at a high Rate he thinks he has paid it off and run down the Qr. and the Doctrine of Perfection with his Hectoring Insulting Scoffing and Deriding and yet he would have People believe he does not plead for Sin for he says 'T is the Devil that pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so A plain Confession which shall rise up against him to his own Condemnation that out of his own Mouth he may be judged Pr. Ibid. This Qr. was not rightly instructed to distinguish well betwixt the Being and ruling Power of Sin Answ He is here mistaken still concerning the Quakâ—r for he is so far instructed in Christ's School as to know that the same Seed which bruiseth the Serpent's Head breaks his strength and power subdues and destroyes his Kingdom doth in due time both remove and destroy the very being of Sin in all who receive believe and abide in Christ Jesus the promised Seed for granting that the ruling Power of Sin is taken away and removed by Christ what sincere Soul or upright Follower of Christ Jesus who thus far feels his Power to bruise the Serpent's Head and break his strength to the subduing of sin will yet suffer the Being and In-dwelling of Sin all his Life time to remain in him seeing he that is begotten of God keeps himself that the Wicked one toucheth him not 1 John 5.18 when he faithfully follows the Conduct of such a powerful and victorious Prince Captain and Conqueror as our Lord Jesus Christ who is able to do the Work that God has sent him to do and even to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him who also is he that is greater in us than he that is in the World and as the Author to the Hebrews prayed Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you PERFECT in every good Work to do his Will working IN you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ te whom be Glory forever and ever Heb. 13.20 21. § XXIX Pr. pag. 108. As for Infant-Baptism used in all Ages of the Christian Church this Qr. like an Anabaptist saith there is no Scripture nor Example for it Answ That Infant-Baptism or rather Sprinkling was used in all Ages of the Christian Church I plainly deny and it remains for this Priest to prove or else confess his Ignorance or false Assertion in this point as also since he upbraids the Qr. for saying there is no Scripture Example for it why does not he produce Scripture or Example thence for it that would end the Controversie And that it was imposed or settled by any general Council in the Christian Churches before Popery entred or before there was a Pope or Universal Bishop so called at Rome it remains for him to prove And since the Church of Rome pleads for Infant-Baptism and imposeth it upon the account of Tradition and not Scripture as it s said of Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France 1500. That he ordained that Infants Baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved a Command from the Scriptures The Question hereupon is Whether this Tradition he derived from the Church of Rome and so intended or from the Primitive Church in the Apostles Dayes For its being imposed by the Church of Rome cannot be binding to us Protestants because thereof And if they pretend Authority from the Primitive Christian Church in the Apostles Dayes then they should shew us this from Scripture especially these who are our present Opposers who profess the Scripture to be their Rule and not the Church of Rome For in vain is their Worship who teach for Doctrine the Traditions of men and whose fear towards God is taught by mens Precepts Notes by another hand on this Subject 'T is recorded that about the Year 248. lived a Priest called Fidus Cyprian who willed People to Baptize Young Children according to the manner of Circumcision About which Thing Cyprian with Sixty six Bishops and Elders gathered together ordained That Children should timely be baptized as well before as after the 8th day It seems the Doctrine of Fidus concerning Dipping or Sprinkling of Children was New and seem'd strange to Cyprian seeing he would not ratifie nor confirm the same without the Sentence and Advice of Sixty Six Bishops Had it been commanded by Christ practised by the Apostles and continued in matter and manner to Cyprian's days there had not been a necessity for the Concourse of so many Bishops concerning the same And though Cyprian here enjoyned Baptizing of Children yet a few Years before he was for the Dipping or Sprinkling of aged People see his Epistle to Magnus Cassander in his Book de Infantum Baptismo saith Cassander Pado-Baptisms rise That Baptism of Infants came to be much used by the Fathers who lived some three hundred Years after the Apostles He excludes it from being Christ's Command or practised by the Apostles Johannes Bohemius saith That Baptism of old was administred to none unless upon urgent necessity but to such as were before instructed in the Faith and catechised but when it came to be judged necessary to Everlasting Life it was ordained that Infants should be baptized and that they should have God-fathers and God-mothers who should be Sureties for Infants and should renounce the Devil in their behalfs It grew to this in the Roman-Catholick-Church that at the Baptizing of a Child the Priest First Blows three times in the Infants Face Secondly He anoints his Eyes Ears and Nostrils with Earth moistned with his Spittle Thirdly He Names him and Marks him with the Sign of the Cross upon his Breast and Back with Hallowed Oyl Fourthly He dips him into the Water or pours Water upon him three times in the form of a Cross Fifthly Dipping his Thumb in the holy Chrism as they call it he signs the Childs Fore-head with the sign of the Cross Sixthly He covers him with a White Garment Seventhly He puts into his hand a burning Candle Lib. 2. de Gentium Moribus For a farther Information about Baptisms I refer the Reader to Thomas Lawson's Treatise Entituled ΒΑΠΤΙΣΜΑΛΟΓΙΑ Or a TREATISE Concerning BAPTISMS Pr. p. 113. Behold is this the Chirstian Charity that thinks no Evil Is this the Christianity that speaks Evil of no man Answ Well this shall remain as Universal a Testimony against much of this man's Malicious and Scurrilous Work in this Pamphlet of his as his confessing that its the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that Mouth be stopt forever that doth so If he had well observed That Christian Charity thinks no Evil and that Christianity speaks Evil of no man he had not brought forth this large Uncharitable Pamphlet against the People called Quakers nor yet pleaded for Sin 's Continuance in the best
this Papal Quaker Answ This is False again for whilst we own a Life and Living by the Faith of the Son of God how can we disown his Righteousness that is made our's by Faith When 't is made ours we partake of it though it was without us in him before it was in us by him § XII Pr. Ibid. In this Quaking Account of Justification what hath this Quaker said more which the Council of Trent hath not determined to his hand viz. Council Trid. Cap. 3. Sess 6. Cum ea renascentia per meritu passionis ejus gratia qua justifiunt illis tribuatur Which he thus Englisheth Together with the New Birth through the Merit of Christ's Passion Grace whereby they are made Righteous is imparted to them Cap. 7. Sess 6. Justificatio est Sanctificatio Renovatio interioris hominis per voluntariam susceptionem gratiae As he interprets Justification is both the Sanctification and Renovation of the inward man by Grace received He should have said By the willing or free receiving of Grace Answ And what does our Adversary infer from hence but that Quakers and Papists agree together in the point of Justification by inherent Righteousness And yet he cannot deny but the Merit of Christ's Passion is confest to in the point But it seems he would not have the New Birth concern'd in the case or that Grace that makes us Righteous should be imparted to us and so included and joyned with the Merit of Christ's Passion in this great point of Justification or that Justification should be both the Sanctification and Renovation of the inward man by Grace received If these be not offensive to him why does he clamour against the Quaker for agreeing with the Council of Trent in this point as if his citing the Council of Trent having determin'd a point to the Quakers hand or which Quakers own though they never received it themselves and which he himself does not at all consute were enough to knock down the Quakers at one Blow Whence it follows that where the Council of Trent grants the Merit of Christ's Passion which the Papists place mens first Justification upon without Works Christ's Merit or deserving herein must be opposed because the Council of Trent and Papists hold it Is not this learned Logick Thus our Adversary has attempted to knock down the Quaker because the Council of Trent and Papists hold divers Errors but Papists render their own good Works after the first Justification strictly meritorious of Heaven which the Quakers do not therefore we must not hold any Truths which they intermix among their Errors but be branded derided for Papists Papal Quakers such kind of arguing savours more of an Atheistical Spirit than of a Christian And such measure have we from our Adversary But his main Design is to oppose the Saints being made Righteous by Grace imparted to them through Christ and to impose upon us a Justification or rather his false Imputation thereof without either Sanctification or Renovation of the inward man by Grace received seeing he has espoused the Cause of such as affirm Justification and Redemption of men while no good is wrought in them and that these are fulfilled or compleated WHOLLY WITHOUT THEM And yet to his own Confutation has granted that Righteousness must be imparted and retain'd in his 10th page but here because the Council of Trent has confest unto the New Birth and that the Grace that makes Righteous must be imparted to them rendring the Merit of Christ's Passion as a means thereof which is an Undeniable Truth I must be revil'd as a Papal Quaker and this Inherent Righteousness in the New Birth though wrought by the Grace of God opposed as to our Justification Thus my Adversary has not only Absurdly argued against me but Atheistically set himself against the Work of Christ inward by invalidating of it reckoning Persons justified Wholly without which must be whilst they are wholly Unjust and Poluted within or when no good is wrought in them else what does all his Quarrel against us amount to But he sillily goes on in his Comparison between Quaker and Papist as followeth Pr. Ibid. They do both disclaim the works of the Law before Grace received Ibid. Works not done in Christ the Seed do not justifie says the Canting Quaker Ibid. Justification is the Sanctifying of the inner man by Grace received say the Papists Ibid. The Righteousness by Faith is when the Law is performed in us by the Works of the Spirit saith the Quaker Ibid. By Grace received in the New Birth are we made Righteous say the Papists Thus the Light within which guides the Quaker to Scribble concerning Justification is nothing else but TRENT POPERY infused into them by subtil Popish Priests Answ We have nothing but his Comparison and Reviling here for Confutation The matter is answered before I would ask this man First If he does not disclaim the Works of the Law before Grace received Secondly If works not done in Christ do Justifie or render any Just If he says No why does he Scoff and Cry out Canting Quaker so saying they do not Thirdly Whether any do partake of the Righteousness by Faith without Christ's fulfilling the Righteousness of the Law in them according to Rom. 8.4 For it s them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit to whom there is no Condemnation and In whom the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled And this does not make void Christ's Passion or Suffering for man and fulfilling the Law in his Person without us for therein he was not only a Perfect Pattern of Righteousness but also came to condemn sin in the flesh and by his Sacrifice to make an Attonement and Pacification to stop the Wrath and suspend the severe Execution of the Law which man had incurred and to make way for Remission to us that we might be the more engaged to him to follow him in Spirit and come under the New Covenant terms But the Priest concludes with a notorious Falshood about what we write of Justification as being infused by Popish Priests This is a Wicked Slander for the work of the New Birth Being made inwardly Righteous by Grace received in Christ the sanctifying renewing the inner man by the holy Spirit these we never learned of the Popish Priests nor ever were we discipled by them but by the blessed operation of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ through Faith in his Name according to the Testimony of himself holy Apostles most plainly intimated in these Scriptures Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.3 5. And If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me said Christ to Peter John 13.8 And According to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration c. Tit. 3.5 6.
has not told us very likely 't is by some severe means as Hanging the Quakers and Burning their Books this Priest hath Malice enough for both as if that would prevail more to the safety of Souls from Error then all the Priests Preaching or Arguments 'T is evident how little Interest they have in mens Consciences But then this course would honour the Quakers with Martyrdom and raise greater enquiry after their Religion and then it will be time for Persecuting Clergy-men to be silent Pr. Ibid. Books not so dangerous as this is have been burnt by the hand of the common Hangman Answ He smels still strong of the old Where 's Cup Envy and Persecution But the Impartial Readers will see that his Book is more fit for such Execution 't is so filled with Scorn and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ Jesus within Pr. Ibid. The Author is gone to his Judge so this Book deserves a black mark for his sake and its Pestilent Doctrine Answ Malicious and Blind Presumption thus finally to condemn the Author as he has the Book as if he were infallibly sure that he is gone to utter Damnation But see his Ignorance and Falshood in his proofs Pr. Ibid. This Quaking Primmer begins with a Lye to corrupt Children's Minds the Light within which is no express Scripture phrase is indeed a meer Fancy the Real Quaker's Idol Answ Gross Ignorance and Blasphemy the Light within is no Fancy nor Idol 't is the Light of Christ within God's inshining in our Hearts that we profess that mens Minds may be turned from Darkness that 's within them to the Light of Christ within That God hath shined in our Hearts is express Scripture Pr. p. 28. It s false Doctrine to make the Light within to be the Teacher of the Fear of God Answ The Light of Christ within teacheth to depart from Evil and to do good to speak and practise Truth and therefore the Fear of God is taught by it Pr. Ibid. In this Quaking Primmer little Children are taught to take heed to the Light within them that the Scripture the more sure Word of Prophecy may not be regarded by them as their Guide or Rule of their Lives Answ The more sure Word of Prophecy mentioned 2 Pet. 1.19 is explained in the same place what it is Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto A LIGHT that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your Hearts And therefore it is a Light of Christ within which directs and guides unto his inward Appearance who is the bright and morning Star It could not be the Scriptures of the Prophets that was intended by this more sure Word for they could not be more sure than that Voice which Peter James and John heard from the Excellent Glory when they were with Christ in the Mount Nor yet more sure than the Apostles Testimony Wherein then lies the Comparison but in that Divine Word or Light of the Son of God being more general and more near to them than that Voice though both true This Word doth shine in many dark Hearts that never heard that Voice Pr. pag. 29. Gross Popery here is Deliverance from Condemnation not by Faith in Christ's Merits but by obeying the Light within their worst Guide Answ Here is gross Ignorance and Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within still Christ did not oppose his own Merit Deserving or Dignity by exhorting his Hearers to believe in the Light that they might become Children of the Light and if we walk in the Light as he i. e. God is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 and this in relation to the Divine Light for God is Light vers 5. Therefore this Light within is that whereby men may know the Benefit of Christ's Blood and Merit But this Priest has here branded Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies herein with gross Popery Pr. Ibid. Quakerism serves as a Stepping-stone for Popery in this Church and Kingdom Answ If Papists had not greater Hopes of making many of you Clergy-men swallow down Popery for Preferments and Self-ends than they have of the Quakers they would not be so confident in their Attempts 'T is easie for them to suppose that a Temporizing Clergy man whose Conscience is benumbed either by Avarice or Covenant-breaking is a fit Agent to introduce Popery gradually under some hidden Disguise or Cloak as this Adversary can cry up the Church of England and cry down Popery while he looks and steers his course directly towards Rome both in his Rage against dissenting Protestants and asserting divers Popish Doctrines Ibid. Qr. Primmer p. 13 14. Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus believe them not that turn you from the Light for they are not the Ministers of Christ Pr. answers Here you may observe how this Quaking Primmer is mainly designed to foist these new Vessels by this bad Liquor put into them Other Teachers whether Arch-Bishops or Bishops Priests or Deacons are but Deceivers no Ministers of Christ to whom little Children are here taught not to hearken nor believe them Answ How plain is it here that by his making the Application to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Priestsor Deacons he has granted them to be such Teachers as keep Persons from the Light of Christ Jesus and turn them from the Light for such are they that little Children are taught not to hearken to nor believe viz Hearken not to the Deceivers who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus c. Pr. pag. 30. Abominable False Doctrine that the holy Scriptures are not the Way to know the Truth Ibid. God's Ministers teach that the Scriptures are the way to know the Truth Answ Christ saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life and the Spirit of Truth shall guide you into all Truth Where do the Scriptures say They are the Way Surely they are not Christ nor the Spirit but testifie of both which is no decrying of the holy Scriptures to allow the Spirit the Preference Pr. Ibid. These Quakers are strangely fond of the Light within so as to cry down the Light of God's own Word This Quaking Dotage Answ No Fondness nor Dotage in crying up the Light of God's living Word within which is nigh in the Heart which is not to cry down the Scripture as is falsly supposed I have hid thy Word in mine Heart that I might not sin against thee 't is a Light unto my Paths and a Lanthorn to my Feet saith David Qr. Primmer p. 16. Such are Deceivers who preach for Money and Tythes such cannot lead you out of Transgression for they are in Transgression themselves for Christ said to his Freely ye have received freely give and Paul made not the Gospel Chargeable but these Priests that preach for filthy Lucre deceive people Pr. The Priest answers
pag. 30. In this Quaking Primmer here is a base Charge drawn against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England Here these Quakers have fired their Beacon that the Youth of this Church may have timely notice to beware of their best Soul-Friends Here the silly Sheep are slightly counselled against their Keepers that the Quaking Wolves may the better prey upon them Answ Here the Priest rages and rails but defends not himself and his Brethren from the Charge of such being Deceivers as preach for Money and Tythes and who being in Transgression not able to lead others out of it only he sayes 'T is a base Charge against all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England as if he had told us all the Ministring Priests of the Church of England do preach for Money and Tythes and then cryes out Quaking Wolves as if that were enough to clear him and his Brethren and to be a deadly Blow to the Quakers Who is it cannot see such Impertinency Malice and Railery He tells us They are God's Priests and Ambassadours by whom God doth beseech his Rebel-Subjects to be reconcited but proves it not we have only his Say-so He should have proved his own and their Call to the Ministry We deny that they are immediately called of God either to be his Priests Embassadours or Mouth How should they be so Called that deny Immediate Teaching and Inspiration and especially such who scoff at the Light within and the Spirit 's Teaching as this Adversary doth And for a mediate Call I deny that they have it from the holy Apostles or primitive Church of Christ in their dayes Pr. pag. 31. Here little Children are taught to look upon all Teaching Priests as so many Deceivers as those Hirelings that preach for Money and Tythes which is a Lying Slander Answ No this is mis-stated for they are taught to look upon all such as preach for Money and Tythes to be Deceivers Hirelings c. Pr. Ibid. According to the baseness of these Quaking Lines its a shame for the King 's sacred Majesty the Defender of the true Faith that such base Priests should be owned by him Answ Here for a shelter he would make the King a Patronizer of the Priests Cause how Base soever any of them are in Preaching for Hire and Cruel in Persecuting and Imprisoning People for Tythes he thinks he argues stoutly in their Defence to tell us The King 's sacred Majesty owns them when alas his Majesty knows not a tenth part of their Baseness and Cruelty who are guilty of persecuting his peaceable Subjects for their Bellies and filthy Lucre. And rather than not have their Covetous Ends answered they 'l throw a Man in Goal for the Value of a Tythe-Pig they are so cruel and hard-hearted many of them that they value a few Tythe-Piggs more than they do Mens Liberties or Lives I am perswaded such Priests will bring no Honour to the King Pr. Ibid. Devilish Lessons that the Scripture is not the Word of God Answ No where doth the Scripture call it self the Word but in the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God c. and his Name is called The Word of God John 1. Rev. 19.13 Yet what the Scriptures call themselves we call them so and own them to be Pr. pag. 32. To say that God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are Three Persons but One God this is to speak we know not what c. Ibid. To say with the Church of England In the Vnity of this Godhead there be Three Persons of One Sâ—â—sâ—ance Power and Eternity the Father the Son and H. Ghost is in this Quaker 's Account the Doctrine of the World Answ That in the Unity of the Godhead there 's Father Son and Holy Spirit of One Substance Power and Eternity we do own and confess according to the Scripture but that these are Three distinct or separate Persons as some have called them we have no Scripture Proof for these Terms Why does not this man bring us plain Scripture-Proof in this Case seeing he professes it to be his only Rule of Faith Has he not given here great Advantage to the Papists to tell him that the Church is his Rule and not the Scripture in this great Article of his and their Faith Pr. pag. 33. To prepare little Children to slight them i. e. the Scriptures as being unable to bring them to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth according to these Quaking Lines St. Paul was mistaken when he said that the Scripture was profitable for Doctrine Answ 'T is no preparing any to sleight the Scriptures to testifie of Christ his Light and Spirit of Truth as being the Way to know God whom no man knows but by the Son 's revealing him And God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus This is not said of the Scriptures though as given by Inspiration of God they are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Instruction that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnisht unto every good Work Herein Paul was not mistaken for the Man of God is Divinely Inspired unto the right Understanding and Use of the Scriptures Therefore this Inspiration is the Ground of Divine Knowledge The Scriptures are profitable by the help of this through the Blessing of God hereby have we found Profit and Comfort in reading the Scriptures which no man can without the BLESSING of GOD by his Spirit Pr. Ibid. To Exalt the Quakers Idol the Light within little Children are here taught to slight the holy Scriptures as a Duâ—â— Book Answ Here is both horrid Blasphemy against the Light of Christ within and a gross Lye that little Children are so taught to slight the holy Scriptures for they are told in the very words cited by this Priest That the Scriptures of Truth do declare of God Christ and the Spirit of Truth and this is not to slight the Scriptures thus to own their Testimony on the behalf of God his Christ and the holy Spirit The holy Scriptures may be made instrumental for our Profit and Confirmation through the Divine and Gracious Assistance of the holy Spirit but not of themselves or without it His Comparison between Popish Catechisms and ours and his telling us of Papal Quakers that make their Followers two-fold more the Children of Hell are both False Infamous and Slanderous and nothing like any rational Proof urged by him but a continued persisting in his Abusive Railery and Reviling for which the Lord rebuke him § X V. The Priest's next Quarrel and Railery is against William Smith's two Treatises Primmer and Catechism Pr. pag. 33. Both Primmer and Catechism are the fittest for Smithfield to receive the Hang-man's Imprimatur Answ This same Envious Spirit that is still finding Work for the Hang-man to
burn such Books for testifying of the Light of Christ within would no doubt both Hang and Burn us if it had but Power but God be thanked for putting a Limit to it Pr. pag. 34. The Light Within this Quaker 's Fondling is the Child 's only Tutor to help him to know God his Way and Truth Answ You may see his Rage is still against the Light Within which neither he nor the Devil shall ever be able to suppress if they had Power to imploy the Hang-man against us I would ask him and his Brethren if they think that any can know God his Way or Truth without the help of Divine Light surely they cannot by continuing in Darkness Pr. Ibid. As for the Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God as St. Paul saith is able to make wise to Salvation Answ Pauls words are these And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS But these words Through Faith which is in Christ Jesus the Priest hath disingenuously left out as if the Scriptures of themselves without either Faith in Christ or Light from him could make wise to Salvation whereas this was writ to Timothy a man of God a man in the Faith and Knowledge of God a man that was partaker of the Gift of the holy Ghost in him to whom it was said Neglect not the Gift that is in thee the Vnfeigned Faith that is in thee stir up the Gift of God which is in thee c. So that the Scriptures alone without Divine Assistance and Faith in Christ Jesus could not make him wise to Salvation but the holy Spirit alone could nor be of that profit and advantage to him but as he partook of that Faith which is in Christ Jesus For Christ himself was the principal and chief cause of saving Wisdom and Knowledge in whom all the Treasures thereof are Quakers Primmer pag. 5. Such as are not Christs Ministers have their Power and Authority from Man and each man a place of settlement called a Parish In that Parish they have Tythes and a Law made by man to compel it and if any for Conscience sake cannot give it them then they Sue and Imprison them and Spoil their Goods and these are Wolves Child that are let loose among the Lambs to rend and tear them c. Pr. The Priest Answers p. 35. By this Quaking Father the Children of this Church and Kingdom are basely taught in a ridiculous manner to despise all Gods Ministers of what degree soever throughout this whole Kingdom from the Kings Chappel to the meanest Congregation we are all alike none of Christs Ministers like Jeroboams Priests or Baals Prophets this Quaker saith we derive our Authority from Man The Consecration of Arch-Bishops and Bishops the Ordinantion of Priests and Deacons is no more but an Humane Invention for they have their Power and Authority from Man Answ I shall need say little to these Passages untill he gives us a better Consutation to clear himself and his Brethren than only are-citation of our Friends words or his bare telling us that they are God's Ministers I deny that the Children are here taught to despise Gods Ministers when they are taught to deny such Priests as Preach for Hire and Divine for Money and Persecute Oppress Imprison spoil People in their goods for Tythes I deny that such derive their Authority from God or that the Consecration and Ordination of the Bishops who are called Lord Bishops who by their Office are made Great and Rich in the Earth and their Parish-Priests can shew any higher Power and Authority then what 's Human or of man whether they be set up by Pope or Prince and many Thousands are of the same mind with me as being dissatisfied concerning them Let them therefore shew us any Divine Authority or Power for their Consecration Ordination and Commission that we may be convinc'd thereof according to the holy Scriptures Otherwise it s but a pitiful begging the Question for this Priest to cry themselves up as Gods Ministers Ministers of Gods Word or Gods Priests and to boast of the Kings Power on their side and the Kings Chappel and the Arch-Bishops and Bishops as if that were sufficient to prove that they are Divinely authorized and impower'd while this is his great Refuge he has the King and Bishops on his side and they own the Priests therefore the Consecration and Ordination Power and Authority is not Human or of Man but Divine What Real Christian or Rational man will own such Arguing as this to prove the Commission Divine And verily this is the best Logick and strongest Argument I can â—ather or naturally infer from this Priests Method to prove his Call Power or Authority to preach in the Name of Christ Pr. Ibid. An Hour-Glass measures the time of their Preaching which their Eyes are oft upon In this Quâ—kers Eye they are no better than so many Hour-Glass Preachers Answ 'T is strange this Man should cite this passage against the Priests practice and give us no better proof for it then only the Recital of the Charge and telling us 'T is a silly scandalous Charge and that it is a shame that such base things should not signally be taken notice of as if to incense the Magistrates to punish us for saying The Priest Preaches by an Hour-Glass were Confutation enough for us and proof sufficient for such a Practice But what Scripture has he for preaching by an Hour-Glass Come Priest bring us plain Scripture for this your practice or else never pretend the Scripture to be thy Rule of Faith and Practice Quakers Prim. p. 10. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints are made Witnesses of but the Spirit is the Rule unto them that gave forth the Scriptures The Priest Answers p. 36. The Youth are taught by this Quaking Father that the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith and Obedience Answ Come Priest seeing 't is an Article of thy Faith that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Obedience and not the Spirit as appears by the Tenor of thy Writing let us have plain Scripture to prove this great Article of thy Faith to wit that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Obedience If thou hast not plain Scripture for this then it follows not only that the Scripture is not the Rule of thy Faith and Practice but also that thy Position or Article in this case is unsound as well as Unscriptural and inconsistent with it self that the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith c. and yet no Scripture to prove they are so But that they testifie of Christ as the Way the Truth the Life the Light and that the Spirit of Truth is that which guides into all Truth this is Scriptural And further 't is very Uncharitable to condemn all Nations that have not the Scriptures and that is
say The Scripture proceedeth from Christ but is not Christ for he is the Light the Life the Word the Judge the Guide of all his true Followers And why may not he be called the Rule as well as the Way the Truth c Pr. Ibid. This Qr. is guilty of Weak Reasoning because Christ is the Word the Light the Life therefore the Scripture is not a Light the Word of Life a Judge a Guide a Tryer of Spirits rare Quaking Logick Answ He grants the Qrs. Assertion that Christ is the Word the Light the Life wherein he has weakened his own Cause but his Inference upon the Quaker I deny for that the Qr. does not argue in the Terms he doth For the Priest cunningly puts in A Light A Guide A Judge A Tryer of Spirits as applicable to the Scriptures wherein he greatly varies the Terms from The Light The Guide c. to A Light A Guide But that the Scriptures of themselves abstractly are these without Divine Assistance he proves not if he dare affert it muchless that the Scriptures are the Word of Life or the Living Word let him prove that I deny his Position for Christ is the Living Word Pr. pag. 62. At this Door hath been brought in all the Filth that hath been east upon the holy Scripture The Scripture is not the Light What is it then Darkness saith one Qr. not to be minded in any thing saith another Answ There is no Filth cast upon the holy Scripture by asserting Christ to be the Word of Life the Light the Judge the Guide c. Again I am confident that he has wrong'd two Qrs. so called in his dark Accusation not telling us what Qr. would call the holy Scripture Darkness or what Qr. did say 't is not to be minded in any thing This is a blind Story I am apt to think of his own forging for no real Qr. would speak so slightily of the holy Scriptures Though there are Parables that are called dark Sayings in the Scriptures which yet cannot properly be called Darkness Pr. Ibid. The Scripture is become like a Dung-Cart to receive what Filth the Qrs. and Papists have to throw into it Answ This is an abominable and slanderous Comparison against the Qrs. who have fully exprest their Reverend Esteem of the holy Scriptures both in Doctrine and Conversation Pr. pag. 64. Are not those Streams which make glad the City of God basely foulled by him Answ He counts the Scriptures those Streams and thereby sets them in the place of Christ who is that Man that shall be as an Hiding-place and is compared to Rivers of Water in a dry place Isa 32.2 And there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers and Streams Chap. 33.21 And this was in Zion the City of our Solemnities and in Jerusalem a quiet Habitation Vers 20. 'T is these Streams of the Water of Life that make glad the City of God whereof the Scriptures testifie Pr. Ibid. The Scripture saith this Qr. is the Idol of all Gospel-Ministers to get Money by Pag. 67. They count the Holy Scripture an Idol Answ A plain Perversion and Falshood again the Qr. saith no such thing nor so accounts of the Scripture but that your Leaders cause you to err for their own Ends and of the Scripture they MAKE an Idol to get Money by He does not call the Scriptures the Idol but that such Make an Idol thereof to get Money by and these are no Gospel-Ministers Those Priests who make a Trade of Scripture and exalt it in the place of Christ make an Idol of it but it is not so in it self Pr. That the Scripture is not the Word nor a Light unto our Feet nor the Rule Guide Teacher or Judge because Christ is so An Oracle from this Qrs. Lying Spirit p. 65. Answ By way of Eminency we own Christ to be the Word also the Light the Rule the Guide the Teacher the Judge the Law-giver the Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 Yet we don 't hereby deny the Scriptures to be a Rule or to contain Words of God Pr. Ibid. That the sure Word of Prophecy is no Light shining in a Dark place Answ Yes the more sure Word of Prophecy is a Light shining in a Dark place in many Dark Hearts whereunto men do well to take heed until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in their Hearts This Word was before the Scripture was writ The Priest calls the Scripture the sure Word of Prophecy but tells us not what Scripture nor wherein the Comparison is of its being the more Sure Word of Prophecy Concerning the Judge and the Light within and Benefit of Christ's coming see what John Preston saith in his Book Entituled The Doctrine of the Saints Infirmities pag. 106. viz. The Office I say of Christ is to teach men Judgment and this he doth with much Tenderness Compassion and Gentleness 1. To teach men the Just and Righteous Ways of God so the Word is taken in the Old Testament to ENLIGHTEN men to judge of the Ways of God Christ is often compared to a Shepherd that feeds his Flock Pag. 107. And he is also called the true Light which lightneth the World If Christ had not come into the World there would not have been one spark of God's Image left in man neither Adam nor his Posterity should have known any thing but a Cloud of Darkness should have seized on mens Minds But now by Christ's coming every one even the Wicked have this benefit that they have seen common Light Christ lighteth every one that cometh into the World in some sort teacheth them so much as shall make them inexcusable And pag. 111. If Christ were not God and Man that is If he were not patient in an Infinite manner he could not bear with us c. Observe how contrary to this of Christ's teaching men Judgment and being that true Light which lightneth every man c. our Adversary hath proceeded against the Light of Christ within both before and after these passages and how he hath opposed the benefit of Christ towards us both as God and Man contrary to J. Preston's account who was a man doubtless of better Fame Religion and Learning in his Day than our Adversary Pr. Ibid. Surely 't is matter of Lamentation that a false Christ the Light within who is not God and Man in one Person must by the Qrs. be thus exalted to lay the honour of the Scripture in the Dust Pag. 67. How fond the Qrs. are of their Light within to exalt this Idol Answ No such Design in the Quakers in exalting the Light within as to lay the honour of the Scripture in the Dust 'T is no dishonour to Scripture to exalt the Light of Christ within and however this Priest might have given the Light of Christ a better Epithete than a False Christ or this Idol especially since he hath given us this Concession
to the Light viz. That no Priests of the Church of England or else-where did ever deny that God might not be known by the Light of Nature within them pag. 120. See how manifestly the Priest has Contradicted himself here Did ye ever read that God might be known by a False Christ or by an Idol or by an ELF before as he calls the Light within †Whether by Elf he means a Fairy Nymph or Dwarf his Term is very Irreverent and Blasphemous Pr. pag. 68. It is a confessed Truth among us that all those do hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness that do not live according to it Answ Many such Professors there are among you that do not live according to Truth we wish your Repentance and Amendment of Life that you may through the Grace of God live answerable to Scripture Pr. Ibid. But 't is no false Light in any of us to profess the Scripture to be our Rule By God's own appointment the Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Life Answ The cripture is not your Rule if you walk contrary and hold Truth in Unrighteousness and live a sinful Life the Scripture is not the Rule of such a Life to be sure And if ye know it to be a Rule and profitable to you it must be through God's Assistance and his divine Illumination else ye cannot understand it But where by Gods own appointment the Scripture is called the Rule of Faith and â—ife he shews us not by Scripture Pr. Ibid. It 's folly to think that the sinfulness of any man's Life can make the Scripture to cease to be the Rule of Life as God hath declared it to be Answ He shews us not where God hath declared the Scripture or Writing to be the Rule of Life or the Rule of Faith and Life we have only his Say-so for it no Scripture-proof for this Article of his Faith And then where is the Foundation of his Faith which he pretends the Scripture to be the Rule of he is not content with its being a Rule Subordinate to the holy Spirits Guidance and Illumination of the understanding but by way of Emphasis he must have these Epithetes placed upon the Scripture which signifies Writing viz. The Rule of Faith and Life which yet he brings us no Scripture-proof for that ever God hath declared it so to be much less the Word of Life the Judge the Tryer of Spirits those streams which make glad the City of God Wherein he might as well plainly have told us that the Scripture is God Christ the Spirit the Life the Light and what not § XXIII Pr. Ibid. Without doubt it is a false Light in any Quaker which guides him to say that the Scripture is not the Rule of Life without the Light within to guide him Answ Here the Priest renders the Scripture the Rule of Life without the Light within to guide as if Men could know the benefit of the Scripture while in their Darkness without the Guidance of the Light The man is quite out here How should any rightly understand use or improve the Scripture without divine Illumination or Inspiration to open their Understandings seeing that there is a Spirit in Man but the Inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding The Spirit of God is sufficient to instruct men in those Nations where they have not or cannot read Scripture But the Scripture of it self cannot guide any men nor be of any real profit to them so much as a Rule of Life without the Spirit and its inward divine Illumination For what can dark minds and Earthly Corrupt Hearts or Natural men by their own Wisdom truly understand of holy Scripture 't is as a seal'd Book unto them And therefore the Psalmist applied himself to the Lord in Prayer in this wise Teach me thy Statutes make me to understand the Way of thy Precepts so shall I talk of thy wondrous Works Remove from me the way of Lying and grant me thy Law graciously I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart Teach me O Lord the Way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the End Give me Vnderstanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole Heart With many more such passages in Psal 119. Of whom did he seek this Teaching Understanding and Help but of the Lord Could then the Scripture of it self do all this no sure Consider of it and let all serious Readers take notice how blind Opposers of the Light of Christ within stumble and fall in the dark § XXIV In the next place the Priest appears greatly vex't at James Parnel's Book called The Trumpet of the Lord blown or A Blast against Pride and Oppression About which the Priest greatly abuses the Author and the people called Qrs. most shamefully perverting his Testimony against Pride and Oppression as may plainly appear in a few Instances As Whereas James Parnel saith Wo unto you that are called Lords and Ladies Knights c. in respect to your Persons who are Exalted in the Earth who are Proud High and Lofty c. With other passages Threatning and Warning of them for their Pride Wantonness Voluptuousness c. instancing Dives Haman Pharaoh c. Pr. Hereupon the Priest saith According to this Qr. the last End of all the aforesaid Persons without exception is to be destroyed p. 70. And that according to this Quaking Scrible all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam shall every one of them unless they turn Quakers be damn'd forever they shall without any Exception be cast into Hell p. 71. Answ The Priests horrid and gross Abuse in these Passages in saying that without any Exception they shall be all cast into Hell Here he makes the Threat Absolute as if because they are called Lords and Ladies c. they must all be damned in the Qrs. sence which is a most Sordid Perversion and Knavery leaving out much that concerns their Destructive Ways and States and the very Principal Condition or Matter which J. P. inserted in those Threats and Warnings of his and yet for all this the Priest puts in or Forges a Condition or Exception in his own Terms That unless they turn Qrs. they shall be damned forever These are none of J. P's words and yet a forged Exception enough to render the Priest Contradictory to himself And it is to be noted that this Priest in his Citation pag. 71. out of James Parnel's Book pag. 31 32 33. which he takes together he hath left out the most Materal Passages both relating to those Ways and States that are Destructive and to those Conditions that tend to Salvation As for Instance After the Words Rising up to Play the Priest leaves out and live in Pride and Covetousness And after the words The blind eads the blind into the Ditch he leaves out and so you lead your Lives and spend your Time here and
think to be saved hereafter No no. And after the words We is coming upon you all he leaves out who are Proud you must all give an Account before the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is Terrible to the Wicked Behold the Day of the Lord cometh which will burn as an Oven and all that are Proud and all that do Wickedly shall be as Stubble Thus far J.P. And next after these words The Lord abhors all your Profession and your Hypocrisie the Priest leaves out these viz. It is not Profession that he seeks for it is Practice it is not the Sayer but the Doer that shall inherit it is not all that say Lord Lord that shall inherit but he that doth the Will of my Father The Lord looks for Fruits c. And next after these words You serve the Devil with your Hearts and Actions the Priest leaves out who is King of Pride and here you are in the broad and casie Way in the first Nature which is in the Fall separated from God whose Kingdom is not of this World Thus far J. P. See now how plain it is that J. Parnel does not threaten them with Destruction or Hell without Exception or meerly for being called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen Gemlewomen Madam c. but plainly shews them the Destruction and Misery that those Evil Courses Ways and Practices which too many live in lead to and that they that live or continue in Pride and Covetousness cannot escape Destruction is Evident For without Conversion there is no Salvation Again how plain that J.P. proposeth the Conditions that God requireth in order to a Reformation and consequently the Salvation of the same persons whom he Warns in these words viz. The Lord abhors your Hypocrisie 't is not Profession that he seeks for 't is Practice it is not the Sayer but the Doer that shall inherit The Lord looks for Fruits as before cited Again the Priest p. 73. in his Citation out of James Parnel's Book p. 34 35 36. he leaves out Let your Mouthes be stopt all you who act in Vnrighteousness And next after the words Away with all your Profession he leaves out and now Repent and then follows Tremble before the Lord and then he also leaves out Come down all you High and Lofty Ones and then follows Howl in Sack-cloth and Ashes And after the words p. 34. Who are for the Fire the Priest leaves out these viz. For Fruit he is come to seek for Therefore profess him no longer in words but now Repent and Return from all your Vnrighteousness for know you not that no Vnrighteous Person shall inherit the Kingdom of God No Vain Person nor Drunkards Swearers no Lyar no Proud no Covetous ones none who delight in Pleasures Sporting Rioting Chambering and Wantonness no Vnholy Vnclean Thing must enter Thus far James Parnel Now let all serious Readers judge how basely and fallaciously the Priest hath dealt with J. Parnel and the Qrs. on his Account to render him as Pronouncing Absolute Sentence of Damnation for evermore upon all that are called Pag. 74. Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen c. Pag. 75. as dooming them all without Exception to the Fire of Hell pag. 75. And not only so but the Priest has forged this as an Article of the Qrs. Faith viz. Article 45. We Qrs. do believe That all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam are all accursed of God and shall be cast into Hell and that they are no better nor shall fare better then Lucifer Dives Haman Pharaoh Herod and the rest of their Fore-Fathers pag. 154. And to this very purpose he has forged Three Lying Articles in the Qrs. Name viz. his 45th 46th 47th Article Wherefore I testifie against this Priest as an Arrant Forger and one that has dealt most Basely and Knavishly with our deceased Friend's Testimony herein For in the reading of his Books he could not be Ignorant First That it was the state of Dives Haman c. and those that continued therein that were liable to their End to wit Destruction and that they that live in these Evils Pride Covetousness Oppression Excess c. do incur Destruction Secondly That our Friend warned them all to wit the Great Ones with the Priests and People to Repent and to Return from all their Vnrighteousness c. But this the Priest was willing to leave out and take no notice of that he might render the Qrs. more Odious and incense the great Ones against them as guilty of great Vncharitableness Religious Foolery Melancholly c. says because they are not Trembling Qrs they must all to Hell Mind this Melancholly Qr. how he hath packt them up for Hell pag. 73. We may rather say Mind this Deceitful Scornful Priest that has thus forged and play'd the Knave and fordidly abused the plain Testimonies and serious Warnings of a deceased Servant of the Lord and then Scoff at Trembling But the Day will come that the Fearfulness and Horror that will surprize such Hypocrites Atheistical Spirits and Abusers of Truth and Religion will cause him to Tremble and Quake and his Reward will be according to his Works and the Glorying of such in Wickedness will be their shame It s time for this Hypocritical Scornful Priest to Repent J. Parnel's plain Testimonies and Warnings both to High and Low without respect of Persons shall rise up in Judgment against this Temporizing Daubing Flattering Priest that hath so foully and shamefully abused and perverted them to incense the Powers against us like one of Jeroboam's Priests against the Lord's Prophet see Amos 7.10 13. even in as great Envy as Amaziah shewed against Amos to Instigate the King against him Hath this Priest shewn himself against us for warning the great Ones He may see that J. Parnel was not such a Minister as could Daub and Flatter great Persons for a fat Benefice or Augmentation nor such an one as could have their Persons in Admiration for Advantage like those Covetous Temporizing Priests that can renounce and break their Covenan◠Turn from the Directory to the Common-Prayer Wheel about with the Times Sail with every Wind to save their Livings or procure fat Places or Benefices Creep Cringe Complement and Flatter great Persons Pag. 95. and give their Flattering Titles of Your Excellency Your Grace Your Honour Your Lordship Your Worship Your Humble Servant Sir c. as this Priest has taught and all for their own Ends and Advantages § XXV Whereas the Priest is offended at J. Parnel distinguishing between the Letter and the Life as between the Shadow and the Substance p. 70 71. The Priest hereupon saith That the Scripture by this Quaker is unjustly term'd the Letter p. 76. Whereupon I ask him if the Apostle doth not distinguish between the Letter and the Spirit in these Scriptures Rom. 7.6 That we should serve in Newness of the Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter
6 7 10 12. Pr. Art 10. We Q. do believe that Jesus our Saviour is not the Son of Mary nor the Son of the Substance of the Father Answ These are both Gross Lyes the point is cleared before We never denyed but alway believed Jesus our Saviour as Miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Mary and born of her As also we never denyed but ever believed him as he is the Eternal Son of God to be of his Fathers Substance § 13. Pr. Art Ibid. That Mary is not the Mother of God its Popery to call Mary the Mother of God Answ This he has set down as part of the Qrs. Unsound Faith and therefore his Faith is That Mary is the Mother of God 't is not Popery to call Mary the Mother of God The rest of the Forgeries in this Article are answered before § 13. Pr. Art 12. We Q. do believe that Deliverance from Condemnation is not by believing in Christ who dyed to save Sinners by his Blood but by obeying the Light within Answ This is a Gross Perversion and Forgery again Christ and his Light within are not to be divided in the matter of Faith or Salvation We never opposed Christ who dyed for Sinners or Faith in his Name by believing or in obeying his Light within For he that believes and walks in his Light believes in his Name and thereby partakes of the Fruit of his Death and Blood to cleanse from all Sin § 14. Pr. Art 14. We Q. do believe that there is no Knowledge of any Truth to be gotten by the Scripture Answ Here is a Falshood and Perversion again for we do believe that a Knowledge of some Truths may be gotten by the Scripture and more especially through the Blessing of God enlightening the Vnderstanding in the serious reading the Scripture but no saving Knowledge is gotten by the Scripture alone without the Blessing of God by his Spirit enlightening the Understanding § 14 15. Pr. Art 29 30. We Q. do believe that there is no outward Civil Honour due to the King to Magistrates and Men in Authority or any others Answ False again 't was never an Article of the Qrs. Faith we have fully exprest the contrary even upon outward and Civil Accounts as in paying our Taxes Customs and Duties and actually submitting to Authority as Christians in all cases consistent with the Peace of our Consciences and passively in suffering in cases wherein we could not be active for Conscience sake But it is the Hat and Knee Honour Bowing Creeping and Cringing Flattering Titles and Complements which this Priest is doting upon 't is not the substantial Honour Dignity Estimation or Reverence that his Contest is for but what 's meerly Complemental and pleasing to the fleshly Mind and Pride of Man § 17. Pr. Art 47. We Q. do believe that all Lords Ladies Knight◠Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Young and Old Rich and Poor c. who are no Qrs. are the Children of the Devil Fruitless Trees for the Fire to be cast into the Lake that there they must lie for evermore c. Answ His Falshood and Knavery herein is sufficiently detected before in his leaving out the general Conditions of Mercy and Salvation proposed to the Wicked viz. Repentance Fersaking their Iniquities c. without which they are liable to Destruction and Misery which are in their way see Sect. 24. 'T is a plain Lying Forgery to make their being No Qrs. the Condition of their Destruction as if we should condemn all to utter Destruction who are not formally Qrs. so called We never went about thus to confine the Mercy of God For there are both Thousands of Infants that dye Innocent as also many Thousands of Persons that have a Degree of Innocency being free from Envy and Malice against us and others and many in Dark Times and Dispensations that having a Secret Sincerity in their Hearts to God who never were Reputed Quakers nor formally gathered into an outward Society with us that yet may and do find Mercy and partake of the common Salvation tendred in Christ Jesus to Mankind But No Fallen Sinful or Poluted Man or Woman can find Salvation without Repentance or Inward Conversion by the Grace of God that has appeared to all men that they may be taught to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts § 31. But now more briefly to sum up and recite some more of the Priests Lyes Wicked Forgeries and Falshoods in others of his Articles I shall thus proceed Art 54. That there are no Right Magistrates but Qrs. and such Quaking Magistrates c. This is a Knavish and Idle Forgery § 25 26. Art 54. That not Thouing one another is a Damning Sin is a Lying Forgery again § 17 26. Ibid. That all Superiority Nobility Honour Breeding c. are under the Curse of God is a Perverse Lye Ibid. That there is no true Nobility true Gentility but in us Qrs. that Honour is only due to us Qrs. These are Knavish Forgeries still § 26. Ibid. That any of us despised Qrs. is more Noble than either King or any Nobles after the Flesh because of the Noble Seed in us No Article of the Qrs. Faith but the Priests Forgery Ibid. That all Noble men Gentlemen Superiours Men of Honour Breeding c. are Bastards An Odious Forgery to render us Odious See § 17 18. Art 58. We Q. do believe that it is the Devil who tells men that Christ dyed for all This is a Horrid Lye Wicked Slander and Most Abominable Forgery for that Christ dyed for all men we have alwayes believed and owned as testified by his Spirit in his holy Apostles and Scriptures § 9 10. Art 59. That they who said they believed that that was the Christ who dyed at Jerusalem and that he dyed for their Sins and rose again and sitteth at the Right Hand of God were no Christians in Truth This again is a Wicked Perversion and Falshood and also a Curtailing of J. Parnel's words as the Priest has more at large cited them pag. 105 106. as if the Qr. denyed these things relating to Christ whereas 't is spoken of such false Christians as had the History or Profession of Christ but were not in the true Knowledge of God or Christ but under Anti-christ's Reign yet under a Gospel Profession looking at God as a God afar off only and sotting up Idols Temples False Teachers Hirelings c. § 26. Art 66. That to know God according to the Scripture is no true Knowledge of him This is a gross Lye and Forgery again for truly to know God by the Revelation of his Son is according to Scripture though given by Christ § 14 15. Art 72. That all true Quakers have the same Gift of the H. Ghost or gift of Miracles that the Apostles had The last is a gros Lye for though true Quakers confess and own a partaking of the Gift of the holy Ghost yet pretend not the
same as to Miracles or to equalize themselves therein with the Apostles though God hath wrought Wonders and Miracles among them and by some as Instruments in his hand Art 78. That to redeem and make free from Sin is done with the Body of Christ which we have told you is the Church A Perversion still as if the Church only did redeem and free it self whereas 't is Christ in and with his own Body that redeems his Church which is that Body of his whereof he is Head Though he has an intire peculiar and glorious Body yet the Church as united to him and Members of his Body comprehensively make up one Indivisible Body in the compleat and mysterious Union and Fulness of himself § 32. Art 81. That that man looks upon Christ with a Carnal Eye that looks upon him to have a true Body Which is a lying Forgery still Christ hath a true and Spiritual glorious Body whereof the Saints are Members in the spiritual and mysterious union wiâ—h himself § 32. Art 83. That Fellowship at the Lords Table is very wicked Is also a perverse falshood for ye cannot eat at the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils Covetous Priests and Wicked People though they have the Sign or Shadow yet are short of the Lord's Table and partake not of the Flesh and Blood of Christ nor of his Supper while they shut him out of their Hearts § 16. 25. Art 89. That Vnquakeriz'd Christians do worship an unknown God A Forgery still none of our Terms or Creed but false and fleshly Christians do so Worship § 31. There are divers more Forgeries Perversions and Falshoods in the Priests Articles which for brevity's sake I omit and shall now give the Reader an Account according to my second Proposition before stated of some Truths set down in the Priests Articles which are not according to his Faith he having given them all the Title of the Quakers Vnsound Faith And thus I proceed viz. Pr. Art 2 3. Now we Quakers do believe that the Spirit alone doth give true discerning that the Light within ought to be the Rule of our Faith and Practice Answ We do believe that the Spirit of Truth is all-sufficient for those Ends 't is given for and leadeth into all Truth that true discerning of Spirits is a Gift of this Spirit and that we ought to walk in the Light of Christ Jesus and his Spirit as the chief Rule of our Faith and Practice which things it seems this Priest does not believe he believes not that the Spirit alone doth give true Discerning or that the Divine Light thereof ought to be his Rule He believes the Scripture to be the Rule of Life without the Light within as he has told us p. 120. § 14 15. Pr. Art 21. We Q. believe that we are to mind the Spirit alone in all things Answ We do believe we ought to mind the Spirit of Truth in all things both in reading Scripture for a true understanding thereof and in our Words and Actions but this Priest does not believe he ought to be so mindful of the Spirit his mind is more upon Flesh than Spirit § 14 15 23. Pr. Art 34. We Q. do believe that the Name Sunday is Heathenish that every day is the Lord's day Answ Then this Priest does not believe the Name Sunday is Heathenish or proceeded from Heathens or that every day is the Lords thus ignorant he has shewn himself § 20. Pr. Art 35. We Q. believe that they are no truly faithful Christians who deny that there is a perfect freedom from all manner of Sin to be had in this Life that their Faith is not the true Faith if it doth not cleanse them from all their Sins Answ This Priest therefore believes that they are truly faithful Christians and in the true Faith who deny a Perfect freedom from Sin in this Life and whose Faith does not cleanse them from their Sins which is contrary to the Belief and Faith of truly faithful Christians who know the Heart-purifying Faith and the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all Sin and such could say He hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood But 't is not done in this Life saith the Priest When then In the Life to come it must be But Where must it be in a Purgatory between Heaven and Hell That 's Popish Doctrine § 21. and 28. Pr. Art 36. We Q. do believe that the Scripture is not the Light nor the Word nor the Life nor the Judge nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits Answ This being also included in the Qrs. unsound Faith by the Priest we must take it for granted that he believes the Scripture is the Light the Life the Judge †Contrary to Psal 50.6 Isa 33 22. Acts 10.42 Heb. 12.23 James 5.9 the Rule the Guide the Tryer of Spirits which Terms by way of Eminency most properly belonging to God to Christ to the holy Spirit to the divine Light * John 1 c 11.25 c. 14.6 might not the Priest as well have told us that the Scripture is God and Christ § 22 23 § 14 15. Pr. Art 37. We Q. do believe that the People and Teachers are Ignorant of Christ who seek Life in the Scripture where it is not to be found Answ So then this Priest therefore believes that Eternal Life is to be sound in the Scriptures and they who seek it in the Scripture do know and find Christ the Light and Life Eternal therein which is contrary to Christs own Testimony John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me but ye will not come to me that ye might have Life § 22 23. § 14 15. Pr. Art 50. We Q. do believe That they are all Heathens and no Christians who are so baptiz'd i. e. with Water and cannot witness the other Baptism i. e. the Baptism of Christ Answ This Priest then believes that they all are no Heathens but Christians who are Baptized or Sprinkled with Water when Infants though they cannot witness the Baptism of Christ at such an easie rate can he make Christians contrary to Christs own Testimony If I do not wash thee thou hast no part in me and except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God § 16. 25. 29. Pr. Art 51. We Q. do believe that Sacramental Bread so called is Natural that the Cup is such like and that which they call the Lords Supper is a Shadow Answ This being also included in the Qrs. Vnsound Faith we may take it for granted that the Priest does not believe that the Bread and the Cup which they call Sacramental and the Lords Supper are Natural Carnal or Shadow What then that they are Supernatural Spiritual the Substance the Body and Blood of Christ yea That the Bread broken