the sense and caused them to understand the Reading Neh. 3.8 3. Doth not Christ speake the necessity of expounding Scripture though it be perfect when he said to the Pharisees Goe learne what that meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice Mat. 9.13 Nay doth not Christ clearly assert the necessity of expounding when he saith Marke 12.24 Doe yee not therefore erre not knowing the Scriptures Ver. 26 Have ye not Read in the Booke of Moses how God spake unto him in the Bush saying I am the God of Abraham c. he is not the God of the dead but the God of the living where he opâ—n the Scripture and proves the Resurrection from thence wh ch lay but darkely hid in those words had not he that had the Key of David opened and expounded them 4. The necessiâ—y of expounding doth not arise from the imperfection of Scriptures but from that darkenesse that lyes upon the spirits of the saints For now we see through a glasse darkely 1 Cor. 13. so that though the Scriptures be perfect in them elves yet thou seest the necessity of the opening of them through the imperfectiâ—n that is in us This Christ and the Apostles knew when they made it a great part of their businesse in the teaching of soules to expound the Scriptures Excep 2 You that have not that infallible spirit that gave them forth what will you judge and open and expound them with c. Reply This is but an old straine of his railing but we can let prayses be to free grace say with the Apostle God hath revealed them unto us by the spirit by the light of which spirit we are taught to compare spirituall things with spirituall 1 Cor 2.13 and so to open the Scriptures for though we are the least of saints and Nayler thus revile us yet we can blesse God for the in dwellingâ— of the infallible spirit in us which communicates light to our soules in that measure that pleaseth him dividing to every man severally as he will The rest of that answer is a heape of bitter rayling which is no more to us then the chaffe before the wind or the Viper upâ—n Pauls hand which comes forth from the flaming of their contention James 3.6 and we can shake off as into the fire from whence it came Position 16. They cry downe Baptisme with Water and the Lords Supper as being but types and shadowes ceasing upon the appearance of Christ within them Excep 1 Though the generall charge lie and our many proofes which he doth not deny make it cleare that they cry downe all Baptisme with Water yet Nayler in his answer shuffles from that charge and falls to except against Infant Bapâ—isme Reply Reader we should willingly cleare up that Ordinance of Christ to thee but it hath bin so fully cleared in the learned writings of Mr. Marshall Mr. Baxter Mr. Blakâ— Mr. Siâ—enham c. 〈◊〉 are loath to fill up our Booke with the discussing and clearing 〈◊〉 that point it being already growne up to a bulke beyond 〈◊〉 thoughts and shall referre thee for satisfaction in thâ—se 〈◊〉 discourses But let the Reader observe that this is but a 〈◊〉 evasion of Nayler for our proofes doe evidently satisfie 〈◊〉 they cry downe all manner of Baptisme with Water no◠〈◊〉 the Baptizing of Infants but of all and its further appâ—â—â—â— by their practice Excep 2 But at last he speaks his mind and reasons against all â—â—â—tisme and quotes that of Paul 1 Cor. 4.14 Paul knew whaâ— he spake when he thanked God he had Baptized no more for Christ saith he sent me not to Baptize but to Preach Reply 1 1 Cor. 1 14 opened By these expressions Nayler seems to make Paul looke upon his Baptizing others as a sinne and so to thanke God that he Baptized no more How is this to heape sinne upon Peter and the rest of the Apostles who Baptized three thousand at one time Acts 2.41 Ierusalem and all Iudea went forth to John to be Baptized of him and yet Iesus himselfe made and Baptized more Disciples then Iohn See Iohn 4.1 though Iesus himselfe Baptized none but his Disciples what is this but to make â—â—ul condemne the practice of those saints and oppose the câ—â—mand of the Lord Iesus Goe and Baptize Mat. 28.19 2. But to give thee the full meaning of Pauls expression then shalt finde 1 Cor. 1.12 he is charging them for factions Ouâ— said I am of Paul another I am of Apollo c. and argues thus Were you Baptized in the name of Paul and thence takes occasion to blesse God for not having Baptized many lest any should from thence have growne into a Faction as himselfe gives the reason ver 15. lest any should say I have Baptized in my owne name and from thence have made a Faction so that he blesseth God that sith the Corinthians were growne of such Factions and dividing spirits that providence had so ordered it that they had by his Baptizing so few of them so little advantage to cry him or his name up in opposition to Apollos Christ or Cephâ—â— Yet by the history of the Acts of the Apostles thou mayst observe that when ever any were converted by Paul they were Baptized Acts 16.15 ver 33. Acts 18.8 many of the Corinthians
Scriptures not the Word of God but a Declaration of the conditions of them that spoke them This he denyeth not we proved it by five testimonies He answers by one Scripture grossely perverted and two others ignorantly applyed but gives no answer to many Scripture arguments against it 14 Spirits not to be tryed by Scripture This we proved by three testimonies none of which nor the Position is denyed but goes about to prove it and falls a rayling 15. No sence meaning or exposition to be given or studying of Scripture This we proved in foure testimonies he confesseth goes about to prove it but answers not a word to fourteen evident Scriptures but falls a rayling grossely 16. They cry downe Baptisme and the Lords Supper as types and shadowes For this we gave foure proofes which he denyed not and we further prove it He shuffles from Baptisme in generall to the businesse of Infant Baptisme and falls a rayling 17. No mediate cull to the Ministry Denies not the Proof but falls miserably a rayling as if he would powr out his gall upon us As for the rest of his Reply to what we charged upon them as their Principles and Practises there is such palpable shufflings such miserable weakenesse and such horrible rayling as that we should not have medled with it at all but that we beleeve it is the designe of God to lay more and more open the spirits of these men THis Booke pretending to Answer us is thus subscribed By one whom the World calls Iames Nayler About man being called by names given them by their Parents We are â—ot a little jealous that there lyes a mystery of iniquity in that very stile and expression For first God himselfe whom to thinke to follow any sinfull expression or custome were no lesse then blasphemous calls men by their Names of distinction given by Men. Gen. 22.11 God said unto him Abraham Hannah called her sonne Samuel 1 Sam. 1.20 She called his name Samuel c. and afterwards when the Lord appeared to him to call him out to the worke of the Priest-hood chap. 3.4 and 6. and 8. verses The Lord called Samuel and called him againe so the second and third time here its evident that God himselfe calls him by the Name that his Mother gave him Acts 9.4 there Iesus Christ from Heaven calls him Saul Saul a Name given him before his conversion Christ when upon Earth calls his Disciples by the Names given them at their Circumcision as Philip Iohn Simon sonne of Ionas c. The Apostles doe so constantly as Festus Agrippa Gaius Aristarchus c. and this without such a mysterious preamble as one whâ—â— the World calls Festus Agrippa c. You see how these pretendâ—r to Scripture depart from Scripture as if they would include God and Christ under the carnall observations of the World or else teach them to speake 2. It is apparant That these very men doe constantly call themselves by these Names as Iames Nayler doth in an Epistle at the end of Farneworths Booke George Fox in a Pamphlet lately Printed and the very men of their Generation call them so without any such preamble The mystery of â—â—e 〈…〉 â—riting tâ—emselve such wâ—o the World câ—ll so and so 3. But shall we tell you where the mystery lyes We are satisfied that this expression is meerly to cloake their pretence to an equality with God Our reason is evident For in this very Answer of Naylers pag 4. where he relates Foâ—es his evadâ—ng of the charge against him that he said He was equall with God Nayler thus hints that Fox being asked whether he spake this of George Fox as he was a creature To this he answered I deny George Fox he is dust and must be dust but I and my Father are one Is not this as plaine as the Sunne that he therefore denyes George Fox that he may deny his being a creature one that must returne to dust that so he may set up and assert his onenesse with God Compare but this with that usuall expression of theirs in their Books Whose name in the flesh is James Nayler Whose name in the flesh is Iohn Audland c. and it will be more apparent But more of this you have in our Answer to their Reply to the first Article In the Epistle in the said Answer Written by A. P. he calls us About the word Priest the Priests of the North a word on purpose given us to our reproach Surely their pretended meeknesse should have taught them other expressions though truely we finde and the Reader may even in this their answer finde more cursed rayling then we receive from the worst of men yet our suffering in that kinde from them also is not small But A. P. might know that every Priest was to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinne and that we waite not upon any such worke and that the Gospel knowes no Chiefe Priest but the Lord Iesus who is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek not any Priests at all properly but the Saints metaphorically â—â—lled a Royall Priest-hood and shall the stile of the Lord Iesâ—â— and his Saints be a reproach in the mouthes of Quakers He goes on and tells the world That we 〈◊〉 all strangers to that sort of people called Quakers except one A. P. who is none of the least of that sort of people cannot but know that he is too well knowne to all of us Secondly Three of these five also have had cause to know many more of them as M. Taylour Iohn Audland Stubbs Holmes Atkinson Hedgshon Ayry c. and others from whom we suffered disturbance in our publique Ministry and some of these also are pretenders to be eminently sent forth Thirdly Though all of us were strangers to their persons yet are we not strangers to them in their writings and so if it be possible to know them by their Papers which they industriously scatter up and downe we know them fully But whither tends this aspersion that they are strangers to all of us save one but to make the world beleeve that we have taken up these things against them by report But we hope the Reader by this time understands the nakednesse of the slander and the subtilty of A. P. W. C. As for that evidence which one of us gives concerning their principles and practises which A. P. under the name of Reports would insinuate into the people as if they were lyes the Reader shall observe that the most of these evidences are not at all contradicted by Nayler in his Answer but passed over which we take as confessed by him others onely evaded which yet shall appeare to the Reader in the ensuing answer to be either such things as he was an eye or eare witnesse of or shall be fully confirmed by undeniable testimony A. P. goes on and tells the Reader that in this answer What is truth is owned and what is false is
give you a part of a dispute betwixt M. Sanderson a Minister of the Gospel and severall Quakers at Peirce-bridge Decemb. 12. 1653. attested by the subscriptions of ten severall persons part of which concerning the thing in question we have given you word for word Quaker Is not Christ the true light in every man speake Mr. Sand. Where Christ is he rules as a King but in all he doth not so exercise his Government Therefore c. Quaker In some he is kept under corruption and this I witnesse he is subdued in me this I pawne my salvation upon Mr. Sand. Its Blasphemy to say that a finite corruption should keep under an infinite Christ this is to make corruption stronger then Christ Quaker Well if a man obey the light within him he will be happy c. How undenyably doth this convince this man of his faithlesse and perfidious dealings in seeking most unworthily to shuffle off a Principle so fully owned by them Heb. 6.4.6 opened vindicated viz. that Christ in the reprobates is held under corruption yea notwithstanding his so confident denyall of this principle yet Nayler immediately forgets himselfe and falls to proving of it in justification of Audlands Letter from Heb. 6.4 6. that its impossible to renew them againe to repentance sith they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame whence he would prove that Christ Jesus is in the reprobates because they crucifie afresh the Sonne of God 1. Let the Reader obâ—erve it is not said they crucifie the Sonne of God in themselves but to themselves How then doth this Text speake any thing to the upholding of his errour 2. Those the Apostle writes to were Hebrews the Iewes such as were of that people that crucified and put to death the Lord of life Now as it doth not follow that because they crucified him upon the Crosse therefore he was in them so neither doth it follow that Iesus Christ is in reprobates and apostates because they crucifie him afresh unto themselves This is enough to shew that though Apostates doe crucifie the Sonne of God to themselves yet it no way followes that Jesus Christ is in every man and in the reprobates is under bondage And for as much as it is affirmed that those Apostates there spoken of are included under an impossibility of salvation it must necessarily follow that if Nayler will suppose that Christ doth dwell in those then he must affirme that Christ doth dwell in those whose sins are unpardonable that have fin'd a sin against the holy Ghost Excep 3 There are yet these things objected to justifie this Principle Iohn 1.9 this is that true light that lightneth every man that cometh into the world Iohn 1.9 opened For the opening of this Scripture you are to know that Iohn is speaking here of the Eternall Word In the beginning was the Word all things were made by him c. so that his designe is to manifest the Divinity of Jesus Christ and the Creation of the world by him in which Creation he enlightneth every man that comes into the world He was in the world and the world was made by him these being the words immediately following that expression of enlightning every man c. It s cleare as can be that that light is that which was implanted in the soules in the first Creation Now that this light which in the first Creation was implanted in the soule and so is in every man that comes into the world is 1 Neither Christ 2. Nor a Knowledge of Christ as Mediator 3. Nor is a light sufficient to bring to Gospel salvation we shall fully cleare and so discover how miserably this Text is wrested by them Lâ—ght in all mâ—â—â—â—â— not Christ in all men 1. That that light there spoken of which is implanted in the soule in the first Creation is not Christ wiâ—l thus appeare First It s a light Created by Christ in the soule and so cannot be Christ himselfe unlesse they will blasphemously affirme Christ to create himselfe 2 For this light with which he enliâ—â—â—nâ—th the soule most either be by creation or by hypostaticall union viz. by the dwellingâ— of the Divinity of Christ in every man as he was personally in the humane nature when the Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst as which how horrid a blasphemy were it to assert and how loathsome would it be to any that knowes but the first Principles of the Gospel And here we must againe tell Iames Nayler of his wicked blasphemy in affirming that Christ as Man dwells in him which though we proved against him in the Booke he pretends to answer yet he wholly passeth that over in silence without a tittle of exception which we cannot but interpret as his confession that it is his Principle Light in all gives yet no knowledge of a Meâ—iator 2. That that light which by Christ in the creating of the world is implanted the soule is not a Knowledge of Christ as Mediator we shall thus evidence 1. First This was the light of the first covenant viz. a covenant of workes which did not aâ— all hold forth or make out a Mediator for it was that light which was given forth in the first creation in which Adam stood onely under a covenant of workes neither needed a Mediator before his fall upon which fall the first light of a Mediator broake out in a promise The Seed of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head as in Gen. 3 15â— ver 2. The knowledge of Christ as Mediator the Scripture parely holds forth as a matter of meer Revelation given forth by God in the second covenant and not implanted in the soule in its first creation Mat. 13.11 to you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdme of Heaven but to them it is not given If Christ doe enlighten every man in the Knowledge of himselfe as a Mediator how then comes this Scripture to speake so distinguishingly to you it is given to them it is not given which exception of Christ doth clearely deny the quakers universality that it s given to all To thiâ— is parallell that of Christ to Peter when by the Fathers peculiar revelation he understood Iesus to be Christ Mat. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon bar Iona for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father where he cleares Peters Knowledge of Christ as Mediator not to be from any principle of light crâ—ated or naturall Knowledge but from a peculiar revelation f om the Father and pronounceth him blessed upon the account of that distinguishing discovery How fully doth that place of Paul for ever dash any pretence to a power to know Christ as a Mediator by that naturall light which is in every man that comes into the world 1 Cor. 2.14 the naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can
justification by reason of the imputation of the obedience of him who is the Lord our righteousnesse This Reader is their great Idoll and Diana and therefore thou wilt pardon our tediousnesse and clearely see how blinde these men are as to Gospel righteousnesse Position 11. That every man in the world hath a light within him sufficient to guide him to salvation without the help of any outward light or discovery In his answer to this Position he denyes none of our proofs but addes his further profession of the same Principle in these words All the World shall witnesse against you that they have a light that lets them see when they sinne which if they did minde and obey would leade out of sinne unto Christ c. Except The maine part of his answer is by way of rayling all that he speaks to make good this Position is that Christ is the true light and that he enlightneth every man and that where he is there need no outward discovery Reply For the first that Christ is the true light is confessed on all hands but that Iesus Christ is in every man or gives a saving light to every man we utterly deny and we have plentifully proved in our answer to the fourth Position The first Text he proves it by is Iohn 1.9 He is the true light that lightneth every one We have fully opened this Text in our answer to the fourth Position and convincingly shewed it is not meant at all of any Gospel saving light where we desire the Reader to satisfie himselfe at large Io. 8.12 opened For his second Iohn 8.12 I am the light of the World he that followes me shall not walke in darkenesse This proves not that Christ doth give a saving light to the whole world no more then that Text 1 Iohn 2.2 doth prove that the whole world shall have the benefit of Christs propitiation Secondly the words immediately following might satisfie Nayler that he is thus a saving light onely to them that follow him who are Beleevers drawne by the power of the spirit of God Cant. 1.4 No man comes to me except the Father draw me Iohn 6.44.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father commeth to me So that Christ is onely the light of those that have learned of the Father and have been drawne by the Father and follow him Here is a cleare restriction of Christs being a light onely to Beleevers to them that follow him c. Io. 1.4.5 opened The third Scripture Iohn 1.4 5. the light shined in darkenesse and the darkenesse comprehended it not is cleare against him For the Phrase of the light shined in darkenesse imports onely that Jesus Christ was Preached to them Christ came amongst them and Iohn Preached him to them Ver. 29. Behold the Lambe of God c. yet they were in darkenesse for want of light they could not so much as discover him nor receive him so farre were they from knowing Christ or the world from having Christ a light in them all that they could not apprehend him when he was Preached openly to them His fourth Text is Iohn 3.19 this is the condemnation that light is come into the world is as full against Nayler as the former for it speaks this that Jesus Christ is the true light was Preached to the World and discovered to them when he had before been a mistery hid from Ages and Generations Col. 1 28. yet they would not beleeve him but loved to continue in that darkenesse or ignorance of Christ which is in all by nature Now for the third branch of his answer that where this light of Christ is there need no outward discovery We answer 1. We have abundantly proved that Jesus Christ is not in all in out answer to his reply to the fourth Position 2. We have also proved That Iesus Christ neither is in all nor doth he enlighten all by giving every man a knowledge of the Gospel this we have done at large in the same place 3. We have fully proved that all men in the world doe need an outward light or discovery and that it is the way of Christ his making knowne himselfe by outward discovery and Preaching the Gospel in the Perfect Pharisee pag. 18.19 in six arguments to which Nayler answer nothing Necessity of outward reaching further proved All that he brings for it de novo in his answer is onely his bare word without either argument or text so that we need to say no more Yet ex abundanti we shal adde First It was the wisedome of the Father to have the Gospel Preached to every creature and therefore did he send men forth to publish it Marke 16.15 Mat. 28.19.30 2. It pleased the Father to owne Preaching of the Gospel with the conversion of soules Acts 2.41 1 Cor. 1.21 I◠pleased God by the foolishnesse of Preaching to save them that beleeve 3. It pleased the Lord Iesus when he was ascended up to Heaven to give officers for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.11.12 for the edifying of the body of Christ 4. It pleased him also to establish this as an everlasting Ordinance to continue till the end of all things Mat. 28 last Ephes 4 15. He that hath any sense of the wisedome of God and submission to it will not dare to say with Nayler that every man hath a light within him sufficient without the help of any outward discovery or to charge folly in doing all this upon him whose wisedome is admired infinite and acteth nothing needlessely and in vaine But what dare not these men doe who dare lift up themselves in their blasphemous pride to be as pure as God 2 Pet. 1.19 opence vindicated There is one Scripture 2 Peter 1.19 which is not brought by Nayler by way of proofe but is most ignorantly wrested by him to this their Idoll of light within We hinted how little the man had of any knowledge of Scripture by his so blinde and pittifull abusing this Text in that former Booke Perfect Pharisee p. 19. We see he is yet as confident as he was we shall onely say that which is there called the sure Word of Prophesie 2 Peter 1.19 is that word of Prophesie which in old time holy men of God spake c v. 21. and to this he bids them take heed viz. to the Doctrine of the Prophets where Peter doth not send them to the light within them but to the Bookes and Words of the Prophets as Christ sends the Iewes to the same Scriptures Iohn 3.39 Nay the Text is so farre from hinting any light within that the Apostle tells you these words of the Prophets were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure Word then the voyce that came from Heaven ver 17. Thus the man hath still the weakenesse to produce Scripture that fully destroyes his owne Principle We shall adde no more but from these words of Naylers Where this light of Christ is
rake up a reason out of a heape of rayling this it is Those that doe uphold the Scriptures to be the tryall of Doctrines doe yet differ amongst themselves therefore the Spirits or Doctrines are not to be tryed in Scriptures Reply Quakers Popish argument This as many other of their answers is a knowne thread-bare Popish argument they say You Protestants cannot agree in your Discipline and therefore the Scriptures are not to be the judge of Doctrines but the infallible spirit of the Pope We hope God will discover them ere lonâ— to be men meerely acted by the spirit of Anti-christ but we shall give you a full answer under these two considerations Difference in non-fundamentals no prejudice to the Scriptures being judge of spirits 1. First as it reflects upon our selves We say to differ in discipline is not to worship severall gods as Nayler rayles while it is knowne we hold the head the Lord Jesus but this we looke upon as the spitting of his venome When Peter was for Circumcision and Paul was against Circumcision Gal. 2.13.14 did they worship severall gods So those Acts 15. that contested in different judgements did they worship severall gods But this man cares not what he sayes so be may throw his dirt upon us though he bewray his excessive ignorance in it before the world 2. As it fights against the Scriptures being the judge and tryall of spirits we shall shew there is no strength in this exception at all For the Scripture loseth not its authority for the tryall of spirits by reason of the darkenesse and different apprehensions of spirits How darke were the Apostles in the Prophesies of Christs Resurrection Luke 24 25. Fooles and flow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have spoken c. yet the Scriptures lost not their touchstone authority upon the account of their darkenesse though Christ saw thâ—t truth of the Resurrection in the Scriptures spoken of which they could not apprehend ought not Christ ver 26. to have sâ—ffoâ—ed these things and to enter into his glory Doth not Peter say plainely that in the writings of Paul there are 2 Pet 3.10 difficult things and hard to be understood and such as the unstable and unlearned rest and yet those Writings and Epist es doe not lose their authority because of the diversities and darkenesse of Beleevers thoughts Scripture rightly understood will clearely discover every spirit and every Doctrine though the best of men knowing but in part 1 Cor. 13.9 and so not fully taking in the genuine sense of Scripture may have through their darkenesse difference of judgement in things lesse fundamentall But we may be weary in following such triviall arguments onely we would not have the saints entrapped in any of Satans snares nor the blessed word that 's sweeter then hony and the hony combe subjected to the delusions of evill men Thus we have given thee the strength of his answer onely he addes his false glosse upon that of Isay 8.20 Isay 8.20 vindicated by us objected against them in the Perfect Pharisee the glosse is this Whereas you quote that place To the Law and to the testimony it is true the Law of the new Covenant is written in the heart by God and the testimody of Jesus is the spirit of Prophesie and if any be not guided by and speake according to these it is because they have no light in them but without them But we answer As he plainly by this overturnes all Scripture and leaves no rule but the Law written upon mens hearts which we have confuted in the Perfect Pharisee pag. 25. so it is a grosse perverting of the text and truth for it is clearely spoken of the Written Word and the very next words expresseth it clearely If they speake not according to this Word the Hebrew is full beyond exception cedabar hazzeh according to this Word so that that text is no reference that God makes to the Law written upon mens hearts but to the Law written in Tables of stone which tables were called the testimony and the Arke thereof called the Arke of the testimony Exod. 25.22 because the Tables of stone in which the Law was written called Exod. 31.18 the tables of the testimony were layd up there We have fully showne in the Booke called the Perfect Pharisee pag. 26. the sad fruits of this Doctrine of denying the Scripture to be the rule of trying doctrines and spirits that it is to open a gap to all the delusions of Satan and we instanced sin the knowne case of Iohn Gilpin who was sometimes a Quaker to which Nayler replyes onely thus It is no more then if the chiefe priests should have cited Iudas to confute Christ c. as he consulted with the priests to betray the truth so Iohn Gilpin hath done now who shall receive his reward and you priests also as Nayler sayes To which rayling we thus answer Shaking off the Sâ—ripture tâ—e â—â—ler to Satans delusions 1. That Iohn Gilpin was thus acted by the Devill is a known truth beyond questioning 2. That he did verily beleeve he was acted by Christ when yet the Devill acted him is very apparant Nay Atkinson the boy that pretends to answer that reâ—ation of Gilpin doth all along confesse that he was acted by the Devill is plaine to any that reades that his childish â—nd non-sensicall piece of rayling 3. Iohn Gilpin himselfe â—â—ee the Lord hath delivered him in mercy out of the snares of Satan hath fully confest that it was the spirit of Satan and not the Lord Iesus that then acted him 4 And that all this grew â—ut of his casting off the Scriptures searching to a light within Take his owne words pag. 15. of a Booke called The Quakers shaken It was most just with God to give me over to strong delusions to beleeve lyes c. as for other provocations sâ— especially for rejecting the revealed will of God in his Word and heaâ—kning onely to a Voyce within me nay not onely to l sten to the Devils suggestions but to embrace his Voyce for the Voyce of Christ Thou seest now Reader what reason we had to say this rejecting the Scriptures from being the tryer of Doctrines doth open an unavoydable gap to Satans delusions 2. But what reason hath the man to say in this both Iohn Gilpin and we have consulted against Christ Nay have we not been pleading for Christ against Iudas the desperate betrayen of his truth and Gospel while we have been discovering â—he subtilties of Satan in those that are acted by him and pleading for the authority of Christ in his word against all the delusions of the Devill And as we can thankefully and comfortably looke upon it that God hath engaged us in so good a work so we can looke for our reward not what Nayler we beleeve could wish us but how can he defie when God hath not defied but what Christ hath promised to them that can
comming to her house she went to meet him and when Abigail saw David she hasted and lighted off the Asse and fell before David on her face and bowed her selfe by the ground Thus you see the practice of the saints in high-way salutes 3. Nay it was not onely the custome of the saints to salute by bodily gestures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Salutes of Primitive times but by words also and words equivalent to what are used by the people of God in England in their salutations See 2 Iohn 10. where Iohn forbiddeth them to give the least countenance to the hereticall venters of false Doctrines commands them not so much as to bid them God-speed which clearely proves that that high-way salutation was a common thing in the Apostles dayes and not to be denyed to any but such wicked persons as the Apostle there speaks of in carrying on their wicked Principles If any man bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed Hence Naylers colour of taking the name of God in vaine we fully declare against peoples using that Phrase without any sense of God upon their soules Yet looke upon salutes as a command of Christ and so wish all such as doe use the name of the blessed God in their salutes either to keep a due regard of that Majesty upon their spirits when they use his glorious name or else to use some other expression Excep 2 His next cavill is against that plaine Text Mat. 5.47 If yee salute your Brethren onely what doe you more then doe others doe not even the Publicans so Where in stead of submitting to the authority of the commands of Christ He sayes thus It is no command to them to salute all but a warning to them of their partiality Reply 1. He that hath but looked upon that Text Mat. 5.46.47 but with halfe an eye will clearely see that he must as well except that Christ doth not command to love all as to say that Christ doth not command to salute all when its apparant that the very phrase and reason in both commands is the very same 2. Sure this man doth not understand himselfe when he affirmes that this is a command against partiality in saluting and yet is not a command to salute all for what is partiality in saluting but this saluting some and not saluting all What a ridiculous cavill is this even to the contradicting of himselfe 3. As to his endeavouring by this ridiculous and selfe contradicting exposition to charge us with partiality as that we salute onely those whom we love and who are rich c. we say it is a malitious slander for t is sufficiently knowne we salute strangers whose face we never saw before and the poore of the people as well as the richest of them nay the very Quakers themselves also But how doth this againe fly in their Faâ—es who for the most part carry with so much incivility to all but to people of their owne way Excep 3 3. There is a third exception which we must not passe over without serious observation it being a more then ordinary discovery of the spirit of the Quakers Where when we charge them for picking and choosing at the command of Christ such things in Scripture as doe most agree with their humors and fancies thus though they are forbid in the same place Luke 7.4 to carrie mony in their purses or to weare shooes on their feet as well as to salute any by the way yet we charge them in this because they stand upon the one command and not upon any of the rest and doe evidently bring themselves within the curse Rev. 22. Nayler thus replyes to it pag. 21. l. 4. c What we doe is not from the command that was to others ☞ but from command of the same power by which we are sent forth and if we were commanded to forbeare wearing shooes as well as we are commanded to forbeare your Heathenish customes c. we should be made willing to obey as some have done who have been commanded to goe naked c. Reply Now thou mayst see the mystery of iniquity that lyes in the Quakers layd open we can blesse the Lord that hath made them thus unvayle themselves and discover the rottennesse of their hearts as to the authority of the Scriptures which they have so long by their jugling endeavoured to conceale For here thou wiâ—t clearely see that the Quakers looke upon the commands of Christ in Scripture as having no soveraigne or binding authority over their consciences and practises further then agrees with their owne Principles and fancies For what means that expression What we doe is not from the command that was to others This without controversie is utterly to shake off the authority of the the Word For 1. Was not the whole Word written to others Did any now alive live in those dayes when the Prophets or Apostles writ their severall Bookes Were we of the Church of Corinth or Philippi Were we of the seven Churches of Asia or did we live in these dayes Alas there is no command in Scripture but was given to others long before the dayes of our Fathers and shall no command given to others be binding to us Let them Reade these convincing Texts Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were Written before time were Written for our learning where Paul makes the Books of the Old Testament binding to those who were not alive when they were Written for the Romans to whom he then Wrote were borne many hundred yeares after the writing of those Scriptures 1 Cor. 10 11. All these things happened unto them for examples and they were Written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture to whomsoever Written or to what man soever the command was given before time yet all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine reproofe correction instruction in righteousnesse So the 2 Peter 1.19 speaking of the Scriptures that sure Word of Prophesie sayes they doe well to take heed to them as to a light in a darke place though they were Prophesies and commandâ— given forth to other persons many hundred yeares before Thus you see that commands in Scripture that were given forth to others are yet of universall concernment unto all to those that lived not in those dayes even such upon whom the ends of the world are come For that other expression of Naylers If we were commanded to forbeare to weare shooes c. what a wretched casting off is this of the yoke of Christ and a desperate picking and choosing in his commands onely what is agreeing to their owne fancies Iâ— not this to breake his bonds asunder and cast his cords from them Psal 2.3 If we were commanded Is not the revealed will of Christ a command Is one part of the same verse a command see Luke 10.4 and not the other part Is
nakednesse The next exception is against our objecting Perf. Phar. p. 48. Christopher Atkinson his immodest familiarity with a woman of that way c. where Atkinson challengeth the proofe of it we shall onely say that that immodest familiarity if he will needs force us from our modest covering of that carriage to speak out it was his familiar Kissing of her as we are fully informed by the testimony of M. Walker and M. Wallas and we cannot but account it as a sinfull behaviour But to weaken the strength of this testimony Atkinson tells the Reader that M. Wallace said It was no murther in him to murther Christopher Atkinson and the rest of the prisoners at Kendale Truely we are afraid this whole generation of men are in a confederacy of lying we have purposely sent to finde out the truth of this foule challenge and shall give thee his clearing of himselfe word for word as we received it M. Wallace his vindication from Atkinsons lye HAving received a Paper from the Quakers that were prisoners containing horrible blasphemies viz. That they were the searchers of hearts and saying Let them be accursed from God for ever that will have Christ have any other Body but his Church I spoke these words and no more in the hearing of many viz. That I thought it was no murder in the civill Magistrate to put such blasphemers as they were to death it being according to the Law of God Reade Lev 24.10.16 Deut. 13. the vvhole chapter But that I ever said It was no murder in me to murder them or to put them to death I declare it to be a manifest lye Kendale Ian. 14. 1653. Iohn Wallace We whose names are subscribed did heare when M. Wallace spoke these words above written namely these which are inclosed within the parenthesis but no more Thomas Barket Miles Harrison Now let the Reader judge of what spirit these men are and as for the rayling which Atkinson powres out by reason of this testimony like a floud upon W. C. we his Brethren sâ—y we hope he hath learned that of Christ 2 Pet. 2.23 who when he was reviled reviled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committed himselfe to him that judgeth righteously There is but one thing remains And that is the account we gave why we called our Booke the Perfect Pharisce which thou mayst reade in pages 49. 50. 51. and so conclude We therein prove from Scripture that that Title was most truely and properly applicable to them to which Nayler answers so exceeding weakely and raylingly that we are resolved not to reply one word thereto as having said enough before to that purpose to discover how weakely he struggles to evade the clearenesse of these Scriptures against himselfe and that way Reader thou wilt by this time see the falsenesse of what Nayler speaks in his word of conclusion to us five as if we had uttered many untruths and false reports taken up by heare say without any ground at all and divers things out of Books which we have on purpose wrested to slander with c. Thou wilt in this reply see the fullest evidence we thinke that can be given as to such cases and all these particulars that he excepts against made the more apparant unto all We professe before the Lord that it 〈◊〉 nothing we have against their persons that should any way leade us to wrest any of their writings to make them odious it is our onely zeale for the truth and Saints of the high God that hath carried out our spirits thus to expose our selves to the revilings of all this generation if by any meanes we might be serviceable to the Gospel and save our selves and them that heare us Thou wilt finde in the close of Naylers Booke two leaves put forth in the name of one who sayes his name in the Flesh is Iohn Andland t is such a perfect piece of bitternesse and rayling and no way in answer to our Booke that we leave it for waste Paper Thus having been carried on by the Everlasting Arme and drawne out by the cords of Love to our deare Lord Iesus his Ordinances and his Saints to beare witnesse to the true grace of God wherein we stand we shall sit downe in comfort and fly to him who is a refuge from the storme and a shadow from the beat when the blaâ—â—â—â— the terrible ones shall be as the storme against the Wall FINIS
A Further DISCOVERY of that Generation of men called QVAKERS By way of Reply to an Answer of James Nayler to the Perfect Pharisee Wherein is more fully layd open their Blasphemies notorious Equivocations Lyings wrestings of the Scripture Raylings and other detestable Principles and Practises And the Booke called The Perfect Pharisee is convincingly cleared from James Naylers false Aspersions with many difficult Scriptures by him wrested opened Published for the building up of the perseverance of the Saints till they come to the end of their Faith even the salvation of their soules Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rocke I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Rev. 2.23 Vnto you I say and unto as many as have not this Doctrine and which have not knowne the depths of Satan as they speake I will put upon you none other burden But that which you have already hold fast till I come Gateside Printed by S. B. 1654. Christian Reader Sâ—nce our Publishing of the Perfect Pharisee as we finde we blesse God it hath been prosperous to the no small satisfaction and establishing of his people who with an humble and sober spirit have been willing to try the spirits whether they be of God So we see it hath provoked the spirits of those Quakers to more obstinacy bitternesse and rayling As in the powring out of the fourth Vioâ— Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the Name of God and repented not to give him glory Now though truely we must professe with Reverend Mr. Eaton Writing concerning the same people in his Epistle to his Booke called The Quakers confuted That we cannot apprehend that there is any hope of convincing these persons of the error of their way so farre are they under the very power of the spirit of delusion and professed enmity to the Ordinances of Christ Jesus our Lord Yet for the further securing and fuller satisfying of the people of God we are induced to Answer this Reply of Iames Nayler for the clearer manifesting of the wickednesse and folly of these men and their Principles And though it cost us new revilings and more bitter cursings from this People which we fully expect Yet what are we and our Names though troddon under foot so Iesus Christ may have the glory and his people the advantage of our standing for the truth But that thou mayest know the nature of their Answer thus it is We charge them to hold seventeen Blasphemous and Hereticall Doctrines besides their other principles and practises in our Booke expressed and what he sayes to them we have given thee a short account in the Draught subjoyned to our Epistle Wherein thou wilt easily see with what full proofe we have testified those things concerning them though the tongues of these 〈◊〉 accustomed to nothing more then to rayle doe so confidently charge lyes upon us But we are sure and confident in the Lord that we have spoken that of them which will if not already as it doth to all impartiall Readers fully undeniably and convincingly appeare to be truth if thou reade the clearenesse of the evidence of this ensuing Treatise Reader If thou hast Read our former Booke thou wilt finde our Arguments and assertions against the blasphemous Doctrines of these men fully strengthened by plentifull variety of evident plaine convincing Scriptures to which thou wilt finde Iames Nayler in his Reply answering not one word Certainly the demonstration of the spirit of God either hath convincingly silenced him and stopp'd his mouth for how ready is he to catch at any trifling appearance of advantage or what canst thou or any man imagine of him but that Scripture is nothing to him nor his soule under any obedience unto or conscience of the truth of God either of which What a miserable and deplorable state of soule doth it speake when men can stand out in their blaspemies against the light of Conscience It shall be our worke in this ensuing Treatise in following Iames Nayler in his Reply to answer all such Scriptures as he impertinently and injuriously wrests and to cleare the truths of God from their being misapplyed to his horrid Principles By which and other occasionall passages in this Booke thou wilt find a more full and plaine manifestation of these men and discovery of the mystery of iniquity working in them Consider what thou Readest and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Tho. Weld Rich. Prideaux Sam. Hammond Will. Cole Will. Durant A short Draught of James Naylers Answer to the Booke called The Perfect Pharisee Quakers Positions 1. EQuality with God This we proved by six Evidences He denyes but two of them which yet we shall prove under the hand of witnesses and his very Answers doe amount to an asserting of it 2. No distinction of Persons in the God-head This is denyed by them but we shall by further testimony cleare it to be theirs 3. That the soule is a part of the Divine Essence This he excepteth not against nor takes any notice of our Arguments but is full of bitter Rayling 4. That Christ is in every man and in the Reprobates held under corruption This is confessed clearely though seemingly denyed onely one expression is shuffled which is yet proved by testimony under hand 5. That Christ was but a Figure and Example This is denyed by him and miserably shuffled yet we evidently prove it even by their owne Bookes and other testimony 6. That men are not justified by that Righteousnesse which Christ in his owne Person fulfilled without us This is not denyed though so wicked a Doctrine but a new asserted and no tittle of an answer to our Arguments 7. That men are justified by that Righteousnesse which Christ within them enables to performe This we proved by six evident testimonies two of which Nayler onely shuffles in but we shall cleare them and answers nothing to plaine â—cripture against them 8. That God and Man cannot be wholly reconciled till he be brought to the state of the first Adam and able in hâ—â— oâ—ne power to stand perfect This he denyes but we prove from his owne words it clearely is and must be his â—eaning 9. He that commits sin and is not perfectly holy can never enter into the Kingdome of Heaven unlesse there be a Purgatory This he denyes to be so in his Booke and rayleth as if we charged a lye upon him but we shall further cleare it though in his owne answer he partly confesseth it 10. No reall Saint but he that is perfectly holy c. This he confesseth and answers onely by rayling but takes no notice of the Scriptures against that Principle 11. Every man hath a light within him sufficient to guide him to salvation without the help of outward light He confesseth all but answers nothing 12. No need of outward teaching c. He denyes one testimony of ten which yet is true but confesseth the Doctrine and falls a rayling 13.
denied truely he could not in so few words have spoken more untruely to prepossesse the Reader but we beg the Reader as to that to suspend his judgement till he have fully read the ensuing Discourse wherein whether any thing have been charged on them that is false and whether Nayler have done faithfully in owning what is truth will appeare at large In the Preface of James Nayler to his answer he tells you The Man of sin and his â—orkings in the last times Revealed That Christ now appearing in his Saints to discover the man of sinne with all his deceits and deceiveable workings now all the powers of darkenesse are gathered against him Gog and Magog As for those deceits and deceiveable workings truely these blasphemous Doctrines of these men with their Diabolicall delusions and quakings will make it appeare where the man of sin is now working To open this we shall stay the Reader a little Agreement betwixt Papists and Quakers 1. It is as claere as the noone day 2 Thes 2. chapter Rev. 12.3 Rev. 13. Rev. 17.4.5.9.10 that the Papall Apostacy and state is The Antichrist so often Prophesied of in Scripture Now it is as plainâ— that the very distinguishing Doctrines and practises of these men are such as are the maine principles of that man of sinne in opposition to Jesus Christ Papist Bell. l. 2. de justif cap. 7. 1. The Papists deny the imputed righteousnesse of Christ for justification and in scorne and derision call it A putative Righteousnesse Quak. These also from the same spirit deny the imputed Righteousnesse of Christ for justification And Nayler himselfe before the whole Court at Appleby discoursing with W. C. about justification by righteousnesse of Christ imputed not onely denyed it but in a sleighting way ended his discourse thereabout with this language That which is without is without So George Fox affirmed That he that is borne of God is justified by Christ alone without imputation Sauls Errand pag. 12. Papist Bell. l. 2. de justif cap. 3. 2. The Papists in their controversies with us doe positively affirme that justification is by inherent Righteousnesse Hence Bellermine Stapleton c. with the rest doe positively affirme that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is onely justum facere per inherentem justitiam that to justifie is onely to make righteous by inherent righteousnesse Quak. So these men doe as confidently affirme that they are onely justified by inherent righteousnesse or that righteousnesse within which Christ within them enableth them to performe See our proofe Perfect Pharisee pag. 10. Papist Bell. de juâ—tif l. 4. c. 11. 12. 13. 14 3. The Papists againe doe confidently conclude that a man may perfectly keep the whole Law Hence their neglect of the righteousnesse of Christ their workes of supererogation and the like Quak So the Quakers their great assertion as a challenge to all is that eâ—ery Saint is perfect that it is pâ—ssible to be perfectly holy and without sinne Perfect obedience to the Law of God is their great Principle which they confidently cry up more then any Papist Bell. l. 3. de verbo Dei c 4. 4. The Papists affirme that the Scriptures or the Written Word of God are not the supreame Iudge of sp rits Quak So these people that the spirits are not to be câ—yed by Scripture So A. P. in the Booke he but forth called Severall Papers p 19. The Woâ—lds touchstone is without them and they try the spirit by the letter c. but the Saints touchstone is within So that though they agree not what shall be yet both of them consent in denying the Scripture to be the judge of spirits Papist 5 The Papists call the Scripture aâ—â— ad letter a nose of wax a scâ—bbard without a sword Coâ—erus in Euchir pag. 44 Pighius lib. 1. cap. 4. So Melchior Canus sayes It is most certaine the Written Word is onely for Babes and is no way necessary for those that are growâ—e as is more fu l Melchior Canus defens each fid contra confess Worâ—berg cap. 36. Quak. So these men also not onely câ—y downe the necessity of the written word see the perfect Pharisee pag. 20. but also call it a dead letter a carnall letter that they are but a declaration of them that spake it So Melchior Canus againe saith the Gospel is not the Scripture as Farnworth in his Booke Discovery of Faith scoffes at our saying the foure Bookes of Matthew Marke Luke and John are the Gospel pag. 1â— Papist 6. The great argument by which the Papists doe goe about to establish the truth of their way is Immediate revelations and pretended miracles the want of which they upbrayd the Protestant Ministers and charge us to be no Church Quak So the Quakers doe in their pretence to an immediate call and their supposed miracle of quaking So A. P. the Word of the Lord came to me saying So Audland the Word of the Lord came to me but of that more hereafter Papist 7. The Papists doe place much of their holinesse in their Eastings beggerly apparell and forsaking the World as they call it as their lâ—â—ing mewed up in convents and cloysters their wandring up and downe as Hermits and begging Fryers c. Quak. So these men is knowne to place abundance of their holinesse in Fasting beggarly apparell wandring up and downe the World c. we might adde much more but here you may see how the man of sinne in these men in their compliance with the principles and practises of the Romish way breaks out in his deceit and deceiveâ—ble workings 2. He is a stâ—anger in the Booke of God as to the discovery of Antichrist The spirit of errour the spirit of Anti-Christ who doth not observe the spirit of God mightily unvailing Antichrist by the revealing of the spirit of errour in him for 1 Iohn 2.18 there it plainly appeares that horrid errors are of that affinity with the Antichrist that when he would describe that man of sinne in the last time he calls the Heretiques by that very name Now are there many Antichrists whereby we know it is the last time c. Now besides those which we have named the Reader will easily observe such a masse and heape of Arminian Socinian Familisticall errors in their Doctrines layd downe in the Perfect Pharisee that he may câ—earely observe where the spirit of Antichrist works in all deceiveablenesse in this last time 3. Lastly It is the Saints bulwarke against the Papists while they call for our miracles that the spirit of God clearely holds forth that the comming of the man of sinne is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2 Thes 2.9 So Rev. 16.13 the three uncleane spirits ver 14. are the spirits of Devils working miracles to gather together c. Now this further evidenceth the spirit of the man of sinne
he know them for they are discerned spiritually There the Apostle gives the reason why no light implanted in our natures in the creation can discerne the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned where he makes an opposition betwixt naturall and spirituall light and puts an impossibility upon discovering Christ by the light of Nature We may adde that ver 9.10 Eye hath not seene Eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive c. but God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit 3. That that light which by Christ in the creating of the world is implanted in the soule is not a knowledge of Christ as a Mediator will appeare by undenyable examples for there are multitudes of men and women without contradiction never knew the Lord Iesus as a Mediator though it must be confessed they had a rationall or naturall light Those thousands of Saints that went over into new England fully experienced it that there is not the least hint of a Christ implanted in those Indians one of us having often conversed amongst them can also fully witnesse it as is more fully also evident by the confessions of many of them in Print who have been converted by the Ministry of Mr. Eliot of which we spake in the Perfect Pharisee pag. 19. But may not these Scriptures fully confound these mens pervertings of that Scripture Reade Psal 143.19 He shewd his Word unto Iacob his statutes and judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any people and as for his judgements they have not knowne them Psal 79.6 Powre out thy wrath vpon the Heathen that have not knowne thee Col. 1.26 the disponsation of God is given to fulfill the Word of God even that mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations But let Paul determine the contrary to whose judgement we shall desire to stand 2 Thes 3.2 All men have not Faith Light in all not sufficient to save 3. That this light which by Christ in creating of the world is implanted in man is not sufficient to bring to a Gospel salvation is also plaine from what we have convincingly proved that this naturall light may be in thousands that never knew the Lord Iesus as a Mediator and Iohn 17.3 this is life eternall to know thee the very God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent So that there is an utter insufficiency and incapacity in this light to bring to salvation So that though A. P. hath lately expressed his abhorring the distinction betwixt naturall and spirituall light yet our Lord Iesus and the Apostles are so full in it that they are of more authority with us then the novell opinion of A. P. Thus you see this Scripture fully vindicated from their wrestings for hence it is apparent that though Iesus Christ by whom the Father made the world Heb. 1.2 in his creation of man did enlighten and create a principle of light and naturall reason and understanding in the soule which we have proved is eminently there understood yet this proves nothing for the Quakers that either therefore every man that hath a reasonable soule Christ dwells in him or that he knowes Christ or that his naturall light can possibly suffice to bring to Gospel salvation Excep 4 Naylers next defence is this ridiculous argument If Christ be not in the most vile in the world c how shall he judge every one according to their thoughts as well as according to what they doe must he proceed as carnall Iudges doe by proofe or confession and no further Reply We need say no more to shew the simplicity of this argument then to aske them these questions Doth the Scripture say that Christ is in the Devills and yet he sees and knowes and judgeth them Or doth the Scripture say that the damned in Hell Christ is in them Nay but doth not Scripture speake in this language Christ in you the hope of glory Col 1 27. so that Scripture speaking of Christ in you speaks of him as being the hope of glory where he dwells And is Christ in Devils and damned soules the hope of glory For geâ—â—â—er the Quakers nor we are in this controversie at all disposinâ— concerning the abiquity of the Divine Nature by reason of which he is above all and through all and 〈◊〉 all But of Christ in us in that sense the Gospel useth the expression viz. as a saving light and principle the hope of glory 2. How ridiculous is it from Christs knowing all things to inferre that he dwells in all can he not know things unlesse he dwell in them Doth he not know the inward motions of Brutes Horses Fishes c. and is it Scripture Language from thence to inferre his dwelling in them Oh! the vainenesse and frothinesse of such a spirit and how are these men given up to blasphemy We shall conclude with that of David Psal 11.4 The Lord is in his holy temple the Lords throne is in Heaven his eyes behold his eye-lids try the children of men He hath another argument that Christ dwells in the Saints which we know in its Gospel sense but not in Naylers that Christ as man dwells in them but how absurdly and un-scripturally doth this conclusion follow therefore Christ doth dwell in all Thus you see our proofes fully confirmed his lyes confuted his perverted Scriptures cleared and answered and the folly of his arguments fully opened though he hath not answered one of our arguments and many Scriptures against that Doctrine Position 5. That Christ in the Flesh with all he did and suffered therein was but a Figure and nothing but an Example Excep 1 O deceitfull spirits c. are those words expressely found in Sauls Errand to Damascus as you say they are let that Booke be witnesse against you and your lying slanders to all that reade it Reply Surely this man pretends neither to conscience nor modesty that doth challenge us here for a lye for saying that Doctrine was expressely found in Sauls Errand He that shalâ— but looke upon that Booke pag. 2. pag 8. pag. 14. shall begin to know the impudence of Iames Nayler pag. 2. 9. line last in the schedule annaxed to the Lancashire Petition to the Councell of State you have this charge Richard Hubbethorn wrote that Christs comming in the Flesh was but a Figure Now are we lyars in affirming those words are expressely found there Nay further in pag. 8. where Hubbethorne answers to that charge we will give you his owne words Christ in his people is the substance of all figures types and shadowes fulfilling them in them but as he is held forth in the Scripture-letter without them and in the flesh without them he is their example or figure which is both one that the same things might be fulfilled in them that was in Christ Iesus Could a man have spoken more plainely to affirme what we asserted of him And doe we adde our
Papists and quâ—keâ—s about justification This is the old thread bare shâ—fâ—lle of the Papists when they are prest by the Protestants and their justification by workes or inherent holinesse is confuted by Scripture they constantly answer as Nayler doth they deny their being justified by their owne workes which flow from a Princip e oâ— their owne power but say that the workes by which they are justified are such as flow from grace or the workings of God within their soules They say that by the first Bell. de justif l. 1. c. 19 ne hominem justificare pâ—sse men cannot be justified but per opera qua ex fide Christi gratiâ fluunt homines justificari by the workes which flow from Christ All this while both Papists and Quakers allâ—â—â— justification by inherent holinesse not by the righteousnesse of Christ imputed onely they pretend it is not by their owne power The full confutation of which Popâ—sh and Anti-christian Doctrine we have layd downe in the Perfect Pharisee at large pag. 11. and to which Nayler according to his wonted presumptuous confidence answers nothing Position 8. That God and man cannot be wholly reconciled till he brought into the state of the first Adam and able in his owne power to stand perfect Excep 1 Nayler first excepts against this assertion that the Booke shall witnesse against us and sayes mans being able to stand in his owne power was never spoken by him nor thought by him and sayes that though the word be twice repeated to stand in Gods power yet they are not ashamed to wrest it to their owne power c. Reply 1 1. To this we answer that the Booke which he saith shall witnesse against us hath not so much as once the words to stand in Gods power though Nayler say those words are twice repeated for the quaere is in these words Whether God created Man and Woman perfect without sinne and able in his power to have stood if they had not forsaken his power and consented to the wisedome of the Serpent The nature of the power of the first Adam considered 2. From these words We considering the nature of the state of the fi st Adam to which Nayler sayes man must be brought before he be reconciled could not but gather that standing in mens owne power must be the sense of those words Our reason is plaine For That power which Adam had to stand in his state of perfection was given to him as the Prodigals portion into his owne hand but the power that the Saints now are to stand by is a power in the hand of the Lord Iesus given to him as a feoffee in trust for in this lyes the difference of the power in the sons of men in the first and second Adam our standing in the second Adam being by a power and support in the hands and dispose of the Lord Iesus by reason of which it is alone that none can plucke us out of the Fathers hands Ioh. 10. And the standing of the first Adam being by that portion of power which was intrusted in his owne hands without any promise of assistance or perseverance from God So that it is apparent that when Nayler saies Man must be brought into the state of the first Adam before he be reconciled he must meane he must be able to stand in his owne power without any engagement of support from God for thaâ— was undeniably the state of Adams power Let Nayler shew us a tittle out of Scripture where Adam had any thing of promise or assistance for his standing more then the power he had in his own hands which was his owne power 3. If yet Nayler will shuffle that this is not one of the Doctrines of the Quakers we shall further convincingly cleare it from the very words of George Fox in a Booke entituled To all that would know the way to the Kingdome pag. 10. he profanely and like a perfect Atheist scoffes at the grace of God saying thus And to you that tempt God and say Lord give us a sight of our sins c. this light within you lets you see it so you need not tempt God to give you a sight of your sins Foxes horrible â—eering at the graâ—e of God for ye know enough c. and give over tempting of God to give you a sight of your sins And to all yee that say God give us grace and we shall refraine from our sins there yee have got a tempting customary word for the free grace of God hath appeared unto all men c. Hence thou seest Fox most wretchedly asserting these two things 1. That to pray for sight of sinne and for power from sinne is a tempting of God 2. That to pray for light and power for the discovery of sinne and refraining from it are needlesse for so he saith yee need not tempt God to give you a sight of sinne and cease from saying God give us grace for the grace of God hath appeared to all men so that he plainely affirmes that all men have both a light and power also that they need not be beholding to God to give them nor to aske them of him for he addes the reason Why you need not aske it of God for you have a light within you and you know enough c. Begging of lâ—ght and power the Saints duty What a wretched Principle is this and how câ—â—trary to plaine Scripture If any man lack Wisedome let him askâ— it of God Iames 1.5 where the Apostle bids the poore creature to beg wisedome of God though Fox scoffe at it Open thaâ— my eyes that I may see Psal 119.18 Give me understanding 〈◊〉 34.31.32 Surely it is meet to be sâ—â—d unto God that which I see not teach thou me 1 Peter 5.10 where Peter prayer the God of all grace mâ—ke you pe fect stabâ— sh strengthen settle 〈◊〉 Ephes 3 14.16 for this cause I bow my kâ—eâ—s 〈◊〉 the Fathe◠〈◊〉 our Lord Iesus that he would grant you to be strengthned 〈◊〉 might by his spirit Every good and every perfect gif◠〈◊〉 downe from above from the Father of lights Iames 1. â—er 17 Now here you may see the practice of the Sain s and the wickednesse of Foxes profane jeering at the grace of God with sending men to theiâ— owne light and power in oppositiâ—â— to the grace of God and how all the lyes that Nayler chargeth on us while he denyes this Position doe fully fall upâ—â— his owne head while it is as confidenâ—ly affeâ—ted by the gâ—◠〈◊〉 Master of this Babylonish mystery The second exception is this You that say that Adam 〈◊〉 the state of innocency was under a covenant of workes make it appearâ— to all that know Adams state that you never knew it for the Law wherein is the covenant of workes was added after c. Reply Adam in innocence under a covenant of vvorkes What we have said at large about Adams being
there needs no outward discovery wish the Reader to observe That it is not onely the Publishing of the Gospel by the Ministry that Nayler cryes downe in this as uselesse but also the very Scriptures the written word it selfe being an outward discovery must by the same reason be asserted needlesse Here is the Religion of these men that pretend so much to perfection and yet will not heare God in his Word Position 12. That there is no need of any outward teaching by Reading or Hearing the Scriptures opened or applyed c. The Reader by his answer may observe there is nothing said against our many proofes onely one shuffle about the expressions of Iohn Audland who we said affirmed No need of outward teaching which Nayler sayes is false for the words were He needed no man to teach him What a shufflle is this or doth this deny what we say doth he not say no need of outward teaching to himselfe But Nayler hath this but by report and the words were spoken in our hearing Nayler also we observed in the last Position asserts the same fully in these words Where this light of Christ is there needs no outward light or discovery c. the rest of his answer is the grossest heape of rayling and lying as we have seen His rayling will appeare to all that reades it and his lying is as full For he saith These promises you give to them that are in the first birth sow pillowes under every arme-hole you Preach them up all Beleevers except some that refuse to give you hire and them you prepare warre against you say men must commit sinne while they live c. who knowes not that knoweth us the falsenesse of these lyes which he speakes out so freely as if they were as true as could be But as their wickednesse is fully knowne so the Lord will in due time discover what shall be given to a false tongue Except There is onely produced by him these Scriptures Ier. 31.31.32.33 Heb. 8 10.11 they are both the same They shall teach no more every man his neighbour or saying Know the Lord c. Reply 1 We answer That this promise doth only concerne the children of God as Nayler himselfe confesseth also it concernes them onely That great promise in Jer. 31.31 opened at large 1. The children of God onely are in everlasting covenant in the new covenant 2. They that shall be thus taught are such as have their sinnes pardoned Will Nayler say that every man hath his sinne pardoned he may as well affirme that all have their sins pardoned as affirme that this promise belongs to all So that as in the point of pardon all flesh must signifie not every man so it must be restrained also in the point of teaching to those all that are the people of God and are interessed in the mercy of this everlasting covenant 2. Though these people of God be thus taught of God yet this excludes not the use of outward â—eaching Reader besides the evidences of this we gave thee in foure arguments under our reply to his answer to the eleventh Position If thou wouldst take the paines to reade what we have Written in the Perfect Pharisee pag 21. 22. in which we have convinced the needlesnesse of outward teaching even to the best of Saints by plentifull arguments and above thirty undenyable plaine evident Scriptures thou wilt be fully satisfied and therefore we shall not trouble thee to repeate what we have said onely in a few words to open the meaning of the expression we shall adde 1. Know this promise was made good when the Saints were under outward teachings when the Apostles preached when Elders were set over the Churches when Faith came by hearing Rom. 10. For in those times the spirit was abundantly powred forth yea then was the time when their Sons and Daughters Prophesied so that it is a promise consisting with outward reaching 2. With how much willingnesse did the Saints when enjoying this promise attend the Apostle Doctrine Acts 2.42 3. Why doth the Apostle write to the Hebrewes to teach them if that were the meaning that no man should teach his neighbour 4. Nay doth he not say Heb. 5.12 Yeâ— have need that one teach you againe which be the first Principles of the Oraecles of God 5. Paul blames them for their forsaking their Church-assemblies Heb. 10.25 Yea 6. Commandâ— these Hebrews Remember them that have the rule over you wâ—eâ— have spoken to you the Word of God Heb. 13.7 And 7. Iud. ver 3. It was needfull for me to Write unto you and exhort you 8. Paul speaking of himselfe as to his Ministry sayes Phil. 1.24 to continue in the flesh is more needfull for you and what was it for but as to their instruction So that it plainely appeares this is not spoken to exclude outward Preachings but are to shew the abundance of spirituall Knowledge and light in Gospel-times comparatively with the dispensation the Iewes were under before the comming of the Lord Iesus But we have abundantly proved the sense is not cannot be to take away the needfulnesse of outward teaching VVarrant for division of Scripture into chapter and verse To excuse George Fox his jugling in a Concordance he fall to abuse the division of Scriptures into Chapters and Verses It seems he hath a minde to cast all the dirt he can upon any outward light though it be the Scriptures and though for nothing but this and he saith the Hireling Priests have done it to trade withall thus doth he ignorantly rayle though the Old Testament was so divided and distinguished long before the comming of Christ by the Masorites into chapter and verse about two hundred yeares before the comming of our Saviou and the most Learned say that they were that Ecclesiasticall Senate held by Ezra Haggai Zachariah and Malachy with divers others who amongst others their eminent services distinguished the Scriptures into sections and verses And as we finde none of the Apostles nor Christ himselfe disalowing that division so the Saints of God in our dayes have â—ound pretious advantage by thus methodizing Scripture though this man revile it under the name of the worke of Hirelings How he shuâ—fles in the rest about the Apostles Preaching and ordaining Eâ—ders will infoâ—â—e thee fully how the man was puzzled in that businesse and his last expressions of saying we tell men they must commit sinne will informe thee of his maliciousnesse He would insinuate to the Reader as if we pressed men to sinne We have said so much of this that we shall adde no more having fully cleared our pressing to all yea to the best to strive after grea er degrees of holinesse dayly and that they must struggle after that perfection which yet they doe not enjoy but we see the man is vexed and so we leave him to calme his spirits We have been very full also as to proâ—e the necessity of teaching to which thou
nothing a command till they judge it so How loose doe they hang in obedience to the Lord Jesus they will obey and not obey as they shall see cause Prayses be to our God that we have discovered them Now we understand the reason why Nayler answered none of our Scriptures we perceive he looked upon them as nothing to him and now we clearely see the meaning of their sâ—ufflingâ— about the Word of God and their scornefull expressions about the written Word c. So that we can boldly charge them from this place with this horrid blasphemy that the Quakers doe affirme ☜ That the Scriptures have no authority over their consciences at all nor any command in Scripture that was given to others that binds them save what command they have an impulse upon their owne spirits for This is the great strong hold of Satan and the snare with which he entraps them as he will From this Principle of theirs he goes about to prove the law fulnesse of people going naked and reviles us for speaking against it and sayes they doe it by particular command from God Reader thou mayst observe That Nayler denyes not what we wrote about their going naked in Perfect Pharisee pag. 48. the Wife of Edmund Adlington of Kendale going naked though the streets Nov. 21. 1653. We shall adde more because some that have lesse acquaintance with these people may seeme to make question of it On Munday October 28. 1653. there was one Thomas Holme of Kendale went as naked as he was borne through the Market place at Kirby Stephen on the market day at his turning he said Mark that It is not I but God that goeth naked c. and so after a time he went to his clothes which were kept in a Barne by foure men of his Sect. And to shew that this is a fact they justifie and pleade for in stead of mourning for the horrible sin of it Mr. Taylour a great ring-leader of that people came to that Towne the weeke after to seeke Mr. Higginson Minister of that place as he said having a Message to him from the Lord and being there in the Market place he very solemnely pronounced a woe against it for rejecting that Prophet of the Lord which he had sent to doe signes and wonders in it meaning as those that heard him did conceive that beast that went starke naked through the Towne a little before This we have from Mr. Higginson under his owne hand Thomas Castly January 10. 1653. went shamelessely naked as he was borne through the streets at Kendale Edmund Nubyes Wife went through Kendale naked except that she had a shift on and about the latter end of December last she came into the place of meeting of the Church at Kendale in the same posture Another of this Sect came in the same posture into Hutton Chappell at the time of exercise about the beginning of January Elizabeth Levens and Miles Newby went up the streets at Kendale in the same posture This we have attested from Mr. Walker a godly Minister at Kendale under his hand by Letters bearing date Ianuary 31. 1653. But were it needfull to prove it we could by sending into places where these converse fill thee with undeniable evidence hereof but its needlesse because Nayler denyeth it not but labours to justifie them in this sinfull practice As to the manifesting of the wickednesse hereof we shall give thee these considerations 1. No sooner had Adam and Eve fallen and were stripped of their Innocency but they saw themselves shamefully naked Gen 3.10 But God who knowes the working of corruption in the hearts of men after the fall he himselfe cloathed them lost their nakednesse should appeare ver 21. Vnto Adam also and to his Wife did the Lord God make Coats of Skins and cloathed them And doth not this manifest the will of God against going naked would he have cloathed them if he would have had them continue in that nakednesse 2 But that you may yet see further how odious being naked before others is in the sight of God the sad curse that Noah from the mouth of God layd upon Ham the Father of Canaan for not covering his Fathers nakednesse will appeare Gen. 9 22.23.24 c. Ham the Father of Canaan saw the Nakednesse of his Father and told his two Brethren without and Shem and Japhet tooke a garment and layd it upon both their shoulders and went backward and covered the nakednesse of their Fathers and their Faces were backeward and they saw not their Fathers nakednesse And Noah aweke from his Wine and knew what his younger Sonne had done to him and said Cursed be Canaan c. and he said Blessed be the God of Shem anh Canaan shall be his servant c. God shall enlarge Japheth and Canaan shall be his servant c. Where you see Ham is bitterly cursed and the curse entailed to all his Posteri y for that sinne of not covering his Fathers nakednesse And what then shall we thinke of such an expression as Mary Collison a Quaker in Kendale used to these that covered the nakednesse of the Wife of Edmund Adlington in the street at Kendale That they had hindered the worke of the Lord Oh! let them remember the curse of Ham and the blessing of Shem and Iapheth here expressed 3. The Apostle arguing to the care that one Saint ought to have over another doth it by a comparison of them with the body naturall and tells you 1 Cor. 12.23.24 those members of the body which we judge to be losse honourable upon these we bestow more abundant honour and our uncomely parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Rom. 1.27 pudenda indecora membra instrumenta excretioni generationi destinata have more abundant comelinesse for our comely parts viz. Face Hands c. have no need marke that the uncomely parts needed yea they are such parts that as the Apostle phraseth it they lacked more abundant honour viz. lest their nakednesse and shame should appeare 4. In the 2. Sam. 10 4. When Hanâ—n the King of Amon had cut off the garments of Davids servants in the middle even to their buttockes c. and sent them away the men were greatly ashamed ver 5. and David in the sense of this Wicked act made warre against the men of Ammon and destroyed them so sensible was David of the wickednesse of this act of discovering the â—ckednesse of his servants 5. 1 Tim. 2.9 The Apostle wills that Women adorne themselves in modest Apparell with shamefastnesse and sobriety And we leave it to the Reader to consider whether either going naked or having nothing but their shift on be any wayes according to the modesty bashfulnesse and sobriety by the Apostle commanded in that place 6. To adde no more we shall conclude with laying before thee the wickednesse of this practice besides that impudence and immodesty even such as nature and ingenuity it selfe obhorres this
punish sin who shall make Laws who shall preserve the Peace shall Government when it is in no bodies hands But let him leave his wild notion and look upon 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selvâ—s to c. whether the King as Supreame or unto Governors as unto them that are sent by him And Rom. 13.4.6 he is the Minister of God to thee they are the Ministers of God attending on this very thing and there he will learn that him and them and he and they doe signifie not things but Persons in the power not Government but Governors so that we leave him amongst the rest of his fancies to study Sir Thomas Moores Eutopia or Platâ—es Common-wealth where probably he may find a Government without any Persons to Govern or be Governed Principle 3. That no man must have the title of Master All he replyes to this is that we bring the practice of men in the Old Testament to disanull the commands of Christ in the New We give the man leave to lye and rayle as having nothing else to say For if thou look into the Perfect Pharisee p. 34. 35. thou wilt see at least ten Scriptures out of the New Testament fully discovering the vanity of this Principle and the lawfulnesse of calling men Sir or Master besides the opening of what Christ meant in that prohibition Mat. 23.10 so that we need to add no more There are foure things that they charge against the Ministry to wit 1. That they love the high places in the Synagogues 2. That they weare long Robes 3. That they stand praying in the Synagogues 4. That they Preach for hire We dare without boasting say we have by evident demonstration from the Scripture shown at large that these were the proper guilt of the Pharisees and no way applicable to the godly Ministers of England See Pers Pharisee p. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. And we are saved the labour of further clearing those points for as much as Nayler returnes nothing of answer to what we there layd downe We onely beg the Reader in these points to compare our Book and his together and we leave it to thee to judge But as we have all along found nothing but rayling in stead of reason and the poyson of Aspes under his tongue in stead of the force of reason or Scripture so he doth here heap up such a masse of bitter revilings as thou hast not seen but we leave this evill spirit in him to the Lord to rebuke In pag. 40. of the Perf. Pharisee thou wilt find us repeating others of their cavills against the Ministry viz. Their having been at Vniversities 2. Making use of an houre-glasse 3. Preaching upon a text 4. Running to the powers of the World to protect us 5. Stealing from the Prophets 6. Not thoâ—ing Foure of these he answers nothing to for the fifth he repeats that Scripture that is against stealing the Word of the Lord from their neighbours as if to name the same charge again were enough to prove it though we have cleared it in the Perfect Pharisee That in quoting Scripture we doe but follow the example of Christ and the Apostles See Perf. Pharisee pag. 27. 28. and walke by Scripture rule And for the sixth viz. thouing we told him that the not thoâ—ing all doth no wayes entrench upon any Attribute oâ— command of God and being but an expression of a civill respect as Sir Master most noble most excellent which the Saints in the New Testament used we told him we saw no cause why the same freedome in our dialect might not be used Had he excepted any thing against these we should have answered him The Quakers make the pure language to vvhich the Saints are redeemed to be vvhen they begin to Thou all men And for that pure language which he sayes the Saints are redeemed unto we cannot but wonder at the lownesse of the mans conceptions in the things of God to think the pure language to which God restores them is to make them say thou and thee Oh! the blindnesse of these men in the things of Christ for that pure language Zeph. 3.9 imports the peoples deliverance from Idolatrous worship shall no more call upon their Idols nor call God by the name of their Idols Hos 2.16 nor lispe the language of Ashdod Neh. 13.24 but call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Having gone through these things in our Perfect Pharisee we proceeded pag. 41. to some considerations of their practises Practice 1. Quaking Excep 5 For trembling and quaking we owne it but for grovelling on the ground and foaming at the mouth are lyes and slanders of your owne inventing Reply Quakers grovelling upon the earth when in their fits of possession Are they lyes and slanders Was not Iohn Gilpin a Quaker and when a Quaker he tells you thus in the Book called Quakers Shaken p. 5. I could not stand upon my feet but was constrained to fall downe upon the bed where I howled and cryed as is usuall with them in a terrible and hiddeous manner to the great astonishment of my Family Pap 7. further In the time of Iohn Audlands speaking I was from the power within me drawne from the chaire upon which I sate and throwne upon the ground in the midst of the company where I lay all night all which time I was turned from my backe to my belly and so backe again c. Is not this grovelling upon the ground How dare this man say they are lyes Nay Atkinson who would seem to answer that Booke in his pittifull Pamphlet pag. 11. sayes he owned it to be of God So in Quakers Shaken pag. 10. he sayes I was cast upon the ground and lying upon my belly I was forced to licke the dust Atkinson denies it not but tells him this is his portion And how can Nayler say that these things are lyes and slanders We shall add but one more as to their foaming at mouth we shall give you this account under the hand of Mr. Moore Minister at Kellet in Lancashire OVt of the Quakers comming to disturbe our Congregation fell into a trance her belly puffed up her sides extended her back-bone thrust out her shoulders stretched up her whole body as a bladder when it is in blowing Whereupon I sent a mayd to George Fox to tell him he had indeed alleaged many Scriptures for quaking and trembling but withall to aske him what Scriptures he could shew one for swelling of the body or foaming at the mouth or where did he ever reade of any in those postures save onely such as were possessed with Devils He denyed that any of theirs swelled till she was pointed out and then he confessed it upon which she asked him whether lying was a sin because he had before denyed that he committed any sin Will. Moore Reade and judge what thou now thinkest of these mens actings and lyings As for our large discovery of
the nature of quaking owning it where there was any reall appearance of God to the Prophets and shewing a clear difference betwixt these divâ—ne repâ—ures and the Satanicall quakings of these men he answers nothing at all but onely cavils at a word Excep 2 That we say They call their Quaking their great perfection which he sayes is false c. Reply To which we answer We cannot but look upon that as the great perfection in the eyes of these men which they doe so much cry up and so much desire as such a pretious attainement W. C. One of us doth know that Cap Ward and Will. Cartmell did expresse their desires of it and their hopes to come under that condition Henry Houseman said speaking concerning quaking he was not come up to that perfection yet We might adde more but Iohn Gilpin tells you in Quakers Shaken p. 5 that he did earnestly desire that he might fall into quaking and trembling apprehending that he should thereby attaine to the immediate discoveries of God unto him And is not that perfection Why doth Nayler still charge us with slanders Practice 2. Rayling Except He would endeavour from Scripture to lay downe a warrant for his rayling and his reason is because Christ called the Iewes the children of the Devil c. The Apostle cals men dogs wolves c. Reply 1 We charged them with rayling at those persons they had never seen before telling them they were Devils damned they saw the Devil in their faces so that this appeares to be perfect rayling because not knowing the persons or actions of any such men nor any particular sinne by them yet they let fly their dreadfull censures at randome Thus we instanced in our Perfect Pharisee p. 46. in their rayling at Mr. H. T. Merchant of Newcastle calling him a Priest c. and Gorge Fox rayling at Mr. Nichols in Carlile p. 48. telling him he was an hypocrite though he had never seen his face nor knew his name Now how is this bottom'd upon Christs example or the Apostles who gave such expressions to none but such as they had particular knowledge of as to their sinne giving a reason for such titles 2. Those titles were given to wicked Herod and to the teachers of false Doctrines Phil. 3. 2 Pet. 2. and we have fully cleared it we hope to every mans conscience who is not filled with errour and prejudice that we are neither reproachers of Christ or his Doctrine but according to our talent have found mercy of the Lord to be faithfull in carrying on the interest of the Lord Iesus and therefore we cannot but looke upon it as their sinfull practice in powring out such language upon us 3. He that doth but reade the Scriptures shall finde that this is not the ordinary language of Christ and his Apostles it was very seldome and very solemne and he that doth but compare this with the practice of quakers shall see a vast difference for it is their common practice and such words are as familiar as any they use as thou art damned and I see the Devill in thy face nay they are their usuall first salute to all they meet withall Was this the Apostles way take but any of their Books and compare them with any of Pauls Epistles and as thou wilt see a spirit of sweetnesse and meeknesse in his so thou wilt observe such a continuall froathing out of passion and bitternes in these men as will lay them naked to be acted by a spirit vastly different from that of Paul or any of the Apostles of the Lord Iesus 4. But shall the holy zeale of Christ and his Apostles be wrested to be made a patronage to their malitious raylings Doe they not by this means labour to take away the sinfulnesse of that rayling which the Apostle tells you is the fruit of the flesh and of which they that are guilty shall never enter into the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6.9 But we referr thee for further information in this to the Perfect Pharisee pag 44. 45. Pract. 3. Their pretending upon all occasions to be sent by sheâ—iall Commission from God 1. Here we having related by severall passages of the quakers pretending to a Commission from God the ridiculousnesse of their Messages and that pretence he plainely tells us he will not justifie them and when he cannot shuffle it off he tell us he can say nothing to it because he knows not the things in particular though the persons Reader thou mayst observe that are there mentioned are of his familiar company and converse and so thou wilt easily think had they been lyes we should have heard from him with open mouth yet the man will needs take the boldnesse to call them lyes though he confesse he knows not the particulars Now Reader judge of Nayler and his conscience 2. He sayes that they who were before the Magistrates were invited to any of our houses is false Oh! the confidence of this man and how boldly dare he rush upon a lye or any thing to make us odious All we say is that some of them that came to Newcastle were invited to come to our houses by some of us If Iames Nayler will aske M. Tayler if he were not invited by W. C. to his house when he was at that time at Newcastle and did not come he will see the debauchednesse of his conscience for W. C. doth beleeve M. Tayler hath so much honesty left as not to deny it Quakers justifie their cursing because such vvords are in Scripture and make the Scripture a vvarrant for cursing As to George Foxes cursing M. Fetherston which we quoted p. 48. Perf. Phar. all that Nayler replyes is that M. Fetherston confessed all that Geo. Fox spoke was Scripture What a ridiculous evasion is this of so great a sin Because there are such words in Scripture therefore he may apply them as he will There are these words in Scripture I am the Lord and change not he sits upon the circle of the Heavens c. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God these expressions because they are in Scripture is it therefore lawfull to give them to any creature Nay dare Geo. Fox challenge them to himself because they are in Scripture Or because such words the Lord smite thee thou painted wall thou hast lyed against the holy Ghost for whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever Are these true of G. Fox or may we therefore lawfully apply them to G. Fox because they are such words as are found in Scripture Oh! what a ridiculous evasion is this He may also plead that he and his followers may lawfully swear because the words sweare and oaths are to be found in Scripture and then this generation will perfectly come up to the necessary and experienced fruit of these principles viz. Ranting to a great degree wherof they are already attained in their most impudent obscene and shamelesse