foretold by John upon them denying not onely the doctrine of Christ but Christ himself to be come in the flesh under pretence of his being come in their flesh and have eminently manifested themselves to be the sons of Hymeneus that blasphemer who said the resurrection was past already overthrowing the faith of some which Hymenean doctrine was attested not many days since by some of their number to one of us in a Conference with them and that before several witnesses saying The dead bodies that lie in the graves are not to rise again neither are we to expect any other resurrection heaven hell judgement then what is within us and past upon us here To whom it was replied that then their faith and hope was vain and they were yet in their sins and in a damnable estate and why then did they suffer if the dead rise not and that such doctrine undeniably led to sensuality to eat drink and play c. wholly razing out all principles both of morality and Christianity which is well known to be their principle though the cunning among them subtilly gloss it over knowing what offence it generally gives Oh that the poor deluded sincere among them might see the gulph they are plunged into and that your endeavour might be blest to the opening their eyes and undeceiving them Surely if that one Scripture was weighed by them it might be of use That men may give their bodies to be burnt and all their goods to the poor and profit not and be but as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal and that is the principle from which and the end whereto every work is done that renders it acceptable And Oh that this may be blest to keep all upright hearts from falling into this ditch It is the express word of our Lord Go not after them neither follow them Prov. 19. 27. Cease my son to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the ways of knowledge Surely principles spirits and doctrines are to be weighed and tryed as well as conversation and them would these seeming Angels appear Devils for Satan can come forth as an angel of light But how do they rage and like the waves of the sea foaming out their own shame when brought to the Word for tryal which is no small discovery of their spirit this is one of the tryals God has suffered to come upon his people as Deut. 13. 3. to prove whether they will love the Lord their God with all their heart and all their soul How long hath the Pope by all his power and policie endeavoured to get the Bible from Professors and not prevailed but this spiritual Antichrist doth it speedily and effectually But let grace be magnified that keeps any out of their snares and let it be seriously laid to heart that so many are snared and taken in their net And lastly since Singularity and Conversation is so taking to propagate Errour and such damnable Errour too how should it provoke the children of Truth that prize and would promote it to press more after an excellent conversation that the poor world seeing their good works viz. the humility love patience meekness zeal courage temperance holiness wisdom gravity may glorifie their heavenly Father And let such a foolish people shame and provoke his people therein at this day Phil. 4. 8. and as you well observe let the good in them be owned and imitated and their evil detected and avoided And that the good Lord who has so far guided and blest you herein may still continue so to do to the advancement of his glory and furtherance of truth as you have designed and we heartily desire is and shall be the prayer of Your unworthy Brethren fellowâ—labourers and Companions with you in the Faith Kingdom and Patience of our Lord Jesus J. D. N. S. London this 10 day of the 1 month 1665 The Reader is desired before he peruse these books to amend with his pen these errors and mistakes of the Press smaller errors as of adding or substracting letters or mistaking the stops the sence will somwhat help him in PAge 14. line 30. after these words in that day add Neh. 9. 30. p. 17. l. 2. for u and nshaken read and unshaken p. 20. l. 3. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 25. l. 32. for adopted read adapted p. 26. l. 8 read a law p. 30 l. 32. for shall read should p. 31. l. 18. read that he is guiltie p. 40. l. 4. read all things are wrought p. 43. l. 2. add after these words the word was with God and the word was God p. 47. l. 20. for thankfulness read faithfulness p. 63. l. 4. read seriously consider To Randolph Hunter and Thomas Hardy Deputy-Gaolers of the Castle at Lancaster to be by them communicaâ—ed to any who may desire satisfaction concerning the difference between the people called Quakers and J. W. Loving â—riends HAving peruâ—ed a Paper published and put into the hands of one or both of you by the Quakers so called touching a dispute between them and the Baptists at Lancaster Castle and finding it confused partial and in some passages untrue tâ—nding to the reproach of truth and the swallowing up the simple in errors for the vindication of the one and out of tender compassion towards the other I have given forth the following Relation whereby the sober and unbiassed Christian may perceive that I was provoked to the debate as I am to this account by the forementioned paper and the high boastings of some of this people since that meeting Though I have more to say in defence of the truth I plead for then was mentioned in that debate yet I only set down such Arguments as were then propounded though here more distinctly and fully then the confusion of that meeting would allow As for the detecting of their personal carriages I mention nothing but what was first publikely exprest or acted by them I the rather do it that they may consider and take shame to themselves if peradventure God may give them repentance and that others may be warned to take heed of that spirit that sends forth such bitter and unsavoury fruits And that the simple and tender-hearted among them may be reclaimed from the error of their way I have given an additional account of the Light in every man shewing according to my measure received from the Lord what it is and the utmost use of it with a particular explication of several Scriptures especially John 1. 9. Furthermore if any of them shall yet persist to maintain their errors here you will find an offer further to debate the difference betwixt us before any person in the Commission of Peace Lastly lâ—st any should account me an enemy to every thing this people hold and practice thereupon should trample upon that which is good and commendable together with their errors here is an account of several particulars allowable
Antichrist's strongest Hold overturned OR The Foundation of the Religion of the People called QUAKERS Bared and Razed In a DEBATE had with some of them in the Castle at Lancaster AND IN An Additional Account of the Light within Wherein is shewed 1. That their first Principle is a Lye 2. That their Christ is not the true Jesus 3. That their Idolatry is worse and more dangerous then Jeroboam's or the Papists 4. That their Principle denies the great mystery of godliness departs from the Faith and leads to give attendance to the doctrine of Daemons Here also is shewed the occasion of their Rise and Growth together with the right way of discovering their secret delusions Lastly the best things that the best of this people pretend to own are here mentioned and allowed Hereunto is annexed an APPENDIX Wherein their evil language is discovered and compared with the language of the false Prophets All which is published at the desire of certain friends some of whose Letters are prefixt for common benefit By J. W. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils 1 Ioh. 5. 21. Little children keep your selves from idols 2 Joh. 7. For many deceivers are entred into the world who confess not that Christ is come in the flesh this is a deceiver and an Antichrist London Printed for the Author in the year 1665. An ADVERTISEMENT To all the faithful followers of the Lamb in Lancashire in and about Manchester Warrington and Lancaster And to all in every place that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity to whose view the following Discourse may come AS it was my desire and disposition during the time of my imprisonment amongst the people called Quakers to live peaceably and to avoid contests with them So when I was forced for truths sake to a debate with them and afterwards to give forth a relation thereof together with an account of the light within man there was not the least intention or inclination in me to commit my papers to the Press until many friends having perused them did as appears by the first letters prefixed to the following discourse with many arguments urge me to make them more publick Which thereupon I resolved speedily to do and to that end did review and transcribe them with some enlargement as they are hereafter in this book presented Afterwards it being suggested by some that it was not a season to print against this people being great sufferers lest it should adde affliction to their bonds I did thereupon lay aside my papers for divers months And was the more easily inclined thereto not simply because they are sufferers But 1. For that they which is much more the duty of others who owne the truth as it is in Jesus and that worship which is prescribed by himself do stand fast in the defence of their liberty publickly owning that worship which they judge though erroneously agreeable to truth notwithstanding any humane Law to the contrary And 2. That in respect of the powers imposing upon them without warrant from the Lord though in respect of the wrong they do to the man Christ Jesus to his Gospel and to their own souls they be far from innocencie they suffer as Innocents as if thus understood they do often truly call themselves And hence it is that in greatest probability the Laws made against them and their prosecutors have not hitherto had nor will hereafter have any better success then the persecutors of the Innocent in all ages have had whose violence was never blest to convert any from the errour of his way but hath always been an effectual means as to confirm and strengthen the persecuted in his way yea though a mistaken and erroneous way as is evident in this people at this day so to bring swift and inevitable destruction upon themselves Yet notwithstanding being again called upon and desired by divers to go on with this work I had these following Considerations encouraging thereto 1. Many judicious and sober persons who judge the work may be for common benefit do call for its publication 2. The discourse is not level'd against their persons nor against any appearance that is commendable in them but onely against their Errors and miscarriages Nor are those in power stir'd up against them but on the contrarie their violence is witnessed against 3. An endeavour to recover some out of the snare of the devil and to prevent the apostacy of others which are aymed at in this undertaking is such an absolute duty as may not be suspended out of fear that some who have the sword in their hand should take advantage thereby to abuse their power 4. By how much this people are carried out to suffer above many others and by this fair shew in the flesh are apt to glory in their way as the only way to life and that many unable or negligent in the tryal of spirits and principles are liable to be snared and taken by them by so much it seems more necessarie at this time to discover the sandie foundation upon which their whole building stands and how pernitious it will prove to their souls who build thereon that Sathans deep designe in drawing men thereto being unveiled poor weak and unstable souls may better discerne that their glorying in their sufferings yea in giving their bodies to be burned upon the account of such a foundation is vain 5. Lastly and especially in as much as the principle contended against doth not only deny the man Christ Jesus and make void his sufferings death and blood with their effects but that Satan hereby would dethrone him and by this most subtil way of changing himself into an Angel of light would get into the Temple of God and shew himself as God that he may be worshipped as God I account it my dutie what ever the effect may be to be found faithfull to my dear Head the Lord Jesus Christ in discovering according to the measure of light received from him this secret and last designe of his and his peoples grand adversarie to the end that he may through the blessing of the blessed and only Potentate upon these weak endeavours receive such a blow that neither he nor his ministers who be transformed as the ministers of righteousness may proceed any further Thus dear friends you have an account of the principal motives which after some delay have prevailed with me to present these Papers to publike view It 's probable the old enemy whose strong-hold is here undermined will rage yet more against me and be active in the spirits of some to follow me with such language as you may read in the Appendix but I matter not the judgement of mans day the Lord who searcheth the heart knows that the honour of his Name and the undeceiving and saving of precious souls is more to me then a name
which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God So Matth. 13. 11. He answered and said unto them viz. his Disciples Because it is given unto you to know the mystâ—ries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given That Light only is saving which discovers these things to which agrees that saying of Christ John 17. 3. And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent But there are some who know not the Father nor the Son John 16. 3. And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Nor the Spirit John 14. 17. Even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him nor the things of the spirit 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned They have not the Spirit as was proved before therefore they cannot discern spiritual things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritually Yea further they cannot discern nor know these things because their understanding is darkned Ephes 4. 18. and as to these things they are meer darkness Ephes 5. 8. Yea the light that is in them is darkness according to the words of Christ Matth. 6. 23. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness And Christ himself gives another reason why they cannot know these things Matth. the 13. the 11th Because it is not given to them It is given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given And in Matth 11. 25. he tells us plainly it is because they are hid from them And at that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Therefore Christ doth not lighten every man that comes into the world with a saving light To such as Christ enlightens with a saving Light he also gives a spiritual life such he quickens regenerates and makes new Creatures such as the Light is such is the Life in men Joh. 1. 4. And the Life was the Light of men If the Light be saving that is effectually and eventually saving it quickens and regenerates and makes a new Creature according to that in 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a Glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord this saving Light and Life and given together as John 8. 12. Thou spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life A man cannot have a saving Light to see the Kingdom of God except he be born again John 3. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a mâ—n be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And hence it is that Christ is a live-making Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. because who soever is enlightened with a saving Light is also quickened together with Christ Eph. 21 5. You hath he quickened c even when ye were dead in sins hath he quickened us together with Christ But Christ doth not quicken and regenerate every man that comes into the world every one is not a new Creature some are born of the flesh John 3. 6. and are in the flesh Rom. 8. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God some are dead in sin wherein they walk according to the course of this World Eph. 2. 1 2. and have not life 1 John 5. 12. He that hath not the Son hath not life yea some do dye in their sins John 8. 24. I said therefore unto you that ye shall dye in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins Therefore Christ doth not lighten every man that comes into the world with a saving light Whom Christ enlightens with a saving Light to them he also gives Faith the words of Christ are plain John 12. 46. I am come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness Mark where there is no Faith there is an abiding in darkness and so no saving Light Faith is the Organ of the soul to receive and let in a saving Light An unbelieving soul is a dark and ignorant soul hence it is that Christ who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginner of Faith Heb. 12. 2 when he gives his Spirit to illuminate the understanding and to fill the soul with his marvellous light he doth also by the same Spirit give and work faith for it is his gift Eph. 2. 8. whereby the soul is capacitated to receive him as a glorious light to dwell in the heart And thus Christ by his Spirit and Faith and no other way dwells in the heart irradiating the whole soul with the bright beams of his glorious light according to these Scriptures John 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Eph. 2. 22. In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith But every man that comes into the world hath not Faith 2 Thes 3. 2. For all men have not Faith none believe but such as are ordained to eternal life Acts 13. 48. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed None can come to or believe on Christ but such as the Father draws John 6. 44. No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him nor hath every man that comes into the world Christ dwelling in him some are without him Eph. 2. 12. That at that time viz. when they were Gentiles in the flesh ye were without Christ in the world Some have him not 1 John 5. 12. He that hath not the Son hath not life In a word beleevers only have Christ dwelling in them John 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him Therefore Christ doth not enlighten every man that comes into the world with a saving Light To these last Arguments I remember not any thing brought by way of answer to weaken any one proof but that which was their last and chiefest Refuge was that Text John 1.